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Charles Walcott Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Virginia Tech :
Mitt Romney is addressing both a problem and an opportunity. The problem is that he strikes too many people as robotic, a run-for-office machine. Speaking about his personal background and religious beliefs is a way for him to become more of an understandable human being.
The opportunity, of course, is the chance to draw a contrast between his exemplary lifestyle and that of his leading opponent without having to get down in the gutter and sling epithets.
This can work. Americans appreciate religious sincerity even on the part of those who don't share their beliefs. Joe Lieberman's Judaism is an example. Whether that is as much the case with voters in GOP primaries is hard to say. | <urn:uuid:d34a9f23-1a7f-43ca-9182-3b97eb53bc0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Charles_Walcott_BD57D10B-AE23-4D0C-9743-F11000627215.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982269 | 154 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Beware Jack The Tripper, scoundrel of the Square!
Washington Square Park, in a 1910 painting by William Glackens
While perusing some archive New York Times articles in preparation for this week's podcast, I came across this unusual piece from May 12, 1892, recounting the futile search for a "maliciously mischievous fellow whom the police want," a felonious fop tripping ladies in Washington Square Park with his umbrella.
He is referred to in the article as 'Jack The Tripper', London's own Jack the Ripper having gone on his murderous rampage almost four years earlier. The intents of New York's villian, however, appear to be largely comedic.
The debonair, middle-aged man carried "a gold-handled umbrella neatly encased in silk" and spent the day using the instrument to wreck havoc on the days of poor ladies minding their own business.
"He was swinging [the umbrella] in a careless manner, but when a young schoolgirl carrying an armful of books passed he tripped her up...The girl almost fell on her face and the books she carried were scattered in all directions on the pavement."
He was then seen at the recently built Washington Square arch where he tripped an old woman "in the identical manner" as the girl.
Next went down a young school teacher who got up and confronted the scoundrel over these "malicious" acts. The teacher ran to the Mercer Street police station to file a report, but the disturbed umbrella-wielding cad had fled the scene. The police "failed to arrest him."
Meaning, he's still out there, ladies! | <urn:uuid:76fe63ce-4e63-4b9f-9402-1780d8cfcc5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2009/02/beware-jack-tripper-scoundrel-of-square.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961381 | 353 | 1.726563 | 2 |
» May 25, 1938: Bobby Doerr's 2nd inning single for Boston is the only hit that Bob Feller allows. Ken Keltner belts three homers as Cleveland coasts 110.
» April 20, 1939:
The Red Sox show off their prize rookie Ted Williams before 30,278 in the opener in New York, delayed two days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams collects a double off Red Ruffing, who wins 20. Gehrig makes an error, goes hitless, and lines into two double plays in the only game featuring the two great sluggers. Other notables in what will become a historic box score include Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Red Rolfe, and losing pitcher Lefty Grove. The Yanks score their first run on a homer by Dickey and their 2nd tally on an error by Jimmy Foxx. Boston has baserunners in each inning, but Ruffing tosses just the 2nd opening day shut out in Yankee history. Four umpires work the game including 3B ump George Pipgras, the starting pitcher for the Yankees in the 1929 Opener; his opponent for the Red Sox that day was Red Ruffing.
» May 2, 1942:
At Fenway, Ted Williams cracks a 9th-inning home run off Eldon Auker to give the Red Sox an 10-10 tie with the Browns, and Bobby Doerr's RBI double wins it, 1110. Johnny Pesky pulls off a hidden ball trick in the 9th, but it is for naught as Doerr, unaware of the play, calls time out before the play. Auker goes the distance allowing 17 hits in the loss.
» May 30, 1943:
The Red Sox are also having trouble hitting the major league's balata ball, as Jim Tabor hits the first Sox homer at Fenway Park in a DH sweep of the Tigers. The Bosox win 30 behind Dick Newsome, and 51 behind Lou Lucier. In 33 games, the only other Boston homers are Leon Culberson's dinger in Detroit on May 23, and Bobby Doerr's inside the park liner at Washington on May 15th.
» July 13, 1943:
The AL edges the NL 5-3 at Shibe Park in the first All-Star Game played under the lights. Bobby Doerr of the Red Sox is the hitting hero with a 3-run HR off Mort Cooper in the second inning. Vince DiMaggio of the Pirates has a single, triple and HR in three trips. Doerr also handled six fielding chances. At the All-Star break he had handled 307 errorless chances, dating back to May 20th. His AL streak will end at 349 chances, a record he will break in 1948.
» May 3, 1944: Joe Cronin, making his 1944 debut at 1B, makes putouts at both ends of a double play, one out at 1B and the other at 3B. The Sox make four DPs and collect 15 hits in beating the Senators, 1110. Stan Spence and Bobby Doerr each hit a home run, double, and single. The Nats have 16 hits in the loss.
» May 17, 1944: In the nitecap of a doubleheader, Bobby Doerr hits for the cycle, but last-place Boston loses to the Browns, 128. The loss leaves the Browns just a half game behind the Yankees. Boston outhits the Browns, 1514, but Red Sox hurlers, including a 2-inning stint by infielder Eddie Lake, walk 14 batters. Emmett O'Neill is the loser to Al Jurisich. In the opener, Boston's Tex Hughson allows four hits in the 51 win.
» May 9, 1946: At Fenway, Boston (20-3) runs its win streak to 14 by edging Chicago, 75. Bobby Doerr's 2-run homer in the 4th inning is the big blow. Mickey Harris, in relief, wins his 2nd game in two days.
» July 2, 1946:
The Yankees nip the Red Sox 2-1 before a Stadium crowd of 69,107. Spud Chandler walks nine in the first 4 innings but takes a no-hitter into the 9th before
Bobby Doerr hits a one-out single.
» May 13, 1947: Ted Williams hits two home runs to LF, the first to that pasture in his career at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox wallop the White Sox 196. Earlier in the day, Williams had promised a boy in the Malden hospital that he would hit a homer for him. Bobby Doerr cycles for the 2nd time in his career, the first Sox to do that, and has a double and single in the 9-run 8th to complete his cycle. Bill Zuber is the winner over Earl Harrist.
» June 6, 1948:
Ted Williams, Stan Spence, and Vern Stephens hit successive HRs for the Red Sox against Fred Hutchinson of the Tigers. It is the second 3-straight-HR game by the BoSox during the season, with Spence, Stephens, and Bobby Doerr having accomplished the feat off Phil Marchildon of the A's on April 19.
» July 4, 1948: Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history, as Boston snaps a 55 tie by scoring 14 runs on 14 RBIs to beat the visiting Philadelphia Athletics, 208. A's pitcher Charlie Harris retires one batter in 14 and cough up 12 runs, before Bill McCahan takes over. Williams, who makes the final out in the inning, and Bobby Doerr tie records by drawing two walks apiece. Pitcher Ellis Kinder has two hits, off Harris and McCahan. The 14 runs in one inning is a record, but five years later they will do even better with 17 in one inning.
» July 10, 1948: For the 6th time this year, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr of the Red Sox hit back-to-back homers as Boston beats the 2nd-place A's, 40. Jack Kramer scatters nine hits in the shutout to win his 7th straight. Ted Williams sits out the game with a damaged ligament, the result of being hit in the ribs while playfully sparring with Sam Mele on the train down from Boston yesterday.
» July 19, 1948: At Boston, Mel Parnell wins stopping the Browns, 41 as his infielders tally 11 assists. The Sox score all their runs in the 1st on Bobby Doerr's grand slam.
» July 23, 1948: After missing 15 games with a torn rib cartilage, Ted Williams is 2-for-4 to help the Red Sox down the White Sox, 131. Bobby Doerr collects his 18th homer and adds a double and single to back Mickey Harris. Boston has now won nine straight to pull within a game-and a half of the first-place Indians.
» July 29, 1948:
The Red Sox rout the Tigers, 81, behind Jack Kramer's 10th straight win. Billy Goodman's grand slam, along with homers by Kramer and Bobby Doerr, pace the attack. The victory extends the Red Sox American League-lead to a half-game over the idle A's.
» May 5, 1949:
At Cleveland, Bob Feller, making his first start since pitching two innings in the season opener and coming up with a sore shoulder, beats the Red Sox, 73. The Tribe scores six in the 2nd inning, including Ken Keltner's three run homer off Jack Kramer. On the next pitch, Minnie Minoso making his second start, hits his first major-league homer. Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr hit 8th-inning homers for Boston, while Joe Gordon adds a homer in the 5th for Cleveland.
» April 30, 1950: The A's are pummeled by the Red Sox in a doubleheader, 190 and 65. First-game highlights are an 11-run 4th inning and a 17-hit barrage, which includes home runs by Ted Williams (2), Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerr. A's pitcher Bobby Shantz ends the slaughter with 4-plus innings of relief, as Joe Dobson is the winner for Boston.
» June 8, 1950: In the most lopsided score in history, the Boston Red Sox annihilate the St. Louis Browns at Fenway Park, 294. Bobby Doerr has three home runs and eight RBI; Walt Dropo, two home runs and seven RBI, and Ted Williams, two home runs and five RBI, all collecting a round tripper in the 8th inning. Pitcher Chuck Stobbs walks four times in four innings, Al Zarilla adds four doubles, including two in one inning, and a singlewith no ribbiesas the Sox set a major-league record with 58 total bases. Another mark is set of most extra bases on long hits (32) in a game, and the most extra bases on long hits in consecutive games (51). The Red Sox have 28 hits, with four players collecting four hits apiece, to total a record 51 for two days against the woeful Browns. Leadoff batter Clyde Vollmer goes to the plate eight times in eight innings, the only time this has happened in history. Boston has now scored 104 runs in their last seven games and a record 49 in two straight games.
» June 13, 1950: Chuck Stobbs allows two hits as the Red Sox open their road trip with an 81 win over the Indians. Bobby Doerr leads the offense with a pair of homers, a triple and single to chase Bob Feller. Doerr raises his average to .306, putting every Sox regular over .300.
» July 1, 1951: Before 58,815 at Yankee Stadium, the Yanks top the Red Sox, 52, behind Eddie Lopat's 6-hitter. The win moves the Yankees ahead of the White Sox by four percentage points. Jerry Coleman homers off Mel Parnell, while Johnny Pesky connects for the Sox. Bobby Doerr singles for his 2,000th career hit.
» August 7, 1951:
Bobby Doerr suffers a severe sacroiliac pain that forces the future Hall of Famer into early retirement. The Red Sox regular 2B for 13 seasons, Doerr will become a Red Sox coach.
» March 10, 1986: Ernie Lombardi, the NL MVP in 1938, and Bobby Doerr, a 9-time AL All-Star, are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee.
» August 3, 1986: Willie McCovey, Bobby Doerr, and Ernie Lombardi are inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. | <urn:uuid:21732d04-cd67-4709-9b01-f7ce1aff6445> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/D/Doerr_Bobby.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951587 | 2,256 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Imperial. William T. Vollmann. Viking. 1334pp, $55.00.
In the first chapter of Imperial we find William T. Vollmann on the filthy, shit- and trash-filled New River (a “reeking brown cloaca”), sweating in a 110+ degree temperature, rowed in a cheap rubber raft by a Mexican who has never been in a boat in his life. Water splashes on them and now Vollmann has a sore that won’t heal. It’s here that he begins his investigation into the “imaginary entity called Imperial”—an area encompassing Imperial County, CA, plus an equal area south of the Mexican border. It’s a wide-ranging exploration that includes illegal aliens, pollution, water quality, the infighting and bureaucracy in America over water rights and irrigation, the idea of boundaries, poverty, the systematic oppression of the poor, agriculture, the desert, the relationship between America and Mexico, farm laborers’ attempts at unionizing, and the allegedly brutal conditions in the maquiladoras, among dozens of other things.
Imperial is an enormous book, and Vollmann attempts to fit in everything he possibly can about this area with which he is seemingly obsessed, and in which he sees so many possibilities yet so much inequity: “Let’s therefore call Imperial County the center of the world, for so it is to anyone who pauses to stand within it, making it here,” he writes.1
Regarding Mexico, Vollmann admits that it is “a nation of which after all these years and pages I remain largely ignorant . . .” though this sort of defeatist admission is nothing new for Vollmann, who also writes: “If only I knew how to tell you how beautiful it is!” Such candor is part of what lets Imperial succeed as we follow Vollmann’s accounts of his adventures and watch him constantly become stymied. At one point he purchases a secret camera that fits in a button so that he can infiltrate a maquiladora and reveal the conditions inside; he’s rebuffed at every turn, and like many of the sequences in the book, he spends so much time in the pursuit of his goal that even in the end when he finally fails to achieve what he was after, the chase is exhilarating. (In this case, the chase includes watching him spend peso after peso on surveillance equipment that doesn’t work correctly, and then later sitting through an hour of footage of treetops and the sky since the tiny hidden camera doesn’t allow him to fast-forward).
It’s not as though Vollmann isn’t aware of his inadequacies. As he puts it: “In Mexico I have been lied to about subterranean Chinese tunnels; I have been very occasionally cheated and misdirected over the years; but never in Imperial have I felt so walled off by silence as I did when researching the maquiladoras.” Or: as a private investigator tells him: “Let’s face it, Bill. Investigative reporting is not really your strong suit.” But here he is, pouring thousands of dollars and years of his life into the pursuit of understanding this place where illegals try and try and try again to cross into America, where Mexicans will often proclaim that despite their poverty they are more free than Americans, where pollution is off the charts and where factory conditions are unspeakably awful. Vollmann is dedicated to Imperial because he wants to explain how, because they are divided by a line—the border—life can be so different for people who live hundreds of feet apart.
This point is driven home in one of Imperial’s most brilliant sections, where Vollmann juxtaposes of the lives of two poor Mexicans—one just over the line in the U.S., the other just over the line in Mexico. The one in Mexico is a homeless beggar and the one in the U.S. is a laborer/vegetable harvester. Jose (the beggar) points out that Lupe (the laborer) is luckier because he lives in America, but by now we know that Lupe is completely miserable, and Jose isn’t doing much better. There’s such a sadness to both their tales, their routines, their poverty, yet they both get up every day and do what they have to do to stay alive.
Imperial contains all the adventure that was missing from Riding Toward Everywhere as Vollmann enlists the help of everyone from Mormon genealogists to an army of private detectives to chemists to his hired translators and guides. This group includes Jose Lopez, whom Vollmann sends into all the Chinese restaurants in Mexicali to ask about the fabled Chinese tunnels—but Lopez is completely unsuccessful, probably due to the fact that he reeked of diarrhea, from which he’d been suffering all day. It’s rumored that the Chinese are “harboring a vampire down there” in the tunnels, and Vollmann is determined to know the truth. (His friend Lupe Vasquez’s recommendation on how to find info on the tunnels: pay a cop to “put his pistol against the head of the nearest old gook.”) Furthermore, Vollmann rides along with the border patrol, who arrest thousands of would-be illegal immigrants every night; later, in a gripping scene Vollmann recounts his own experiences being detained by immigration when crossing the border, his anger and rage at both his treatment and, especially, the treatment of his girlfriend.
Readers who have never cared for Vollmann’s style won’t be converted by Imperial, but it does in fact contain some of his most wonderful writing, as well as some of his trademark similes: “I see a glaring white road through volunteer alfalfa as short as the stubble on a pubis that was shaved two weeks ago”; “You’ll be relieved to know that on the other side of the ditch, everything remains as clean as a fifteen-year-old prostitute”; “This book, like the Virgin of Guadalupe herself, is syncretic; Liliana, like Mexicali, was still more so, for she possessed the supernatural power of spewing diarrhea at the very moment of singing me a beautiful song.”
Vollmann’s writing takes on a somewhat epic quality when he recounts historical events, and in these sections his text is also permeated by sarcasm—a sarcasm that is so persistent and so dry that it almost stops seeming like sarcasm and begins to take on a very innocent, sincere quality. When Vollmann discusses Prohibition he seems to almost feel for the women who crusaded against alcohol, though we know from his body of work that there is no way he would sympathize with their opinions: “I suppose that our heroines of temperance are able to soldier on in good heart just the same, until that ghastly year 1926, when even Volstead gets quoted as saying that three point seven five percent beer is innocuous. Lift up mine eyes, O Lord! And in 1933, Prohibition is undone. Poor ladies!” Something I find so valuable in Vollman’s writing—all of his writing—something which I return to from time to time in my life, is his insistence on not judging anyone, on trying to understand everyone he comes across, no matter how arrogant, filthy, wrong, or poor, and that attitude is seen here regarding these long-dead “heroines of temperance,” as well as on every single page of Imperial. Vollmann’s sympathy is deep and sincere, even when the people are strangers who sometimes use him for money or attempt to otherwise take advantage of him. 2
In a book this long and this ambitious there are bound to be some slow spots, and Imperial has a few. Some of the agricultural material is almost unbearably dull, paragraph after bewildering paragraph of statistics and charts regarding production of seemingly every crop grown on the Mexico/California border: “Imperial County grows more than seventy-three thousand cotton acres that year [with a footnote: 'Riverside grows 20,087 acres; Los Angeles's acreage is zero']; the yield is over two and a half bales per acre. Mexican Imperial contains a disproportionate number of cornscapes, but in 2000 we find seventy-one thousand, three hundred and twenty acres of cotton in the northeast corner of the Mexicali valley alone.” Such reams of statistics are all the more jarring because, for all the deserving attention Vollmann pays to immigration, poverty, agriculture, Chinese tunnels, and obscure, long-dead figures who sometimes only appear as a first or last name in a letter, some material is given almost no attention: there’s a brief attempt, in the book’s shortest chapter (twelve pages), to discuss the Indians native to the area, and there’s just one mention of the murders of maquiladora women in Ciudad Juarez, a subject that seems almost inconceivably perfect for investigation by Vollmann.
Despite occasional lapses, there’s so much great material in the book that even a list can only mention of some of the outstanding pieces: Vollmann’s histories of Imperial in the styles of Flaubert, Steinbeck, and Hammett; his attempted biography of a pioneer named Wilber Clark; his attempts to understand both the literal and figurative boundaries of Imperial, comparing them to Rothko’s paintings; and the slow accumulation of phrases from historical documents and present-day interviews that snowball throughout the text, specific to the time period which they’re being used to describe, with the closing chapters of each section consisting of reprises of nothing but little paragraphs of these phrases, slowly adding up to a history of the Imperial Valley area while still being a commentary on contemporary life, not just in Imperial, but America and Mexico . . .
Many people think Vollmann writes or publishes too much, that he’s sloppy and doesn’t take enough time with his material, that his fascination with poverty and prostitutes and drugs is tasteless. Though I disagree with all of these claims, I’ll still, acknowledge that if the page count of Imperial doesn’t scare away many potential readers, the $55 cover price will. That would be too bad, because Imperial is a book that sustained my interest over the course of two months and that, I feel, is an intense and cohesive summation of Vollmann’s career so far. In it can be seen bits of Poor People, of Riding Toward Everywhere, even bits of the Seven Dreams series, and in a way it contains every thematic element of his prior works, which may in fact be why the “imaginary entity called Imperial” fascinated him so much in the first place. It’s a staggering work.
Scott Bryan Wilson is a contributing editor to The Quarterly Conversation.
Read More on this Subject:
More from The Quarterly Conversation:
- Poor People by William T. Vollmann I. In the U.S., the “poverty line” for 2006 was set at $9,800 per year of income for a single person, or $20,000 for a family of four. But it is misleading to judge poverty in this way: surely some people can live comfortably below those income levels, and some—those...
- Riding Toward Everywhere by William T. Vollmann Riding Toward Everywhere, William T. Vollmann. Harper Perennial. 288pp, $14.99. Riding Toward Everywhere, this year’s new book from the prolific William T. Vollmann, is a nonfiction account of his adventures hopping freight trains and trying out the hobo lifestyle as a person lurking “literally and figuratively in the shadows.” His...
- The Rainbow Stories by William T. Vollmann Over 10 books and tens of thousands of pages later, it’s difficult to peer all the way back to William T. Vollmann’s second book, The Rainbow Stories, published in 1989. But I think it’s worthwhile to make the effort. This short story collection marks the introduction of several techniques and...
- A Day at William T. Vollmann’s Studio Although Vollmann is best known for his writing, I am here to see his visual artwork. I'm prepared to talk art all day long, but with Vollmann the divide between the arts is always fluid: our conversation ranges from Noh theater to contemporary music to his novels and everything in...
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Read more articles about books from Viking | <urn:uuid:efafa783-61ca-41ef-b9a4-97307c7dfe4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://quarterlyconversation.com/imperial-by-william-t-vollmann | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961653 | 2,715 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Workshop Registration | TA Workshop: Youth Point of Sales Initiative | TA Workshop: Louisiana Tobacco-Free College Initiative
Scope of Work: Youth 11-17 Point of Sales Strategies | Scope of Work: Young Adults 18-24 Tobacco-Free Colleges & Universities
Louisiana Youth STAND UP! to Direct Marketing from Tobacco Industry
Louisiana’s teen tobacco usage rates remain higher than the national average, with approximately 38.3 percent of high school and 15.6 percent of middle school students in Louisiana use tobacco, according to the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).
In light of these startling statistics, youth throughout the state are choosing to Stand UP! against the tobacco industry and its adolescent-targeted direct marketing efforts. Twelve groups across the state were awarded grants from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) to engage and get youth involved with tobacco control and prevention efforts through the Defy the Lies initiative. As part of the grant, Defy teams participated in the point-of-purchase (also known as point-of-sale) project, which focused on tobacco products and advertising in stores where youth are likely to visit on a regular basis, like gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and corner stores in their own communities.Read More >>
$500,000 in Community Advocacy Grants Available From The Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco-Free Living
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) announced today the availability of up to $500,000 in Community Advocacy Grants (CAGs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-2014.
TFL CAGs, along with other TFL program elements, play an important role in changing community norms around tobacco use and perceptions of the tobacco industry. In order to promote smoke-free policies and decrease other tobacco use in Louisiana, these grants have been designed to reach key priority populations while assisting in the implementation of effective and evidence-based practices in tobacco prevention and control.
The TFL CAGs are available for nonprofit agencies, organized groups, 2- and 4-year colleges/universities and/or coalitions throughout Louisiana that have experience with youth advocates and teen councils, reducing health disparities, and Louisiana college and universities. The application is located on the TFL website, www.tobaccofreeliving.org, and submissions are due by 3 p.m. on February 27, 2013.
Smoke-Free Air Act Study Shows No Impact on Employment in Hospitality Industry
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) recently presented significant research findings concluding that the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act (Act 815) had no impact on employment rates in the state’s hospitality industry.
Employment data used in the analysis were collected from the Louisiana Department of Labor (LADOL) in two industry categories – (1) accommodation and (2) food service and drinking places – between January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2011. The LADOL publishes monthly data of employment figures based on quarterly tax returns from all employers covered by unemployment insurance. Results from the statistical analysis demonstrate that the impact of the Smoke-Free Air Act on accommodation, food service, and drinking places employment was not statistically significant. The Smoke-Free Air Act did not decrease employment in the hospitality industry. The average employment in accommodation, food service, and drinking places was approximately 160,000 per month across the study period – unaffected by the 2007 law. | <urn:uuid:3cecdd19-3c26-4436-af97-1b9be6e51eef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tobaccofreeliving.org/home5/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940565 | 705 | 1.820313 | 2 |
A study to examine the cost and economic impact of adding two more lanes to sections of Route 106 will begin early next year, according to the state Department of Transportation. The study, which is being funded in part by the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will also look at traffic volume to see if the widening is necessary.
"The track is definitely interested in Route 106, and we are interested in it because it continues to grow as a commuter corridor," said Bill Cass, director of project development for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
Route 106 runs from East Concord to Meredith, passing through Loudon, Belmont and Laconia along the way. The study will examine widening the road from Concord to Belmont, but the most detailed data collection will focus on the stretch from Concord to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Cass said.
A similar study conducted in 1993 found that the road widening was economically and environmentally feasible, but not necessary given the traffic patterns at the time, he said.
Route 106 currently has one lane in each direction. It also has a middle turn lane and dedicated turn lanes at some intersections, improvements made after the 1993 study and compatible with future widening.
The Department of Transportation wants to freshen up the data from the earlier study and to re-evaluate the project in terms of new environmental regulations or concerns that may have emerged in the last 15 years, he said.
Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager for the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, is pleased the Department of Transportation is moving forward with the study.
"We've had several meetings with DOT officials and Gov. Lynch," Gappens said.
"We've owned the track for two-and-a-half years. We got to looking into things and found that a lot of the right of way for Route 106 had been purchased for widening, but for some unknown reason, it got put on a shelf. We wanted to find out what needs to happen to get it taken off the shelf again," he said.
Cass said that the study is preliminary and only meant to collect information about Route 106. Study results, he said, would be shared with all the towns affected by the possible widening, so that residents and town officials could weigh in on if they thought it was a good idea.
Gappens said he believes that the Department of Transportation is serious about pursuing the widening. The study is the first step in making the project ready for construction if and when federal funds become available, he said.
The track has volunteered to pay for one-third of the cost of the study, which is being conducted by New York-based consulting firm McFarland Johnson for a total of about $300,000, Gappens said.
"There's a need for (the expansion) right now, for people who use the highway on a daily basis. There are backups at traffic lights during rush hour. It would also help in economic development and attract businesses to 106" he said. Plus, he added, the widening would be great for the big race weekends. More than 40,000 cars travel the state route on the Sundays of big race weekends, he said.
Roger Maxfield, chair of the board of selectmen in Loudon, said there is nothing wrong with looking into the widening to get more information, but there's not necessarily anything wrong with Route 106, either.
"I think everyone in Loudon tends to think that it's fine the way it is," Maxfield said.
He said that undertaking a road construction project like that would cost a lot of money and take several years to complete. He said he doesn't know if the state will back a project that big.
He also said he was concerned about the project's effect on Rocky Pond. Route 106 runs right near the pond's eastern side for about a mile. Wetlands, too, may be affected, Maxfield said.
James Martin, spokesman for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, said that the department was not aware of the study. If a project is announced, he said, the department will be involved in formal studies about environmental impact.
Tom Irwin, state director for the Conservation Law Foundation, said his organization had not heard of the study, either.
In general, he said, widening roads comes with a package of environmental concerns that vary depending on the project. Adding more pavement means more storm water runoff and flood threats, and runoff can often carry pollutants such as chloride from road salt and motor oil from cars, he said. Filling in wetlands, he added, is always controversial and is regulated at the state level.
Cass said that the public information sessions presenting the results of the study - including information about the traffic patterns and congestion, the cost and the environmental aspects - will begin as soon as next fall.
"We open it up to comment," Cass said. "We want people to let us know what we got right and what we got wrong." | <urn:uuid:d8ac494e-72b3-4aaf-8fec-5fe94aaf8d98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nhms.com/media/headlines/nascar/route-106-widening-studied.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976441 | 1,016 | 1.820313 | 2 |
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT PROPOSAL
Master of Communication in Digital Media (MCDM) program, University of Washington
I propose to create a prototype for a “virtual museum” on the history of Seattle’s Lake Union. This “museum” will consist of a website with multiple pages of text, photos, graphics, video and audio. I will work on this project in partnership with Seattle’s Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) and its founder Dick Wagner, who is writing a book about Lake Union, entitled Legends of the Lake. I will also write a weblog and an academic paper detailing my experiences during the project.
My academic goal is to explore the possibilities and challenges of creating websites that emulate the experience of visiting brick-and-mortar museums. My professional goal is to produce a portfolio piece while learning how to create a multimedia website. My long-range goal is to obtain funding for expanding my prototype into a full-fledged online museum.
An additional goal is to give the public online access to an archive of oral histories about Lake Union recently compiled by CWB. I hope to demonstrate that placing oral histories within a virtual museum and complementing them with other media can increase their value.
A traditional museum consists of exhibits of various kinds housed within a building. In past centuries these exhibits consisted primarily of artifacts and works of art, but in recent years text, photographs, audio, video and interactive displays have become increasingly important elements of museum exhibits.
The Internet has made it possible to provide these latter types of exhibits to the public without the need for a museum building. In my academic paper I will survey how museum curators, educators and collectors around the world are using the Web to create “museums without walls” and simulate the experience of visiting a physical museum. In my prototype website, I will explore how to apply these techniques in a low-budget project, using commonly available technology.
I will also experiment with techniques for creating a “destination” on the Web: a website where visitors come to explore, linger and savor – just as they do in a physical museum. I hope to show that by making a virtual museum an “immersive” experience, it can become more than just an educational website.
Earlier this year I contacted the directors of CWB and gained their support for my project. My next step will be to meet with Dick Wagner to choose four or five chapters from his book for adaptation into web pages for the prototype.
From Mr. Wagner I will obtain names of local people who can speak authoritatively about each of the topics we select. I will schedule video interviews with these people in scenic locations around the Lake. These interviews will become the introductions and voiceovers for short video documentaries featured on each page of the website.
I will also begin shooting video and still photos of various activities on the Lake intended to illustrate the documentaries and the pages. For historic photos, I will contact the Museum of History and Industry and the University of Washington Library.
Once I have gathered some of this material, I will begin experimenting with designs for the website. I will use a simple, user-friendly web design software called iWeb to create the prototype. If the prototype is successful, I will eventually seek to translate it into a more sophisticated website using Dreamweaver or other means.
I propose to have Kathy Gill of MCDM as my principle advisor. I will seek her guidance in selecting a second advisor, as required, from outside of the program. Kathy has already expressed her interest in working with me on this project.
6. TIME FRAME
I will begin gathering materials for the project in August of 2008. In September I will begin meeting with Kathy Gill and start designing the prototype. I will complete the prototype and my academic paper by the end of the fall quarter, in December. In early 2009 I will meet with the CWB directors to discuss possible continuation of the project. | <urn:uuid:7b7f6956-774b-4194-8f82-31a368a4e261> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lakeunionhistory.wordpress.com/proposal/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934087 | 819 | 1.742188 | 2 |
By Kim Zetter
Nov. 07, 2005
On Wednesday, Cisco Systems released a patch for what has become known
as the Black Hat Bug: a serious vulnerability in the operating system
running Cisco routers, which drive traffic through much of the
internet and control critical infrastructure systems.
Cisco's move closes the book on a controversy that began last July,
when Mike Lynn, a computer security researcher speaking at the Black
Hat security conference in Las Vegas, demonstrated that an attacker
could use the bug to crash Cisco routers or control them remotely.
Before Lynn's talk concluded, the dark conference room was already lit
with the glow of cell phones from audience members urging their IT
departments to immediately patch their Cisco routers.
Lynn was lauded by much of the security community for disclosing the
problem. But for his troubles, he and Black Hat organizers were
slapped with legal injunctions. Lynn had been asked by his employer,
Internet Security Systems, to reverse-engineer the Cisco router to
find the flaw, and both Cisco and ISS initially sanctioned his Black
Hat presentation. But two days before the talk, Cisco demanded that
slides of the presentation be removed from the conference book and
CD-ROM. And after the talk, the FBI began investigating Lynn for
allegedly stealing trade secrets.
The legal wrangling finally ended this week, and the FBI case against
Lynn has closed. Lynn spoke with Wired News in July to tell his side
of the story. Now Black Hat founder Jeff Moss talks about what
happened from his perspective and why companies continue to repeat the
mistakes of their predecessors in trying to suppress the full
disclosure of security bugs and punish security researchers.
Wired News: Describe how events unfolded at Black Hat.
Jeff Moss: We realized something bad was happening on ... Monday
morning (July 25). One of the Cisco representatives, Mike Caudill,
came by and said, "Hey, can I see the printed material (for the
conference)?" I said, "Well, we don't give our books out until Tuesday
at 4 p.m." (before the conference opens). "I'll let you look, but
we'll need the book back."
So he flips to Mike Lynn's presentation and basically says "Holy crap!
This isn't supposed to be in here. ISS told us only an abstract was
going to be printed in the book." I said, "How can we accept a speaker
with only an abstract? Of course there's going to be slides." Now it's
about 20 hours until we started handing out the bags with the books
and the CDs in it, and Cisco gets on the phone to their legal
department and gets everybody all spun up....
(Cisco claims that Lynn is revealing proprietary source code in some
of the slides and wants them removed. After Moss agrees, Cisco's
people spend hours ripping out Lynn's presentation from thousands of
conference books and reburning CD-ROMs.)
If Cisco is saying there's proprietary Cisco source code in there,
it's hard for me to evaluate that (just hours before the show). If
it's true and it is really proprietary and really would be breaking
the law ... I would want to remove it. Mike Lynn said don't worry
about it. If they want to remove it, remove it. The printed materials
in the book had more details than what Mike had on his PowerPoint
slides. He was thinking that with those details removed, he'd be able
to give his talk, because he wouldn't be revealing any of the stuff
that Cisco was concerned about. And then it became clear that it
really wasn't specifically that source code, it was pretty much the
whole talk in general that Cisco was really nervous about.
WN: But they agreed that he would speak anyway, right?
Moss: (By) Tuesday around 2 p.m., Cisco had pulled all of the material
out of the books. The (revised) CDs were starting to show up, and it
looked like everything was fine. Cisco was happy, ISS was happy, and
it looked like we dodged that bullet.
As soon as the show was over, and we're cleaning up the show and
everything looks like it's done, all of a sudden FBI agents call me on
the phone and want to talk to me. It turns out that while Black Hat
and Mike Lynn were negotiating with Cisco and ISS, somebody at ISS in
Atlanta calls the local FBI field office in Atlanta and claims theft
of trade secrets. So while we're negotiating in good faith and trying
to resolve this, behind the scenes ISS has fired up the FBI on Mike
WN: Debates about full disclosure have been going on for years, and a
number of companies have created firestorms from trying to suppress
information about flaws or punishing researchers, such as Dmitri
Sklyarov, who got into trouble with Adobe. Why haven't companies
learned the lessons about trying to suppress information?
Moss: There must be something that's fundamental in human nature. Or
people are coming into the business too quickly and don't have any
sense of history. It doesn't portray a positive image that these are
talented professionals pursuing security research, and it doesn't do
any of us service.
WN: You've said that you felt Mike Lynn followed all of the proper
procedures that a researcher should follow for responsible disclosure
of vulnerabilities. And yet Cisco and his own company turned on him.
Moss: It's disturbing because you can play in your mind how this can
happen to any person working for any company. And if that starts
happening, it's just going to be a big stifling of innovation, and
it's going to drive researchers underground. Or they're just going to
only post on full-disclosure lists under fake handles.
WN: Some companies purchase vulnerability information about their
products from independent researchers and have them sign
non-disclosure agreements preventing them from telling anyone outside
the company about the flaws. What do you make of bartering crucial
information like that? I'm reminded of the federal agents who thanked
Lynn after his Black Hat presentation for giving them information
about their systems that Cisco didn't give them.
Moss: Yes, that was what was really frustrating. If Cisco is not even
telling the feds, then where does the greater good end and the profits
Mike Lynn, under the full-disclosure model that I subscribe to,
informed Cisco, and Cisco had plenty of time (before his presentation)
and released the patch.... Free research was done on Cisco's products.
It was a third party that invested time and money, and Cisco got a
benefit out of it. Well, everybody got a benefit out of it because it
made a better product and they fixed the problem in its current form.
And all everybody (else) gets out of it is a lot of misery and legal
bills. In my ideal world the vendor, Cisco, would be thanking Mike for
improving their product and apologizing to the community for not
finding the problem themselves.
WN: There has long been debate in the security community about making
companies legally responsible for releasing products with security
flaws. Should software companies be held responsible for failing to
disclose or act on information they discover about vulnerabilities in
products after releasing them?
Moss: I'm opposed to creating more laws. We have so many of them, and
they're so poorly enforced. But I think what we need is some sort of
guidance ... not necessarily a law forcing the companies to disclose a
bug, but ... some sort of protection for the bug finder. Is (bug
research and disclosure) considered protected speech, sort of like the
First Amendment? (Should there be) an exception under Digital
Millennium Copyright Act for reverse-engineering for security
purposes? It would be really nice to have some kind of uniformity. (So
that) people know, if you're doing security research in the United
States, this is how the game is played legally. There's not that kind
of clarity yet. And nobody wants to be the DMCA test case.
WN: Researchers often hold onto really big disclosures so they can
present them at conferences and make a splash. Should conferences
serve this function for revealing information like that?
Moss: I think the function of conferences is a very important one.
Researchers want to get a chance to be face to face with their peers
and share information and then to show off and push other people. It
advances the state of the art a bit.
I was asked by somebody in some three-letter (government) agency if I
planned to change anything about the show (after the problems this
year). Because they were concerned that if I had to neuter the content
or had to fundamentally change the way the show ran to try to avoid
these problems in the future, it would impact the quality of the
content. And they didn't want that to happen. They viewed the content
as valuable, and they were frightened that the Cisco-ISS deal would
have somehow affected what researchers do. I said no, that I can't see
changing anything. I think what we offer the public is valuable. I
think people in the government realize it's valuable, otherwise the
show wouldn't be so successful.
One of my concerns is that if you start punishing these researchers or
publicly threaten them with lawsuits, they'll just go underground, and
that really then doesn't offer the company any chance to communicate
with them or learn from them. Why risk getting sued by telling a
company about a bug?
Some researchers now just think that it's too much effort. They have
to play politician now (with the companies) when all they want to do
is play researcher.... There are some vulnerability-assessment tools
that have come out ... that (uncover) five or six vulnerabilities (in
software) that have never been announced. The (product) vendors don't
know about them. The people who write the tools are just busy writing
them, and they don't want to spend time holding the hand of all these
manufacturers. That's kind of interesting, because the first chance
that these vendors have of knowing there's a problem with their
product is when somebody calls them up and says, "Hey, I just
downloaded this tool and found five problems (in your product)."
WN: What benefits have come from the Ciscogate incident?
Moss: There were so many people sitting in that session who
immediately picked up the phone to call their IT departments and told
them to immediately patch all of their gear right now. That was kind
of funny because nobody ever messes with their Cisco gear. It sort of
works and nobody ever touches it. In one fell swoop, it forced
everybody to update their gear and not only fixed the Mike Lynn (bug),
but it fixed all of the previous Cisco bugs that nobody had bothered
to patch. So by Mike demonstrating (the problem), I think it made
everyone wake up ... and realize, hey, we've got to treat routers just
like we treat computers, and we've got to start patching and staying
on top of these patches.
Earn your Master's degree in Information Security ONLINE
Study IA management practices and the latest infosec issues.
Norwich University is an NSA Center of Excellence. | <urn:uuid:4e73fe20-a846-4e54-a321-b7a8ad335ab1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://artofhacking.com/ISN/2005/live/aoh_isn-1666.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972927 | 2,428 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Online, I spend time listening, attempting to separate signal from noise.
This started when I was in high school. Occasionally, I would egosurf, or search for my name on the Web. After college, when I began to use a feed reader, my listening became more routine. I could search and quickly add that search to my reader. Then, I could be lazy and forgetful--available stories were brought to me on demand. I didn't have to remember to go and find them.
Slowly, I broadened the topics that I listened for, amazed that I could track what's important and not become overwhelmed. Hitting "Mark All As Read" in a reader is much, much easier than declaring e-mail bankruptcy.
Currently, I listen for information about several specific areas:
me, Technola, Pro Bono Net, document assembly, and access to justice (legal aid, pro bono legal services, Legal Services Corporation,
and so on). Over time, I've changed these areas, refined the key words
and phrases that I listen for, and pulled in new sources as they've
surfaced, like Twitter and LexMonitor.
Listening helps me to stay informed. I often "hear" things that I wouldn't otherwise. Listening also gives me the opportunity to observe and participate in conversations that don't, and won't, happen in my offline life. Laura Quinn, Michelle Murrain, and Holly Ross are not going to show up at my house and talk nptech. But they do talk online, and I can meet up with them there. Listening helps me figure out where those good conversations are happening.
Do you listen online? If not, I challenge you to start listening today. Just follow these steps:
- Go to Google's Blog Search.
- Search for your name or your organization's name.
- Check out the results.
- Refine your search terms, if necessary.
Do this to make certain you are getting relevant results. For example, I don't have a very common name, so I use (Katherine OR Kate) AND Bladow. But someone with a more popular name might need to be more restrictive, say ("Jonathan Smith" OR "Jon Smith") AND Massachusetts.
- Subscribe with your reader or by e-mail, when you are satisfied with your results.
Ta Da! You are listening.
If you are listening already, I encourage you to step it up: refine your key words, add a new source, or move your e-mail alerts to a feed reader.
To learn more about listening, check out these resources:
- Beth Kanter - What is the value of listening to social media channels for your organization?
- Beth Kanter - Listening Literacy Skills: What keywords or phrases have brought you some insights?
- Amy Sample Ward - Live Blogging: 09NTC Mapping Your Social Media Strategy
- We Are Media - Module 1: Listening
- ProBlogger - Set Up ‘Alerts’ to Monitor What is Happening in Your Niche
So now it's your turn. Did you take my challenge? Either way I'd love to hear about what you are listening for, what tools you are using for listening, and any lessons that you've learned so far. If you aren't listening, tell me why not.
Come on. Speak up! I'm listening. - K
Kate Bladow is a Non-Profit Techie that works for Pro Bono Net by day and blogs at Technola by night | <urn:uuid:db2b8da7-c141-4a10-8bec-dba3a6a46c21> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2009/09/guest-post-by-kate-bladow-my-name-is-kate-and-im-a-listener.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934253 | 739 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Financial Aid Awareness Week: Understanding Your Credit
Date (Start and End):
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
129 Medical Sciences Building
Have you ever wondered what a credit report is and why credit scores are important? This session will cover the answers to those questions and the top 10 credit mistakes, tips on how to improve your credit score and much more.
Win a free Nook! Financial Aid Awareness Week 2013 will be held Monday, February 11th – Friday, February 15th. Students will be entered into a drawing to win a free Nook for each event attended. All events are FREE! | <urn:uuid:ff00018f-e375-4b35-b095-3b16472d6908> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mailto:som_web@wright.edu/events/financial-aid-awareness-week-understanding-your-credit | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931706 | 132 | 1.703125 | 2 |
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A Place For Everything, Everything In Its Place
Recently I was working with a client organizing her home office. She had dozens of books, many of them were motivational. She was leafing through them, discarding most. But she stopped on one, sayings she had to keep it. It was a book of leadership quotes. That got us talking about quotes and sayings.
After I left her I began thinking about sayings myself. I realized that there are number that apply to organizing. I also realized most were incredibly simplistic, yet so true. Just a few words convey ideas that, if followed, make life so much easier.
Here are two that came to mind:
A stitch in time saves nine. (Eliminate the evidence and tidy as you go.)
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. (If it takes less than two minutes do it now.)
But my all time favorite is this:
A place for everything and everything in its place.
Wow! That one sentence sums up the very essence of what being organized is all about. But if I were going to add anything to the statement it would be this: Designate a home based on where and how an item is used.
Do you have things in the right place or the wrong place? If you have to stop and think about where you stashed something, that is a clear sign that it is in the wrong location. If you have to fetch a regularly used item from a far away location, that's another sign that the item lives in the wrong place. This just adds work on both ends – retrieving and putting away. It erodes efficiency. And it increases the likelihood that clutter will take root.
So, what can you do? First of all, don't try to re-home all your belongings as once. If you attempt to do that, most likely it will feel like a bad game of musical chairs and you will probably wind up frustrated. Instead, as you initiate an activity, stop and think about the steps involved. Evaluate whether things could be placed in easier to access locations. If the answer is yes, tweak your set up. See how it feels. Pay attention to how easy it is to put stuff away. Do you need storage that is better suited to job? Expect a little trial and error. You may have try things a few different ways before it feels just right.
Why would you want to put this much effort into creating 'just right' homes for your belongings? First of all, you will save time. Lots of time as a matter of fact. If you can be more efficient each time you embark on an activity, you will have more time to dedicate to other things. You will also exert less mental and physical effort, that means less stress.
Another bonus, you will gain a real sense of control. Just knowing that you can lay your hands on what you need when you need will lower anxiety. If you live with other people, embracing the idea of a place for everything means stuff will not get 'lost'. If it has a home, everyone can participate in keeping clutter at bay, by putting things away.
The benefits are enormous. Reap them by reacquainting yourself with the space in your home. Look at it with a fresh eyes, assess what you do where. Then take a look at how you manage storage. Does it make sense? You might be surprised at what’s where. With a few tweaks you might be equally surprised at how much more efficient you can make it.
Get your free Clear Clutter and Learn How To Organize E-Course. It takes you through the clutter clearing and organizing process in six simple steps!
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Content copyright © 2013 by Kelly Jayne McCann. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Kelly Jayne McCann. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Kelly Jayne McCann for details.
Website copyright © 2013 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:ecfa679a-bdf5-4da6-81a5-fcc5ceda635e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52888.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962384 | 883 | 1.84375 | 2 |
I'm working on an iOS app that will also have a web component. When a user creates an account, their password will be salted and hashed. I already have the hashing algorithm working on the web-side.
When a new user creates an account in the app, should the iOS app hash their password and send that to the server to be directly inserted into the database? Or should their password be sent to the server in plain-text, and hashed there? Should it be encryted in-app, sent to the server, decrypted, then hashed? I'm just not sure what the best and most secure protocol is. I guess the same question goes for authenticating an existing user trying to sign in.
Also, at this point I don't have SSL set up on the server, but I'm certainly willing to do that if it helps with this. | <urn:uuid:9563554d-3a68-410e-8dcc-ad62c9ef1859> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/24322/ios-app-hash-user-password-in-app-or-on-server/24345 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961111 | 181 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Blog » caltrain railyards
- February 26, 2013By Tomiquia Moss, Community Planning Policy Director, and Sarah Karlinsky, Deputy Director
Could the Caltrain station and railyards at 4th and King streets be San Francisco’s next big planning opportunity? The current station is the node that links San Francisco to Silicon Valley and the peninsula. It’s also the hub of an extraordinary network of Muni rail lines: the N Judah, the T Third and soon the Central Subway, which will run down 4th Street before heading underground to Chinatown and North Beach. In addition, the area is served by numerous Muni bus lines. Very few places in the country enjoy this level of transit accessibility.
On the same site as the station are the Caltrain railyards: 19 acres stretching from 4th Street to 7th Street between King and Townsend. The railyards form an enormous barrier between Mission Bay and SoMA. Pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles can only cross the site at one intersection, and a tangle of 280 freeway ramps clutters the southwest edge of the site. Putting the right type of development here could knit together the surrounding neighborhoods, capitalize on the extensive transit access — and even help pay for important transportation projects.
A significant amount of regional transit planning is currently taking place in this area. Caltrain will be extended from 4th and King to San Francisco’s downtown, terminating at the new Transbay Transit Center. Caltrain itself is undergoing a transformation, replacing diesel cars with electric ones that will run more quickly and allow for faster turnarounds, thereby enhancing service. And high-speed rail will ultimately connect San Francisco to Los Angeles, with multiple trains per day stopping at 4th and King before heading to the Transbay Transit Center.
In our 2007 report A New Transit First Neighborhood, SPUR explored the opportunity to develop new buildings over the Caltrain station (using air rights, the rights to develop over a piece of land or infrastructure) as an opportunity to pay for expanding Caltrain and bringing high-speed rail into the Transbay Transit Center. Maximizing the transit oriented development opportunities at the 4th and King railyards could support one-time and on-going revenue for both transportation projects while also helping to better weave together Mission Bay, West SoMA and the Central Corridor.
Now the San Francisco Planning Department is considering ways to build on the railyards. The department recently released a report analyzing development opportunities for the site as a means to pay for transit improvements while knitting together the fabric of the adjacent neighborhoods at the same time.
Developing the Railyards: Three Options
The study outlines two development scenarios for the site: one where the air rights above the railyards are developed while the railyards remain in use (which would require decking over the railyards), and another where the railyards are moved to a new location allowing the entire site to be developed as a blank slate. The second scenario has two variations.
Here’s a summary of the three options:
Scenario 1: Decking Over the Railyards
The air rights scenario is consistent with existing high-speed rail and Caltrain plans, which presume that the railyards will remain in their current location. However, the need to deck over the railyards presents significant design and construction challenges, curtailing the ability to do good urban design along the edges of the site and limiting the amount of money the city could recapture for transit and other public infrastructure improvements.
Scenario 2.1: Moving the Railyards, Keeping the Freeway
The two “no railyards” scenarios present much better options to develop the site. The first of these assumes that the freeway ramps will remain as they are. This option allows for a better mix of uses and a better pedestrian experience than Scenario 1. It also allows for much more development capacity. However the value of the land is hampered by its proximity to Highway 280.
Scenario 2.2: Moving the Railyards, Removing the Freeway to 16th Street
This scenario is similar to the one above, except that the urban design and pedestrian experience would be even better due to the removal of the freeway ramps. Development becomes even more valuable when Highway 280 is replaced with a surface boulevard, allowing for greater value recapture.
In Scenarios 2.1 and 2.2 the potential value that could be created for the public sector ranges from $148 million to $228 million, presenting a substantial opportunity to fund transportation improvements in the area.
SPUR is excited about these proposals, particularly the ones outlined in Scenario 2. We hope that that San Francisco will begin to take the steps needed to bring them to reality.
Read the 4th and King Railyards Study >> | <urn:uuid:f2f68cfb-65cc-449e-aae3-284c16a0ac85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.spur.org/blog/tag/caltrain-railyards | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938798 | 990 | 1.625 | 2 |
PC Mass Effect Requires Internet Activation Every 10 Days to Work; Blood Sacrifice to Follow?
Remember how many people were up in arms about the PC version of BioShock’s copy protection, SecuROM, which limited people who bought the game legitimately from having it installed on more than two computers at once? Well apparently EA and BioWare don’t, since they’re using an even more restrictive version of the software in the upcoming PC release of Mass Effect. This version of the game will automatically authenticate your CD key with your PC every time you run the program, and will actually run this check on its own every five days as long as your computer is connected to the internet. If the game can’t find a connection, then it will still allow you to play the game for five days before locking up. At that point, you’ll have to contact customer support to get your beloved game unlocked again. Bottom line: you’ll have to re-authenticate your copy of Mass Effect online every ten days…forever. In other words, don’t leave your internet unplugged, don’t toss out an old computer without uninstalling the game first, and God forbid you should ever go on vacation and take the precaution of leaving your electronics unplugged.
Naturally, this raises a lot of issues with gamers. For one, nobody likes being treated like a criminal for legally purchasing a product for their own entertainment. Besides that, this makes you wonder if people will even be able to activate the game years later — seriously, I still crack open the original Fallout every few years without a fuss. At least they’re disclosing this now rather than after the game hit store shelves, like with BioShock. Of course, some people with enough free time won’t even need the ten days to finish with the game (hell, it took me three days to plow through it around Christmas time). Unfortunately though, it sounds like SecuROM isn’t going anywhere as far as EA is concerned, seeing as Spore will apparently use similar copy protection methods.
Via The Angry Pixel | <urn:uuid:65368a4e-c406-4f6f-939d-185330f46075> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gamefront.com/pc-mass-effect-requires-internet-activation-every-10-days-to-work-blood-sacrifice-to-follow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94772 | 441 | 1.546875 | 2 |
A visit to Schöning Verlag
Earlier in December last year, me, Paulo and a couple other postcrossers were invited on a special mission. We brought the Little Mail Carriers' cousin along for the ride, and he wrote this lively report:
Hallo from cold and snowy Lübeck, once capital of the Hanseatic league! You might have thought the reason we came all this way was to tour its UNESCO worthy architecture or try their worldwide famous marzipan... but you'd be wrong! We visited Lübeck because Schöning Verlag, one of Germany's top makers of touristic postcards, has a factory here, and invited us to come see how postcards are made! Isn't that exciting?!
Turns out, Bernd and Jana, two of Schöning's employees (and our hosts in this visit), discovered Postcrossing not so long ago, and embraced it wholeheartedly! Look at the wall of postcards they've set up in their office:
Neat hum? How nice it must be, to do Postcrossing when you have literally thousands of postcards to chose from! :D
But how are they made? We've learnt that there are many steps involved in the process... and huge machinery!
Before printing, postcards must be designed, and Schöning has a team of designers in house to cover that task. Something we've discovered on our visit, is that a specific postcard is never printed by itself, but as a part of set postcards currently in demand. A technician groups these postcards together in a large sheet, and checks it for mistakes. After that, the fun begins!
Here is a picture of Paulo, holding an aluminium printing plate - you can see the outline of what they're currently printing in there! Schöning has to make several of these plates for each set of postcards, one plate for each colour that their big machine prints in... here it is, the Heidelberg Speedmaster!
It is huge, filling up a whole section of their warehosue, and paper flashes through its several colour sections at an incredible speed! The sheets are constantly checked and adjusted, so that the colors have the right brightness and contrast every time. Then, they are fed to another machine, which gives them a shiny coating. Again, sheets whoosh past so fast that if you blink, you'll miss them!
In the end, a technician cuts the individual postcards using a very sofisticated (and scary) cutting machine, and they're wrapped in sets, which are then stored in Schöning's huge warehouse. It was postcard-heaven!
They also have neat old machines, like this Heidelberg press, which at the time was being used to cut out heart-shapes on some postcards - cute!
In the end, there was still time to tour Lübeck's Unesco historical center and drink some glühwein in the Christmas market with friendly postcrossers turtles and mondkind, who took the time to show us around.
Coming back at the end of the day, we were all exhausted, but incredibly happy, and felt like we learned a lot in this exciting trip. Thank you Schöning for inviting us, and showing us the ropes! :)
PS - Schöning Verlag offered Postcrossing an advertising opportunity on their paperbags, and we're asking members to vote on a design to print. Check out this forum thread for more information, and to cast your vote! | <urn:uuid:27cadd72-479d-4199-a1df-291eba338fa2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.postcrossing.com/blog/2013/01/14/a-visit-to-schoening-verlag | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967493 | 734 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Japanese scientists have just invented a contraption to give facial therapeutic massages across the country's spas and hospitals. The WAO-1 robot (Waseda Asahi Oral Rehabilitation Robot 1) is designed to give fine massages, including facial ones for those with jaw-related illnesses. The robot was designed by Atsuo Takanishi and does a much more thorough job that coin operated machine chairs.
Great for anyone who doesn't like others invading their personal space, but not so great for the good old masseur and masseuse, or lovers of the traditional massage experience.
3,227 clicks in 293 w
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Mario has kidnapped Junior's Papa!
Donkey Kong Jr. was originally released in the arcades in 1982 as a sequel to Donkey Kong. In this game, Mario plays the antagonist, finally having captured Donkey Kong, and has put the ape in a locked cage. As Donkey Kong Jr., players will have to make their way through four different levels (Vines, Springboard, Chains and Mario's Hideout) in an attempt to find keys to free the little monkey's Father.
Along the way, Mario will send out Snapjaws, swooping purple birds, and electric sparks in an attempt to stop Junior. Junior can defend himself by dropping fruit found around the levels on the heads of his foes. The more foes a piece of fruit hits in a falling sequence, the higher bonus points can be scored.
Junior can also avoid enemies more easily by grabbing hold of two chains or vines at a time to climb away faster, or by jumping over his foes. However, any long fall or falling into the water on certain levels will mean the loss of a life for Junior.
In the final cut scene, Junior will free Donkey Kong and both will escape after giving Mario the boot. Once all four levels are cleared, the game levels will start over at a higher difficulty.
Like the original Donkey Kong, the earlier 1980's console versions do not have all of the levels and animations from the arcade.
- "ドンキーコングJR．" -- Japanese spelling
- "Donkey Kong Jr.-e" -- e-Reader title
- "Donkey Kong Jr." -- Title on most versions
- "Donkey Kong Jr" -- ColecoVision in-game title
Part of the Following Groups
There are no reviews for the Atari 7800 release of this game. You can use the links below to write your own review or read reviews for the other platforms of this game.
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Atari 2600 port
Surprisingly, Donkey Kong Jr.
for the Atari 2600 was probably the poorest conversion in the history of the franchise. It was over-simplified in every aspect and almost unplayable. That must have been one of the main reasons Nintendo later enforced such strict standards on third party developers.
Donkey Kong Junior
had a breakfast cereal released in 1983 by Ralston-Purina. It had strawberry and banana shaped and flavored cereals.
Donkey Kong Jr.
was popular enough to have a Saturday morning TV cartoon based on it in the early 1980's. DK Jr. would often use "Monkey Muscles" as his catchphrase.
This is the only Nintendo game where Mario is portrayed as a villain.
Information also contributed by
- Issue 04/1984 – Hand-held/Minigames of the Year 1983 (Readers' Vote) | <urn:uuid:97fa9593-a3b1-4d86-b50b-8a8f3fe054b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-7800/donkey-kong-junior | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939425 | 590 | 1.554688 | 2 |
It’s officially monsoon season here in Jeolla. When we got here we thought a monsoon was a big storm. Turns out, we were wrong. A monsoon is a season with a fairly specific, Wiki-accessible definition. Sometimes there are amazing storms (Typhoons) with 90mph winds and torrential downpours that knock out our neighbors windows and push me down. Some times there are bright, hot, clear, sunny days where there is no escape from the sun. Many days there is a constant foggy drizzle that saturates everything, bloats your books and frizzes your hair. It is 100% humid all the time.
100% humidity, isn’t that rain? you ask. Or fog? Not necessarily. 100% humidity is washing the dishes at night, sleeping 8 hours, and waking up to wet dishes. 100% humidity is having the dog nap on your bed while you’re at work and drool on your bedding.
Then, the drool spot is still there when you get home, still there when you go to bed, still there when you go to work the next day (I’m calling Guiness soon.) 100% humidity means never straightening your hair, cause it will be a spring factory an hour later.
Generally speaking, Monsoon season is a soggy mess of heat and wet. The air stays misty and damp, the mist slowly getting heavier until you’re walking through huge mist droplets that begin slowly settling to the ground, then growing bigger until you realize they’re raindrops, which continue to get bigger, and heavier, until you’re trapped in a steady rain that will last all day. Or it will build into a huge gully-washer with thunder that makes the kids (and some teachers) scream in the halls of school.
It also has interesting side effects re: sweating. I (Mike) wore a nice orange shirt in to work the other day. By some miscommunication, my co-teacher had to leave a class unattended, and I was forced to fill in. This nervousness, combined with the humidity, left me with definite sweat-rings about the size of dinner plates under both arms. I was doing pretty well until I had to raise my arms to point at things, and noticed the kids were pointing at their armpits and laughing. They were also pointing at me. And laughing.
Here’s one lesson to take from this: if you ever want to amuse a room full of Korean third graders, try some sweaty armpits. Endlessly entertaining. It made discipline a challenge, though. I had to turn mean for a minute, giving them the meanest face I have, and when they’d settled down and when I resumed teaching I had to do it T-Rex style, elbows pinned to my waist. And nothing’s cooler, or classier, than that. And no, there are no photos.
How does Remi like the monsoon season? Well, last year we learned the hard way that heavy fur six inches long can carry an extra five pounds of monsoon water after a decent walk in the rain. So this year, we’ve shaved him nearly bald. He HATES gettting shaved, in fact when we approach the groomers he tries hard to go the other way. But he’s much more comfortable now, though he looks a bit like a pointer/dalmation.
When the monsoons end we will be enjoy the ripe juicy figs, pods bursting with sesame seeds, persimmons, pumpkins, rice, and gourds galore, and it will be good.
There will be cool breezes and drier air, though we know the ‘death heat’ is also just around the corner. But until then, bring on the moisture.
We don’t have air-conditioning, just 3 fans that push the air around and two awesome doors to create a pretty decent cross breeze. Sometimes we go hide in air–conditioned restaurants, but mostly we just suck it up. Put on a pair of galoshes, grab an umbrella, and go for a hike.
There is are two summer foods that we just LOVE to beat the humidity. Mul Neng Mien (ice water soup) and Pat Bing Su. Mul Neneg Mien is the best cold soup ever! It is made
with soba noodles, juilianed cucumbers, Asian pears, and white radish. The broth is made of kimchi juice. It is frozen and half defrosted, then the boiling hot soba noodles are tossed in, leaving little chopped icebergs floating. It is served with half a hard boiled egg, mustard, and rice vinegar. It is crisp, tart, filling, and refreshing. Oh, and it is served in a metal bowl, so it cools your hands too.! My other big favorite is Pat Bing Su.
Traditional Pat Bing Su is a big bowl filled with shaved ice, sweet red beans, little rice cakes, gummy candies, and a scoop of ice cream. Umm, yeah. I’m not a big fan of the original. But there are a million varieties. Choco banana Pat Bing Su has chocolate shaved ice, banana slices, chocolate ice cream and syrup, oreos, and fancy rolly cookies.
Most of your fruits have a Pat Bing Su. Blueberry Pat Bing Su, Mango Pat Bing Su and the mother of all Pat Bing Su: Mixed fruit Pat Bing Su has juice shaved ice, a medley of fresh and canned fruits, gummies, sweet rice cakes, berry syrup, and berry ice cream. So good. It’s like diabetes in a bowl! If that doesn’t beat the heat it is time to move home. | <urn:uuid:1e574cfc-c67d-4106-826f-c2b6655fe784> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jeollanamdosalad.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/the-monsoons/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942703 | 1,223 | 1.539063 | 2 |
WASHINGTON - The US said a proposed conference on banning nuclear
weapons in the Middle East cannot
be convened at this point because of current conditions in the region. Washington canceled the conference for fear that it would focus on Israel rather than on Iran's nuclear program.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement released Friday that the US "regrets to announce that the conference cannot be convened because of present conditions in the Middle East and the fact that states in the region have not reached agreement on acceptable conditions for a conference.
"The United States will continue to work seriously with our partners to create conditions for a meaningful conference. We are particularly grateful for the tireless efforts of Ambassador Jaakko Laajava, the appointed facilitator, supported by the United States,
the United Kingdom,
the Russian Federation and the UN Secretary General, to lay the groundwork for a successful conference against the backdrop of turmoil and dramatic political change taking place in the Middle East and Iran’s
continuing defiance of its international nonproliferation obligations," the statement read.
Netanyahu (L) and Obama (Archive photo: Reuters)
According to Nuland, the US believes that a "deep conceptual gap persists in the region on approaches toward regional security and arms control arrangements. These differences can only be bridged through direct engagement and agreement among the states in the region. Outside states cannot impose a process on the region any more than they can dictate an outcome.
"Looking ahead, we encourage states in the region to take a fresh look at the obstacles standing in the way of convening a conference and to begin to explore terms for a successful meeting. This will require that all parties agree on the purpose and scope of a conference and on an agenda and process that takes into account the legitimate security interests of all states in the region. We believe that this conference should discuss a broad agenda that covers regional security and all WMD issues, and that it must operate solely on the basis of consensus among regional parties," the State Department spokeswoman said.
"The United States will continue to work with our partners to support an outcome in which states in the region approach this issue on the basis of mutual respect and understanding and with acknowledgement of the challenges inherent in advancing regional security and arms control. A conference handled this way, with direct engagement of the regional states, will enjoy the greatest prospects for success," according to the statement.
"The United States fully supports the goal of a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction and we stand by our commitments. We further note our view that a comprehensive and durable peace in the region and full compliance by all regional states with their arms control and nonproliferation obligations are essential precursors for the establishment of such a zone." | <urn:uuid:cf6d26d3-c8ca-4610-8a62-c0e899e1fc47> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4310980,00.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943081 | 561 | 1.726563 | 2 |
- 03 February 2011
- As the world’s largest technology company, what was HP’s role in the COP16 negotiation events and negotiation process?
HP's role at COP16, as with previous years, was to demonstrate our support and solutions for international action to mitigate climate change. We consider COP to be an ideal global forum with a highly influential audience - giving us a unique venue to demonstrate the breadth of environmental and business benefits of HP technology. Additionally this year, HP was selected as the IT provider for COP, and we were honored to have won this highly competitive bid.
- Tell us more about the competitive bid that HP won to provide the COP16 with a full suite of low-carbon IT solutions; this included video collaboration to reduce travel-related carbon emissions and more. What was the impact of this project?
We were thrilled that the Mexican government selected HP's energy-efficient portfolio -- including desktop and notebook PCs, printers, data center and networking equipment and supplies -- to power COP. We were told we won the bid based on our environmental credentials and commitment, the energy efficiency of our offerings, and our price competitiveness. HP also showcased its videoconferencing solutions in Cancun. Several COP16 participants attended remotely through the power of HP Visual Collaboration. We also set up two UN Climate Walls in Cancun -- one in the Moon Palace and one in the Climate Village -- which enabled connectivity between the negotiators and the non-accredited attendees outside the main talks. It was an effective and fun showcase of how technology could enable real-time connectivity without travel time and cost, and carbon emissions.
- At the fifth annual Climate Leaders summit hosted by The Climate Group on the sidelines of COP16, you mentioned the unique role that HP plays in changing consumer behavior to move toward scalable energy efficiency and waste reduction. How is HP influencing this important shift?
We believe it's both technology and behavior that is needed -- and we're stepping up to the plate on both. Much of the technology is available today, the more widespread adoption of which could reduce emissions by 15% of more from business-as-usual by 2020. Behavior is equally important. Businesses and governments need to design the pathways and provide the incentives to help people become more sustainable. HP has an advantage here with its large consumer touch -- a billion people rely on HP technologies every day, we ship 3.5 products each second. Coupled with our 300,000 employee workforce and the IT industry's largest supply chain, this gives us tremendous opportunity to affect positive change.
- Are there government policies in place that are enabling this transformation? What more is needed?
I'm a big advocate for incentives, both for consumers and for business. It triggers the right kind of positive behavior and forward momentum. A good example is the Green IT stimulus grants for data center design from the U.S. Department of Energy last year. HP was awarded $7.4M for a power supply chain project. Incentives for consumers to choose energy-efficient IT products are also a big win-win.
- What can we expect to see from HP in the next 6 months in terms of innovation that will drive the clean revolution?
You'll see us continuing to focus on delivering HP solutions that help people and businesses reduce waste and increase energy efficiency - in their homes, offices, data centers and beyond. And, we'll continue to pioneer IT solutions that replace outmoded, inefficient processes and behaviors with more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives - such as our HP Visual Collaboration solutions -- reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions and costs.
Engelina Jaspers is responsible for advancing HP's global leadership position in sustainability. Her team develops initiatives aimed at driving meaningful results for HP, its customers and the environment; manages partnerships with external stakeholders; leads employee education and engagement; and drives HP environmental goals, metrics and strategies.
Jaspers joined HP in 1998 and has held senior roles at both the business group and corporate level. She has led a number of transformational initiatives across HP focused on organization design, optimization and deployment. | <urn:uuid:7620ad91-54df-44e8-baea-504a062cf7a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theclimategroup.org/what-we-do/interviews/Engelina-Jaspers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959717 | 834 | 1.601563 | 2 |
“Exiting from the Crisis: Towards a Model of More Equitable and Sustainable Growth” is a new book (over 270 pages) now available on line.allowing the U.S. to default on its debt would have widespread consequences for the U.S. and world economies, including potentially pushing the U.S. back into a recession or, in the words of Princeton Professor Alan Blinder, “reignit[ing] the world financial crisis.” And as the Wall Street Journal noted today, failure to raise the debt ceiling would force draconian spending cuts that would wipe out all of the anticipated 2011 economic growth in just 95 days
This volume of essays from global trade union leaders and economists is the product of the Global Unions Taskforce on a New Growth Model, a joint project of the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD, the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Global Union Research Network (GURN).William K Black on cost-benefit analysis and Mitch Daniels on the New Economic Perspectives from Kansas City blog
The task force involved more than 30 global trade union economists .... from a wide array of advanced, emerging and developing countries. The report includes a Preface by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, and fills a long-standing need to set out the global labour movements economic alternatives in a systematic fashion.
Daniels warmed up his global warming denial audience (pun intended) with this joke, which he said he often shared with his daughter. Many of us who are parents look for these opportunities to mix family meals and an opportunity for moral instruction. This is how Daniels relates his efforts at teaching moral reasoning:One of the nice things about this post from Black is a list of 15 cases that undermine the argument that any economic regulation harms consumers.'If James Carville and Geraldo Rivera were both drowning, and you could only save one [laughter], would you read the paper, or eat lunch [laughter and applause]?'Altruism is, as Ayn Rand stressed, a grave error. To be a Good Samaritan, particularly to save the life of someone who disagrees with you, is not a mitzvah but an unpardonable sin. It follows that one should teach their children that the correct response to learning that a person is drowning and only they can save a life – is to let them drown – while noshing. The death of those who disagree with us is a cause for celebration [“laughter and applause”].
Doug Henwood "What Financial Emergency"
Close examination of the CBO's projections cannot support anything resembling hysteria. The two things that have everyone terrified, Social Security and Medicare, actually look quite unthreatening.
In 2010, Social Security spending was 4.8% of GDP. In 2021, the CBO projects it will be 5.3%, an increase of 0.5 point. In 2010, Medicare spending (less premiums paid by beneficiaries) was 3.1% of GDP. In 2021, the CBO projects it will be 3.6%, also an increase of 0.5 point.
Ron Baiman explains how tax increases on just the upper 10% offamilies, restoring their income to 1973 inflation adjusted levels,would immediately erase the federal deficit.
In other words, the budgetary monsters that are supposed to be the ruin of the American way of life will increase their share of the national economy by about 1%. That's a bit less than what the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing us, and less than half the cost of the Bush tax cuts.
Kathy Ruffing "What the 2011 Trustees' Report Shows About Social Security" Center for Budget Policies and Priorities
“The revenue loss over the next 75 years from making all of those [Bush]tax cuts permanent would be two and one-half times the entire Social Security shortfall over that period. Indeed, the revenue loss just from extending the tax cuts for people making over $250,000 — the top 2 percent of Americans — would itself be almost as large as the Social Security shortfall over the 75-year period. (See Figure 1.) Members of Congress cannot simultaneously claim that the tax cuts are affordable while the Social Security shortfall constitutes a dire fiscal threat.” | <urn:uuid:5bad964c-cc21-49ea-a3ca-1bed08801e76> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newappeal.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940423 | 879 | 1.617188 | 2 |
As the world spreads holiday cheer, technology companies are busy battling trademark and patent infotainment cases in court. The wireless world has been involved in a suite of lawsuits and legal battles recently, including RIM, Asus, HTC, iPhone and Motorola.
Asus Transformer Prime Primed for Infringement of Hasbro Transformer Toys & More
The most popular tablet of the holidays is the Asus Transformer Prime. Hasbro, the maker of the Transformer toys doesn't like the trademark infringement by Asus. Hasbro has filed a suit against Asus for the use of the "Transformer" name.
Hasbro is suing Asus for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution. Hasbro is asking for financial damages and an order preventing Asus form using the "Transformer" name, which has been used for a line of tiny robotic toys since 1984. The toys are then featured in comic books, cartoons and motion pictures.
"Hasbro continues to aggressively protect its brands and products and the specific actions we are taking today against Asus underscores yet again Hasbro's willingness to pursue companies who misappropriate our intellectual property for their own financial gain," the company said in a statement quoted in various news reports.
Trademark Blues for BlackBerry
RIM is being sued by BBM Canada, a sixt-year old broadcasting association for using BBM for the BlackBerrry Messenger.
RIM's response included the following:
"Since its launch in July 2005, the BlackBerry Messenger has become a tremendously popular social networking service. In 2010, RIM started to formally adopt the BBM acronym, which had, at that point, already been organically coined and widely used by BlackBerry Messenger customers as a natural abbreviation of the BlackBerry Messenger name."
HTC called their loss a win in the 647 patent infringement case in which the International Trade Commission ruled that HTC was copying some elements of the iPhone. HTC said they have removed the infringing feature. Apple's patent (647 patent) is for data detection that enables users to tap on a telephone number or address contained in an e-mail to immediately call the number or find the address on a map.
Apple Photo Patent vs. Motorola Android
Motorola and Apple are in a patent "war of attribution" in a German court for the "zoom in" mode in the Android photo gallery in relation to a photo patent. Experts expect Motorola to remove the offending features.
Legal M & Ms - Microsoft and Motorola
Microsoft won a small victory in a preliminary ruling by the ITC. ITC found that Motorola's Android devices infringed on aspects of a Microsoft patent, even though Motorola did not violate six of the seven patents. A final decision will be made in April 2012. | <urn:uuid:b2e9eee0-5a97-44d4-b758-5610f9b078d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wirelessandmobilenews.com/2011/12/lawsuit-suite-transformer-prime-blackberry-messenger.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935802 | 558 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Facebook and the way it collects data is again is in the news, in an issue related to the recent fuzz about its new Beacon service. The Beacon scandal seems to be a fire Facebook cannot quench adequately.
Beacon in a nutshell before discussing the newest twist to the story: it is a service whereby when you buy at participating companies while logged in to Facebook, information about your purchase is broadcasted to Facebook, and through them to the people on your friend list (which can be very embarasing). The problem was, that many Facebook users didn’t bargain for that kind of invasion of their privacy, and (and that was the main problem) it turned out to be very cumbersome to opt-out of this. It resulted in active protest from facebook users and Facebook had to adopt the system.
It turns out however, that behind the scenes the data are still collected - even when you are logged out from Facebook! Relevant news article is here.
Going to the original topic of this thread and tying this new twist into it: so basically, through Facebook and whether you want it or not, information is gathered about what you buy, and this information is directly tied to your ID. While this happens more often (e.g. with supermarket client passes etc.), the point is that again it looks like Facebook just wants to collect as much data about you and your habits as possible - not only your friends circle, but also your purchases etc.
All those in favour of the theory that Facebook founder and Harvard drop-out Zuckerberg is just a CIA operative recruited in one of their recruiting campaigns among students, please raise your hand and say “Aye”....
[size=1]To my fellow Facebook subscribed MoH members: if dubious items show up in your notifications as having been “purchased” by me: it is all true…[/size] | <urn:uuid:200abc12-af87-4edf-bb23-287f37d8a899> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/forums/viewthread/3208/P33/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964996 | 385 | 1.8125 | 2 |
The Senate tax-cut bill released last night includes provisions designed to increase production of biodiesel fuel and hybrid automobiles and to extend the current 45-cent per gallon tax credit for ethanol through the end of 2011. But, the overall tax-cut bill is facing some opposition by House Democrats.
The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) will be extended through 2011 if the tax bill released by the U.S. Senate last night is ultimately passed. But, the overall bill to extend expiring Bush-era tax cuts is receiving objection from House Democrats concerned about tax cut provisions for the wealthiest Americans. House Democrats voted not to allow the bill to reach the floor without changes, reported the Associated Press.
The Senate bill includes tax provisions designed to increase production of biodiesel fuel and hybrid automobiles and to extend the current 45-cent per gallon tax credit for ethanol through the end of 2011.
Ethanol advocates welcomed the news that the ethanol tax credit would be extended in the Senate bill. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen said the bill “is a common sense approach that will ensure American ethanol production continues to evolve.” Dinneen added that RFA urges Congress to “move expeditiously to pass the legislation. Then, honest and good faith discussions about how we reform all energy tax policy--including for all oil and ethanol technologies—can occur.”
Brian Jennings, executive vice president, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), stated, “Inclusion of this one-year extension of ethanol tax incentives proves that despite shameless attacks by special interests threatened by ethanol, bipartisan support remains strong in Congress.”
Tom Buis, CEO, Growth Energy, added that an extension of the ethanol tax credit “will give the industry certainty, and Congress the opportunity, to move forward with reforms that will remove the infrastructure barriers to the fuels market . . .”
The Associated Press reported that President Obama expects that the bill will pass because “nobody—Democrat or Republican—wants to see people’s paychecks smaller on January 1 because Congress didn’t act [on tax cuts].”
Time will tell. We’ll report what happens next. | <urn:uuid:e6670280-db3b-4b16-b3dd-05596acce210> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://farmindustrynews.com/print/ethanol/ethanol-tax-credit-included-tax-cut-compromise | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932516 | 462 | 1.625 | 2 |
Wagner : Tristan e IsoldaBayreuth, 1952 (Audio)
Director: Herbert von Karajan
Archivos para descarga:
The young Vinay was encouraged by his mother to learn to sing. He commenced his opera career as a baritone in Mexico in 1938. He later switched to tenor, making a second debut in 1943 and forging a successful international career after World War II . Vinay eventually returned to the baritone fold in 1962 and retired from the stage in 1969.
Even as a tenor, however, his vocal timbre retained its dark, baritonal colouration.
Son of Jean Vinay Robert and Rosa Sepúlveda. Born in Chillán, Chile, Vinay earned particular renown throughout the operatic world for his interpretation of the role of Otello. For a time, he made the part his own. Perhaps his most significant appearance as Otello occurred in 1947, in a radio broadcast of the opera under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. His colleagues on this occasion were Herva Nelli, Giuseppe Valdengo and Nan Merriman, together with the NBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. This performance was subsequently issued by RCA Victor on both LP and CD. In recent years, it has appeared on CDs issued by other companies, notably on the Guild label. Many critics consider it the best complete Otello ever recorded.
A fine actor, Vinay was also the first tenor to sing the role of Otello on television. That was in 1948, in the initial telecast of an entire opera from the Met. He also sang Otello at La Scala, in Salzburg and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In all, he performed it hundreds of times. He is said to be the only opera singer to have sung both Otello and Iago (the baritone villain) in Verdi's tragic masterpiece during the course of a career.
Vinay's overall tenor repertoire was comparatively ample. It also embraced heavy Wagnerian roles (he sang at the Bayreuth Festival in 1952-57), as well as Canio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Don José in Bizet's Carmen and Samson in Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila. Apart from Iago, the baritone parts which he performed included Telramund, Bartolo, Falstaff and Scarpia.
He died in Mexico, aged 84.
Herbert von Karajan | <urn:uuid:50e267ca-2c51-4e98-89d6-385c919065b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.todoperaweb.com.ar/musica/opera/wagner-tristan-e-isolda-id-3963.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957787 | 525 | 1.601563 | 2 |
British productions of Chekhov's works, acknowledged as masterpieces, have often, by concentrating too hard on attempting to capture the essence of Russian 'soul', fallen into melancholy. While writing The Cherry Orchard, Chekhov himself was uncertain how it would turn out. It was with some surprise that in 1904, having finished it, he announced 'I'm afraid it has turned out to be not a drama but a comedy, and in places even a farce'.
Reviews of this 1954 production, adapted and directed by John Gielgud were particularly impressed with Gielgud's 'extraordinarily complete stage realisation of the peculiar elasticity of Slav melancholy ... so sad and yet so full of fun, turning as suddenly from serious comedy to farce as from farce to pathos'. Trevor Howard, seen here as Lopakhin, the wealthy peasant who buys the decaying Ranyevsky estate, was also praised for capturing the character's ambivalent 'uneasy triumph'. Howard is best known now as a film actor, especially for his role in the 1945 film of Noël Coward's Brief Encounter. | <urn:uuid:ccf18294-cb90-4755-ac65-7cf2c5ba11f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vam.ac.uk/users/node/8644 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981944 | 232 | 1.5 | 2 |
Recent attacks in Afghanistan's capital:
-Sept. 20: An insurgent with a bomb wrapped in his turban assassinates former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was leading a government effort to broker peace with the Taliban. The explosion kills four bodyguards and also wounds of a key presidential adviser working to lure Taliban fighters off the battlefield.
-Sept. 13: Taliban insurgents fire rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles at the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and other buildings, killing seven Afghans in the coordinated daylight attack. No embassy or NATO staff members were hurt.
-Aug. 19: Taliban suicide bombers storm the British Council, the U.K.'s international cultural relations body, killing eight people during an eight-hour firefight as two English language teachers and their bodyguard hid in a locked panic room on the anniversary of the country's independence from Britain.
-July 17: Gunmen strapped with explosives kill a close adviser to President Hamid Karzai and a member of parliament. Jan Mohammed Khan was an adviser to Karzai on tribal issues and was close to the president as a fellow Pashtun.
-June 29 - Nine insurgents armed with explosive vests, rifles and rocket launchers storm the InterContinental Hotel, killing at least 12 people and holding off NATO and Afghan forces for five hours.
-June 18: Insurgents wearing Afghan army uniforms storm a police station near the presidential palace and open fire on officers, killing nine.
-May 21: A suicide bomber dressed in an Afghan soldier's uniform slips inside the main military hospital in Kabul and kills six Afghan medical students.
-April 27: A veteran Afghan military pilot opens fire at Kabul's airport, killing eight U.S. troops and an American civilian contractor.
-April 18: A suicide attacker sneaks past security at the Defense Ministry, killing two Afghan soldiers and fatally wounding an Afghan army officer.
-Feb. 14: A suicide bomber attacks Kabul's first Western-style shopping mall, killing two security guards at the entrance.
-Jan. 28: A suicide bomber attacks a Western-style supermarket, killing eight inside.
-Jan. 12: A suicide bomber on a motorbike targets a minibus carrying Afghan intelligence employees, killing at least two and wounding more than 30.
-Dec. 19: Two insurgents strapped with explosives ambush a bus carrying Afghan army officers to work, killing five and wounding nine.
-Nov. 12: A suicide attacker strikes an American convoy, killing one civilian.
-Aug. 10: Two suicide bombers attack a private security company's building, killing two of its drivers.
-June 2: Insurgents fire rockets at the site of a national peace conference, where Taliban fighters wearing suicide vests battle security forces. Two militants are killed.
-May 18: A Taliban suicide bomber attacks a NATO convoy, killing 18 people including five U.S. troops and a Canadian soldier.
-April 19: An explosion at an Afghan National Army facility just outside the capital kills an U.S. soldier.
-Feb. 26: Suicide attackers strike two residential hotels, killing 20 people, including seven Indian nationals.
-Jan. 26: A suicide car bomber strikes a barrier outside a U.S. base in Kabul, wounding six Afghans and eight U.S. troops.
-Jan. 18: A team of suicide bombers and gunmen target government buildings, killing five people. Seven of the attackers were also killed.
The Associated Press | <urn:uuid:43252c57-580a-4d53-af5e-d50d151919d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/20/recent-attacks-in-the-afghan-capital-of-kabul/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932488 | 714 | 1.671875 | 2 |
February 14, 2013
S.Korea: New Cruise Missile Can Target 'Anywhere' in N.Korea
South Korea showed off a new cruise missile on Thursday that defense officials say has the ability to strike "anywhere at anytime" in North Korea.
Seoul's military is on a heightened state of alert after North Korea's latest nuclear test, which prompted international condemnation and raised tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok touted the pinpoint accuracy of the missile, which he says has now been officially deployed.
"The cruise missile we will show the public today is an extremely accurate weapon that can target precise targets - such as windows of a North Korean command office - anywhere in the Korean peninsula. It is extremely destructive and powerful and will restrict the enemy in case South Korea is threatened."
The Defense Ministry did not specify the exact range of the missile, but released footage of it being launched from a submarine and destroyer and hitting precision targets on land.
South Korea reached a deal last year with the United States to expand the range of its ballistic missiles - a move Seoul says is necessary to counter the growing threat of Pyongyang's weapons.
Washington has reassured its allies in the region of its commitment to their security following North Korea's nuclear test on Tuesday. President Barack Obama pledged protection under the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" during a telephone call Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The White House says the two leaders are working together to seek strong action against North Korea at the United Nations Security Council, which has already unanimously condemned the test.
Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier Wednesday a "strong and credible" international response is necessary. He said failure to respond firmly risks damaging the credibility of global nonproliferation efforts. | <urn:uuid:813acf7f-b3f6-4219-8359-7a9395502b12> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.voanews.com/articleprintview/1603377.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949568 | 360 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Sometimes, I’m fascinated with young-Earth creationist (YEC) positions on certain topics. It kinda falls under the category of “Why are you wasting energy worrying about THIS?” Like with Conservapedia taking the time to complain that black holes are liberal pseudoscience.
The issue du jour has to do with extraterrestrial life. For some reason, YECs just can’t even entertain the idea that there may be other life off this planet that did not originate here.
I think that the root of this is in a literal interpretation (yes, interpretation) of the Bible. Which shouldn’t be a surprise, but stick with me a moment longer. YECs and other biblical literalists like to say that everything in the Bible is 100% True exactly as it was written by their deity. In the Bible, it apparently says that Jesus died for all our sins and they were all the sins of mankind. Well obviously that means that Jesus did not die for aliens’ sins and therefore aliens don’t exist.
Other Bible readers have no problem with ET life, though. They say things like the Bible was written for us and just left out all the stuff about aliens. That believing life isn’t out there is limiting their god because why couldn’t it have created life out there, too?
YECs counter that the Heavens Declare the Glory of God (I think that’s a psalm or something) and that Jesus would have had to go to every planet with intelligent life and died for the sins of that species and the Bible doesn’t say anything about that. Since the Bible is a complete record of all that stuff, then since it’s not in there, it didn’t happen (I swear folks, I’m not making this up). I guess that means that cars aren’t real but wizards are.
As evidence for my hypothesis, I offer a full CMI article on the subject or several quotes:
“The Vatican astronomer’s comments about the possible existence of extraterrestrial life are the inevitable outcomes of allowing man’s word preeminence over God’s Word, instead of using the Bible as our starting point with which to interpret the universe.” from AiG.
Or “As we’ve written before, the Bible does not teach that God did not create life beyond earth; it is silent on that possibility. Yet, reading Scripture holistically, the implication is that earth (and especially humanity) is at the center of the cosmic stage. That view, combined with the lack of evidence for either evolution or extraterrestrial life, leaves us quite doubtful about ET—truly skeptical, unlike many modern scientists who have put their faith in evolution.” from AiG.
“Creation scientists maintain that we will never receive messages or entertain intergalactic visitors from deep space simply because there are no such civilizations out there. “As far as the Scriptures are concerned, they teach unequivocally that the earth is uniquely the abode of man [Psalm 115:16 and Acts 17:20]… It seems grotesque and blasphemous to suggest that the tragedy of Calvary’s cross should be repeated on millions of other planets, for the benefit of other unknown and hypothetical members of God’s creation.”5 Theoretical speculations and imaginative evolution-based predictions aside, all research beyond Earth has shown that when it comes to organic life — we’re it.” from ICR.
Even though I don’t think it’s relevant, I figured I should insert my own opinion on the issue. After all, it’s only fair considering that I’m analyzing someone else’s. I’m an ET life agnostic. I personally think that the hypothesis that ET life exists is not science because it is not falsifiable – we can never prove it doesn’t exist because you can always say, “Well, we just can’t detect it yet.”
Does that mean I don’t think it’s out there? I think it’s possible. I think that the study of extremophiles – lifeforms that exist in seemingly toxic environments like extremely acidic or temperatures above boiling or below freezing – is really interesting. I think the recent studies that have found amino acids on asteroids is really neat.
I also do think that if life arose here, it’s quite likely to have arisen elsewhere. But that’s really as far as I’m willing to go on the issue.
The Topic At-Hand
The reason for this blog post is a Creation Ministries International (CMI) article on the subject that came out December 15 entitled, “Has the Kepler spacecraft found an ‘alien world’?” This was followed up today by the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) article “Another ‘Goldilocks’ Planet Stirs ET Hopes” I’m going to focus more on the CMI article because Peter already talked about the ICR one.
First, I’m actually a bit surprised it took over a week since the press release for CMI and then ICR to come out with their take on the discovery of Kepler-22b, the first Earth-sized (ish) planet that orbits within the habitable zone around its parent star (the distance needed for the temperature range such that H2) can be in a liquid state). It’s a neat discovery and of course all the news stories – perhaps rightly – played up the astrobiology/ET possibilities.
After all, for life to exist as we understand it, we basically need two things — first, a liquid to act as a solvent and medium for metabolic reactions, and second, an energy gradient that metabolic reactions can take advantage of. This may sound different from how you learned it in school (I know it’s different from how I learned it) where you were probably taught that life needed some protection, water, and sunlight. Well, the first isn’t really true (bacteria survived for years on the moon being exposed to the vacuum and radiation of space), the second one doesn’t need to be water but we still think it’s the most likely, and the third one really just means energy where we use sunlight but you could take advantage of favorable chemistry, too, or geothermal heat.
Anyway, my point was that the media spin was somewhat hyped, but I don’t blame them. NASA is a public governmental agency that requires the good will of Congress to remain funded and so whenever it can play up stories that are of interest to the public, it will. And a story like that is so much more interesting than Britney Spears being the first person to get a million friends on Google+ that just came out today.
The third paragraph, though, of the CMI article states: “NASA’s Origins program is dedicated to looking for habitable planets that might harbor life. Their endeavours spawned a new field of research called ‘astrobiology’, which is to specifically search for the evolution of life wherever it might occur in the universe.”
This is wrong. According to NASA, the Origins program began in the 1990s. According to the online etymology dictionary, “astrobiology” was formed in the English language in 1903, well before NASA was founded over half a century later (1958).
The next paragraph of the CMI article is a not subtle hint that life on Earth is complex and CMI thinks that NASA should be studying that to show that only God coulddadoneit.
Then we get to the crux of the issue: Evolution. Apparently, the entire endeavor of astrobiology is to prove evolution is true because as we all know, abiogenesis or even a non-abiogenetic origin of life has anything to do with evolution. (For those of you who could not tell my tone in the written word, that was sarcasm. Origin of life study has NOTHING to do with evolution.)
The sixth paragraph of the CMI article deals with money. The Kepler observatory, which is what made the discovery of this planet, cost $600 million to build and launch. Gosh. That’s a lot of money. For that money, we could fund people to do research on the ground. Ahem … I couldn’t find any solid numbers, but as an example of some that were repeated when I searched (source), the city of Boston Catholic Archdioces alone has around $600 million in assets. That’s just the Catholic church. In one city in the US. Or we have, “The Catholic church, once all her assets have been put together, is the most formidable stockbroker in the world,” according to a church official. Or “The Vatican’s treasure of solid gold has been estimated by the United Nations World Magazine to amount to several billion dollars.”
Finally: “The Catholic church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, government or state of the whole globe. The pope, as the visible ruler of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the richest individual of the twentieth century. No one can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars.”
In contrast, NASA’s annual budget for FY2011 is $18.724 billion. The science division gets $5.006 billion of that (source). I think if a religious organization wants to study life, it has more means to do so than NASA. So stop complaining.
Do Extrasolar Planets (Exoplanets) Exist
But following the reasoning they use with comets, I guess I’m not surprised that they question the existence of exoplanets. CMI states, “Firstly, we have never witnessed or directly observed (i.e. with our eyes through a telescope) a planet outside of our own solar system. They are presumed to exist through indirect methods of observation.”
Again … wrong. Spend 2 seconds on Google and you come up with headlines like, “Astronomers Capture First Exoplanet Images,” or “First True Exoplanet Images” … you know, vague and hard to understand headlines. From 2008 (this is why I felt it important to point out that CMI’s article was posted on December 15, 2011).
The rest of the CMI article is basically reverting to the standard, “Science has made mistakes before therefore what we say God did he did.” Yes, I may be sounding irreverent, but they’re irreverent towards me (or my field, anyway).
They also have a whole section on, “Should Christians be concerned by this?” Again, I’ll go back to my beginning statement that this is just one of those cases where I can’t figure out why YECs feel the huge need to fight and argue against it. If the Bible contains everything about the universe, then why doesn’t it talk about computers? But it does imply it’s okay to offer up your daughters to an angry mob. Sigh. But Biblical weirdness isn’t quite the subject of this post.
The article as I’m viewing it now has two comments posted. One of them is from Jack of Australia who basically asks about the Fermi Paradox: If aliens exist, then we should’ve found them by now? The author of the CMI article responded and gushed at Jack answering with normal complaints against science.
Paul in the UK is the other commenter who just takes the article a bit further emphasizing that us evil scientists will believe anything so long as God is not a part of it.
I’ve actually submitted a comment because I find the factual mistakes somewhat annoying. and I’m curious to see what they’ll do. I’m hypothesizing that they will ignore it, especially because I’m putting in my full name. In the event they don’t, then I will post about it.
Edited to Add: And here’s the follow-up. | <urn:uuid:2f25bd1c-6cc5-4f42-b079-99d75df76430> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pseudoastro.wordpress.com/category/exoplanets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954092 | 2,602 | 1.710938 | 2 |
AOA to all respcted members, iam here posting my CA notes that i prepared last year to the best of my knowledge and they contain information and other data till march 2011, i wud request all the senior members to check my notes and give me useful suggestions to update these notes according to the recent happenings regarding each and every topic (which new headings should be added keeping recent developments in view and wat shd be subtracted out due to irrelevance)..Suggestions, guidance, constructive criticism are invited and most welcumed from my side...hope these notes will also help newcomers as my other notes such as PA and Islamiat have helped them....Iam grateful to all who have taken interest in my notes and guided me with their useful tips and suggestions.especial thanx to syeda sabahat, aariz and others who have been with me all the time....hope to continue this effort.
• Historical Background
• Incident Of 9/11 And End Of Taliban Rule:
• Operation Against Al-Qaeda Network.
• Surging Of Forces In Afghanistan
• Pakistan’s Commitment In War On Terror And American Response
• Preparing For Post US-Afghanistan
• Aftermath, Once India Would Seize The Opportunity In Afghanistan
• American’s Mistakes In Afghanistan And Repetition Of History-Critical Analysis
• The Road To Peace-Conclusion
Afghanistan is an under-developed landlocked mountainous Muslim country of South West Asia. Since ages tribal system had been the basis of its society. The Afghan people are brave, peace-loving and devoted Muslims. They had been living peacefully under princes and kings. This state of affairs continued till 1973 when King Zahir Shah was deposed by Mohammad Daud and the country plunged into civil war and disharmony is continued to this day.
After the fall of monarchy in 1973, Afghanistan fell victim of chaos and confusion. The Soviet Union exploited this situation and establishes its control over Kabul in 1979 which lasted till 1988. After the withdrawal of USSR, Afghanistan was ravaged by civil war which ended in 1996 when Taliban became the master of this land. Taliban rule was marked by Islamic fundamentalism which led to the establishment of Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden. The Taliban attracted the attention of the world by their fundamentalism and strict policies towards women folk and the non-Muslims. In the meantime, US and Britain charges Afghanistan with the acts of supporting Terrorism and freedom fighters in Chechnya. In this connection, US launched a Cruise missile attack against the bases in Afghanistan in August 1998.
Incident Of 9/11 And End Of Taliban Rule:
Afghanistan became the focus of the world after the terrorists attack on WTC and Pentagon in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. US blamed Taliban-sponsored al-Qaeda for these attacks. As a result, US-led UN forces attacked Afghanistan, and on 13th November, 2001 dislodged the Taliban rule. Later on, all the factions of Afghan people participated in the Bonn meeting and on 5th December 2001 signed an agreement to establish a 30-member Interim Government under Hamid Karzai which installed a democratic government through a Loya Jirga.
Operation Against Al-Qaeda Network.
After establishing an Interim Authority in Afghanistan, US-led multi-nation forces began operation against Al-Qaeda network and their supports. This operation has been continued since January 2002 in all parts of Afghanistan. Ruthless force is being used to kill or capture militants of Al-Qaeda and their supporters. As Taliban forces are also engaged in this operation, but so far the American forces have to failed to clear the land from Extremists. The Afghan people are the main sufferers because continuous state of war has not only ruined their country but also deprived them of food, shelter and peace.
Surging Of Forces In Afghanistan
US forces in Afghanistan have surpassed those in Iraq since 2003. US numbers in Afghanistan are scheduled to peak at about 98, 000 after the first detachment of 30,000 reinforcement. Obama has given his senior commander, Gen. Patraeus until July 2011 to turn the tide of insurgency and bolster forces.
Pakistan’s Commitment In War On Terror And American Response
Pakistan has lost more soldiers than the combined loss suffered by foreign forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and more civilians than lost in 9/11 strikes which eminently reflect Pakistan’s commitment in the war on terror. Despite Pakistan’s such commitment and immense loss in the WOT; the US is continuously threatening Pakistan with following serious consequences:
i) Chocking the country economically
ii) Invasion on FATA
iii) Drone strikes across the country
iv) Seizure of nuclear storage sites by special operations
v) Air blitz against these sites
Instead of living in mortal fear the Americans should shed the paranoia that has gripped them and the arrogance that characters their conduct with the weaker states and show some grace, serenity of mind, understanding and respect to Pakistan’s concerns and constraints. Their uncalled for outburst against a ‘partner’ would only serve to alienate the Pakistani people even more.
Preparing For Post US-Afghanistan
As a consequence of the rapid deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan has also preparing option in case the US departs. Pakistani officials who speak of the US-led coalition as “occupation forces” in Afghanistan, are convince that history will repeat itself and that the US will sooner or later leave the region. Once the Americans are gone, NATO determination will fade and Afghanistan will be left to itself.
The Taliban tactics so far has been to attack where NATO presence is weak, but they are now able to mass more and more fighters and launch large-scale raids. They will most likely take on NATO troops directly, thus increasing the number of causalities.
Should Western troops leave the country or reduce their number to a symbolic presence, the position of Afghan government could well weaken. Pakistan would be faced with political vacuum that it believe would have to fill to prevent any other power from acquiring a predominate influence.
Aftermath, Once India Would Seize The Opportunity In Afghanistan
i) India will try to sandwich Pakistan between the threats from both Eastern and Western borders.
ii) It will exploit every possible opportunity to spark the flames of sectarianism and ethnicity in Baluchistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
iii) Pakistan’s economy will be strangulated by the Indian blockade.
iv) The regional balance of power will be destabilised massively.
v) Indian’s extended presence in Afghanistan will create problems for China as well.
vi) The US will cash in the opportunity by selling military hardware to India in the name of upgrading overhauling the Indian Army to enable it to take on Chinese forces.
American’s Mistakes In Afghanistan And Repetition Of History-Critical Analysis
History is repeating itself in Afghanistan because America is repeating the mistake made by the Soviets. They are being made to pay for their folly of overestimating themselves, and understanding the skill and fortitude of the Afghan guerrillas. As a consequence, they have put in place a new strategy of withdrawal of International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) from Afghanistan from July 2011 onwards.
The first mistake made by America was to defy history. But having chosen to do so they should have assigned the resources needed to accomplish the mission. Thus, their main effort should have been in Afghanistan not in Iraq.
Their second mistake was to initiate the air-bombing campaign without securing the crossing sites on their sides of the Durand Line to prevent the Taliban and Al-Qaeda from escaping to tribal areas of Pakistan.
Their third mistake was not to end the Taliban domination in the mountains where they have their safe havens. Yet instead of taking corrective action they persisted with the mismatch between the mission assigned and resources given. Consequently, they have suffered operational setback and blamed Pakistan for them.
The additional US forces sanctioned are still not enough to accomplish the mission. However, the least that can be done is to employ the available forces judiciously. One, for blocking at last those crossing sits which are used by the Haqqani group to make forays into Afghanistan from North Waziristan and two for ending the domination of the mountains by the Taliban.
The Road To Peace-Conclusion
Pakistan must learn from past and stay away from a future role in Afghanistan or the impeding civilian war in the next round will enter our land and there will be no stopping the national nosedive to extinction. Ultimately, the situation to the problem lies in sorting out the people’s difficulties connected with governance and security in the first place.
The road to peace in Afghanistan lies in making a major governance overhaul that needs to be administrated by someone who is acceptable to all the people. In the existing situation that someone could be from the former King Zahir Shah’s family-that person can craft an exit strategy through which Afghanistan could re-emerge as a peaceful country under democratic constitutional monarchy working under parliament. This formulation is likely to be acceptable to many ethnic nationalities in the country including the Taliban. Pakistan could do well to encourage such move. | <urn:uuid:5ac74bf0-b8f8-4238-a188-a9cbf3aaaedc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/current-affairs/current-affairs-notes/52592-my-current-affairs-notes-plz-check-comment-6.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946675 | 1,899 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Let’s be real: The holidays can be stressful. Your extended family’s crammed in not-so-extended quarters, your paycheck’s spent before it even arrives, and every quick trip to the store feels like you’ve entered The Hunger Games. All that merriment would drive anyone to consume every baked good in sight. [Read more...]
We’ve all been there before: You cut into your seemingly medium-cooked, char-broiled burger only to find it’s still a little too pink inside. What gives? Many things can affect how long it takes to properly grill perfectly moist and tender meats, seafood, and vegetables. Take the guesswork out of grilling with this guide to average cook times. The guide provides average times for a wide variety of beef, poultry, pork, and vegetable items you might plan on throwing on the grill this summer—all you’ll need is a watch and a meat thermometer. [Read more...]
The best chefs in the world will tell you a dish is only as good as its ingredients. Every kind of produce tastes better at the height of its season. Tomatoes are juicier, strawberries are sweeter, and pretty much any other fruit, vegetable, or herb is better when eaten during its natural harvest. [Read more...]
Robots have come such a long way in recent years, it seems like it won’t be long before they’re helping out in every household. The idea of having a helper around is pretty intriguing, but we don’t want then to always do the same thing, like a dishwasher or a toaster; we want something smarter, far more helpful and talented. While robots have long been doing things that humans can do by following a set of strictly defined programs, it hasn’t been until recently that they began doing tasks using their own senses and choices. [Read more...]
I love this very tasty graphic from Information is Beautiful! Perfect for those of us that don’t feel comfortable ignoring a recipe, they’ve put down an array of flavors that combine well with popular foods from potatoes to oysters. I’m keeping this handy for my next culinary experiment… it’s also available in poster form. Find more creative designs at Information is Beautiful [Read more...]
Jennifer Rubell creates large art events made of food that are by their nature self-catered. Her participatory installations are a performance as well as a happening where she “paints” walls with cotton candy, covers walls with 1,521 donuts and invites participants to smash gigantic piñatas. Without giving any instructions or guidance to those involved, her projects deconstruct the normal ritual of eating and re-order our experience into one where we can explore our food relationships with new eyes and tastebuds. | <urn:uuid:bd76a38a-a212-4363-be53-0d12aceda665> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.visualnews.com/tag/cooking/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950803 | 592 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Local state congressman Jaime Serrano Cedillo was murdered in the Mexican city of Nezahualcoyotl on September 16, 2011.
Mexican authorities say the recent death of a local congressman had nothing to do with politics and organized crime and was instead the hands of his angry wife.
"Various pieces of evidence collected by police and ministerial personnel show, with certainty, that the death of Jaime Serrano Cedillo took place inside his residence after a marital dispute. His wife, Patricia Grimaldo de la Cruz, caused his wound,” Reuters quoted Mexico State Attorney General, Miguel Angel Contreras Nieto, as saying on Friday.
Serrano Cedillo, a 45-year-old member of president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was killed in Nezahualcoyotl city, situated about 11 kilometers (7 miles) east of the national capital Mexico City, on September 16 as he walked down a street.
Headlines across Mexico and around the world noted that it was the second attack in a 48-hour period to target another PRI member after Eduardo Castro Luque was gunned down.
The 48-year-old was shot dead on Friday night outside his house in Ciudad Obregon, a city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. | <urn:uuid:7e588fde-40e7-4edc-af07-deb1501f265b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.presstv.com/detail/2012/09/22/262929/mexico-official-slain-by-wife-not-felons/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976983 | 272 | 1.65625 | 2 |
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If the myriad of Easter eggs on Google and YouTube aren’t enough to keep you entertained while surfing the web, you might want to check out the latest browser-based game called World Wide Maze. The game constructs a playable 3D maze based on real websites in which players are tasked with guiding a small ball around the site to reach the finish line.
The style of play is similar to mobile games like Super Monkey Ball albeit with a completely unique experience for each website map you build. Players can use their Android smartphone to control the action or simply stick with the trusty ole keyboard. You’ll need to sync the phone to the browser with a unique code if you want to go that route. When using a handset, gamers can tilt the device to guide the ball around the track.
Do note, however, that you’ll need a computer with pretty decent hardware to power the game. The game uses the WebGL standard which requires at least 1GB of system RAM and a GPU with 256MB of memory.
World Wide Maze was developed for Google Chrome although I didn’t have any problems running it in Firefox. My Core i5 Sandy Bridge-equipped work PC with integrated graphics wasn’t quite up to the task, however, as the game was pretty much unplayable due to lag.
It probably isn’t something you’ll spend a ton of time playing but it’s fun to mess around with and see how some of your favorite websites look as a 3D maze.
Get free exclusive content, learn about new features and breaking tech news. | <urn:uuid:3648736d-788c-4e0a-bbde-02fb5f152fc4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techspot.com/news/52028-turn-your-favorite-website-into-a-playable-3d-maze.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94565 | 341 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Geographical Index > United States > California > El Dorado County > Report # 26258|
Submitted by witness MGC & RC on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
Nightime sighting by a couple along a main highway between South Lake Tahoe and Placerville
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COUNTY: El Dorado County
LOCATION DETAILS: Hwy US 50 between Silver Fork and Twin Bridges.
NEAREST TOWN: Silver Fork
NEAREST ROAD: Hwy 50
OBSERVED: Tonight me and my husband were driving on Hwy 50 and we noticed a 8 to 10 foot hairy creature on the side of the road just standing there looking at us while we were driving home... We have driven that Highway enough to know that this was not usual thing to see.
We have seen several deers only, but I couldn't believe what we just seen... I will never drive that Highway at night ever again... It really scared me... I am just curious if any other drivers noticed this big creature on the side of the road.. The time was between 10pm to 10:30pm on July 11th, 2009. It was on the side heading toward Sacramento, CA. It was 3 to 5 miles between Silver Fork and Twin Bridges..
ALSO NOTICED: We had just noticed a small herd of deer about a mile away.
OTHER WITNESSES: Two, I was a passenger and my husband was driver.
OTHER STORIES: My husband has heard of other sightings in this same area. But I never did. This is the first time I have ever seen this for my own eyes..
TIME AND CONDITIONS: 10-10:30pm
ENVIRONMENT: Pine forest and Highway 50.
A & G References: Northern California DeLorme Atlas, Page 89, Index of B-5/6
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Richard Hucklebridge:
I called the wife tonight, the 14th of July 2009, who is the witness that turned in the report. We discussed her very brief visual sighting that took place on the north side of highway 50 where this creature was just standing, and seemed to be watching the cars and trucks moving along this highway. She usually spends most of her time looking for deer while they are driving down through the mountains and this tree lined highway; sort of an early warning system. She and her husband's total viewing time was just a few seconds. This creature was standing about 20 to 30 feet off of the road in a vehicle pull out area from where their vehicle was moving down the road at least 55 mph traveling towards Sacramento.
This witness said that it was the hairiest creature she had ever seen, plus it was big and scary, and it seemed to be a very dark brown to a blackish color. The witness did view the eyes on this creature's face, but no other details. I asked her if she noticed any other distinguishing characteristics like what might be its gender? She stated that she never noticed any type of gender, but that she did notice its humanistic features like its head, legs and its height for sure.
I asked if I could speak with her husband who might corroborate her story, and she introduced him to me and we spoke for quite some time on this subject and several others. He was a second witness for sure, describing a very thick and massive creature standing there looking like a large tree that just looked out of place in that pull out area. He further stated that it was as at least three feet thick from its shoulders down to its feet.
This witness said that he had his high beams on which illuminated this creature as their vehicle passed by and he thought it may have jumped as the lights hit it, and that's how he may have first noticed this creature. The husband's first impression was that a tree was growing in a vehicle pull out section, and that was just plain wrong. His viewing time was very short. He also described its color as being a very dark brown to black.
In summary, we now have two more confirmed believers, which know for sure that these creatures are out there for real. One reason that I took this report is the fact that I have an extensive report that I am working on that takes place in the same area.
About BFRO Investigator Richard Hucklebridge:
- Four years in the United States Navy, 1955-1959 (Combat Air Crewman on P4M Mercator Patrol Aircraft)
- 37 years in the aerospace industry: 33 years with General Electric at Edwards AFB; More than 5 years with the Northrop Grumman Corp. at Edwards AFB (Flight Line Mechanic on the B-2 Bomber).
- During 20 of those years at Edwards he was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the County of Los Angeles. | <urn:uuid:352fcc7c-1a4b-44c7-930d-2a41a877abaf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=26258 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984351 | 999 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Well first you must understand what exactly is a butt!!! Number of muscles, 2 major ones to concern with, the others get involved too. Gluteus maximus and gluteus medialis. Both tend to be problem areas for women, more fat storage as opposed to men getting a gut. Plus sometimes the blood flow in these muscles can be poor, so even if you lose a couple of stone, you could still have a big butt!!! This is because the area is inefficent at transporting the fatty acids, so its takes it say from the waist. Solution? you need to improve the blood flow, how? the correct exercises, say, romanian deadlifts for the gluteus maximus, hams, erectors. Lighter weight, higher reps for women with ultra strict technique. The gluteus medialis sits higher up and controls abduction, so any decent abduction exercise, machine or body weight excellent. Finally the inner thighs, another problem area for women, adduction movements fine.
Leg/Butt routine for women
Squats (slightly wider foot stance, to hit butt/inner thighs more)
Stiff legged deadlifts
Seated machine hip abductions/adductions superset
It depends on the type of your body. Everybody has unique type of physiology and needs individual diet and lifestyle. Ayurveda is ancient science which can help to identify body type and recommendations for your type not in generally. What is healthy for you maybe not so healthy for another person. It is also important to know what time to eat each food and how to prepare it. You can ask question about yourself though I can`t indentify you type of body exactly without observation.
Eating small meals every three hours that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and proteins along with drinking tall glasses of water helps keep my metabolism working at fast speed. | <urn:uuid:789d80b8-ebc6-4622-b510-4481d6b0a664> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mybesthealthportal.net/groups/nutrition/healthy-nutrition/11-what-is-your-favorite-healthy-eating-tip-to-look-and-feel-good.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939993 | 388 | 1.742188 | 2 |
From the day The Church of The Saviour came into existence it has been changing and evolving. In the spring of 1976, we found ourselves engaged in the living of a new Easter. Each day had put before our eyes sights to disturb our sleep and inform our days.
Paulo Friere, who has been a spiritual guide for so many, wrote:
The process of conscientization leaves no one with his arms folded. It makes some unfold their arms. it leaves others with a guilt feeling, because conscientization shows us that God wants us to act. As I conscientize myself, I realize that my brothers who don't eat, who don't laugh, who don't sing, who don't love, who live oppressed, crushed, and despised, who are less each day, are suffering all this because of some reality that is causing it. And at that point I join in the action historically by genuinely loving, by having the courage to commit myself (which is no easy thing!) or I end up with a sense of guilt because I know I am not doing what I know I should... I can't live my peace without commitment to men, and my commitment to men can't exist without their liberation, and their liberation can't exist without final transformation of the structures that are dehumanizing them. There is only one way for me to find peace: to work for it, shoulder to shoulder with my fellow men.* When the seventh year-the year with the sacred number that has come to symbolize wholeness-came around once again in our own congregation, Gordon Cosby, founder, leader, spiritual father, and brother for The Church of The Saviour community since its founding, made a statement to the Council that was to involve us in a radically new structuring of our life. His words came at the close of a long meeting:
*The Ladoc 'Keyhole" Series, #I, P-9
I have just time to raise a few questions concerning my own sense of call, which is intimately related to the whole community. I have come to the place where it is not possible to carry out responsibly what I have traditionally been doing and also to help create new structures that have to do with people at the point of oppression. Ever since I can remember I have felt this as a claim on my life, a claim that has deepened with every new mission.
With each step the community has taken it has grown in numbers. When it averaged between 60 and 70 members we went through a time of redefining our corporate life. Now we have 110 members and 40 intern members, and much more demanding structures, many of which have themselves become centers of life.
As the membership has grown and the missions have expanded the time demand on us all has increased. The questions raised with me are: "What is the reasonable size? When does a community become so large that it cannot operate on the basis of human dimensions? How big should administrative units be?" We must look at the issue of whether as a totality we are larger than we should be. Do we want to go the traditional way of pulling in more staff? I have these questions as a pastor. My guess is that Bill Branner as treasurer has them in the financial area.
Can we keep on stretching without affecting the quality of work to which we are called?
I do not feet that it is right for me to take time from new structures that we are just beginning to develop. Have I a right to withdraw energy from these to pastor the whole, and do any of us have this right? Or can we discover ways together to move into the future without losing our richness or diversity? Is it possible that we can divide into different combinations cohering around different worship centers and, in the process of creating the new, not lose that which we value? There arc many, many people in the fife of this community with rare gifts of leadership that are not being used. Is it possible that we can have The Church of The Saviour at Massachusetts Avenue with its council, worship, and mission groups cohering around it; another on Columbia Road, cohering around The Potter's House; another around Dayspring? Or is that not the way to go? Should some leave and just go out while the main body remains intact? I think we have to raise all these questions-bring them into full consciousness. Otherwise we grow larger and larger and struggle to hold it all together and what happens, happens by default.
I am sensing an inability to be faithful to my call and also faithful to the structures that we now have. I am recognizing a developmental stage which can be exciting, if we do not decide to hang on-if we can look at it together. It will be difficult because there is the difficult question, "What is my place in it?" But we can work with it, struggle with it, and trust that the same Spirit which brought us to this point will still be around. We as an organization have been so blessed, and my guess is that leadership may be developed at an even deeper level than we have known it.
I am not saying that I have any time schedule, or that I have a master plan, and know how to do it. I am saying that if we ask for the Holy Spirit, pray about it and talk about it, we may discover what is next for us, and that it could be a tremendously exciting and helpful time in our life.
That brief statement was to alter the life of The Church of The Saviour as had no other event in its history. Others were also sensing that change was needed. The small mission groups had flourished. The membership had grown to 120 in number, but that was deceptively small. Each of the groups had intem members and in addition a large periphery of people who gathered around them. The housing group had bought two slum apartment houses. These had literally become their parishes. Other groups were equally involved in ministry. We had the distinct feeling of having grown too large and of being flung out in too many places. Communication was breaking down. Some had suggested adding more staff to try to keep it all together, but that never felt quite right.
When Gordon made his statement it fell on hard as well as churned-up soil. There was no time for discussion at that council meeting, but in the days to come it became abundantly clear that we were moving into the eye of a major transition crisis. The conversation centered around "splitting up" and "dividing." Though we strove for a more positive expression of the issues we were confronting, these words were often injected into the conversation and best described what many of us were feeling. If some felt a kind of terrible and hidden threat, others were stimulated by the proposal and found it full of exciting possibilities. A few bold ones began to respond to the challenge by wondering about themselves in places of leadership. While some imaginatively tried out new roles, others grew angry; still others, depressed, gave the matter no attention at all as though it would go away if properly ignored. One of our activists said, "Why don't we just do our grief work and get on with it?" The reply was that grief has its stages, and denial and anger are in its cycle.
Were size and complexity the basis of our problems, or might they be merely contributing factors? Some felt that, as the groups had developed an autonomous life, we had failed to be in dialogue with each other, failed to wait for one another, failed to keep our covenant of prayer. They argued that repentance should precede a change in structures. Mixed with feelings of joy and adventure were feelings of betrayal and hurt. In the early days of our deliberations a few even felt that they had given their lives to build a community the nature of which they had not fully understood. Family of faith, unlimited liability, brothers and sisters, life together, bearing one another's burdens, the unity of the Body, one part not held in more esteem than the other-these were all concepts that had nurtured and sustained our lives and given to us a sense of safety that had issued iii creativity, love of change, and zest for risk-taking. Those qualities had flourished in us, enabling us to embrace all kinds of holy insecurity. Having believed in the permanency of a particular community, we found it dreadfully painful to learn that this community was without a permanent home-literally a people in search of a city that was to come.*
'Heb. 13:14, NEB.
One father recounted the response of his children. His son complained, "Why haven't you asked the children? We talked about it in my mission group and we don't want to change." His little girl's question was, "Daddy, who will get Gordon?"
The struggle of the children reflected that of older, wiser souls. Perhaps because this new Exodus awakened old fears of abandonment, we were not as sure that the call to build a world of justice and caring should be taken with so much seriousness. It was one thing to talk about these things and quite another to Passover ourselves from one way of life to another.
Freud had said woe to the person who tries to replace the charismatic leader. What about this leader of ours who was trying to replace or displace himself. How did we deal with all the wild clamoring that had been set in motion thin and around us? What did we, who were no longer children, do with feelings of dependency that lingered on, the need and quest for a spiritual father and mother that every soul harbors? Night and day there had walked in our midst a man who had no limits around his giving, whose outpouring of life and spirit had energized our own lives and illuminated ordinary events. Who would do this for us now? Could we do it for ourselves? Would we give up our own missions and calls and set off for the ghetto after the loved leader, or could we tap some inner strength to choose our own way, claim our own very different paths? How much of the courage and faith that we thought was ours really belonged to him?
We did not always know when we were defending what should be held onto, deepened and extended, or when we were failing into the sin of wanting to perpetuate an institution that, unlike the structures of the world, could not be concerned about enduring, but only about dying, death, and rebirth. We dreaded being "among those who shrink back and are lost," but we were uncertain that we were among those who "have the faith to make life our own."* What did it mean at this stage of our corporate life to be a pilgrim people? Merton speaks about the joumey of faith from the security of what is known to the insecurity of what is unknown. We recalled how Abraham was led out from a place he called home, where normalcy prevailed and structures could be counted on to give stability, to a place that was known surely only in the words of Yahweh.
Gradually dark clouds moved away, we began to talk less about what had been, and to look with hope to the future. We spoke more about small liberating communities that would be less encumbered by problems of maintenance, and where large amounts of time usually given to maintaining the unity and healthy functioning of a large organism could flow into the building of small communities of caring in which people could easily find a place, could grow and stretch, and be given a new name. Ever so slowly we began to speak of the New Land to which we were being called, and to learn once more to name Abraham as the father of our faith.
Eight of our members were chosen by the community and "sent out" to explore the New Land. They were asked to report back to the Council on what its shape might be and how the new Exodus might be made. The meetings of that group, called the New Land's Servant Group, were long and arduous. Some knew from the beginning where they were headed and how to go. They did not hide well their impatience with those who were uncertain of the Way, whose heads told them one thing and their feelings another. Among our number were also those who were process-oriented, and their way clashed with those who operated in a highly intuitive way. Some wanted more prayer and less talk; others, more talk and less prayer. A few wanted to name all the alternatives and to try each on for size, so that we could find out which felt best.
Some were much too literal for fantasy trips of the kind that pictured the church in Diaspora-the scattered fellowship. This option included selling all the properties of the church, letting the staff go, and centering our entire focus on building small groups such as our own mission groups. The purpose would be to form communities of the people of God which would come out from the whole of the society and culture in which we live, and form the nuclei of a new society. Like the Assisi community begun by St. Francis, we would endeavor to be a source of light and hope and to live in faithfulness to God's call, With values and a style of life and community which would bear witness to the power of the Gospel. We would not only give up church property, we would share our personal material wealth with the oppressed. We would do so because of a confidence that therein lay the path of our own peace and our own experiencing of the community toward which we were journeying. We could show forth in our life together a way of human fulfillment and true liberation that might become a model for the world to insure survival for all humankind in the decades ahead. Those of us who lived our way deeply into this option saw the growth of such communities throughout the country-even the world -each committed to a common discipline and the encouragement and support of each other. Once a year, or once every seven years, we would meet together for a time of common sharing that would last for seven days.
Like a special "order," the number of such groups would increase .
Such a fantasy was too threatening for some of us to live with for too long. We put it aside, knowing in our hearts that whatever the way we chose as a community, issues had been raised that would have to be dealt with in the future.
Any small group is in some way our whole world in microcosm. In the small group we recreate the experiences and relationships that we have in other combinations of persons. The Jungian analyst, Eleanor Bertine, wrote: "A new world order looms in the dense mists, and the great world-struggle is carried on in miniature within the narrow frame of a little club."* To the small group we bring the hopes, fears, wishes, conflicts, projections, and expectations that move all the time in each of our beings. Those elected by the Council to the New Land's Servant Group found this painfully true. We had to struggle for unity. Sometimes courageously and sometimes, because we could not prevent it, we let our clay feet stick out for everyone to see. In the marriage ceremony Gordon Cosby will often say to the new .,wife and husband, "I charge each of you to grow to that place where each derives major satisfaction from giving satisfaction to the other." This is a charge that the church might well make to the members of each new group that forms.
After months of meeting, the New Land's Servant Group was sent on a two-day retreat. At our Dayspring Retreat Center amid the surroundings which had so often opened our lives and hearts at new levels to God's word for our individual pilgrimage, we began to sense together beckonings for our corporate way to the New Land.
Our retreat at Dayspring began on Sunday evening with a communion supper. Every group session was followed by several hours of silence in which to reflect on what had been said, to listen to God's word and direction. AU the meals were in silence except for readings from devotional classics. Every new meeting began first with a sharing of feelings, and then reflections, insights and hints of the New Land. Moving within this structure our fears receded. We began to see in concert with each other the creative possibilities inherent in small sister communities. We began to let go of familiar ways and familiar landscapes, to take up once again the never predictable journey of a tent-dwelling people.
Wes Michaelson, who had been the scribe of all our meetings, penned the report which was presented at the next meeting of the Council. In part it read:
Our call must be our starting point. That call is to be a community centered in resolute faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It is to be s new community-those who are his body, molded by his Spirit. To build such a community of faith is our abiding call and revolutionary action.
That call encompasses the marks which our community has discovered through its history to be true and essential to its identity as God's people: the corporate commitments of spiritual discipline, the nurture of mission groups as primary crucibles of community, inner healing, growth and transformation of our lives into true maturity in Christ, and the sacrificial outpouring of our life together in mission to the brokenness of the world.
We believe that our call as a community has four directions: First, to Christ's church throughout the world; we are part of the ecumenical church, and want to give ourselves to its life. Second, to the stranger in our midst; we are called to bring Christ's love to all those whose lives intersect at any point with ours. Third, to the poor and oppressed of this world. Fourth, to the building of our own common life; all else must flow from our call to be God's people, celebrating and nurturing ourselves as Christ's Body.
The Servant Group for the New Land repeatedly focused on three elements which describe our community's current situation: the size and complexity of our present corporate structures, the overburdening of our pastoral leadership, and the lack of faithfulness to our covenant.
On our retreat, we further expressed our view of the issues before the community: multiplicity of demands resulting in confusion, dissipation of energy, and erosion of the sense of community.
Our task, then, is to discover structures which will better enable us to live out our corporate call. These structures should provide us with a sense of clarity, new and focused energy for outward mission and inward growth and a deeper sense of Christian community.
We believe that those structures can best be created by the formation of sister communities, each of which will function as a separate congregation, comprised of various clusters of the twenty-two existing mission groups in The Church of The Saviour. These congregations would be bound by deep spiritual ties because of their common parentage, but would be legally and organizationally independent. They would be separate churches, closely linked by history, ongoing fellowship, and potentially interlinking missions.
All mission groups, and thus the entire church membership, would probably find their lives lived out in the context of one of these communities.
The New Land's Servant Group would recommend then, that the existing Church of The Saviour be reconstituted into at least three or more sister communities of faith, with separate leadership, council, budget, organization, worship, and membership.
Such an action would restore clarity to our structures and purposes of corporate life, would enable new energies and creativity to be released for the work of the Kingdom and the deepening of our life in Christ, and the context for us all to experience and build deeper Christian community. The bonds of spiritual kinship and cooperative mission which would be nurtured between these sister communities could, and we hope would be extended toward other communities of Christ's people all over the country and all over the world.
The Church of The Saviour has been born, nurtured, and brought into fullness through the ministry of Gordon Cosby. Naturally his relationship to its future is a matter of primary concern. Through his sharing with us, Gordon has made clear that he continues to be called to the whole community, and that he would continue, if desired by any of the sister communities, to encourage the nurture of new leadership within them, and to assist in ministering on behalf of the growth of each whole. We confirm Gordon in this call.
It is our conviction that these directions will enable us to live out more fully our call to be faithful members of Christ's Body.
During the period of the meetings of the New Land's Servant Group our community used a common lectionary made up of those Scriptures that we felt would be helpful to us in our search. We titled it, Readings for Pilgrimage to the New Land. To the best of our abilities we had allowed our "thoughts and purposes" to be sifted by the Word of God. Alternating with long stretches of unfaith when we worried about ourselves and where we were going were other times when we touched the glory of being among those who have a vision for the earth.
In the days that followed the report to the Council, many of us felt a new kind of solitariness. We were not lonely in any usual sense of that word. We had never had so many meetings, engaged in so many conversations, or had so little time "to ourselves." But in the midst of it we sometimes fell silent. In the long pauses we searched faces to discover kindred souls with whom we might share painful feelings of aloneness. In the end we even drew apart from the faithful friend to become Kierkegaard's "solitary individual," the one who stands alone before God, and comes face to face with his or her own "eternal responsibility." It is one thing to grapple for the corporate form of one's group or community, and another to become the solitary one who struggles for one's own destiny and vocation. Only that person who confronts each day the everlasting responsibility of being an individual can become a true builder of community.
Members of our congregation began to sound calls for the formation of new sister communities or faith communities as we more often call them. Before the year was out six new church communities emerged.
One community formed around The Potter's House and its ministry through a coffee house and book store; another around Jubilee Housing and its commitment to provide safe and affordable housing for the poor. Those issuing the call for the Dayspring Church were committed to spiritual renewal and to caring for the land that The Church of The Saviour had purchased in 19 5 3 as a place of retreat and renewal. Over the years Dayspring had nurtured us in the contemplative life, and the members of the new faith community wanted it to continue as a center where all who touched its life would become more deeply rooted in God and live more fully in covenant with the earth and all sentient beings. The Eighth Day focused its talents and energy on being truly polycultural-open to the insight and inherited wisdom of all the world's cultures. The Seekers initially gathered around innovative worship services and a commitment to fully value and support the spiritual journeys of children. Dunamis, the sixth community, emerged to work with persons at the point of their vocations with an emphasis on those carrying political responsibility.
All these calls to new faith communities were issued by the brave in our midst. The rest of us often seemed to be milling around or engaged in a kind of fervent waiting on God. No one was left sitting on the sidelines. Everyone was engaged in a passionate way. We were looking at ourselves and our missions with a critical absorption, seeking as best we could to discover where God was calling us.
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Mail me comments, suggestions, warnings, flames, whatever | <urn:uuid:9da9415b-c374-478f-ac7d-bb39c6409264> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theoblogical.org/dlature/itseminary/wischris/slssch2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981985 | 4,906 | 1.75 | 2 |
Minerva Fellow Sarah Yergeau ’10 is looking for help from the campus community as she works to collect books for St. Gertrude’s Nakateete, a primary school in Uganda where she has taught math and English.
Yergeau would like to donate three sets of 30 books to each class in the school, which ranges from kindergarten through seventh grade. Currently, the school’s 300 children complete their English curriculum without the benefit of books to read.
Yergeau has a wish list of specific books, including classics by Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl. She also is accepting monetary donations. Donations can be made through a PayPal account, and books can be dropped off with Associate Dean of Students and Director of Minerva Programs Tom McEvoy in the Reamer Campus Center.
For more information on the project and to see the full list of books requested, visit http://stgertrudes.bbnow.org.
The Minerva fellowships were designed to instill in new Union graduates an entrepreneurial approach to social problems and a lasting commitment to people in developing countries. | <urn:uuid:5da9d3c6-8800-49b1-8cd0-31b80665f539> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://union.edu/news/stories/2011/02/minerva-fellow-collecting-books-for-ugandan-school.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954811 | 236 | 1.765625 | 2 |
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Giorgio Griffa’s first New York exhibition since 1970 opened just four days before Hurricane Sandy flooded Manhattan’s Chelsea art district last October.
A five-foot water surge hit the Casey Kaplan gallery, where Griffa’s show, “Fragments 1968-2012,” was on view. The deluge stained Kaplan’s ground-floor space on West 21st Street and Griffa’s canvases, whose prices range from $17,000 to $80,000.
Most of the paintings need to be restored, a lengthy and costly process that averages $8,000 per work.
Now the gallery is preparing to reopen its doors tomorrow, with a new selection of Griffa’s paintings spanning four decades. The minimal, poetic canvases are pinned, unframed, directly to the walls with tiny, delicate nails.
“Of course I was going to open with Giorgio’s show,” said Casey Kaplan. “I owed him that. The guy had waited for 42 years to have a show in New York.”
Griffa, 76, was born in Turin, Italy, where he still lives and works. He hasn’t been represented by a gallery since the 1970s, Kaplan said. Yet he has continued to paint every day, creating a large body of work. Much of it has never been exhibited or sold.
His last New York exhibition was with Ileana Sonnabend; eight years later, in 1978, his work was included in the international pavilion of the Venice Biennale.
He uses acrylic watercolor on unprimed canvas, applying a series of vertical and horizontal lines, garlands, zigzags, blotches and tiny dots that allude to writing and evoke works by Cy Twombly, Agnes Martin and Daniel Buren.
“The light is different in watercolor than in oil,” said Griffa in a telephone interview from his studio. “In my work, there’s memory of Italian painting. The canvas is nude on a wall. My idea of painting is that it’s never finished.”
When the painting is dry, Griffa folds the canvas as if it were a blanket or a garment, and stores it away on a shelf.
“There are pieces here that have never been unfolded,” said Kaplan, pointing at the vertical and horizontal creases that form as the work ages.
“His work had a tremendous impact in the 1970s, and he’s been carrying out his research into the relationship between painting, writing and mark-making ever since,” said Francesco Manacorda, artistic director of Tate Liverpool, in a phone interview. He went to school with Griffa’s son in Turin. “His investigation looks completely contemporary and fresh.”
A week after the flood, Kaplan flew to Turin to break the news to Griffa. While there, Kaplan also sold three paintings to the local museum, Castello di Rivoli, its first holdings by Griffa.
“Giorgio was generous and patient,” Kaplan said. “It was also part of the healing because we started planning a new show right away.”
The two selected a completely new group of paintings, spanning more than four decades through 2012.
“The first exhibition was nice but the second is even better,” Griffa said. “You see, the works need people. Without people, the work is asleep.”
“Fragments 1968-2012” is on view Jan. 10 through March 2 at 525 W. 21st St.; +1-212-645-7335; http://caseykaplangallery.com/.
Muse highlights include Ryan Sutton on dining, Jeremy Gerard on theater.
To contact the reporters of this story: Katya Kazakina in New York at firstname.lastname@example.org.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:5c10f1fd-d66d-471d-ab17-4ae1bd6caec8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-01-09/ending-40-year-hiatus-artist-survives-sandy-in-n-dot-y-dot-show | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96402 | 886 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Proposed MSP expansion spurs questions about demand, noise.
A $1.5 billion expansion of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is gaining momentum amid uncertainty about future flying needs and growing scrutiny of the project's impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
The proposed expansion would increase airplane noise for thousands of metro homes. Most of them received sound-proofing from the airport and won't get additional help. But 1,131 in Minneapolis are expected to get subsidized sound-proofing.
The agency that runs the airport said the expansion is needed to relieve current congestion and meet future demand. The Metropolitan Airports Commission recently released a report on the environmental impact of the expansion. That will be the focus of public sessions in the next few weeks that could help shape a final decision.
But even some members of the airports commission question whether demand will justify the expansion.
"I'm a little concerned about where the economy is going to be in the next decade or two," said Commissioner Mike Landy. "I've seen some airports ... Cincinnati is one, that have been entirely turned on their head. I just want to be a little careful."
"I don't think it's a done deal," said Commissioner Greg Foster, who represents Minneapolis. "There's skepticism from the commissioners as to how much we really need to proceed with. We need to be very cautious about spending a lot of money without the clear path to increased traffic."
The plan calls for remodeling concourses and building a new international wing and a parking ramp and paying for it with airport revenues, mostly from passengers and airlines. The expansion would benefit the airport's dominant carrier, Delta Air Lines, by consolidating its operations into one terminal and moving other major airlines to a less popular one with low-cost carriers.
The airport is recommending the move over a less expensive expansion that would leave United and other major airlines with Delta and its partners at the Lindbergh terminal and keep low-cost carriers at the Humphrey terminal.
Airport officials say the terminals already are overcrowded or lack gates during peak travel times.
The plan is based on assumptions that Delta will maintain a major hub at the airport, larger aircraft will carry more passengers and the Twin Cities business community will resume expanding after economic hard times.
"Unless the economy totally collapses, there is going to be growth in the market here," said Dennis Probst, executive vice president of the airports commission. Citing the presence of numerous Fortune 500 firms in the region, he said, "The business community is going to continue to travel unless folks start pulling out of here."
Still, Probst acknowledges that estimating future demand can be dicey.
"These are forecasts," he said. "I can guarantee ... if you pick a date out there and pull the number off our chart, it's going to be wrong."
He said any expansion would occur in stages and be phased in according to demand.
Arrivals and departures are expected to increase from 437,075 in 2010 to 484,879 in 2020. By 2025, the airport predicts that number will reach 526,040.
That would fall short of the 541,093 flights at the airport in 2004, when air traffic peaked before economic problems hit the airlines and general economy.
But because airlines are replacing 50-seat planes with larger regional aircraft and flying them to capacity, the number of passengers is forecast to reach 50 million by 2030 compared with 37.6 million at the peak before the recession, Probst said.
The prediction is "really, really aggressive," said Michael Boyd, an industry analyst in Denver who forecasts trends for airports and airlines. "They have to base it on what Delta Air Lines may or may not do. That's hard."
Cincinnati saw a major drop in traffic after Delta slashed its hub operations there. "Pittsburgh built a brand-new terminal," Boyd said. "They said if US Airways pulled the plug, somebody else will be here. Now they have a lot of plywood-boarded-up buildings."
The expansion isn't needed, says Minneapolis City Council member John Quincy, who has followed airport issues closely over many years.
"We've built an awfully big box already," Quincy said. Citing high grades for the airport from critics and uncertainty about demand, he asked, "Why do you need to spend another billion dollars on an airport expansion?"
The report on the environmental impact concludes that it wouldn't be significant and that roughly as many homes would face increased noise even without the expansion, assuming the same increase in demand for flights.
It will be rolled out for discussion at meetings this week in Minneapolis and in Eagan, which along with some areas of Richfield, Bloomington and Mendota Heights, would experience rising levels of noise. The report forecasts 2,703 metro-area homes would experience more noise by 2020 than in 2010, but most received sound-proofing when noise reached similar levels during peak travel years ago and won't get any more. Only 1,131 homes in Minneapolis would get noise abatement for the first time or additional abatement. They would be eligible for air-conditioning, reimbursed upgrades and other improvements.
The city of Minneapolis last week prepared a statement critical of the findings.
"There are serious problems with how the MAC is developing the noise exposure maps, which are the basis for understanding how airplane noise affects the community, as well as determining which homes receive future noise mitigation," a draft read. "It is likely there will be major environmental impacts."
Pat Doyle • 612-673-4504 | <urn:uuid:794109c9-d3aa-4d41-9ea9-48e45775a054> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/169912566.html?refer=y | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962858 | 1,144 | 1.664063 | 2 |
As the year comes to a close and 2013 approaches, marketers find themselves facing a radically different direct marketing scenario than in the past—along with several other concerns about the future. Powerful analytics promise to parse Big Data sets, but marketers are unsure how to tackle it. Website behavior combined with automation can serve up personalized content and offers, but the rapidly evolving technology makes choices difficult.
One element that's not debatable: Social media has become solidly mainstream in providing keener insight into what is important within market segments and to individual prospects.
“I often think of social media as the oldest form of advertising, which is word-of-mouth; social is just a new way of delivering it,” said Tom Haas, CMO at Siemens Corp.
“With social and mobile apps, you can go directly to the customer, pinpointing where they are, what they're looking for and how you can serve up something relevant and beneficial,” Haas said.
Social advertising is solidly maturing. According to media research company BIA/Kelsey, social ad revenue in the U.S. is expected to reach $9.2 billion by 2016, up from $4.6 billion this year, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2%. Social ads are being driven by display, such as Facebook's Marketplace Ads and YouTube's multiple display units. Locally oriented social media advertising and social ads on mobile devices are growing fastest of all, each expected to experience a 28% CAGR through 2016.
On a macro level, direct marketers remain relatively confident in the near future. According to the Direct Marketing Association's “Quarterly Business Review”—released this month and based on an online survey in October of 322 marketers—75% of respondents said they are bullish about the growth prospects of digital and direct marketing.
When asked to rate their confidence in the growth of digital and direct marketing on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 representing low confidence and 5, high confidence), respondents gave an average score of 3.91, up slightly from 3.85 in the second quarter.
Nevertheless, uncertainty lurks in the shadows. While marketers agree that good data can increase revenue driven through marketing, they've been slow to embrace new sources and types of data. According to Eric Wittlake, head of media at agency Babcock & Jenkins, Portland, Ore., marketers are uncertain about data accuracy and completeness, the cost of acquiring data and their own abilities to manage and understand it.
Another concern: The looming “fiscal cliff” and its potential impact on the U.S. economy.
According to a report by BtoB sibling publication Advertising Age, marketers may sharply curtail expenditures as they wait to see if President Obama and House Republicans can agree on changes to the current law mandating spending cuts and tax increases in the new year.
Marketing staffing decisions also appear to be in a wait-and-see mode, according to an online survey conducted in September by direct marketing executive search company Bernhart Associates. The company's latest “Quarterly Digital and Direct Marketing Employment Report” projects fourth-quarter hiring trends and reported that 46% of the 450 companies surveyed said they plan to add staff in the final three months of the year, down from 50% in the last quarterly report issued in April.
“Yes, the fiscal cliff can make people nervous,” said Jerry Bernhart, the company's principal. “But I've never had a company say they're delaying or canceling a job search because of it. If they have a need, they have a need. Bigger companies may be more concerned about this kind of thing than smaller organizations.”
Bernhart said that while hiring in direct marketing has reached an uncertain phase, certain job types have risen in prominence and demand.
“Marketing analytics jobs are at the top, but the demand is for analytics skills combined with business acumen,” Bernhart said. “Companies are avid to hire people who can mine the data and then make recommendations to marketers based on what the data are telling them. Marketing departments don't need propeller-heads.”
For the first time, social media manager positions have appeared within the top five marketing positions sought by companies, Bernhart said. Other positions companies are seeking to fill including Web designers, email marketing managers, account managers and sales. | <urn:uuid:c639b0e1-1542-48f2-b736-3b49863443b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121126/DIRECT/311269989/1507/direct04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955406 | 911 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Smarten up the appearance of discoloured or damaged teeth with cosmetic bonding to help you smile with confidence.
Cosmetic bonding is a useful technique if you only have one or two teeth that are discoloured or damaged. After all, the rest of your teeth might be fine, meaning that treatment with veneers would be a bit over the top! Bonding involves fixing material to the front of the tooth to cover up any unsightly stains, blemishes or even to repair any imperfections.
The material used is quite malleable, and is made from a resin that hardens once applied. So even though the dentist is able to bend and shape the bonding while they are applying it to your teeth, it is actually pretty strong stuff and will be indistinguishable from the surrounding teeth – especially once your dentist has matched up the colour of the material with the teeth around it! It’s not quite like picking out house paint from colour charts, but the bonding material is available in lots of different shades of “tooth” so you will be able to find a colour that matches your own very closely.
Obviously, this smaller-scale treatment is cheaper than having a whole set of porcelain veneers made up, which is why people who only have one stained or damaged tooth might prefer to use bonding. Even having one tooth that you don’t like the look of can be enough to affect your confidence and stop you from smiling with confidence, which is why procedures like this are becoming more and more popular.
And having the treatment carried out couldn’t be simpler. Unlike lots of other, more complex cosmetic dentistry treatments you only need to go to the dentist once for the material to be applied – though you have to make sure to keep on attending your regular check-ups too. Although the resin does harden so it is tough enough to stand daily wear and tear, it isn’t as strong as porcelain veneers, so you are likely to have to replace them more often. You still have to work hard to keep your mouth clean, with daily brushing and mouthwash, as the resin can be stained by tea, coffee, red wine and smoking, just like your natural teeth.
Sparkle Dental are here to add a little ‘sparkle’ to your smile
If you have a damaged tooth that you would like covered up with cosmetic bonding, then consult your local dentist in the Hounslow area to see of the procedure is suitable for you. | <urn:uuid:b2a2c4f8-c2f6-4499-93da-8b54b4e02a4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sparkledental.co.uk/blog/bonding-can-fix-up-your-teeth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966813 | 519 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Tewi wrote:I don't object to it, or to Tzongkhapa (though I see him as one among many equally worthy voices), or to the Gelugpa lineage which arose in his wake. I'd just like to see basic levels of Buddhism concentrate on that which is shared across the different schools, rather than pushing newcomers into identifying with the particular symbols of their lineage (as would be reasonable for more advanced practices). In fact I believe that used to be FPMT policy, back in the old days. (Since the OP seems to be studying through them.) At the same time, I realize that Tibetans of all descriptions revere Tsongkhapa at least as Manjushri, if not of all three deities. So it's a judgement call.
I have been studying/practicing with the organization now for about two years and, if one only attended our general
teachings on Sundays, you would seldom hear of Tsongkhapa. Beginning practitioners are encouraged to have a meditation
practice that addresses all the points of the entire graduated path. Usually, A Daily Meditation on Shakyamuni Buddha is suggested and if
a practitioner feels a special connection to Tsongkhapa, then a practice like Gaden Lha Gyama might be recommended. Both are meant to serve the same purpose. | <urn:uuid:43e3a69d-91bc-4e73-be7e-66963daa1f9e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?p=84605 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971048 | 273 | 1.59375 | 2 |
(Page 2 of 3)
Washington — Hagel, who fought alongside his own brother and suffered shrapnel wounds in Vietnam and burns to his face, has made no secret of his reservations about what the military can accomplish in Afghanistan.
“We can’t impose our will. The Russians found that out in Afghanistan. We’ve been involved in two very costly wars that have taught us a lesson once again,” Hagel told PBS’s “Tavis Smiley” show last year.
Unsurprisingly, he also is extremely cautious about what could be done in Syria. “I don’t think America wants to be in the lead on this,” he told Foreign Policy magazine in May.
‘THE GUY AT THE BOTTOM’
Hagel’s first-hand experience in war may win respect inside the Pentagon. He volunteered for the Vietnam War as an infantryman. He would become be the first defense secretary who started and ended his military career with an enlisted rank, as opposed to serving as an officer - an important distinction in wartime.
The enlisted ranks are “the ones who have the least say about where, when, and why we go to war, but bear the harshest consequences when we do,” Matt Pottinger, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and a former journalist, wrote in a piece on the “The Daily Beast” website applauding Hagel as a candidate to become defense chief.
Obama on Monday quoted Hagel saying: “My frame of reference … is geared towards the guy at the bottom who’s doing the fighting and the dying.”
Hagel’s comments on Middle East issues, including on Israel, are likely to complicate his Senate confirmation. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican, said in a statement on Monday he is “profoundly concerned and disappointed” by Hagel’s nomination.
Critics including Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, a group devoted to fighting anti-Semitism, have raised questions about Hagel’s past comments, including one during a 2006 interview in which he was quoted as saying: “the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here.” Hagel also has faced criticism for urging direct talks with Iran. | <urn:uuid:a12466f2-dd12-491e-a40a-b651914f6d58> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forward.com/articles/168904/chuck-hagel-would-be-war-skeptic-in-pentagon/?p=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974662 | 491 | 1.65625 | 2 |
When you get a house, you do so with goals. Probably your aspiration was to renovate your garden, but someplace along the way you were derailed. Have no worry because help is listed here! This report will give you some easy tactics to help you to tackle your problems and renew your landscape.
Do you want to make your property far more private? You should consider about employing bamboo plants. Bamboo crops will develop significantly quicker than any tree or shrubs and will supply you with the privacy you need. Apart from, they are effortless to maintain and will make your property look far more exotic.
Contemplate the volume of sunlight that hits diverse locations on your residence just before determining what to plant there. Some plants want entire daylight while others thrive in shade. If you plant the incorrect types in the mistaken places, you are environment your self up for failure. Speak to a professional at your neighborhood burchmores johannesburg nursery to decide which crops will do very best in diverse lights situations.
If you have a thing that is unpleasant on your residence, bear in mind that landscaping can be a great way to conceal it. You can conceal your garbage cans with tall hedges, or a phone pole with a large tree. Require any eyesores into thought when you are planning out your landscaping task, then work to plant issues that make people areas more appealing.
If you want to have a garden but have a difficult time bending down to care for one, take into account making or investing in a lifted flower mattress. Elevated Wedding DJ flower beds make it less difficult to tend to your back garden. They also function truly nicely in modest areas and add vertical dimension to your garden.
You do not have to hire a professional to style and design your landscape for you, but it might be value your time and funds to speedily meet with an architect. You will get a better notion of how considerably your project will expense and maybe steer clear of blunders that would stop up costing you funds.
Use plotted annuals to include new colors to your lawn and back garden as the seasons modify. It tends to make it extremely easy for you to care for your landscaping since they are considerably less likely to expand weeds in it, that means you will not have to spend your time weeding every single weekend.
When purchasing vegetation for your property, be sure you decide on kinds that are local to your region. This way, you know that your environment is not also harsh on the crops. Also, make confident you know what kind of treatment is concerned for the crops that you pick to purchase.
When planning a landscaping undertaking for your home, be certain Industrial Branding to think about the simple fact that some plants are only in bloom for a specific volume of time. This is essential for your arranging stage due to the fact you do not want to have awkward seeking gaps in your landscaping. Be sure to consist of the two perennials and annuals in the same area to give prolonged long lasting protection.
Your desires can arrive correct, if you use what you have study right here and begin doing work on your property nowadays. The most straightforward of notion can have a massive affect, so commence tiny and build up as you go. Every single moment you place into it will demonstrate in the last result, so dedicate yourself to modify and you will be pleasantly shocked in the end. | <urn:uuid:9a85c172-b50d-4684-b739-fc125abd3c23> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://contigogreg.com/2012/07/08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957044 | 692 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Given all of these improvements, it's a bit baffling that Nintendo is still caught in the past when it comes to the extremely limiting digital rights management system that ties downloaded game and content purchases to a single console.
As Nintendo's Wii U FAQ makes clear, "a Nintendo Network Account can only be used on the console where it was created." Thus, any games tied to that unique online ID will only work on the first system they're purchased and downloaded to. This is in essence the same setup that Nintendo used to protect downloaded Virtual Console and WiiWare games on the first Wii, a setup that not only utterly failed to stop piracy on the system but also caused headaches for many early Wii owners with faulty systems.
Tying downloaded games to a single system means there's no way for a user to access those games at a friend's house short of lugging the entire system along (yes, the Wii is a lot smaller and lighter than other contemporary systems, but still...). It also means a game downloaded to the Wii U in the living room won't be playable on a second system in the kids' room, even if the same password-protected Nintendo Network ID was used on both systems.
It also means that if your system breaks down, you can't just go buy a new one (or borrow one from a friend) and immediately recover your content using your account. Instead, you have to go through Nintendo's official repair process, waiting up to two weeks for the system to be returned just to maintain the system-locked license data—a caveat I learned about first hand recently. And in the extreme case your Wii U is stolen, it seems there's no way to recover your purchased games (Nintendo has refused numerous requests for comment on its DRM scheme). Sure, you can back up purchases to a USB hard drive, but thanks to this licensing scheme, those backups are no more portable than the actual bits stored on the Wii U's internal storage.
This DRM scheme was already retrograde when Nintendo was still getting its online feet wet with the Wii, but it's really backward in late 2012, when every other major game platform has figured out ways to protect downloaded content while also making it accessible across devices. Microsoft allows downloaded Xbox 360 games to be played on secondary systems as long as you're actively logged in with your Gamertag, and it allows users to transfer an entire library to a new system using a "Gamertag recovery" feature. Sony only lets you download purchased content onto two systems at a time (disappointingly down from a limit of five before last November) but at least the company lets you use an online deactivation tool to remove a broken or lost system from that count. Most games on Steam can be downloaded and installed on any number of machines using the same Steam account, and iOS and Android apps can be easily synced across multiple devices with an online account.
I understand that Nintendo is worried about piracy, but its not like Microsoft, Sony, Valve, Apple and Google aren't. Yet those companies have all found their own ways to balance protection for their online stores with the ability for users to access that content in their own way.
Nintendo can still follow their lead—it would be trivial to push out an online system update that removed the one-system-per-download limit for the Wii U eShop (while we're at it, they could do the same thing for the 3DS). I doubt letting the same Nintendo Network ID play games on a handful of systems is going to lead to Wii U account sharing rings to split purchase costs. Opening legitimate purchases up for more than one console will also have absolutely no effect on the determined hackers that are already trying to open the system up to homebrew and pirated software.
What it would do is make the process of downloading games more attractive and easier to use to the benefit of both users and sales for Nintendo's newly expanded eShop. It's well past time for Nintendo to catch up to the competition in this regard. | <urn:uuid:0ebf743c-d392-48e5-bb44-994a749e48db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1124250-wii-us-restrictive-drm-is-a-baffling-throwback/page__pid__595374522__k__880ea6a14ea49e853634fbdc5015a024__k__880ea6a14ea49e853634fbdc5015a024__settingNewSkin__82 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952718 | 813 | 1.601563 | 2 |
First Lady Fields Phone Calls About NORAD's Santa Tracker
From a North American Aerospace Defense Command News Release
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Dec. 25, 2012 For the third consecutive year, First Lady Michelle Obama took time from her holiday schedule to deliver cheer to children across America by personally answering phone calls on Santa's journey as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
First Lady Michelle Obama reacts while talking on the phone to children across the country as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program. Mrs. Obama answered the phone calls from Kailua, Hawaii on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2012. White House Photo by Pete Souza
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
She answered each call with, "Hello, this is First Lady Michelle Obama with NORAD Tracks Santa. How may I help you?" Speaking from Hawaii, Mrs. Obama fielded calls from to surprised children calling in to the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center. She answered their questions about Santa's exact location using NORAD's global Santa Tracker and let the children know when to expect Santa to visit their homes.
The first lady assured them all that NORAD was tracking Santa's progress closely, and his journey was going well this Christmas Eve.
“This is such a wonderful holiday tradition, and I'm always so thrilled to be a part of it. I love hearing the excitement and anticipation in the children's voices as they learn Santa's location -- that's what brings the magic of this night to life for all of us.”
The NORAD Tracks Santa program began in 1955 after a phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call was from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander on duty who answered the phone that night gave the child the information requested -- the whereabouts of Santa. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.
The NORAD Tracks Santa program has grown immensely since first presented on the Internet in 1998. The website receives millions of unique visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world. In addition, a live Operations Center is occupied for 23 hours with more than 1,200 volunteers each year who receive hundreds of thousands of phone calls and emails from families around the world. | <urn:uuid:ba99f686-cf02-41e3-952a-f247f26b4096> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=118869 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943386 | 500 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Related MediaClick for latest video forecast
Debby's threat to Terrebonne, Lafourche fades
Published: Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 12:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, June 25, 2012 at 10:29 a.m.
Terrebonne and Lafourche officials were reassessing their emergency plans this morning as Tropical Storm Debby appeared headed for Florida.
Coastal Alabama and parts of Florida, including the Panhandle, were under tropical-storm warnings. Underscoring the storm's unpredictable nature, forecasters discontinued a tropical-storm warning for Louisiana Sunday afternoon after forecast models indicated Debby wasn't likely to turn west.
"All the signs are showing it's going to Florida," Chris Boudreaux, the parish's emergency-preparedness director, said this morning. "But we'd advise people to pay attention just to make sure."
Lafourche lifted its state of emergency at 8 this morning; Parish President Charlotte Randolph had issued the order Sunday afternoon. Sandbag sites that opened across the parish Sunday were closed today.
Terrebonne President Michel Claudet and local officials were meeting this morning to decide whether to lift the state of emergency in the parish. Sandbag sites remained in operation.
Levee directors in both parishes said water levels are higher than normal but well contained.
"We're about 98 percent sure we've missed it at this point," said Terrebonne Levee Director Reggie Dupre.
Dupre said he's never seen a storm produce such wildly changing forecasts.
"In a matter of six hours, they went from a western track headed toward us to an eastern track toward Florida," Dupre said this morning.
Dupre said the parish will likely open most of its floodgates today except for the more-remote ones that can't be reached by land, like the one in Placid Canal in Lower Little Caillou. High tides and southerly winds had caused higher water levels in south Terrebonne for a few weeks before the tropical storm formed. Debby might have exacerbated those levels, but they're still well within control, he said.
Windell Curole, South Lafourche levee district director, also said the parish is dealing with increased water levels because of tides and winds. Water at the Larose floodgate has been at about 1.4 feet above sea level throughout the storm. At the Golden Meadow floodgate, which is more vulnerable to tropical activity, levels are around 1.6 feet above sea level, though those levels went as high as 2.4 feet above sea level Saturday. Between the floodgates, water levels remain about 0.6 feet above sea level.
Both floodgates in Lafourche remained closed this morning. The parish's floodgates operate on a lock system, which means boat traffic should still largely be able to go through, Curole said.
The National Weather Service has placed the area on a high-tide adivsory.
The tropical- storm warning area shifted farther south late this morning to encompass much of Florida's Gulf coast. Debby has weakened slightly and at 10 a.m. had top sustained winds of 45 mph.
The storm was about 75 miles south of Apalachicola and is moving northeast at 3 mph.
Chris Landsea, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, said forecasters rely on computer models which were contradictory until Sunday afternoon.
"They came into a bit more of an agreement that the westward turn is less likely," he said.
Landsea said every storm is different and has different characteristics, "and in this case it's a very unpredictable storm." He said Debby was could become a hurricane.
The southern reaches of Terrebonne and Lafourche should prepare for possible flooding, forecasters said.
As of Sunday, 23 percent of oil and gas production in the region had been suspended, according to a government hurricane-response team. Employees have been evacuated from 13 drilling rigs and 61 production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm was not expected to result in higher oil and gas prices.
"It's largely a non-event for oil," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
Director Chet Chiasson said Port Fourchon's operations weren't affected, though suspension of work brought many vessels and much equipment into the oilfield hub.
"Typically, when a storm like this wreaks havoc on the offshore side, it actually increases traffic through here because all the people are coming in, and then all the people are coming out," Chiasson said this morning. "This was a good dry run for us to get our minds around a hurricane for the first time this season."
For updates, check back here at houmatoday.com and dailycomet.com.
This story contains some information from The Associated Press.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | <urn:uuid:23b8981a-1c62-4e6d-a9ae-26f68479db40> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20120623/HURBLOG/120629810/1236/news18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972186 | 1,064 | 1.632813 | 2 |
William Gene "Billy" Plank was born in Salem, Mo., April 30, 1935. He was the son of Theodore Roosevelt and Virginia Capps Plank. A brother, Thomas, blessed the family with his arrival a few years later and thus commenced many happy years of family life in Salem. Bill was possessed of a quick wit and an insatiable curiosity for all things academic. He went off to University of Missouri at Columbia at the age of 17 and embarked upon a lifetime of learning and teaching. After earning a Master's Degree in French at the University, Bill decided to fulfill his dream of living in the Wild West and obtained a teaching position in Hardin, Montana. After a year there, he was off to California, even further west, and taught in various elementary schools, eventually securing a three-year position teaching high school in the Yakima Valley. Wishing to pursue further studies in French, Bill applied to and was accepted into the French Literature program as a doctoral candidate at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was awarded his Ph.D. with highest honors in 1972.
Having finished all of his studies, Bill remained at Montana State University-Billings for forty-plus years, teaching over 5,000 students, many of whom greeted him in the streets of Billings or at the grocery store having remembered with great fondness their classes with him even 30 or 40 years previous. Bill was first and foremost a teacher, but his many scholarly pursuits include three published books, Sartre and Surrealism, Gulag 65, and Quantum Nietzsche, along with almost 300 research papers which he presented through the years around the country.
At Montana State University, Bill conceived of a program to bring lecturers of world-class quality to Billings. He had a way with words and always an offer of a trip through Yellowstone Park and managed to gift Billings with the presence of outstanding visiting scholars. The lectures became a fixture on campus and the program went on for eleven years until ill health forced Bill to give up his participation.
At a time of financial difficulties for the state, Bill proposed a reorganization of the University system, which at that time was composed of five major units and several community colleges. The changes Bill proposed went into effect, and the present Montana State University-Billings owes its name to Bill who came to the institution when it was named in fact "Eastern Montana College."
Many wonderful friends survive Bill. Richard McKamy, his mountain climbing buddy, Robert Garretson, a fellow wilderness lover, Tom Regele, Bill Gibson and Neil Jussila. Bill's very best friend, his dog, Django (named after the famous guitarist Django Rinehart), survives him but barely. His beloved upright piano afforded Bill many happy hours both in the company of his good friends and during solitary hours at home. He was a gifted and knowledgeable pianist who played entirely by ear and could answer almost any request to play an old song or ditty.
Bill passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2010, and leaves behind his wife, Darrah Link Plank; his son, Theodore R. Belcher; daughter Bianca; daughter Shannon; son Gabriel Louis (Renee); daughter Darrah Anne; and brother, Ministor Thomas Plank (Carol) of Jefferson. Grandchildren Hawkeye, Thorne, Meadowlark, and Floriane and niece Andrea and nephews Christopher and Michael also survive Bill. Aunt Pearl Wells and Uncle Cleo Plank survive their nephew, Bill.
A memorial service in Salem will be held Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Cedar Grove Cemetery at 4 p.m., with dinner to follow.
In honor of Bill's academic life, gifts may be sent to the Montana State University-Billings Foundation, 2615 Virginia Lane, Billings, Montana 59101. Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary in Billings, Montana was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.michelottisawyers.com.
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, Billings, Mont., is in charge of arrangements | <urn:uuid:d0529d67-7d8b-4395-b96b-37fbab4dec85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mainstreetnewsobits.com/archives/2602-Billy-Plank.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97705 | 840 | 1.625 | 2 |
TODAYS TOP STORIES
Homeowners Say Burglar Targeted Puppies
A home in Northwest Oklahoma City was broken into Friday. Homeowners think the burglar targeted their home for the three English Bulldogs that were inside.
The Coyers were fostering the six-week-old puppies for the Oklahoma Humane Society for about a week, when they were stolen.
"Its been a difficult 24-hour period. We felt extremely vulnerable and violated, obviously," Kirk Coyer said.
Coyer filed a police report, but has not heard any news. He said he's not interested in punishing the person responsible. He just wants to take care of the dogs until they are old enough to be adopted out to good homes.
Listings for other English Bulldogs puppies puts a price tag of up to a $1,500 on each.
A television is also missing from the house, Coyer said, but no other valuable were taken.
Posted: Saturday, October 6 2012, 10:03 PM CDT
IN OKLAHOMA NEWS
Safe room mandates remain rare in tornado states
May 24, 2013 07:24 GMT
By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press
MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- When a deadly tornado tore through the central Oklahoma city of Moore, many survivors emerged from their storm shelters to see their homes blown away.
The mayor suggested that storm shelters should perhaps be mandated for new homes. But that may be hard sell.
But not a single state currently requires storm shelters in new homes. And not even many communities do so.
Costs remain a deterrent despite the life-saving potential of personal storm shelters. So, too, does a general resistance to government mandates in politically conservative states in the nation's heartland where tornadoes are most prevalent.
Instead of a stick, Oklahoma currently offers a carrot to build storm shelters. It uses federal funds to award $2,000 rebates to residents who win a special storm-shelter lottery.
Sometimes the stories with the most impact come directly from the viewers. If you have a story that needs to be told, we want to hear it. Fill out the form below and let us know what stories need to be told.
From the FOX 25 First Forecast Center..Hello everyone...
It's Friday and the weather is looking good for the holiday weekend. Can't rule out isolated to random showers and t'storms from time to time but nothing organized. ...
Asia stocks extend losses after big sell-off
BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stocks continued to retreat today after being routed the day before by unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing and fears the Federal Reserve will start withdrawing its monetary stimulus.
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
IN THE NEWS: RESTAURANT FLAP LEADS TO INTERNET MELTDOWN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- It isn't exactly to curry favor with your restaurant customers -- even if your specialty isn't curry. | <urn:uuid:88dcccf2-faff-41ed-906a-1960d2a8f54a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_7347.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948271 | 710 | 1.515625 | 2 |
:: Monday, January 10, 2005 ::
ORIGINAL POST: Saturday, January 08, 2005
BY: Eduardo Navas
Review of MTAA's 1 Year Performance Video (samHsieHupdate)
Duchamp is often cited as the predecessor to conceptual art, mainly because of his famous urinal, which questions the autonomy and materiality of the work of art. However, a direct and even open attack on the materiality, autonomy and (later added) marketability of the art object did not happen until the emergence of Conceptual Art in the 1970s. Much of the work at this time relied on critiquing the object's relation to the white cube (the gallery), or the institutions that supported the supposed autonomy of the art object. Michael Asher and Hans Haacke are textbook examples of this practice.
After this period artists began to comment on other artists more specifically. Janine Antoni's work is one of the many examples of this allegorization, as well as Sherrie Levine's which relies on appropriation as a way to critique works by famous male artists, including Duchamp. Since then there have been a great number of other artists who have used such a strategy to comment on the multi-layered contentions of the object art. And this short but well-established practice has been extended to the web with works like MTAA's 1 Year Performance Video (samHsieHupdate).
In this web-piece, the artists update the work of Tehching Hsieh, in particular his "One Year Performance 1978-1979," where Hsieh spent a whole year in a cell. He did not leave the space. A person brought him food and took away his refuse. The piece was notarized by a lawyer to give it authenticity.
T. Whid and M. River, who collaborate under the name of MTAA (M.River & T.Whid Art Associates) have extended Hsieh's concept of committing to an activity for one year on to the web by presenting themselves in a room apparently spending time alone in 1 Year Performance Video (samHsieHupdate). At first glance this mimics Hsieh's activities in the cell, as the artists appear juxtaposed in two video feeds, doing simple things that always correspond with the time of day when the internet user is accessing the website. In reality the artists prerecorded their activities and created computer files which now can be accessed according to the internet user's computer clock.
In this piece the visitors are encouraged to watch the video files for the period of one year, and to sign up for an online account in order to keep track of their time. The visitors do not have to be logged on for the whole time at once, and can leave and comeback according to their personal schedules.
While the online piece may allegorize Hsieh's performance, it does so in a very unexpected way. Particularly, it exposes the drastic changes in art production since Hsieh developed his one-year performances (He did a few of them). At the time that Hsieh was performing, the object of art was in question, and like conceptual art, performance art was a way to negotiate meaning as a cultural product (these movements obviously overlap).
While Hsieh's art practice is often considered in relation to art's role in culture, one thing that is not discussed about him is his particular position as an artist, dare I say a privileged one at that. Meaning that while he always did intensive performative pieces for one year, he had to be able to not work for that time in order to spend it making art. This position is of course at play if the artist's work in the studio is not considered work by the rest of culture, which is true in the United States. It is safe to say that Hsieh was interested in making the futile labor of art more obvious by creating pieces that led to no particular ends in themselves, but that instead ended up exposing the banality of the everyday, as well as the incidentally of art making in contemporary culture. Hence, his position not to hold a "real" job is important to note here.
This commitment and most importantly cultural position are passed on to the online user in MTAA's update. Here, the user quickly realizes that one year is a serious commitment that the average person is most likely unable to perform; thus Hsieh's particular role as an artist is exposed and questioned not passively but actively, because the users are given the option to put in their own time at anytime. The users then need to decide why they would commit to an online activity, especially when this activity will in the end validate the artists who were commissioned the project in the first place. This inversion, this transparency that is pivotal to the online project exposes the role of the audience in any work of art. In Hsieh's projects this is not so obvious because he is doing all the work, and all the viewer needs to do is acknowledge the final product through documentation.
1 Year Performance Video (samHsieHupdate), however, demands that the users acknowledge the work of art by completing it themselves, by actually putting in the time while watching pre-recorded files, the strain of the performance is on the viewer now, not the artist; but this strain is a virtual one, one that is no longer concerned with the body but with the dematerialization of such into a new type of action--a meta-action-- in art making, and art viewing. In a way, this not only updates the passive demand that a work of art has always had on the viewer: that it be completed by the viewer's gaze, but it also makes obvious the interactive demand of any art object since minimal art emerged. Michael Fried's opposition to the demand by the minimal object to have its meaning completed by the interaction of the viewer inside the gallery as a sort of theater is exposed in MTAA's update as a fascist imposition by a certain privileged culture, which can only be possible today with new technologies. Furthermore, the imposition is efficient and liberal because the users do not need to strain themselves on performing for one year at once. They can do it whenever is convenient for them, by logging on as they so desire. And they do not need to be present as they can leave their computers running, logging time while they do other things around the house. The performance update, then, becomes background noise, like Television in the average home.
An air of helplessness overpowering disinterestedness may be sensed at this point--one that involves those who sense it as well as those who have allegorically produced it. | <urn:uuid:081fb565-d6ea-46e4-965e-19c9f044c7a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://netartreview.net/weeklyFeatures/2005_01_09_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973162 | 1,360 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Originally Posted by Robstar
Not sure if they are the same event. However, the Southern Boys were known to have the confederate flag on their ring attire.
And not the "proud to be a redneck" as much as "Proud of Southern Heritage". There's a High School in my home town that is call "Lee High School". Yes, that's General Lee. The school name is the Rebels. They have been well known in Texas for their football team. Cedric Benson (current Running Back on the Green Bay Packers) graduated from this school. I remember the "uproar" that was brought up when he was seen riding in the back of a buddy of his pickup truck, waving a Confederate Flag, the week they were set to face their inner city rivals, the Midland High Bulldogs. The "uproar" came not from the "black" members of the community, but rather the "Liberal" members of the city. They said that it was a symbol of "hate" and a "travesty" that he was holding that flag... You know what Cedric thought of it? It was a symbol of his school pride. Anything that flag had associated with hatred died when the Civil War ended and neither he, nor anyone in his family ever experienced that era in time. The "symbolism" of the Confederate Flag is what you make it out to be... Just like the Pentagram, Enron Symbol, or Iranian flag are only relative to your life experiences associated with them.
Of course, this view is that of my own person so I am sure that others will disagree... But to me (as well as other black people in my community), the "Confederate Flag" doesn't have the same negative connotation behind it that other people in a different part of the world give it. | <urn:uuid:0e9633f5-0a9a-418d-aea5-745695c8f367> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/showthread.php?27914-Freebird-Buddy-Roberts-R-I-P&p=687430&viewfull=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991023 | 378 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Practicing ArchitecturePracticing Architecture
The Fine Art of Balancing Creativity with Profitability
Author and management consultant Keith Granet has spent several decades dispensing practical business advice to design professionals
By Nalina Moses
After a scuffle with a client, Howard Roark, the architect-hero of the movie The Fountainhead, boasts, "I don't build in order to have clients; I have clients in order to build."
Even if you’ve never seen the movie or read Ayn Rand’s original novel, it’s obvious that Mr. Roark never practiced in this economy. The truth is that running a successful architecture practice involves building a client base right along with the buildings. Yet it's an aspect of the business that many architects, who are so passionately engaged in their design and construction work, find especially challenging. Perhaps depictions of manifesto-toting auteurs like Roark are to blame, but, of course, so are the generally dismal business conditions architects have been soaking in for the last several years.
So, Keith Granet's new book The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability (Princeton Architectural Press ) is especially welcome. Granet, who began his career as a college intern for Art Gensler, FAIA, in San Francisco, went on to study finance and to work within the design industries. His Los Angeles company, Granet and Associates, provides management consultant services to some of the best-known architecture and interior design offices in the country. AIArchitect asked him about the challenges of making a business out of architecture.
AIArchitect: You recommend that architects always search for new work, and always turn down work that isn't a good fit for them. Does the current economic climate change this rule?
Granet: Absolutely not. There is nothing worse than working for someone who doesn’t trust you or value your services. You will lose so much ground in your business if you spend a couple of years working for the wrong client. I know this is difficult when work is at a shortage, but find other ways to get work rather than taking on projects with bad clients.
Some architects have a bit of Howard Roark in them, believing that raw talent is everything. You emphasize that a large part of running a successful design business is social, about connecting with other people. How can architects to do this?
Raw talent is worth every penny, but it is not good enough alone. In fact, if you look around you can see that raw talent is far rarer than the ability to sell a design. Otherwise, the world would be full of only beautiful buildings. I am a true believer in relationships—with your staff, your clients, your vendors, your consultants, and other team members. When a relationship is established, the process is smoother and the chance to work collaboratively is much stronger.
I recommend that struggling architects get involved in their community. Pick an organization or charity that you are passionate about and volunteer your time. You will most likely be the only architect there, and it will eventually lead to work. I also believe that when you give back, it will come back to you, and you will be rewarded for your efforts. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday.
There's a famous architect in New York who says, "Architects should dress like bankers and bill like lawyers." What can architects do to command more authority and collect fees like other professionals?
They should always have a contract. They should stick by the letter of the contract, and treat it like it is a business deal, rather than a favor that a client pays their bills. You should always bill consistently on a monthly basis. Being haphazard about your billing practices breaks down a client’s confidence that you are running a creditable business. Also, be prepared to stop work if the client is not paying their bills.
What are some of the common weaknesses and strengths you see in architect-led businesses?
Where do I begin? A blessing and a curse of design is that we love what we do, and for that very reason we often think getting paid for it is not as important. If you run a financially successful business, then the opportunities to design more [and] take on pet projects are far greater. I think architects are their own worst enemies. If clients thought that a fee had a range for the talent they were in search of, they would accept higher fees, but because too many architects are willing to lowball their fees just to win the project, the clients are given a much more powerful position. When was the last time you negotiated with a doctor or a lawyer?
The greatest strength that can carry an architect into successful contract negotiations is their passion for the work they do. If a client can feel that passion, and if [it’s] articulated correctly, the client will want to pay for someone who is that passionate about their work. Good architects are problem solvers and great listeners.
How do you see the business of architecture changing in coming years?
I think the greatest challenge in today’s world is communicating the value of design to the consumer. I think we have a responsibility to educate a client on the difference between good architecture and excellent architecture, and the more we educate the more it will be valued. I do think more people are paying attention to design, which is wonderful. We just have to convince them they need to pay for it.
Visit the Practice Management Knowledge Community website on AIA KnowledgeNet. | <urn:uuid:7aa97ddb-21ef-4a2c-8079-fbc9fd064eb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB091559 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969612 | 1,136 | 1.773438 | 2 |
A Siberian court has thrown out a petition that sought to ban a translation of the Bhagavad Gita as “extremist” literature.
Judge Galina Butenko of the Leninsky District Court in Tomsk ruled on Wednesday that there were no grounds for recognising Bhagavad Gita As It Is as extremist because the book was “one of the interpretations of the sacred Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.”
The defence side said it was fully satisfied with the court verdict.
“This court decision shows that Russia is indeed becoming a democratic society,” said lawyer Alexander Shakhov, who represented at the trial the local branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
India's Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra, who had fiercely opposed the trial, welcomed the court ruling.
“The verdict of the Honourable Judge in Tomsk in dismissing the case pertaining to the Bhagavad Gita deserves to be applauded,” said the envoy. “It is very nice to see that this issue has been conclusively resolved and is now behind us.”
State prosecutors had filed the petition against Bhagavad Gita As It Is, claiming it sowed “social hatred” and called for “violence against non-believers.” The case was built on expert testimony from local professors of philosophy and philology, who said the book expresses religious hatred and discriminates on the basis of gender, race, nationality and language. Prosecutors offered no comment as they left the court after the verdict.
“We are happy that the court showed reason and competence in passing the correct verdict,” said Sergei Zuyev, vice-president of ISKCON in Russia. “It is not right for secular courts to try religions.” On the eve of Wednesday's hearing, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had summoned the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi, Alexander Kadakin, asking the Russian government to provide all possible help to resolve the issue.
Russia's Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin welcomed the court decision. “I think the Russian government must draw the right conclusions from this incident. It should fight terrorism by exposing terrorist plots and outfits, not by passing judgment on ancient sacred scriptures,” he said.
The case against the book had been filed on the basis of the 2002 Russian anti-extremism law, criticised in Russia for its very loose definition of extremist activity. Human rights activists said the law had been used to suppress legitimate criticism of authorities. The Russian Christian Orthodox Church has also been accused of using the law as a tool to fight “non-traditional religions”, such as Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Hare Krishna movement in Russia.
In a particularly bizarre case, a court in Rostov Region two years ago accused Leo Tolstoy of extremism for his denunciation of the Russian Orthodox Church teaching as “a crafty and evil lie” and “a concoction of gross superstition and witchcraft.” Tolstoy was expelled from the Church nine years before his death for his repudiation of Jesus Christ and the Russian Church.
New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:
“We are happy to learn that the case has been dismissed by the Hon'ble Court in Tomsk in the Russian Federation. We appreciate this sensible resolution of a sensitive issue and are glad to put this episode behind us. We also appreciate the efforts of all friends in Russia who made this outcome possible,” said the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. | <urn:uuid:2cdbebee-438c-4e4a-830f-897819502344> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/siberian-court-throws-out-case-against-gita-commentary/article2754870.ece | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963422 | 748 | 1.617188 | 2 |
In an article published in the Financial Times Tuesday, BP CEO Tony Hayward admitted that his company had not been fully prepared to deal with a deepwater oil leak like the one it is now contending with in the Gulf of Mexico. “’What is undoubtedly true is that we did not have the tools you would want in your tool-kit,’” Hayward told the British newspaper.
Asked about Hayward’s comments on CNN’s John King, USA, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said that BP should have never been allowed to drill at depths like those of the gushing well, located some 5,000 feet below the sea’s surface.
“Well, what it tells you is they shouldn't have been doing it in the first place, in my opinion,” Crist said of Hayward’s admission. “I think that, you know, if you didn't have backup plans, if you weren't prepared, if you didn't have the tools necessary to stop something like this once it began, then you shouldn't have been doing it from the get go. And so that begs the question, why were they doing it? How did this come to pass? And we've got to put a stop to it.”
Asked by CNN Chief National Correspondent John King whether he trusts BP, the Florida governor equivocated.
“Well, I think, you know, hard to say,” Crist told King. “I mean, if they tell us now that they didn't have the tools necessary to deal with it, and obviously that is the case, you know, you want to be able to trust them, but you have to be very skeptical at this point.”
That said, Crist also told King that his state has gotten everything it’s asked of BP so far.
“We received an original $25 million in order to help prevent the oil from coming on the shore in addition to cleaning it up. Then another $25 million thereafter to promote tourism so long as the tar and the tar balls and the oil didn't come on the beach. We've asked for additional monies on top of that because it looks like it's fairly imminent that this will hit Florida.”
And unlike his counterpart in Louisiana, Crist did not criticize how the Obama administration has responded to the oil spill.
“I think the president is doing everything he can,” he said.
Crist added, “You know, it has to be all hands on deck, we have to be working together, we have to work together in order to try to stem the tide of what we're dealing with here. I don't think it's the time to be pointing fingers, I think it's a time for us to come together, work together and do everything we can to protect the Gulf states and in my case, Florida.”
Crist is running for Florida’s open Senate seat in this November’s midterm election. After polling showed him lagging behind his primary GOP rival, Crist made the decision to skip his party’s primary and run instead as an independent, non-party-affiliated candidate.
Crist’s embrace of Obama’s stimulus package, which has turned out to be extremely unpopular with the GOP’s conservative base, and his actual embrace of Obama during a visit to Florida to promote the stimulus plan both proved fatal to Crist’s aspirations to secure the Florida GOP Senate nomination.
A poll released early last month showed Crist leading his former primary challenger Marco Rubio and Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee, in a three-way general election faceoff. | <urn:uuid:151aa5e0-474b-4d71-ad60-86ca2ba45bc9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/02/crist-questions-why-bp-ever-allowed-to-do-deepwater-drilling/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983784 | 763 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Exhibition: Jan. 25–March 17
Grinnell College’s Faulconer Gallery opened Friday, January 25, with an exhibition of photographs by noted architecture photographer Robert Polidori.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, and now a U.S. citizen living in Los Angeles, Polidori has photographed around the world during his 30-year career. This exhibit begins with photographs of apartment interiors in New York in 1985, when Polidori was first transitioning from film studies to still photography. Shortly thereafter he moved to Paris and began the series — which continues to this day — documenting the ongoing restoration at Versailles Palace. He has photographed some of the world's most beautiful, and also its most ravaged, sites: bombed-out buildings in Beirut; abandoned facilities in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster zone; and the streets and houses of post-Katrina New Orleans, where Polidori was once a high school student. Photographs from each of these places are included in the exhibition, the first comprehensive survey of the artist's work to be exhibited in the United States. To Polidori, these architecture photographs are “portraits,” bearers of the souls of their inhabitants and, for better or worse, a physical reflection of humankind’s greatest aspirations and its tragic shortcomings.
In 2010 the Grinnell College Art Collection acquired a photograph from Polidori’s Versailles series; that photo served as the inspiration for this exhibition. “I was surprised to discover that the broad range of Polidori’s work had been exhibited in his native Canada, in South America, and in Asia, but never in this country,” says Daniel Strong, associate director and curator of exhibitions at the Faulconer Gallery. Even more surprising, Strong said, was that the photographs featured in those past international exhibitions were still in their frames, still crated and ready to travel. Polidori kept them in a self-storage facility in Sun Valley, Idaho. “I expressed interest in mounting a show, and discovered that there were 58 photographs covering the artist's entire career, already printed and framed and ready to hang on the wall. It’s a curator’s dream come true,” Strong says.
Events related to the exhibition include:
- Opening reception, 4:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25
- Concert: Responding to Robert Polidori, 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
- “Let Them Eat Cake,” a community day for people of all ages, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16
- “Team Rubicon: Military Veterans and Emergency Response,” a Grinnell Prize event with winners Jacob Wood and William McNulty, 4:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.
- “Behind the Scenes at Versailles: Art, Theater, Opera, and Court”, a panel discussion, Tuesday, Feb. 26.
- “The Russian Meltdown,” a Faulconer Gallery talk, 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 12.
Monica St. Angelo will again offer yoga in the gallery at 12:15 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the exhibition.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated hardcover catalog copublished by Steidl, one of the world’s leading publishers of photography books. Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, assisted in bringing the exhibition to Grinnell. | <urn:uuid:e8f788dc-f78f-43ae-9277-46889b6ed0e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.grinnell.edu/news/features/robert-polidori-selected-works | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963009 | 731 | 1.773438 | 2 |
They speak from personal experience mountain climbing in the Himalayas. After guiding expeditions and reaching the summits of mountains, experienced climbers know the usual weather patterns. It’s the unpredictable weather that tests them.
One September, moving quickly between storms, the pair kept just ahead of commercial expeditions and made the summit of Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth highest mountain. The big groups, burdened with fancy tools and comforts, not only failed to reach the summit but also lost 30 climbers who died in a storm surge.
Workplaces, too, are susceptible to tool seduction. The authors of High Altitude Leadership—one an Ivy League scientist and the other a mountaineer associated with Wharton —agree that tools are important.
But they ask: Are you using the tools or are they using you?
The people who first spot tool seduction are employees:
- “We still haven’t recovered from our last re-engineering.”
- “Why did we waste so much time on Six Sigma? Making bottle caps worked great at Three Sigma.”
- “When our boss read about participative , he just abdicated everything. We were directionless. It caused six months of losses before he got back in the game.”
New leadership tools, the authors claim, have a 70% failure rate. These instruments worked in their original cases, but replication failed. Tool seduction happens because tools offer hope and make people feel as though they have the right answers.
Two more ways to recognize when you’re being seduced:
- The CEO hires a consultant to “uncover” what everybody already knows but won’t say.
- Employees use buzzwords to make themselves look smart and others look dumb.
Travel light. Large teams can lag because their gear is so extensive that it takes them longer to mobilize.
Reward results. Behavior, not tools, drives outcomes. Reward the whole team.
Adapt or die. When conditions change suddenly, alter your plans.
— Adapted from High Altitude Leadership, Chris Warner and Don Schmincke, Jossey-Bass.
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November 5, 2008 > Open house at School for the Deaf
Open house at School for the Deaf
Diversity, personal growth, and opportunity are the ideals of California School for the Deaf (CSD) in Fremont. Guests, students and parents will have an opportunity to learn about staff, the campus and the vision that it offers at the annual open house on Veterans Day, November 11th.
CSD began operating in a rented home on Tehama Street in San Francisco in 1860 with its first student, Theophilus d,Estrella. In 1869, CSD moved to a former dairy in the new town of Berkeley. When fire destroyed the school in 1875, a temporary structure was quickly rebuilt, re-opening with 75 students. In 1900, Principal William Caldwell added driver training to the school curriculum, believed to be the first driver training classes for the deaf in the U.S.
Herbert Hoover's inaugural address in 1929 was the first time CSD students "heard" remarks broadcast by radio that were interpreted. In the summer of 1980 the school moved from Berkeley to Fremont. Henry Klopping, Ph.D., principal of CSD has provided enthusiastic dynamic leadership for the students and faculty since 1975. Klopping has focused the school on parental involvement and hospitality emphasizing an "open door policy."
Universal challenges for students and schools include language problems and career opportunities; CSD is no different. CSD provides students with academic and vocational education in a wide variety of subjects.
CSD Open House
Tuesday, November 11
8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
39350 Gallaudet Dr., Fremont
(510) 794-3707 TTY | Voice | Videophone | <urn:uuid:981a3717-c2f4-4c7a-98df-187bdfbb20ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2008-11-05&file=CSD.txt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960191 | 362 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Parent and Child Face-to-Face: On the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - Printable Version
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Parent and Child Face-to-Face: On the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - starshine - 05-31-2011 03:22 PM
by Celia Genishi & Mariana Souto-Manning — April 05, 2011
This is a commentary on the best seller, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua. The authors make the contents of the book more complex than the media have by emphasizing the author's actual message, the pressure on parents to have model children, and the agency and capacity for resistance of children who have their own ideas about how their lives should be lived.
Amy Chua writes on the cover of her book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (2011a):
This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it’s about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year-old.
Despite the author’s admission of defeat, the reductionist blurb in a well-known book review says only this about the same book, “A Chinese-American mother makes the case for strict and demanding parenting” (New York Times Book Review, March 13, 2011). In this commentary, we first urge our audience to read the entire book in order to see what the author’s actual message is; and, second, we discuss contemporary perspectives on parenting and children that help explain the striking popularity of this book about “extreme parenting.”
Indeed what Chua, a law professor at Yale, writes on the dust jacket of her book is accurate: as the book ends, 13-year-old Lulu conquers her formidable mother, convincing her that she, Lulu, should be able to choose an activity that makes her happy, rather than one her mother has chosen for her. We found the book to be compelling: well written, engaging, humorous, and alternately maddening and touching. On the maddening side, we note that most families in the United States and elsewhere lack the economic resources of Chua’s family to hire the most talented music teachers, attend expensive private schools, and have worldly experiences unimaginable by most children. On the touching side, readers do not doubt that Chua loves her children/family even as she takes on the role of the tiger mother.
We turn now to the implications of the book, to a discussion of contemporary perspectives on child-rearing and young children. Regardless of a family’s economic circumstances, there is currently intense pressure on young children to grow up quickly while conforming to adult-established schedules and expectations, including expectations to learn academic skills in preschool, where they begin preparing for college entrance (Genishi & Dyson, 2009). After all, many believe that the preschool a child attends directly affects his/her chances of entering Ivy League universities (Hu, 2008). Chua maddens some moderate readers because her book looks initially like a radical guide for getting children into the most prestigious colleges, for raising children with few rights and many responsibilities. It also (mis)leads readers to associate “Chinese mothers” in general with successful child-rearing. Thus the author manages to reinforce a stereotype of Asians and Asian Americans as model minorities, a myth which “is full of compliments about Asians…[yet tends to] define Asians in essentializing ways, such as ‘studious’ [and] ‘conforming’” (Stires & Genishi, 2008, p. 63).
This mythic view is further enhanced by Chua’s own essay in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” (Chua, 2011b). The essay is an excerpt of the first two pages of the book and thus decontextualizes the complexities that Chua experienced while raising Louisa (Lulu) and Sophia, her two daughters. Here we include an excerpt from the two pages:
A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like inside the family, and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them, because I've done it. Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:
•attend a sleepover
•have a playdate
• be in a school play
• complain about not being in a school play
•watch TV or play computer games
• choose their own extracurricular activities
• get any grade less than an A
• not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama
• play any instrument other than the piano or violin
• not play the piano or violin. (Chua, 2011a, pp. 3-4)
Such a sensationalistic introduction to the book has encouraged the popular media to repeatedly deliver an extreme, one-sided representation of the struggle of a determined mother raising two daughters.
While we certainly don’t agree with many of Chua’s actions (e.g., in an early power struggle, leaving three-year old Lulu outside in frigid temperatures), we also see the love she has for her daughters, as she admits that she is uncertain about her principles and actions. As evidence of her doubt, she concludes the book with a question: “But what does it mean to live life to its fullest?” (Chua, 2011a, p. 229). So, as she clashes and learns through (re)actions and interactions with her younger daughter Lulu, she embraces a stance that is “newly accepting and open-minded” (Chua, 2011a, p. 221). Thus, we reiterate the importance of reading the entire book in order to explore—and perhaps even understand—the many complexities presented.
Chua’s experiences offer a situated representation of a larger phenomenon—the complex struggles of contemporary parenting. As parents’ anxieties grow over how to do the very best for their children in a competitive economy, they may wish for the perfect formula for successful parenting. In their heart of hearts, they would probably agree with us that there can be no simple or single formula for parenting, just as there is no simple or single approach to teaching. Families and individuals within families are similar and different in many ways. What works with one child may not work with another. This is exemplified in Chua’s book as her approach to parenting—note that we are purposefully not associating her approach with Chinese parenting thus moving away from stereotyping Chinese parents as a monolithic category—works better with Sophia than with Lulu. Parents, whether or not they are Chinese, are not monolithic; and as Lulu demonstrates to her mother, neither are children.
Our final point is a consideration of how parents and other adults are continually challenged by the reality of children’s lives, as they struggle to be not only what their mothers/parents want them to be, but to become what they want to be. It might be appropriate to comment on the title of the book here: many think of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” to which the title alludes, as the anthem of the Union—the North—which was waging war in part against the institution of slavery. Can Chua be admitting that she lovingly enslaves her children, but that one of them emancipates herself? Both Sophia and Lulu seem to have a sense of who they are and where they are going. Lulu, like her older sister Sophia, does many things that her mother wants her to do. She is an A student, she is a remarkably talented musician. Yet, unlike Sophia, at age 13 she chooses to do something different, to focus on the game of tennis, something she is not yet good at. In short, Lulu, who her mother says resembles herself, makes a decision on her own.
In social science terms, she demonstrates agency, not to mention resistance to someone else’s plan. These are terms that are more often associated with students in classrooms who do not find the curriculum to be relevant or interesting than with children in affluent and socially well-positioned families (Genishi & Dyson, 2009). Still Lulu is undoubtedly a resistant adolescent with agency. This is a characteristic of children that is rarely mentioned in the frequent discussions of schools whose students are on one or the other side of the achievement gap. Faced with a standardized test, students may “get it” or not and may resist the practices that lead to successful test results. This fact underlies the fallacy that teachers are entirely accountable for their students’ achievement. Children are in fact persons with their own viewpoints. Indeed they can be plain unruly as they assert themselves and their own interpretations of the “official curriculum” of their teachers—or parents—using, for example, their own humor and linguistic forms within the context of their own social and cultural interests (Dyson, 1999). This sense of agency starts well before children turn 13. Young children in preschool and primary grades, while often positioned as subjects of others’ actions, can be participants in research and curriculum co-designers in early childhood classrooms (Souto-Manning, 2009; Souto-Manning, 2010). One wonders if knowledge of this vein of education research would have saved Amy Chua from investing so heavily in her own parent-driven agenda. With this knowledge, might she have revised her commanding vision of how children come to live life to its fullest?
Chua, A. (2011a). Battle hymn of the tiger mother. New York: The Penguin Press.
Chua, A. (2011b). Why Chinese mothers are superior. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 15, 2011, from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html
Dyson, A. H. (1999). Transforming transfer: Unruly children, contrary texts, and the persistence of the pedagogical order. In A. Iran-Nejad & P.D. Pearson (Eds.), Review of research in education: Vol. 24 (pp. 141-172). Washington, DC: AERA.
Genishi, C., & Dyson, A.H. (2009). Children, language, and literacy: Diverse learners in diverse times. New York: Teachers College Press.
Hu, W. (2008). Where the race now begins in kindergarten. The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/nyregion/06private.html?_r=1&ref=winniehu
Stires, S., & Genishi, C. (2008). Learning English in school: Rethinking curriculum, relationships, and time. In author & A. L. Goodwin (Eds.), Diversities in early childhood: Rethinking and doing (pp. 49-66). New York: Routledge.
Souto-Manning, M. (2009). Negotiating culturally responsive pedagogy through multicultural children’s literature: Towards critical democratic literacy practices in a first grade classroom. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 9(1), 53-77.
Souto-Manning, M. (2010). Challenging ethnocentric literacy practices: (Re)Positioning home literacies in a Head Start classroom. Research in the Teaching of English, 45(2), 150-178.
RE: Parent and Child Face-to-Face: On the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - achali - 05-31-2011 04:47 PM
Best review I've seen of this. The lack of attention in the mainstream about the point of children's agency raised here might hint at mainstream narcissism in many gen-x and millennial parents.
I also read this one on HuffPost a while back that I thought was interesting:
Battle Plan Of A Tiger Daughter (And Mother-To-Be)
On the same day that Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother went viral, I learned I was pregnant with my first child. And while talk shows, op-ed pages, parenting blogs, email inboxes, and Facebook and Twitter feeds across the nation began to flood with outraged invocations of damaged self-esteem, elevated suicide rates, Asian automatons, "Yellow Peril," and even child abuse, I stayed in bed reading Chua's story, feeling strangely sentimental.
It wasn't just my hormones. Chua's tale of extreme parenting -- including those infamous scenes of calling her daughters "garbage" for imperfect piano playing and rejecting their birthday cards for being sloppy -- made me profoundly grateful for my own Tiger Mother.
Like Chua, my mother was a Chinese mother who directed an iron will toward her daughters' success. Growing up, whenever people remarked upon my grades or awards, I almost wanted to tell them I hadn't had any choice in the matter.
Because I had the kind of mother who, if I brought home a test score of 98, would demand an explanation for how those two points had escaped me. If I scored 100, she'd demand to know why I'd failed to earn extra credit. Explanation was futile. As my mother would say, "There's no Chinese word for try."
I generally resist simplistic East/West dichotomies, but this is true. In Chinese, you can try something out -- as in sampling, tasting, taking a turn -- but you can't say, "I tried my best" or "But I tried." In any case, I knew better than to attempt such excuses in English.
I had a duty to excel because, as the daughter of immigrants, I was privileged: privileged to grow up in a land of peace and prosperity -- with a Chinese mother. With privilege came responsibility: responsibility to validate her sacrifices and avail myself of opportunities that, by her implication, might otherwise fall to Americans who were lazier, dumber, or more self-entitled than me.
So I tried to fulfill that duty -- but, like Chua's daughters, I wasn't always happy about it. There were times when I disappointed my mother, intentionally and not; when I raged and rebelled, doctored report cards and forged signatures. There were times when we fought like animals; when she screamed that I was ruining her life and I screamed back much the same.
The moment I got into the college of her choice, I figured I'd satisfied enough of my mother's expectations. I partied, slacked off, had boyfriends who dismayed her. I self-indulgently pursued a degree in creative writing. I spent most of my twenties abroad, far away from her.
And I worked on a novel in which a family of strong-willed Chinese American women reunite for a tour of China in the wake of tragedy. I wrote about family secrets, hidden political history, what we seek when we travel -- and the lifelong pressure to be extraordinary. I wrote about the tolls exacted on these women's relationships with their own mothers and daughters, and the difficulty of reconnecting when we lack a common language for failure or weakness -- for what makes us human, as opposed to, say, tigers.
So my own sentimental reaction to Chua's book caught me off-guard. That same day, I sent Battle Hymn to my mother, along with a note expressing my gratitude. And then I had my husband read it, as a primer.
Because I'd just had another realization: According to the Chinese calendar, our baby would be born in the year of the rabbit. Not a tiger like Chua, not a boar like my mother, not a horse like me, but a bunny. Cuddly, cute, and -- the adjective Chua deploys with the greatest disgust -- soft.
I decided we needed a battle plan.
My husband was game. He hadn't grown up with a Chinese mother, but he sometimes wishes he had. Once, strolling Prospect Park, we watched a little kid point out his shadow to applause and cheers of "Great job!" from his parents. My husband muttered, "'Great job?' More like, 'Correct.'" Here was a sign of a soon-to-be Tiger Dad.
We started strategizing how to raise our kids -- by Chua's definition -- Chinese. Self-esteem built upon hard-won skills and achievements, not mindless praise. Discipline and obedience. Respect for elders -- i.e., us. Regimented chores. Academic drills, Mandarin lessons, and practice tests after school. That's when my husband asked what school our kids should attend (here in New York, an issue often raised before conception). I said they would simply attend the local elementary, like me, then test into the elite city school from which I'd graduated.
My husband looked worried. "What if they don't get in?"
Without hesitating, I said, "We'll beat them."
Right about then, I received a reply from my mother: a correspondingly loving message, along with a declaration that Amy Chua's depiction of Chinese mothers was "totally distorted" and that Chua herself was "a hysterical control freak."
Of course, in many ways, she was right.
I'd gotten a little carried away with Chua's manifesto. After living in China for four years, I'm well aware that her characterization of "Chinese mothers" would perplex most of those one-point-three-billion masses, from the impoverished villages where toddlers often wander unsupervised amid livestock and littered streams to the booming cities where overweight "little emperors" (the spawn of China's one-child policy) often tyrannize their doting parents and grandparents. During my time there, I was continually struck by how my homegrown notion of "Chinese mothers" bore almost no relation to the realities on Chinese ground.
And as Chua acknowledges, the traits she attributes to Chinese mothers are also found among "Korean, Indian, Jamaican, Irish and Ghanaian parents." In fact, this parenting style would much more accurately be described as common to striving immigrants -- in other words, to those whose life trajectories are "uniquely American," as a Time article astutely observed. But that doesn't have the same ring as "Chinese mothers." Neither does it play to the current national fear of losing to China on the global stage nor to long-held xenophobic views of Asian kids as "hypercompetitive robots," as Ken Chen noted at CNN.
Finally, for me to call my mother a Chinese mother diminishes not only her American-ness, but her individuality. Unlike Chua, my mother never outlawed school plays or TV or sleepovers. She wanted her daughters to engage in society, rather than hold ourselves above it; to develop social skills, independent minds, a strong sense of personal responsibility and civic duty. That was more important to her than raising the "math whizzes and music prodigies" that Chua (perhaps self-mockingly) promises.
And whereas Chua tells her daughters that hard work is what differentiates them from the school janitor, my mother never indulged the temptation to overlook social inequality. A former journalist and social worker who earned a law degree while I was in college, she enforced academic success not as an end in itself, but as a necessary foundation for the power to challenge the status quo and the freedom to pursue the passions that can't be decreed, that can only spring from our individuality.
Maybe it's no accident that I became a novelist, in the same way that one of my sisters now heads a nonprofit defending immigrants' rights while the other teaches public school -- careers that Chua might not consider "stereotypically successful" but have made my mother very proud.
Which is not to say that my mother is superior to other mothers. I can attest that her daughters are as deeply flawed as anyone -- and that we all carry battle scars. To be honest, I have no idea whether my mother represents "Chinese mothers" any more than Amy Chua. All I know is that the central way she raised us -- holding us to the highest standards and refusing to settle for less -- is how I want to raise my own children. And while my mother might loathe the term "Tiger Mother," as far as labels go, I like it -- with a few caveats.
My husband and I made some modifications to our battle plan. We'll emphasize basic diligence and rigor, along with personal choice. We'll probably deploy my mother's line about the word "try," but only if our kids bring home a grade below, say, 92. We won't care if our kids can't play piano for their lives, as long as they pursue some kind of passion. And, lest anyone worry, I can't imagine any scenario in which I would beat my children, not a failing test score, not even a crappy birthday card.
Most importantly, I realize there's no right way to be a Chinese mother or a Tiger Mother or any kind of mother. Every mother is only human. The best-laid of battle plans will always be works-in-progress, like our children, like ourselves.
Still, I remain grateful for Chua's call to arms. Her manifesto might be reckless on some counts, but what's undeniable is that parenting will often feel like war. And to fight that war, whatever our ethnicity, we need to cultivate a certain fierce spirit residing in each of us. That includes the little creature now growing inside me, these days better known in our house as "Tiger Cub."
RE: Parent and Child Face-to-Face: On the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - starshine - 06-01-2011 12:35 AM
"And as Chua acknowledges, the traits she attributes to Chinese mothers are also found among "Korean, Indian, Jamaican, Irish and Ghanaian parents"..."
"...she enforced academic success not as an end in itself, but as a necessary foundation for the power to challenge the status quo and the freedom to pursue the passions that can't be decreed, that can only spring from our individuality."
"All I know is that the central way she raised us -- holding us to the highest standards and refusing to settle for less -- is how I want to raise my own children."
Amen, a thousand times over.
What I find rather curious is the absence and/or passivity of the male/father voice in both Chua and Fei's narratives. Also, Chua's husband is white, which means her children grew up biracial and I'm assuming bicultural, which doesn't seem to be reflected in the story of their upbringing, so I wonder what, if any, implications that had on her approach to parenting. (Even just the fact that it's her approach as opposed to their approach just seems odd to me, but perhaps there's something about Chinese culture and the role of the mother in parenting--regardless of the race/ethnicity/culture/presence of the father--that I'm ignorant to...)
RE: Parent and Child Face-to-Face: On the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - trudee - 10-06-2011 02:58 AM
Hi, I find your posts very insightful. I was aware of Chua's parenting technique and while I admire her dedication towards her responsibility as a parent, I can't seem to understand why she should consider applying a very stringent approach towards her children the way she has shown a lot of us. It is necessary to teach our kids discipline and put in punishment depending on the severity of their misconducts but I personally think it's extremely inappropriate to be forcing your kids to be achievers in anything you would want them to pursue. We should consider the fact that no one is perfect and our kids are most definitely not exempted from that fact. She's lucky her kids didn't end up with low self-esteem or troubled from all the physical and emotional punishments that they experienced from their mother. It would be more difficult to be parenting at-risk kids as a result of all those unnecessary discipline. I wouldn't want my kids to experience such kind of torment, putting myself in their feet, I'm sure they would want their parents to support them with whatever field they would want to pursue in. Maybe an adequate amount of tough love is acceptable but not to the point of breaking their spirits in the process. Well, that's just me. | <urn:uuid:7096e462-e604-4a39-a265-8304a2228d36> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.liberatormagazine.com/community/printthread.php?tid=1324 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963952 | 5,281 | 1.828125 | 2 |
WASHINGTON — The failure Monday of Congress' supercommittee — the bipartisan panel that was partly the brainchild of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and was supposed to cut at least $1.2 trillion from looming federal deficits — won't likely immediately affect the Kentucky Republican, political experts say.
If anything, the committee's failure handed both Democrats and Republicans a way to blame the other side for an unwillingness to compromise and will trigger a fresh series of partisan clashes over taxes, spending, Social Security and a host of other fiscal matters, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
"Behind the scenes none of them seem particularly upset," Sabato said. "They all say they'll deal with this after the elections. If you could take a private poll of leadership most were relieved the supercommittee came up with nothing...you can't be put on the defensive for painful things they didn't do."
President Barack Obama and the Democrats now get to say Republicans are part of a "do nothing Congress" and are out to protect the rich, and Republicans can say Obama and the Democrats aren't serious about cutting spending, Sabato said.
But each party's ability to assign blame and make it stick in the minds of the electorate could affect McConnell in next year's elections.
"Assuming (the supercommittee's failure) has some impact on the elections of 2012 it will either help make him majority leader or keep him from getting there," Sabato said. "If Obama and the Democrats win with their arguments it's possible they can stave off the Republicans winning the Senate."
For his part, McConnell has always stressed that he saw the supercommittee as a perfect opportunity for bipartisan compromise.
"For those of us who hoped that this committee could make some of the tough decisions President Obama continues to avoid, the Democrats' rejection of not one but two good-faith Republican proposals is deeply disappointing," McConnell said in a statement issued shortly after the committee announced it had failed to reach an agreement. "The good news is that even without an agreement, $1.2 trillion will still be cut from the deficit."
For the better part of a year, McConnell was deeply involved in negotiations in whittling the nation's ballooning debt. As talks dragged on and several high profile and high stakes efforts at compromise failed, McConnell increasingly repeated calls for "bipartisan" cooperation.
McConnell worked to strike a balance between brainstorming those bipartisan solutions and careful 2012 political calculations. The committee's failure triggers about $1 trillion in automatic spending cuts starting in 2013—an idea that was partly cribbed from an earlier debt resolution put forth by McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The phased-in approach was also borrowed from that previous plan.
Along the way McConnell has weathered blowback from the Tea Party movement — one of the key constituencies McConnell has worked hard to court since the group's support in 2010 helped catapult U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky into office and led to broad gains in the House.
However, the question remains whether the talk of bipartisanship is a serious effort at change and reform or if it is an election season effort of convenience, said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor at the Cook Political Report.
"If Republicans get the Senate they are not going to get a big number. They could pick up three to six seats. They might end up with 50-50 (split between Democrat- and Republican-held Senate seats. You don't control the Senate without 60 votes," Duffy said. "There's this realization that you might need to have better working relations than they currently do." | <urn:uuid:bf92fe04-63c0-4d4b-ba29-48645c7c7146> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/23/1970988/mcconnell-may-not-be-that-unhappy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973024 | 743 | 1.515625 | 2 |
mission | objectives | the torch | national directives
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) with more than 10,000 members, is the largest student-managed organizatiokn in the country.
NSBE is comprised of more than 270 chapters on college and university campuses, 75 Alumni Extension chapters nationwide and 75 Pre-College chapters. These chapters are geographically divided into six regions.
NSBE's mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
The NSBE torch symbolizes our everlasting burning desire to achieve success in this competitive society and to affect a positive change on the quality of life for all people. The lightning bolt represents the striking impact that will be felt by the Society and industry due to the contributions and accomplishments made by dedicated members of the National Society of Black Engineers.
NSBE’s involvement in community based education and engineering issues will be exemplified via an International Walk for Education. While maintaining our attention on industrial issues we will increase our participation in the Technical OutReach Community Help program (TORCH) program.
Leadership And Academic Development
In our focus on these two key business areas of NSBE, we want to continue to increase the core skills and talents of our members through leadership training, and assistance in achieving academic excellence. Through their participation in the National Leadership Institute (NLI) and Achievers Plus programs, all NSBE members from pre-college students to Ph.D.-holders and technical professionals — will receive the tools they need to develop these skills and talents and increase their competitiveness as students and employees.
Vital Technical Excellence Programs
The revised Achievers Plus program includes Pre-College- PhD related academic foci in addition to a technical professional component that concentrates on Special Interest Groups. Furthermore, NSBE On Line will be utilized to enhance academic proficiency and professional training.
NSBE has recommitted to two of its fundamental goals: improving service to its members and setting and attaining higher standards for its domestic and international operations. We will accomplish this by (1) improving chapter operations through the Chapter Development Program (CDP), (2) timely and efficient conference planning, (3) expanding the services provided through NSBE Online and (4) improving communication between the leadership and the members of the society; to list just a few of our specific objectives. Our new customer service approach will be designed to help our members focus better on the critical aspects of their social, academic and professional lives and ensure that everyone gets the most out of their affiliation with NSBE. We also will expand the scope of our Pre-College Initiative (PCI) to include third- through fifth-grade students; as research has suggested the greatest positive impact on young people can be made during this stage.
Expanding Career Access
By concentrating our professional and career development efforts in the NSBE Career Institute, we will focus significant resources on the task of ensuring that NSBE members of all ages receive the guidance and instruction they need to get accepted into the school or job of their choice. We will increase our efforts in this area through improved strategic relationships with our Board of Corporate Affiliates (BCA) members; by globally expanding our resources and programs that educate members about entrepreneurship and employment opportunities; by assisting with resume improvement, and by providing business etiquette training, exam preparation and certification offerings. | <urn:uuid:6d277c15-6a88-446e-b2bb-f71705560026> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.njit.edu/nsbe/about.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948549 | 693 | 1.617188 | 2 |
|PA Election Officials Able to Detect Voter ID Fraud|
Thursday, August 16, 2012
HARRISBURG - A court decision released yesterday (Wednesday) in Harrisburg upholds the new voter ID law that provides Pennsylvania election officials with the ability to detect voter fraud at polling places. The ruling denied a request for an injunction to prevent implementation of the new law passed by the legislature earlier this year. House majority leader Mike Turzai said the measure is aimed at providing a common sense method to prevent voter fraud and protect the sanctity of every vote in Pennsylvania. Opponents are expected to appeal the decision. | <urn:uuid:cf5ce0f7-1840-4a2d-9674-53eb397a3903> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newstalkradiowced.com/default.asp?pid=166807 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931629 | 123 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Verse 49. "For I have not spoken of myself" - I have not spoken for my secular interest: I have not aimed at making any gain of you: I have not set up myself as your teachers in general do, to be supported by my disciples, and to be credited on my own testimony. I have taught you, not the things of men, but the deep, everlasting truths of God. As his envoy, I came to you; and his truth only I proclaim.
"Gave me a commandment" - Or, commission. So I understand the original word, entolh. Christ, as the Messiah, received his commission from God; what he should command-every thing that related to the formation and establishment of the Christian institution: and what he should speak-all his private conversations with his disciples or others, he, as man, commanded and spoke through the constant inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 50. "I know that this commandment is life everlasting" - These words of our Lord are similar to that saying in St. John's first epistle, 1 John v. 11, 12. This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. God's commandment or commission is, Preach salvation to a lost world, and give thyself a ransom for all; and whosoever believeth on thee shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Every word of Christ, properly credited, and carefully applied, leads to peace and happiness here, and to glory hereafter. What an amiable view of the Gospel of the grace of God does this give us? It is a system of eternal life, Divinely calculated to answer every important purpose to dying, miserable man. This sacred truth Jesus witnessed with his last breath. He began his public ministry proclaiming the kingdom of God; and he now finishes it by asserting that the whole commission is eternal life; and, having attested this, he went out of the temple, and retired to Bethany.
THE public work of our Lord was now done; and the remnant of his time, previously to his crucifixion, he spent in teaching his disciples-instructing them in the nature of his kingdom, his intercession, and the mission of the Holy Spirit; and in that heavenly life which all true believers live with the Father, through faith in the Son, by the operation of the Holy Ghost.
Many persons are liberal in their condemnation of the Jews, because they did not believe on the Son of God; and doubtless their unbelief has merited and received the most signal punishment. But those who condemn them do not reflect that they are probably committing the same sort of transgression, in circumstances which heighten the iniquity of their sin.
Will it avail any man, that he has believed that Christ has come in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil, who does not come unto him that he may have life, but continues to live under the power and guilt of sin? Paradoxical as it may seem, it is nevertheless possible, for a man to credit the four evangelists, and yet live and die an infidel, as far as his own salvation is concerned. Reader, it is possible to hold the truth in unrighteousness. Pray to God that this may not be thy condemnation. For a farther improvement of the principal subjects of this chapter, see the notes on verses 24, 32, and 39. | <urn:uuid:a6209a60-2b79-440e-b264-27f7fa66a98d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.godrules.net/library/clarke/clarkejoh12.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976029 | 717 | 1.742188 | 2 |
TVO and The Agenda:
As an elementary educator in Ontario for the last 39 years, I would like to tell you that after watching Monday night’s program #Learning2030 on The Agenda, my optimism for the future of education just grew even greater. I am so grateful that over the last few days you have made such a concerted effort to show the public that the tsunami of change has already washed ashore – and that our entire society is having to deal with its after-effects at the very same time as wave after wave of stunning new changes keep breaking over us. Entire professions are needing to re-educate and re-create themselves in order to be relevant in this new age. And education is in the very thick of it.
We parents and educators dropped the ball when technology changes came along, out of our fear and our collective ignorance. Both for better and for worse, we allowed a generation of kids to intuitively pick up and run with the heady potential of new social and information technologies which had few controls. Many of them quickly became the self-motivated, self-directed, collaborative, and independent learners we teachers always dream of — but not because of any help we gave them! And not surprisingly, some used it for less honourable ends.
The world of learning in 2012 has changed radically. But because our schools have not, so many of us are only now just beginning to realize and understand it. Myself included! My students have become my teachers. They have so much to tell me and show me when I am willing to listen and see. I am trying to be a good teacher, while at the same time I am trying to learn and to change and to adapt. I am a part of the changeover generation. We adults are playing a game of catch up while trying to patch the portals of danger we have allowed to exist by our collective naivitée, and calm the frothy waters whipped up by the winds of fear. It’s a huge task, and we need people’s questioning, thinking help and support.
So I want to thank you for providing a glimpse into the potentials and the pitfalls of Learning in 2012 in your #Learning2030 programs over the last couple of days. As I went to sleep last night, I knew that The Agenda and TVO had just done a huge favour for the kids in my classroom and the cause of 21st Century Learning in Ontario.
As an intelligent, thought-provoking public media, you’ve spoken for all who are working passionately to create a highly engaging, safe, and effective learning system for all of our children who are truly, already, citizens of a new world.
For that, I genuinely thank you. | <urn:uuid:877be045-227a-4441-91dd-6edaadb43777> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beachcat11.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/an-open-letter-to-tvos-theagenda/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970341 | 561 | 1.78125 | 2 |
We, human beings, are given an amazing journey into Life where all kinds of feelings and emotions are offered to our pleasure so that we experience life with our mind, body and Soul. While the Soul knows the path and the body follows as the humble servant to Her greatness, the mind, reveals itself, as the “middle-man”, empowered with the building of the bridge between the soul and the reality. Each time, the mind trusts and follows the soul, it becomes the most precious ally to create a reality of happiness. Each time, the mind finds itself blurry with dis-empowered thoughts and worries, it becomes the worst executive director of your Life business.
Here is a list of 5 great insights to free your mind from worries and allow it to fully support your journey with grace and faith.
1 – Give Your Worry a Voice
When a worry rises, there is no need to try to cover it, mute it or ignore it. Indeed, this only intensifies your stress level. Each moment of worry is a moment pregnant with a question about yourself to which your mind has no answer at this instant. Because each answer lies somewhere in the center of the question it births, it is essential that you keep maintaining a connection between your deepest question and your awareness. Give a voice to your worry by asking yourself a question related to the moment. Keep asking yourself the same question until the answer rises from within. Focusing on the question releases the mind from lack of control (which creates worry).
2 – Give Your Life a Kick
The human being is given a life yet very few succeed in remembering that this life is not given with a certainty for happiness but more so a challenge for revealing happiness. Each moment of worries is nothing more than the door to the challenge. To take on the challenge is to be willing to kick this door and enter in the uncertain knowing that instead of fearing it for what you cannot control, you must be excited for what you may discover. Excitement releases an energetic shift in your field that helps your mind detach from worry and focus on possibilities.
3 – Give Your Thoughts a Kiss
As we know, the mind is responsible for the “worry-Experiences” as it is responsible for every single perception that It brings to our awareness. Like a child worried and who is looking for compassion and support from his parents, the mind has the capacity to bring kindness to the thoughts upon which it accepts to dwell. Bringing a conscious awareness about the thoughts that cross our mind allow the filtering process to be controlled and enhanced. Worries are low-vibrational thoughts that can only be risen with love and compassion. Make yourself your own caring parent of your own fearful inner-child. Bring some Love to your thinking process and reassess your fear from a mature and unconditionally loving perception.
4 – Give Your Heart A Leadership Role
When the mind holds a space of fear and instability, there is no need for your Life to stand in the center of it. You must let yourself be “out of your mind” temporarily and dive within the heart ruled by your soul and cared by your sense of knowingness. While this seems an “easy” choice, it is not until it is put in practice over and over again. For the mind to yield the control to the intangibility of the energetic system is a challenging move yet, this is one of the most effective one to free your mind for the moment and let it find some more room for reflection, introspection and thinking process.
5 – Give Your Mind Some Freedom
The last but certainly not the least as it is the most essential step to give your Life the sense of freedom It deserves. To give your mind some freedom is to guide It through the unknown, teach it that curiosity is a valued and mature asset and entrust it with the courage to move the boundaries of outside expectations so that It can walk into the wilderness of Life with a sense of wonder more than a sense of fear and worry. Let it become familiar with the space where it has to surrender instead of systematically control. | <urn:uuid:cca5aaeb-6fa5-4d86-9178-c1d5ac7ae38b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.modernlifeblogs.com/2012/07/5-great-insights-to-free-your-mind-from-worries/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951776 | 835 | 1.632813 | 2 |
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Tue February 8, 2011
Save the Children
We could argue endlessly over who is responsible for the state of Michigan’s economy. Some people blame globalization. Others, the short-sightedness of the domestic automakers. Some say, Jennifer Granholm‘s failure to lead.
Some say it was the callous selfishness of the Republican Party, and on and on. But one thing is clear: today’s toddlers aren’t to blame. Neither is any child. They didn’t make the policies or the mistakes. But they are suffering as a result of them.
That’s not only unfair to them, but sabotages all of our futures, and that of Michigan. If we live long enough, our destinies will all be in the hands of people much younger than us. And right now, we aren’t serving them well. Certainly not well enough.
That’s the clear message emerging from a document released today, The Kids Count Data Book. This is an annual, joint project of two non-partisan, non-profit institutions, the century-old Michigan League for Human Services, and the newer Michigan’s Children.
Jack Kresnak, a longtime newspaper reporter who left journalism to run Michigan’s Children a few years ago, had this to say about it: “We have more kids living in poverty, more kids being abused and neglected, and almost a third of all babies receiving less than adequate prenatal care.
That ought to worry you, even if you have the heart of Scrooge, because all that is a blow to the future prosperity of our state.
Why does prenatal care matter? Because mothers who don’t get it are far more likely to have babies who have physical and developmental disabilities. This stunts their potential, and has an astronomical cost to all of us.
Remarkably, there are still a lot of so-called intelligent adults who still don’t get that. Fortunately, Governor Rick Snyder clearly does. During his State of the State message, he called for what he called a P-20 council that would do everything it could to make sure Michigan help educate children even before they were born.
Experts have long known that if children’s needs aren’t met and their minds stimulated from birth, by the time they get to school, it is too late. Yet that night one of the commentators on Detroit television, a former football broadcaster, ridiculed the governor for advocating prenatal care.
Evidently, he didn’t read the playbook. According to a study cited by Michigan’s Children, every dollar invested in high quality early childhood care and education services produces a return to society of more than seventeen times that amount.
Not all of the news in the new Kids Count book is bad. Fewer teenagers are having babies. A smaller percentage seem to be dropping out of high school.
But most indicators are very grim -- and show that the recession has clearly taken its toll, especially on minority kids.
The report’s conclusion, backed by hard evidence is that Michigan isn’t responding to the needs of children and their families.
Nationally, we’ve lost ground on child well-being, both absolutely and when compared to other states.
There are those who say we can’t afford to do any better right now. But the truth is that if we don’t take care of our children, there won’t be much point in worrying about Michigan’s future.
We just won’t have one. | <urn:uuid:7b9b8db7-975d-4a02-8cde-a14fa1576311> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michiganradio.org/post/save-children | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957686 | 756 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Healing, trust, loyalty, peace, communication, unfaithful.
Cultivate your powers of communication.
Blue induces feelings of peace and trust and has a cooling and calming effect on our senses. Blue relates to the throat chakra and the thyroid Gland, therefore encouraging communication. Blue eases sore throats, is an anti-inflammatory, and anti-septic, relieves stings, itchiness and rashes and fevers.
The colour of the sea and sky, expansive lively blue, the colour of self-expression, trust and healing. The most popular colour, it can be Peaceful serene and sedating. Negatives of blue, can be drawn, closed, cold, unfaithful and inexpressive.
Those drawn to blue feel a sense of protection, care and responsibility to others and the universe. Are you holding onto something or someone that no longer serves you? Or do you feel blue and lonely? You need to nourish the part of you that you long to do something worthwhile and to find a new direction. Blue is the gateway between the physical and spiritual and helps to realise our souls purpose and express our creative ideas.
Blue is the communicator of the spectrum and has a clearing and cleansing effect. Sky blue is the communication between the physical and spiritual world. Always think about what you say as words contain energies that are released when we utter them. | <urn:uuid:9577f8d6-0c37-43dd-bc70-9912b383b2ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.colourharmonie.com/colour-meanings/blue-colour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939724 | 287 | 1.515625 | 2 |
- Operation as waste collection vehicles – 71 for domestic waste, six for bulk refuse
- Econic comprehensively upgraded visually and technically since the 2006 International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA)
The last of 77 Mercedes-Benz Econic waste collection vehicles has just been handed over to the municipal cleaning service in Berlin (BSR) at the Wörth plant. The vehicle is an Econic 2629 LL 6x2/4 (286 hp, air suspension at front and rear, 6 wheels of which 4 are steered and 2 driven) with an electro-hydraulically steered trailing axle and a waste collection body by Haller. Since last December, this means that a total of 71 Econic waste collection vehicles in different wheelbase variants have been handed over to BSR for domestic waste collections (61 of them with a Haller body and ten with a body by Faun), and six for bulk refuse (with a Haller body).
BSR operates a regular waste disposal service for 1.8 million households, collecting from 240 000 loading points where it empties 420 000 waste bins. The fleet comprises 295 waste disposal vehicles, of which 174 bear the Mercedes star. 50 of the latter are Econic models with natural gas engines. In addition to the Econic vehicles, BSR operates numerous Mercedes-Benz Unimog as road-sweepers to keep the streets clean during major events such as the Love Parade.
Mercedes-Benz Econic is a popular waste collection vehicle
The Mercedes-Benz Econic is extremely popular as a waste collection vehicle, not least because getting in and out during frequent stops is made easy by a low entry – there is only one access step to the level cab floor - and an automatic folding door with a wide aperture measuring 620 mm. Other advantages include a small turning circle, up to four seats, a standing height of 1.93 m and an automatic transmission. For the 2006 International Commercial Vehicle Show, the Econic was given a comprehensive upgrade and now sets new visual and technical standards, with a wealth of new, practical features.
The external appearance of the Econic is now in line with that of the Actros and Axor, with a matte-black, V-shaped air intake and perforated, black panel. Other new features include the centre section of the bumpers, a wide-angle mirror on the driver’s side, the two main mirrors and additional wide-lens mirrors which eliminate the blind angle. Particularly during slow manoeuvres in inner-city traffic, these ensure that pedestrians are not overlooked. The Alu-Space cage of the cab has now passed the more stringent pendulum impact test according to ECE-R 29/2, and protects the driver even more effectively.
Cab appointments significantly upgraded
The cab appointments of the Econic were comprehensively upgraded as part of the 2006 model facelift. The entry sill has a height of just 45 centimetres, leading to a completely level, slip-resistant floor for convenient cross-cab access. As in a bus, external access to the co-driver’s side is via a fully glazed folding door which opens at the touch of a button and closes automatically when the vehicle moves off. This makes waste collection as convenient as can be – the crew are obliged to enter and leave the vehicle up to 200 times per day on some collection tours, and are grateful that they do not need to scale the heights each time. The co-driver’s folding door has been widened by 100 mm to measure 620 mm, which makes access and egress even easier. The cab is available in two different heights (2845 and 2395 mm), and even the standard cab with an interior height of just under two metres (1935 mm) provides enough headroom to change in and out of working clothes comfortably while standing up. A low cab with an interior height of 1485 mm is available for applications with overall height restrictions (e.g. front-loading waste disposal vehicles or fire tenders with a turntable ladder body).
New instruments make dedicated functions possible, for example a continuous display of the current axle loads as an option. New control lamps are also provided for the body. Numerous stowage facilities, as well as pre-installation kits for communications equipment or a reversing camera, create a professional working environment. New floor coverings and seat covers, a grab handle on the co-driver’s hinged door and a new, modular co-driver’s seat unit with three single seats rather than a bench seat – now also with man-made leather upholstery – round off the new features in the cab.
Rear axle now considerably more robust
The Econic has also benefited from significant technical improvements. All models now feature a rear axle with a load capacity of 13 t instead of the previous 11.5 t, for example. This gives the Econic even greater adaptability to specific transport tasks than ever before, with a traditionally wide range of model variants: this specialist vehicle is available in five wheel arrangements and in different wheelbases, as a two-axle (4x2) unit, a three-axle (6x2/4) unit with a hydraulically steered leading or trailing axle, and a three-axle unit with two rear drive axles (6x4). A four-axle variant (8x4/4) with a gross vehicle weight of 32 t is also available for very heavy-duty applications.
Whether with a fixed body or with a variety of demountable systems, such as lifting hooks, chain-driven implements or demountable platforms, the Econic provides a cost-effective solution for almost any application thanks to its full air suspension and low frame.
Improved suspension with new shock absorbers
While the Econic has always been a powerful performer thanks to its low centre of gravity, it now benefits from new shock absorbers for the specific needs of hard municipal operations. These lead to a great improvement in handling and directional stability, more controlled driving characteristics and increased roll resistance – particularly valuable in the case of high bodies and an unfavourable weight distribution.
Euro-4 engines with BlueTec diesel technology and natural gas power to EEV standards
The Econic is now powered by 900-series in-line six-cylinder engines which meet the Euro-4 exhaust emission standard and are based on innovative BlueTec diesel technology. Thanks to SCR technology and an optimised combustion process, both exhaust emissions and fuel consumption are reduced. In addition to the OM 906 LA with outputs of 170 kW (238 hp) and 210 kW (286 hp), the lineup includes the OM 926 LA with 240 kW (326 hp). All Econic models with a diesel engine have an aluminium fuel tank with a capacity of 200 litres, plus a 25-litre tank for AdBlue. Power is transferred by a fully automatic, six-speed Allison transmission as standard, making the Econic ideally suited to the stop-and-go operation involved in waste collection.
As an alternative to diesel, the Econic is also available with a natural gas engine. The natural gas powered M 906 LAG, which is also suitable for operation with environmentally friendly bio-gas, has a displacement of 6.9 litres and develops 205 kW (279 hp). The natural gas powered Econic is certificated according to the currently most stringent EU exhaust emission standard - EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle). This means that it already betters the Euro-5 limits which only come into effect from 2009. The emissions of the natural gas powered Econic contain practically no fine dust or particulates, and the CO2 content in the exhaust emissions is considerably lower than with a diesel engine. When operating on bio-gas, the CO2 content is even classified as "neutral", with a further benefit in the form of very low noise.
The Econic also runs on biodiesel
The engines in the 900 series are also suitable for biodiesel, without modification. DaimlerChrysler has however stipulated that the biodiesel must comply with the DIN EN 14214 standard, and that suitable engine oils are used with a consequent shortening of oil-change intervals. To circumvent these disadvantages, it is now possible to retrofit modified unit pumps, a fuel pre-filter with a heated water separator and an auxiliary tank with normal diesel fuel for the auxiliary heater. All these items are tested Mercedes-Benz original parts. As a result, the oil-change intervals are much closer to those of engines operating with conventional diesel fuel. On customer request, new vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz Axor series with the OM 457 LA engine, as well as the Actros, can be equipped with these features ex factory for easier operation with biodiesel. | <urn:uuid:97b0f3d5-cf76-42bd-b5ca-87e6c7b6b803> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656149-1-828464-1-0-1-0-0-1-12639-614240-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940364 | 1,829 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The many challenges and benefits of police residency requirements
Police officers who live outside of the community they patrol can become like mercenaries who clock in and out before going home, says Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark.
This image aligns with concerns the 11-member Watsonville Youth City Council (WYCC) brought to the table during a December interview with Good Times.
Only about 10 percent of Watsonville’s 100-person police force lives in the city, with many living as far as Salinas, according to Watsonville Police Chief Manuel Solano. Youth City Council Mayor Dulce Sixtos says this makes her peers less comfortable when faced with the task of speaking with a uniformed officer.
“Police that don’t live in Watsonville don’t know the issues that we deal with here,” Sixtos said. “Instead of understanding, they judge, and that is what makes the youth not feel comfortable approaching them.”
In light of the group’s plea for police residency, GT went in search of residency rules that do or don’t exist across Santa Cruz County.
Residency requirements exist for elected officials in the county, just like a member of Congress must have residency in the state and district they represent.
However, police residency requirements have a much more varied appearance in communities across the county and nation.
Some dictate that officers must live within the city limits where they patrol, while others sketch a radius around the community to make sure officers are at least nearby.
Like Watsonville, the City of Santa Cruz currently has no such requirement, with officers living as far as Tracy, says Clark.
“It used to be that you had to live within a 60-mile radius of the department,” he says. “In the mid '90s they changed that to a limit of [a] one-hour driving distance.”
He agrees with the WYCC that having police live in their department’s area adds to their concern for the health and safety of the community. However, he adds that the cost of living-to-salary ratio in Santa Cruz often pushes officers to build their lives in places such as Santa Clara County.
“A lot of times officers will leave us for jobs in Roseville where they make better pay,” says Clark. “Then they send pictures of the house they bought there for the same price of a small condo here, and other officers see that.”
This is the reality for most city police departments in the county, even Scotts Valley, which is a favorite location for officers who do live in the county to raise their families. Since 2007, they have had a relatively high number of retirements within their tiny force of about two dozen officers. Currently they require officers to live less than a 40-minute drive from the department. This allows more flexibility for the approximately half dozen new officers to choose where they spend their off-the-clock time.
“I would love nothing more than for these new officers to settle down here, but sometimes it is difficult because Scotts Valley is so expensive,” says Scotts Valley Police Chief John Weiss.
The combination of a small tax base and expensive housing leads them to live in Santa Clara County where they can “get more home for their dollar,” in Weiss’ words. Ironically, he adds that the higher salaries in the larger departments over the hill makes Scotts Valley a favorite destination for officers from that area.
Clark says starting pay for an officer in Santa Cruz who has completed the academy is $5,665 per month. Median house prices in Santa Cruz have hovered around $500,000 for years now, making recruiting qualified officers very difficult if residency requirements were more stringent, he says.
The limits on commute times that now make up most residency requirements in the county are calculated by typing an officer’s address into Google Maps, according to Weiss. These loose requirements can pose challenges in the face of large disasters when officers are called in and needed the quickest.
"During the 1989 [Loma Prieta] earthquake it took me three hours to get to town from my home in San Jose,” says Clark. "Then I was here for nine days without returning [home]."
Officers' comfort level and quality of life are also considerations when cities or counties propose laws dictating where they can live. Clark cited a 2007 case when a firebomb was placed under a police officer’s patrol car while it was parked outside of his Santa Cruz home.
"It was nice to live in San Jose and not chance an encounter with a person I've fought with or a relative of someone I just put in jail,” he says.
Scotts Valley Mayor Jim Reed doesn't buy that as a reason for Scotts Valley officers to live outside the area.
“That is just life in small town,” he says. “If you have a bad interaction with someone, you are bound to run into them somewhere.”
Police unions have challenged residency requirement laws in jurisdictions across the country on this basis, as well as the question of whether it is constitutional for employers to tell their workers where they can live.
In the late 1800s, residency requirements were used by political leaders in cities across the country to shore up support for their reelection. By limiting the pool of applicants to their supporters in their jurisdictions, they more easily held office for consecutive terms and filled the local bureacracies with these people.
By the 1920s, progressives had abolished most of these laws. Today they exist hardly anywhere. Supporters of residency requirements claim that officers and residents will interact more peacefully if they come from the same community. However, that does not necessarily equal a lower crime rate.
Milwaukee demands that all police, and school teachers for that matter, live within the city. Despite keeping the law in place to this point, they have a crime rate several times higher than the national average in the categories of murder, robbery and other high-level offenses.
Milwuakee and Chicago, which were meccas of machine politics in the industry-dominated 19th century, are the last two of the nation's 50 largest cities to have such laws.
In a new twist on the corruption related to residency requirements, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is fighting to quash Milwaukee's version of these laws while letting other cities like Racine and Green Bay keep theirs in tact. Spolier alert: the Milwaukee Police Association has supported Walker through his entire recall saga, despite him wanting to make bargaining nearly impossible for other public employees across the sate.
City managers have added fuel to these debates by beating residency obstacles for their own positions in recent years. In 2010, the Capitola City Council waived its residency requirement for then-incoming city manager Jamie Goldstein, who lives in Santa Cruz.
The inland California City of Manteca also exempted their city manager from residency requirements in 2009, prompting police officers to raise the issue because they said that they had recently lost 12 officers to the restricition being imposed more strictly in their direction.
Scotts Valley Mayor Jim Reed say he can think of six to eight officers, most of whom serve in Silicon Valley, that live in his local neighborhood alone.
“They like it here. You know the bumper sticker that reads, 'Keep Santa Cruz Weird?” he asks. “Scotts Valley is just a bit less weird than the rest of the county.”
Although Reed would prefer to have officers live in their jurisdictions so that they know the community better, he also respects their right to choose where they live.
“The most important thing as a policy maker is that we get the best possible people, especially in law enforcement,” says Reed.
Weiss and Clark agree with the WYCC that residency requirements can offer the community some benefits, but did not signal that they woud push to reinstate past ordinances for fear that it would extinguish their recruiting abilities. Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy April Skalland did not return calls to explain what, if any, residency requirements exist for their department.
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View Full Version : little river
05-24-2008, 11:29 AM
I'm new to fishing in the mountains,and was wondering if someone could tell me where the different prongs of the river are located?I was wondering so I would know where people are talking about when they report on here.I know where greenbriar,abrams,tremont are located but not the rest.
05-24-2008, 01:06 PM
When going into the Park from Townsend, you will come to a fork in the road (known and referred to as the "Y") about a half mile after the Park entrance sign. The fork to the left is known as Little River Road and it follows the path of the East Prong of the Little River. If you take the fork to the right and stay on it, you will end up in Cades Cove. This road follows the path of the West Prong of the Little River up to the point where the river crosses under the road after the first tunnel. The West Prong meanders back up into the mountains at this point (to BC campsite 18 and beyond). The stream you will see along the road to Cades Cove is Laurel Branch. Back down the road, after taking a right at the "Y" and going about 500 yards, you will see another road on your left. This is the road to the Tremont Institute and it follows the path of the Middle Prong of the Little River and is sometimes referred to on this board as just Tremont. This road and prong go up into the mountains quite a ways and the road ends at the Lynn Camp Prong trailhead.
Back down the mountain, if you take that initial first left hand turn at the "Y" and follow the East Prong of the Little River for about 18 miles, you will come to the Elkmont area known for its camping, fishing and extensive trail access points. The turn-off for Elkmont is on your right and the road follows the East Prong right up to the camping area.
If you do not turn off into Elkmont, Little River road will take you all the way to the Sugarlands Visitor Center just outside of Gatlinburg. If you then turn left at the dead end, you will head into G'burg. But if you turn right at the dead end, you will be headed up through the Park on US 441 toward Cherokee, NC. US 441 follows the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River up to the Chimneys trailhead where the river splits into the Road Prong and Walker Camp Prong, The road follows Walker Camp Prong to the top.
Hope this is helpful. Better yet, when you arrive, stop in at LRO, introduce yourself and ask for a map. They've got one under glass at the counter all marked out with tons of useful info.
05-25-2008, 09:50 AM
Thanks for the info,that helps me alot.After you explained I know where most of that is just didn't know the names of them.
05-25-2008, 10:17 PM
Glad to help!!
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There are certain aspects about Free Software that resonates very closely with my philosophies of life. One of that is the fact that it enables people who would like to get things done, to go ahead and get them done. This was exactly what I did for converting the Microsoft Excel template for filing Kerala VAT returns into OpenOffice Spreadsheet format.
The original Microsoft Excel template was the cause of loud hue and cry among the Free Software community because by releasing such a template in proprietary format the Sales Tax department was inadvertently forcing the dealers in Kerala to use Microsoft Office. This was definitely in contradiction to the publicly stated IT policy of the Government of Kerala.
I saw this as an opportunity to assert the power of Free Software and went ahead and converted the Excel file and the included macros into an OpenOffice file and macros that worked with OpenOffice. Before doing this I had contacted both the sales tax department and the Free Software community to confirm that nobody else was working on the same. I had worked with VBA before but never on OpenOffice basic and the associated UNO api. I felt that this was a good opportunity for me to learn the stuff as well.
In any case I spent a couple of days on this process and presto I had my OpenOffice spreadsheet for filing KVAT returns and I released the work under GPL. Wiser by as much but lagging by two days of business development. Ah well, there is a cost for everything :-). | <urn:uuid:f22a7efa-3fc0-4ddd-9118-9ce47c8c4e7e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://anoopjohn.com/09/01/17/actions-speak-louder-than-words | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976835 | 295 | 1.742188 | 2 |
- Special Sections
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Since the initiation of the hospitalist program at Los Alamos Medical Center, I have often been asked, “What is a hospitalist?” As the lead hospitalist of the program, I would like to provide you with answers to the questions I hear most frequently.
What is a hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a well-trained specialist who deals specifically with inpatient hospital care. We make daily rounds and, most importantly, are available on an urgent basis should you have an emergency or a significant change in your condition. While you are under our care, we will be responsible for performing exams and ordering diagnostic tests and other treatments that are appropriate for your acute condition.
Why isn’t my regular doctor seeing me in the hospital?
Your primary care provider has given the hospitalist program permission to care for your medical needs while you are in the hospital. During your hospital stay, your primary care provider will be informed of your admission, condition and discharge and will be able to monitor your course of care. Once you leave the hospital, your primary care provider will resume your outpatient care.
How can my family and I communicate with thehospitalist?
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your appointment in advance it is important to prepare for an academic counselling
appointment in order to achieve the greatest benefit. Academic counselling appointments can help
address a wide range of academic issues. From specific or detailed questions
regarding Faculty degree requirements and regulations to boarder conversations
about educational and career goals.
Here are some things you can expect and should think about in
preparation for your appointment:
yourself with your program, plan and course requirements by reviewing the
Academic Calendar before your meeting.
If you have yet to decide on a major think about meeting with a
Career Counsellor to help you find a focus for your future whether it be academic
or work related. It is important
that you begin the self-assessment process required to learn more about
yourself and your career/educational interests.
- Prepare a
selection of ideas/courses for discussion. Depending on the nature of your meeting
you should come with some ideas regarding your academic needs.
- Bring a list of
questions. You will get the
most out of your appointment and get your answers at one time.
- Expect referrals from your academic counsellor. Academic
counsellors are familiar with the student services on campus and can be
your link to resources designed to facilitate your success.
- Feel free to discuss academic and non-academic issues relevant to your education. It is easier for your academic counsellor to
help if they have a clear understanding of the concerns and issues you may be | <urn:uuid:9d298d54-25d8-4a9a-b1ac-e656995729e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/help/advising-in-arts-and-science/preparing-for-your-academic-counselling-appointment | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930635 | 317 | 1.671875 | 2 |
President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique pledged his support for a new decentralisation drive by mayors across Africa so that rapidly growing towns and cities can get better service delivery of water, sanitation, electricity and other essential municipal services.
In a keynote address to the Third Africities Summit in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Mr. Chissano, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union, proposed that African ministers of decentralisation and local government meet to discuss implementation of the urban agenda of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
"Decentralisation is the best way forward for our countries," he told the gathering of an estimated 700 mayors and local government representatives. "It enables our populations to elect their own representatives and participate directly in the management of their local affairs."
Alluding to the fact that 70 per cent of urban Africa lives in slums, he said the implementation of NEPAD goals sprung from the idea of a new partnership among local communities, their municipalities, and governments.
"Taking the example of my own country, Mozambique, we observe that it is in the second biggest city (Beira), that we have the highest rate of AIDS cases. There are other problems such as a lack of water. When there is no water in the countryside, we can complain. But when there is no water in the cities, it is catastrophic," he said.
"If we must centre our attention on the population, we must, a priori, look for the means of organising the population to participate even at the sub-regional level, in the problems that directly concern them," Mr. Chissano said. He addressed the conference on Tuesday before departing to Abuja, Nigeria, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The theme of the Africities summit this year, is on access to ensuring basic services in African towns and cities. Mr. Chissano said the Union could not work without integrating the municipal and local government elements of the Africities forum which meets every three years.
UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, who also addressed the conference, said that the AU Decision on Promoting the Development of Sustainable Cities and Towns in Africa in June last year was a mandate from the top political body in Africa enabling UN-HABITAT to move its agenda forward in this context.
She told a news conference that she had been appalled at the conditions of poverty she found during a visit to the Yaoundé slum, Mvog-ada: "Mvog-ada says it all. It is characteristic, but perhaps not the worst. The United Nations does not believe that we should have neighbourhoods like Mvog-ada."
Saying it had taken half an hour to walk just a short distance through the narrow, muddy passageways between dwellings where more than 20,000 people live in overcrowded conditions on just 70 hectares of land, Mrs. Tibaijuka said that UN-HABITAT and the office of the United Nations Development Programme in Cameroon would launch a new project to help alleviate the situation.
But she said bringing better conditions in the neighbourhood would have to be a long-term project because it could not be done overnight. UN-HABITAT is tasked with coordinating action world-wide towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal of significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020. Bringing improvements in such areas was a "slow, painstaking process".
UN-HABITAT representatives presided at a series of workshops at the Africities Summit with mayors and other local government representatives on water and sanitation, safer cities and good urban governance. The conclusions drawn from some of these meetings, will be incorporated into a final declaration at the end of the of the 2-6 December deliberations.
In an impassioned address to the Africities conference earlier, Mrs. Tibaijuka said of slum conditions in Africa: "It is a disturbing fact that two out of five of these urban residents today live in circumstances deemed to be life and health threatening. Be it my home country, Tanzania, or our host country, Cameroon, the problems we confront here are quite similar."
Before winding up a three-day visit, Mrs. Tibaijuka also toured another poverty stricken neighbourhood, Nylon, in Douala. | <urn:uuid:12c65136-84e7-4e2f-9271-814af09035ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=2994&catid=5&typeid=6&month=12&year=2003 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949051 | 896 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Supply Chain Readiness in an Era of Accelerated Change
Supply Chain Readiness in an Era of Accelerated Change
By Karen Savala, president, SEMI Americas
This year at the SEMICON West press conference, I presented on “Supply Chain Readiness in an Era of Accelerated Change” and I’d like to summarize that presentation for you. The talk centered on the increasing capital and technology requirements of advanced semiconductor production and the pressures this creates on the supply chain. The structure of the industry is rapidly changing — and how it will respond to the simultaneous challenges of Moore’s Law scaling, 450mm wafer production, 3D-ICs, and industry consolidation is very much unknown. Much of this uncertainty is reflected in what we call “supply chain readiness.”
Never before has the industry faced greater economic and technological uncertainty. The industry is consolidating, with fewer leading edge chip makers and fewer leading edge suppliers. The technical challenges are increasing as geometric scaling and Moore’s Law now must be accomplished with rising process engineering complexity — particularly in the areas of EUV lithography, 3D-IC chip packages and 450mm wafers.
The economic and technical challenges of today’s environment will have an impact on supply chain readiness. In the past, the size and scope of the industry supported a vibrant supply chain of start-ups, innovators at the leading edge, brilliant fast-followers, and a variety of technology and process specialists.
Today, the supply chain is dominated by several large OEM companies who rely upon a global ecosystem of technology subsystem and component firms. As process engineering becomes more complex at leading-edge nodes, the readiness of the supply chain to deliver advanced, integrated solutions becomes less certain.
Photolithography systems are among the most complex and expensive machines on the planet. They are also the most important tool to maintain the pace of Moore’s Law. From advanced light sources from Cymer to highly engineered optics and lenses from Carl Zeiss, approximately 90% of an ASML lithography system comes from external suppliers. EUV systems are currently shipping, but as you know, they do not meet the required wafers-per-hour throughout for high-volume production. Consequently, EUV is being deployed in conjunction with immersion lithography, directed assembly and other options. The node at which EUV fully enters mass production is still uncertain — certainly below 20nm, perhaps at the 16 nm node, possibly at 8nm.
To alleviate some of this uncertainty, both Intel and TSMC have made significant investments in ASML to support EUV development and help accelerate the introduction of 450mm systems. While this massive infusion of cash will assure a common mission between these key industry players, how it will impact next generation mask infrastructure has yet to be seen.
In mask readiness, EUV mask blanks are an order of magnitude more complex than today’s conventional mask blanks. Spectacular work has been accomplished to improve yield and reduce defects on these new systems.
Today, according to SEMATECH, mask performance is sufficient to meet the needs of memory, but still short on meeting the requirements for logic. More importantly, as this chart shows, you’ll see that a significant gap between EUV mask blank demand and supply capacity currently exists. Uncertain EUV insertion will make investment difficult for suppliers to address this capacity shortfall before full production is assured. This uncertainty may also threaten production volume availability for EUV resists.
3D-IC is another area of dramatic and uncertain change lies in the area of 3D-IC stacked chips. Given their potential for smaller form factors, increased performance, and reduced cost and power consumption, 3D-IC technologies are now enabling the next generation of advanced semiconductor packaging. Already, 2.5D approaches using silicon interposers to provide wide IO bandwidth and denser packaging have been introduced, but many manufacturing and collaboration barriers remain before widespread commercialization.
3D integration using through-silicon vias promise a fundamental shift for current multi-chip integration and packaging approaches. But cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing will be difficult to achieve without standardized equipment, materials, and processes.
With many advanced packaging processes taking place on the semiconductor wafer, the traditional supply chain of “front-end fab at the foundry” and “back-end fab at the packaging and test house” is at risk of falling apart. TSMC has been clear about their vision. They want an expanded role in the industry to implement — not just wafer foundry services — but 3D integration as well, including thinning, bumping and assembly.
While the business models sort themselves out, there remain technology challenges and process flow uncertainty. Chips-on-substrate, chips-on-wafer and chip-on-chip all remain viable options.
Currently, there are no collaboration models to solve this foundry-OSAT-IDM and fabless chip matrix for complex, multi-chip packages. SEMI standards are addressing many supply chain, equipment and materials issues. However, market demand and business models must continue to sort themselves out before 3D chip stacking can widely penetrate the industry.
450mm Wafer Transition
The most expensive semiconductor industry technology transition in history will occur with the transition to 450mm wafers. R&D costs alone are estimated to rise between $8 and $40 billion, depending on the efficiency with which the transition is coordinated. The high end of this estimate represents a level of investment that is equivalent to what the entire industry spent on advanced process development over the past five years. These costs will be incurred concurrently with other major technical challenges in the industry, including the move to 3D transistor structures, and EUV and 3D stacked chips already mentioned. The recent investments in ASML by Intel and TSMC reflect just how much the industry will be changed by 450mm development requirements.
Currently, the Global 450 Consortium, or G450C, with members from Intel, IBM, Global Foundries, TSMC, and Samsung, is in the process of constructing and equipping a 450 pilot line in New York. G450C has said that it expects the line to complete by mid- 2013 to early 2014. The business model to equip this pilot line is unlike anything we’ve seen before — in this industry or elsewhere! The pilot line will feature approximately 50 tool types, most if not all, from no more than two vendors. Performance data from this pilot line will be used to qualify equipment purchases for high-volume production equipment. To many, it is clear that to participate in future 450mm production, equipment suppliers must participate in the pilot line.
However, not all vendors are being asked to participate, and for those that do, the terms for participation in the pilot line are daunting. How the industry will pay for and recover the massive R&D cost has not been resolved. Suppliers must weigh a decision to participate in pilot line development in conjunction with the possibility of not being qualified for production equipment orders from the world’s top chip manufacturers. The timing and quantity of these of these potential future orders are also not known.
These are difficult and complicated negotiations and decisions for the industry’s leading OEMs. They are even more complicated and difficult for the remainder of the supply chain.
While our leading equipment suppliers must sell products and services to chip manufacturers, many of the component and subsystem suppliers do not; they often serve multiple industries.
As the current collaboration model unfolds for 450mm development, its impact on a variety of technology suppliers — many of them exhibitors at SEMICON West — is uncertain. Approximately 90% of ASML’s components and subsystems are provided by outside suppliers. Another example, Applied Materials is dependent on 800 suppliers worldwide, with 75 prime strategic suppliers representing 80 percent of their annual procurement allocation.
On the transition of the industry to 450mm wafers — it is certain that the impact on the supply chain will be disruptive and significant. While it appears that G450C may be the primary path of coordination for the scale-up of wafer process tools, it is the OEMs that will be coordinating a complex multi-layered supply chain of component and sub-assembly providers. At SEMICON West for the first time, the major process tool makers communicated requirements and expectations to the larger group of supply chain participants that may not have direct access to the consortia pilot line.
SEMICON West 2012
At SEMICON West, the most knowledgeable and authoritative voices in the industry discussed these tough issues. Our objective is advance the dialog — to convey useful information to our attendees — and to serve as a platform for productive collaboration on these and other industry issues. All of the events at SEMICON West (keynotes, partner events, TechXPOTs, and technical presentations) allow key industry stakeholders to discuss where it makes sense to collaborate — and where it’s best to compete.
Please let me know if you have comments or questions at email@example.com.
August 7, 2012
- Market Info
- Events & Tradeshows | <urn:uuid:0caf8432-cf1f-4870-9397-350c4c80bbf4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.semi.org/en/node/42601?id=sgurow0812t | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938385 | 1,891 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Livestock smuggling makes meat dearer
ISLAMABAD: The National Price Monitoring Committee has taken serious note of increase in beef and mutton prices and called for measures to control smuggling of livestock to neighbouring countries.
The committee, which met here on Monday under the chairmanship of Special Secretary Finance Rana Assad Amin, decided that the route and quantity for the issuance of export licence for livestock should be identified to ensure stability in the domestic prices of beef and mutton.
It was decided that the Ministry of Food Security would suggest measures in consultation with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Interior Ministry to address the issue of illegal export of livestock.
The high price of food items in Balochistan as compared to other provinces was also taken up by the committee which emphasised the need for market intelligence between the provinces.
The committee reviewed the price trend of 28 selected items among the provinces. Some variations in the prices of wheat, rice basmati broken, rice Irri-6, pulses, beef, mutton, egg, milk (fresh), milk powdered, ghee, onions, tomatoes and garlic were observed.
The Ministry of Food Security was asked to present a workable plan in consultation with the provinces for sharing the marketing intelligence so that the disparities in prices of food commodities among the provinces could be addressed.
The special secretary finance endorsed suggestions of the committee for establishing more storages facilities by the provincial governments in order to minimise the wastage of perishable food items as well as expediting the revival of palm oil development projects to save foreign exchange on import of edible oil from abroad.
The meeting reviewed the Consumer Price Index (CPI), food, non-food, core, wholesale price index (WPI) and sensitive price index (SPI) to measures the changes in prices. The SPI recorded an increase of 0.28 per cent of the week ended on March 15.
It was observed that out of 53 items, prices of 25 items registered increase while prices of 5 items decreased and prices of 23 items remain unchanged as compared to previous week ended on March 8, where prices of 31 items increased, prices of 7 items decreased and prices of 15 items remain unchanged.
The prices which registered increase were tomatoes by 28.79 per cent, rice (basmati) broken 2.93 per cent, gram pulse 1.55 per cent, sugar 0.92 per cent, vegetable ghee (loose) 0.74 per cent, wheat flour 0.67 per cent and mash pulse 0.30 per cent.
The items which recorded decrease in their prices were garlic 3.93 per cent, chicken farm 3.34 per cent, egg (farm) 2.94 per cent, onion 1.50 per cent and potatoes 0.76 per cent while prices of mutton, milk (powdered), cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), electricity charges, gas price were up, petrol, diesel and kerosene remain unchanged.
It was also observed that in comparison with regional countries, Pakistan stood the lowest in prices of wheat, wheat flour, rice, sugar, chicken (farm) and second lowest in beef, garlic and petrol. However, prices of pulses, mutton, eggs, potatoes, red chilies, onion, diesel, tea and urea were higher in Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by provincial government representatives, Islamabad Capital Territory, and ministries of planning and development, industries, commerce, food security, interior, cabinet division, Federal Bureau of Statistics and Federal Board of Revenue. | <urn:uuid:7d21a8c5-ef68-4016-8aa0-59aae5ae9400> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dawn.com/2012/03/27/livestock-smuggling-makes-meat-dearer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949117 | 728 | 1.75 | 2 |
THE blogging colossus known as Andrew Sullivan goes a rhetorical step further than my colleague, arguing that Americans are a bunch of "big babies" who refuse to fork over enough taxes to pay for the goodies they ask government to buy for them. The latest twist is a poll showing that Americans also oppose allowing the government to raise its debt ceiling in order to borrow the money to pay for the goodies it has bought for them, in the absence of taxes. By deductive reasoning, we might conclude that Americans want the government to steal things from contractors and not pay for them. But the more likely conclusion, as Jonathan Bernstein argues, is that Americans don't yet understand that "do not raise the debt ceiling" means "default on America's debts, stop cutting Social Security and Medicare checks, don't pay contractors for work performed, and crash the stock market". As the media explains this over the next month or two, public views on this question are likely to shift.
As a side note, though, one point Mr Sullivan makes isn't really correct. Mr Sullivan writes that if Barack Obama "pretends that we can resolve this by revenues alone, he is part of the problem, not the solution." David Brooks echoes that point in an op-ed today, saying "there are no conceivable tax increases that can keep up" with rising Medicare spending. This sounds very hard-headed, but it's not really correct. America has one of the lowest tax burdens of any advanced country. We may not want to fix our debt problem solely by increasing revenues, but if we wanted to, we could.
The Index of Economic Freedom published by the conservative Heritage Foundation (which presumably has no interest in lowballing current US taxation figures) puts the total of US federal, state and local taxes in 2012 at 24% of GDP. In Britain the total tax burden is 34% of GDP. In Sweden it is 46%, in France 42%, in Germany 37%. At the lower end of the spectrum of major advanced economies, Japan is at 28% and Australia is at 27%.
The federal portion of America's tax burden is in the neighbourhood of 18% of GDP. According to the dire long-term budget vision laid out by John Palmer and Rudolph Penner of the Tax Policy Center, federal government spending, currently at 24% of GDP, will rise to about 25% of GDP by 2023 (due mainly to rising health-care costs and interest payments), and may go up to 30% or more by 2037 depending on how much debt we rack up in the meantime.
In other words, by gradually increasing our total tax burden by 7% of GDP through 2023, we could balance the budget; we might eventually have to raise it by perhaps 10% of GDP. That would leave us with a much higher tax burden than we have now, but it would still be only 34% of GDP, as high as Britain's is today. And that's assuming we don't change a penny of our wasteful spending habits on Medicare and defence.
Again, this isn't an argument that we shouldn't cut spending. America spends nearly as much on defence as the rest of the world combined; that can clearly be cut. Medical care in America is absurdly expensive compared to other countries, and the government could certainly get much better deals from insurers and providers if Congress allowed it to bargain effectively. But America is an extremely rich country. If Americans did decide that they liked their defence and health-care policies just the way they are, and were willing to pay British- or German-style tax rates to maintain them, they could do so.
This is all probably irrelevant, because, to go back to Mr Sullivan's point, it's clear that Barack Obama does not actually want to shrink America's long-term budget deficits solely through tax increases. He's spent the past couple of years defending hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare spending growth against Republican opposition, and he was willing to shift to a chained-CPI cost-of-living-increase formula that would have cut Social Security spending significantly as well, in exchange for appropriate GOP counteroffers. To the chagrin of many liberals, there seem to be a lot of cuts Mr Obama would be willing to make if a "grand bargain" were available. | <urn:uuid:96d347ac-848c-4ab2-898d-6dc88bbc7738> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.economist.com/comment/1830274 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975454 | 873 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Aussie govt won't back down on Christchurch warning
The Australian government is not backing down from a travel advisory warning its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" if visiting Christchurch - putting the garden city on a par with Rwanda.
The advice on its Smart Traveller website was last updated on March 19. There are no immediate plans to change it.
Yesterday, Canterbury Tourism said the warning put people off and was "unreasonable." Australian visitor numbers are down 20% over 2010.
Under an Additional Information tab on New Zealand, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warns:
Aftershocks are continuing and may further damage infrastructure such as roads, bridges and power and water supply.
Australians in Christchurch and Lyttleton should exercise a high degree of caution because of damage to buildings, public infrastructure, and essential services caused by the series of earthquakes affecting the area. While damage is concentrated in the CBD, eastern and seaside suburbs of Christchurch, pockets of serious damage to buildings are present in other parts of the city.
Christchurch was hit by a magnitude 4.0 earthquake Friday July 2, and a magnitude 4.8 yesterday, Friday July 6.
The entry on New Zealand also contains a warning for Australians on the risk of travelling to Tauranga. It reads:
The MV Rena broke in two in the Bay of Plenty region on 8 January 2012. Australians visiting the area should monitor the Bay of Plenty District Health Board website for current health warnings. | <urn:uuid:4d7a0de9-f21a-4012-9145-8a1447184a31> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/aussie-govt-wont-back-down-christchurch-warning-ck-123036 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951832 | 307 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Do Pick 4 players pay attention to series wins? Early in my research, dating back to the mid-1990s, some Pick 4 players used series Pick 4 numbers as their Pick 4 strategy. They were looking to establish some kind of trend by using this type of numbers.
Since April 16, 2010 series numbers have been popping up all over the map in the world of Pick 4 Lotteries here in the United States.
A series Pick 4 number is made up of four consecutive digits in any order. Series numbers include 0123, 1234, 2345, 3456, 4567, 5678, 6789, 7890, 8901, & 9012. These are true series Pick 4 numbers because they are in the exact order or straight version.
I don't hear or see much interest in series numbers as a Pick 4 strategy for this lottery game as I did back in the 1990s. All these numbers are single type Pick 4 numbers, also known as 24-way numbers. There are a total of 240 series numbers within the 10,000 Pick 4 combinations.
In the VA Pick 4 Lottery a true version was drawn midday on April 17, 2010 with 4567. This true version was followed hours later in the Midday drawing of the Texas Daily 4 as 6457. What is surprising is the movement of this particular number. It was drawn a second time in the TX Daily 4 Midday drawing on April 19 as 5476. Most recently in Rhode Island in their single draw evening Numbers Lottery it came in as 5647.
The neighbor series Pick 4 number to the south began in the District of Columbia on April 19, 2010 in the DC-4 evening draw as 3546. The Missouri Pick 4 joined in this parade by drawing 4635 on the evening of April 21. The very next evening on April 22 Texas celebrated its second series Pick 4 number in the Texas Daily 4 with 5436.
Florida Play 4 started with 3142 in the Midday drawing on April 17, 2010. That very evening, in Missouri, it was drawn as 2134. On April 19, 2010 this Pick 4 number played another doubleheader with the midday drawing in Maryland as 3124 and the second drawing in the evening in Georgia as 1342. This number must be a big fan of baseball's old Twilight Doubleheaders.
The first series number spotted in this second half of April was 3102 in the Virginia Pick 4 Midday drawing on the 16th of the month.
Pennsylvania's Big 4 followed the next midday on April 17, 2010 with 8907. 8679 appeared jointly in the Illinois and Iowa Pick 4 Lotteries the following evening on April 18.
The triple play of the month so far occurred on April 22, 2010, with midday drawings in Iowa and Illinois both showing 8109, and the Ohio Pick 4 brought home 0981.
One of the touted suggestions that never panned out into a full blown theory was that Pick 4 series numbers are drawn on dates that are divisible by 3. Pick 4 players were watching 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 as the dates to play these Pick 4 numbers when they were due to come in.
So far during April 2010, the Pick 4 series numbers have been drawn on the following dates 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22. Only two of the six dates are divisible by 3.
If you are a Pick 4 Lottery player remember these are the real series of Pick 4 Wins, and don't forget they're out there......even if no one is talking about them, they may develop into your Pick 4 Strategy. | <urn:uuid:1d192f29-2ff0-442f-a47a-dcb78b19a726> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://playdailypick4bigmegacashwinningnumbers.com/3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977879 | 751 | 1.679688 | 2 |
A Blog Supreme
Thu September 27, 2012
Five Essential Bud Powell Recordings
Originally published on Fri September 28, 2012 11:12 am
Ever wish you could travel back in time to New York's 52nd Street — circa 1950, during the heyday of bebop — and whisper into Charlie Parker, or Dizzy Gillespie, or Thelonious Monk's ear, and ask them: Who was their favorite pianist to listen to? They would all give the same answer: Bud Powell.
The story of Powell's extraordinary genius is often fantastically rendered in jazz lore. His life was chaotic and improbable, but more often misunderstood. Most often, his music was mesmerizing. In the new book Wail: The Life of Bud Powell, biographer Peter Pullman breaks down the myths and mysteries, revealing the complicated, sometimes tragic social circumstances that conspired to vanquish Powell's art. But the book also emphasizes the brilliance of a desperately uncompromising artist.
Pullman recently stopped by WBGO to celebrate what would have been Powell's 88th birthday, joining historian Dan Morgenstern to share notable recordings and excerpts from his book. Here's a list of Pullman's five essential Bud Powell recordings. | <urn:uuid:078e06db-a8f8-4fd3-afb7-65bdd965bdfd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kwgs.org/post/five-essential-bud-powell-recordings | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960048 | 249 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Having children really messes with your head. Suddenly, not only are you responsible for the health, well-being and very survival of another human being, but you are fully aware that your own life would cease to be worth living if anything bad ever happened to them.
But being a parent is a constant guessing game. None of us know how things will work out. We can never predict what events – good or bad – await us round the corner. All we can do is prepare the best we can for every eventuality, and hope for the best!
But it is that preparing for every eventuality that can really send you crazy, because how can you ever predict what eventuality you are planning for? I wonder if you are like me… Are you an OCD parent? Let me explain;
I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried my hardest to successfully pack a bag for a family day out, only to find I’ve spent so long thinking outside the box for the random items I may need, that I’ve forgotten something essential, like money, or worse still, baby wipes!
Fed up of feeling like a failure, I started to make reusable lists: a list of things we need at the beach; a list for trips to restaurants; a list of things to keep in the car.
And I started packing bags. LOTS of bags.
Do you ever wonder how those alpha-mums do it? Their house is always clean and tidy, even when you turn up unannounced; they always look stylish, even when rushing from school to work and back again; they never seem to forget a non-uniform day…
Well, the first thing to note is that no-one is perfect – you might just be seeing them through rose-tinted glasses. The second important realisation is that everyone has different circumstances and differing priorities.
While one may shudder at the thought of cleaning their floors less than twice a day – and may have a cleaner to take at least one of those shifts! – another may prefer (or need) to spend her time working. So try not to judge others by your standards, or vice versa.
However, if you want to know a few tips and tricks for at least looking like you have it all under control, here are 5 tips that every mum should know, ones that I’ve learnt along the way:
- Invest in a great coat and boots – they make school-run chic appear effortless, and can cover a multitude of sins underneath (I work from home; most of my clothes have paint on. But my coat is FAB). (More…)
As a new parent, you have a clean slate. You can create your ideals of parenting, discuss them at length with you partner and friends, watch and deliberate over other parents’ ways of doing things, and look forward to your perfect life with your perfect children.
And then your children start to develop personalities of their own and you realise that they are in fact people in their own right with thoughts, feelings and behaviours all their own. And suddenly the perfect picture you created in your mind starts to morph into something else. Something that is not under your control.
Do you have the perfect family?
At first, you find yourself wondering why your family doesn’t look like the one in the Boden catalogue, despite all your plans to always dress your children in matching-yet-effortless outfits that would be equally at home on a boat or at a garden party.
You wonder if other people shout as much as you do, or if their children just comply. You wonder if you should change your parenting style – you wonder what your parenting style is!
Shadow Public Health Minister Diane Abbott recently warned that the UK was headed for a “masculinity crisis”. In a speech to the Demos thinktank in May, the MP spoke about the family unit, the rising pressures of unemployment and the economic downturn and the increasing isolation felt by men and boys in the UK.
The speech raises the question – among others – of who in the UK boys have look up to as a positive role model and is this the reason for such a masculinity crisis?
With ever more reality shows and their associated ‘stars’ infiltrating our TV and computer screens, and celebrities getting married and divorced faster than you can say ‘paparazzi’, it’s hard to think of a strong role model who stands for family values, long-term commitment and a healthy way of life.
Hard, but not impossible! Look no further than David Beckham.
Even if you’re not a football fan (as I am not), you can’t help but like Becks. A family man who has had an illustrious 21 years at the top of his career, before giving it all up to spend more time with his kids.
Healthy, humble, committed and stylish – there’s something for everyone to aspire to!
Having children can really test your knowledge of the world around you. Suddenly, previously ‘friendly’ places such as the local playground are fraught with potential death-traps, and you find hidden dangers in places you thought you had under your complete control.
A surprisingly dangerous place for your little ones can be your own home. Here’s 5 child home safety tips for you to consider.
You can feel a false sense of security in your own environment, which in itself can lead to complacency. While most of us spent time fixing squashy corners to all of our furniture, shoving fake plastic plugs into sockets and fitting gates to every step and doorway as soon as our little ones could so much as roll over, how many of us thought of moving the bathroom lock up out of reach until after they had locked themselves in?
Even more potentially dangerous is the upstairs windows – kids can climb onto windowsills before you can say Peter Pan, and a small window with only one handle can be opened in a flash if it’s not kept locked. Do you leave your bathroom window open most days? | <urn:uuid:9eaf55a1-8818-4f2e-be6a-ae8e917db6c0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sudocrem.co.uk/antiseptic-healing-cream/blog/author/claire-smart/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961403 | 1,263 | 1.507813 | 2 |
State of the Arts
Damien Hirst was the foremost figure in a group of cheeky artrepreneurs who instigated so much media clamor in the 1990s that they became known as the YBAs (for Young British Artists.) Now 47, Hirst is no longer young. So maybe he and a few of his peers should now be referred to as RBAs (Rich British Artists). According to the Times of London, Hirst ranks as the wealthiest living British artist, with a personal fortune estimated at more than $350 million.
Vermonters will have a chance to experience Hirst hype firsthand on Friday evening when the HAVOC Gallery in Burlington’s South End presents two of his pieces. But don’t expect to see “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living,” the 14-foot tiger shark suspended in a tank of formaldehyde that propelled Hirst to international notoriety. HAVOC also isn’t hosting the dissected cow and calf, likewise preserved in formaldehyde, that so appalled animal-rights activists. (And a good thing, too: Vermonters enraged about Green Mountain College’s recent attempt to slaughter and eat a pair of aged oxen would most likely go apoplectic at the sight of Hirst’s “Mother and Child Divided.”)
As it is, visitors to the airy venue on Sears Lane — also the BRM Design studio of metal artist Bruce R. MacDonald — might actually overlook Hirst’s pair of colored woodcuts, if not for the crowd that’s likely to gather around them at the reception. The small-scale, minimalist prints will prove typically controversial — not because of their visual oomph but because of their OMG price tags.
“Mepartricin” measures a mere 12 inches square; “Rhodotorulic Acid” is half that size. Each consists of a single colored dot on white paper — red in one case, dark orange in the other. In the larger work, the dot touches the edges of the plane, while blank whiteness takes up most of the 6-by-6-inch piece; its dot measures two inches in diameter.
Yup, dot’s all, folks.
With Hirst’s work, however, cost is as much the point as content.
MacDonald is offering “Mepartricin” for $6000 and “Rhodotorulic Acid” for $3400. He says he expects both pieces to find buyers in Burlington.
Then again, MacDonald might not be willing to part with them. “I’d like to hang on to one of them,” he says while seated at a big wooden table in his gallery. MacDonald, who bought the prints from a dealer in London for prices he won’t disclose, finds “there’s something seductive about them.” It’s the pair’s “purity” that accounts for their aesthetic appeal, he suggests.
It’s the signature that garners their price, however. Without Hirst’s illegible scrawl, the prints would be worth little more than the cost of materials and production.
Despite his defense of the woodcuts on artistic grounds, MacDonald concedes that to most viewers they won’t look like much. “It’s not very big,” he says as he gestures to the larger of the prints. “It doesn’t weigh much. It’s just a piece of paper with some ink on it.”
But “there’s only 55 of them in the world,” MacDonald continues. That’s the number of prints in each of the two editions, which helps make the show at HAVOC a special event. The limited quantity will also serve to drive up the market value of both works, MacDonald predicts. “They’re going to be worth a whole lot more money. The Chinese art market is just exploding,” he points out.
The prints at HAVOC are part of Hirst’s “pharmaceutical” series, which consists of what the artist terms “spots” that resemble enlarged pills. Spot paintings that he and (mostly) his assistants made over the course of 25 years were simultaneously displayed this past winter at 11 venues worldwide that make up the art empire of Larry Gagosian, the Donald Trump of gallerists — in scope, if not in egomania.
Following the path pioneered by Andy Warhol and picked up by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst can most accurately be described not as an artist but as a showman adept at outraging traditionalists. He’s crass and clever in equal measure, and also invulnerable to criticism. Hirst figured out early in his YBA career that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Reviewers who expend ink reviling his work only contribute, indirectly, to his already-bulging bank account.
So go to HAVOC and make your own judgments. But don’t be surprised if you wind up spending far more time with MacDonald’s own artwork than with the Hirsts on display. The dozen or so abraded stainless-steel “light sculptures” that overwhelm the two spot prints have a trippy, holographic effect that will mesmerize most viewers. MacDonald’s creations also command attention simply on the basis of their visual allure. They actually reward the time a viewer invests in looking at them. The exhibit also includes minimalist sculptures by Joël Urruty and abstract wood panels by George Peterson.
Damien Hirst, Bruce R. MacDonald, Joël Urruty and George Peterson, HAVOC Gallery, Burlington. Reception Friday, November 16, 5 to 9 p.m.; also open Saturday, November 17, noon to 6 p.m. Regular hours Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; First Fridays, 5 to 7 p.m.; and by appointment. Info, 800-639-1868. brmdesign.com/TheHavocGallery.asp | <urn:uuid:843163ac-6aca-435e-8108-0828bd126e46> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.7dvt.com/print/100157 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958255 | 1,306 | 1.507813 | 2 |
John Doherty, New York City sanitation commissioner, responded to criticism Thursday about the city's cleanup response to the East Coast blizzard.
"From the planning purpose and operational purpose, we fought this storm like we fought every storm, so there was no change in that," Doherty said on CNN's "American Morning."
"One of the biggest problems we ran across so far was the depth of snow in many places, and snow plows getting stuck and not being able to get in streets, along with the tremendous number of abandoned vehicles," he said.
"People did not listen and went out with their vehicles and got stuck. Even after the storm they tried to go through some of the blocks, and the snow was anywhere in the city from 16 to 29 inches," Doherty said.
Watch American Morning weekdays 6am to 9am ET. For the latest from American Morning click here. | <urn:uuid:b484524c-ef06-4ccc-ba5d-174fce0ca902> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/30/people-did-not-listen-and-went-out-with-their-vehicles-and-got-stuck/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977375 | 183 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Ever dream of a genealogical search companion? JewishGen is offering an Independent Study class.
Your topic, your schedule, your questions.
Nancy Holden will be available for projects centered on research in the United States or the Pale of Russia (Latvia to Southern Russia). This session will follow the format of other JewishGen Education classes using a Forum and one-on-one consultations via the internet Forum.
The level of your knowledge, and the Family you decide to research is not an issue. However, in order to qualify for this class we ask that you submit a paragraph (see application below) about your project. Your SURNAME, your towns, your goals. This will be a Do-it-Yourself, computer-based, online seminar. Individual readings will be posted according to your research needs.
Is this course right for you? This is beyond the Basic. Read the course descriptions to see if what you want to do is covered by a course already being taught. If not, this may be the perfect class. Students should be comfortable on the internet and able to upload and download pdfs, images and word documents. To get the most out of this course, you will need 8-10 hours a week and commit to posting to the forum as you go along.
Enrollment is limited (10-15 students). Please send your qualifying paragraph to Nancy Holden any time after June 17, 2012 for consideration. Students will be notified of enrollment procedures by email.
Tuition: $150 to be paid after acceptance to the class
Email Nancy Holden
Application: Qualifying Paragraph
Proposal for Independent Study
1. Proposal in one sentence: "I would like to work on……
2. At the end of four weeks I would like to have …. Set an achievable goal: Define the problem you would like to solve or the project (or part of the project) you would like to complete in the four weeks.
3. Materials and Knowledge Sources
Write a brief description
4. I have already searched and collected data from the following type of records… Briefly summarize the data that you will be bringing to the project in a generalized paragraph (i.e. I already have all census data, or all vital stats without going into detail). We do not need the specific data at this time if you feel you have too much information to put into a sentence or two, wait until class starts. | <urn:uuid:fbb55d84-bb2d-4e3d-8e83-d85defffe155> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishgen.org/Education/description.asp?course=30000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936842 | 498 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Greenpeace activists unfurl a banner urging bluefin protection as a French fishing industry sponsored boat cruise approaches. Paris is hosting ICCAT, the international meeting key to the bluefin's survival, which concludes on 27 November.
Imagine that you are at last year’s Climate Summit in Copenhagen. While NGOs were trying to push governments away from dirty sources of energy, an oil conglomerate like Shell or Exxon organized a reception, where they told attendees about all of the great things they are doing to ensure a sustainable future. This would be outrageous, of course, considering all that Shell has been doing to the Niger Delta and its indigenous peoples.
According to the Wikipedia, “greenwashing” is “a term describing the deceptive use of green marketing in order to promote a misleading perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly”.
Last night, we had our own version of greenwashing here at ICCAT, the international organization in charge of managing Atlantic tuna fisheries, meeting this week in Paris. At around 8p.m., the same French fishermen responsible for overfishing bluefin tuna organised a cruise along the river Seine, kindly inviting ICCAT delegates to get to see the City of Lights at night. Rest assured, Greenpeace was there to remind the delegates that they are here in Paris to save the bluefin, not cater to narrow fishing interests.
Back in 2007, these fishermen fished double their allowed quota, catching over 5,000 tonnes of bluefin tuna illegally. They are the ones who, together with the French Government, are mainly responsible for the European Union having completely disregarded the position of the European Commissioner – who advocated for a substantial reduction of bluefin tuna catches.
This summer it was industrial purse seine French fishermen who responded to a Greenpeace protest at sea with violence: slashing with knives and deliberately ramming Greenpeace inflatables. A French fisherman threw a grappling hook which pierced the leg of a Greenpeace activist, who had to be evacuated by helicopter for medical care. He required surgery and was kept in hospital for a week. Greenpeace International has filed a criminal complaint in France in relation to the conduct of this fisherman.
These French fishermen had already had one amnesty to their illegal catches: they have already been forgiven 1,000 tonnes of their illegal catches, unbelievable as that is. One amnesty is enough: it is just not right that they present themselves to ICCAT delegates as victims of strict management and control measures, rather than responsible, along with other Mediterranean countries, of the depletion of this valuable stock.
The truth remains: if the bluefin is to survive, we need to close the Mediterranean bluefin fishery. In order to pass on plentiful fish and healthy oceans to our children, we need a reformed fishing industry and a global network of marine reserves covering 40% of the world’s oceans. Join the movement for marine reserves and help create healthy and living oceans here. | <urn:uuid:2900451d-183a-4417-bc4b-ae1a53bfc032> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/greenwashing-at-tuna-summit/blog/28381/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958308 | 593 | 1.8125 | 2 |
More On Tax Planningfrom The Advisor's Professional Library
- Charitable Giving Charitable giving can reduce your clients’ tax liabilities. However, the general and verification rules for the deduction of charitable gifts must be understood in order to take full tax advantage of such gifts.
- Precious Metal Taxation Precious metals can be used to better diversify a portfolio but can be volatile. The tax implications of investing in these types of assets vary depending upon the situation.
If Gov. Romney wins the election, his Cabinet will take a very different direction on economic policy than President Obama’s—particularly since Romney has opted not to commit to include any Democrats in his administration. Here are some possibilities for Romney appointees to those key Cabinet positions that guide economic policy, and a couple of new ones Obama might make if he is re-elected.
The outlook Paul Ryan (left) would bring to a Romney Cabinet includes such diverse author influences as Ayn Rand (although of late he has distanced himself from her religious views, her fiscal principles are still very much in evidence) and the Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek, author of The Road to Serfdom.
Among the mentors who have shaped Ryan’s view of both politics and economics are the libertarian Rich Hart, an economics professor who discussed not just economics but politics with the future VP candidate. Hart, who according to a Los Angeles Times report jokes that he is a member of a group of faculty at Miami University of Ohio that’s “to the right of Attila the Hun,” opposes the minimum wage and believes that public schools fail inner-city kids.
Others who have influenced Ryan’s beliefs to one degree or another include the late Rep. Jack Kemp, R-N.Y., although he, says a Newsmax report, unlike Ryan, did not espouse government cuts or tough love for the poor. There’s also former education secretary and drug czar Bill Bennett, who served under Reagan and the first Bush in those posts, respectively; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a champion of supply-side economics; and Stanford University economist John Taylor, who has served in three Republican administrations.
Who would Romney choose to head the Treasury Department instead of Tim Geithner? Speculation runs rife that it could be anyone from former World Bank President Robert Zoellick (left), who has already been offering Romney guidance on foreign policy, to Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who served as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director under George W. Bush. But Portman’s accession to a Treasury slot rather than retaining his seat in the Senate could jeopardize Republican legislative goals should outcomes continue to depend on a few senators’ votes either way—so Portman could opt, or be opted, out of eligibility.
Another likely possibility is Glenn Hubbard, dean of Columbia University’s business school, who served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers early under George W. Bush and also helped to orchestrate the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. A recent profile of Hubbard in The New York Times, titled “Romney’s Go-To Economist,” says that Hubbard not only assisted in the drafting of Romney’s economic and tax policies, he also gave his stamp of approval to those he did not originate.
Hubbard’s elevation to head Treasury could mean he would be out of the running to chair the Federal Reserve—a post that comes up in 2014—so, depending on his preferences, he, too, might bow out. If so, Treasury could end up being run by Mike Leavitt, former Utah governor and Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush. Leavitt, a fellow Mormon, is currently heading Romney’s transition team, but has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Treasury secretary—although chief of staff could be more likely.
Obama Cabinet Changes: But What About…
With Geithner (far left) departing even if President Obama wins a second term, some names are being bandied about for his replacement in a Democratic administration. They include Erskine Bowles, of Simpson-Bowles fame; Bowles formerly served as White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. (There is a chance that Romney could opt for Bowles as well, since his hand on the deficit reduction plan was so heavy—it would give a nod to bipartisanship.)
Another mention as a replacement in a second Democratic term, according to The New York Times, is Laurence Fink, CEO of BlackRock (Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, was reportedly also on the list at one point, but now apparently has been crossed off).
But the favorite, according to The Times, is Jacob Lew, Obama’s chief of staff. Lew, a former lawyer and career technocrat, put in a brief stint as CEO of Citigroup’s Alternative Investments unit, but other than that is not known for having a business background.
Currently headed by Hilda L. Solis, Labor could be in for a major shakeup as well. One of the splashier names being bruited about as her possible successor in a Romney administration is Scott Walker (left), governor of Wisconsin, who made headlines by tangling with public worker unions in an effort to control the state's budget. Former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri, co-chairman at the lobbying and public strategy firm Mercury Public Affairs, has also been mentioned in connection with the job.
Another possibility, and one less politically fraught, is that of William Kilberg, lead counsel for Boeing, who also chairs the Labor Policy Committee for the Romney campaign.
Kilberg has taken on the National Labor Relations Board on Boeing’s behalf after the NLRB filed suit claiming that Boeing opened a new plant in Charleston, S.C., to retaliate against union workers in the Puget Sound area for striking. He has also served as legal counsel for the Department of Labor.
Romney Cabinet: Federal Reserve
Glenn Hubbard (left), already mentioned as a possibility for Treasury secretary, could end up running the Fed instead when Ben Bernanke's term as chairman ends in 2014. In his previous role in the Bush administration, Hubbard advocated financial deregulation. He has also been criticized for being too chummy with the industries about which he studies and writes. Both could possibly count as strikes against him for this position.
Another possibility is Martin Feldstein, professor of economics at Harvard University, who used to chair Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisors and who has not hesitated to voice his low opinion of Bernanke’s use of QE. A Feldstein appointment would place the Romney administration firmly in the camp of anti-inflationism, while also bolstering support for Romney’s tax plan.
John Taylor, whose mentoring influence on Ryan has already been noted, is another contender for the slot, and supposedly a top one. With previous service on the White House Council of Economic Advisers and as under secretary of Treasury for international affairs, Taylor is experienced in public policy. He was also the originator of the Taylor Rule, used to set interest rates. And he too is critical of Bernanke’s tactics to combat the financial crisis.
One more name that has come up as a candidate, if an outside one, for Fed chief is Gregory Mankiw, professor of economics at Harvard. A couple of Mankiw’s more controversial beliefs are, according to The Blaze, that economic inequality is natural and outsourcing is good.
Of course, with Ben Bernanke’s recent announcement to friends, if not to the public, that he won’t serve a third term even if Obama is re-elected, change will apparently come to the Fed regardless of the election’s outcome. Lawrence Summers, says The New York Times, is at the top of the list. Treasury secretary under Clinton and director of the National Economic Council for Obama, Summers is thought to offer follow-through on Bernanke’s policies.
If not Summers, then who? Janet Yellen, vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, would be the first woman to run the Fed if chosen, and she too could offer continuity. Economist Alan Krueger also gets a mention; he served for a short time as an assistant secretary of the Treasury for economic policy under Obama.
And since it will be a year till Bernanke steps down, one more possibility is being offered: Tim Geithner. After a year out of Treasury, the theory goes, Geithner may be ready and willing to take on the Fed. He’s already put in time, after all, as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the financial crisis.
Presently chaired by Alan B. Krueger (left), Obama’s council is bound to transform dramatically if it becomes a Romney council.
Romney’s current economic advisors include the aforementioned Glenn Hubbard, Jim Talent and Gregory Mankiw, another former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under Bush; Vin Weber, who served in Congress from 1983–1993 and now works as a lobbyist; and American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Kevin Hassett, who has served as economic advisor to George W. Bush in 2004 and to John McCain during his presidential bids in 2000 and 2008.
Hubbard, Mankiw, Hassett and Talent have all advocated for Social Security privatization, although Talent has since backed off.
Hubbard and Mankiw, as previously mentioned, have already served in the capacity of chairman and are being considered elsewhere. But Stanford University economist John Taylor, likely to serve on the Council, could also be tapped to chair it, as could Hassett.
A Romney council could contain any or all of these, and perhaps include as well any candidates for other financial posts who do not make the final cut.
Who might replace Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan as head of HUD? A couple of possibilities include Sen. Richard Shelby (near left) of Alabama, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., who currently serves Romney as urban policy advisor. Baker, according to Forbes, is a big proponent of downtowns, which could mean making urban revitalization a priority.
Another name being floated is that of former Rep. Rick Lazio, R-N.Y., who advises Romney on housing. While still in Congress, Lazio chaired what was at the time the House Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, and according to some Republican sources, his position as a former legislator could be a plus. Of course, sources also say that a mayor on the way to the top or a housing commissioner with a solid reputation could also be tapped for the position.
There simply hasn’t been a whole lot of chatter, at least in some circles, over who could take on the post, given the possibility that Romney could just opt not to appoint anyone. That would follow through on a previous statement that he’d shut down the department altogether as a budget-cutting measure. Some feel it unlikely that Romney will go that far, considering that his father used to hold the post.
Romney Cabinet: Office of Management & Budget
Jeffrey Zients, acting director, could be replaced by former Congressional Budget Office chief Douglas Holtz-Eakin (left). The latter served from August 1989 to July 1990 as senior staff economist on the first President Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers. He was chair of the economics department at Syracuse University from 1997 to 2001, and in 2009 Holtz-Eakin served on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, appointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Should the helm not fall to Holtz-Eakin, former Rep. Jim Nussle of Iowa, who was director of OMB under George W. Bush and also chaired the House Budget Committee, could get the nod—or instead, perhaps, former Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire could be Romney’s pick. Gregg previously served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and also works with the deficit-reduction advocacy group Fix the Debt.
One last possibility—Portman might choose this (or be chosen for it) over Treasury. The fact that he’s already sung this song might make him more, or less, anxious for an encore.
Romney Cabinet: U.S. Trade Representative
Ambassador Ronald Kirk could see himself replaced by Dave Heineman (left), governor of Nebraska and, according to Omaha.com, the first governor to endorse Romney. Heineman’s name has also been mentioned as a possibility for secretary of commerce.
Even though he’s not being discussed for this slot, in favor of the headier role at Treasury, Rob Portman formerly held this post—and he was on the short list for vice presidential candidates before Romney chose Ryan. So Portman might have a bit of influence on Romney’s selection process.
Whoever comes to the office under a Romney administration will be tasked with getting tough on China, if Romney follows through on campaign promises—to label China a currency manipulator and to pursue unfair trade practices claims.
However, Romney’s own investments through blind trusts include a number of Chinese companies, and his criticism of China for stealing American jobs has been tarnished a bit by the revelation that when he was still in charge at Bain Capital, according to a Forbes report, he invested $14.2 million in Global-Tech, a Chinese company that depended on the outsourcing of U.S. jobs for its success.
That could make it just a bit challenging for Romney’s trade rep to follow through on his tough trade talk on China, whoever he selects.
Please check out AdvisorOne's Election Impact 2012 home page for complete advisor-related election coverage, including: | <urn:uuid:e6975bda-fe1f-41ab-ba19-3b0b4fa1edc0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.advisorone.com/2012/10/25/president-romneys-cabinet-who-would-he-choose?ref=hp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968326 | 2,874 | 1.789063 | 2 |
When I am very tired, I need to cook something which is quick and easy. So today after working straight for 9hrs all I could make was this.
This is called Perugu Charu in my mother tongue which is Telugu. This is a type of Kadi(Hindi) . I like eating this with rice.This is a very easy food item and almost every single person in Andhra Pradesh knows how to make it.
So lets see how I made it.
- Chopped onions
- Green chillies
- Curry leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Mustard seeds
- Cumin Seeds
- Urad Dal
Step 1: Take some yoghurt in a bowl
Step 2: Mix some water in it so that it is a bit runny
Step 3: Take a pan and put two spoons of oil and let it get hot
Step 4: Put the mustard seeds and let them splutter and then add cumin, urad dal, green chillies, curry leaves, turmeric and onions. Let the onions cook until they are semi cooked.
Step 6: Mix the above in the yoghurt and garnish it with coriander. It should look like below. Now enjoy it with rice.
I was never a great cook nor was I ever interested in it, however I have decided to take up cooking as a new hobby and learn it well.
Please give me good suggestions and tips on how to learn and stay interested. | <urn:uuid:9abef204-0313-4319-aae2-341084a5e05c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indianbeautie.com/2012/09/recipe-andhra-style-kadi.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967025 | 311 | 1.554688 | 2 |
NDP P.E.I. Leader Mike Redmond is worried about the impact the HST will have on low-income Islanders.
“We sounded the alarm on the HST back in November,” says Redmond, “And this government has done nothing but provide empty statements that appear to be based on very little information.”
Finance Minister Wes Sheridan commissioned a study on the impact of the HST on businesses, but no study was done on the effects on consumers. UPEI economics professor Jim Sentance predicts that average Islanders will pay up to $80 million in increased taxes, which translates into an extra $570 for each person, the NDP says.
“That’s $570 for each and every citizen, states Redmond, “That is $2,200 more in expenses for a family of four. How the heck is a $200 rebate supposed to offset that?"
Redmond spent last Friday afternoon going door-to-door in Charlottetown’s District 12.
“The conditions that some people are living are nothing short of horrible,” he says, “I just can’t imagine how bad things are going to get for low income Islanders once they have the added burden of the HST.”
"How the heck is a $200 rebate supposed to offset that?" - NDP P.E.I. Leader Mike Redmond
Sheridan continues to tell Islanders that businesses will pass on their tax savings to consumers. Jim Sentance agrees that prices will go down, but that price adjustments could take up to two years to materialize.
Redmond is not so sure.
“There is no incentive for businesses to lower their prices," he continues, “if your business could make more money, wouldn’t you choose that option?”
The NDP is calling on the provincial government to do a study of the impact of the HST on consumers and is committed to ensuring taxation fairness for all Islanders, not just those who own businesses. | <urn:uuid:d4b1c0de-26fd-4d82-92c2-fcdf0c44a022> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2013-03-20/article-3204271/NDP-concerned-about-HST-impact-on-lowincome-Islanders/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958889 | 419 | 1.65625 | 2 |
A narrowly divided South Dakota House committee has rejected a bill that sought to keep guns out of the hands of people found to be mentally ill and a danger to others.
The Health and Human Services Committee voted 7-5 to defeat the measure.
The bill sought to prevent people from buying or possessing guns if they had been involuntarily committed for mental illness treatment and found to be a danger to others.
The measure's main sponsor, House Democratic Leader Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton, says the names of those people would have been sent to a national database that is checked when someone seeks to buy a gun. He says many other states already send that information to the national database.
Opponents say the measure would not make society safer.
Pennington County has issued twice the number of pistol permits to date compared to this time last year.
And while all applicants are screened for felonies; there's no way to know if someone suffers from a potentially dangerous mental illness.
A bill in the legislature could change that if it can pass the first hurdle.
While it won't prevent tragedies such as Sandy Hook, lawmakers say House Bill 1188 is a step in the right direction.
"With personal freedoms, come some responsibilities. And I think that certainly is at the heart and soul of this particular bill," said Senator Mark Kirkeby, (R) District 35.
South Dakota is one of only a handful of states that doesn't enter mental health commitments into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS. And HB 1188 looks to fix that.
"The idea is to get one central repository so if I query that when before I issue a pistol permit I can tell if somebody in another part of the state has been previously committed or not. Right now I'm just limited to Pennington County's information," said Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom.
Kirkeby, a sponsor of the bill, said it proposes to revoke a mentally ill person's right to own a gun if they are deemed "dangerous".
"There has to be some accountability in the process," said Kirkeby.
First a person has to be committed to the South Dakota human services center in Yankton.
"That could be done by law enforcement that could be done by a doctor that could be done by a private provider so there are a lot of different mechanisms for a mental health hold and commitment to occur," said Thom.
Following a list of guidelines a Mental Health Board makes the final decision.
"I think it's an opportunity for somebody to improve themselves and take advantage of those few rare treasured resources that we have within our constitution," said Kirkeby.
But in order to get past the first hurdle the language of the bill needs some revision.
"It still needs a little work. At the end of the day, I'm hopeful the Sheriff's Association will support it, if it makes sense for South Dakota," said Thom.
House Bill 1188 goes in front of the House Health and Human Services Committee for its first reading Tuesday morning. | <urn:uuid:5bdb596d-4406-48ed-808b-e2039a27cfe2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kotatv.com/story/21236692/proposed-bill-could-restrict-dangerous-mentally-ill-from-owning-gun | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96665 | 628 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Every January, it’s not unusual for people to take stock of the last year and make note of what was accomplished and what wasn’t. This sometimes lays the groundwork for a “to-do” list for the following year: hit the gym, clean out a closet, plan a vacation – you know the routine.
The beginning of the year may also be when people start planning for medical procedures that they may have put off due to a hectic schedule or other reasons. You may be bouncing around in your head such questions as: Should I plan to get my knee replaced this year? Can I afford to take the time off work?
The good news is that research from Case Western Reserve University shows that personal motivation may be the biggest factor in determining the length of time it takes a patient to return to work following a total knee replacement.
Here’s what the study found:
• The median time to return to work was about nine weeks. Patients who reported a sense of urgency about returning to work returned in about half the time taken by other employees.
• Other factors associated with a faster return to work included being female, self-employment and higher mental health scores.
“Although the physical demands of a patient's job have a moderate influence on the patient's ability to return to work following a primary total knee arthroplasty, the patient's characteristics, particularly motivation, play a more important role,” the study author said.
Of course, every patient and situation is different, and you should discuss your situation with your physician. But if lost time is holding you back from a procedure your doctor has advised, know that returning to work can depend more on the patient than on the type of job.
Here’s to a happy, healthy year of feeling better and doing more of what you love! | <urn:uuid:1440dfee-086d-4cb1-b2d3-8cdb0775c369> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://panoramaortho.com/blog/item/302-this-new-year-are-you-motivated | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951109 | 379 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The world will be ending as we know it on December 21, 2012, according to the Hopi and Mayan Indians, and what better way to record the spectacular event of the end of the current world, and the start of the new world than with a Vivotek FD8372 5MP HD Smart Focus Dome Network Camera.
While the end of the world has been predicted many times in the past, we still are here, defying all odds. Remember Y2K? Yeah, not a glitch. EyeSpyPro.com passed the dreaded 1 year curse for any small business a long time ago, and now we are finishing up our sixth year, our best ever, and we were just acquired by DVRSystems.net.
The Hopis and Mayans recognize December 21, 2012 as the end of a world age, and we will be transitioning from one world age to another. The Mayans were an very advanced pole who supposedly developed the most advanced mathematics and astronomy of their day. So even though they could not survive the Spanish taking their land and killing them off, they still believed that this world will end before Christmas!
The Vivotek FD8372 is a kick butt camera from one of the best companies making network cameras, Vivotek. Not only will this 5 megapixel camera record gorgeous 1080p video @ 30 frames a second, it also is IP66 rated. This means it is dust proof and can handle powerful water jets, like when the cyclones strip the earth of all vegetation and human life, this IK-10 Vandal proof rated camera will still be standing there, kind of like the buildings that survived Hiroshima.
The coolest part of this camera is while the world is ending, you can focus in on any part of it with it’s Smart Focus System, which allows you to remotely control the focus on this camera with built in stepper motors. So if it’s Mt. Everest exploding into little bits, or the leaning tower of Pisa finally toppling, the Roman Colosseum collapsing into dust, or just some good Ole’ fashioned mayhem in the streets of NY as the buildings topple into the ocean like the do in all the CGI movies now, you will get a great shot. And when you zoom in, your pictures will be crystal clear with no pixelation, even up to 150+ feet.
And with smart phone apps, you can even watch it on your iPhone as you vaporize. If you are using the Vivotek NR8201 4 Camera Network Video Recorder to record the action, which has a built-in PoE switch and easily configures any Vivotek camera, just make sure you put it in a hardened box underground so when the space invaders arrive in a few thousand years, they can actually watch the action again, and again.
So why wait until the end of the world before you set up your IP cameras, as they are in stock and shipping. Questions? Call me!
Wendell the Chameleon
Spy Gear & Surveillance Products Expert
Vivotek FD8372 5MP HD Smart Focus Dome Network Camera
P.S., Don’t delay picking up these high quality network IP cameras, as the world is ending soon! | <urn:uuid:01be40d7-1e2f-4da7-8f3b-a3b3e7f80944> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eyespypro.com/blog/category/ip-camera/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941631 | 669 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Marketing Violent Media to Children
The Federal Trade Commission released a report this week concluding that the entertainment industry deliberately targets children in marketing movies, video games and music with violent content. A panel talks about the details of the FTC's report and what the agency says the industry should do to mend its ways.
director of Consumer Protection for the Federal Trade Commission
Jack Valenti has written and delivered countless speeches, and has honed his public speaking skills in the political and Hollywood arenas, first as a top aide to President Lyndon Johnson, and now as president of the Motion Picture Association of America.
co-chair of the media and entertainment website Inside.com | <urn:uuid:803bb08f-98cd-4156-9835-feb1674b48f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2000-09-14/marketing-violent-media-children | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949702 | 132 | 1.539063 | 2 |
WILLIAMSTOWN -- As the water rose, town officials scrambled to tell residents remaining in The Spruces Mobile Home Park that they needed to leave.
It was the morning of Aug. 28, 2011, and Tropical Storm Irene had been dumping rain on the area for hours. Water was pouring off the hillside across the street from the retirement community, blocking Main Street (Route 2), and then gushing into the low-lying park. The Hoosic River, which ran behind the 225 mobile homes, was moving fast enough to turn it milky brown with kicked-up sediment.
Fire Chief Craig Pedercini said last week that the fire department had set up three, six-hour shifts the day of the storm beginning at 6 a.m. Each shift was manned by six firefighters, he said.
"By 10 a.m., we had struck the bell, and had everyone report to that station," he said. Between the evacuation at The Spruces and the calls they were receiving for flooded basements, they needed every person they had, he said.
Spruces residents who could, drove out of the park, while others boarded a school bus that was navigating the flooded streets. While some residents went to stay with family or friends, about 40 people went to the emergency shelter that had been opened at the elementary school.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin said that in the days before Tropical Storm Irene hit, town officials knew from the National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., that it would be a momentous event. They also
"We know it starts to be a problem at 11 feet," he said. "We met with the management of The Spruces and the tenant association on the Saturday before the storm. We warned people to evacuate to the homes of family or friends, or a motel if necessary, and remove their vehicles from the park."
Prior to Tropical Storm Irene, The Spruces had experienced flooding on other occasions, most recently in 2004.
Just before noon, the swollen Hoosic River jumped the 12-foot berm at the northeast end of the park, sending water crashing under the homes nearest to it. In the hours that ensued, firefighters had to rescue five people from The Spruces by boat, and many park residents realized that what was happening was much worse than any flooding the park had experienced before. The river ended up cresting at 13.75 feet, more than three feet above its flood stage of 9 feet.
"We learned that everything we feared would come true," Fohlin said. "We also learned that when a community works together, we can save lives."
One year later, The Spruces, which was a premier retirement community for decades, is now decimated. Only 66 homes have been cleared for occupancy by the town, and the remaining 159 have either been demolished or are uninhabitable. A lawsuit was filed by the owner of The Spruces, Morgan Management, in October 2011 seeking court assistance in determining the future of the park, and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has also gotten involved. Recently, Morgan Management withdrew a motion it had filed in November 2011 seeking court orders to resolve issues at the park that it had been dealing with following Irene.
Selectman Thomas Sheldon, who was chairman of the board during Irene, said the flooding of The Spruces and the aftermath have been one of the most heartbreaking things he has witnessed.
"It's emotionally overpowering to see people's lives destroyed. It's shocking, but at the same time as town officials, we have to start thinking about what we are going to do about it," he said.
While the future of The Spruces has been in limbo since the storm, Fohlin said he isn't worried about it closing.
"The town of Williamstown and the Attorney General will not allow the park to close in a way that does not allow the residents ample time and opportunity to participate in new housing," he said.
In the meantime, the mobile homes that did survive the storm are in no less danger than they were in 2004 or 2011, he said.
"The Spruces residents are an important part of our community, and we must find safe places to live for those who wish to live here," he said.
While it's obvious the park, which is in an 100-year flood plain, should have never been built in the first place, "that is the way things were done in the ‘50s," he said.
Fohlin said he has been working with Bob and Kevin Morgan, of Morgan Manage ment, with the knowledge of the company's mortgage holder and the state Attorney General, "in an attempt to craft an outcome that will provide safe, secure and worry-free housing for the remaining residents of The Spruces, and any of them who wish to return to Williamstown."
"That is all I can say about that at this time," he said.
He added that he hopes Williamstown as a whole can look back at Tropical Storm Irene and its aftermath as a time when everyone came together to help each other, and were dedicated to keeping Spruces residents in the town.
Calls to Bob Morgan last week weren't returned.
To reach Meghan Foley, email | <urn:uuid:df655bb4-75c3-4acc-a4a3-91241c0bd7f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thetranscript.com/ci_21413936/storm-still-lingers-hardest-hit-community?source=most_viewed | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98537 | 1,094 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Roger Doiron, kitchen gardener extraordinaire and founder of the website Kitchen Gardeners International, actually DID the math.
Of course, your monetary mileage here in Colorado may vary — it’s likely that your water needs will cost you a little more and you may have to initially get more compost and/or (hopefully organic) fertilizer. Our soil is notoriously challenging and low in organic matter. Then again, you can maybe ditch that health-club membership, because digging in that dirt will keep you so fit and firm, and your doctor co-pays will likely go down. Then there’s all the intangibles — sunshine, excitement, learning, the incredible satisfaction of not having to buy lettuce for months on end, tomato bragging rights, gift-budget savings, tanning-booth savings … but mainly there’s this:
A big chunk of food independance. A lot of food community. Seed swaps. Block parties. Beets. Peppers. Leeks. Your own snap peas, picked seconds before you eat them. Your kids knowing what worms do.
Gardening means never having to wonder what to take to a potluck. | <urn:uuid:9bb9a1c5-3110-4c1c-9925-b59728001d02> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.denverpost.com/diggingin/2009/03/02/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93001 | 242 | 1.671875 | 2 |
I'm wondering if anyone has ever put together a book that lists all the different elements that can come up in the realms of Kodshim and Taharot (e.g. bulls, the number seven, water, slaughtering, etc.) along with traditional explanations for what they each may symbolize.
I realize that the idea that these elements are meant to symbolize anything, as opposed to simply being elements of God's Commandments, which we obey without worrying about their meanings, is not a universally-held opinion. However, there are those who do discuss symbolic meanings in these practices, so the book I'm wondering about would be based on their teachings. For example, R' Hirsch's commentary on the Torah makes repeated and consistent reference to many such symbolic elements.
It seems to me that such a book could be very useful when studying these areas in particular. People tend to treat them as rather esoteric, partly because they're mostly not in practice currently, and partly because they deal with essentially spiritual causes and effects that aren't obviously connected to natural phenomena that we're familiar with. With the sort of dictionary that I describe at one's side, one could analyze a complicated procedure, or even a hypothetical complicated procedure in the Talmudic debates, in part by breaking it down into its constituent elements and analyzing what each one is taken to symbolize. | <urn:uuid:5ca40922-6556-4ed0-9564-5f6567207e6c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/13310/dictionary-of-symbology-in-kodshim-and-taharot?answertab=votes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977486 | 276 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Belarus Investment Climate After Spartak and Kommunarka
Published: 24 October 2012
According to Doing Business 2013, Belarus is now on the highest level in its history. It occupies the 58th place out of 185 countries. Last year the World Bank named it among the quickest reformers on the way to the “Ease of doing business” goal.
The indices mainly follow from the analysis of Belarusian regulatory acts. What is going on in the country’s business reality is more difficult to reflect. The case of Spartak and Kommunarka revealed the most crucial defect in its economy – disregard to private property rights.
The de facto nationalisation of Marat Novikov’s and many minor shareholders’ property could go smooth without attraction of the world’s tense attention. Belarusian state machine did its work on Spartak and Kommunarka impeccably. But Lukashenka’s emotional speech of 12 October when he ordered to transfer the reins of power over these almost entirely private companies to the State ruined all efforts to make Belarus attractive for investors.
Spartak and Kommunarka: Start of An Unexpected Journey
The rise of Spartak and Kommunarka as well as their popularity within the former USSR began long before Belarus’ independence. Carried by beliefs for soon-coming market economy, in 1993 and 1994 the government initiated their transformation from state enterprises into joint-stock companies.
The shares were distributed among the state, private investors, and the factories’ employees. An American friend of Belarusian high officials, Marat Novikov, became the main private investor of both chocolate giants.
For years, the initial distribution of shares in the transformed companies could change only slightly. One of the reasons for that was moratorium on sale of employees’ stock introduced in 1998. In January, 2011, the moratorium’s term expired and big investors got a good opportunity to broaden their economic presence in the country.
Novikov did not lose the chance. By 2011, he already owned about 10% of stock in Kommunarka, and several times more in Spartak. That was not his limit. As soon as the moratorium expired, as the former General Director of Kommunarka Natalya Kot says, the company’s employees started to sell their stock to Novikov.
State Machine at Work
The President’s Edict No. 107 adopted in March, 2011 interrupted such deals. City executive committees got the preemptive right to purchase of employees’ shares. The provision applied to relations starting from January 1, 2011. That meant it actually disregarded the universal principle of non-retroactivity of law.
Using the edict’s retroactivity, city executive committees wanted to get back the shares that Novikov had bought from Spartak and Kommunarka employees.
The difficulties on the way to the conflict’s mitigation found an unexpected embodiment in a new claim against the two companies. This time they arrived from by the State Property Committee. The Committee argued that in 1993 the appraisers underestimated values of Spartak and Kommunarka and now the state should get additional shares to restore its interests. In case of Kommunarka, the alleged undervaluation amounted up 50%. The State Property Committee also blamed Spartak for other violations of privatisation procedure.
Commenting on the State Property Committee’s claims, Belarusian economic analyst Yaraslau Ramanchuk says that the new figures of the companies’ value in the early 90s claimed by the state rely on contemporary investments’ amounts and costs of stock. In the economist’s opinion, that is a rude violation of basic principles of economy and law.
However, on 22 August 2012 the High Economic Court of Belarus satisfied the State Property Committee’s claims with regard to both companies. Under the decision, the state’s share was going to increase by means of additional stock issuance.
Shareholders tried to resist the judgements. But their hopes, as well as the hopes of Belarusian businesses looking for foreign investments, crashed after the famous Lukashenka’s orders: to dissolve Advisory Boards, assign state officials as their sole directors, and increase the state’s share up to 57% in Kommunarka and 60% in Spartak from current 22% and 13.09% respectively.
Unlucky Big Businesses in Belarus
Marat Novikov is the person who has suffered from the stock’s additional issuance the most. He lost control over about 34% of stock in Spartak and 22% – in Kommunarka. However, Novikov is not the first to face the specifics of relation to private property in Belarus.
Examples of similar treatment exist with regard to both foreign and national investors. In 2001 the plans of Russian-Sweden brewery company Baltika to invest in Belarusian plant Krynitsa failed, because Belarus suddenly refused to comply with its contractual obligations to the investor. The state’s refusal came after Baltika already invested in Belarus about $10,5mln.
In 2002 McDonald’s had to close one of its most profitable restaurants in Belarus, because the Belarusian State University started construction of a new building on the restaurant’s land plot. The fact that Minsk State Executive Committee had previously leased the land to McDonald’s till 2036 did not prevent the closure.
In January 2011 Belarus took administrative control over a huge furniture joint stock company “Pinskdrev” although it did not own any shares there. In a few months after Pinskdrev, state officials made one of the main stockholders and the director of a Belarusian big tile and sanitary engineering company Keramin to vacate his position. After his retirement, state’s share in Keramin increased from 3% to 57%.
Despite all the troubles, examples of smooth international investment projects in Belarus still exist. American Coca-Cola, German Man, and Holland Heineken are just a few of an already quite a long list of foreign investors who appear to be successful in Belarus.
In fact, foreign investors in Belarus are even in a safer position compared to their local colleagues. The possibility of impartial consideration of their claims against Belarus is the main reason for that.
Since 1992 Belarus is a party to the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States. It has entered into bilateral investments treaties with more than 50 countries which provide substantive grantees to foreign investors. Even more, under the new draft law on investments, investors from any country of the world will be able to draw a suit against Belarus to international arbitral tribunals.
Surprisingly, not a single claim from investors was submitted to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes against Belarus.
It is possible that after investors start to use their rights and initiate international proceedings against Belarus the situation will improve. This way the government will learn that it can be held accountable for its mistreatment of investors. | <urn:uuid:ae322cea-71f4-4eff-96de-857f32c158ee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-investment-climate-after-spartak-and-kommunarka-11888 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952089 | 1,471 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Looking for the ultimate air cooling solution for your Intel 775? The Zalman 9500AT may be up your alley, but may prove a little pricey for your liking. Installation proved a little problematic, but the cooling ability is evident.
I no longer have the stock cooler that came with my 820 D, due to it being an absolute pain to re-install, so I will be comparing the 9500AT to the Corsair N500 Water Cooling. Granted, this is not -that- fair of a comparison, but it will be interesting to see how well Zalman’s air solution compares to the the water cooling.
I tested the cooler using my CPU at 2.8GHz, 3.36GHz and 3.92GHz. At each setting, a loop of 2 3D Mark ’01 runs were executed. Following that test, 3D Mark ’06 was also looped twice. Lastly, Super Pi 1.5 Mod was run, using the 8 Million setting. All figures were grabbed with Everest 2.8, which does a great job of logging temps to an easy to read HTML file.
The directed way to use the Zalman, as told by Zalman, is to have the 9500AT facing in such a way that will blow hot air to the -back- of your PC. Presumably, you should have a 120mm case fan installed in the back that’s used to export hot air. This way, the Zalman will blow air towards it, and the fan will get rid of it quickly. I tested the cooler both ways, and the ‘opposite’ tag denotes the ‘incorrect’ placement. I did it both ways primarily to see how large the differences would be.
Note: During testing of the Corsair Nautilus, the room temperature was 80°F. During the testing of the 9500AT, the room stayed at a constant 82°F.
Sadly, I had forgotten to test the Nautilus at higher CPU clocks prior to un-installing it, which is why only the 2.8GHz figure is displayed. Comparing 2.8GHz between the two though, the 9500AT came -very- close to the same average. Not bad for comparing an air cooler to a water cooling rig though. But, to be fair, when the Nautilus was installed, the airflow was not great. I made sure the airflow was superb inside the case prior to installing the 9500AT. Because of the cooler being so huge, I did not want a bunch of cords to get intertwined with it’s fins.
At higher overclock’s though, the temps were getting very high. Especially for 3.92GHz… 73°C is not exactly in the comfort zone. The max temp I have seen with the Nautilus has been 60°, but it would be even lower if the ambient room temp wasn’t so high.
For those interested, here are the motherboard temps during testing: | <urn:uuid:99a96546-7117-4f14-b282-37cb61a646ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://techgage.com/article/zalman_9500at_intel_775_cpu_cooler/4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965417 | 628 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The Topps Meat Co. expanded its recall of frozen hamburger patties that may be contaminated with E. coli after federal inspectors discovered inadequate safety measures at its Elizabeth plant.
The company said this morning it is recalling 21.7 million pounds of ground beef products, up from 332,000 pounds of ground beef initially recalled on Tuesday.
Investigators think 25 people may have been sickened in eight states, including New Jersey.
The recall represents all Topps products with either a "sell by date" or "best if used by date" between Sept. 25 this year and Sept. 25, 2008. The company said this information could be found on a package's back panel.
All recalled products, according to Topps, will have a USDA establishment number of EST 9748, which is located on the back panel of the package and/or in the USDA legend.
The move comes after federal inspectors on Friday said they suspended the grinding of raw products after finding inadequate safety measures at the Topps plant. The USDA has declined to detail the inadequate safety measures, but said New York health officials have found additional Topps products tainted with the bacteria.
"Because the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority, we are taking these expansive measures," said Geoffrey Livermore, Topps' operations vice president.
He said Topps is continuing to work with the USDA, state health departments, retailers and distributors and has augmented its procedures with microbiologists and food safety experts.
Topps said products affected by the expanded recall were distributed to retail grocery stores and food service institutions throughout the United States. The company said it believes most of the recalled product has been consumed, but it was imperative that customers look for the products in the freezers.
The USDA said three people are confirmed as getting E. Coli from Topps products, with another 22 cases under investigation. In addition to New Jersey, cases were found in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
E. coli causes intestinal illness that generally clears up within a week for adults but can be deadly for the very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms can include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and, in extreme cases, kidney failure.
A full list of the recalled products is available at www.toppsmeat.com. | <urn:uuid:7e02a648-903f-41fe-bfe3-e1bb65fd3437> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/09/elizabeth_meat_company_expands.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970415 | 478 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Lillet and the Vesper Cocktail
Lillet is an often overlooked ingredient, while technically it may not be considered a vermouth, like a vermouth it is a aromatized and fortified wine. There are a variety of fruits, herbs, and spices that make up the proprietary recipe for Lillet, one of those spices is quinine, the same ingredient found in tonic water, and this gives an ever-so-slight bitterness to the product. Created in the late 1800’s, it originally had a lot more quinine, but in the mid 1980’s the recipe was modified to produce a more approachable balance of flavors. Lillet comes in both a white (Blanc) and red (Rouge) version. While vermouth manufacturers will use the same (white) wine, just different herbs and spiced to differentiate their white and red vermouths, Lillet uses the exact same spice mixture in both their white and red Lillet, just using a white Bordeaux wine for Lillet Blanc, and a red Bordeaux wine for Lillet Rouge. Originally, Lillet was referred to as “Kina Lillet”, where kina is the Peruvian word for “bark of the cinchona tree”, which is used to produce quinine. Kina was dropped from the name many years ago.
There aren’t many cocktails which call for Lillet, it is more commonly served on the rocks with a twist of lemon, and as such it is a wonderful aperitif. Perhaps one of the most popular Lillet based cocktails, is the “Vesper”, which made its first appearance in 1953 in the first James Bond Novel “Casino Royale”, by Ian Fleming. Here is an expert of where Mr. Bond orders this drink for the first (and only) time:
"A dry martini," he said. "One. In a deep champagne goblet."
"Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"
"Certainly, monsieur." The barman seemed pleased with the idea.
"Gosh, that's certainly a drink," said Leiter.
Bond laughed. "When I'm...er...concentrating," he explained, "I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."
While Mr. Bond doesn’t indicate if this should be made with white or red Lillet, you can rest assured that it was made with white, since red didn’t exist at that time. However the white Lillet that was available, was the version with a higher quinine level then is available today, so you unfortunately can no longer get this drink made exactly the way James would have had it. | <urn:uuid:96e92bf1-e513-4c88-9f8e-0d4b2752d7b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.drinkboy.com/Cocktails/Recipe.aspx?itemid=164 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970787 | 670 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Looking back at what we started to do, we discussed the making of a web site through the following avenues: 1) completion of a web site business and marketing form that allows you to analyze the ins and outs of your site; from design and look and feel, to functionality, to marketing; 2) how to create a web site from scratch with Photoshop, laying out positioning and placements of call-to-actions; 3) how to slice and convert images into CSS for HTML uploads; 4) how to conduct, develop, and implement search engine optimization techniques, tactics, and marketing verbiage in your site. Now let’s take a look at the final step: creating a robust online marketing and search marketing infrastructure to your site.
Let’s break this final step down to further detail. Saying “online marketing†or “internet marketing†can be very vague, because it really can be vague, depending on who you are talking to about this subject. Online marketing is really the umbrella for a lot of marketing infrastructures, but the primary infrastructures to focus on in this tutorial are search engine marketing (SEM) and social media marketing (SMM). Other infrastructures that overlap these primaries include behavioral marketing, guerilla marketing, email marketing, et. al.
From where we left off, we have completed the new web site with infused SEO verbiage and techniques to boot. Now we can focus on creating a search marketing program and social media program for this company.
There are a variety of ways to get engaged in search engine marketing from an off-page perspective (off-page refers to implementation of marketing techniques outside of the actual code or content of the desired page to rank). Below are just smidgeons of methods to conduct when it comes to off-page search marketing.
The first thing to do after your site is SEO-friendly is to create sitemaps and submit to search engines and search directories. You can create sitemaps for Google, Yahoo! and Bing from one place at http://www.sitemapdoc.com.
Up next is listing your site in directory submission sites that will help increase exposure to your company and help get your brand searched on. It is good best-practice to submit to a search directory that has at least a PR4 (page ranking = 4, or page 4 ranking) to start, as that provides a good search weight to start getting your business exposed. The directory sites you submit your company to will ultimately depend on where you want to be listed, but here are some general places (in no particular order) that will at least give you a boost.
Most search directories will ask you to include your company name, site title, and keywords for you to be listed in. These items are included in the implementation of SEO that we conducted in the previous article, which is why it is critical to have your SEO prior to submission.
**NOTE**: Some site directories will require payment of their services while others are free. I normally go to the free ones (such as Yahoo!) since those are cost-effective for me. Others charge for higher placement on their site, similar to how paid search advertising. While different companies have different financial, business, and marketing goals, where you decide to submit your site will depend on the existing goals you have and the current resources you have to offer.
There are third party applications such as Internet Business Promoter and WebCEO that provide ample directories for you to search and submit your site on. These can be helpful in getting you exposed; however, it is better to not use their automated submission procedures, as that is and can be perceived as spam techniques. At all times, use a manual submission as much as possible.
Link exchanges have been known for a while in the SEM realm for its value in generating page weight and site rankings. However, more and more search engines are defining how exchanging links are conducted and their valued results. While most searches perceive the results differently, they are agreeing more universally on a handful of factors to help your business.
Firstly, and this is always agreed on, is that links to and from spam sites/pages are frowned upon. This has always been “a given†and will continue to do so.
Second, one-way link exchanges are never good to conduct. One-way links are links that are only directed towards one location; for example, a link in site 1 pointing to site 2 when site 2 is not linking back to site 1.
Conversely, two-way link exchanges are great to conduct, as they (theoretically) provide both parties the page weight, and ultimately site weight, to their respective sites. The bad news about two-way link exchanges is that the links being exchanged (or hosted) are usually buried deep in their sites, making it difficult to obtain the fullness of the result that the method brings to the marketing table. For example, site 1 links to site 2, but the page where the exchanged links are kept are 2-4 subfolders deep with no to minimal access from the main page. Simultaneously, site 2’s requirements to exchange links is that site 1 has to show site 2’s exchanged link in their main folder (or no more than 1 subfolder) to be considered a link partner. So the strategies behind link exchanges can be convoluted and one-sided as more companies use more shady methods to generate weight without giving back.
Third, links being exchanged are more monitored to show relevancy within links and pages. An exchanged link with the contents of a tractor manufacturing company will not show relevancy to a site that is geared towards Xbox gamers. A topical and content relationship must be established and evident to generate page weight and site rankings.
Conducting link exchanges can and may be different from company to company, site to site, so your methods of delivery may differ. However, there are certain factors to look out for that are pretty much standard in conducting link exchanges.
Now everyone knows (or at least is familiar) with the social media boom, and to no surprise, everyone is at least somewhat exposed to marketing within social media methods. Why you should or shouldn’t market using social mediums is really up to personal interests and convictions (and yes, I said personal not professional), but for this purposes, we are diving in to social media marketing as part of our online marketing efforts. Below are the four most distinct and commonly used avenues for social media marketing (in no particular order):
A few highlights on why Facebook is a necessary avenue:
A few highlights on why Twitter is a necessary avenue:
A few highlights on why LinkedIn is a necessary avenue:
A few highlights on why Blogs are a necessary avenue:
Other social marketing methods include social bookmarking sites and social networking sites (Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, and et.al.), viral marketing platforms (YouTube, Google Video) round up other mediums for marketers to enhance business.
Below are summaries of other marketing avenues and techniques that can be conducted to help your search rankings and overall brand exposure.
Email marketing / newsletter marketing can be a great asset that can compliment your existing marketing initiatives. While it is advisable not to have email marketing as your primary method, it does provide ample ammunition to generate positive return on your investment, given best-practices, customer-focused mentality in your approach.
Feeds are great in harnessing online marketing power without necessarily doing “too muchâ€. Feeds, like email marketing, are secondary to your primary initiatives. Moreover, with feeds having more frequently updated content (generating from your tweets or blogs), it has a better reach and less intrusive approach than your email marketing campaigns. It allows your users to manually subscribe for themselves when your content is worthy of their time, rather than building your own email lists, which can take a while to do.
While this term can be very vague at best, the methods within such marketing are very much as powerful as the topics being discussed today. Methods like word of mouth marketing, behavioral marketing, and even aspects of social media marketing – all encourage to market outside of well-known methods and means – are elements that comprise guerilla marketing tactics. So even if you don’t know what true guerilla marketing is, you may be doing it already when you tweet, blog, or stumble.
Conducting one marketing initiative alone will not increase any brand exposure to any company. It takes a number of initiatives working closely and intermittently together, using vast majority of human, time, and other resources, to create a well-oiled marketing machine. Search marketing is a great way to get started, but in the world of ever-changing technological and marketing advancements, it is necessary to include other means and methods of marketing as part of the overall brand marketing strategy. A conglomerate of metrics-focused, consumer-based initiatives produces a well-rounded marketing plan to generate the consumer interest, business, and positive return on your investment in the company.
That’s it for this series. Hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and have learned a lot from it. For any questions about the tutorial, please email me at info at zion eye media dot com.
Best of luck,
Hey What a This is a awesome post. Pretty good opinions too. Thanks! | <urn:uuid:b498e935-95a0-431f-8bbb-ca44bd54d80d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brenelz.com/blog/part-5-online-marketing-and-search-engine-marketing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950301 | 1,958 | 1.796875 | 2 |
COLUMBUS (AP) -- About 55,000 Ohioans among the long-term unemployed are expected to lose jobless benefits soon because of the end of federally funded aid initiated several years ago.
The Columbus Dispatch reports workers who used up six months of state payments could get 73 more weeks of aid under a federal benefits program extended several times. Some advocates want Congress to extend it again.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown wants an extension included if Congress makes a deal to avoid the automatic tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff." His spokeswoman says too many Ohioans are still looking for work.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says nearly 134,000 workers get unemployment benefits. More than one-third of them receive federal benefits set to end Dec. 29. | <urn:uuid:53b54bf9-b722-4d31-ba18-5d7eeb1eb21d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://daily-jeff.com/ap%20news/2012/11/26/jobless-benefits-to-end-for-55k-unemployed-ohioans | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962403 | 161 | 1.585938 | 2 |
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