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Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
On 31 August 2012, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program was put on hold following a formal protest by Navistar Defense, which had not been among the bidders awarded engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contracts on 22 August 2012. Navistar Defense said it had concerns about the selection process and had requested and review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). On 4 September 2012, Navistar Defense announced that it was withdrawing its protest after examining the results of the competition more closely.
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is a joint service, multinational program for a family of light tactical vehicles and companion trailers. JLTV was a central component of the Department of Defense's tactical wheeled vehicle strategy, intended to enhance the military services' mix of tactical vehicles by providing a balanced vehicle solution (focusing on the so-called three p's of performance, payload and protection) with increased transportability and expeditionary mobility.
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle family of vehicles (JLTV) program was developed in response to an operational need to replace the aging High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet. The mission of the Program Manager JLTV was to jointly develop, produce, field and sustain a safe, reliable, suitable, and effective family of vehicles. The JLTV would restore or exceed the original HMMWV mobility and payload capabilities, maintain most of its transportability capabilities, while raising its survivability and protection capabilities and improving its sustainability.
JLTV was developed to restore transportability and overcome the existing imbalance in protection, payload and performance found in the existing tactical vehicle fleet. Modernizing the tactical vehicle fleet with the JLTV was determined to be necessary to provide protected, sustained, and networked mobility for Army and Marine Corps personnel and equipment on the modern battlefield. The JLTV would be transportable via rotary wing assets at Essential Combat Configuration and sealift on height restricted decks. The vehicles were also to feature a commonality beyond major components, to include repair parts, tool, training, system design, maintenance procedures and source of supply.
The JLTV family of vehicles included 10 configurations and companion trailers in 3 payload categories. Commonality of components, maintenance procedures, and training between all variants was expected minimize total ownership costs. Payload Category A was 3,500 pounds, Payload Category B was 4,000-4,500 pounds, and Payload Category C was 5,100 pounds. Payload Category A was not expected to require a companion trailer to meet the requirements. The ability to utilize the companion trailers and other modular componnents with all configurations would allow the JLTV to be rapidly reconfigurable. During the Engineering Manufacturing and Development phase, the Category B configuration was removed, with the Category A configuration becoming known also as the Combat Tactical Vehicle, and the Category C configuration becoming known also as the Combat Support Vehicle. The Combat Tactical Vehicle configuration for the JLTV should not be confused with the vehicle program of the same name initiated by the USMC in 2005.
The JLTV family of vehicles was to provide a design that supports mobility, reliability and maintainability within the given weight limits to ensure transportability to and from the battlefield. JLTV would use scalable armor solutions, as part of the Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) to meet requirements for added protection while maintaining load carrying capacity.
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Sampson County has many things for which it can boast. Now among is the fact that the first Army Aviator from North Carolina to become a Brigadier General. is from the area.
Brig. Gen. William Ronny Coats, from the Clement community, was promoted in a ceremony at he Old House Chamber of the North Carolina State Capitol building on Aug. 24, 2012, with family present to witness the momentous ocassion.
“I never dreamed when I enlisted my senior year in high school that I would achieve this honor,” Coats during a recent interview.
The new general shared that he left Midway High School one afternoon following school and went to Dunn to enlist. That was May 10, 1982, and he was back, he noted, in time for baseball practice that afternoon.
Coats is a 30-year North Carolina National Guard veteran and is the first Army Aviator to earn such an honor in the N.C. National Guard. He has served overseas in multiple deployments, including a command in Afghanistan of Task Force Panther.
Coats has now assumed a position at the National Guard Bureau Headquarters in Virginia as the Special Assistant to the Director of the Army National Guard.
“The Guard has excelled under his leadership,” said Reuben F. Young, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, during the ceremony.
As members of his family attended the ceremony, Coats stood at rigid attention, as his wife, Army Col. Toni Coats, pinned the one star general’s rank to his uniform.
“I am so proud,”Mrs. Coats said. “All of the wonderful things that have gone on before went into that star.”
“I have truly been blessed,” remarked her husband. “I am very fortunate to have a wonderful wife, supportive family and a magnificent mother and father that saw to it that I maximized my capabilities to get here. I cannot thank them enough.”
Born May 4, 1964 in Fayetteville, Coats attended both Clement and Midway high schools. He enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard as a soldier in the 30th Infantry Brigade.
“By joining the National Guard, I knew I could do what I always dreamed of doing — being in the military and continuing my education,” explained Coats.
He received his officer’s commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Campbell University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and was a distinguished military graduate. The general also holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
During his 30 years in the N.C.N.G., the general has continued to experience assignements in ever-increasing positions of responsibility. Coats was commander of Task Force Panther from 2003 to 2004 in Afghanistan and commander of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade from 2004 to 2008. He is an accomplished AH064 Apache Attack Helicopter pilot and a Master Army Aviator. Coats’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal.
Prior to his selection for promotion, the general served as Chief of Joint Staff at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh. He last held the position of North Carolina’s Assistant Adjutant General for Maneuver before his appointment to his current post.
He shared that he is very honored to have been selected for this promotion and acknowledged that his entire career has been a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
“When I was about to graduate from Campbell, I thought I wanted to be in the Special Forces. But I was influenced to change and go into Army Aviation. It was a new program and I decided to take a chance. I set up an interview with Col. Leslie T. Everett and he asked me following the interview when I wanted to go to flight school. I responded in June. So in June I began flight school,” shared Coats.
According to the general, “timing is everything.” As Coats explained, the time at which he entered the new Apache helicopters had come out and many of the veterans were nearing retirement and did not have an interest in going back to several months of flight school to learn how to fly the new aircraft. Timing made the situation easier for him to move into.
“I have enjoyed my career with the National Guard. Before I became full time, I taught school at Clement, Lakewood and Midway. I was even the head baseball coach at Midway before being deployed to Desert Storm. Following that experience, I decided to go full time in the military,” said the general. “It is a decision that I have never regretted.”
In speaking of his experiences in Afghanistan, Coats said he had great people working with him, making the experience a good one.
“We were in a hot zone. Our pilots were the only attack helicopters in the country. I was fortunate to have great people that were mature and very dedicated to the job we had before us. They did a perfect job and we did not lose a single person during the deployment. I was able to meet and get to know a lot of people during this time,” commented Coats.
Coats and his wife have four children, Aaron, Lindsey, Jackie and Reid. They live beside his parents, Alma and Penn Coats, right where the general has lived his entire life, in the Clement Community.
“If there is anything that I would like for others to remember about me, especially the young people, it is that no matter where you come from, you can be whatever you desire to be. You have to commit to it and make it happen. Take a chance when needed. But if I can come from such a small rural community in Sampson County, growing up as a farmer’s son, playing sports in high school and committing myself to the military, enlisting and now being honored as a general, they can do it too. They just have to decide what they want and go for it. Pray and ask for support of your family, friends and community and you can make it,” remarked Coats.
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Policy & Practice: Advocacy
Letter: February 3, 2010
To: Honorable Jim Hargrove, Chair
Washington State Senate
RE: SB 6320
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank; it is the pre-eminent research, policy and education organization in its field. It conducts research and analysis on many issues in order to improve laws, policies and practices related to adoption and foster care. This correspondence – along with the attached written testimony regarding SB 6320 – is intended to explain the state of professional knowledge on one of those issues: the availability (or lack thereof) of original birth certificates to adopted persons once they reach the age of majority. The Adoption Institute has published the most extensive research-based report to date on this issue; I would be delighted to provide you with a copy.
I will keep this letter brief, as I'm sure you already have received a great amount of information from all sides. We can provide any additional data you might need or want, would be delighted to address any questions you encounter, and have also submitted research-based testimony (separate document).
In short, research consistently shows that sealed birth certificates are an anachronism born of society's desire to protect the reputations of adoptees and their birthparents at a time when unwed mothers were severely stigmatized and the children born to them were denigrated as "bastards." Indeed, birth certificates were often stamped with the word "illegitimate." Over time, the cultural rationale has shifted to maintaining the anonymity of birthmothers. However, nearly all available evidence indicates that these women – while sometimes wanting privacy in their families and not wanting their situations public – overwhelmingly desire some level of contact with or knowledge about the children they bore; that they favor adoptee access to their birth certificates (or, at least, do not oppose it); and, contrary to popular perception, that they were not legally assured of anonymity. Moreover, the vast majority of adult adoptees want the records for a variety of reasons, notably medical and genealogical.
Two additional, critical points: First, a number of states in recent years have enacted laws granting adult adoptees access to their records - with none of the negative consequences that critics had predicted. And, perhaps most important, the unambiguous conclusion from a growing body of research is that greater knowledge about their histories (biological and personal) yields better outcomes for adoptees and their families. That is the principal reason, in both professional practices and new statutes throughout our country in the last decade, the singular trend has been toward increased disclosure. A few adoption practitioners, and organizations representing them, still advocate for closure – sometimes by confusing "anonymity" and "privacy" or by using discredited data on a supposed "link" with abortion – but these practitioners represent a small and shrinking minority in the field.
I hope these comments are useful. Please feel free to contact me at email@example.com or 617-332-8944 if you have questions or need more information. Thank you for your attention and for your important work.
Testimony on SB 6320
Respectfully submitted to the Washington State Senate by Adam Pertman, Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Thank you for reviewing this testimony on SB 6320, restoring the right of adopted persons to obtain copies of their original birth certificates upon reaching the age of majority. The issue you are examining is far more important than most people perceive it to be, both in practical terms for the tens of millions of Americans that it stigmatizes – I refer here to both birthparents and adopted people – and symbolically, because we keep secrets about things we are ashamed of or embarrassed about. So, when we seal birth certificates, we send the clear signal that adoption is somehow a lesser way of forming a family, because it has something to hide from the very start. Thank you for reviewing this testimony on SB 6320, restoring the right of adopted persons to obtain copies of their original birth certificates upon reaching the age of majority. The issue you are examining is far more important than most people perceive it to be, both in practical terms for the tens of millions of Americans that it stigmatizes – I refer here to both birthparents and adopted people – and symbolically, because we keep secrets about things we are ashamed of or embarrassed about. So, when we seal birth certificates, we send the clear signal that adoption is somehow a lesser way of forming a family, because it has something to hide from the very start.
Thank God, we are emerging from the period of our history in which people actually believed that was true, a period in which adoption was a shadowy secret, in which we denigrated nearly everyone touched by this wondrous institution, in which we even turned the words "you're adopted" into an insult. My children are not an insult, and neither are anyone else's, regardless of how they came into a family or why they left one. But some remnants of those dark days remain, and sealed birth certificates are one such remnant.
It is also difficult to learn much about secrets. As a result, many myths, misconceptions and stereotypes have come to be widely accepted – even by some professionals in the adoption field. The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, which I am proud to head, has no formal ties with any interest group. It is an independent and nonpartisan research, policy and education organization that was created for just one reason: to provide accurate, knowledge-based information for practitioners, policymakers, journalists and others so that we, as a society, can shape better laws, policies and practices to improve the lives of everyone touched by adoption, especially children.
I'd like to start by offering an obvious observation, one I hope you will keep in mind as you consider the arguments of those who want to retain the status quo. It is simply this: The critics of restoring the right to access records warn that approving this law will set off an array of dire consequences – from ruined lives, to increased abortions, to fewer adoptions, and on and on. Whether the critics are right is no longer the subject of conjecture or speculation. A half-dozen states around the country have done what you are considering doing, while two states (Kansas and Alaska) have never sealed their records.
So, now, we can see with our own eyes what calamities might have transpired as a result. And the answer, very simply, is "none." The newspapers in those very diverse states – from Alabama to New Hampshire to Tennessee to Oregon – contain no horror stories about stalker adoptees or weeping women.
The statistics in those states show no inkling of rising rates of abortion or falling rates of adoption. All this information, and far more, is contained in a comprehensive report published by the Adoption Institute. It is entitled, "For the Records: Restoring a Right to Adopted Adults," and it can be downloaded at no charge from our website at http://adoptioninstitute.org/research/2007_11_for_records.php. I can also provide copies of the report upon request.
Viscerally appealing arguments can be made by anyone, on any subject. Compelling anecdotes and singular experiences can be produced by any side, in any argument. So, in order to form the best possible laws, policies and practices, it is vital that we examine real evidence, solid research, and broad-based knowledge. Here, in bullet form, are a few things that we do indeed know. I will steer away from any disputed findings, and will stick to only those confirmed by hard data, widely accepted studies, or pervasive experience. Upon request, I am happy to provide supporting materials for the record:
- First, as you may already know, it is a historical fact that adoption-related records – in Washington State and across our country – were closed explicitly to protect adopted children from the stigma and shame of illegitimacy, and to prevent birthmothers from trying to see their children again; in addition, on a practice level, some social workers also wanted them closed to protect the biological mothers from the stigma and shame of unwed motherhood. The clear legislative and professional intent was to prevent access to those records by the public, not by the parties to an adoption themselves. Historically, the notion that birth certificates were sealed to ensure the anonymity of birthmothers is untrue, irrespective of whether providing anonymity is a good idea or not.
- Second, it needs to be stressed that adopted people are not stalkers, ingrates or children in search of new mommies and daddies. They are simply adults who want the same information the rest of us receive as a birthright. In his book "Roots," Alex Haley wrote: "In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning; no matter what our attainments in life, there is the most disquieting loneliness." Research, experience and instinct all affirm Haley's eloquent observation. And adopted people are not exempt from the laws of nature. They love their parents – that is, their adoptive parents – just as much and are just as loyal as if they had been born to them. But a growing majority wants to know about their genetic, medical and cultural roots.
Adopted persons who obtain their original birth certificates in states where that is permissible may or may not form relationships with their biological kin; those decisions are up to the adults involved, and I believe it should not be the role of government to make the decision for them. Moreover, many if not most adult adoptees do not even make contact; for them, just having the most basic information about themselves is enough; it makes them feel they are treated equally, and it makes them feel whole. The fact is that access to their documents has become an issue that is separate from the question of "search" anyway. That is because, as a result of the Internet and other modern-day resources, many if not most adoptees who want to find their birth relatives can do so with or without their original birth certificates. One other detail relating to adoptees: They are wrong when they complain that they are the only Americans whose records are automatically sealed, and cannot be opened without court approval. In fact, the same process applies to people placed in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
- Third, the notion that a lack of anonymity leads women to have abortions rather than place their children for adoption is fiction. It may sound correct intuitively but, in fact, just the opposite is evidenced in practice; it appears that women are at least as likely to carry their babies to term and place them into adoptive homes if they believe they will have ongoing knowledge about what happened to those children. The evidence is in the growing number of states where adoption records have most recently been unsealed, and it extends much further and for much longer: In Kansas and Alaska, the only states in which records were never closed, there consistently have been fewer abortions and more adoptions than in states that border them or in the country as a whole.
- Fourth, on the critically important question of the birthmothers' desires, the research is unambiguous: Every study I am aware of clearly shows that the vast majority do not want anonymity – and that applies to those who were verbally told they would receive it as well as those who were verbally assured they would one day have contact with the children they bore; yes, many women were promised exactly the opposite of anonymity, but those promises are seldom publicly discussed. Depending on the study, between 80 percent and 95 percent of birth mothers do indeed want some level of information or contact with the lives they created. That doesn't mean they want to give up their privacy, but there's a huge difference between privacy and secrecy. And it doesn't mean they necessarily want the information or contact right away – some only want it years later, when they've had enough time to deal with the personal and emotional consequences of their action or, increasingly often, when they discover they have genetic or medical information they want to share. It is also significant that only a tiny percentage have taken advantage of the opportunity to say "no" to the release of birth certificates and other records in the states that have unsealed them in recent years. The Adoption Institute has conducted the most comprehensive study to date on birthparents; I would be happy to provide a copy to you upon request, or you may view it at: http://adoptioninstitute.org/research/2006_11_birthparent_wellbeing.php.
Even among those who truly thought they wanted anonymity at the time of placement, the majority eventually change their minds. Life is not a snapshot, after all, and few of us would want to live forever with the decisions we made at the age of 17, or even 25. Yet the core argument against allowing access to birth certificates is predicated on the mistaken belief that birthmothers are of one mind – and it will never change. This is not only a fundamental misunderstanding of research and experience, on a human level it assumes a woman can carry a child, part with it and just "move on," as though she has given away an old record player. That view – essentially relegating women to the role of baby-making machines – pervaded adoption for generations. Thank God, it is changing radically and adoption practices are being reshaped in comprehensive, historic ways as a result. The bottom line is that birth certificates remain sealed in most of our country today primarily because of lingering myths and mistaken stereotypes.
- Finally, denying access to birth certificates contradicts the stated desires of almost everyone directly affected, and it flies in the face of majority opinion throughout the United States. That applies to birthmothers, who seldom choose not to be contacted in states where they can state a preference; it applies to adopted people who – once they are adults – appear to overwhelmingly favor access to their records; it applies to a large and growing number of adoptive parents, a clear majority of whom have already told their children about their origins anyway; and, according to a national study, it applies to the American public as a whole. The study, which had a 3 percent margin of error, asked this question: "Should adopted children be granted full access to their adoption records when they become adults?" Eighty-four percent responded, "yes."
I respectfully ask you to put aside the aberrational anecdotes, emotional appeals, and corrosive myths on which too much public policy relating to adoption has been based for far too long. Instead, please examine the research. I believe that, after you do, you will come to the same conclusion as that 84 percent.
Thank you very much.
Adam Pertman, Executive Director
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
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The movie Advise and Consent is about exactly what the title says: the U.S. Senate’s power to “advise and consent” on a presidential appointment to a certain administrative position. This process and the general proceedings of at least state-level government have become all too familiar to me in the last two years as I have been a reporter covering state government. I have seen the Ohio Senate use its advise and consent power to essentially fire someone who had been doing a job for many months but because of a scandal, the pick by a Democratic governor was not longer fit in the eyes of the Republican Senate. I, too, have been watching from afar as the U.S. Senate presently stalls on approving an Ohioan picked by President Obama to direct a new consumer protection bureau because lawmakers do not like the agency itself.
So even though Otto Preminger‘s Advise and Consent takes place 50 years ago, the procedure still seems a bit like I was sitting at work, yet that did not negate its impact. In this fictional account, a president, played by an older Franchot Tone, has selected Henry Fonda‘s Robert Leffingwell to be his secretary of state. The selection raises much turmoil as Leffingwell has made a handful of enemies in the Senate, chief among which is Charles Laughton‘s Sen. Cooley. A special committee is formed to consider the appointment and is chaired by young Sen. Anderson (Don Murray). During the hearing, Cooley sits in and berates Leffingwell with questions about his involvement in a communist group while a college professor. He even brings in a witness who testifies that he saw Leffingwell at these meetings, but the appointee fires back by questioning the witness into admitting he had a mental breakdown in the past and indicating the address of these supposed Red meetings is actually a fire station.
Things get hairy, however, when Cooley starts digging into this new evidence and Chairman Anderson’s wife receives threatening phone calls. The chairman is being blackmailed into pushing the approval ahead and his fate is to be a bleak one. As the story progresses, it is nearly impossible to determine from one minute to the next whether Leffingwell will be confirmed as SOS.
The plot of Advise and Consent is packed full of heated exchanges. It’s 140 minutes are filled to the brim with a wide smattering of characters that are, frankly, difficult to keep track. Unlike other Congressional movies, such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, much of the drama takes place away from the Senate floor. In fact, it is interesting to view how government works, with a majority of empty seats in the chamber when much of its business takes place. It is easy to pick protagonists and villains, although they are not all from the same party nor even on the same side of the argument as it pertains to Leffingwell. I am not sure Preminger’s telling of the story either glorifies or condemns the confirmation process for appointees but is more focused on painting the drama that could surround what is often such a quick and thoughtless process.
I think it might go without saying that the performances in Advise and Consent are superb. An older Laughton really stands out as the southern Senator who has spent more time in the chamber than probably any other in the film. He is unpleasant and unreasonable but in a way unlike all of his other villainous characters. I was surprised to see Franchot Tone’s name associated with the president role as I know him best for his plethora of light-hearted romances, but he plays an amiable –and ill– president well. His health condition prevents the character from engaging in any grandstanding speeches or getting heated over the situation, which is absolutely doable for Tone. Gene Tierney also makes a return to the screen after a seven-year hiatus for poor mental health as Washington socialite Dolly Harrison; Peter Lawford plays bachelor Sen. Smith; and Walter Pidgeon is perfect as the president’s advocate in approving the appointment, Sen. Munson.
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Come, come, whoever you are,
Wanderer, idolater, worshipper of fire,
Come, even though you have broken
your vows a thousand times,
Come, and come yet again.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
-Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi-
I’ve always wondered what these dervishes feel or experience when they perform sema — the whirling dance ritual initiated by the followers and students of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, the 13th century Sufi mystic who is worldwide popular for its poetries and teachings on the intoxicating love of the Almighty God. Witnessing these lovers (of God) spinning counterclockwise in circle, following beautiful melody and heavenly lyrics, a question after another keeps popping up in my head. Are they genuinely in trance? Or, is their seemingly subdued performance merely to put up a show that captivates audience?
Honestly, I have no right to pass any judgement. I’m sure beautiful ritual like this has its own proper procedure that has to be complied by its participants. However, noticing some random excitements of a number of friends, jumping into performing the supposedly sacred activity recklessly, without preliminary meditation or prior conditioning of the heart, I doubt some performers do it genuinely. The ceremony of sema has become a cultural attraction worldwide that my skepticism grows to support a hopefully unlikely idea — that is some sema organisers, teams, and performers do it for the material gain of wealth and recognition.
On a more positive light though, global commercialization of the ceremony does help eradicating the negativity towards the Muslims. Performance of sema in front of international audience has only shared the core teaching of universal peace and love in Islam, harmony of living in the world of creations regardless of shape, species, gender, race and religion. I remember I went for a sema show in a huge theatre in Marina Bay, Singapore. The performing group was from Konya, Turkey, where the tradition originates from. It was a 1.5 to 2 hours show, yet audience was almost completely silent, absorbed in the entire procession. The only claps we did was when the first time the performers appeared on stage and at the very end, when they were actually leaving the stage.
Throughout the whole show, audience — mostly expatriates — were generally quiet. Those who could appreciate the artistry and the beauty of the occasion enjoyed attentively, breath-taken by each single component of the performance. The heavenly, repeating movement of the dervishes, the action of the shaykh (leader), the fine composition of the instruments’ melody, the rhythm and rhymes of the poetries and songs, all contributed to promote subtle, still and soothing atmosphere among the audience.
Frankly, despite the breathtaking view, I sometimes wondered if others didn’t get bored watching it. Seeing the same spinning movement performed by the same group of people over and over again throughout a long stretch of continuous melody did tend to occasionally distract me. My attention span wasn’t that long, especially for something as monotonous. The change in music and lyrics had certainly helped maintain audience’s attentiveness. However, not little did doze off in the middle of the show, or simply close their eyes to enjoy the beautiful sound alone at times.
The curious and appreciative ones, nevertheless, would go into constant pondering on what the whirling dervishes could have feel or experience throughout the whole ritual. Regardless of the seemingly boring, external routine, what could these performers experience within their inner selves? Was there something actually happening within each and every dancer, something that couldn’t be seen by the physical eyes of the audience?
All these questions have become my motives to learn and try performing sema in private. And, I was fortunate that Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, my spiritual teacher from the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order, has authorised the teaching of sema to any of his aspiring followers. The left heel acts as the pivot and the right foot pushes the body to rotate around the axis in counterclockwise direction. The hands are both, most of the times, stretched upwards, welcoming divine outpouring from heavens. However, another common practice is to position both hands like a teapot — the right hand upwards as the opening of the pot which receives heavenly streams of blessings, while the other extended to the side or downwards as the spout which shares the beautiful showering to its surrounding.
I believe that when one does the whirling in full concentration to God, he or she will certainly act like the teapot — the reservoir and channel of divine outpouring and love to every creature around them. In my own experience of doing the ritual privately, I’ve been subjected to immense downpour of light seen with both physical eyes closed. This occurred during the process up to right after it ended, when I fell to my knees sweating profusely in overwhelming joy on the magnitude of experience I encountered in my whirling. In fact, a few traditions said that some could even fall into a state of ecstasy or trance so deeply that they would be lifted off the ground without realizing it. It’s not some Criss Angel’s Mind Freak show. Trust me, it’s real!
Mevlana Rumi was told to first perform whirling due to his overwhelming happiness of hearing the rhythmic zikr — remembrance of God — made by the hammering of gold pieces in a local marketplace. It proclaimed La ilaha illallaah, there is no god but God, repetitively in melodious rhymes. Feeling extremely excited, he extended both his arms upwards and, in trance, started twirling in circle.
I’ve also been fortunate to get acquainted with a beautiful soul named Abdullah, who’s spent many years in the company of Mawlana Shaykh till he was finally sent off in search for his own Personal Legend. Once I saw him whirling freestyle in much joy, following the drum beats and melodious zikr of the congregation. His eyes were wide open, beaming in joy, and a huge smile decorated his content face. Everything felt so happy and burden free.
Following their path of whirling out of joy, I’ve once performed whirling simply due to excitement of hearing the beat of Rob Thomas’ This is How a Heart Breaks from his 2005 album, Something to Be — in concentration to God of course. A good 3:50 of whirling, not bad! But still, I can’t yet outdo those dervishes, whose purity of heart and concentration in the love of God is definitely beyond my current state. (Or, at least, that’s what I thought). I miss whirling again!
This piece has been written in participation to WordPress’ Weekly Writing Challenge: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words.
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GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Minnesota based photographer Keri Pickett has an all new project that chronicles the history of theatrical ice shows through a riveting documentary.
The film looks at the rich history and details of ice skating from a decade ago until now. The film features the creative designs, choreographers, the stars, and the challenges that came along with the fabulous world of ice skating. The movie captures the rise of this type of entertainment throughout the 20th century and takes a closer look at such world-renown theater companies including Holiday on Ice, Ice Follies, and Ice Capades.
Pickett has been working on this documentary for the last seven years and is now turning to the public to ask for help in completing the last part of this project. In order to complete the final chapter Pickett needs to raise $77,000 and is asking the public to help by donating to her movie through a resource called Independent Filmmakers Project MN .
The movie has even been invited to the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival even though it has yet to be completed.
Watch the trailer for the film here.
(Copyright 2013 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Go directly to: York County nonprofits rated · Charity Navigator CEO: We are evolving · Former nonprofit fundraiser: '...we keep telling the public what they want to hear' · Ways to assess a nonprofit
The Shadowfax Corp. filed a 2009 tax form with the Internal Revenue Service reporting it raised $44,539 without spending a penny to do so.
A year later, its 2010 tax form shows it raised about the same amount, but spent $123,545 on fundraising.
Either report would raise questions from charity watchdogs, many of whom use financial data from the tax forms to rate charities. Those watchdogs say mistakes in reporting fundraising costs are a statewide and national problem.
Many nonprofits "don't understand what they're supposed to be doing," said Patricia Mogan, a Standards for Excellence officer with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
A peek at the 2009 tax forms filed by the top 25 nonprofits in York County, ranked by gross receipts, shows other nonprofits whose numbers could raise watchdogs' questions. For example, Presbyterian Senior Living spent $1.1 million in fundraising costs to raise $1.2 million. The Dillsburg nonprofit did not respond to several phone calls seeking comment.
Claiming no fundraising costs is a persistent problem in the nonprofit world. As far back as 1999, an Urban Institute study found that 59 percent of 58,000 charities that received public donations either reported zero fundraising expenses or left the fundraising expense line blank on their tax forms.
Nonprofit experts say it is rare to raise money without associated costs, which are required by law to be reported to the IRS. The accuracy of nonprofit reporting is important for the guidance it gives potential donors on how nonprofits
'It does not belong'
Shadowfax provides life skills and job services for people with mental disabilities. Its tax forms are completed by SF & Company, an accounting firm with offices throughout central Pennsylvania.
Edward E. Wagoner, an accountant who filed Shadowfax's tax forms, said it is difficult to determine how much the organization spent on fundraising.
"You look at what they do ... they sponsor a golf tournament and they accept donations from people and employees," he said. "They really don't incur much costs. It's really tough to compare them to somebody who actively solicits contributions."
On its 2010 report, Shadowfax did report fundraising costs. But
The nonprofit world lives by an industry standard of spending $1 for every $3 raised, Mogan said.
After being contacted by the York Daily Record/Sunday News, Shadowfax and Wagoner found an error in the 2010 tax form. Nearly $82,000 was incorrectly claimed as fundraising costs when it should have been claimed as "management and general" expenses, Wagoner said.
"The challenge you have is there's so many columns and so many boxes," he said. "It does not belong under fundraising. There's no doubt about that."
Wagoner said he would meet with Shadowfax and recommend filing an amended tax form.
York County nonprofits, like other nonprofits, are under the scrutiny of charity watchdogs.
The critical grading of nonprofits has spawned a cottage industry, led by Charity Navigator and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The organizations use tax forms and other data to assign a pass/fail or rating to nonprofits.
"I think they do flag the most serious offenders," said Theresa Law, executive director of philanthropy for WellSpan Health and a critic of the nonprofit rating industry.
But even supporters of that oversight question how fair and effective it is in meeting its goal: to help the public find responsible and respectable charities.
Author of "Uncharitable" and
That judgment hamstrings a nonprofit when it most needs to spend resources that will enable it to grow, he said.
"I know intuitively it sounds like a smart thing to measure, but it's about the worst thing you could do," Pallotta said. "And it has so hypnotized the public."
Law manages two community-based foundations, the York Health Foundation and the Gettysburg Hospital Foundation.
What to report as fundraising expenses "is really a controversial topic in my industry," Law said. "We report everything. It's not really related to fundraising, but if the furnace breaks, somebody has to pay for it. We count something like that, but others may not and I understand why."
The issue is a big concern at PANO headquarters. Mogan spends a good chunk of time educating nonprofits across the state on how to file accurate 990 reports. She plans to hold a workshop in York County in early 2013.
In an investigative report earlier this year, Scripps Howard News Service found that 41 percent of charities nationwide with annual budgets of $1 million or more report no fundraising costs.
Using Internal Revenue Service data available through the Guidestar website, the news service identified 15,389 nonprofits that claimed zero fundraising costs on their most recently filed 990 forms.
Those groups reported raising a total of $116.7 billion.
Robert Ottenhoff, president and CEO of the nonprofit oversight group GuideStar, told Scripps Howard that nonprofit organizations are in danger of breaking their "social contract" with America's donors and with the government that grants them a special status.
"In return for not paying income taxes, getting the tax-exempt status, they have an obligation to tell their donors how they are spending their money, to be transparent about it, to be accountable," Ottenhoff said.
Community Progress Council in York was one organization that claimed zero fundraising expenses on its 2009 990 report. The council reported receiving grants worth more than $11.2 million, and another $80,100 in gifts and contributions.
The CPC offers employment training programs, as well as Head Start and Women, Infants and Children nutrition programs.
Executive Director George Moore said the reporting mistake was a simple oversight that was corrected with the Community Progress Council's 2010 990 report.
"We were hearing some of the same things -- that we needed to show some costs on those," he said. On its 2010 report, the CPC reported $13.5 million in mostly government grants, with $3,303 in fundraising expenses.
Several WellSpan nonprofit entities reported no fundraising costs, but those costs are picked up and reported by one of the company's two community-based foundations, the York Health Foundation and the Gettysburg Hospital Foundation.
Another of York's prominent nonprofits, Bell Socialization, raised $526,892 through various fundraising efforts, according to its 2009 tax form. It reported $65,379 in fundraising expenses.
Ivan Hileman, executive director of Bell, said the nonprofit contracts with York accounting firm ParenteBeard as part of an overall effort to be as transparent as possible about its fundraising costs.
Ignorance to blame
While it is possible to raise funds with no administrative costs, it is rare, Mogan said. At minimum, most fundraising activities include expenses such as postage, phone solicitations, advertising and staff time.
"We get the same reaction from audiences," Mogan said. "Like, 'We didn't know that writing a grant was a fundraising expense,' or 'Oh, we didn't know that when our staff helps out with a fundraising event, that we should be accounting for some of that staff time.'"
The inaccurate reporting is usually not intentional, she said. For small nonprofits in particular, finding the expertise on staff, or the money to pay an accountant, can be a challenge.
"The IRS has come up with such a complicated set of reporting forms ... it takes days to complete and a layman can't complete it anymore," said Dan Busby, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. "You take a small charity, they're facing a bill of several thousands of dollars to have a professional CPA fill it out."
With more than 1,600 members, the ECFA is an accreditation agency for Christian nonprofits. The organization grades nonprofits in seven areas, including board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources.
The ECFA does not compile specific rankings on a star or numerical system. Instead, its accreditation is granted or denied based on a review of the seven areas, Busby said.
Numerical ratings are not worthwhile, Busby said, because they rely on "soft" financial data self-reported by nonprofits. That data is often unreliable, he added.
"While we view that as a piece of information to look at, because of the soft data it represents, we don't feel that's a very substantive result to rely on," he said.
ECFA works with nonprofits to improve the accuracy of their reports. If the organization doesn't have faith in the what a nonprofit is reporting, Busby said, the nonprofit doesn't get ECFA accreditation.
The 990 forms provide a snapshot of a nonprofit's financial performance, Busby said. But there might be better methods for determining the overall effectiveness of a nonprofit.
"There's kind of a fixation on overhead percentages in our view," Busby said. "We think givers should be looking for impact. ... If they can get impact information from the charity, that may be a better indicator of how effective a charity is."
Visiting the organization, if possible, is the best way to assess the effectiveness of a nonprofit, Busby said. Absent that, asking to see its annual report is a good way to get a broad overview, he said.
Mogan agreed, and said the fixation on percentages can cripple a nonprofit.
"These folks need support. They have enough to do with feeding the hungry, taking care of the poor and all of the other things they do for our community."
York County nonprofits rated
Charity Navigator rates about 5,500 nonprofits nationwide, including 201 in Pennsylvania, on a four-star system. Most of those are in larger cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Nonprofits are assigned points for financial and transparency/accountability data. The point total is converted to zero (exceptionally poor), one (poor), two (needs improvement), three (good) and four (exceptional) stars.
Four York County nonprofits are rated by the website. Those organizations -- along with three others of note -- are:
--- Animal Rescue, New Freedom, three stars
--- HOPE International, Lancaster County, four stars
--- Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, York, three stars
--- Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Lancaster County, four stars
--- United Way of York County, York, three stars
--- WITF, Harrisburg, three stars
--- York Rescue Mission, York, two stars
Charity Navigator CEO: We are evolving
Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, said the 10-year-old company is responding to critics of its ratings system.
Charity Navigator has used simple financial metrics to determine a nonprofit's rating. Its measure consisted of seven financial variables, including program expenses, fundraising expenses and working capital ratio.
Critics complained that the formula relied on one year of self-reported data and did not take into account any results a nonprofit might have achieved. Still, Berger said, those ratings are valuable and successful.
"We're one of the few agencies that will make a judgment," he said. "It inevitably leads to people who love us and people who hate us."
Berger said 1 percent of charities in the United States receive 86 percent of all money donated.
"When it comes to those larger charities that we rate, we have found that the smallest light is helpful," Berger said. "And we have seen improvements."
Charity Navigator has broadened its ratings system. Instead of seven financial variables, Berger said, and there are now 21.
In September 2011, Charity Navigator revamped its rating system to include a second metric. Ratings now include financial health, measured via annual 990 reports, and accountability/transparency, measured through 990 reports and data gathered from the nonprofits' websites.
By the end of this year, Berger said the ratings will measure outcomes too.Charity Navigator enlisted hundreds of students and professors from 10 graduate schools to develop the new system, Berger said, and is led by a 27-member advisory panel.
The biggest stumbling block for Charity Navigator has been the nonprofits themselves, Berger said. The industry is plagued by a widespread lack of data on outcomes, he said.
"What we found is the vast majority of charities do not report on their results," Berger said. "They don't have the data on their outcomes. So they're asking us to measure something they don't have."
Charity Navigator wants to double the number of nonprofits it rates to 10,000.
"What we hope to do is be a catalyst to move the nonprofit sector to be more performance-driven and accountable to the public," Berger said. "It's critical that every dollar is spent as effectively as possible."
Former nonprofit fundraiser: '...we keep telling the public what they want to hear'
Dan Pallotta says he was such a successful fundraiser that he went out of business.
Pallotta's company, Pallotta TeamWorks, created the AIDSRides, Breast Cancer 3-Day walks, and the Out of the Darkness suicide prevention overnight event. Held in locations nationwide, the events grossed $556 million in contributions and netted $305 million for charities in nine years.
But Pallotta's strategies generated criticism. He took a big salary and his company often spent lots of money in order to raise lots of money. The company went out of business in 2002.
While Charity Navigator didn't start until that year, Pallotta has been harshly critical of the organization's bottom-line ratings system.
Charity Navigator largely relies on 990 forms -- tax forms that nonprofits must file with the IRS to disclose financial data -- to compile its ratings. Pallotta said that encourages nonprofits to fudge what expenses they report as administrative and what they report as program -- or, expenses that go directly toward the nonprofit's mission.
"The percentage that a charity says is going to the cause depends entirely on the charity's definition of the 'cause,'" Pallotta said. "The charities who know it's wrong ... know they need to get that Charity Navigator approval on their front page."
Pallotta managed charitable events the way he would a business. That strategy is the only way for nonprofits to grow and acquire the big dollars needed to accomplish their goals, Pallotta said.
But to do so means some nonprofits pour a lot of money into marketing and fundraising before reaping those big dollars, Pallotta said. And it means attracting the best CEO talent by offering competitive six-figure salaries.
Charity Navigator annually publishes a report on nonprofit CEO compensation and takes a hard-line stand against large compensation packages.
"The public isn't stupid. If we explained it to them in plain language, they would get it," Pallotta said. "But we lack courage and we keep telling the public what they want to hear."Back to top
Ways to assess a nonprofit
There are a few ways to assess how effective a nonprofit is at managing its money and carrying out its stated mission. Three common tools to assess a nonprofit are listed here.
IRS Form 990 reports
The Internal Revenue Service requires most nonprofit organizations to file annual 990 reports. The reports include detailed information on the organization's mission, programs and finances.
To find a 990 report filed by a nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service, go to www.guidestar.org and click on "analyze nonprofit data."
Type the name of the nonprofit in the search field. Guidestar is free to do basic searches.
Charity Navigator was launched in 2002, with the mission of helping "donors make informed giving decisions and enabling well-run charities to demonstrate their commitment to proper stewardship" of donor dollars.
The organization evaluates more than 5,400 charities on a two-pronged rating system, taking into account financial and accountability/transparency data.
To see ratings, visit www.charitynavigator.org and type the nonprofit's name into the search bar. Searches are free.
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Founded in 1979, the council provides accreditation to Christian nonprofit organizations that "faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fundraising and board governance," the organization states on its website.
Members include Christian ministries, denominations, churches, educational institutions and other tax-exempt organizations.
ECFA accreditation entitles a ministry to use the organization's seal. The continuing use of the seal depends on the ministry's good faith compliance with all ECFA standards, which govern financial management, transparency, use of resources, and subscribing to a written statement of faith.
Site searches at www.ecfa.org are free.
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Believe it or not but Escape from Huang Shi is an Australian, Chinese, German co-production telling the true story of a British journalist. What a combination. This gives the movie a very authentic feel, especially due to the fact that we hear as much Chinese as English (and some Japanese).
If anyone has liked the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as much as I did (I think it is one of the best movies ever. One could almost call it a martial-arts fairytale), he or she will be pleased to see Michelle Yeoh and Yun-Fat Chow in the same movie (however no joint scenes).
But this is not the only pleasant surprise of this quite enjoyable movie.
The story is similar to Welcome to Sarajevo, only this journalist here, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (who is really good in this), is doing something even more courageous. He stays in the country to help the orphans.
It is absolutely incredible what some people are capable of doing even when facing adversity at its worst. This is a story of someone who was capable of overcoming his own fear, of reinventing a life for himself and a group of orphan boys and creating a home for them.
George Hogg, a young British journalist, arrives in China in 1937 finding the country being invaded by the Japanese. Air raids, floods of refugees on the streets, he´s afraid and thrilled at the same time hoping for the story of his life. He gets it only not the way he had hoped for. He soon sees himself in great danger and is led by an Australian nurse to Huang Shi. She leaves him there to struggle with famine, the depressions and aggressions of some 60 orphaned boys who have seen the worst and the insecurity of a life on the border of a war.
In wonderful pictures we see him overcome the urge to escape and help those children transform the barren land around them into a fertile garden. He is assisted in this by a mysterious tradeswoman Madam Wang (Michelle Yeoh) who sells more than just seeds, by Chen (Yun-Fat Chow) the leader of a communist partisan group and of course the Australian nurse (Radha Mitchell) he is secretly in love with.
When the Japanese and the air raids start to approach Huang Shi, Hogg must make a decision. He wants to flee and take the children on a journey over 500 perilous miles across the snow-bound Liu Pan Shan mountains to safety on the edge of the Mongolian desert. This seems almost impossible to achieve.
The movie reminded me a little bit of The Painted Veil (no, it is not a war movie). Same beautifully filmed landscapes. And those sumptuous and, for us exotic, Chinese interiors of the time. The story is already quite captivating but the beauty of those landscapes alone would have been enough to enchant us.
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On the back foot over black money, the UPA has turned to its chief trouble-shooter Pranab Mukherjee to explain the government’s plan for retrieving billions of dollars stashed in Swiss banks and other European tax havens.
“The government has nothing to hide. Let us understand the issue. No information can be made available unless there is a legal framework,” said Pranab Mukherjee.
The government has names of Indian account holders in Liechtenstein’s LGT Bank and information given by German banks, but the Finance Minister said the government cannot reveal the names right now because of the secrecy clause.
“One of the conditions is the secrecy. We have given names to Supreme Court in sealed cover,” Pranab said.
According to conservative estimates, India has lost 462 billion dollars since Independence.
The government says these are just estimates and that it has formed a committee of experts to give report on the volume of black money.
But the Opposition is far from satisfied.
“Mr Pranab Mukherjee’s comment is delightfully vague and conspicuously evasive,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
“USA and certain other European countries have been able to get this information from the Swiss authorities about their nationals holding accounts in Swiss banks. Why cannot India do the same?” CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Even as the Finance Minister tried to clear the air on the black money issue, in Davos, corporate leaders joined in the chorus saying the government needs to do much more to curb the menace.
“To the extent they cannot get the information without filing proper cases in India, I agree with the government. But I don’t know why they are not following these case?” said Rahul Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Group.
“One of the big reasons why the black money policy happened was because the taxation levels in India were very high. So the incentives for people not to pay their taxes became much higher,” said Jamshy Godrej, Chairman, Godrej and Boyce.
Explaining the government’s position of retrieving black money was always going to be a difficult task. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee might have explained a five-pronged strategy to curb the generation of black money. But the question still remains about whether the government will be able to ever retrieve the black money that is kept in foreign banks.
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Multiplex and megaplex theater chain shows mainstream movies in a plush setting.. In Short In 1920, Edward Durwood opened a single-screen picture house in Kansas City, Mo. Over the next 40 years, his company went on to pioneer the use of four- and six-screen theaters. In 1969, the company incorporated as American Multi-Cinema Inc. in honor of its signature multiplexes. Now, the company is known for theaters with 14 or more screens, as well as innovations such as armrests with built-in cup holders, stadium seating with LoveSeats, ATM-style ticketing and online ticket purchasing.
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Surveillance ends at blind Chinese activist's village
BEIJING (AP) – Suddenly the guard posts came down and the hired toughs who manned them melted away, restoring an air of freedom this week to a village that authorities turned into a prison to keep blind activist Chen Guangcheng under house arrest for nearly two years.
The checkpoints, surveillance cameras and other measures had remained in place even though Chen fled Dongshigu village six weeks ago for sanctuary at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and ultimately went to New York to study. While directed at Chen, the security restrictions made life uncomfortable for his fellow villagers, who felt liberated with their removal.
"Finally we can sleep at night," said a villager who only gave her family name, Du, because the return to normalcy still felt uncertain. "In the past you could always hear footsteps from patrolmen and car noises at night, and the dogs barked."
"You no longer need to stop at checkpoints when you leave or enter the village. You can now walk down the road," said Du, a mother in her 20s who also farms. "I feel more at ease and happier."
So thorough was the cleanup this past weekend that locals said the surveillance cameras trained on Chen home had been removed and the high voltage street lamps dimmed. Two adjoining huts built at the village's entrance to house the guards — and where outsiders trying to visit Chen had been beaten — had been torn down. Even the trash they piled up had been taken away.
"It was as if the whole thing evaporated," said Chen's older brother, Chen Guangfu, who lives in the village with several others in the Chen family. "I feel liberated."
The persisting of the security barriers even after Chen's escape had raised questions about whether local authorities seemed intent on punishing other members of the family and the villagers who helped him flee. His nephew was taken into custody after Chen's escape.
Chen said by phone from New York that security measures should have been removed long ago, pointing to a promise that a central government official made to him in May.
"I feel that there is nothing to be happy about," said Chen. "Most importantly, (his nephew) Chen Kegui is still being held in a detention center and his lawyers still cannot see him."
Blinded by fever in infancy, Chen taught himself law and became known for defending the rights of poor farmers and the disabled in the wheat, soybean and peanut farming country of Shandong province. His exposure of forced abortions and sterilizations during an enforcement campaign for the government's one-child policy embarrassed local officials.
Over the nearly seven years since, he was either in prison or under house arrest, and his treatment carried the taint of a vendetta.
Rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, a friend of Chen Guangcheng, said local authorities likely got rid of the surveillance to destroy evidence ahead of a promised investigation by the central government.
"If Beijing wants to go through the motion, it can do so" with the absence of evidence, Jiang said. "But if Beijing wants a real investigation, it can still do so because there are plenty of witnesses."
Calls to the local town police were unanswered, and employees in the government office at Yinan county, which oversees Dongshigu, said they were not clear about the removal of security.
Five people from Dongshigu and a nearby village corroborated the weekend cleanup and said that they were relieved now that the community is free of guards for the first time since 2005.
"I feel much relaxed now," said a villager who also gave only her surname, Liu. "No one is blocking roads and keeping watch on the village."
Liu also expressed her puzzlement. "Why didn't they do it in broad daylight instead of removing the security at night?" Liu said.
With the security gone, much remains unsettled in Dongshigu. Chen Kegui is charged with attempted murder after he fought with local officials who stormed into his house looking for Chen Guangcheng after his escape. The nephew has been unable to see the lawyers his family wants to represent him.
Instead, the court has appointed two lawyers from the same law firms that defended Chen Guangcheng in his 2006 trial.
Chen Guangfu said the firms did not provide much defense then. "All they said in court was, 'no objection,'" the brother said.
During the 19 months since Chen Guangcheng was released from prison into house arrest, local officials and the people they hired sometimes beat Chen and his wife, roughed up his mother and harassed their young daughter. Some of the hired toughs came from the village or surrounding communities, getting paid 100 yuan, or $16, a day to chase away unwanted visitors and torment the Chen family.
Chen's supporters also welcomed the end of heavy security, seeing it as a possible sign that Beijing is acknowledging the unfairness of local authorities.
"I feel this is a step in the right direction," said He Peirong, an activist who aided Chen's escape by driving him away from the village. "It goes to show the government is not unchangeable but that it can make adjustments."
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Google has pledged cash prizes totaling $1 million to people who successfully hack its Chrome browser at next week's CanSecWest security conference.
Google will reward winning contestants with prizes of $60,000, $40,000, and $20,000 depending on the severity of the exploits they demonstrate on Windows 7 machines running the browser. Members of the company's security team announced the Pwnium contest on their blog on Monday. There is no splitting of winnings, and prizes will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis until the $1 million threshold is reached.
Now in its sixth year, the Pwn2Own contest at the same CanSecWest conference awards valuable prizes to those who remotely commandeer computers by exploiting vulnerabilities in fully patched browsers and other Internet software. At last year's competition, Internet Explorer and Safari were both toppled but no one even attempted an exploit against Chrome (despite Google offering an additional $20,000 beyond the $15,000 provided by contest organizer Tipping Point).
Chrome is currently the only browser eligible for Pwn2Own never to be brought down. One reason repeatedly cited by contestants for its lack of attention is the difficulty of bypassing Google's security sandbox.
"While we’re proud of Chrome’s leading track record in past competitions, the fact is that not receiving exploits means that it’s harder to learn and improve," wrote Chris Evans and Justin Schuh, members of the Google Chrome security team. "To maximize our chances of receiving exploits this year, we’ve upped the ante. We will directly sponsor up to $1 million worth of rewards."
In the same blog post, the researchers said Google was withdrawing as a sponsor of the Pwn2Own contest after discovering rule changes allowing hackers to collect prizes without always revealing the full details of the vulnerabilities to browser makers.
"Specifically, they do not have to reveal the sandbox escape component of their exploit," a Google spokeswoman wrote in an email to Ars. "Sandbox escapes are very dangerous bugs so it is not in the best interests of user safety to have these kept secret. The whitehat community needs to fix them and study them. Our ultimate goal here is to make the web safer."
In a tweet, Aaron Portnoy, one of the Pwn2Own organizers, took issue with Google's characterization that the rules had changed and said that the contest has never required the disclosure of sandbox escapes.
Ars will have full coverage of Pwn2Own, which commences on Wednesday, March 7.
Updated to make clear Pwnium is a contest that's separate from Pwn2Own and to add comment from Portnoy.
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Welcome to Occupy Phoenix, the latest violent embarrassment to American society. This group of occupiers is asking, "When should you shoot a cop?" Pamphlets asking this question and laying out justifications for doing so were left at the Occupy Wall Street location in Phoenix, Arizona and found by a Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy.
When Should You Shoot A Cop?
That question, even without an answer, makes most “law-abiding taxpayers” go into knee-jerk conniptions. The indoctrinated masses all race to see who can be first, and loudest to proclaim that it is NEVER okay to forcibly resist “law enforcement.” In doing so, they also inadvertently demonstrate why so much of human history has been plagued by tyranny and oppression.
In an ideal world, cops would do nothing except protect people from thieves and attackers, in which case shooting a cop would never be justified. In the real world, however, far more injustice, violence, torture, theft, and outright murder has been committed IN THE NAME of “law enforcement,” than has been committed in spite of it. To get a little perspective, try watching a documentary or two about some of the atrocities committed by the regimes of Stalin, or Lenin, or Chaiman Mao, or Hitler, or Pol Pot, or any number of other tyrants in history. Pause the film when the jackboots are about to herd innocent people into cattle cars, or gun them down as they stand on the edge of a ditch, and THEN ask yourself the question, “When should you shoot a cop?” Keep in mind, the evils of those regimes were committed in the name of “law enforcement.” And as much as the statement may make people cringe, the history of the human race would have been a lot LESS gruesome if there had been a lot MORE “cop-killers” around to deal with the state mercenaries of those regimes.
People don’t mind when you point out the tyranny that has happened in other countries, but most have a hard time viewing their OWN “country”, their OWN “government”, and their OWN “law enforcers”, in any sort of objective way. Having been trained to feel a blind loyalty to the ruling class of the particular piece of dirt they live on (a.k.a. “patriotism”), and having been trained to believe that obedience is a virtue, the idea of forcibly resisting “law enforcement” is simply unthinkable to many. Literally, they can’t even THINK about it. And humanity has suffered horribly because of it. It is a testament to the effectiveness of authoritarian indoctrination that literally billions of people throughout history have begged and screamed and cried in the face of authoritarian injustice and oppression, but only a tiny fraction have ever lifted a finger to actually try to STOP it.
Even when people can recognize tyranny and oppression, they still usually talk about “working within the system”-the same system that is responsible for the tyranny and oppression. People want to believe that “the system” will, sooner or later, provide justice. The last thing they want to consider is that they should “illegally” resist-that if they want to achieve justice, they must become “criminals” and “terrorists,” which is what anyone who resists “legal” justice is automatically labeled. But history shows all too well that those who fight for freedom and justice almost always do so “illegally” – i.e., without the permission of the ruling class.
If politician think that they have the right to impose any “law” they want, and cops have the attitude that, as long as it’s called “law”, they will enforce it, what is there to prevent complete tyranny? Not the consciences of the “law-makers” or their hired thugs, obviously. And not any election or petition to the politicians. When tyrants define what counts as “law”, then by definition it is up to the “law-breakers” to combat tyranny.
Pick any example of abuse of power, whether it is the fascist “war on drugs,” the police thuggery that has become so common, the random stops and searches now routinely carried out in the name of “security” (e.g., at airports, “border checkpoints” that aren’t even at the border, “sobriety checkpoints,” and so on), or anything else. Now ask yourself the uncomfortable question: If it’s wrong for cops to do these things, doesn’t that imply that the people have a right to RESIST such actions? Of course, state mercenaries don’t take kindly to being resisted, even non-violently. If you question their right to detain you, interrogate you, search you, invade your home, and so on, you are very likely to be tasered, physically assaulted, kidnapped, put in a cage, or shot. If a cop decides to treat you like livestock, whether he does it “legally” or not, you will usually have only two options: submit, or kill the cop. You can’t resist a cop “just a little” and get away with it. He will always call in more of his fellow gang members, until you are subdued or dead.
Basic logic dictates that you either have an obligation to LET “law enforcers” have their way with you, or you have the right to STOP them from doing so, which will almost always require killing them. (Politely asking fascists to not be fascists has a very poor track record.) Consider the recent Indiana Supreme Court ruling, which declared that if a cop tries to ILLEGALLY enter your home, it’s against the law for you to do anything to stop him. Aside from the patent absurdity of it, since it amounts to giving thugs with badges PERMISSION to “break the law,” and makes it a CRIME for you to defend yourself against a CRIMINAL (if he has a badge), consider the logical ramifications of that attitude.
That's right folks, according to the OWS crowd, changing society "almost always requires" killing law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers in the Grand Canyon state have been placed on high alert and the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Information Center has published a safety memo in response to the threats of unapologetic cop killing.
Copies of an "informational" letter were left on a table for protestors to pick up and read during the "Occupy Phoenix" event at Cesar Chavez Park. The presence of the letter was reported to the ACTIC by a Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy who had responded to an unrelated call and was alerted to it by another deputy working the event. This letter is blatantly anti-government and anti-law enforcement in nature. It not only condones but even encourages citizens to kill any "government agent" (i.e. law enforcement agent officer), who in their perception violates their rights.
Now, why would the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Information Center be concerned about Occupy Phoenix? Perhaps because the tactics layed out in the informational cop killing letter can be classified as acts of domestic terrorism. Let's not forget about the "riot gear" box full of rocks and bricks that was found at Occupy Minneapolis, either.
Considering radical domestic terrorist Bill Ayers recently gave a speech to Occupy Chicago full of tips about "revolution" (remember, revolution to Ayers is bombing the Pentagon, police headquarters, etc.), terrorist factions within OWS aren't surprising. Also, considering Ayers launched Barack Obama's political career, Obama's sympathy for the OWS movement is also not surprising.
''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Bill Ayers said. ''I feel we didn't do enough.'' Mr. Ayers, who spent the 1970's as a fugitive in the Weather Underground, was sitting in the kitchen of his big turn-of-the-19th-century stone house in the Hyde Park district of Chicago.
FLASHBACK: Remember when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned about "domestic right-wing terrorism" right around the same time the Tea Party Movement started? Implying tea party activists were engaged in terrorist activity for demanding fiscal responsibility? With evidence showing some at Occupy Phoenix support and encourage cop killing, where is she now?
h/t Jon Justice
|Katie Pavlich is the News Editor at Townhall.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiepavlich. She is also the author of Fast and Furious: Barack Obama's Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-Up.
“ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING! Intrepid investigative journalist Katie Pavlich rips the lid off Team Obama’s murderous corruption and anti-Second Amendment zealotry" says Michelle Malkin.
"Katie Pavlich draws back the curtain on a radical administration that put Mexican and American lives at risk for no discernible reason other than to advance an ideological agenda." - David Limbaugh
Buy Katie's book today and help us keep the pressure on Obama and his attorney general Eric Holder and expose the cover-up.
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The SETI team, who use powerful telescopes to search for interstellar anomalies, have discovered a series of volcanic eruptions plaguing the moon. The results of all of these lava-fueled explosions? The moon now looks like a delicious pepperoni pie. This has caused the team to nickname Io the “pizza moon.” If only moons were made out of cheese.
None of the world’s pizza chains have announced a thirty minute or less guarantee to or from Jupiter, however. Perhaps after scientists master warp drive technology?
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I'm working on a big vegan nutrition project -more on this soon- that has me researching topics I haven't looked at in years. It's a strong reminder of the amount of misinformation in the tubes of the interwebs. I hate to say this, but most of the influential vegan info I found when I 'went vegan' in the mid-90's was exaggerated or simply not true. My profession as a public health dietitian, which I do not discuss often on this blog, is to disseminate accurate, reliable knowledge to the public. I see my training and education most useful as a filter between this mass of dis/information in the world and what people really need to know.
sunflower seeds and toasted walnuts
Here are a few of my colleagues' blogs that I recommend if you want more info about veganism, nutrition and cooking.
Jack Norris, RD has a blog he describes as 'news for vegan advocates and those eating a plant-based diets.' He is the co-founder of Vegan Outreach (one of my favorite animal advocacy organizations) and also runs Veganhealth.org.
Virginia Messina, MPH, RD has a blog called Thoughts On Being Vegan: A Dietitian's Viewpoint. She's the author of The Dietitian's Guide to Vegetarian Diets which is my go-to-book when I have a question that I can't answer.
Dina Aronson, RD runs veganrd.blogspot.com which has accessible nutrition information as well as recipes. I have worked with Dina through the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietary Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association, of which we are both active members.
For recipes I mainly use the cookbooks I already have, but tend to peruse both Isa Moskowitz' Post Punk Kitchen and www.vegweb.com.
For the new year you should check out the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine's 21-Day Vegan Kickstart.
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Ahhh, the gold ‘ole fifth-column back at it again.
Some House Democrats have introduced a bill that would establish a diplomatic envoy in Tehran and mandate direct talks between Washington and Iran over its nuclear development plans.
California Rep. Barbara Lee, the legislation’s chief sponsor, said the measure is aimed at reversing the administration’s official “no contact” policy with Tehran, reports The Hill newspaper.
“The darkening clouds surrounding Iran’s nuclear program are troubling,” she said last week. “We must use all diplomatic tools available, including engaging in direct bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. To do that, we must lift the ‘no contact’ policy and begin negotiations.”
According to Lee’s summary of the bill, the new envoy would be instructed to pursue “direct, sustained, bilateral, and multilateral negotiations with the government of Iran in order to prevent war and support human rights.”
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« February 2010 |
| April 2010 »
Monday, March 29, 2010
Recipes: Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Onion Salad Dressing or Dip
Just look at the ingredients—what's not to like?
|Bacon ||5 strips, about 70 g uncooked
|Danish blue cheese ||200 g
|Mayonnaise ||175 g
|Sour cream ||90 ml
|Green onion ||1 medium
|White vinegar ||1/2 tsp
|Lemon juice ||1/2 tsp
|Garlic powder ||1/2 tsp
|Ground mustard ||1/4 tsp
|Salt ||1/8 tsp
Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Remove each strip, let drip into the skillet, then drain on a plate covered by two thicknesses of paper towel, patting with a paper towel from the top. Leave to drain, keeping the bacon fat in the skillet.
Mix vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, ground mustard, and salt in a small casserole dish with a cover. Stir with a spoon until well mixed and the powders begin to dissolve.
Clean the green onion (cutting off the roots, gnarly parts of the green ends, and stripping the outside layer if dirty or drying out), slice into 0.5 cm slices, then chop into bits. Set aside.
Add the mayonnaise (mayonnaise made with olive oil is best if you can get it) and sour cream (half-fat is fine, although given what else is in this recipe, it hardly makes any difference), and the bacon fat from the skillet to the casserole. Blend with an electric mixer or energetically by hand until it's well mixed. If you use a mixer, be sure to pause occasionally and scrape the edges and bottom of the dish with a spoon to mix in stuff the mixer doesn't get to.
Add the blue cheese to the mixture, then chop into medium sized pieces with a spoon (or, alternatively, crumble it by hand into the bowl; if the cheese is gooey in texture, chopping works better). Blend into the mixture until the pieces are broken up and evenly mixed. If you prefer a chunky texture, stop short of this point.
Place the strips of bacon in the casserole and chop into bits with a spoon, then blend into the mix, again scraping the edges and sides once or twice. Finally, add the chopped onion and stir it in with a spoon.
(Now here's the hardest part.) Cover and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours to allow the flavours to blend together. Stir thoroughly before serving the next day. Be sure to dispose of the greasy paper towels in a fire-safe way.
This recipe yields an extremely thick sauce, especially when refrigerated. If you prefer something thinner, blend in whole milk to obtain the desired consistency. When using it as a salad dressing, put a glop on top of the salad 15 minutes or so before serving; this will let it warm up and soften before tossing the salad. Besides, it's better at room temperature.
This Open Sauce™ recipe is under development. If you have any suggestions or comments after having tried this concoction, that's why there's a Feedback
button. If you prefer a pure blue cheese dressing, see SubMarie's
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Reading List: Consent to Kill
- Flynn, Vince.
Consent to Kill.
New York: Pocket Books, 2005.
This is the sixth novel in the
(warning—the article at this link contains minor spoilers)
series. In the aftermath of
Memorial Day (December 2009),
a Saudi billionaire takes out a contract on Mitch Rapp,
who he blames for the death of his son. Working through a
cut-out, an assassin (one of the most interesting
and frightening villains in the Vince Flynn yarns I've read
so far—kind of an evil James Bond) is recruited to
eliminate Rapp, ideally making it look like an accident
to avoid further retribution. The assassin is conflicted,
on the one hand respecting Rapp, but on the other excited by
the challenge of going after the hardest target of all and
ending his career with not just a crowning victory but a financial
reward large enough to get out of the game.
Things do not go as planned, and the result is a relentless grudge
match as Rapp pursues his attackers like Nemesis. This is
a close-up, personal story rather than a high concept thriller like
Memorial Day, and is more morality play than
an edge of the seat page-turner. Once again, Flynn takes the
opportunity to skewer politicians who'd rather excuse murderers
than risk bad press. Although events and characters from earlier
novels figure in this story, you can enjoy this one without
having read any of the others.
Vince Flynn is acclaimed for the attention to detail in his
novels, due not only to his own extensive research but a
“brain trust” of Washington insider fans who
“brief him in” on how things work there. That
said, this book struck me as rather more sloppy than the others
I've read, fumbling not super-geeky minutiæ but items
I'd expect any editor with a sharp red pencil to finger. Below
are some examples; while none are major plot spoilers, I've put
them in a spoiler block just in case, but also for readers who'd
like to see if they can spot them for themselves when they read
the novel, then come back here and compare notes.
The conclusion is somewhat surprising. Whether we're beginning to
see a flowering of compassion in Mitch Rapp or just a matter of
professional courtesy is up to the reader to decide.
I'll cite these by chapter number, because I read the
, which doesn't use
conventional page numbers.
“The sun was falling in the east, shooting
golden streaks of light and shadows across the fields.” Even
in CIA safe houses where weird drug-augmented interrogations are
performed, the sun still sets in the west.
“The presidential suite at the
was secured for one night at a cost of 5,000 Swiss francs.
… The suite consisted of three bedrooms, two separate
living rooms, and a verandah that overlooked Lake Geneva.”
Even the poshest of hotels in Zürich do not overlook
Lake Geneva, seeing as it's on the other end of the country,
more than 200 kilometres away! I presume he intended the
And you don't capitalise
“Everyone on Mitch's team wore a
transponder. Each agent's location was marked on the screen
with a neon green dot and a number.” A neon dot would be
red-orange, not green—how quickly people forget.
“The 493 hp engine propelled the silver
Mercedes down the Swiss autobahn at speeds sometimes approaching
150 mph. … The police were fine with fast driving, but
not reckless.” There is no speed limit on
but I can assure you that the Swiss police are anything but
“fine” with people driving twice the speed limit
of 120 km/h on their roads.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Reading List: Lincoln über Alles
- Emison, John Avery.
Lincoln über Alles.
Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing, 2009.
Recent books, such as
Liberal Fascism (January 2008),
have explored the roots and deep interconnections between
the Progressive movement in the United States and the
philosophy and policies of its leaders such as Theodore
Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, and collectivist movements
in twentieth century Europe, including Soviet communism,
Italian fascism, and Nazism in Germany. The resurgence of
collectivism in the United States, often now once again
calling itself “progressive”, has made this
examination not just a historical footnote but rather an
important clue in understanding the intellectual foundations
of the current governing philosophy in Washington.
A candid look at progressivism and its consequences for
liberty and prosperity has led, among those willing to
set aside accounts of history written by collectivists,
whether they style themselves progressives or “liberals”,
and look instead at contemporary sources and analyses by genuine
classical liberals, to a dramatic reassessment of the
place in history of Wilson and the two Roosevelts. While,
in an academy and educational establishment still overwhelmingly
dominated by collectivists, this is still a minority view, at
least serious research into this dissenting view of history
is available to anybody interested in searching it out.
Far more difficult to find is a critical examination of
the U.S. president who was, according to this account,
the first and most consequential of all American progressives,
Some years ago,
L. Neil Smith, in
Lenin”, said that if you wanted to distinguish a
libertarian from a conservative, just ask them about Abraham
Lincoln. This observation has been amply demonstrated by
the recent critics of progressivism, almost all conservatives
of one stripe or another, who have either remained silent on
the topic of Lincoln or jumped on the bandwagon and
This book is a frontal assault on the hagiography of Sainted
Abe. Present day accounts of Lincoln's career and the
Civil War contain so many omissions and gross misrepresentations
of what actually happened that it takes a book of
300 pages like this one, based in large part on contemporary
sources, to provide the context for a contrary argument.
Topics many readers well-versed in the conventional wisdom view
of American history may encounter for the first time here include:
Many of these points will be fiercely disputed by Lincoln scholars and
defenders; see the arguments here, follow up their source citations,
and make up your own mind. What is not in dispute is that the Civil War
and the policies advocated by Lincoln and implemented in his
administration and its Republican successors, fundamentally changed
the relationship between the Federal government and the states.
While before the Federal government was the creation of the states,
to which they voluntarily delegated limited and enumerated powers,
which they retained the right to reclaim by leaving
the union, afterward Washington became not a federal government but
a national government in the 19th century European sense, with the
states increasingly becoming administrative districts charged with
carrying out its policies and with no recourse when their original
sovereignty was violated. A “national greatness” policy
was aggressively pursued by the central government, including subsidies
and land grants for building infrastructure, expansion into the
Western territories (with repeatedly broken treaties and genocidal
wars against their native populations), and high tariffs to protect
industrial supporters in the North. It was Lincoln who first brought
European-style governance to America, and in so doing became the first
Now, anybody who says anything against Lincoln will immediately be
accused of being a racist who wishes to perpetuate slavery. Chapter 2,
a full 40 pages of this book, is devoted to race in America, before,
during, and after the Civil War. Once again, you will learn that
the situation is far more complicated than you believed it to be.
There is plenty of blame to go around on all sides; after reviewing
the four page list of Jim Crow laws passed by Northern states
between 1777 and 1868, it is hard to regard them as champions of
racial tolerance on a crusade to liberate blacks in the South.
The greatest issue regarding the Civil War, discussed only rarely now,
is why it happened at all. If the war was about slavery (as most
people believe today), then why, among all the many countries and
colonies around the world which abolished slavery in the nineteenth
century, was it only in the United States that abolition required a
war? If, however, the war is regarded not as a civil war (which it
wasn't, since the southern states did not wish to conquer Washington
and impose their will upon the union), nor as a “war between the
states” (because it wasn't the states of the North fighting
against the states of the South, but rather the federal government
seeking to impose its will upon states which no longer wished to
belong to the union), but rather an imperial conquest waged as a war
of annihilation if necessary, by a central government over a
recalcitrant territory which refused to cede its sovereignty,
then the war makes perfect sense, and is entirely consistent with the
subsequent wars waged by Republican administrations to assert
sovereignty over Indian nations.
Powerful central government, elimination of state and limitation
of individual autonomy, imposition of uniform policies at a
national level, endowing the state with a monopoly on the use
of force and the tools to impose its will, grandiose public works
projects funded by taxation of the productive sector, and
sanguinary conflicts embarked upon in the interest of moralistic
purity or national glory: these are all hallmarks of
progressives, and this book makes a persuasive case that Lincoln
was the first of their kind to gain power in the United States.
Should liberty blossom again there, and the
consequences of progressivism be candidly reassessed, there will be two
faces to come down from Mount Rushmore, not just one.
- No constitutional provision prohibited states from
seceding, and the common law doctrine prohibiting
legislative entrenchment (one legislature binding the
freedom of a successor to act) granted sovereignty
conventions the same authority to secede as to join
the union in the first place.
- None of the five living former presidents at the time
Lincoln took office (only one a Southerner) supported
military action against the South.
Proclamation freed only slaves in states of the Confederacy;
slaves in slave states which did not secede, including
Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri remained in bondage.
In fact, in 1861, Lincoln had written to the governors of
all the states urging them to ratify the
already passed by the House and Senate, which would have written
protection for slavery and indentured servitude into the
Further, Lincoln supported the secession of West Virginia
from Virgina, and its admittance to the Union as a slave
state. Slavery was not abolished throughout the United States
until the adoption of the
Amendment in December 1865, after Lincoln's death.
- Despite subsequent arguments that secession was illegal,
Lincoln mounted no legal challenge to the declarations of
secession prior to calling for troops and initiating hostilities.
Congress voted no declaration of war authorising Lincoln
to employ federal troops.
- The prosecution of total war against noncombatants in the
South by Sherman and others, with the approval of Grant
and Lincoln, not only constituted war crimes by modern standards,
but were prohibited by the
governing the conduct of the Union armies, signed by President
Lincoln in April 1863.
- Like the progressives of the early 20th century who looked
to Bismarck's Germany as the model, and present-day
U.S. progressives who want to remodel their country along
the lines of the European social democracies, the
philosophical underpinnings of Lincoln's Republicans and
a number of its political and military figures as well as
the voters who put it over the top in the states of the
“old northwest” were Made in Germany. The
supporters of the failed 1848 revolutions in Europe,
emigrated in subsequent years to the U.S. and, members
of the European élite, established themselves as leaders
in their new communities. They were supporters of a
strong national government, progressive income taxation,
direct election of Senators, nationalisation of railroads
and other national infrastructure, an imperialistic
foreign policy, and secularisation of the society—all
part of the subsequent progressive agenda, and all achieved
or almost so today. An estimation of the impact of
Forty-Eighters on the 1860 election (at the time,
in many states immigrants who were not yet
citizens could vote if they simply declared their intention
to become naturalised) shows that they provided Lincoln's
margin of victory in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin (although some of these were
close and may have gone the other way.)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Reading List: The Last Patriot
- Thor, Brad.
The Last Patriot.
London: Pocket Books, 2008.
This is a page-turning thriller which requires somewhat more
suspension of disbelief than the typical book of the genre.
The story involves, inter alia,
radical Islam, the assassination of Mohammed, the Barbary pirates,
Thomas Jefferson, a lost first edition of
Don Quixote, puzzle boxes,
cryptography, car bombs, the French
the U.S. president, and a plan to undermine the foundations of
one of the world's great religions.
If this seems to cross over into the territory of a
Dan Brown novel or the
Treasure movies, it does, and like those
entertainments, you'll enjoy the ride more if you don't
look too closely at the details or ask questions like,
“Why is the President of the United States, with the
resources of the NSA at his disposal, unable to break a
simple cylinder substitution cipher devised more than two
centuries ago?”. Still, if you accept this book for
what it is, it's a fun read; this would make an excellent
“airplane book”, at least as long as you
aren't flying to Saudi Arabia—the book is banned
in that country.
A U.S. edition is available.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Reading List: The Strong Horse
- Smith, Lee.
The Strong Horse.
New York: Doubleday, 2010.
After the attacks upon the U.S. in September 2001, the author, who had
been working as an editor in New York City, decided to find out for
himself what in the Arab world could provoke such indiscriminate
atrocities. Rather than turn to the works of establishment Middle
East hands or radical apologists for Islamist terror, he pulled up
stakes and moved to Cairo and later Beirut, spending years there
living in the community, meeting people from all walks of life from
doormen, cab drivers, students, intellectuals, clerics, politicians,
artists, celebrities, and more. This book presents his conclusions in
a somewhat unusual form: it is hard to categorise—it's part
travelogue; collection of interviews; survey of history, exploration
of Arab culture, art, and literature; and geopolitical analysis. What
is clear is that this book is a direct assault upon the consensus view
of the Middle East among Western policymakers which, if correct (and
the author is very persuasive indeed) condemns many of the projects of
“democratisation”, “peace processes”, and
integration of the nations of the region into a globalised economy to
failure; it calls for an entirely different approach to the Arab
world, one from which many Western feel-good diplomats and politically
correct politicians will wilt in horror.
In short, Smith concludes that the fundamental assumption of the
program whose roots can be traced from Woodrow Wilson to George
W. Bush—that all people, and Arabs in particular, strive for
individual liberty, self-determination, and a civil society with
democratically elected leaders—is simply false: those are
conditions which have been purchased by Western societies over
centuries at the cost of great bloodshed and suffering by the actions
of heroes. This experience has never occurred in the Arab world,
and consequently its culture is entirely different. One can attempt
to graft the trappings of Western institutions onto an Arab state,
but without a fundamental change in the culture, the graft will not
take and before long things will be just as before.
Let me make clear a point the author stresses. There is not the slightest
intimation in this book that there is some kind of racial or genetic difference
(which are the same thing) between Arabs and Westerners. Indeed, such a
claim can be immediately falsified by the large community of Arabs who
have settled in the West, assimilated themselves to Western culture, and
become successful in all fields of endeavour. But those are Arabs, often
educated in the West, who have rejected the culture in which they
were born, choosing consciously to migrate to a very different culture they
find more congenial to the way they choose to live their lives. What about
those who stay (whether by preference, or due to lack of opportunity to
No, Arabs are not genetically different in behaviour,
but culture is just as heritable as any physical trait,
and it is here the author says we must look to understand the region.
The essential dynamic of Arab political culture and history, as described
by the 14th century Islamic polymath
Ibn Khaldun, is
that of a strong leader establishing a dynasty or power structure to
which subjects submit, but which becomes effete and feckless over
time, only to eventually be overthrown violently by a stronger force
(often issuing from desert nomads in the Arab experience), which begins
the cycle again. The author (paraphrasing Osama bin Laden) calls this
the “strong horse” theory: Arab populations express allegiance
to the strongest perceived power, and expect changes in governance to come
through violent displacement of a weaker existing order.
When you look at things this way, many puzzles regarding the
Middle East begin to make more sense. First of all, the great success
which imperial powers over the millennia, including the Persian,
Ottoman, French, and British empires, have had in subduing and ruling Arabs
without substantial internal resistance is explained: the empire
was seen as the strong horse and Arab groups accepted subordination
to it. Similarly, the ability of sectarian minorities to rule on
a long-term basis in modern states such as Lebanon, Syria, and
Iraq is explained, as is the great stability of authoritarian
regimes in the region—they usually fall only when deposed by
an external force or by a military coup, not due to popular uprisings.
Rather than presenting a lengthy recapitulation of the arguments in
the book filtered through my own comprehension and prejudices, this time
I invite you to read a comprehensive exposition of the author's arguments
in his own words, in a transcript of a
hour interview by Hugh Hewitt. If you're interested in the topics
raised so far, please read the interview and return here for some
Is the author's analysis correct? I don't know—certainly it is
at variance with that of a mass of heavy-hitting intellectuals
who have studied the region for their entire careers and, if correct,
means that much of Western policy toward the Middle East since the
fall of the Ottoman Empire has been at best ill-informed and at
worst tragically destructive. All of the debate about Islam,
fundamentalist Islam, militant Islam, Islamism, Islamofascism,
etc., in Smith's view, misses the entire point. He contends
that Islam has nothing, or next to nothing, to do with the present
conflict. Islam, born in the Arabian desert, simply canonised, with a
few minor changes, a political and social regime already extant in
Arabia for millennia before the Prophet, based squarely on rule by
the strong horse. Islam, then, is not the source of Arab culture, but
a consequence of it, and its global significance is as a
vector which inoculates Arab governance by the strong horse into other
cultures where Islam takes root. The extent to which the Arab culture
is adopted depends upon the strength and nature of the preexisting
local culture into which Islam is introduced: certainly the culture
and politics of Islamic Turkey, Iran, and Indonesia are something very
different from that of Arab nations, and from each other.
The author describes democracy as “a flower, not a root”.
An external strong horse can displace an Arab autocracy and impose
elections, a legislature, and other trappings of democracy, but without
the foundations of the doctrine of natural rights, the rule of law,
civil society, free speech and the tolerance of dissent, freedom of
conscience, and the separation of the domain of the state from the
life of the individual, the result is likely to be “one person,
one vote, one time” and a return to strong horse government as
has been seen so many times in the post-colonial era. Democracy in the
West was the flowering of institutions and traditions a thousand years
in the making, none of which have ever existed in the Arab world.
Those who expect democracy to create those institutions, the author
would argue, suffer from an acute case of inverting causes and
It's tempting to dismiss Arab culture as described here as
“dysfunctional”, but (if the analysis be correct), I don't
think that's a fair characterisation. Arab governance looks
dysfunctional through the eyes of Westerners who judge it based on the
values their own cultures cherish, but then turnabout's fair play, and
Arabs have many criticisms of the West which are equally well founded
based upon their own values. I'm not going all multicultural
here—there's no question that by almost any objective measure
such as per capita income; industrial and agricultural output;
literacy and education; treatment of women and minorities; public
health and welfare; achievements in science, technology, and the arts;
that the West has drastically outperformed Arab nations, which would
be entirely insignificant in the world economy absent their geological
good fortune to be sitting on top of an ocean of petroleum. But
again, that's applying Western metrics to Arab societies. When Nasser
seized power in Egypt, he burned with a desire to do the will of the
Egyptian people. And like so many people over the millennia who tried
to get something done in Egypt, he quickly discovered that the will of
the people was to be left alone, and the will of the bureaucracy was
to go on shuffling paper as before, counting down to their retirement
as they'd done for centuries. In other words, by their lights, the system
was working and they valued stability over the risks of change.
There is also what might be described as a cultural natural selection
effect in action here. In a largely static authoritarian society, the
ambitious, the risk-takers, and the innovators are disproportionately
prone to emigrate to places which value those attributes, namely the
West. This deprives those who remain of the élite which
might improve the general welfare, resulting in a population even more
content with the status quo.
The deeply pessimistic message of this book is that neither wishful
thinking, soaring rhetoric, global connectivity, precision guided
munitions, nor armies of occupation can do very much to change a culture
whose general way of doing things hasn't changed fundamentally in more
than two millennia. While change may be possible, it certainly isn't
going to happen on anything less than the scale of several
generations, and then only if the cultural transmission belt from
generation to generation can be interrupted. Is this depressing?
Absolutely, but if this is the case, better to come to terms with it
and act accordingly than live in a fantasy world where one's actions
may lead to catastrophe for both the West and the Arab world.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Reading List: The Housing Boom and Bust
- Sowell, Thomas.
The Housing Boom and Bust.
New York: Basic Books, 2010.
If you rely upon the statist legacy media for information regarding
the ongoing financial crisis triggered by the collapse of the real estate
bubble in certain urban markets in the United States,
everything you know is wrong. This
book is a crystal-clear antidote to the fog of disinformation
emanating from the politicians and their enablers in media
If, as five or six people still do, you pay attention to the legacy media
in the United States, you'll hear that there was a nationwide crisis
in the availability of affordable housing, and that government moved
to enable more people to become homeowners. The lack of regulation
caused lenders to make risky loans and resell them as “toxic assets”
which nobody could actually value, and these flimsy pieces of paper were
sold around the world as if they were really worth something.
Everything you know is wrong.
In fact, there never was a nationwide affordable housing crisis.
The percentage of family income spent on housing nationwide
fell in the nineties and oughties. The bubble market in
real estate was largely confined to a small number of communities
which had enacted severe restrictions upon development that reduced
the supply of housing—in fact, of 26 urban areas rated as “severely
unaffordable”, 23 had adopted “smart growth” policies.
(Rule of thumb: whenever government calls something “smart”,
it's a safe bet that it's dumb.)
But the bubble was concentrated in the collectivist enclaves where the
chattering class swarm and multiply: New York, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Washington, Boston, and hence featured in the media, ignoring
markets such as Dallas and Houston where, in the absence of limits on
development, housing prices were stable.
As Eric Sevareid observed, “The chief cause of problems is
solutions”, and this has never been better demonstrated than in the
sorry sequence of interventions in the market documented here.
Let's briefly sketch the “problems” and “solutions”
which, over decades, were the proximate cause of the present calamity.
First of all, back in the New Deal, politicians decided the
problem of low rates of home ownership and the moribund
construction industry of the Depression could be addressed
by the solution of government (or government sponsored)
institutions to provide an aftermarket in mortgages by banks,
which could then sell the mortgages on their books and free up
the capital to make new loans. When the economy started to
grow rapidly after the end of World War II, this solution caused a
boom in residential construction, enabling working class families
to buy new houses in the rapidly expanding suburbs. This was seen
as a problem, “suburban sprawl”, to which local
politicians, particularly in well-heeled communities on the
East and West coasts, responded with the solution of enacting
land use restrictions (open space, minimum lot sizes, etc.) to
keep the “essential character” of their communities
from being changed by an invasion of
hoi polloi and their houses made of ticky-tacky, all
the same. This restriction of the supply of housing predictably
led to a rapid rise in the price of housing in these markets
(while growth-oriented markets without such restrictions experienced
little nor no housing price
increases, even at the height of the bubble). The increase in
the price of housing priced more and more people out of the
market, particularly younger first-time home buyers and minorities,
which politicians proclaimed as an “affordable housing crisis”,
and supposed, contrary to readily-available evidence, was a national
phenomenon. They enacted solutions, such as the Community Reinvestment
Act, regulation which required lenders to effectively meet quotas of
low-income and minority mortgage lending, which compelled lenders to
make loans their usual standards of risk evaluation would have caused
them to decline. Expanding the pool of potential home buyers increased
the demand for housing, and with the supply fixed due to political
restrictions on development, the increase in housing prices
inevitably accelerated, pricing more people out of the market.
Politicians responded to this problem by encouraging lenders to
make loans which would have been considered unthinkably risky
just a few years before: no down payment loans, loans with a
low-ball “teaser” rate for the first few years which
reset to the prevailing rate thereafter, and even “liar loans”
where the borrower was not required to provide documentation of
income or net worth. These forms of “creative financing”
were, in fact, highly-leveraged bets upon the housing bubble
continuing—all would lead to massive defaults in the case of declining
or even stable valuations of houses.
Because any rational evaluation of the risk of securities based
upon the aggregation of these risky loans would cause investors
to price them accordingly, securities of Byzantine complexity were
created which allowed financial derivatives based upon them, with
what amounted to insurance provided by counterparty institutions,
which could receive high credit ratings by the government-endorsed
rating agencies (whose revenue stream depended upon granting
favourable ratings to these securities). These “mortgage-backed
securities” were then sold all around the world, and ended
up in the portfolios of banks, pension funds, and individual investors,
including this scrivener (saw it coming; sold while the selling was good).
Then, as always happens in financial bubbles, the music stopped.
Back in the days of ticker tape machines, you could hear
the popping of a bubble. The spasmodic buying by
the greatest fools of all would suddenly cease its clatter and an
ominous silence would ensue. Then, like the first raindrops which
presage a great deluge, you'd hear the tick-tick-tick of sell
orders being filled below the peak price. And then the machine would
start to chatter in earnest as sell orders flooded into the market,
stops were hit and taken out, and volume exploded to the downside.
So it has always been, and so it will always be. And so it was in
this case, although in the less liquid world of real estate
it took a little longer to play out.
As you'll note in these comments, and also in Sowell's book, the
words “politicians” and “government”
appear disproportionately as the subject of sentences which
describe each step in how a supposed problem became a solution which became
a problem. The legacy media would have you believe that
“predatory lenders”, “greedy Wall Street firms”,
“speculators”, and other nefarious private actors are
the causes of the present financial crisis. These players certainly
exist, and they've been evident as events have been played out,
but the essence of the situation is that all of them are
creations and inevitable consequences of the
financial environment created by politicians who are now blaming
others for the mess they created and calling for more “regulation”
by politicians (as if, in the long and sorry history of regulation, it
has ever made anything more “regular” than the collective
judgement of millions of people freely trading with one another in
an open market).
There are few people as talented as Thomas Sowell when it comes to
taking a complex situation spanning decades and crossing the
boundary of economics and politics, and then dissecting it out
into the essentials like an anatomy teacher, explaining in clear
as light prose the causes and effects, and the unintended and
yet entirely predictable consequences (for those acquainted with
basic economics) which led to the present mess. This
is a masterpiece of such work, and anybody who's interested in the
facts and details behind the obfuscatory foam emerging from the legacy media
will find this book an essential resource.
Dr. Sowell's books tend to be heavily footnoted, with not only
source citations but also expansions upon the discussion in the main text.
The present volume uses a different style, with a lengthy “Sources”
section, a full 19% of the book, listing citations for items in the
text in narrative form, chapter by chapter. Expressing these items
in text, without the abbreviations normally used in foot- or end-notes
balloons the length of this section and introduces much redundancy.
Perhaps it's due to the publisher feeling a plethora of footnotes
puts off the causal reader, but for me, footnotes just work
a lot better than these wordy source notes.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Reading List: City of Thieves
- Benioff, David.
City of Thieves.
New York: Viking, 2008.
This is a coming of age novel, buddy story, and quest saga set in the
most implausible of circumstances: the 872 day
Siege of Leningrad
and the surrounding territory. I don't know whether the author's
grandfather actually lived these events and recounted them to to him
or whether it's just a literary device, but I'm certain the images you
experience here will stay with you for many years after you put this
book down, and that you'll probably return to it after reading it
the first time.
Kolya is one of the most intriguing characters I've encountered in
modern fiction, with Vika a close second. You wouldn't expect a
narrative set in the German invasion of the Soviet Union to be funny,
but there are quite a number of laughs here, which will acquaint you
with the Russian genius for black humour when everything looks the
bleakest. You will learn to be very wary around well-fed
people in the middle of a siege!
Much of the description of life in Leningrad during the siege
is, of course, grim, although arguably less so than the factual
account in Harrison Salisbury's
The 900 Days (however, note
that the story is set early in the siege; conditions deteriorated
as it progressed). It isn't often you read a historical novel in
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ACLU of Pennsylvania Files Brief in Support of City of Philadelphia in Boy Scouts Lawsuit
Friend-of-the-Court Brief Argues Government Is Not Obligated to Fund Discrimination by Private Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; firstname.lastname@example.org
PHILADELPHIA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the city of Philadelphia's appeal from a jury verdict that it was "unreasonable" for the city to require the Boy Scouts of America's Cradle of Liberty affiliate to certify that it would not discriminate against gay scout members and leaders as a condition of continuing its rent-free use of city property for its headquarters building at 21st and Spring Streets.
Cradle of Liberty sued Philadelphia in 2008 after years of negotiation with the city about whether Cradle of Liberty would follow the Boy Scouts' national policy of discrimination. In 2000, the United States Supreme Court held that the Boy Scouts could not be required to admit gay scouts and scout leaders because that would interfere with the organization's ability to promote its view that "homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the requirement . that a Scout be morally straight and . clean in word and deed".
"As a private organization, Cradle of Liberty has a constitutional right to discriminate if it so chooses. But the taxpayers of Philadelphia are not obligated to subsidize that discrimination," said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
In 2010, a jury found that the city of Philadelphia violated the First Amendment rights of Cradle of Liberty when it attempted to evict the group after it refused to rescind its discriminatory policies against gay scouts and scout leaders. In a 2012 opinion, the trial judge refused to overturn the jury's decision, and the city appealed.
In the same opinion, the judge held that the jury could have found the city responded to "improper influence" because a group of gay rights activists, known as the "Working Group," had an "inside track" and "special access" when they lobbied then-city solicitor Romulo Diaz, who is gay, to end the city's support of Cradle of Liberty.
In its brief, the ACLU asks the appeals court to overturn the judgment against the city. The ACLU argues that the lobbying efforts of the "Working Group" are irrelevant to the constitutionality of the city's demands to Cradle of Liberty, stating "gay and lesbian citizens and officials are no less entitled to participate in the political process than their heterosexual counterparts."
The brief also argues that the US Supreme Court has made it clear that the right to engage in constitutionally protected activity does not mean that taxpayers are obligated to fund the activity, and that the city has an overriding interest in refusing to subsidize a private group with a known policy of discrimination.
A copy of the brief is available here: http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/COLamicusfinal.pdf.
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On Monday, December 17, Youth Insights Artists and Writers gathered at the Museum with their families, friends, and teachers for a celebration of their work and accomplishments this semester. The evening began with an exhibition of YI artwork in the Whitney Studio space. Both Artists and Writers completed multiple projects with their respective artists-in-residence, Beth Campbell and Cameron Crawford. YI Writers created short films which featured works on view in Whitney exhibitions as characters engaging each other in conversations at the Museum. YI Artists created two- and three-dimensional artworks which examined the possibilities of their future as well as the transformative potential in everyday objects.
The Whitney’s Alice Pratt Brown Director Adam Weinberg and YI Program Coordinator Carda Burke spoke briefly in the Museum’s lower galleries about Youth Insights, thanking parents and teachers for their support and students for their dedication to the program. Crawford and Campbell each thanked the teens and emphasized how excited they were to continue working with young people in the future.
Closing remarks came from the teens themselves. YI Artists Stephanie and Arthur talked about the camaraderie and support they had found with Campbell and a group of like-minded, artistic teens. YI Writers Savannah and Teddy reflected on what the semester had taught them about the connections between art and writing. After graduation, certificates and gifts were distributed and teens and their families headed back to the Whitney Studio for more discussion and appreciation of their artwork—a fitting conclusion to the night’s festivities.
By Correna Cohen, Youth Programs Fellow
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By Randi Barrow
Read by Roger Mueller
Unabridged - 4.25 hours
Available in the following formats:
4 CDs for $19.99
World War II has just ended when Mikhail finds a dying man and his German shepherd, Zasha, in the woods. It’s dangerous — some say traitorous — to own a German dog after Germany attacked Russia, so Mikhail must keep Zasha a secret to keep her alive. But Mikhail’s rival, Katia, is determined to find the dog she is sure he’s hiding. At the same time, a soldier named Dimitri is breeding a new Russian dog at a nearby farm. So many dogs were lost to starvation and in combat that the country is in dire need of every kind of dog. Dimitri, too, has suspicions of Zasha’s existence, and would like nothing more than to add her to his breeding program. However, Dimitri will have to compete with the armed dog thieves who are also on her trail. Mikhail’s inspiring journey to save his best friend, the last German shepherd in Russia, forces him to face some of life’s hardest lessons about war, hate, forgiveness, hope, love, and man’s best friend.
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These losers are winners
Piling up the losses
Photo by Julie Slack
Jackie Cronin, co-ordinator of the Lose For Good campaign run by Weight Watchers in Mississauga, poses with the food members have brought in to the Applewood Mall location. As members drop the pounds, they bring in a corresponding amount of food to be donated to an area food bank.
Members of Weight Watchers in Mississauga are turning their losses into a big win for local food banks.
Since early October, Weight Watchers branches across Canada have been participating in the second annual Lose For Good campaign.
Jackie Cronin, co-ordinator of the campaign in Mississauga, said the response from members has been amazing. Throughout the campaign, members donate healthy food items. The twist is in how much they donate. Members bring in an amount of food that's equivalent to how much weight they have dropped.
Cronin said the 500 members at the Applewood Mall location have donated more than 4,000 pounds of food. They'll hold a pack-up party tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 20), when volunteers will box the food for distribution to the Daily Bread Food Bank in neighbouring Etobicoke.
Meanwhile, Weight Watchers groups in the west end of the city are collecting food for the Mississauga Food Bank.
Cronin said members have been donating baby formula, healthy cereal choices, pasta, grains and fruit juices.
Last year, the seven-week drive raised more than 6,600 pounds of food across the city.
Nationwide, it's expected more than 50,000 pounds of food will be collected by Weight Watchers groups.
"We look forward to the annual drive now. We started promoting it at the end of September and now we're excited about the pack-up party," Cronin said. "Last year, 20 volunteers had the food packed up in 50 minutes."
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Kenai and Kasilof River king salmon fishing will close Thursday, with closures also affecting parts of Cook Inlet, in the latest and most drastic example of numerous fishing restrictions imposed by state officials this year to protect low salmon runs.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the Kenai River closure, which will go into effect with the others at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, was triggered by projections that show fewer than a threshold number of 17,800 kings will escape the fishery this year. About 40 percent of this year’s run of kings was complete as of Monday.
The threshold also triggers a closure of sport fishing for kings in salt waters of Cook Inlet north of Bluff Point’s latitude, which is set to last through July 31.
Tuesday’s closures prompted Fish and Game to completely close the Kasilof River to fishing for kings effective Thursday through July 31. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed the Kasilof’s federal subsistence fishery for kings from Thursday through Aug. 15.
State biologists say the Kasilof closure is necessary to protect the river from anticipated overfishing in response to the Kenai and Cook Inlet restrictions.
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Front Page Titles (by Subject) CHAP. XII.: Limited Service. - An Essay on Naval Discipline
The Online Library of Liberty
A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
Search this Title:
CHAP. XII.: Limited Service. - Thomas Hodgskin, An Essay on Naval Discipline
An Essay on Naval Discipline, Shewing Part of its evil Effects on the Minds of the Officers, on the Minds of the Men, and on the Community; with an Amended System, by which Pressing may be immediately abolished, by Lieut. Thomas Hodgskin, R.N. (London: Printed for the Author, by C. Squire, Furnival’s-Inn-Court, sold by Sherwood, Neely & Jones, Paternoster-Row 1813).
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As pressing appears to exist for no other reason, but, (as children say) because it does, it wants nothing to make it totally unnecessary but a simple declaration on the part of the legislature, that it is so; and reconciling the naval service to our ideas of justice and happiness. I have shown how the last may be easily accomplished by the establishment of tribunals, deserving our confidence, and by taking from captains the power of punishment. More fully to accomplish the first, a legislative enactment should immediately take place, abolishing pressing, and establishing the improvements mentioned; and, as a farther inducement for Britons to serve their country, limited service should be authorised under the following regulations:
A twelvemonth after this legislative enactment, all the men who had served their country twenty-one years, from and after the age of twenty, should be entitled (if they pleased) to their immediate discharge, and should, at their own choice, be entitled to and receive the in or out pension of Greenwich Hospital. If the funds of that place are not rich enough (but I believe they are) to answer this purpose, and others afterwards mentioned, they must be made adequate by the country. If these men were pleased to continue at sea, and I think every one would, whose health and strength permitted, they should be allowed to do so, if fit for service; but no farther reward than one of the pensions of the hospital should be given them, whenever they chose to retire; twenty-one years after the age of twenty is long enough for the country to claim of any man; and few men are fit for much active service, as a sailor, at that period of life.
I have no means of ascertaining what number of men of this description there are in the service; but I should not suppose they can exceed the complement of one frigate; and should the voluntary service not cause many to enter before the end of a year, the deficiency of disposable force from this class of men would be very small; therefore, from trying such an experiment, no injury would result to the country. From a twelvemonth, as before stated, all the men who had served fourteen years and upwards, from and after the age of twenty, should be entitled to their immediate discharge, but without any sort of reward, it being left to themselves to stay or go, and, of course, having the same claims as the first-mentioned class of men, after their period of twenty-one years servitude. I do not wish strictly to confine the benefits of Greenwich to men who have served twenty-one years, but certainly no men should be admitted to them, who had served less than fourteen years, unless he had received some injury in the service.
Under the improved system of discipline few men who had served fourteen years would quit the service without a pension, when, by remaining in it, they would be sure to receive one at the end of seven years, and should also receive it at any period between the fourteen and twenty-one years, when they might, from a survey of medical men, be deemed unfit for service. These men should also, for a reason, and in a proportion, to be afterwards assigned, receive an increase of pay. From these inducements to remain in the service, I should apprehend but a very small loss of men from this class; but I am wholly unable to estimate the amount.
By the end of two years, from this legislative enactment, experience will clearly shew whether our people will voluntarily serve their country or not; if they would not, perhaps the safety of the country might make it absolutely necessary, that no more men should be discharged; but of this I have not the slightest fear, and if they did voluntarily come forward at the end of two years, all the men who had served ten years, from and after the age of twenty, should then be entitled to their discharge without any reward, staying if they pleased. At the end of three years, all the men who had served seven years, from and after the age of twenty, should, in like manner, be entitled to their discharge. This should include all the boys and young men now serving, who should, when they arrived at their twenty-seventh year, (if the war continued so long) be entitled to their discharge.
With a voluntary service, no man not brought up as a sailor should be permitted to enter, for the first time, after the age of twenty five. I do not even apprehend, at the commencement of a war, there would be any occasion to deviate from this; for, under a better system of discipline, the inducements to enter would be so strong, that there would be always an abundance of young men; neither should men, brought up to the sea, be permitted to enter the service, for the first time, after the age of thirty; there might be a necessity to break through this regulation at the commencement of a war, but at no other time. We absolutely bring our service into disrepute by holding it ourselves so cheap, as admitting the aged, the lame, the halt, and the blind into it, when it possesses advantages superior to any private service for labouring men in the community.
It would not be advisable to adopt recruiting parties for the navy; they are an immense expence, and, I should think, perfectly useless. If the broad principle of population is at all true, that countries are always fully peopled up to the means of their subsistence, there will always be just as many men to eat the naval provisions, with a voluntary service, as now, and, indeed, more, unless it can possibly be supposed, that the increased pleasure, which will result to men from a voluntary service, should prevent, instead of inducing them to serve. The government, therefore, only require the means of providing these provisions, and they may safely rely upon the courage and zeal of our countrymen going to sea to consume them. As men, who have the slightest hope of bettering their condition, from coming to London, always find their way, those who wished to enter the service from any inland parts of the country, would certainly find their own way to the nearest naval depot; and, doubtless, many bosoms would ardently wish it, as an honour, instead of thinking it, as they now do, the last refuge from despair. Naval depots are already established at all the principal sea-ports of the united kingdom, and would want no alteration, except being deprived of their prisons. Care should be taken to spread a knowledge of these depots throughout the kingdom. I shall afterwards point out a proper means of doing it; but I just wish to call the attention of the public to the immense expence which arises, in very part of our military service, in every part of our country, from this utter want of confidence the government have of the people, arising, apparently, from that most base, most destructive of all motives for human actions,—fear. Such a want of confidence is contradicted by every event of our history, by every sort of experience, and, therefore, cannot be produced by reflection, nor is it supported by reason. I defy any man to find one instance, in the history of our country, that can be urged as a proof of a want of will in our countrymen zealously to defend it, or zealously to support that glorious constitution so much our pride; but this expence is the exalted policy there is in injustice. These are the sublime effects of that incomprehensibility of conduct in our great men which lesser folks cannot understand; this is what is peculiarly denominated policy, which requires a man’s whole life to learn, and then he knows it but imperfectly. To me it appears a vile submission to the worst passions of our nature, uninstructed by experience, and unenlightened by reflection, where that green-eyed monster,—jealousy, fear, pale and trembling, wrinkled anxious avarice, and violent and stormy anger, alone direct the actions; and policy will become infinitely more perfect when the common rules of morality, when the simple, but sublime precepts of the gospel, to fear God, but love our neighbour, shall direct the actions of our great men; neither do the ill effects of this want of confidence stop at the greater waste it causes of our pecuniary means, but it wastes our physical strength.
All the recruiting parties now employed in the united kingdom, had our rulers reposed confidence in us, might have been aiding Marquis Wellington; indeed, I should say, that three-fourths of our militia, as they are, apparently, embodied but to keep us in awe, might have been employed in the same service; proper means being taken to influence their opinions, they would have voluntarily gone; the remainder of our people could have defended our country from invasion. Do we not live secure, protected by the efforts of our gallant sailors; and where is the Briton, who, having a musquet or a rifle placed in his hands by the government, would not have been inspired to exertion by such confidence; who would not have manned a battery, or flown to a post assigned him, at a moment of danger, and died in defence of that liberty such confidence would have given him a double pleasure in? The immense expence which now attends our military, and with confidence in us, a useless staff-establishment at home, joined with that caused by recruiting, would have furnished Marquis Wellington’s military chest, and have placed him, without any additional taxes upon the people, at the head of 150,000 brave English troops; with such a force he would long since have cleared the peninsula.
The Emperor of the French, vast as his means are, must have given his attention at home, when assailed by these troops, joined by the Spanish nation. He could not have reposed confidence in his people; for he governs them but by the terror of military authority. The Emperor of Russia might have remained quietly at peace, with honour, or repressed insults, with a certainty of success, while England, exalted upon a throne of just confidence in her people, and supported by morality and virtue, might have dealt out liberty and comparative happiness to all mankind; might have been regarded with reverence, as the arbitress of the fate of the world; might long since have given mankind the blessings of peace, and thus have promoted the purposes of its God. But all this is prevented by a simple want of confidence in the people, which is as absurd as it is pernicious. For what, or for whom, let me ask, do we fight? Is it for the sake of the happiness which may accrue to the soil that we defend it? or is it, that we may enjoy its produce and its blessings? Can it be for our rulers we are called upon to shed our blood? There has not been, for years, many public men who, at once, have commanded my reverence and esteem by their talents and integrity. To say I am to fight for such people, is to tell me I am to commit murder; it is neither the soil then, nor our rulers, for whom we contend, but it is for our people; and it is evidently their interest to defend themselves; is it not, then, as absurd as it is pernicious to suppose men will not attend to their own interest?
To return to our naval subject; no man should be permitted to enter for less than three years or more than seven; as some little time is necessary to learn men their duties, they cannot be taken for less than three years, neither would it do for foreign stations.
There is a hopelessness attends mankind when they look forward to a long period, without a prospect of change, that impedes exertion; and this is very strong at sea, for our attention is not occupied by a thousand little daily improvements, and daily wants, which people on shore have, and can gratify; therefore I would not permit a longer period than seven years at one time. Bounties, as at present, should be given to all men at their first entrance into the service. If experience should prove that they were wanted, to induce men a second time to enter the service, they should again be given; but I think, with the increased pay not to be proposed, bounties at the second entering would not be wanted. It may, perhaps, be said, that our country cannot afford greater pecuniary rewards for the seamen; those who support such an opinion are interested men. When they, satisfied with the pleasure possessing power gives, shall serve their country for nothing, instead of taking many thousands to themselves and bequeathing them in reversion to their descendants, I shall think they have a right to compel the lower classes of the people to labour for nothing; to fight for and defend their country, and be satisfied with their food.
The principal employment of sailors is common labour, it requires little abilities and no knowledge but what the most common people possess. Therefore the wages of labour in other parts of our society should be the criterion for paying seamen. These are good when they permit a labourer to bring up a family, have the necessaries of life and some few of its luxuries. No man who knows how abject poverty debases mankind, who loves his country, would wish that they should ever have less. In estimating how seamen are to be paid, it is to be remembered, that food and lodging, those principal necessaries of life, are provided for them. Their present pay provides a single man comfortable clothes, and some even of the luxuries of life. But as it is evidently for the good of society that our labouring people should, with economy, be enabled to rear a small family, a sailor’s situation as they belong to the labouring class of people, should also be made able to do it. They want something of this kind to attach them to their country and make them citizens as well as sailors. I should therefore say that the pay is enough for the first seven years, they might serve their country; after being twenty years of age, the next seven it should be increased one-half; after serving fourteen it should be doubled, and not farther augmented. The seaman’s pay is now about eighteen pounds a year. Then after serving his country fourteen years it would amount to thirty-six pounds, not a very great sum, but sufficient, with an industrious wife, to rear a small family.
As a farther encouragement for men to volunteer for the service, those situations they now look up to as rewards should be made better. The time necessarily occupied by the seamen in labour must prevent their acquiring that knowledge I deem so indispensable to make a man a good captain; this is a situation therefore that should not be open to the sailor’s ambition:* but those that are should be improved and filled with no persons but them. No disappointed midshipmen should receive warrant officers’ situations, they should wholly be filled with men from before the mast.
Warrant officers are men raised from amongst workmen to direct their efforts, and they have a large portion of responsibility: as they cannot fill these situations till they have arrived at mature years, I think they should have sufficient pay to enable them to rear decently a small family, and as they have much responsibility their pay ought to be increased at least one-half in every rate of what they now receive.
The boatswains’ mates when not made the instruments of punishment, will be petty officers highly respected, and their situations will be much desired; they should have a small pecuniary increase, and should look up to the situation of a warrant officer as their reward, which captains coxwains, (alias their extra servant) should no longer be allowed to fill. These are the men whom I should say ought to have the greater part of the duty to do, which is now the portion of the lieutenant. For to me it appears absurd to take men into the service, educate them as and associate them with gentlemen, and then give them the duties of upper workmen to do.
The consequence is that the gentleman requires as much as four of these upper workmen, and the service is made more expensive without being so efficient; and what now is received with dissatisfaction by gentlemen sent into the service by the influence of property, would amply satisfy not only these upper workmen, but the warrant officers.
When the number of lieutenants were reduced, their duties should comprise all that requires education; they should attend to signals, to the ship’s navigation; they should arrange all the stations of the men, and perform many duties too minute to need enumeration. The boatswains mates should not be deprived of their places by their captain, as that would be a power of punishment; but such a mark of disgrace might with propriety be ordered by the legislature to be inflicted, should they be guilty of any of the second class of offences. But in all vacancies captains should fill them from their own people, uncontrouled by any authority in their appointments; but never permitted to give these situations to any man but one who had served his country at least three years. The other petty officers should have their pay increased like the men’s, in proportion to their service.
Besides making men petty officers the captain has another way of rewarding people.
As the same distinction of landsmen, able, and ordinary seamen would exist then as now, he might make men from one to the other, which would be a much greater incitement to them diligently to learn their duties than all the terror that can be employed. The captain will not trespass too much on this power of rewarding, as, should he make too many, he would be liable to lose a part of his best seamen. Instead of the captain being then, as he now is, the source of terror, be would be the fountain of honour; and as the hope of good is more powerful than the fear of evil, he would be as much more respected.
As a still farther encouragement for men to serve in the fleet, and not a very expensive one, all fathers who might be obliged to receive support from their parish, and who had lost in their country’s service a son, who might probably have rescued his old age from painful or dishonourable dependance, should have a right to receive, at his own option, the in or out pension of Greenwich. All wives, whose husbands had perished in the service, should in like manner receive a pension from Greenwich. All children, who had lost their fathers in the service, should have a positive right to national assistance. I know they already can receive parish support, and the charity of my country has provided other funds for them, but the first of those is deservedly dishonourable, the other is dependant, and their support should be neither. There may be many people who will say it is impossible to do these things, they will be liable to a multitude of impositions. To them I can answer, if there was a certainty of their fears being realised, it cannot make the practice of justice on the part of my country less necessary, or less a virtue to punish those who impose upon you, but on that account do not unjustly punish all.
With these encouragements to voluntary service should our people be negligent in coming forward, the first departure from liberty should be to abridge the luxury of few, not take every blessing of existence from many.
The legislature should forbid any man, except for agricultural or manufactural purposes to keep more than two men servants; and they should prevent any man able to work from receiving parish support. From these things an abundance of men would be in idleness, who, rather than commit crimes or starve, would voluntarily serve their country. If after this, men were still wanted, pressing applied indiscriminately to every man in the nation might be just; till then, I shall never cease to think it alike unjust and unnecessary, as alike destructive of morality and freedom.
To the system of limited service, it will be objected, that our ships from changing their men will never be disciplined; and that we shall never have any good seamen; they will always be in the merchant service.
The first objection now frequently exists. By desertion and other causes ships have often been known to have nearly changed their whole companies in a twelve month; yet these ships have not been found undisciplined when the officers have been disposed to attend to their duties.
This objection will have less force when applied to limited and voluntary service, and one system of regulations throughout the fleet, than it has at present. But if we consider what discipline is intended to produce, it can have no force at all. The end of discipline is to conquer the enemies of our country. The will to do this, and the courage that can do it, already exists on the part of the people; and the only thing they want effectually to do it is simultaneous exertion, without which ships cannot be properly managed. This, (in opposition to a general opinion in the navy,) I say may be learnt complete in six months. If a man is at liberty to think, and placed in situations requiring the exercise of this thought, and instructed by the example of others, he may be an excellent sailor in six months. With one system of regulations, a willing Briton will, with attention and direction on the part of his superiors, learn all the duties of a man of war’s sailor, more perfectly to produce simultaneous exertion than they now do in that time. At present, men going on board ship, sulky and ignorant as possible (from the manner in which they are forced), if they are not far advanced in life, acquire all the knowledge that is wanted for an active sailor in that time. The principal things wanted in sailors are a will to work, a zeal that prompts to exertion, (it should be remembered that zeal is the legitimate offspring of hope alone), and a command of mind in a moment of danger; the two first will be the produce of a voluntary service and encouragement, the last will be most speedily acquired by thinking and practice; and a young mind soon acquired it: besides from the mode of suffering all seamen to be gradually discharged, from the encouragement we have mentioned for their remaining, there will always be a sufficiency of old seamen to encourage the young ones by their example to daily, as well as extraordinary duties. Officers, in judging of men’s capabilities of learning these duties, will form their opinions from the existing character of the seamen, now when exposed to slavery, not what they will be, under a voluntary service and rational laws, when ardent hope shall bear down every difficulty before them.
Like what has been called the occult sciences, like any branch of knowledge confined to a particular set of men, our profession has been veiled in a cloud, and said to be difficult of acquisition; but when did the comprehensive minds exist, that planned, or taught the seamen their duties; they never have, there never was a branch of knowledge where less mind has been employed than at sea; and the difficulties of learning a sailor’s duty cannot be many. We see, that in the present day, landsmen are capable of contending for and acquiring victory at sea; our navy is at this time more than half manned with men who never went to sea in their youth, and they have not sacrificed the honour of their country. The French ship Rivoli contended five hours against (in point of quality) one of the best manned ships in our service, while her people were the most wretched heterogeneous collection of men ever met in a ship. Clear proofs, I apprehend, that landsmen are capable of contending for victory, and in our service, of gaining it at sea; consequently though we permit our sailors to enter for a limited time, discipline will be in existence, and its ends be always accomplished. The first objection has, therefore, no force; and since these clever seamen, as they are called, are not so particularly wanted, and may be made in a few months, the second objection will not avail the advocates of injustice much.
In my opinion, the increase of pay, after years of service; the certainty of honourable provision in old age or misfortune; the liberty of leaving the service at the end of their time; the chance of prize money, and the love of praise, will be inducements enough for English seamen to prefer their country’s, to the merchant service. There is great curiosity in every young man’s bosom, which would have prompted many to go to sea in the merchants’ service, had pressing never existed. That being abolished, many will go; a free competition being opened, merchants will naturally give the least possible quantity of money for which they can get sailors; and in the end, the wages of merchant ships will, I should expect, not exceed the wages in men of war. Therefore neither of these objections ought to make us hesitate a moment to allow our seamen voluntary and limited service.
It has also been objected against the system of voluntary service, that the slow progress of inlistment could never man our fleets so rapidly as the fleets of our neighbours might be manned by that despotic power the governors of every other European country possess. That consequently our country might be exposed to danger, before we had power to defend ourselves; and that at the breaking out of a war suddenly commenced, our country would be certain to receive injury even unto ruin. To this objection, I reply, that there is no event in modern history which gives the slightest reason to suppose, that a war can be first thought of, and commenced in a day, by any power however despotic. To save appearances, negotiation is necessary, and preparations are essentially requisite. Our country and our commerce, unassailable but by sea, can only be attacked by ships. To fit fleets time is necessary; they cannot be made ready in a day or a week, and our rulers must be more ignorant or more negligent than I suppose them, if they are unacquainted, during a peace, with any naval preparations in any of the ports of Europe. It has been a custom constantly among the European nations, to remonstrate against any increased warlike preparations, and to enquire for what they are intended. Therefore the most despotic power could not assail us (to injure us) under the lapse of some weeks from the beginning of their preparations. Now with our existing naval superiority, we, at present, possess (of one kind or other) more men of war than the whole of the rest of Europe united. It will be a dreadful dereliction from public duty, for our governors ever to let this relative superiority decrease. Now from the extension of our commerce, we have also more merchant ships and more seamen than the whole of the remainder of the European world. I must grant, that from the barbarous injustice, the wretched policy, our country has adopted, two-thirds of the men who man our merchant ships are foreigners, solely because the existing cruelty of our naval laws prevents Englishmen becoming sailors; these men prevent the growth of so many Englishmen, and of course take from our country that exact same number of subjects bound to us by habit and the ties of affection, and their place is supplied by these men, who from habit and education are our enemies, who are tied to other soils by different affections. Yet after a peace of any continuance, supposing our commerce to preserve its present relative superiority, which I see no reason to doubt; these foreigners will be in their own country, and our ships will be manned with our countrymen. With this relative superiority of numbers, both in ships and men, let our rulers but come to the people with a just cause for war in their hands, let the government of our country but sanction a larger force being equipped, by providing the means of paying and provisioning them, let the proposed increase of pay take place, let our navy be rationally governed, let the same glory as now attach to its service, let our seamen be informed, that in a just cause, our country has need of their services, and there will be no want of an embargo to be ordered by the government to prevent our merchant vessels proceeding to sea, they would be universally forsook. The lively energies of freedom and the love of fame will, in our ports, equip a fleet in half the time that any power in Europe could send one to sea. At the breaking out of war, there is the additional inducements of a chance of much prize money, and there is a vast deal of increased danger of being taken prisoner, by going to sea in a merchant vessel, that so far from wanting men at its commencement, (though we should entirely trust to the slow progress of enlistment) we should see the plough forsook, the loom laid aside, and the merchant ships lying idle in our ports; for our people would crowd to defend that liberty of which they are so deservedly proud, to share the praise of society, and to grasp at the honours of war.
But what can be the amount of the evil stated in the objection, granting that an enemy’s force might partly destroy our commerce before we were ready to defend it, that they might make an attempt and succeed in capturing some of our islands; and that they might even land in our country, and make partial depredations and commit some few atrocities; these, I apprehend, are the worst possible evils that can happen to trusting to our feelings, unassailed by force to man our ships. What is their amount?—A few deaths, a loss of a little money, while it must be balanced by national feelings smarting under injustice and eagerly asking vengeance, who would not wish such a frame of mind to commence a war with, for that will speedily conclude it? Can these evils be balanced against the existing miseries of pressing and coercion, the destruction of a wish to serve their country in our population, and the debasement of mankind, which is consequent upon terror being employed to compel men to do as their rulers wish them? They are but as feathers weighed aginst lead; but pressing will not remedy the evil imagined; it only makes men skulk, hide themselves away, and submit to every species of privation rather than serve their country; it would prevent, more than procure, men for the service, even at the commencement of a war.— But what is the objection that is made more than the vain speculations of an idle fear, the imagination of evils that can never arrive, but like all our bantlings, it gives pleasure as our own produce; we give more force to the suggestions of a vain imagination, than to the records of experience. When a nation can be pointed out to me, who when called upon by their governors, have refused promptly to support them in a just war, I may believe there may be a possibility of our people requiring to be pressed to defend their homes. Many instances can be produced of nations contending for slavery the most vile, simply because they had been long in the habit of submitting to it, and the blessings of freedom will have as much more power to incite us to defend it, as here is superior enjoyment in it.
But granting that this objection was real, and that pressing might temporarily remove it; I say, that pressing ought not to be adopted, for it is acknowledgedly unjust, it breaks through a principle that ought always to be held sacred, that no evil should be done, in expectation of good to come of it. For man may implicitly rely, from the known attributes of the Deity, from the well known laws of nature, good never ultimately came of committing evil, injustice never was of benefit to a country.
By a limited service, the strength of the only cause I can discover for the vices imputed to seamen, that arise solely from going to sea, will be considerably diminished. The prospect a young man may have then of again returning to his native spot with whatever he may save, will teach him economy, frugality, and care. The same prospect will prevent many early marriages, and send many young men to sea, whom the hopelessness of unlimited service, the injustice of pressing, and the cruelty in existence, precipitates into an early marriage, to have a stronger hold on those about him for protection. Limited service would spread the knowledge of ships through every part of the community, and the necessity there is for our national preservation and national glory that we should have ships, would make us a nation of sailors.
The reasonable prospect sailors might then entertain of comfortably providing for a wife and family, and certain, under misfortunes, of leaving them to the care of a grateful nation, would entwine the love of their country with the strongest affections of their hearts; it would make them better citizens and excellent men: then in their old days telling the tales of their youth to their children or neighbours, they would inspire them to defend, as they had done, the honour and glory of old England. Alas! how different is it now. From the very sufferings they have themselves undergone, the cruelties they have been subject to, they must persuade all their connections, all their friends from ever entering the service; they must tell them to defend their country is bitterly painful, and they must feel, by their stripes, it is dishonourable. Here again, by the operation of this present system, the growth of a virtue essentially necessary to the well being of the state is effectually checked, if not entirely smothered; there can exist no greater evil.
The commencement of a peace in our country, has been generally marked by numerous crimes and atrocious murders; and nothing but a recapitulation of such things widely extended, can be anticipated at the commencement of another. From the character of our seamen being so much degraded by a mixture of foreigners and felons, from their every manly sentiment, indeed from their every thought being destroyed by the long continuance of existing injustice, the dreaded evils of a peace are truly alarming. Unhappiness, miseries, and crimes alone, can be expected to ensue from turning loose upon the community so large a body of men as our seamen, unprovided with the means of an immediate subsistence, and unconnected with society by any one affection, whose passions are undirected by any principles of morality, and who are suddenly deprived of that terror of their immediate superiors, which has long been their only motive for action. Were the evils that have always taken place at a peace, the pure result of long protracted war, were they the result of any other laws of nature, but those which expressly say no injustice of man shall pass without its merited reward; so miserable would be the lot of our country, that war, for ever continued, would be better than the justly dreaded evils of a peace, that would at once disband our seamen. As the injustice that is done, then, is the main cause of this destruction of their affections and degradation of their characters — the justice of a limited and voluntary service, can alone preserve the one and exalt the other. With a voluntary service, naval laws approximating to the institutions of our country, the sailors will become habituated to the same motives for action as the remainder of our people, they will be connected with society by their best and dearest interests, and they will learn to live on shore in peace and good order; then, and not till then, will a peace promote either the happiness or security of our country.
With a limited and voluntary service, we shall no more hear of men amputating their own limbs to avoid defending their country; we shall no more witness them jumping overboard and preferring death to the slavery and misery of the navy. Naval officers will no longer be annoyed with men totally deaf without a cause; with others whose rheumatisms incapacitate them from exertions; and with impostures too numerous to describe, too disgusting to think about; and if to be happy is the legitimate end of all our exertions, they are not enough criminal to deserve censure.
Perhaps, no more ready and efficacious mode of spreading knowledge among the lowest classes of the Irish could be adopted than to permit the sailors and soldiers of that part of the community again to reside in their native spots. With a limited service and a just discipline, they would learn to imbibe our ideas as well as share our glory, to which they have so materially contributed.
They certainly have much to learn of us yet, and, encouraged to learn by the hope of benefit, instead of being repelled by terror, they would spread a love of the other parts of the community, which they could not fail to imbibe from intimately mixing with them; we should then, much sooner than there is now a prospect of, become one people, from a consolidation of opinions, an equality of rights, and a greater similarity of manners.
With a limited and voluntary service, as there would be no fear of desertion, a certain portion of the men, not less than one-eighth, should daily be permitted to go on shore; and the sanction of so great an authority as a captain’s, whom the sailors should, at all times, be accustomed to respect, if not to revere, should not, by permitting so great a vice as promiscuous intercourse, which religion teaches us to avoid, be set up in opposition to the early principles of instruction. We may, with propriety, deplore the depravity of opinion that leads to its commission; and though we cannot subdue it by penal enactments, it is surely highly wrong to encourage it with the countenance of authority.
It is curious to observe to what despotism is obliged to have recourse, even when aided by all its terrors, to keep up obedience. The injustice of tearing men away from their homes, and constantly confining them on board ship, has made it necessary to flatter them into obedience, by encouraging their vices; hence the permission given to drunkenness; hence the sanction of promiscuous intercourse. Surely, no man who reasons can approve these things, but, like the other evils of the system, they have resulted from unmanly fear.
With a voluntary service, we shall not go to war with America about pressing seamen; we shall have so many, that we may, without a sentiment of regret, resign every thing like the right of search for them; indeed, from the high reputation of our fleet, it wants but a rational system of government to seduce, if we pleased to accept, the services of all the seamen of the civilized world.
Another effect of the voluntary service will be preventing wars. Public opinion of their necessity must always precede their being entered into; and, I trust, we shall never again be plunged in all their calamities from an imaginary right of a few merchants, the birth of avarice, or from a suppositious possession of a spot of ground not worth a day’s labour of the meanest workman. Respected in peace, from being known to possess the dreadful energies of liberty in war, if our country gets through the present arduous contest, she will long remain the rallying point for every thing that is virtuous and honourable among men, till the value of liberty being stamped upon every man’s bosom, opinion shall triumph over fear, and mankind no longer submit to the terror of a military despotism.
[*]It is not meant that the country should not, in a public manner, reward signal services in the seamen by this promotion; indeed, I think they should, but when they do it, they should tell it officially to all the nation. There now exists a custom in the navy of captains and admirals promoting favourite quarter-masters and coxwains to the rank of midshipmen and lieutenants; it is this which should be utterly forbid, as the reward is not bestowed for services that benefit the country, but some that have gratified the individual; neither are these rewards made public, they consequently excite no diligence nor produce any emulation.
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LUNACY AND CRIME IN QUEBEC.
In a paper on "Judicial Errors in Lunacy," prepared by Dr. Geo. Villeneuve, associate professor of mental diseases and medical jurisprudence, Laval University, and medical superintendent, St. Jean de Dieu Asylum, Longue Pointe, Que., and Dr. E. P. Chagnon, assistant physician, same asylum, and read at the fifty-fifth annual meeting of the American Medico-Psychological Association, held in New York in May last, the writers limit the scope of their investigations to cases which have come under the jurisdiction of the criminal courts of the Province of Quebec and refer only to those lunatics who have been convicted and sentenced. These lunatics who have suffered punishment at the hands of the criminal courts of the province are by them divided into two classes. Class A embraces those unfortunate ones who have been submitted to medical examinations and found insane, but who have been convicted and sentenced
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Fannie-Freddie Bailout Could Cost Taxpayers $1 Trillion
For American taxpayers, now on the hook for some $145 billion in housing losses connected to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, that amount could be just the tip of the iceberg.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the losses could balloon to $400 billion. And if housing prices fall further, some experts caution, the cost to the taxpayer could hit as much as $1 trillion.
Two things are clear: Taxpayers don’t want to foot the bill, and Fannie and Freddie, taken over by the government in 2008 to stanch the financial bloodletting, need a major overhaul.
“Some of us who don’t even own homes are paying to support others and their home ownership, and they ask ‘why?’ said Robert J. Shiller, a Yale Universityeconomics professor and co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.
The indices measure the US residential housing market by tracking changes in the value of residential real estate both nationally and in 20 metropolitan regions.
Shiller added that the mission of Fannie and Freddie should be severely cut back “so that they’re not helping middle-class homeowners, [but] they’re helping poor people get into the housing market.”
At the crux of the financial crisis, the government took over Fannie and Freddie to avert possible massive losses for banks, money-market funds and, perhaps, most importantly, foreign institutions that purchased billions of Fannie and Freddie debt because of its implied government guarantee.
The Chinese, for example, had invested heavily, and the US decided it didn’t want them to take a loss on their investment.
One possible scenario for the entities is to turn them into utilities, said Sean Dobson, CEO and chair of Amherst Securities, whose company trades as much as $50 billion in mortgages annually.
“Freddie and Fannie could be used to standardize the mortgage product,” Dobson said, “to completely describe what the risks are and then act as a conduit for the capital markets to take the risk.”
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I was searching around the Internet and came upon this article on stockpiling. It says to stockpile water or ways to sanitize water incase of an emergency.
"You should include at least 1 gallon per person per day in your stockpile. You can manage this by buying bottled water or by ensuring that you have the means to collect and purify that amount of water. That means making sure you have water containers, bleach or a means to boil water available even during power outages."
The reason I stockpile is so if my hubby loses his job, we have enough food to last us awhile. Also so that I don't have to pay full price for anything! However, I hadn't thought of stockpiling water.
Why do you stockpile? Do you stockpile water?
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We're guessing you've heard about Toyota's massive 3.8 million vehicle recall for unintended acceleration. It appears to be an issue that could have potentially resulted in several deaths and reports of hundreds of accidents. Consumer Reports wanted to dig deeper on the matter, studying National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data for the 2008 model year. CR chose 2008 because the claims occurred prior to the widespread media coverage that has resulted in a flood of new complaints.
In studying NHTSA's accumulated 5,916 reports CR found that 166 involved unintended acceleration complaints. Of those, 128 were reported prior to August 28, 2009, when a California family was killed in a Lexus sedan experiencing uncontrollable acceleration. Of those 128 complaints, 47 came from Toyota and five from Lexus, representing 41 percent of overall unintended acceleration complaints. That's obviously a disproportionate amount of reports for an automaker with 16 percent of the US market's overall share. Here's one complaint logged by NHTSA.
While Toyota had a disproportionate amount of unintended acceleration claims, the Japanese automaker wasn't alone. Ford received an also high 36 overall complaints, or 28 percent of all U.S. models. The F-150 appears to have been one of the Blue Oval's main culprits, and complaints ranged from a gas pedal that was too wide to an engine that decided to go buck wild."I felt the vehicle [2008 Lexus ES 350] increasing in speed to about 90 mph, without depressing the accelerator. I had been on cruise control at about 73 mph... [A] passenger screamed at me to slow down. I was unable to do so, even after stepping forcefully on the brakes."
While Toyota and Ford have the lion's share of unintended acceleration claims, other automakers have a disproportionately low amount of complaints. Chrysler came in with 11 complaints, GM had seven, Honda had five and Nissan had three. Head over to Consumer Reports for its full report and more information on unintended acceleration."The engine immediately increased in rpm to the point where the rear tires began spinning on the gravel. I put the transmission in Neutral and the engine rpm increased. I removed my foot from the brake and the engine continued at a very high rpm. I then depressed and released the accelerator and the engine returned to a normal idle."
UPDATE: Numbers and percentages mentioned in second paragraph further clarified.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
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A state agency has ponied up $250,000 to entice Delta Air Lines to start Salt Lake-to-Paris direct flights -- a concept it finds tres bien for Utah's economy.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board on Friday approved a $250,000 Industrial Assistance Fund grant for Delta, which the company would receive after a maiden flight between the capitals of Utah and France. But a pair of other organizations need to add to the incentive pile before Delta would act on the proposal.
"They still have a lot to do," Jerry Oldroyd, chairman of the board's incentives committee, said of Delta. "This is not an announcement (of flights becoming reality)."
Oldroyd described the IAF grant as "last money in," saying that Salt Lake City's Department of Airports needs to provide $1 million -- $655,000 in cash and $345,000 in waived landing fees -- and the Utah Office of Tourism needs to provide $600,000 in in-kind marketing funds.
Board documents indicate that Delta tabbed Salt Lake over 14 other U.S. cities with larger market potential for the Paris flights. The airline is seeking money to promote the new route in order to make it sustainable and profitable, the documents say.
Oldroyd noted that the Salt Lake Chamber, the Utah Technology Council and the business community support the idea of the flights, which could start next year.
Delta has estimated that adding the flights could mean 1,100 new jobs at its Salt Lake City International Airport hub and a $90 million economic impact.
"But what we do know for certain -- absolutely certain -- is it's going to help us promote tourism in the state," Oldroyd said. "It's going to access our parks, access the ski resorts, provide access to the state of Utah that we simply haven't had before. It will help us tap that European market and that, we think, in and of itself, would be good news if we can get it."
But another benefit would be boosting international business, he said.
"Equally important is the fact that this is going to help facilitate commerce between Europe and Salt Lake City. It's going to help businesses trying to do business in Europe, and that is a real economic incentive," Oldroyd said.
Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah, noted that many companies that have added operations in Utah have European connections.
"This idea of them (Delta) coming and offering European service is a big factor for the outdoor products industry and the place where we're spending a lot of time recruiting," Edwards said. "Many of those companies have European operations -- particularly Salomon, Atomic and Rossignol as examples -- all three of them have large manufacturing operations in Europe, and this would be a key gateway for them. They've all expressed support for this idea and have been communicating to Delta as well as part of that process."
Board documents show that Delta operates 373 flights to 114 destinations daily from Salt Lake, its second-largest hub. But it's the second-largest city in the West without direct flights to Europe. Atlanta-based Delta serves 311 cities in 52 countries and operates daily trans-Atlantic flights to 32 destinations. Delta direct international flights from Salt Lake
-- Mexico: Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Cancun
-- Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnepeg Source: Delta Air Lines E-mail: email@example.com
Utahns won't have to wait long to discover whether they will be able to hop aboard a direct Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Europe. With various funding mechanisms in...
Duncan Aviation and Delta offered incentives to expand in Utah.
Delta now flies nonstop to 108 cities from Salt Lake, which is more than any other airline serving destinations from any other airport in the west.
A business alliance with Air France was the key reason why Delta Air Lines chose Paris to be the first transatlantic route ever offered by an airline from Salt Lake City, Delta President Ed Bastian...
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|ABOVE: Read our top tips for keep teeth looking great
WE know the world is still in shock about the size of her face, but what in the world is happening to Lindsay Lohan’s teeth?
It’s important we all talk about this and then ask to be excused from our desk to book an emergency appointment with our dentist.
Just below her puffy face pillows, the actress’ has been sporting some unsightly stained gnashers and we feel compelled to draw attention to it before it gets too out of hand.
She might be saving acorns in the upper corners of her mouth for the Winter months but that doesn’t mean Lindsay
can get away with not brushing her teeth on a regular basis or at least flossing out the yellow bits for special events.
The star looked nice in the hair and dress department but made the mistake of smiling at the Saints Row: The Third concert held at Supperclub in Los Angeles and now we don’t want to eat our lunch, which hasn’t happened in the history of ever.
Seriously though, we reckon she could do with cutting out a few vices and have listed our top tips for pearly whites below: 1.
Avoid smoking. The nicotine and tar content in cigarettes can cause teeth to discolour. Tobacco staining can range from a yellowish tint to really unsightly dark brown depending upon how many cigarettes are smoked. Tobacco staining on the teeth can be seen within days of starting smoking in some cases. Smoking can also lead to a greater amount of bacterial plaque being produced that can lead to other dental problems such as halitosis and gum disease. The best way to avoid this is to stop smoking! 2.
Avoid drinking excess amounts of red wine/coffee/coloured fruit juices/tea/blue veined cheeses as they can leave superficial stains on the surface of teeth leading to discolouration, so consume them in moderation. 3.
The best way to maintain natural tooth whiteness is to make regular visits to your dentist or oral hygienist. They will be able to assess the severity of any stains and suggest an appropriate course of action to help keep your teeth clean and white. 4.
Regular brushing will help to remove any superficial stains from the surface of your teeth and maintain their natural colour. Brush teeth twice a day (morning and night) using a whitening fluoride toothpaste for the recommended time of 2 minutes. 5.
Given that most dental disease and the build up of plaque and tartar (calculus) starts in between the teeth, regular interdental cleaning should form an essential part of a normal oral hygiene routine. Not cleaning interdentally can leave as much as 40% of your tooth surfaces untouched and uncleaned. Use dental floss daily or a TePe Interdental brush made in a range of eight colour coded sizes so that they can be tailored to the size of each space. Using the correct sized brush for the space is important and ideally you should be guided by your dental professional. The general principle is that no brush should be forced into the space, but should be eased gently into the site and moved backwards and forwards once or twice and then rinsed under the tap before being used again. 6.
Take an oral hygiene supplement such as Proden PlaqueOff™daily to help reduce plaque and tartar (calculus) deposits, thus helping to maintain the natural colour of the teeth. This revolutionary supplement contains a specially selected seaweed from Norway (Ascophyllum nodosum) that has been proven to reduce plaque and tartar in humans by up to 87 percent in a two month trial period.
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At a time when it seems like every space that could support an ATM already has one, Apple has filed a patent application for a network which it calls an “Ad-Hoc Cash Dispensing Network” which would compete with ATMs by providing cash to people distant from an ATM.
The July 2011 application only came to light on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website on Wednesday.
The patent envisions Apple acting, in effect, as a deposit taker, something it already does since it allows consumers to keep money in their consumer accounts to purchase music on iTunes and make other purchases.
Using an app that the consumer would download for their iPhone or iPad, consumers would let others know they have a cash need through request providing details of how much they want to borrow and their location, via GPS.
The request is delivered to anyone in the same location who is signed up to the service and if a willing lender is found, a time and place to meet and hand over the cash is arranged.
Following the transfer of cash, the requesting user's account with Apple is charged for the service while the provider's is credited. The application acknowledges the move toward cash-less payments but points out that cash is sometimes still required and might not be available.
The application does not definitely identify any way there might be a fee for the service or how much it might be, though it alludes to the possibility that Apple and the funds provider might split a fee.
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(CNN) - For many, it's an annual December conundrum - greet people with the traditional "Merry Christmas" or the secular "Happy Holidays"?
It's a small decision with seemingly oversized cultural significance, coming amid pressure to "keep Christ in Christmas" while also remaining inclusive of people who don't celebrate the Christian holiday.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
A new poll from Marist and the Knights of Columbus shows that nationwide, two-thirds of Americans prefer to go with "Merry Christmas" over "Happy Holidays." There is a divide, however, between Americans living on the East and West Coasts, and Midwesterners and people living the South.
Fifty-six percent of Northeasterners and 57% of West Coasters said "Merry Christmas" was their greeting of choice. In the Midwest, 70% chose "Merry Christmas," and in the South 69% felt the same.
Older generations were also more likely to choose "Merry Christmas," while 50% of millennials (people ages 18-30) preferred to make merry with "Happy Holidays."
Americans over 65 overwhelming chose "Merry Christmas" over "Happy Holidays," 74% to 22%.
The Marist-Knights of Columbus poll was taken by phone November 8-10 from 1,026 adults. The sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points.
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Women: make your 50s your best years
Are you approaching your 50th birthday with a bit of trepidation? Fear not, because more than ever, women in their 50s are finding that now is the best time of their life. “It’s a very exciting time for women,” says Kevin Henderzahs, M.D., a Community Health Network OB/GYN. “It’s an exciting time to get involved in different things. It’s time to renew relationships with their spouse, family and friends, and time to renew relationships in a spiritual way, too.”
“They’re going from caregiver to being able to work on their career,” adds Patrick Rankin, M.D., a family practitioner with Community Health Network. Women may be traveling more or exploring new hobbies. They often have more time and energy to take care of themselves. “People turning 50 are more positive in their outlook than in the past. Usually they’re happy to be turning 50,” he says.
A fitting birthday present for yourself is a trip to the doctor to get your 50s off to a healthy start. Here are some issues to consider and discuss with your physician:
General health issues. Continue to get regular checkups that include breast exams and Pap tests.
Diet and exercise. "If you haven’t made an effort to improve your eating and exercise habits already, now’s the time," says Dr. Rankin. Doing so can help control blood pressure and cholesterol, and prevent troubles such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. For both diet and exercise, sustainability is the key when making any changes. “It’s important to find something that you enjoy so that you’ll keep doing it,” he says.
Colon health. “At age 50, women should get a colonoscopy,” says Dr. Henderzahs. “Every 10 years is what I’d recommend. It’s essential to make sure their colon is healthy and that there are no signs of any colon cancer.”
Cardiovascular health. “Hypertension and cholesterol are essential screenings,” Dr. Henderzahs says, noting that high blood pressure and high cholesterol “are things you don’t feel.” They are also conditions that can be effectively addressed through diet, exercise and, if necessary, medication.
Bone health. “Now that women are going through menopause, this is more and more important,” Dr. Henderzahs says. That’s because estrogen is a key component in bone strength, and menopause cuts its production. Doctors may seek bone-density testing and are almost certain to recommend an increase in calcium and vitamin D, as well as an added emphasis on weight-bearing exercise, which can include walking or jogging.
Menopause issues. “Hot flashes or changes in sexual function would be important to talk with your physician about,” Dr. Henderzahs says, noting that "there’s no reason to suffer, because all such symptoms can be addressed." "Whether estrogen replacement is advisable depends on individual circumstances," Dr. Rankin adds, "including age, cardiac history and whether you smoke."
Your skin. Some women will find that their skin is becoming thinner and drier. Dr. Rankin tells women to use lotion and try to reduce sun exposure a bit, and also to keep an eye on any changes in skin lesions.
Sleep habits. “It’s important that they get an appropriate amount of rest,” says Dr. Rankin. “It’s good to develop a good sleep pattern and to try to get to bed at about the same time every night.”
By getting a handle on your health, you’ll be well prepared to face the opportunities that come with being in your 50s, Dr. Rankin says. “Today’s 50-year-old women are a very positive group.”
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A collection of news and information related to Dizziness published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 84 » View wsbtradio.com items only1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next >
addCustomPlayer('1j59v4a9evljr1d1b5hvawowo7', '', '', 600, 418, 'perf1j59v4a9evljr1d1b5hvawowo7', 'eplayer15'); Josh Hamilton said he was assured by doctors this week that the allergies that lead to occasional sinus and throat discomfort and dizziness...
Have a question for Dr. Blythe? Write to her at AskThePediatrician@tribune.com. For more information on Dr. Blythe, go to pediatricassociates.com. April 29, 2013 Q: My 5-year-old daughter just had her adenoids and tonsils removed because of snoring...
Lehigh Valley ParentingQ: With all this talk about sports stars and head injuries, I am worried if my kids should even be involved in sports. I make sure they wear a helmet when they ride their bikes but they don’t wear helmets in all their other sports. A: Head...
Dear Pharmacist: I keep stopping my blood pressure medications because of side effects, mainly fatigue, dizziness and leg cramps! Please help me solve this, or recommend different medicine? — A.P., Tucson, Ariz. Dear A.P.: This is a great question...
Did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a few too many green beers? Are you experiencing the medical condition commonly known as a hangover? As you do your best to cope, you might take some solace in the fact that scientists believe humans have...
Researchers believe that someday, doctors may be able to use specially-equipped laptops and smartphones to figure out if sudden-onset dizziness in patients is the result of a stroke, or of a (more likely) benign disturbance in the inner ear. If...
Officials on Tuesday continued investigating the second round of illnesses in less than a week at a North Baltimore office building but did not quickly find a link between the two bouts. Still, officials overseeing the investigation are confident that...
At least 12 people with symptoms of illness were reported at Johns Hopkins at Keswick in North Baltimore on Monday, almost a week after nearly two dozen people fell ill from a contaminated water source at the hospital and university system's...
Health officials continue to investigate how contaminated hot water sickened nearly two dozen people at the Johns Hopkins at Keswick complex Monday, but the case is similar to previous ones involving faulty water-heating systems that let chemicals mix...
Once you've experienced it you don't forget it, vertigo that is. Vertigo is a symptom of a balance disorder and it is most typically felt as brief, intense movement in the head or in many cases felt as "the spins" upon movement. It's a symptom that can...
L.A. NOWThe Orange County Fire Authority has disciplined 13 firefighters in connection with a hazing incident in which half a dozen firefighters from Laguna Hills were spotted with strange, Mohawk-like haircuts....
L.A. NOWThe 75-year-old retired barber who is suspected of fatally shooting a Newport Beach urologist had health problems and complained to his neighbors about his medical issues. Stanwood Fred Elkus would talk to residents in his Lake Elsinore neighborhood about...
May 16, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Apr 29, 2013 |Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mar 26, 2013 | Allentown Morning Call
Apr 3, 2013 |Column| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mar 18, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Mar 5, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Mar 5, 2013 |Story| Baltimore Sun
Mar 4, 2013 |Story| Baltimore Sun
Feb 28, 2013 |Story| Baltimore Sun
Feb 4, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Jan 29, 2013 | Los Angeles Times
Jan 29, 2013 | Los Angeles Times
Original site for Dizziness topic gallery.
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A SENIOR paediatrician has described a campaign by parents to have a popular baby formula pulled from shelves as unfounded and alarming.
Nestle carried out tests of Nestle NAN HA Gold baby formula after complaints from parents that a change of recipe was to blame for symptoms including body rashes, dehydration and irritability.
It said tests had found the product safe, prompting further outcry from parents. The ''Recall All Nestle NAN HA Gold Baby Formula'' Facebook page was created and has attracted more than 1600 parents.
John Sinn, a senior paediatrician, allergist and neonatologist at Royal North Shore Hospital, said that the ongoing campaign was unfounded and risked worrying parents unnecessarily.
''We do use this formula and I have not seen reactions in any of my patients,'' Associate Professor Sinn said. ''The use of mass media and Facebook by some groups these days really causes a lot of anxiety and grief, leading parents to associate the symptoms of their child with the formula.'' He cited another brand of baby formula which changed its label, but not the recipe, in the past, causing parents to claim their babies were getting sick.
''It's a placebo effect and, while I don't deny their symptoms are there, it is no justification for claims this formula is unsafe,'' he said.
He said it was ''perfectly normal'' for babies to respond better to some formulas, adding that rashes were common in children, with allergies on the rise.
''There is no way we would wait for Nestle to pull a product off the shelf if we thought it was at all unsafe,'' he said. ''We would just stop using it.''
The founder of the Facebook campaign, Sarah Knispel, said Associate Professor Sinn's comments devalued the feedback from parents.
''We are really concerned that Nestle never alerted parents to the recipe change on their product label, so parents had no way of knowing that the new recipe may be the cause of sudden irritability and symptoms in their child,'' she said. The Chief Paediatrician for NSW Health, Les White, said there was no evidence the change of formulation was physically harmful to babies and that parents should change formulas if concerned.
''Independent comprehensive testing has been co-ordinated by the NSW Food Authority and has confirmed there are no food safety issues with Nestle NAN HA infant formula,'' he said.
A Nestle spokeswoman said the company was looking at more effective ways of communicating information to consumers.
'I knew something wasn't right'
Sarah Knispel did not know what was causing her baby daughter Cleo to break out in a rash on her face, vomit and become irritable. But when a week went by with no change, she ''knew something wasn't right''.
Then she heard of other babies experiencing similar symptoms after being placed on Nestle NAN HA Gold baby formula. ''Cleo had been on the stage 2, 900-gram tins of this formula for over two months with no issues before we ran out and started using the new 800-gram tins.''
There had been a recipe change, which she said caused Cleo, now 8½ months, to get sick. ''I purchased a different formula and gave it to her,'' said Mrs Knispel, who founded the Facebook page that is calling for a recall. ''After three bottles, the red rash had started to clear. That following night, she slept through and stopped waking from thirst.''
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by Al Fuchs
Few people would consider a massage table to be a place
of ministry. Yet that is how Ursuline Sister Veronica Cipar
describes the massage table in her small, cozy facility
in the Ursuline Motherhouse in Pepper Pike, Ohio.
Sister Veronica has developed a ministry that some might
consider unusual for religious sisters. But she envisions
massage therapy as a means of bringing a healing touch to
her patients’ spirits as well as their bodies. “I have been
given a grace to focus on what I am doing for people, and
I really see their woundedness when I’m working on them,”
“It was a natural thing for me to do,” she explains. As
a child, “I used to massage my father’s back.” Later in
life, “when I took care of my mother in her last months,
I would massage her back.”
Massaging away the aches and pains of others was an ability
that Sister Veronica did not leave behind when she entered
the convent. In her religious community, she was known for
kneading relief into the stiff, sore shoulders of the sisters.
Even during her 32-year career as a professor of Spanish
at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, she kept alive her interest
and skill in massage. She maintained a file of articles
about various massage-therapy schools in the country and
selected Ohio College of Medical Arts (now closed), where
she received her degree in 1995.
Sister Veronica always saw massage as a means of service:
“If I could wean only one sister away from medication, it
would be worth it...or take care of those who have borne
the heat of the day, or help those sisters who are still
in ministry to keep going, it would be beneficial.”
'Beyond Stress Relief'
There is a difference between being a massage therapist
and being a masseur or masseuse, she explains: “A masseuse
can give massages for relaxation or stress reduction. Therapy
goes beyond stress relief. Therapists try to figure out
how to help people for their long-term health.”
In Ohio, the state medical board requires that a massage
therapist must be licensed. To earn a license, a therapist
must take courses in anatomy, physiology and pathology.
In addition, clinical practice is required. People wanting
massages from students come to the school and pay a minimal
amount. (Students work on them under the guidance of instructors.)
“An interesting thing happened at the end of the course
of studies and before graduation,” recalls Sister Veronica.
“We were having an open forum as to what we were thinking
and how we felt. I was very surprised when one woman said,
‘Well, I have to mention this: When I told my friends and
family that there was a sister in our class, they could
not get over it. We were all amazed that she would do this
kind of work, that she would even be permitted to. I have
to tell you, I wondered too. But at the end of all this,
I find myself being very proud that there was a sister in
my class.’ I thought that was very moving because no one
else in the class had ever said that to me. I thought I
was just one of the group.”
Veronica and other massage therapists have learned things
through experience and intuition that schools of medicine
discovered through research and observation. For example,
Prevention magazine reported in 1996 that scientists
at the University of Miami observed increased growth rates
in premature babies who were massaged briefly each day,
compared to preemies who were not massaged. The massaged
preemies also went home from the hospital nearly a week
sooner than average. In addition, diabetic children who
were massaged by their parents exhibited glucose levels
that decreased to near-normal and normal range.
Children are not the only ones who benefit from massage
therapy. More and more adults are discovering it to be a
means of learning to recognize the messages their bodies
send about their health. In addition, massages relieve stress
and help people relax.
Massage therapists have found that many people function
from the neck up. These people are completely unaware of
their bodies. They don’t realize how tight their muscles
are or how much pain they are in. Regular massage helps
people tune into the signals their bodies send them.
Sister Veronica’s appointments usually last about two hours.
Before her client even gets on the massage table, the therapist
may spend as much as an hour just talking and listening.
Janice, a CPA who owns her own firm, has been a client
of Sister Veronica’s for years. Janice says, “The tension
that builds in my back and neck muscles due to the stress
under which I work has melted away under the expert hands
of Sister Veronica.”
Before starting a massage, Sister Veronica rests her hand
on her client’s head or over his or her heart. Then she
says a short prayer, either silently or aloud, to ask a
blessing for the body.
Janice says, “As she silently prays over me before beginning,
accompanied by the soft music that fills the room, I can’t
help but feel the presence of Jesus. And who better to be
there but the one true healer himself.”
Sister Veronica has numerous tools at her disposal. Stored
in a cooler are cold packs, which she applies to soothe
pain and swelling. She applies steam packs to relax sore
muscles. And for people with arthritis, she uses heated
paraffin to coat aching hands.
Veronica’s massage table has a lift so elderly and disabled
people can get on the table. There is also a chair specially
designed for massages.
Presence of Christ
The most important religious symbol in her office is a
crucifix hanging over the desk. Sister Veronica specifically
wanted one with a corpus having well-defined muscles. It
reminds her of Christ’s presence in those she serves.
“Sometimes, if I see people with arms that ache, or who
have worked hard and are in pain, I think of Jesus hanging
on the cross,” she explains. “Or I think of Mary, the Blessed
Mother, especially when I encounter women who have suffered
with their children. I often think of Mary, how she must
have looked upon the beaten body of her son. That vision
gives me strength.”
The good news of her professional reputation and availability
has spread exclusively by word of mouth. Her clients come
from a variety of backgrounds. Besides her Ursuline sisters,
people from all around the community seek her out. Veronica
welcomes all of them.
“They’re all such neat people,” she says. “A few did not
return after the first time; those might have come just
as a lark or for the price. But rarely do people come just
Some arrive by accident, she explains. Rick, a local police
officer, once called and left a message for another Sister
Veronica in the Ursuline community, but Sister Veronica
Cipar mistakenly got the message. She returned his call
and left him a message about a massage appointment. “He
said, ‘Well, why not?’ Now he comes regularly.” She has
since helped relieve his chronic migraine headaches as well
as the general stress that is a result of his police work.
Treating Abused People
Some of her clients are people who are considered unlikely
candidates for being touched, she explains. “I have been
deeply moved by serving someone who has been abused, raped
or assaulted. Sometimes I didn’t know about the abuse until
after the massage. Then I said in amazement to the person,
‘That you would let me touch your body!’ The massage became
part of their healing.”
People who have been physically violated come to Veronica
because they know she will treat them with dignity and an
attitude of respect. When this happens, she is very conscious
of and often awed by her role as a minister to people whose
need for healing is so deep.
Some people seek out Veronica only because she is a religious
sister. But she passionately believes that the real work
is done through her, not by her. “I know I am just an instrument.
I feel that deeply—an instrument for the body to do what
the body knows how to do, and also for God to do the rest.”
Religious Background Helps
Sister Veronica’s life of prayer has given her an unusual
perspective about her work. Often, she is spiritual director
as well as massage therapist.
Rick testifies, “Just as important as the actual treatments
have been the many spiritually enriched conversations we
have shared, usually about my life problems and challenges.
I’ve always told Veronica she should charge me two fees:
one for massotherapy and another for spiritual therapy.”
Veronica views the practice of massage therapy as parallel
to the celebration of Eucharist, at which Christ gives his
body and blood to the faithful in the form of bread and
wine. “If I have any kind of spirituality, it is eucharistic,”
she explains. As Christ gives himself to nurture his people,
the people Sister Veronica serves give their lives and renewed
strength in service to others.
Sister Veronica’s ministry may be relatively new to the
Church, but little by little it is becoming less unusual.
As the number of religious sisters dwindles and their median
age rises, these sisters are finding new ways to support
their communities financially and to care for their retired
These career changes from teaching, for example, which
has been a traditional ministry for sisters, also reflect
their efforts to explore new ways to minister to the faithful.
Religious women have always gone to serve where they were
needed. As society has changed, so have their ministries,
and some sisters see a deep need for healing, for reconciling
people with their own bodies.
Sister Mary Benedict, a client of Sister Veronica’s, says,
“I have a greater respect for the mind-body-spirit relationship
and how God puts us together. Daily living should and could
be a celebrative articulation of life well lived. When we
are in balance, we can do this.”
Sister Veronica’s religious background enables her to see
more than just what a person is on the outside. She tries
to look through the eyes of faith. “I’m able to say to any
who come, no matter what, that their bodies are beautiful
because of what is going on inside,” she says. “I don’t
preach but it may come up in my prayer. I may say, ‘May
you realize that your body is beautiful.’ It seems to work
wonders on their sense of self-worth.”
Finding a Healing Path
Sister Veronica’s work has also become a means for some
to approach the Church, especially for those who have separated
long ago from their faith. For them, she becomes an avenue
back, or a channel of better understanding of the many means
of healing that the Church can offer. People share with
someone they trust, with a person of faith, and they find
a path to healing.
“Relationships develop into friendships. Sometimes I am
invited to share a meal during which a person can have time
to talk. This becomes an extension of my ministry,” says
Laura is one of those clients who came reluctantly at first
but now looks forward to her visits. “My doctor referred
me to Sister Veronica for massotherapy to help my back and
neck, which were injured in an automobile accident,” she
explains. “I was hesitant at first because I am not one
to relax. Now, four years later, I look forward to each
appointment with Sister Veronica and feel very blessed that
I am one of her patients.”
Sister Veronica sums up her feelings about her ministry:
“Jesus the Healer is so appropriate a model for any kind
of healing. I consider massage therapy to be a medical profession
based on the healing work of Jesus. It is a proper ministry
for the Church.”
Elaine M. Berkopec, O.S.U., is an Ursuline sister who lives in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She taught junior and senior high school students for 15 years and now teaches basic education and job skills to women who are making the transition from poverty.
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FY 2010 Foreign Assistance Goals
The goal of U.S. Government (USG) assistance in Montenegro is to support the country’s transition to a market-based democracy fully embedded in Euro-Atlantic institutions, including NATO and the European Union (EU). The United States assists these efforts by helping Montenegro ensure stability through broad-based prosperity, building an effective security partnership, strengthening the rule of law, and reinforcing democratic institutions. In addition, a top USG priority is building Montenegro’s capacity for combating corruption, thereby increasing public confidence in governance. Economic reform will also continue to play an important role in achieving U.S. goals for Montenegro. Job creation and economic revitalization, particularly in the impoverished and ethnically diverse North, are key elements to maintaining harmony among ethnic communities and sustaining Montenegro’s stabilizing influence in the region.
Total FY 2010 Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance: $10.65 million*
(*Foreign Operations funding appropriated for FY 2010, not including centrally managed, regional Foreign Operations funding that is not budgeted for specific countries.)
Highlights of FY 2010 Performance by Area of Focus
Peace and Security
-- During FY 2010, the USG provided training and equipment to enhance the ability of Montenegrin Customs and Border Police to control Montenegro’s borders and interdict illicit trafficking. As a result, the Border Police mounted successful interdiction operations on Skadar Lake and elsewhere in Montenegro and continue to advance their maritime control capacity. Additionally, USG support contributed to Montenegro’s ability to conduct trade within the global rules-based system – in particular by enhancing its ability to license imports, exports, transits, transshipments and re-exports while ensuring compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, the multilateral nonproliferation regimes and EU requirements.
-- USG security assistance programs continue to prepare the Montenegrin defense establishment for future membership in NATO and for partnership in overseas contingency operations. In 2010, the Montenegrin Armed Forces procured night vision devices, GPS equipment, uniforms, and a variety of individual training equipment through USG funding.
-- USG programs trained over 100 prosecutors in asset forfeiture, cross-examination techniques, tracking of illicit proceeds, courtroom presentation of asset forfeiture cases, and in major case management. Programs also provided training to police and prosecutors on anti-money laundering.
-- USG assistance supported the formation of the Joint Investigative Team (JIT), a task force headed up by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The JIT has already returned indictments for corruption against 21 customs and border police officers and is now pursuing the financial assets of a high-ranking global drug trafficker in cooperation with the Italian anti-mafia prosecutors. Fifty-one persons have been arrested on charges of trafficking one ton of cocaine from South America to Europe, with suspects arrested in several European countries. The JIT has overseen the arrest of one of the key drug traffickers in Europe and will be conducting a subsequent financial investigation aimed at seizing the assets of the suspect and his organization.
Governing Justly and Democratically
-- In FY 2010, USG assistance continued to help Parliament improve its lawmaking and oversight capacities and provided technical assistance and training. As a result, 55 public hearings were held in front of nine (out of 11) different parliamentary committees, demonstrating that Parliament has significantly increased its oversight of the Executive through the instrument of hearings. In addition to ministerial representatives, the police and the Agency for National Security, who participated in hearings over the last year, a number of representatives of NGOs, universities, governmental agencies, and the Supreme Audit Institution appeared before parliamentary committees to testify on a number of different topics. For the first time, the Secretary General testified to the Committee on Economy, Budget, and Finance, presenting transparent reports of parliamentary expenditures over the past year. The committee also invited the anti-corruption NGO MANS to attend a committee session and testify on its assessment of the reports.
-- As a result of USG efforts, Parliament now functions with a new administrative structure and operates with improved rules of procedure, and the political opposition has greater responsibility within parliament in the form of committee chairmanships and co-chairmanships. The role of parliamentary staff continued to develop through 2010, both through work with clerks on essential skills building and with parliamentary officials on devoting more resources to creating a professional staff.
-- The goal of the anti-corruption program, which ended in February 2010, was to work in partnership with a broad coalition of non-governmental and civil society organizations to advocate for the adoption of concrete anticorruption reforms that reflect the concerns of Montenegrin society as well as to monitor and assist in the implementation of such reform efforts. After 24 months of the implementation of the anti-corruption program, there has been an increase in the number of citizens reporting corruption, submitting complaints, requesting information, giving suggestions to local NGOs, and participating in an anti-corruption campaign. A total of 175 calls were made by citizens to hotlines sponsored under the program over a period of five months, making an average of 35 calls per month, or a 17 percent increase over 2009 figures.
-- During the reporting period, a local NGO and a team of investigative journalists drawn from three different independent media outlets in Montenegro continued to produce in-depth stories across six different thematic categories (all connected to corruption). These stories were posted on the internet portal created by the project and accessible to all media in Montenegro who are able to print the stories in their own media or elaborate on the stories themselves freely and without copyright problems. Training and technical support improved the capacity of journalists for investigative journalism.
-- Under the Legislative Strengthening & Watchdog Program, a total of five sub-grants were awarded to watchdog NGOs. One illustrative example of the success under this program is the NGO CDT (Center for Democratic Transition) initiative to monitor state and municipal political parties’ expenditure. The NGO collected all financial documentation on state and municipal expenditures for the period of 2004-2008 and a complete set of documentation from the Ministry of Finance pertaining to money transfers to the political parties from state and local government budgets for regular and campaign expenses. CDT reported to the public serious discrepancies in the amounts transferred to political parties compared to the limits prescribed in the Law on Financing of Political Parties. CDT reports and various TV shows on this subject provoked a sizeable political debate in the country about the use of government budget funds to support political parties. This NGO will continue its work through other funding.
-- Interest in USG exchange programs is steadily rising and alumni from both the high school and adult programs have joined together to officially register their alumni association as an NGO that is working in the fields of environmental awareness and academic development. Leveraging their experiences with volunteerism and civic participation in the U.S., these alumni will play an increasing role in program design in the future based on their increasingly active role in society.
-- Working with the Montenegrin Office for Fighting Human Trafficking, an education initiative was conducted to raise the awareness on the part of judges, prosecutors, police officers, social workers, labor inspectors and representatives of national and international organizations involved in combating human trafficking. This high profile event received widespread media coverage and raised awareness of trafficking in persons and its consequences. Raising awareness and understanding about human trafficking will be followed by training for police and other law enforcement officials as well as for prosecutors and judges.
-- In FY 2010, the USG provided significant help to the Association of Paraplegics of Montenegro. With USG support the association monitored the implementation of the Law on Spatial Adaptation and Building which states all new school buildings constructed must contain physical access for the disabled. During 2010, the association monitored 39 construction sites resulting in significantly increased awareness of the law and the challenges faced by the disabled community. Following this monitoring, the association worked in conjunction with in-house legal advice to compile and submit information to the National Building Inspection on five cases in which the Law on Spatial Adaptation and Building was being violated.
-- In FY 2010, training programs were conducted for judges, prosecutors, legal advisors, police and other criminal justice actors and stakeholders on significant changes to the Criminal Procedure Code including plea bargaining, investigation of corruption, asset forfeiture and investigation of financial crimes. As a result of introductory trainings, prosecutors recognize the benefits of resolving cases short of full evidentiary hearings/trials, but are not comfortable with the process of plea bargaining and are struggling with how to negotiate a plea agreement with defense counsel. Defense counsels are not convinced of the benefits of plea agreements, believing that resolving cases more quickly and without full trials will reduce their earnings. In FY 2011, the program will identify the specific obstacles to implementation of plea bargaining and develop training programs to address them.
-- Training in investigating corruption cases, along with extensive education on professional integrity and what constitutes corruption has succeeded in increasing the visibility of official corruption and raising the awareness of judges, prosecutors and other government officials involved in criminal justice. Montenegrin prosecutors are sensitive to the need to demonstrate diligence and competency in handling corruption cases, but are not performing proactively when it comes to leading investigations into corruption as required under the new Criminal Procedure Code provisions. A proposal is being prepared for training programs to teach prosecutors how to direct investigations and to work with police to take a proactive approach to crime, particularly organized crime and corruption.
-- With the overall goal of fostering private sector growth in the North as well as linking private sector producers and entrepreneurs in the North with investors and customers in the southern and central regions, in FY 2010, USG programs provided technical assistance as well as grants to support small and medium size businesses. As a result of collaboration at the local level, a Business Service Center concept was implemented in order to foster public and private partnerships and boost the competitiveness of enterprises, establishing the Center for Hospitality and Tourism Education – hospitality and tourism-specific skills training; the Center for Entrepreneurship – a hub for practical and environmentally sensitive business development and enhancement advice and services; and the Offices for Tourism and Entrepreneurship – establishment of a local tourism office as well as a new office to house a young entrepreneurship center.
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Ehud Olmert. It is almost hard for me to speak his name. He has announced that "we are correcting a 60 year old injustice that has never to date been solved. Holocaust survivors living in Israel are entitled to lives of dignity...." Apparently a holocaust survivors dignity is only worth 83 shekels a month. This is according to an article published in Haaretz today. I'll let the facts and figures speak for themselves.
One hundred and twenty thousand holocaust survivors live in Israel today. According to the article the survivors must be at least seventy years old to be eligible for the stipend. The program is not scheduled to start till next year. In 2008 120 million will be allocated, in 2009 240 million will be allocated and 300 million in 2011. So if they live till 2011 they will get 260 shekels worth of dignity. According to the announcement the decision was based on a recommendation of a committee within the Ministry of Welfare. According to Haaretz the committee recommended giving the survivors a little over a thousand shekels a month. Herzog, the minister of welfare denied that it would be 83 shekels a month. He claimed it would be a reasonable sum. How much? "A very suitable package." Take that to the bank and try to buy some dignity with it.There is also talk about hundreds of millions of shekels from non government sources. The sources are mostly nameless although Herzog the Welfare Minister listed some of these sources as "the Jewish People and Germany"
Olmert is only the head of this shameful and callous group. Its members who also think dignity costs 83 shekels a month include the Finance Minister Bar On, Justice Minister Friedman, Pensioners Minister Rafi Eitan, Health Minister Yakov Ben Yizri and the afore mentioned Welfare Minister Herzog. All of them present at this announcement and all feeling as though they have done a good deed for the less fortunate.
Ten percent of survivors die every year. As one of them put it "the government is choosing a biological solution. " The government needs to do the dignified thing. They should not spread it out over the years but take the lump sum of 720 million shekel and divide it among the survivors in a lump sum giving them the dignity to do with the money what they see fit. As for the man with no shame...vote him out. Elections will come sooner or later. Let him disgrace us no more. Vote Olmert out of office.
Submitted by Carol
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Resource Record Details
Public Notice of Alternative Arrangements Saint Bernard Parish, North Florrisant & South Florrisant Pump Stations, Reggio, Louisiana
On August 29, 2005, the NFPS, located north from Reggio, Louisiana, and the SFPS, located approximately 1.3 miles northeast from Reggio, Louisiana, were severely damaged by flood waters from Hurricane Katrina. The damages were evaluated by FEMA, and St. Bernard Parish was determined eligible to receive funding for the demolition and complete replacement of both facilities. St. Bernard Parish has determined that the public interest would be better served by demolishing the existing structures and constructing two new pumping facilities.
|Resource File:||View / Download / Print (pdf 17K)|
|508 Accessible Format:||View / Download / Print (txt 2K)|
Some of the links on this page require a plug-in to view them. Links to the plug-ins are available below.
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I recently discovered the poet Mary Oliver and I'm already obsessed! I saw this quote on a blog I read - "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" and I immediately googled her. That famous quote is from her poem "The Summer Day."
She is inspired by nature and takes daily walks in the woods with a pencil and paper. She started doing this when she was young, about 12 years old, and hasn't stopped yet at the age of 76. She is continually amazed and in awe of the world around her, which totally resonates with me. I have written posts in the past about how I see new things nearly every day living in the woods (here and here) and how it makes me feel like a kid again. That child-like wonder is such a special feeling and I hope that I never lose it.
Every year when spring is about to roll around I think, "There's no way the leaves and blooms will come back this year. Everything is too barren to recover." And every year I am blown away by the fact that color does return. It is the greatest magic trick I've ever witnessed.
No matter how many times I've seen a baby cow running across a field, I always let out a girly squeal when I see it on my way home from work. And jumping baby goats - all bets are off (witness the insanity here and here and try not to squeal).
"Instructions for living a life.
Tell about it."
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BREWER, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- The headlines lately have been dominated by stories of pharmacy robberies, drug arrests, and the like.
Those who are on the front lines in this battle say that the only way to reverse this trend is to invest more in treatment programs. That's exactly what happened Wednesday in Brewer.
The Bangor Area Recovery Network, also known as BARN cut the ribbon Wednesday on its new recovery center on Center Street in Brewer.
It's 7 thousand square feet of space, with a lounge area, conference room, offices, and a kitchenette.
It's a place where people who are in recovery, can go that is safe, warm, and welcoming.
It's a place where people can go for 12 step meetings, social events, or to just talk to somebody.
Several local and state dignitaries were there, including Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross, and DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew.
BARN has started a capital campaign to raise money for the center. If you would like to donate you can contact Bangor Area Recovery Network.
One of the people who spoke at Today's ribbon cutting is Bill Lowenstein, a man who has been in recovery himself for the last 30 years. He is willing to share his story because he believes it will help the public understand the issue better. His biggest message is that substance abuse is a disease that can be treated.
"Often times what happens is society or communities see people who never make it into recovery so in a sense they see the failures or the negative consequences, he said. "There are many of us in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction who lead positive lives who are productive in our community."
Bill is one of those people in Recovery. His started 30 years ago-in May of 1982.
"I'm a much different person than I was 30 years ago and for the better, i'm a better father, husband, boss. All the things that have improved as the growth process as a result of my recovery process.
Bill drove from Auburn to Brewer to talk about the importance of a place like the BARN recovery center.
"Here you get a new chance to find a new social network and find new friends and do new things that you've never done before... it gives a message that recovery is ok and that recovery is possible."
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AREAS OF SPECIALTY INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF THEORIES OF RACE, OF MEDICINE, OF CRIMINOLOGY, THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND LAW, AND OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND MIND SCIENCES.
Dr. Jason E. Glenn joined UTMB's Institute for the Medical Humanities as Assistant Professor in 2006. After receiving his B.A. from Stanford University in 1996, he received both his M.A. and his Ph.D. in the history of science and medicine from Harvard University in 2001 and 2005, respectively. His areas of specialty include health inequities, the history of drug policy in the U.S., ethics and history of human subject research, and biological notions of race and discourses of genetic determination. At UTMB, he is a member of the Center for Addiction Research, serves on IRB #1, director of the Herman Barnett Project - which brings the local history of medicine in Texas into the Galveston public schools - and director of Sobriety High, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing community re-entry services for persons with a history of substance abuse who are returning to Galveston from prison.
As director of Sobriety High, Dr. Glenn is also a co-founder of the Galveston County Restorative Justice Community Partnership. This partnership uses the restorative justice model of re-entry, which emphasizes repairing the harm caused by an offender's transgression(s) in planning their return to their community. Our partnership brings social service providers, health service providers, law enforcement, prison fellowship ministry, education/job training, and job finding stakeholders together monthly to coordinate community re-entry services for ex-offenders returning to Galveston County.
On the other end of the incarceration spectrum, Dr. Glenn – along with Dr. Kathryn Cunningham, the Chauncey Leake Distinguished Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and director of the Center for Addiction Research – recently won a UTMB President's Cabinet Award to start a jail diversion program in Galveston County to divert qualifying drug offenders and persons with severe mental health disorders from prison into community treatment programs. The aim of the project is to bring a full drug and MHMR court to Galveston County.
Dr. Glenn is also a faculty advisor to the Galveston Island Community Research Advisory Committee, a group formed by local non-university affiliated Galveston citizens to advise and partner with researchers in designing projects of maximum benefit to the community. He teaches courses in the Graduate School, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing. He lends his professional expertise to local organizations as a board member of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Women's Center (ADA House), Holistic Community Development Corporation of Galveston, and of the Galveston Independent School District Educational Foundation.
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Tue November 20, 2012
Israel's 'Iron Dome' Was Partly Funded By U.S.
Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 4:14 pm
Since an escalation in fighting between Gaza and Israel last week, there have been more than 100 casualties on Gaza's side of the border. On Israel's there have been three. That low death count in Israel, despite many rockets fired into its territory, is thanks largely to the Israeli "Iron Dome" air defense system. For more on how that system works, Robert Siegel speaks with Barbara Opall-Rome, Israel bureau chief for Defense News.
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SYLVESTER, Ga. — Public health officials from several states have detected the presence of salmonella in jars of Peter Pan peanut butter and Wal-Mart's private-label Great Value brand of peanut butter that were manufactured in a single ConAgra Foods facility here, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late last month.
Last Tuesday the CDC reported that 370 persons from 42 states have been infected with the outbreak strain Salmonella Tennessee. Among 294 patients for whom clinical information is available, 60 were hospitalized. No deaths had been attributed to this infection as of last week. Onset dates, which are known for 256 patients, ranged from Aug. 1, 2006, to Feb. 16, 2007.
The Washington-based Food and Drug Administration is working with ConAgra to identify the source of the contamination in the plant, which has ceased production.
In addition to removing all impacted peanut butter from its shelves, as an added precautionary measure Wal-Mart put a sales restriction on the recalled products so that, should one inadvertently be scanned, a restriction notice will come up for the cashier.
“Food safety is always a top priority at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club,” the retailer said in a statement. “We are working very closely with ConAgra to fully understand the details of this situation.”
The announcement that salmonella has been detected in jars of Wal-Mart's private-label Great Value brand peanut butter comes on the heels of another company-brand product recall. Last month boxes of Giant Eagle Egg Free Pasta Ribbons were removed from 227 Giant Eagle stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland because the product may have contained eggs.
The American Italian Pasta Co., which manufactures Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle's private-label egg-free pasta, attributed the problem to human error.
“We deeply regret that human error inadvertently caused one of our pasta products delivered to Giant Eagle stores to be improperly packaged,” said Jim Fogarty, chief executive officer of AIPC, in a statement. “Working with Giant Eagle we have taken steps to remove all unsold packages of the product from stores and to notify consumers of the recall of this product. We have also conducted a thorough review of our internal processes and procedures and added even greater redundancy to our controls to prevent this from happening in the future.”
Although Giant Eagle has not been made aware of any customer illnesses related to consumption of product that was misidentified as egg-free, the situation may have damaged the trust of vegan consumers or shoppers who suffer from egg allergies.
To help mitigate risks associated with products that bear a retailer's name but are manufactured by an independent supplier, John Dix, president of Columbus, Ohio-based management consulting firm Business Development Index, advises retailers to perform due diligence when sourcing private-label providers. He recommends frequent manufacturer plant visits and urges retailers to request health and safety records.
“Having the retailer take an active role doesn't guarantee anything, but the more they're involved, the better,” said Dix. “Manufacturers have product liability insurance, so that they're covered in terms of lawsuits if someone gets violently ill or killed, but the retailer isn't going to get paid for any loss of reputation.”
Dix noted that Wal-Mart, Giant Eagle, H.E. Butt, Publix and Safeway are among the retailers that actively work to ensure the quality of their private-label products.
“ConAgra is also a good company,” he said. “On the whole, they're as good as any company in the food business, so I'm not sure what happened here.”
A class-action lawsuit was filed against the manufacturer last month in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on behalf of individuals who became ill with salmonella infections linked to the peanut butter.
“We have been contacted by over 2,200 families who consumed peanut butter and are looking to pursue legal claims against ConAgra since the FDA announced the recall of ConAgra manufactured peanut butter on Feb. 14,” said William Marler, managing partner of Seattle-based Marler Clark, in a statement. “We feel that a class action is the most efficient means for achieving fair compensation for people who were not hospitalized, but have strong evidence of salmonella infection.”
The class action excludes any individuals who were hospitalized or died as a result of their illness, but covers those who suffered from either lab-confirmed infection or symptoms consistent with salmonella infection after consuming peanut butter linked to the recall. Marler Clark has also filed at least two separate suits on behalf of additional victims. ConAgra spokesman Chris Kicher declined to comment on the pending litigation.
ConAgra recalled the peanut butter on Feb. 14 after epidemiologic studies comparing foods that ill and well persons said they had eaten showed that consumption of both Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter was statistically associated with illness and therefore the likely source of the outbreak.
“We are truly sorry for any harm that our peanut butter products may have caused,” said Gary Rodkin, CEO, ConAgra, in a statement. “Our immediate recall of 100% of our product was taken with the assumption that a link could be found between our peanut butter and the reported cases of Salmonella. We are committed to taking all the reasonable steps to remedy the situation.”
ConAgra has authorized retailers to accept returns of open or unopened jars of Peter Pan peanut butter beginning with the product code 2111. Consumers can also send peanut butter lids or labels to ConAgra for a full refund. Last month ConAgra provided a preliminary estimate of a charge of $50 million to $60 million, or 6 to 8 cents per share, for the current quarter related to the recall.
“We continue to receive returns of peanut butter at our stores across our five-state market areas,” said Maria Brous, spokeswoman of Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets.
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
I am a 60 year old male who recently underwent an annual physical. I have been on injectable Testosterone 200 mg IM every 2 weeks for the past year due to low levels. As a precaution my physician did a PSA with results of 13.4. This is the first year it has ever been elevated and last year it was 1.3. My physician has referred me to a urologist for follow up but it may be a couple of months before I can be seen. What are your thoughts?
First the PSA needs to be re-checked to see if there is a laboratory error. Assuming the PSA on repeat is still very elevated you will need a prostate biopsy. The chance that you have prostate cancer is less than 50%. An elevated PSA per se does not mean that you have prostate cancer but it certainly is possible. What are the chances that the testosterone injections caused prostate cancer is now debated but my impression is that is unlikely.
Most important is whether or not you have a prostate infection. My experience is that men who have prostate infections causing large elevations of PSA is that the man is usually very symptomatic with urinary symptoms. If you have had a change in the way you urinate suggestive of a urinary tract infection the elevated PSA is likely due to infection and prostate biopsy should be avoided while you are symptomatic.
R Bruce Bracken, MD
Professor of Surgery
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
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|FEATURE | winter 2007
Nancy Pelosi has finally cracked the marble ceiling of the Capitol. Now what will she do with the unprecedented power she has earned?
Ms. is proud to be the first magazine to feature on its cover Nancy Pelosi, the first woman and first self-identified feminist Speaker of the House. This 2002 Ms. Woman of the Year gives Ms. an exclusive interview in our cover story, "This Is What A Speaker Looks Like," by Marie Cocco, in which we focus on her substance, rather than her clothes and jewelry.
"My mother was sort of the driving force," Pelosi told Ms. "My mother was very committed and passionate about the issues-about fairness in the economy, and housing... She had a whole army of women that she could mobilize who could act upon any of the issues. She was organization!"
Pelosi tells Ms. she believes that women's concerns are the nation's main concerns: national security, the economy and the environment. The issues usually identified with women-quality child care and the like--"should be everybody's issues," she explained. "I guess they're called women's issues because if women did not focus on them there really wouldn't be any chance of [getting something done]." Before she even ran for Congress, Pelosi encouraged other women to seek political office, and gave them fundraising and organizational help along the way.
Pick up the new issue of Ms., sure to be a collector's item, available on newsstands nationwide. Next time, don't miss out - join Ms. today and receive a year of the nation's premier feminist magazine delivered to your door.
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'); } -->
Some people were upset last week after the York County Council again delayed making a decision on a proposed new contract to regulate ambulance service. Local, not-for-profit rescue squads were not among them.
The volunteer EMTs, who have the same training and qualifications as their for-profit counterparts and work for organizations formed years ago to fill a void for underserved areas, rightly don’t want to be pushed aside in favor of the commercial outfits. More important, they say, is working out an arrangement that encourages the fastest response times and eliminates a situation in which multiple squads essentially race to calls because the first one on the scene gets the patient.
Also important is allowing the commercial EMTs connected to area hospitals, including for-profit Piedmont Medical Center, a fair opportunity to answer calls. For hospitals like PMC, all services have to be considered as a business decision and that’s not unreasonable. Hospitals and their ancillary offices, including several with a presence in Fort Mill Township, are major employers, taxpayers and community partners and it’s in everyone’s best interest that they succeed financially.
Eventually, Fort Mill will have a hospital of its own and it will add more ambulances to the mix. An equitable, common sense approach to deploying EMTs needs to be in place by then.
The latest proposal under consideration by the county council works off a map that segments towns and cities from unincorporated areas. Service inside city limits would require an eight-minute response time; outside, it would be 12 minutes. That means a large portion of our area would get the slower response time.
A plan that’s acceptable for everyone should have a uniform response time and if anything, it should be closer to the eight-minute mandate.
“The fight is about providing the best ambulance response for our families, neighbors, friends and coworkers,” said Dick Mann, president of River Hills/Lake Wylie EMS. It’s hard to imagine anyone would disagree.
Councilman Michael Johnson, who represents a large part of the township, voted in favor of delaying the decision and indicated it’s possible the public will have more opportunities to go on record with their opinions and concerns. We hope so.
When it comes to emergency calls, there’s plenty of work for all. The tricky part is finding the right balance. The county council was right to put off a decision. It’s a critical issue and one in which it’s more important to get it right than to get it done fast.
The sad fact is that some South Carolina governmental agencies and officials don’t want people to know what they’re doing, how they’re spending taxes and who’s giving them money. Also, sad to say, the mindset at some public agencies is that their convenience comes first and the public’s right to know how its business is being conducted comes later.
So it is heartening that a subcommittee of the S.C. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday gave its OK to a bill intended to stop some of those abuses.
Last year, the House approved a similar bill that died in the Senate.
Both chambers should acknowledge that the present Freedom of Information Act has weaknesses and approve this reform bill as a good step toward strengthening the law.
Some agencies and officials get it right. They respond to requests for information quickly and completely.
But others have assigned absurdly high price tags for filling such requests, and have obfuscated and dragged their heels as long as possible.
The bill in question, by Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, would require faster response to FOI requests and prohibit public bodies from charging citizens more than it costs to copy requested documents.
The legislation also sets up an appeal process for both citizens and public bodies through the Administrative Law Court. Currently, a citizen must hire a lawyer and take his appeal to circuit court, a costly and slow process.
Two examples of how that administrative court might be used: Susan Herdina, a lawyer for the city of Charleston, told the subcommittee that an out-of-state corporation, wanting to gain a business edge, asked for information about money paid to city vendors. Lawyers, she said, fish for time-consuming information to help their cases. If Rep. Taylor’s bill passes, the city could dispute those requests in court, just as citizens could ask the court to make public bodies comply with the FOI law.
A spotlight has been focused on ethics in South Carolina government. The people have made it clear that they want an ethical government. Committees are discussing how the laws should be adjusted to eliminate unethical behavior.
Vital to keeping public officials honest is making them accountable. And the way to make them accountable is to have accurate, complete information about the way they handle public business.
If anything, the Freedom of Information bill being proposed doesn’t go far enough. Legislators are not required to release their official email correspondence. They should be.
But Rep. Taylor’s bill would do some real good, and the Legislature should support it.
Unless they have something to hide.
From the Post and Courier
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More Amicus Briefs In D.C. v. Hellerby Doug Mataconis
There have been several more amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court in support of the effort to overturn the District of Columbia’s gun ban, but the one that raises the most eyebrows is signed by the Vice-President himself:
Vice President Cheney signed on to a brief filed by a majority of Congress yesterday that urged the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that the District of Columbia’s handgun ban is unconstitutional, breaking with his own administration’s official position.
Cheney joined 55 senators and 250 House members in asking the court to find that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms and to uphold a lower court’s ruling that the D.C. ban violates that right. That position is at odds with the one put forward by the administration, which angered gun rights advocates when it suggested that the justices return the case to lower courts for further review.
In order to make his dramatic break with the administration, Cheney invoked his rarely used status as part of Congress, joining the brief as “President of the United States Senate, Richard B. Cheney.” It is a position he has used at times to make the point that he is sometimes part of the legislative branch and sometimes part of the executive.
A copy of the brief can be found here.
In addition to what will no doubt come to be called the Cheney brief, the Congress of Racial Equality has filed a pro-Respondent brief that asks the court to look at the racist history of gun control laws, a pertinent argument given the racial makeup of the District of Columbia. That brief can be found here.
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About 100 volunteers came out Wednesday to work at the future Bullard Kids Park site, where they cut lumber and built framework, among other things. About 1,000 volunteers are expected during the five-day construction period, which ends Sunday with a dedication ceremony.
“It's been great, (and) the weather's held out,” public relations chairwoman Jill Smith said Wednesday as construction carried on around her. “We have grandparents here. We have moms. We have kids. They've all come out to volunteer their time to build the park.”
She said the entire community — parents, children, grandparents, businesses, churches and others — have come together for “the biggest community project that's ever happened in this area.” A majority of the $315,000 project has been paid for through community donations, and the city of Bullard donated the property, which sits just south of The Brook Hill School off Farm-to-Market Road 2493.
“It's just been fun to watch the different people all come together for one purpose, and that's to help the city and the park,” Ms. Smith said.
But she said calling the project a “park” doesn't do it justice because it's more of a destination attraction for people from all over the area.
“There is something for everyone,” she said, adding there is a music area, custom-built slide and even Internet Wi-Fi for parents. The project, which was designed with help from local children, also includes a castle, rock wall, train, boat, rocket ship, dragon slide, swings, picnic tables, two covered pavilions and restrooms, according to a news release. It is also handicap accessible.
There are “not a lot of things to do for families in this area that are free. Families will come from all over, and this will be a destination place. Moms groups will have get-togethers. It's just a place people will come together to meet. We project people will come from all over to use the park…,” Ms. Smith said.
“It's not just a typical park. It's a different kind of adventure for kids.”
Project co-coordinator David Detten said the project already is progressing, and everyone who signed up to volunteer showed up Wednesday.
He said workers plan to put the fence up today and also will begin to lay bark mulch.
“We're partners with the city. We do trash and recycling so I'm here volunteering to help out a great community…,” he said.
“It's a great project with the city of Bullard. It's a growing community — great group of people, great city leaders. It just shows you what people can do when they come together and all set their mind on one goal.”
Volunteer Maren Vercruysse, who teaches in Bullard, also worked Wednesday.
She said she can't wait for her 4-year-old daughter to see the project.
More volunteers age 13 and up are still needed and are welcome to stop by the site, Detten said.
Pickets for the fence that surrounds the park are also still available, and each picket will be engraved with a child's name. Hand tiles also are being sold, so children can have their handprint memorialized in the park.
Ms. Smith said they are a little short on the fundraising goal but hope to get the rest of the donations throughout the construction period.
For more information, visit bullardkidspark.wix.com/park#.
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“When you get into the larger aircraft it becomes like a hotel, with dozens of staff supporting the plane based in a galley area down below. You have very comprehensive cooking facilities, and on larger aircraft we have looked at theatres, with spiral staircases and a Steinway grand piano. The limitations for what you can put inside a plane are pretty much the limits of physics, and even money cannot always overcome that. Even so, people are still always trying to push [the limits]. ”
Flying on borrowed time
Perhaps you have access to a private jet through an owner you know. It seems like a great deal: the aircraft is available almost any time, you fly with the same crew the owner uses and you pay considerably less than standard charter rates.
Or perhaps you own a jet that’s being borrowed. For you, the arrangement can seem just as attractive: You’re not using the jet as much as you did before the economy tanked and modest compensation from another user can help offset ownership costs while keeping the airplane and crew from sitting idle for long periods.
So what could be better then friends helping friends? In this case, many things, as the arrangement we’ve described presents major risks for the borrower, the owner and the crew.
In fact, it’s illegal.
The business aviation community calls these flights “Part 134½,” in mocking reference to the FAA’s Part 135 rules, which regulate air charter operators and operations. No statistical data exists on the extent of the practice, but business aviation insiders readily acknowledge that Part 134½ is widespread. It occurs “on a pretty regular basis,” according to Mike Nichols, vice president of operations, education and economics at the National Business Aviation Association. A charter-management company executive, meanwhile, said, “Every legitimate charter operator out there is frustrated and losing a ton of business to plane owners running 134½.” The executive, who requested anonymity, noted that airport businesses often sell fuel, maintenance and other services to such owners, and thus hesitate to report suspected illegal charter activity.
The truth is, if such flights proceed without incident, as they almost invariably do, there’s little likelihood of any enforcement agency finding out or taking action. The FAA and the DOT already have their hands full trying to regulate shady providers in the commercial charter world. But while the chances of getting caught “borrowing” or “loaning” an aircraft are small, the risks in the event you are caught–say, in the wake of an accident–are huge.
In general, the FAA allows compensation from passengers only for flights operated by a commercial carrier, such as an airline or Part 135 charter operator. Some exceptions apply to privately operated multi-engine large aircraft (minimum 12,500 pounds) under FAR 91.501. For example, compensation is permissible for demo flights conducted pursuant to the purchase or sale of the aircraft. But none of these exceptions apply to flights involving a loaned or borrowed business jet.
Many owners are ignorant of these strictures and possible penalties, according to experts. “What I see mostly in this context are [owners] who are unaware or turn a blind eye,” said aviation attorney Paul Lange of Stratford, Conn., who specializes in aviation law and enforcement actions. “Perhaps they’re not sufficiently paranoid.”
Part 135 charter operators must comply with higher standards than Part 91 operators in crew training, aircraft maintenance, recordkeeping and other requirements, and Part 135 aircraft have a better safety record. Your friend’s crew and aircraft likely do not meet these requirements, let alone the even higher standards mandated by business aviation auditing firms, which many charter customers demand. Maybe you feel if it’s safe enough for your buddy, it’s safe enough for you. But Part 135 rules also include insurance requirements to ensure adequate coverage in the event an accident occurs. Whatever insurance your friend carries on the jet may be voided if an accident occurs while it is illegally carrying a passenger for hire.
“Most aviation insurance policies require compliance with FARs as a condition of coverage,” said Lange. “The problem for the passenger, or any claimants involved if someone gets hurt or killed, [is that] if the insurer disclaims coverage, the passenger may only have recourse to [sue] the operator, and that’s likely an entity holding nothing but debt. So there’s nobody to get compensation from.”
If you’re the owner, you’re putting your crew’s licenses on the line every time you “lend” out your aircraft–even if the crew has no inkling the flight is illegal. “That’s reason number one why owners should care,” said Nichols. “They’ve invested in crew training and built rapport, so they should care about their employees’ livelihoods. The pilot doesn’t know if there is compensation. That happens without the crew knowing.”
In addition to having their licenses suspended or revoked, crewmembers could be assessed significant fines, as could the owner. As noted above, moreover, your aircraft insurance policy may be voided if you operate a Part 91 aircraft for compensation. If an accident occurs on one of these flights, you could face millions of dollars in claims and find yourself in a legal battle with both your erstwhile friend and his insurer. This would doubtless come to the attention of the FAA, which can levy penalties of up to $11,000 per FAR violation per flight.
How much could that amount to? “I don’t think anyone has ever counted that high,” said Lange, noting that scores of FARs would be violated on every such mission. “You easily get up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars per flight.”
And while the FAA and DOT haven’t put Part 134½ operations in their crosshairs, pressure could mount for them to make an example of someone. “What we need in this industry is a couple of high-profile busts to make this go away,” said Joe Moeggenberg, president and CEO of aviation consulting firm ARGUS and a strident critic of Part 134½. “In all the years I’ve been in this business, I can think of only one instance when a Part 91 operator was fined for operating an illegal charter.”
And just because you escape notice from the FAA and your insurance company doesn’t mean you’re home free. “Usually these Part 134½ operators get caught by the IRS, not the FAA,” said Nel Stubbs, vice president and co-owner of aviation consulting firm Conklin & de Decker. If an audit reveals that you supplied an aircraft and the crew and received money in return, the IRS may determine you owe the Federal Excise Tax that operators are obliged to collect and pay for every charter flight, and possibly penalties as well. “The IRS is much better at enforcement than the FAA,” said Stubbs.
There are, of course, plenty of perfectly legal ways to access business jets or to derive revenue from one you own. If you’re looking for flights, see the recently revised NBAA Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide (nbaa.org/charter). If you’re an aircraft owner who wants to generate income, consider dry leases, time-sharing agreements or putting the airplane on a Part 135 certificate.
“Selling time is a good thing; it chips away at cost of ownership,” said Toby Batchelder, sales manager at charter-management company Elliott Aviation. “If you want to do it, sit down and talk to your insurance company and your aviation legal team to make sure you’re not exposing yourself and your pilots to any risk.”
The bottom line: It’s nice for friends to help friends, but when it comes to business aircraft, it’s best to observe Shakespeare’s advice from Hamlet: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”
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Executive Etiquette - Smug Attitude Can Hinder Management Prospects
by RHI Management Resources, www.rhimr.com
Confidence is critical when interviewing for a job, but executives warn against too much of a good thing. In a recent survey conducted by RHI Management Resources, 50 percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) said arrogance is a management-level candidate's biggest pitfall.
CFOs were asked, "Which one of the following is the worst mistake a candidate can make when interviewing for a management-level position?"
Fifty percent of CFOs said displaying arrogance during the interview was the worst mistake a potential candidate could make during an interview.
Other mistakes include:
- Avoiding difficult questions;
- Not being prepared to discuss specific achievements;
- Asking up-front about compensation and other benefits, and
- Demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the Company.
"When hiring at the senior level, companies pay particular attention to a candidate's ability to lead, motivate and communicate effectively," said Paul McDonald, executive director of RHI Management Resources. "Firms value applicants who not only convey authority and aptitude but who also have the interpersonal skills needed to direct a team and collaborate with top executives."
McDonald added that professionals should be prepared to address challenging interview questions, such as how they handle business setbacks or sensitive personnel issues. "Employers are seeking managers who can think strategically, troubleshoot problems and provide innovative solutions."
RHI Management Resources has more than 90 locations in major cities throughout North America, Europe and Australia, and offers online job search services at www.rhimr.com.
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The nation's consumers shopped the winter clearance racks in January, resulting in strong sales during the month for a diverse group of retailers. But analysts expect shoppers to pull back as the deals dry up and Americans digest rising gas prices and a 2 percent payroll tax hike that started in January.
"Consumers were shopping and hunting for those clearance items," said Michael Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers. But he cautioned, "it's not clear sailing from here. Despite the strong reading, January may be one of the highest points of the year."
Twenty retailers reported on Thursday that revenue at stores opened at least a year — an indicator of a store's health — rose an average of 5.1 percent, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. That's above the trade group's 3 percent estimate and the 4.5 percent increase posted in December. It marks the highest reading since August 2012 when the figure was up 6 percent.
Only a small group of stores that represent about 13 percent of the $2.4 trillion U.S. retail industry report monthly revenue. But the data offers a snapshot of consumer spending, which has been heavily influenced by big discounts during the economic downturn of the last several years.
Retailers are coming off a ho-hum holiday season that was defined by heavy discounting to get shoppers to buy. January typically is the time when stores offer deep discounts on winter stuff so they can clear it out to make room for spring merchandise.
But once the clearance goods disappeared and were replaced by new spring merchandise, so did shoppers. Analysts say the absence of sales — coupled with gas prices that have risen for the past 20 days and the new payroll tax — caused sales tapered off in the last week or so of the month. Such pressures also hurt consumer confidence last month, which fell to the lowest reading in 14 months, according to the Conference Board.
"Sales at the beginning of the month were in line with our year-to-date-trend," John Cato, CEO of Cato Corp., which sells moderately priced women's and girls' clothing, said in a statement. "However sales at the end of the month were significantly worse than trend. We think this was primarily due to the timing of tax refunds and the effect of higher payroll taxes."
Still, the month was good for most retailers as shoppers seemed to focus more on signs of the economic recovery, particularly the improving housing, stock and job markets.
Macy's, which runs Bloomingdale's and Macy's stores, said revenue rose 11.7 percent in January, nearly doubling the 6.4 percent increase analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected. And the retailer raised its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings forecast due to its strong performance in January.
Even Gap Inc., the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic chains that has struggled to regain its relevance in that past couple of year, said its January revenue rose 8 percent on strength in its North American stores, above the increase of 4 percent Wall Street expected.
Meanwhile, Target Corp., a discounter that sells everything from clothes to home goods to groceries, reported a solid 3.1 percent increase in revenue, helped by strong sales of clearance items. That beat the 1.7 percent estimate from Wall Street.
Despite the strong showing, Gregg Steinhafel, Target's CEO, said its customers "continue to shop with discipline in the face of a slow economic recovery and new pressures, including recent payroll tax increases."
As a result, Steinhafel said Target remains "focused on providing unbeatable value combined with a superior guest experience in both our stores and digital channels."
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Most Cited Applied Nursing Research Articles
Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2008, Pages 75-83
Scott, E.S. | Keehner Engelke, M. | Swanson, M.
This study investigated the influence of personal factors, orientation, continuing education, and staffing shortage on the satisfaction, intent to leave their job, and intent to leave the profession of a random sample of new graduate nurses from varied facilities and geographic locations. It further examined the influence of personal factors and orientation on turnover rates among new graduate nurses. The findings indicate that orientation programs are essential to the retention and satisfaction of new graduate nurses. Given current economic constraints, this study supports nurse executives' ability to advocate for and receive funding for transition-to-work programs as well as the placement of new graduate nurses in well-staffed units. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 1, February 2008, Pages 2-7
Donahue, M.O. | Piazza, I.M. | Griffin, M.Q. | Dykes, P.C. | Fitzpatrick, J.J.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between nurses' perceptions of empowerment and patient satisfaction using Kanter's theory as adapted by Laschinger and others. Research Question: Is there a positive relationship between nurses' perceptions of empowerment and patient satisfaction? Method: A descriptive correlational design was used. Instruments used were the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire II, which measures nurse empowerment, and the Press Ganey Associates Patient Satisfaction Surveys, which measures patient satisfaction. Results/Conclusions: Significant relationships were found between nurses' perceptions of empowerment and access to information, opportunity, support, and resources. A significant positive correlation was found between nurses' perceptions of empowerment and patient satisfaction (r = .052; p < .05). Limitations of this study are presented, as well as recommendations for future research. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2008, Pages 110-113
Keller, C.S. | Cantue, A.
Forty-six percent of older Mexican-American women report that they do not engage in leisure time physical activity (PA); 38.1% of them are obese. This study (1) evaluated a PA intervention for coronary heart disease risk reduction and (2) determined which variables affect adherence to PA. For 36 weeks, Group I members walked for 3 days a week and Group II members walked for 5 days a week. We measured the participants' total body fat, regional fat, blood lipids, and adherence to PA The walking interventions favorably affected body fat, with significant differences in body mass index reduction, F(2, 16) = 12.86, p = .001. No statistical difference was noted in the anthropometric and blood lipid results between the baseline and 36-week measures. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 4, November 2008, Pages 199-206
Duffy, S.A. | Reeves, P. | Hermann, C. | Karvonen, C. | Smith, P.
In preparation for delivering an inpatient smoking cessation intervention, surveys and interviews of general inpatients and staff were conducted in two Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals to determine the motivation of veterans to quit smoking and to identify facilitators and barriers to inpatient staff delivery of inpatient cessation services. Seventy percent of inpatients were "motivated smokers" (thinking of quitting in the next 30 days), yet only 17% stated that they received cessation services during their hospitalization. Most staff said that VA should do more to assist patients to quit, yet less than half said that they personally provided cessation services due to lack of confidence/training and hesitancy to upset patients. Given the high motivation to quit among hospitalized veterans and the lack of knowledge about providing cessation services among nurses, training health professionals may facilitate and overcome barriers to the provision of these services. As frontline providers, nurses are ideally positioned to deliver inpatient smoking cessation services to hospitalized veterans. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2008, Pages 90-97
Russell, K.M. | Maraj, M.S. | Wilson, L.R. | Shedd-Steele, R. | Champion, V.L.
This qualitative study identified barriers to African American women's participation in a community-based behavioral intervention trial to increase mammography screening. Four themes emerged from focus group discussions with community agency providers and research team members. These themes were (1) going to the gatekeepers; (2) knowing the culture; (3) location is everything; and (4) protocols, policies, and possibilities. A checklist of actions that nurse researchers could consider to increase African American women's participation in community trials is provided. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 23, Issue 4, November 2010, Pages 191-197
Compassion fatigue, trigger situations, and coping strategies were investigated in hospital and home care nurses. The Professional Quality of Life Scale measured compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout. Narrative questions elicited trigger situations and coping strategies. Compassion fatigue scores were significantly different between nurses who worked 8- or 12-hour shifts. Fifteen percent of the participants had scores indicating risk of the compassion fatigue. There were significant differences in compassion satisfaction, depending on the unit worked and time as a nurse. The most common category of trigger situations was caring for the patient. Work-related and personal coping strategies were identified. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.
Volume 22, Issue 3, August 2009, Pages 221-225
Shipowick, C.D. | Moore, C.B. | Corbett, C. | Bindler, R.
Background: Research indicates that vitamin D supplementation may decrease depressive symptoms during the winter months. Method: In this study, nine women with serum vitamin D levels <40 ng/ml were administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II. After vitamin D 3 supplementation, six of these women completed the BDI-II and had their serum vitamin D levels reassessed. Results: Vitamin D supplementation was associated not only with an increase in the serum D levels by an average of 27 ng/ml but also with a decline in the BDI-II scores of an average of 10 points. Discussion: This study suggests that supplemental vitamin D 3 reduces depressive symptoms. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 4, November 2008, Pages 237-239
Jylhä, V. | Saranto, K.
Volume 22, Issue 3, August 2009, Pages 211-215
McElligott, D. | Siemers, S. | Thomas, L. | Kohn, N.
The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the health-promoting lifestyle behaviors of acute-care nurses using the Health Promotion Model. Statistical analysis of 149 returned Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II surveys indicates areas of weakness in stress management and physical activity. No significant difference is found between unit, demographic factors, and subscale scores at the p < .01 level, but medical-surgical nurses consistently scored better than the critical-care nurses in health promotion. Findings support the need for the development of holistic nursing interventions to promote self-care in the identified areas. Strategies include educational/experiential classes in holistic nursing; individualized unit-based activities fostering stress management, such as massage, reflexology, and imagery; and development of an employee wellness program. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2008, Pages 84-89
Kim, H.-S. | Song, M.-S.
This study applied a 6-month educational intervention that used the technology of the short message service (via cellular phones) and the Internet for obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Eighteen patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group and 16 were assigned to a control group (N = 34). Patients in the intervention group were asked to access a web site by using personal cellular phones or computer Internet services to input their blood glucose levels daily. Participants were then sent optimal recommendations via cellular phone and the Internet weekly. After 6 months, the intervention group had a statistically significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postmeal glucose, and total cholesterol, as compared with the control group. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 22, Issue 1, February 2009, Pages 54-62
McCarthy, A.M. | Hanrahan, K. | Kleiber, C. | Zimmerman, M.B. | Lutgendorf, S. | Tsalikian, E.
This was a descriptive study on normative salivary cortisol values and responsivity to a hospital clinic visit and an intravenous (IV) procedure in children. The study presented was a subproject of a primary research study that examined parents coaching their children requiring an IV placement in the use of distraction. One measure of child response in the primary study, salivary cortisol, was included to further our understanding of children's physiologic response to stressful and painful stimuli. Salivary cortisol samples were obtained from 384 children aged between 4 and 10 years upon arrival to the clinic and 20 minutes after their IV insertion. Baseline samples were collected at home on a typical day for the children. Data from baseline samples were used to establish normative values between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on a nonprocedural day. Results demonstrate that normative cortisol levels in children follow a pattern similar to the circadian pattern in adults, decreasing from early morning to mid afternoon. Matched samples from control group children were used to evaluate group responsivity. Salivary cortisol levels on the baseline day were lower than those obtained during the day of the procedure and tapered over time as expected (-8.7% ± 6.7%, p = .431). Cortisol levels on the clinic day increased from baseline and increased further in response to IV placement (15.7% ± 6.7%, p = .023). A Location×Time interaction was significant (p = .019). Findings demonstrate that salivary cortisol is a useful measure of stress response that can be used to evaluate intervention effectiveness. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 22, Issue 1, February 2009, Pages 35-41
Berarducci, A. | Haines, K. | Murr, M.M.
The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of and associated risks for falls and fractures after gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity and to determine the clinical signs of bone loss. The sample consisted of 167 individuals at a mean age of 47 years (SD = 10). Ten participants (6%) reported a decrease in height since surgery, and 33 (20%) reported a decrease in height since they were 20 years old. Eight participants (5%) reported postoperative fractures. Twenty-three participants (13.8%) reported falling once since surgery, and 34 (20.4%) reported falling two or more times since surgery. Twelve participants reported a new diagnosis of osteoporosis postoperatively, and 1 participant reported a new diagnosis of osteopenia. Sixty-seven percent (n = 112) of the participants were never advised to undergo a bone density test postoperatively. The findings from this study suggest that bone loss is a critical issue in this patient population, with 25% (n = 42) reporting a decrease in height, 8% (n = 13) reporting a new diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia, and 5% (n = 8) reporting fractures during a mean postoperative interval of 2.4 years. In addition, risk for skeletal fragility is profound in this cohort of individuals, with 34% (n = 57) indicating a history of one or more falls postoperatively. The results from this study clearly indicate a need for early recognition of bone loss in this population so that timely interventions can be initiated to prevent further loss and subsequent fractures. © 2009.
Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2008, Pages 116-122
Corless, I.B. | Voss, J.G. | Nicholas, P.K. | Bunch, E.H. | Bain, C.A. | Coleman, C. | Dole, P.J. | Eller, L.S. | Hamilton, M.J. | Holzemer, W.L. | Kemppainen, J.K. | Kirksey, K.M. | Sefcik, E.F. | Nokes, K.M. | Tsais, Y.F. | Reynolds, N.R. | Wantland, D.J. | Mc Gibbon, C. | Davis, S.M. | Rivero Mendez, M. | Valencia, C.P.
Fatigue has been identified as a key complaint among patients with HIV/AIDS. Although having more than one disease is expected to increase symptom severity, this relationship has not been explored extensively. We investigated differences in fatigue severity together with the impact of demographic factors and the number of comorbidities and symptoms among patients with and those without comorbidities at 18 international clinical and community sites. Specific comorbidities and the number of symptoms associated with increased fatigue severity. Only by distinguishing fatigue as to its causes and patterns will health care providers be able to intervene specifically and thus more effectively. © 2006.
Volume 22, Issue 3, August 2009, Pages 166-175
Yava, A. | Tosun, N. | Çiçek, H. | Yavan, T. | Terakye, G. | Hatipoǧlu, S.
The aim of this study was to determine nurses' perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of research utilization in Turkey. Barriers Scale was utilized in the research, and the population was 631 nurses. According to the research results, the first three important barriers were inadequate authority (63.6%), lack of time (54.0%), and insufficient facilities (52.8%). Nurses have perceived the organizational management support as the most important easing factor in their applications (n = 156). It is highly recommended that nurses be trained in research methods and evidence-based practice, that research articles be written more clearly, and that Research and Development centers where nurses could get consultation services be established. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 22, Issue 2, May 2009, Pages 126-132
Background: An important developmental task during adolescence is ego development. Millions of adolescents choose to initiate cigarette smoking at a young age as a result of transitional conflicts during this phase of normal developmental progression. Unfortunately, the decision to use tobacco compromises both the short- and long-term health status of smokers as well as the health of those around them. Objective: It was hypothesized that in early adolescence, girls choose to begin smoking cigarettes as a result of sociostructural influences, including media, peers, and family. The purpose of this study was to investigate what modifiable sociostructural variables will decrease the risk of initiating cigarette smoking before the age of 12 years among adolescent girls. The aim of the study was to develop a risk reduction model that increases the likelihood of healthy behavior choices in girls during early adolescence. Method: Data collected for the New Hampshire Teen Assessment Project survey were used for this secondary data analysis. The original study included a multicommunity sample of 7,648 students from eight school districts enrolled in New Hampshire schools between January 2000 and October 2001. This current analysis focused only on the health behavior of the adolescent girls enrolled in the larger study (n = 3,775). With the use of a socioecological theoretical framework as a guide, this secondary data analysis first identified correlates of the early initiation of tobacco use using Pearson's correlations. Then, the data were explored for variables that decreased the relative risk for the early initiation of cigarette smoking among adolescent girls. The dependent variable of interest (i.e., early initiation of tobacco use) referred to girls who reported having smoked their first cigarette at or before the age of 12 years. Twenty-eight percent of the sample had initiated tobacco use before they were 12 years old. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict the final risk reduction model. Results: The first level of analysis confirmed previously reported evidence that there is a correlation between adolescent girls' initiation of smoking early (n = 1,047) and their engagement in other health risk behaviors such as daily use of alcohol (n = 859), daily use of marijuana (93%), and engaging in unprotected intercourse (15%). Next, logistic regression was used to predict a risk reduction model that demonstrated the importance of community, family, and school variables in decreasing the relative risk for the early initiation of tobacco use. Those sociostructural variables that decrease the relative risk for the initiation of tobacco use were noted in the following: (1) 71% of the girls who feel that it is important to contribute to their community (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31-2.23) are less likely to initiate tobacco use and (2) 54% of the girls are more likely to feel that their community is a good place to live in (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.20-1.97), are more than twice as likely to have parents who think smoking is wrong (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.77-2.48), are 9% more likely to have parents whom they can talk to when they have personal problems (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02-1.17), and are 38% more likely to enjoy school. Discussion: The findings of this study may be an important portal for prevention intervention in the area of early adolescent tobacco use. A risk reduction model is presented based on the theory that both the environment and modeling play an important role in the development of health behavior. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Influence of intention and self-efficacy levels on duration of breastfeeding for midwest rural mothers
Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2008, Pages 123-130
Wilhelm, S.L. | Rodehorst, T.K. | Stepans, M.B.F. | Hertzog, M. | Berens, C.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of two modifiable factors (intention to breastfeed for 6 months and breastfeeding self-efficacy) with the duration of breastfeeding in primiparous women. Findings: Analyzed by logistic regression in a single prediction model, stronger intention (odds ratio = 1.89) and higher levels of self-efficacy at 2 weeks postpartum (odds ratio = 1.04) were significantly (p < .05) associated with an increased probability of breastfeeding for 6 months. Conclusions: The combined influence of higher intention and self-efficacy increased the likelihood of breastfeeding for the recommended 6 months. Interventions to reinforce both should be designed and evaluated. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Latino recruitment to cancer prevention/screening trials in the Southwest: setting a research agenda
Volume 21, Issue 1, February 2008, Pages 30-39
Larkey, L.K. | Ogden, S.L. | Tenorio, S. | Ewell, T.
Examples of cancer prevention and screening trials in the Southwest are reviewed as a platform for highlighting gaps in research on Latino recruitment. Three trials are described, using "message/source/channel" categories as a framework. Each trial engaged community members to facilitate recruitment and developed tailored strategies to meet challenges emerging after recruitment began. Although we affirm that culturally relevant messages, community member referral networks, and adjustment to community realities seem important to Latino recruitment, current anecdotal and research findings do not allow evidence-based recommendations to be made. We suggest a research agenda to further illuminate critical factors for successful Latino recruitment. © 2008.
Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2008, Pages 147-152
Li, Y. | Scott, C.S. | Li, L.
Nurses have important roles in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment and educational programs. Chinese senior nursing students completed a survey on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practice intentions. A weak positive relationship between attitudes and practice intentions (r = .140, P = .036) was noted. No significant associations between knowledge levels, attitudes, and practice intentions were found. Although the majority exhibited adequate knowledge of basic HIV transmission mechanisms, many disconcerting misconceptions were evident. Although most were empathetic to people with HIV/AIDS, stigmatization of high-risk groups persisted. Improved patient care will require intensified educational efforts and more positive attitudes toward persons with HIV/AIDS. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Effects of cranial electrical stimulation on sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and caregiving appraisal in spousal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease
Volume 22, Issue 2, May 2009, Pages 119-125
Rose, K.M. | Taylor, A.G. | Bourguignon, C.
Purpose: The purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of cranial electrical stimulation (CES) on sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and caregiving appraisal. Methods: Thirty-eight participants were randomly assigned to receive active CES or sham CES for 4 weeks. Results: Both intervention groups demonstrated improvement in study measures from baseline scores. A trend toward statistically significant differences in daily sleep disturbances was found between the groups. No differences in depressive symptoms and caregiving appraisal were found between the groups. Conclusions: These findings did not fully support the efficacy of the short-term use of active CES versus sham CES to improve sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, or caregiving appraisal. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Empowerment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment: comparison of permanent and temporary nurses in Korea
Volume 22, Issue 4, November 2009, Pages e15-e20
Han, S.-S. | Moon, S.J. | Yun, E.K.
Aim: This study was conducted to describe and compare empowerment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment between permanent and temporary nurses in Korea. Background: Since Korea's economic crisis of 1997, Korea's labor market has been undergoing dramatic modification, and the rate of temporary nurses employed in health care organizations has gradually increased. However, studies focusing on nurses' employment status, which potentially affect the individual and hospital organization, have been rarely conducted. Methods: This was a descriptive comparative study. The convenient sample of 416 nurses from 19 hospitals in Korea completed a structured questionnaire. Results: Overall, permanent nurses presented higher levels of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and empowerment than did temporary nurses. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that health care administrators should develop strategies to close the gap of perceptions between permanent and temporary nurses in Korea. The results of this study also imply that such opportunities and compensation plans related with administrative recognition should be made available to the temporary nurses to manage their workforces more efficiently. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 4, November 2008, Pages 181-190
Albert, N.M. | Wocial, L. | Meyer, K.H. | Na, J. | Trochelman, K.
Background: Patients and visitors may perceive nurses as professional based on uniform color and style. Nurse image may affect patient and visitor trust and satisfaction with nursing care. Fitted white dresses have been replaced by loose-fitting or scrub white, colored, or patterned pant sets. Objectives: This study examines nurse professionalism by assessing the nurse image traits of eight pant uniforms as perceived by pediatric patients, adult patients, and adult visitors. We also examined if uniform preference is congruent with nurse image traits. Method: A convenience sample of 499 patients and visitors were surveyed at a large Midwestern tertiary health care center. Subjects viewed photographs of the same registered nurse identically posed in eight uniforms and rated each by image traits. Kruskal-Wallis, Steel-Dwass multiple comparison method, and Wilcoxon signed-rank sum tests were used to test for differences in the Nurse Image Scale (NIS) score by uniform style and color and subject demographics. Results: Subjects were 390 adult patients and visitors (78%) and 109 pediatric patients (21.4%); 66% were female, and 78% were Caucasian. In adults, NIS scores for white uniforms (two styles) were higher than NIS scores for uniforms with small print, bold print, or solid color (all p < .001). White uniform NIS score increased with subject age (all ≤ .007). In pediatric patients (7-17 years) and young adults (18-44 years), the highest uniform NIS scores did not differ significantly from the others. Uniform preference was different from NIS score in pediatric and adult subjects, reflecting noncongruence between the perception of nurse professionalism by uniform and uniform preference. Discussion: With aging, adults create perceptions of nurse professionalism based on uniform color and style. Traits of nurse professionalism were highest in white uniforms. Future research is needed to determine if transition to white nurse uniforms improves patient and family satisfaction with nursing care. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Self-care strategies for nurses: A psycho-educational intervention for stress reduction and the prevention of burnout
Volume 23, Issue 3, August 2010, Pages 130-138
Kravits, K. | McAllister-Black, R. | Grant, M. | Kirk, C.
The purpose of this project is to develop and evaluate a psycho-educational program that assists nurses to develop stress management plans. Discussion of nursing-specific risk factors, practice with relaxation techniques, and exploration via art are used as interventions. Quantitative and qualitative measures of stress and burnout are conducted pre- and postcourse using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Draw-a-Person-in-the-Rain Art Assessment, and wellness plans. Descriptive statistics are used, and preliminary analysis indicates that the course is useful in impacting levels of emotional exhaustion. There are opportunities for evolving the program so that more enduring change in self-care is generated. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.
Exploring the factors associated with hand hygiene compliance of nurses during routine clinical practice
Volume 23, Issue 2, May 2010, Pages 86-90
Korniewicz, D.M. | El-Masri, M.
Background: Nurses and other health care providers (HCPs) continue to be noncompliant with the guidelines of proper hand hygiene practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with hand hygiene compliance among HCPs during routine clinical. Methods: An observational study was conducted at an oncology hospital to examine hand hygiene practices observed during 612 procedures that were performed by 67 HCPs. Results: Hand hygiene compliance was 41.7% (n = 255) before procedure and 72.1% (n = 441) after the procedure. The overall compliance was only 34.3% (n = 210). Compliance with the standards of hand hygiene was higher in high-risk procedures (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.65) and when HCPs were exposed to blood (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07-1.73). Conclusion: The findings highlight the need to continue to push compliance with hand hygiene using innovative approaches that go beyond teaching and in-service training. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 21, Issue 4, November 2008, Pages 242-245
de Cordova, P.B. | Collins, S. | Peppard, L. | Currie, L.M. | Hughes, R. | Walsh, M. | Stone, P.W.
Implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) is challenging for both clinicians and students. Facilitating collaboration among students and clinicians can improve the process of both teaching EBP in the academic setting and utilizing EBP in the clinical setting. A unique and successful EBP program is described, and other schools are encouraged to emulate this model. © 2008 Elsevier Inc.
Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2008, Pages 60-65
Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease. With heart disease as the leading cause of death in women, barriers to physical activity require exploration. Low-income women are the least likely to be physically active. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived barriers to physical activity in low-income women. Focus group methodology and content analysis were used to identify 16 perceived barriers in 14 participants of the study. The top barriers were: fatigue, culture, health problems, absence of child care, and lack of encouragement. These findings have implications for physical activity interventions with low-income women. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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A few of you were curious about what we are planting this year in the garden. SO, here is the plan for 2012…
In the four main garden beds we are planting seeds of both grey and yellow zucchini, Mexican Sour Gherkins and Long Anglais cucumbers, pole beans (purple ones), Australian brown onions, golden beets, red Russian kale, and arugula. I’m hoping the kolhrabi that we have been trying to overwinter are still going strong, so we can possibly get seeds from them this year. We will buy started tomato plants as well; not sure what varieties until we see what they have at our garden center.
The boys will have some Cosmic Purple carrots in their hugelkultur as well as some cherry tomato plants and possibly a bean or pumpkin teepee for fun (stay tuned).
We have a couple of other planting areas around the yard, and in those areas we are going to put some lettuces, some lemon yellow Habanero peppers, and lots and lots of spinach. Plus I’ve planned a couple of giant variety sunflowers to screen out some neighbors and later feed to the chickens.
In the neighbor’s yard, we’ll do potatoes again, and his corn. Plus he’s made room for watermelons and the giant pumpkin. We can’t wait!
Any locals have tips on herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro…)? I’ve had mixed success with them, but want to add more, inter-spaced in the flower beds out front.
What are you planting this year? Also, did I miss anything in last week’s veggie garden basics that you were hoping for?
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Sarah Vaughn and Ed McKenzie
During the 1940s & 1950s, Ed McKenzie had established himself as THE premier radio disc jockey in Detroit and perhaps the country. Ed’s tremendous success also afforded him the opportunity to later host his own television dance party.
As the first white deejay in Detroit to delve into jazz or “race” music, McKenzie achieved wild popularity with his “Jack the Bellboy” show. Refusing to concede to any small-minded listener criticisms, McKenzie played the music he loved, regardless of the artist’s race. McKenzie was quoted as saying, “Music is music and it doesn’t matter who makes a good thing.” In doing so, Jack the Bellboy endeared himself to legions of younger fans, primarily teenagers.
Not only did he play a key role in the Detroit radio and music scene, the forward-thinking McKenzie used his tools and gifts to help bridge the gap of racial intolerance.
This collection gives the viewer a fascinating look at the jazz greats and popular entertainers that McKenzie had the pleasure of working with and introducing to the Detroit listening audience. Of particular interest are McKenzie’s handwritten anecdotes on the backs of the photos. Some are humorous, some are sad, but all are gems worth reading.
The collection images are offered via three photo albums, which mirror three distinct periods of McKenzie’s brilliant Detroit radio and television career:
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Born at Woodside, near Westward, Cumberland, date unknown; executed at Carlisle, 19 Aug., 1598. He was admitted to the English College at Reims in 1589, and was ordained priest and sent on the mission in 1592. Two years later he was a witness of the condemnation and execution of the venerable martyr John Boste at Durham, and wrote a very graphic account of this, which has been printed from a seventeenth-century transcript in the first volume of the "Catholic Record Society's Publications" (London, 1905), pp. 85-92. His labours seem to have been mainly in Cumberland and Westmoreland; but nothing is known about them. Eventually he was arrested and imprisoned at Carlisle, where Bishop Robinson, who may have been a relative, did his best to persuade him to save his life by conforming, under 27 Eliz., c. 2, for being a priest and coming into the realm, suffered the last penalty with such cheerful constancy that his death was the occasion of many conversions.
APA citation. (1912). Ven. Christopher Robinson. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13099b.htm
MLA citation. "Ven. Christopher Robinson." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13099b.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Christine J. Murray.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.
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Part-time America: How we increased our part-time for economic reasons workforce by 4 million people since the recession began. Healthcare costs encourage low wage employers to hire more part-time employees.
- 2 Comment
The rise of part-time employment in the United States is part of the low wage system that is spreading throughout the country. Part-time workers are cheaper to hire and easier to fire. You also avoid paying benefits from a healthcare system that is seeing skyrocketing costs. Prior to the economic crisis, the number of Americans working “part-time for economic reasons” was roughly at 4 million. Today, in this supposed recovery it is up to 8 million. While the stock market is taking off many companies have figured out that it is cheaper to have a large number of at-will workers instead of bringing on full-time employees and providing additional costs. As we have discussed, the recession has been used as a cover to slash middle class wages and inflate profits that have filtered to a very small portion of our population. Part of this problem is structural and we are seeing the impact of higher healthcare costs hitting the employment market.
The number of Americans working part-time is still near a peak level:
The recession caused this figure to jump by over 100 percent and it has largely not fallen back down. Combine this with the vast number of Americans on food stamps, over 47 million and you start seeing the growing ranks of the permanent poor. These changes of course are hitting many lower wage service sector workers:
“(WSJ) Some low-wage employers are moving toward hiring part-time workers instead of full-time ones to mitigate the health-care overhaul’s requirement that large companies provide health insurance for full-time workers or pay a fee.”
So of course when employers examine lower waged service sector workers they are very likely to balk when it comes to paying the high cost of healthcare premiums. Let the government (aka society) cover these high bills. The margins are squeezed when this occurs and since we are hollowing out the middle class, we are starting to get a preview of what our economy will look like. Our economy will have a top quintile of highly paid professionals, a larger class working poor, and a shrinking middle class.
You have to examine the above chart carefully and see how consistent the gains in medical care costs have become. Costs in the medical field are so outrageous that a one day stay in the emergency room can cost you up to $10,000:
“(HP) We have followed the health care debate over the past few years and, as a result, know that ER visits are expensive, so we figured my wife’s visit would cost, oh, $2,000 or so. Well folks, we “mis-underestimated” the cost by a factor of five. I just received the bill from our insurance company and the grand total was $10,203 (or about $2,000 an hour). I called the hospital and received an itemized statement. Most of what was done was incomprehensible to me (I’m not that kind of doc!): CMP Pane ($510), Level 4 ($715), but an Internet search helped explain things a bit.”
Think about the impact of something like this on the median household income that pulls in $50,000 a year, gross. The outrageous costs in healthcare are completely unsustainable. But here we are with subsidies to housing, colleges, and healthcare with no checks and balances so it is no surprise that prices are completely disconnected from actual incomes.
The growth of part-time employment stems from not only the avoidance of covering medical insurance but also the ability to cut workers at will. The Fed has followed a similar path to the Bank of Japan and it is no surprise that Japan now has an incredibly large part-time workforce. It doesn’t seem like the press is concerned with the disappearance of the middle class but obviously the millions that are being thrown into the working poor will be.
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DETROIT, Mich (WXYZ) - Working to stay warm on one of the coldest nights of the year can be a challenge for those who have no place to go.
That's the case for Jarvis Canada who is homeless. He is hoping to find a shelter.
"It's just hard for us really," said Canada. "We go through a lot."
It's rough for anyone out on the streets when the temperature dips in the teens, most of the shelters in Detroit are full. There are some warming places people look to go.
COTS, The Coalition on Temporary Shelter, has 140 beds but all of them are taken-- and those who have them feel fortunate.
"I do feel blessed that we are not on the streets, or living in a car," says Tamara Brown who lives with her children in COTS.
There are those who have to be outside because their work keeps them there, like police and fire. They keep us safe, but they do have warm homes to go to at the end of their shift. Others have to work to stay warm and on the coldest night or any winter night, it is a challenge.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More Detroit Headlines
Wayne County commissioners are fuming over news that Sheriff Benny Napoleon isn’t following a costly tether contract.
The 7 Action News team has learned several major issues remain unresolved in the Detroit Police shootout with a murder suspect on April 2.
The Detroit Fire Department is on the scene of a fire at a vacant commercial building in southwest Detroit.
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The last of the bunch, our 38 Chinese students traveled to the Twin Cities in order to experience the American “fine arts.”
Mewtwo – On July 28th, we went to Minnesota Institute of Art. This is a great place that we can see many Asian arts including arts from China, Japan and Korea. I’m impressed that both Japanese and Korean arts come from China. For example, there are many Chinese characters in them and I can even understand what’s the meaning of the arts and the thoughts of the artists! It is really an amazing experience because I didn’t go to an institute when I was in China! There is a Chinese ancient library in the institute and I just felt I went back to ancient China. These fine arts give us full of knowledge and tell us what is like before. By the way, nearly all of the Chinese have a Tang Dynasty dream. Not only Tang Dynasty is very powerful, but also it is such a peaceful dynasty that makes most people have time to concentrate on literature and arts. Seeing these arts, I think we should continue creating great arts and take good care of them at present. I’m sure that people will be amazed by these arts thousand years later and they will see what it is like today.
Shawn – It is a perfect weekend in the twin cities. Actually, it was my first time to carefully see, know and feel the American cities. I have a lot of words in my mind.
To see the Minneapolis from faraway, it looks like an island where the middle part is made up of tall buildings. The Mississippi flows through the two city. It makes the city more alive. Besides, many people love riding bikes what makes me feel the city’s vitality.
It was very enjoyable about the trip to Minneapolis institute of art. Because, I saw lots of familiar things which came from China. The Jade Mountain is my favorite boulder in the museum. It comes from Shaoxing in China. One part of the stone is engraved the Lan T’ing Pavilion which is a very beautiful poem. Another amazing thing is the Sun In The Mist created by Monet. He is my favorite impressionist painter.
After that, I went to the theater to watch the show “Noises off”. I love the theater. I looks like the same one what I have seen one in the film. Many old people sat there and the red curtain made a strong sense of esthetic. Although the fast words are hard to understand, I knew the meaning of show. The performances are very humorous. Their expressions are very plentiful.
Flora - This weekend, we went to the Twin Cities to explore the fine art of this state. Our first destination is the art museum. I did not have the chance to see all of the valuable arts, but what made me so excited was the Chinese work of art. Such as the painting of Tibet, the sculpture of Lan Ting Su, the ancient house in China and the pottery figurine. Although I am familiar with all of them, I cannot tell what the truth within them. I am proud to these arts that are cherished in other land. In the past, I can only hear these introduction in Chinese. This is so special for me to hear what the foreigners think about China.
In the afternoon we went to the theater to watch the sunshine boys. It was a living theatre with the real props. We can see them as it happens in our real life. In China, the drama is played by different voices and special gestures to present different feelings. They are totally different
Angela – Experience in Twin cities – This weekend, we went to the twin cities, which is a very beautiful city. The first day, we visited the Art Museum. There are various kinds of art from different countries. Jade-ware and calligraphy are from China, some painting about middle-time in Europe from Europe, some traditional things from Japan, etc. The person who explained cultural relics to us explained the STORAGE BOTTLE with 6,000 old first. It was used to be full of water. The second was DEEP JAR, which was used to cooking, is 4500 years old. From Japan, the docent told us the STEM CUP, which is beautiful with 3000 years old. Because of the limit of time, we knew a bit about our own culture.
Iris - We came to Minneapolis for three days, that was so clean and prosperous here.
About the art museum, the docent led us to see many kinds of culture, such as China, Japan, Europe and so on. Actually, I saw some different things of China in this museum from I had seen before. For example, ceremonial stem cup is I haven’t see it before, which is made for sacrifice between 3000-2000B.C. It was made from soil but looks like metal, that is amazing. Another things were also amazed us, dress of middle century Europe, statue, Lan Ting Su on the Nephrite etc.
We saw the play “Noises off” that was unexpected. When I saw act one, I thought I can’t understand what they wanted to show, but in act two and three, I knew what their means, it was depends on the actor and actress wonderfully performance.
Kevin - Today I have watched a living theatre called ‘The Sunshine Boy’. I felt very excited to watch such a funny play. What gives me a good experience that not only the funny story line, but also the difference between the American arts and Chinese fine arts.
Although it was the first time I watched a living theatre in a theatre and no experience about Chinese fine arts in a living show, I also feel the difference on the way that the actors and the actresses show the story lines and characters’ personality. The way that American actors show is very flexible. They create and design their own actions with their own life experience. So I think that American arts are closer to the real life and make audiences enjoy the show. On the other hand, the way that Chinese actors show is very rigid and traditional. Actually most of these kinds of actors have their own master. They have studied a kind of Chinese fine arts when they are very young. The styles of arts what they show has been rooted. So the arts what they show are nearly the same as others. The other reason what l think is that most of these Chinese fine arts’ fans want to recall the memory they have. So we can understand the phenomenon that only the old man go to the theatre to watch a show.
To sum up, different cultures make different styles of arts. All we need to do is just that show your respect and enjoy it .
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China should adopt a measured but determined approach to banking reform.
There is no doubt that banking reform must happen in China. With more than 80% of China’s leverage coming from banks, and lending going predominantly to large state-owned enterprises (SOEs), growth is not likely to take its traditionally strong foothold in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) without reform.
From the theoretical point of view, China’s banking reform should be bold and swift. The old growth model is predicated on unfettered international absorption of Chinese supply, but that demand is drying up. With Europe in crisis and demand from Japan and the US weakened , the Chinese economy now depends on domestic demand. Therefore, the allocation of capital should be tilted to support the growth of domestic demand, rather than further exacerbating the over-supply problem. But from a pragmatic point of view, reform should not be too fast.
There are two main pillars supporting the velocity of banking reform, each needing anywhere from five to ten years to reach adequate height.
Firstly, there is political will. The central government must be loud about banking reform, even while the pace seems a crawl more than a run. Just because reform is slow doesn’t mean it’s not decisive, and small business owners need to know that. SMEs must buy into reform, both as those with the most to gain and as those with the most to give. SMEs generate growth, and with no sweeping stimulus in sight as we saw in 2008, the growth they generate will become more and more vital. The bolder the central government is with their rhetoric, the more likely they are to generate political backing from the SMEs, without which momentum becomes very difficult. Even in peak campaigning conditions, getting the political climate right for reform is time consuming, particularly with a change of leadership just around the corner.
Secondly, there’s the issue of managing risk. Presently, the central government is the primary risk manager for the country. Local governments act as businesses, always enacting measures to grow ventures such as infrastructure and other facets of city development, but they don’t manage risk. The companies that local governments turn to in such ventures are by and large SOEs, also known as ‘urban planning and development companies’, set up to aid local governments in circumventing regulations prohibiting them from borrowing. Local governments then typically use land requisitioned from residents as collateral. But an increasing amount of lower value urban development projects, such as sewage or green development, combined with an increased cost of re-locating residents, leads to an unsettling influx of non-performing loans. Such was the cause for lending guidelines being put into place by the central government in 2009. This dynamic cannot continue. Local governments must manage their own risk, but for that to happen there must be a fundamental change in the mindset between the local and central governments, and that will take a considerable amount of time.
The reform history of China shows us that integrating market forces into domains that traditionally belong to the state is a laborious task. In an economy where the banking sector and the financial sector are synonymous, big movements merit serious integrity tests. Are the banks strong enough to be wielded by market forces? This is a question the central government must answer prior to taking action. Before the actual policy is put into place, merely stabilizing the institutions themselves could take the length of a single five-year-plan. As it stands, local and regional banks don’t have the capital to withstand an increase in non-performing loans, and this must be corrected. Whether it’s philosophically desirable or not, realistically this is the way it has to be; slow and steady wins the reform race.
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A former network admin is facing up to five years in prison. His crime? According to him, it was refusing to hand over passwords to folks who weren’t authorized to use them.
Terry Childs worked as a network administrator for the city of San Francisco. In 2008, he blocked access to critical parts of the city’s the network and refused to turn over the passwords to city officials. He was arrested, and revealed the passwords only after spending several days in jail.
In the meantime, employees were unable to access police records, payroll data and other information.
After the incident, it was discovered that Childs had several criminal convictions before San Fransisco hired him — including counts of robbery and theft. According to the city, Childs was disgruntled because he found out his job was in jeopardy and was trying to make himself indispensable to the city’s IT department.
But the admin painted a different picture of the situation: He was simply doing his job by protecting the network.
He claimed he was first asked for the passwords in a meeting that included a police representative, a Human Resources staffer and some unseen engineers on a telephone conference call. He refused, on the grounds that some of the folks present weren’t authorized to access the network, according to an InfoWorld interview.
In addition, he was afraid the passwords might be shared with other members of management or outside contractors.
In other words, Childs claimed he was simply following the best practices for a network administrator.
However, a jury didn’t see it that way. On April 28, Childs was found guilty of a felony charge of denying access to a computer system, the San Fransisco Chronicle reports. He faces a maximum prison of five years, though he’s expected to spend, at most, a few months in jail before parole. Sentencing is scheduled for June.
What’s your take on the story? Was Childs a disgruntled admin who held his employer hostage, or was he simply doing his civic duty in refusing to broadcast passcodes that would give a group of people access to the network he maintained?
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Marijuana and Cannabis News
Via Lakeview Health
Those of us who have been through a few media cycles of hysteria over the "latest drug menace" are always skeptical when the mainstream whips itself up into a fine frenzy over the newest chemical bug-a-boo threatening the citizenry.
But even a stuck clock is right twice a day, and it appears that there's some substance behind the negative publicity surrounding "bath salts," which in no small part due to sensationalist press coverage, have become the latest quasi-legal drug craze to sweep the nation.
Although bath salts are sold through a loophole as a harmless substance used for relaxation, people are ingesting them seeking euphoria. In addition to experiencing altered moods, some bath salts users are having psychotic episodes marked with agitation, hallucinations and violent behavior. Because this drug is still largely unfamiliar to medical professionals, doctors are still learning how to treat symptoms and overdoses of this drug. This drug can have dangerous consequences as noted in recent news events in the United States. In this case, the typical media hype which surrounds the latest "drug menace" appears to have a kernel of truth to it, i.e., bath salts are a bad idea.
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National Anti-Abortion Group Targets Eureka Planned Parenthood
Kym Kemp / Thursday, Feb. 14 @ 4:35 p.m. / News
UPDATE 5:20 P.M.: Article updated to reflect interview with 40 Days for Life volunteer, Allen Rode.
The Six Rivers Planned Parenthood in Eureka which provides birth control, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases as well as abortions has been targeted by a national campaign to end abortion. The 40 Days for Life campaign is a Christian based organization that, according to its website, seeks to “bring an end to abortion.”
On the evening of Tuesday, February 12th, a group from the campaign met in front of Planned Parenthood’s driveway to begin their vigil.
40 Days for Life brings about 20 people together in front of Six Rivers Planned Parenthood to kickoff a campaign designed to bring attention to anti abortion viewpoints.
According to the group’s website, the 40 Days for Life plans to put on a peaceful vigil outside the office of Planned Parenthood for 40 days. They encourage their members to fast and pray during this time but the centerpiece to their protest is “focused, 40-day, non-stop, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a single Planned Parenthood center.” They are doing this sort of protest in multiple areas.
“If abortion is going to be reduced, it has to come from a change in the heart,” says local volunteer for the 40 Days for Life organization, Allen Rode. Rode has made commitments to be in front of the Eureka Planned Parenthood clinic for one hour every morning and one hour every evening. These hours accommodate his work schedule.
Rode doesn’t like to call what he is doing a protest. Instead, he prefers to emphasis that his group is prayer oriented and non violent. He says that they will be performing a peaceful and prayerful vigil. There will be no graphic depictions of abortions. There will be no confrontations. “We are not out there to get in anyone’s faces and make them feel guilty or ashamed.” He acknowledges that some anti abortion groups have done this in the past but insists this isn’t his group’s agenda. “It is only through dialogue we can understand each other,” he points out.
Tia Baratelle, Director of Public Affairs at Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, says that the 40 Days for Life campaign has been done in multiple locations but “it is the first time in our county.” Baratelle said the first night she saw around 20 people show up but since then there have only been two or three people at the vigil. However, she says, the group is videotaping people entering and leaving the area. This may be legal, she says, but she believes it is “invasive to patients seeking health care.” The people entering the driveway to their clinic may be entering either of the two other doctors’ offices in the same place or they may be using any of Planned Parenthood’s many services.
Baratelle says that her staff “works tirelessly so that women, men and families always have access to health care in a safe and caring environment.” She worries that their clients will be uncomfortable. She calls the protest a form of “intimidation” and says it, especially the video taping, is invasive to the people coming to their office and the doctors’ offices nearby.
The Six Rivers Planned Parenthood Facebook page says, “Anti-choice protesters are planning to visit our Health Center every day for 40 days - carrying signs, handing out misleading information, video taping & photographing our patients and may even yell hurtful things.” The clinic has begun a pledge drive in response. They call it their “a PLEDGE-A-PICKETER campaign.” They are asking supporters to donate a “set amount for each day the Six Rivers Planned Parenthood health center is picketed between February 13 – March 24, 2013 or Make a one-time donation toward the campaign.”
As of the time of this writing, the pledge drive had brought in $3000. Baratelle says that at the end of the protest they plan on presenting the 40 Days for Life picketeers with a thank you for the money raised.
Rode has heard of similar pledge drives being held in response to the 40 Days for Life campaign. “It may or may not be an effective fundraising tool for them but we are praying to change hearts,” he says. He believes that changing hearts brings about more long term change than money. “I’m not worried too much,” he states calmly.
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I've searched the forum and don't think my specific problem has occurred before.
My computer has two hard drives:
1) The master (drive A) which contains XP and has its MBR on its own drive.
2) The slave (drive B) on which I want to install Linuxmint. However, I don't want the Mint's GRUB to install itself on the MBR of drive A, but on the MBR of drive B. I don't want Mint to touch the XP installation, they must be entirely separate. I will then press F8, as the BIOS boots, to choose which of the two drives I want to boot.
This can be done, as I am successfully doing it with another Linux distro (which will be replaced by Mint).
However, from what I remember from previous Mint installations, I can't choose GRUB to install itself on drive B, it automatically installs on to drive A.
Can anyone please help with a suggestion how I can tell GRUB to use drive B?
Last edited by keithp
on Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The Portsmouth City Council has approved both a $1,000 donation to the Thresher Memorial Project in Kittery and a resolution encouraging Portsmouth businesses, organizations and private citizens to support the fund-raising drive to complete it by April 10, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the worst submarine disaster in U.S. history.
The memorial, which will be built at the US Route 1 Traffic Circle in Kittery, will honor the 129 men - 16 officers, 96 enlisted men and 17 civilian technicians – aboard the USS Thresher (SSN 593) when it was lost April 10, 1963, during a post-overhaul test dive off Cape Cod.
Two of the men aboard the Thresher, Peter Joseph DiBella and Donald Emery Nault, were born in Portsmouth. Others lived in the city while serving aboard the submarine, which was built and home-ported at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and many of their surviving family members live in the Seacoast area.
Information on the memorial and the fund-raising drive can be found at http://threshermemorialkittery.sharepoint.com.
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Social media is booming! In the words of Wedbush Securities analyst Lou Kerner, “In less than two years, Facebook has become the dominant source of online user data and is rapidly becoming one of the Web’s premiere advertising destinations.” Facebook has more than 600 million users, and Twitter has around 175 million. In our day and age it’s essential to know how to get started in social media!
But how to start? Listen to a social media veteran: Canadian broadcaster, podcaster, blogger, and speaker, Amber MacArthur advises establishing a goal, ensuring a listening strategy, and creating compelling content. Making sure you have a solid framework in place greatly increases your chance of success. In order to keep your finger on the pulse of the “online conversation,” you can use resources like Google Alerts, business solutions websites, and software like Radian 6.
Remember, though, that social media is an unexplored medium. Since these online tools are so new, there are few legal guidelines out there. Bradley Shear, lawyer, entrepreneur, and blogger, says that “There is going to need to be some major lawsuits or decisions by federal courts, appellate courts or more to decide what are acceptable practices online for a real shift to take place. There are legal ramifications for everything you do online, and many people and businesses simply don’t understand that.” To deal with this, make sure to have a strong employee social media policy and be aware of legal constraints, including copyrights, FTC advertising and full disclosure requirements and general privacy issues.
Don’t let that scare you, though! Social media is a marketing world ripe to be explored and can really help your overall advertising strategy. Just take a bit of caution and make sure you can get the basics down and you’ll be on your way to getting started in social media!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
James Kim is a writer for Choosewhat.com. ChooseWhat is a company that provides product reviews and test data for business services and products.
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F. A. Hughes.
"The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints."
Precious indeed are these last words of Holy Scripture! In the first verse of Genesis this glorious Person, known to us as "our Lord Jesus Christ," has His place in the Godhead (Elohim — plural); thus His mighty power as Creator is seen. He is the Subject of Scripture; His glory shines throughout; all others are eclipsed and the radiance of His holy Person — His words, His acts, His compassion, His power, — thrill the hearts of His own. "Moses and prophets and psalms" all speak of Him; He is the Yea and Amen of every promise, of those already fulfilled and of those awaiting fulfilment; "the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus;" chapter after chapter is filled resplendently with His glories, official, moral and personal. The words of Scripture are the infallible record of His own precious utterance to John — "I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I became dead, and behold, I am living to the ages of ages, and have the keys of death and of hades" (Revelation 1:17, 18 New Trans.). Before time was He, and He uniquely, dwelt in the bosom of the Father's love (John 17:14). "The Father loved Him before the world was — a love in which there is no question of comparison, but of that which is infinite, perfect" (J.N.D.). The end of that marvellous chapter envisages the moment when we shall see His glory — "Christ seen in the fruit of that love which the Father had for Him before the world existed."
In holy Manhood He was ever the "beloved Son" of the Father; John 1:18 (in addition to the exclamations from the opened heavens) indicates full and perfect communion between Father and Son. It is such an One, "the only-begotten from beside the Father" who has revealed to us the eternal thoughts of love and glory ever in the Father's heart; the basis of such revelation is Their relationship in the Godhead. In the beginning He was "with God;" He "was God;" (John 1). He is even now "the Christ, who is over all, God blessed for ever" (Romans 9); and in the day to come — spoken of in Scripture as "the end" — His movements will ensure "that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15). Truly He is the "Alpha and the Omega" — the beginning and the end of every thought and manifestation of God!
We do but touch the fringe of the glories unique to the One of whom this last word of Scripture speaks. And, yet, beloved, it is the glory of His love which fills out this precious conclusion of Holy Writ! Oh! the immensity of His grace (His love in its holy movements) — sufficient to refresh and fill the hearts of "all the saints." Love eternal in its source and character, eternal too in its duration and effect. In love He gave "all that He had;" He gave "His life;" He gave "Himself". It is a love that "passeth knowledge," from which neither power nor creature can separate us; it is the love of One who loves "to the end"! It is the love of the Lord — the great Administrator of all the bounty and blessing of God Himself; it is the love of Jesus — so preciously known by "Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" (John 11) and by thousands of His own however varying one from another; it is the love of Christ — who by that sacrificial love has secured for the joy of His own heart eternally His treasured bride — His Church; it is the "love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Beloved, this grace — the precious operation of divine and holy love — has reached us at infinite cost to our beloved Lord:-
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
As we think again of the glories and might of our Lord Jesus as revealed to us in the Scriptures; the many precious Names and titles belonging to Him both in Deity and in Manhood, how attractive to our hearts is this closing reference to His matchless, all-sufficient grace. John tells us in His gospel that "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The verb "came" is in the singular — every movement of grace was the expression of the heart and mind of God, in perfect consistency with His holy nature — for "God is love."
Soon, beloved, "grace begun shall end in glory" — until then may we know, by the Spirit's power, the import and power of the word — "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died, for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).
"And, oh! Thy grace transcending
Its fulness will declare,
When, from on high descending,
We meet Thee in the air."
Peace is a moral element in Christianity, and it must be the effect of righteousness . . the divinely appointed relationships in integrity.
A further word in relation to the foregoing may be permitted — a word which one trusts may serve to enhance in our affections the personal glory of the One whose grace abides with us.
We have thought of the many glories of our blessed Lord; the Scriptures as we have stated are full of references to them; and indeed the object of ministry from the Word of God is that we may "all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God" (Ephesians 4:13). But there yet remains in relation to our Lord as Son that which is completely beyond the human mind's ability to grasp — "no man knoweth the Son, (epiginosko — to become fully acquainted with) but the Father" (Matthew 11:27). this is something before which we stand with unshod feet — not in theory but in the full implication of what this attitude of holy worship involves. Human speculation, the ideas of men and of creed and of tradition are swept away; philosophy and the accumulated wisdom of this world has no standing at all. From eternity to eternity there is enshrined in this blessed One that which is, and ever will be, known only to the Father. We worship and adore! If the Son, in the glory peculiar to Him, is beyond the comprehension of any but the Father Himself, then the eternity of His Person as such is crystal clear.
In John 17 speaking to His Father the Lord Jesus says — "Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world" (verse 24). Thus the glory and intimacy of eternal relationships are equally clear.
Brethren let the wonder and greatness and glory of the One who thus waits upon us in His precious unceasing grace flood our hearts, forming thus substance which may be, in the Holy Spirit's power, released in praise to Himself and to God. The contemplation of the Son will give us perfect freedom in worship to God, and in testimony to Man. Every facet of divine truth is in Him personally — He is the truth (John 14:6); He has told us the truth (John 8:40).
When Pilate asked "What is truth?" — he had no apprehension of the holy character of the One standing before him. Doubtless the words Pilate used were "Quid est veritas?" A perfect anagram of these words is — "Vir est qui adest" — "the man who is present." This is no mere coincidence! All that can be known of God, His purpose and His thoughts of love and glory, has been fully made known in our Lord Jesus Christ, yet He Himself remains in a glory unique to Himself — known only to the Father!
O Lord, we adore Thee,
Blest Son of the Father,
Whose love without measure
Surpasses all praise!
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Aidan wrote:Even if Adelaide benefits, this seems to me to be very bad policy. Firstly I think quotas are a bad idea - a market based approach is better. Secondly, even if the government insist on quotas, encouraging stopovers without cabotage is either a waste of capacity or an encouragement to fly significantly further than they otherwise would (the classic example being Adelaide to Singapore via Melbourne). Either way it's a waste of fuel.
I think I've said before that I'd like to see cabotage allowed on Adelaide flights stopping at regional airports. I still believe this to be the case, but there are two non-policy obstacles. The first is that few regional airports are set up to handle international passengers. But I'd expect the facilities would be introduced if the airlines wanted to go there. The second problem is more serious: regional airports generally have fairly short runways unsuitable for widebody aircraft. I think the Boeing 787 will solve this problem, but I've not actually seen any data on its runway requirements.
It would be safe to say that a good chunk of all international passengers out of Adelaide are stopping in Melbourne or Sydney anyway, because they're connecting with Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin.
And usually that's because of a lack of direct flights.
It's also worth noting that the Cathay Pacific flight into Adelaide lands here first, before continuing onto Melbourne, so in effect that's a good thing if you're just coming here. It's the same when the Qantas flight to Singapore left Sydney and came through Adelaide before heading overseas. Anything to encourage more flights through Adelaide should be taken onboard. Ideally we'd have pure and simple direct flights, but I don't think the waste of fuel idea applies if you have passengers paying to travel and therefore using that fuel.
Surely it does if they're paying to travel in a direction that takes them further away from where they actually want to go?
When they talk of regional airports as stop-overs, they mean places like Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns, the Gold Coast and Broome - airports that can handle large jets and places where people want to go or depart from. They're not talking about 747s being forced to stop at Whyalla or Coober Pedy.
Of course, but the Gold Coast runway is significantly shorter than that of Brisbane, for example.
I think you're a bit confused as well, because I can't conceive a situation where a flight would be stopping at another regional airport before continuing to Adelaide and then onto the big four.
I think you're the one who's confused, because I'm not suggesting going on to the big four, and I would not support cabotage to any of them.
I'm thinking of things like:
Adelaide to Honolulu via Sunshine Coast
Adelaide to Manilla via Darwin
Adelaide to Surabaya via Broome - possibly as an extension of Air Asia's flight from our sister city Georgetown (Penang) to Surabaya.
Most places are on the way to somewhere!
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Louisiana’s Supreme Court has ruled that money reserved for public schools can’t be used to pay for private school tuition under the state constitution.
The 6-1 decision, handed down Tuesday, undermines the school voucher program that was a keystone of the education overhaul pushed through the legislature by Gov. Jindal last year.
In a written statement following the ruling, Jindal said the program is, “alive and well.” Nearly 5,000 students are enrolled at private schools through the voucher program. Roughly 8,000 students have been offered vouchers for next year.
The state Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday in a case against the statewide school voucher program.
At issue is whether private school tuition can be paid for with the funds that would otherwise go to struggling public schools.
At Hosanna Christian Academy, the tuition is being used in the battle to bring voucher students up to grade level. Hosanna's intervention strategies were inspired by the turnaround efforts at public Winbourne Elementary.
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JUBA - Agence France-Presse
Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) members march to mark the anniversary of South Sudan’s independence. REUTERS photo
Leaders of the world’s youngest nation South Sudan have branded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as “conservative and insensitive” as hopes are fading fast of participating in the London Games.
Sports Minister Cireno Hiteng Ofuho said that athletes from the new nation, that separated from Sudan last year after decades of civil war, were told by the IOC they could only compete under the Sudanese flag in the Games starting next week.
“The feeling here is that the IOC is very conservative and insensitive to the people of South Sudan, and you can quote me on that,” Ofuho told AFP. “What is the reason for us becoming independent if they treat us like that?”
Ofuho said that appeals from South Sudan President Salva Kiir to include their Olympic hopefuls have so far fallen on deaf ears.Negative response
“Our President even wrote to the President of the IOC, Mr Jacques Rogge, pleading for their understanding and to let our athletes compete,” he said.
But the response to the June 28 letter came back negative, Ofuho said.
“He wrote back and said: ‘Sorry, because of the rigid processes in the IOC, a country needs two years to register’.”
Ofuho admits that the wheels should have been set in motion for registering with the IOC in January 2011, when the South held a referendum in which 98 percent of the population voted for secession.
But in a vast nation ravaged by five decades of war that killed some two million people and scattered the rest in the bush or abroad, setting up basic institutions and passing key legislation such as a constitution took priority.
Ofuho is most upset that star marathon runner Guor Marial, a 28-year-old South Sudanese who escaped death -- unlike most of his siblings -- and a brief encounter with slavery to seek refuge in the United States, looks set to miss the event.
He cannot compete for the U.S. unless he has full citizenship, and is stuck in limbo to be recognized as South Sudanese.
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A Unique Tour of Dodger Stadium – Mark Langill
Most tours of Dodger Stadium include the familiar storylines of Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson, Tommy Lasorda and Fernandomania. But for a group of Chinese athletes traveling around Southern California this month, a visit to the ballpark meant taking pictures and discovering the basic mechanics of baseball. For example, Dodger Stadium’s seating capacity is 56,000; more than 122 million fans have visited since the ballpark opened in 1962; the regular season runs from April through September; the playoffs are in October; the ballplayers are currently training in Florida.
Yesterday’s tour began on the Club Level and the group gazed at the last stages of construction and the installation of the box seats. When I mentioned that all 50,000 seats were taken out during the offseason and replaced, someone asked, “Does that happen every year?” Actually, the seats were last replaced 30 years ago, which might give Vice President of Stadium Operations Lon Rosenberg a chance to recover from an exhausting and challenging assignment.
The boxers in the group were interested to learn Dodger Stadium once hosted a series of championship fights in 1963. Shang Yingqiu of the Beijing Sports University is a basketball player and vice professor and team leader of the Chinese rhythmic sportive gymnastics. Her favorite player is Michael Jordan. Basketball at Dodger Stadium? The Harlem Globetrotters played an exhibition game in 1964 as a full-size regulation court was placed on the infield in the same location as the boxing ring.
The many photos on the walls bridged the language barrier, whether showing the action of a Dodger ballgame or musical concerts such as Elton John and Bruce Springsteen. The Olympic theme also surfaced with photos from when the Dodgers played at the Los Angeles Coliseum from 1958-61. The Coliseum was the site of the opening ceremonies in both the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Dodger Stadium hosted the first Olympic baseball tournament in 1984.
Probably the most popular item on the tour was the original bullpen cart from 1969, restored a few years ago by Rosenberg when he found the main components in storage. The baseball-shaped cart, with an oversized “LA” cap as the roof and braced by two baseball bats, transported pitchers from the bullpen to the pitcher’s mound during Dodger games. Later, it was replaced by a Dodger-decorated automobile. The cart is on display just outside the Stadium Operations office on the Club Level. You can’t explain to all groups that the cart was used in an era when starting pitchers went at least seven innings and the “bullpen by committee” had not yet gained popularity among managers. So on this day, it was easier to sit back and watch the smiles as the athletes took turns posing for pictures behind the steering wheel.
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UAHuntsville student Jeremy Raper recipient of prestigious Milken Award
Jeremy Raper’s earliest memories of what he wanted to do when he grew up centered on being an astronaut, flying, preaching or teaching. “I have not completed the first two yet, but I have had the opportunity to both preach and teach,” he said.
Raper is a physics and engineering teacher and director of the Engineering for Tomorrow Academy at Bob Jones High School (BJHS) in Madison, but he is also a Ph.D. student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Raper was recently awarded a Milken Educator Award.
The Milken Educator awards are the nation's preeminent teacher recognition programs having honored more than 2,500 K-12 teachers, principals and specialists coast to coast with over $63 million in individual, unrestricted $25,000 awards.
Raper said his desire to teach was fueled by several committed and compassionate teachers he encountered as a student, including his third grade teacher, Mrs. Bryant, who “taught me to love learning in all aspects of life,” and, Mr. Scott, a high school physics teacher who “set my major in college.” Raper also considers two BJHS teachers, Mrs. Weyler and Mrs. Geveden, as mentors.
Raper has no idea how he came to the attention of the Milken Award committee, and was beyond speechless when he was honored at Bob Jones High School with the prestigious educators award.
“My understanding is no one I know can nominate me. As they said in the Milken announcement, ‘you don’t find us, we find you’.” So, I have no idea how they found me…. I received the Air Force Association State Teacher of the Year Award last spring. In truth, I don’t know, and I just cannot imagine they would pick me over all the other great teachers at Bob Jones, let alone in the entire state of Alabama,” Raper said.“I am the type of person who likes to fly below the radar …. trying not to stand up and be seen. The students are the real heroes, so I want to see them get the credit they deserve. For me to be called out and brought in front of everyone, that was overwhelming.”
Raper was instrumental in establishing the BJHS Engineering for Tomorrow Academy five years ago. The program, he said, was a reply to an alarming set of engineering curriculum statistics.
“At that time, Bob Jones was the number one supplier of students to UAHuntsville, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University and Calhoun. Many of those students were majoring in engineering, but less than 40 percent would actually finish with an engineering degree. This told me that there was something lacking in their education,” Raper said.
“We wanted to give them as much information in high school to prepare them for college. So, I wrote the Principles of Engineering curriculum and submitted this to the Board of Education as a prospective class,” he said. They (the Board of Education) agreed, and we began with 17 students learning about the basics of each major engineering field.”
From there, BJHS students can take the Advanced Engineering Design class, where they learn how to use Solid Edge, Labview, and Matlab. “The course is designed to give students the soft skills that an employer would want now and years down the road,” Raper said. “And lastly, the Engineering Internship class gets the students out of the building and into an engineering company. They work for free, learning how a ‘real’ engineer works, while providing a necessary service to the company. They are not getting coffee or making copies, they are using the skills learned in the engineering classes to do engineering work,” he said.
A native of Louisville, Ky., Raper graduated from Saint Xavier High School (Louisville, Ky.). At St. X, Raper enrolled in advanced placement calculus and physics classes. He was active in the Physics Club and volunteered his time in the library during school hours. Raper graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in physics (minor in mathematics), and he also earned a master’s degree in physics with an emphasis in astrophysics.
Raper is in the process of completing his Ph.D., in physics at UAHuntsville. He earned his teaching certificate from the university in 1998. “I had always planned on teaching on the university level, and had an opportunity to do that as a teaching assistant at both U of L and UAHuntsville,” Raper said. “However, I met my wife in 1996, engaged in 1997, and married in 1998. So, I switched to high school education and took a job at BJHS in 1998. Without UAHuntsville’s fifth year program, I would not have been able to continue with my teaching goals.”
Given the opportunity to change one thing about teaching regionally and nationally, Raper would establish project-based learning classes.
“You teach a topic briefly, then have the students work in groups to complete a project to learn more about that topic. This reduces the amount of time they are sitting and “listening”, and increases their time getting up and actually doing something,” he noted.
“All of the learning journals seem to point to this … that the best retention happens when students are doing hands on projects and not listening. So, I think if all classes could move from lecture to projects, from sitting to moving, from one big class to small groups in a class, then education and learning will take place at a much better rate,” Raper said.
“To cement their future in success, students need classes that are relevant. It is not easy, and I am not saying I have cornered the market on it, but I think relevance from the educational world and the “real” or industrial world is vital for success,” Raper said.
For more information
- Hits: 2283
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NCEE sponsors several seminar series and workshops to share information about environmental economics and science. Provided below is information on past and upcoming seminars and workshops.
NCEE hosts three different seminar series, which feature presentations by EPA employees, other federal researchers, and academics. The first series, the Environmental Economic Seminars, serves as a forum for presentations on timely topics in environmental economics. The second series, the Climate Economics Seminars, focuses on issues related to the economics of climate change. The third series, the Climate Science Seminars, is a joint venture between NCEE and the EPA Office of the Science Advisor (OSA); under this series, a range of climate science issues are investigated, including forecasting challenges and impacts on ecological and human health.
Further information on these series and how to attend presentations. NCEE has hosted a range of presentations under these three seminar series, dating back to 2007. A list of all previous seminars shows the featured presenters and their presentation topics.
In addition to its seminars, NCEE jointly sponsors a series of workshops—the Environmental Policy and Economics Workshop Series—with the EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research (NCER). We maintain a record of past workshops.
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More than 1,500 New Yorkers gathered today in Manhattan to mourn the death of a 32 year-old gay man, who was shot down on Friday just blocks away from the historic Stonewall Inn in an apparent act of anti-gay bias.
UPDATE: Police Claiming Long Island Vandalism Not A Hate Crime
The Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit investigated last week's incident at the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth Center as a hate crime but determined it was not, police said Tuesday.
Police arrested three men and a woman, all from Bay Shore, Monday in connection with the vandalism and charged each of them with second-degree criminal mischief. None of the four was charged with a hate crime.
The Long Island GLBT Center plans to issue a statement soon. We'll update this post with that statement once it is made.
UPDATE: The Long Island GLBT Community Center has released it's statement. Here is an excerpt:
Over three years ago, two of the four people arrested were former clients of LIGALY. The individuals regularly displayed inappropriate and disruptive behavior toward staff and other clients. This behavior made many of our clients feel unsafe, and the organization responded appropriately by discharging them from our services. We are saddened to hear that the individuals arrested continued to act out in hatred and violence, as these attacks illustrate.
While the vandalism is no longer being investigated as a bias crime, we feel that the investigation and the attention paid to these crimes by public officials and media was appropriate. Vandalism of this magnitude is intended to send a message of fear. The Center stands as the most public declaration of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender pride on Long Island. As the most visible symbol of GLBT presence and pride, the vandalism was indeed interpreted and felt as an attack on these already vulnerable communities.
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(l. to r.) (front) George Gravitt, John Wade, Bob Doggett, Ann Parker, Bernie Jones, Dick Faris, Jim Bergdoll, (back) Henry Riley, Charles Shank, Bev Carter, Frank Wood, Tom Luckam, Don Young, Tom Jennings and Dick Forrester.
(l.to r.) (front) Dick Faix, John Viccellio, Bagwell Goode, Courtney Taylor, Jim Allen, (back) Bill Boice, John Clarke, John Sowers, Doug Lawson, and Don Traylor
It all started when Lawson, the 50th Reunion Gift Chair, made an impassioned plea in August 2006 to the Reunion Committee. "I got up and told the group, ‘I think we can beat the previous class gift record of $700,000. In fact, I think we can raise more than $1 million," he explained. "Of course, I’ve always been a believer that if you’re going to open your big fat mouth, you ought to put your money there."
And that’s exactly what Lawson did. He backed up his words with a $25,000 challenge gift. Not to be outdone, several classmates followed suit. One year later, 41 of the 76 surviving members of the class of 1957 had raised more than $800,000.
The night before the Reunion Committee was to present a check for $1 million to the college during Homecoming Weekend, Lawson issued an eleventh-hour challenge. “I urged my classmates to go home and ponder whether they could give a little more.” Five people came forward and increased their gifts by $50,000, pushing the class of 1957 even deeper into record-setting territory. When all was said and done, the Class of 1957 raised a grand total of $1,640,891.
Along the way it broke other records in participation percentage, class project total and planned giving total. The lion’s share of this gift will be used to create and support the Class of 1957 Scholarship, a project particularly close to Lawson’s heart.
"When I attended Randolph-Macon, it was completely on scholarship. I would not have received a college education if it were not for the people before me who invested and had faith in future generations of students. Looking back, I understand this legacy of giving and gratitude was the foundation of my life’s work. I learned not only about giving to people who gave to me but also about getting others to give."
Indeed, Lawson parlayed his experience into a distinguished fundraising career that included a stint as vice president of development for Randolph-Macon College. In 1969 he founded Lawson Associates, Inc., which has helped non-profit organizations around the world raise more than $3 billion.
President Robert Lindgren was thrilled with the gift and the work accomplished by the Class of 1957. “The class of 1957 has created a terrific example for future classes of how a small number of alumni can have a significant impact on the life and spirit of Randolph-Macon College."
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The Sorrows of Zion
1How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!
She has become like a widow
Who was once great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
Has become a forced laborer!
2She weeps bitterly in the night
And her tears are on her cheeks;
She has none to comfort her
Among all her lovers.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies.
3Judah has gone into exile under affliction
And under harsh servitude;
She dwells among the nations,
But she has found no rest;
All her pursuers have overtaken her
In the midst of distress.
4The roads of Zion are in mourning
Because no one comes to the appointed feasts.
All her gates are desolate;
Her priests are groaning,
Her virgins are afflicted,
And she herself is bitter.
5Her adversaries have become her masters,
Her enemies prosper;
For the LORD has caused her grief
Because of the multitude of her transgressions;
Her little ones have gone away
As captives before the adversary.
6All her majesty
Has departed from the daughter of Zion;
Her princes have become like deer
That have found no pasture;
And they have fled without strength
Before the pursuer.
7In the days of her affliction and homelessness
Jerusalem remembers all her precious things
That were from the days of old,
When her people fell into the hand of the adversary
And no one helped her.
The adversaries saw her,
They mocked at her ruin.
8Jerusalem sinned greatly,
Therefore she has become an unclean thing.
All who honored her despise her
Because they have seen her nakedness;
Even she herself groans and turns away.
9Her uncleanness was in her skirts;
She did not consider her future.
Therefore she has fallen astonishingly;
She has no comforter.
See, O LORD, my affliction,
For the enemy has magnified himself!
10The adversary has stretched out his hand
Over all her precious things,
For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary,
The ones whom You commanded
That they should not enter into Your congregation.
11All her people groan seeking bread;
They have given their precious things for food
To restore their lives themselves.
See, O LORD, and look,
For I am despised.
12Is it nothing to all you who pass this way?
Look and see if there is any pain like my pain
Which was severely dealt out to me,
Which the LORD inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.
13From on high He sent fire into my bones,
And it prevailed over them.
He has spread a net for my feet;
He has turned me back;
He has made me desolate,
Faint all day long.
14The yoke of my transgressions is bound;
By His hand they are knit together.
They have come upon my neck;
He has made my strength fail.
The Lord has given me into the hands
Of those against whom I am not able to stand.
15The Lord has rejected all my strong men
In my midst;
He has called an appointed time against me
To crush my young men;
The Lord has trodden as in a wine press
The virgin daughter of Judah.
16For these things I weep;
My eyes run down with water;
Because far from me is a comforter,
One who restores my soul.
My children are desolate
Because the enemy has prevailed.
17Zion stretches out her hands;
There is no one to comfort her;
The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob
That the ones round about him should be his adversaries;
Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.
18The LORD is righteous;
For I have rebelled against His command;
Hear now, all peoples,
And behold my pain;
My virgins and my young men
Have gone into captivity.
19I called to my lovers, but they deceived me;
My priests and my elders perished in the city
While they sought food to restore their strength themselves.
20See, O LORD, for I am in distress;
My spirit is greatly troubled;
My heart is overturned within me,
For I have been very rebellious.
In the street the sword slays;
In the house it is like death.
21They have heard that I groan;
There is no one to comfort me;
All my enemies have heard of my calamity;
They are glad that You have done it.
Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed,
That they may become like me.
22Let all their wickedness come before You;
And deal with them as You have dealt with me
For all my transgressions;
For my groans are many and my heart is faint.
<< Lamentations 1 >>
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
Lamentations 1 Online Parallel Bible
Lamentations 1 Bible Apps
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In-Office Surgical Suite
Our hospital features a dedicated surgical suite. Surgical suites are rooms designated for use during surgery only. These rooms are kept as clean as possible to minimize bacteria and other infectious organisms that would be capable of contaminating a surgical wound. Many surgical suites are designed with separate ventilation from the rest of the hospital as this helps maintain cleanliness of the room. All people entering the room must wear a cap and surgical mask to prevent spreading outside germs into the room. Surgical suites contain an operating table (sometimes more than one), surgical lighting, equipment tables, and anesthesia equipment.
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Macho Muscle Madness
Getting defined, lean, and strong muscles is a lot easier said than done. To get the results you deserve, you’ll need to lose weight (buy Acai Effect for starters), do cardiovascular exercises, and begin a very strict and intense muscle building regime.
Here are three tips to help you achieve these three goals:
1. Eat complex carbs before a workout and lean protein after a workout. The carbs beforehand will give you the energy boost you need to get to work and the protein afterwards will go straight to build muscles that are open and vulnerable after a workout.
2. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if you workout then you can eat anything you want. People who work out need to watch what they eat just as much as the next guy (or gal). First, you need to make sure that you’re eating enough calories to support your workout. Don’t do any of those silly fad diets that don’t supply enough energy to your system, and don’t overload on junk food that will make your energy levels go haywire and counteract any other healthy measures you’re taking.
3. Use a personal trainer to guide you, at least at first. There are a few reasons why I recommend this (other than the obvious job plug). First, you need to be careful about safety—if you exercise the same muscle group too many days in a row, then you don’t even give your body a chance to recuperate, which it needs to do if the muscles are going to “grow” properly. Second, if you take on too much too fast, you’ll likely get discouraged and quit. And third, a personal trainer can help motivate you and push you to limits that you may not know you’re capable of.
Most importantly, work slowly and steadily and before you know it you’ll be sporting the six pack of your dreams!
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Last Modified: 05 Oct 2012
Syria & Jordan
Trip code: EESKC
Validity: 01 Jan 2012 to 31 Dec 2012
Step into ancient lands rich in culture, heritage and history on this exotic journey through Syria and Jordan. Evidence of past civilisations can be found at every turn on this trip - from the ancient desert ruins of Palmyra and the cobblestone alleyways of Damascus and Aleppo, to the Ottoman-style houses of Madaba and the rose-coloured wonder of Petra. Be amazed at the sight of one of the grandest castles in the world, experience changing landscapes on a hike to a hilltop village and watch a tapestry of modern life in the urban charms of Amman. With a dip in the iconic Dead Sea and an unforgettable overnight desert safari providing memories that will last a lifetime, this trip is not to be missed!
Table of Contents
To save you money and the hassle of booking multiple trips, this journey is a combination of some of our most popular adventures so your leader and the composition of your group may change.
- Original trips are classic Intrepid adventures. With a mix of included activities and free time, they offer plenty of opportunities to explore at your own pace and take part in activities that really get beneath the skin of a destination. While the occasional meal may be included, you'll have the freedom to seek out your own culinary adventures. Accommodation is generally budget or tourist class (2-3 star), but you're as likely to find yourself as a guest of a local family as staying in a hotel or camping. Transport will vary as well. Depending on the destination and the itinerary you could find yourself travelling on anything from a camel to a train or a private safari vehicle. It's all part of the adventure! Original travellers have a desire to make the most of their travel time and really get to know a place, its people and cultures.
Days 1-2 Damascus
Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Syria.
The Persians, Greeks and Romans all played their part in the history of Damascus, called ash-Sham by the Arabs, until the Muslims and Mongols took over, only to give way to the Ottomans and finally the French, before Syria finally gained independence in 1946.
Your adventure begins at 6pm with a welcome meeting.
You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.
After the meeting, there is the option of joining your fellow travellers for dinner.
Check-in time at our joining point hotel is after 2pm. Early check-in is not guaranteed, however if you arrive early, luggage storage is available. Speak to the hotel reception on arrival.
We take a walk through the ancient alleyways and bustling bazaars of the capital's old city, including the beautiful Umayyad Mosque and the Souq al-Hamidiyya. Spend the rest of your time in the old city, which is easily explored on foot. Catch-up on the story behind the greatest Arabic hero ever, Saladin, and visit his mausoleum. You'll find other important Islamic figures buried in places nearby, and by the end of your visit you may appreciate a different perspective on the Crusades.
- Azem Palace, Damascus - SYP150.00
- National Museum of Damascus, Damascus - SYP150.00
- Army Museum, Damascus - SYP5.00
- Beit Nizam, Damascus - Free
- Dahdah Palace, Damascus - Free
- Historical Museum of Damascus, Damascus - SYP75.00
Hotel (2 nts)
Day 3 Krak des Chevaliers
We make the short journey to visit the impressive ruins of Bosra. Mentioned in Egyptian records as far back as 1300BC, Bosra is famous for its unique black basalt stone and well-preserved Roman theatre.
We then continue on to what is considered to be one of the greatest fortress in the world - Krak des Chevaliers (Castle of the Knights). In fact, Lawrence of Arabia called it 'the finest castle in the world'.
Little has changed in the 800 years since the Crusader knights built Krak des Chevaliers. Reaching the dizzying height of 700 metres above sea level, it commands a view over the valley between Homs and Tripoli. A perfect model of medieval fortification, this castle was never besieged successfully and seemed impenetrable to attack. Held by the Knights Hospitaller, it only fell to the Mamluks in the 13th century when Sultan Baibars tricked the knights into surrendering the castle. Krak des Chevaliers is one of the world's most impressive Crusader castles and we explore it with the help of a local guide.
- Bosra local guide
- Krak des Chevaliers
- Krak des Chevaliers local guide
Hotel (1 nt)
Days 4-5 Aleppo
Transfer by van from Krak to Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo (approx 3.5 hrs).
Architecturally diverse Aleppo, is called Halab (meaning 'milk') by the locals, originating from the ancient story that Abraham gave out milk to travellers as they journeyed through the region. The fabulous and vibrant covered souq is Aleppo's main attraction. Parts of the Souq date back to the 13th Century and little seems to have changed, it is still very much the centre of local commerce, yet to be displaced by tourists. Check out the Al-Jamaa al-Kebir, the younger sibling of the great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus or wander through the Christian quarter, admiring the 15th-century houses and equally old churches.
- National Museum of Aleppo, Aleppo - SYP150.00
- Citadel of Aleppo, Aleppo - SYP150.00
Hotel (2 nts)
Day 6 Palmyra
Take a van from Aleppo to Palmyra (approx 4 hrs).
The oasis city of Palmyra ranks as one of the world's greatest historic sites. Settled in Neolithic times, the ruined city dates to the 1st century AD, when it flourished as an Assyrian caravan route, then became a Greek trading post before being annexed by the Romans. Home to Queen Zenobia, who set her armies against the Roman Empire in the 3rd century and conquered Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, before being captured and taken hostage by Emperor Aurelian, Palmyra means 'the city of palm trees' and is still known locally by its pre-Semitic name, Tadmor.
Explore the splendour of these remote and extensive ruins. The Temple of Bel is the main orientation point inside the ruins, although there is a rather poorly marked museum nearby if you want to 'do it all'.
Depending on arrival time there may be an opportunity for you to take an optional trip to view the sunset from Arab Castle.
- Palmyra tour
- Palmyra local guide
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 7 Damascus
Take a van from Palmyra to Damascus (approx 3 hrs).
We have free time to explore more of this fascinating city. Perhaps relax with a local brew in a coffee house, peruse shops or take in panoramic views from Mount Qasioun.
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 8 Amman
Today we cross the border into Jordan, bound for the nation's capital.
Amman has served as the modern and ancient capital of Jordan and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a 1994 excavation uncovering homes and towers believed to have been built during the Stone Age (circa 7000 BC). Check out sites such as the 6,000-seat Roman theatre built in the 2nd century, or the Citadel, offering panoramic views over the city from the highest hill in town. Within the Citadel is the museum that contains the Dead Sea Scrolls, and also the excavated ruins of an Umayyad palace.
As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 9 Wadi Rum
Follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia on a drive to the extraordinary desert scenery in Wadi Rum (approx 5 hrs).
A 4-hour jeep safari takes us through some of the most beautiful and sublime desert scenery on the planet, a true highlight of this trip.
Wadi Rum is full of weird and beautiful lunar-like rock formations. Traces of ancient civilisations can be seen in the many carved inscriptions found throughout the Wadi Rum area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum, however, are those carved by nature - the natural rock bridges, towering rose-coloured sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks.
Sleep in a simple desert camp where you'll have the choice of sleeping under a camel hair tent or out under the stars. A mattress and blankets are provided. Please be aware that while the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night and warm clothes and a sleeping bag is highly recommended when travelling outside of the summer months. A dinner cooked in a local earthen oven is included. Western-style toilet facilities are available. Conditions are basic at our desert camp, but the company of our Bedouin hosts is warm and you'll treasure the memory of sleeping beneath the twinkling desert night sky.
- 4WD jeep safari and desert camp
Desert camp (1 nt)
Days 10-11 Petra
Travel by van from Wadi Rum to Petra (approx 2 hrs).
Hewn out of the rose-coloured rock face, the ancient Nabataean city of Petra is one of the Middle East's most spectacular destinations, and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Visit Petra with a local guide, starting with the exciting walk through the narrow Siq to the Treasury. After admiring the iconic view, continue through the site along the Roman road, past impressive rock-cut tombs, temples and the amphitheatre.
Please note that when entering Petra as a group, a complimentary horse ride is included in the ticket price from the entrance point down to the Siq. Intrepid doesn't recommend that passengers take this option due to the safety and insurance liability involved.
Explore the rest of the site at your own pace. For those with the energy, there's the challenging but highly rewarding walk up the steps to the stunning Monastery (approx 1 hr). Please note a lot of walking is required to see all the sites and viewpoints of Petra. A basic level of fitness will enhance your enjoyment of your visit.
The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was discovered by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, a Swiss explorer. It was once described as 'a rose-red city half as old as time' in a sonnet by John William Burgon and UNESCO has described it as 'one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage.' In 1985, Petra was designated a World Heritage site. So you know you are in for an amazing experience here.
It's difficult to determine exactly when the history of Petra began. Evidence suggests the Horites, probably cave-dwellers, inhabited the area, lending their traditional habits such as burying the dead and offering worship in half-excavated caves to the next wave of inhabitants - the Nabataeans.
Evidence of the earliest Nabataean settlement is also sketchy. Some of the characteristics of the site appear partly Egyptian and partly Greek in style. Strangely, few inscriptions have been found at Petra making dating the civilization a real challenge for historians. We do know the Nabataean settlement doesn't go back farther than the 6th century BC.
In 106 AD, Petra was absorbed into the Roman Empire and the native dynasty came to an end but continued to flourish for a century after. Eventually the building of tombs ended and trade moved away from Petra, which fell into steady decline over the centuries. Over time many of the tombs' treasures were stolen by treasure hunters and their glory and whereabouts are unknown.
According to Arab tradition, Petra is the location where Moses struck a rock with his staff and water came forth.
- Petra by night, Petra - JOD12.00
Hotel (2 nts)
Day 12 Dana Nature Reserve
Take a van to Dana Nature Reserve.
Featuring a variety of stunning scenery, Dana Nature Reserve is a spectacularly unique ecosystem in the middle of the desert.
Join a trek through the reserve, traversing rugged mountains, bizarre rock formations and even a lush oasis of palms. There may be the chance to meet some friendly Bedouin locals for a refreshing tea. Keep an eye out for the ibex, mountain gazelle, sand cat, red fox, wolf and the vivid blue agama lizard scampering amongst the rocks. Our walk will take about 2-3 hours with your tour leader and is mostly downhill, but can be testing on your knees. Please pack sturdy hiking shoes if you wish to take part in this trek.
Hotel (1 nt)
Days 13-15 Madaba/Jerash
Travel the King's Highway to the historic crusader castle of Kerak. Take time here to explore the evocative ruins and to discover the legends of the 12th-century battles between the Crusaders and the Muslim armies led by the Arab hero, Saladin (Salah ad-Din).
Travel by van to Madaba, via the Dead Sea and Mt Nebo.
A Dead Sea float is a must for any trip to Jordan. Here at the lowest point on Earth (420 metres below sea level) the water is seven times saltier than a normal ocean at 30% salinity. The Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world after Lake Asal in Djibouti. When swimming this means you are extremely buoyant and seem to float on top of the water rather than in it.
The mud here is supposed to have healing properties and many visitors like to cover themselves from head to toe for a beauty mud bath. Stop at a private beach with pools and a gentle slope to the water. Towels are available for hire. Don't forget to pack your swimwear for today.
Make a stop at Mt Nebo where the prophet Moses is said to have seen the promised land and is supposedly buried. Explore this sanctuary and view the remarkable mosaics of the 4th-century church.
Next we continue the short distance to Madaba.
The historical town of Madaba is famous for its Ottoman-style houses and beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at St George's Church. Other mosaic masterpieces found within the Church of the Virgin and the Apostles and in the Archaeological Museum depict a rampant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and everyday pursuits such as hunting, fishing and farming. If these interest you, you'll be delighted to know that literally hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th to 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.
Travel north by van to the beautifully preserved Roman city of Jerash.
The ruins of Jerash were re-discovered in 1806 and continue to be one of Jordan's most amazing sites. One of the best examples of a Roman city in the Middle East, the ancient walled town that survives today is a remarkable evocation of life 2,000 years ago.
Transfer back to Madaba.
There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.
- Kerak Castle
- Dead Sea
- St. George's Church
- Roman ruins
- Citadel and National Archaeological Museum, Amman - JOD2.00
- Roman Theatre, Amman - JOD1.00
Hotel (2 nts)
Also available to purchase
For many of our trips we have other services or experiences that are also available to purchase to extend your trip or to make your holiday a little easier. Below is a list of other travel products you can purchase in conjunction with this trip.
- EESKC Single supplement (EESKC)
We also recommend
If this trip is not quite right for you, cast your eye over these alternatives:
- Explore Syria (EESS)
- Lebanon & Syria (EESGC)
- Lebanon & Syria (EESGC)
Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the brochure. It's very important that you print and review a final copy of your Trip Notes a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. For the latest updated Trip Notes please visit our website: www.intrepidtravel.com
Please note that while we operate successful trips in this region throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route.
Expect some culture shock. You'll be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.
The Middle East is a region which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Heat, pollution, poverty and the crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge. During our time here we have come to love this wonderfully different region but we know that we should always expect to encounter some difficulties along the way. You will come across very different attitudes to time keeping, public cleanliness, privacy and service. If you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a sense of humour, then we know that you - like all of us - will be captivated by the fabulous Middle East.
This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.
Included activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary, all other activities are optional and at your own expense. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.
A selection of optional activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only. Prices are for entrance only and don't include transport costs to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination. Optional activities aren't necessarily endorsed or recommended by Intrepid nor included in price of this trip. If you do any optional activities, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and doesn't form part of your contract with Intrepid. You may be required to sign/complete a waiver form or a receipt for some optional activities.
The official currency of Jordan is Jordanian Dinars (JOD). It is easy to get money on arrival to Jordan. ATMs and money exchange are plentiful. Check with your bank for information on ATM international fees.
When leaving home don't forget your PIN and make sure you know the telephone number for cancelling your card if it is stolen. Keep this in a safe place. When using your debit card, check your receipts and keep them to compare against your statement when you get home.
We recommend that you carry some foreign currency cash for when ATMs can not be accessed, have broken down or run out of cash. There are few problems changing money as there are many banks and currency exchange facilities. Cash in EUR, GBP and USD dollars are favoured for exchange.
Occasionally banks will also allow cash advances on your credit card, but it is not recommended to rely on this.
While some banks and 5 star hotels will change travellers' cheques the process is time consuming and commissions can be high (up to 10%) and it can be difficult to change on weekends and public holidays. The easiest cheques to change are Thomas Cook or American Express in USD, EUR or GBP.
Currency exchange rates often fluctuate. For the most up to date rates please refer to the following website: www.oanda.com.
The official currency of Syria is Syrian Pound (SYP).
ATMs are not common in Syria, but available in the main cities such as Damascus & Aleppo. Please note that Mastercard and Maestro cards are unreliable in Syria. It is recommended you carry extra foreign currency to exchange in Syria.
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities, and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
The Middle East is often misjudged as being an inexpensive destination. With tourism booming and the influx of cheap flights from Europe, prices for some items are becoming more equivalent to prices you would be used to at home. Eating in local restaurants, roadside stalls and from markets can be inexpensive, but for nights out at tourist-friendly restaurants you can expect to pay much more. Budgets are a personal choice but please bear in mind that you shouldn't expect the Middle East to always be a budget destination.
Known as 'baksheesh' in the Middle East, tipping is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry. If you are satisfied with the services provided a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate and always appreciated. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
We recommend that any group tips are collected in a envelope and handed directly to the intended recipient as a collective 'thank-you' by the group. The below amounts are suggested figures in USD for ease of calculating budgets, but should always be offered in local currency.
Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants - leave the loose change. More up-market restaurants we suggest 5% to 10% of your bill.
Local guides: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest US$1-2 per person per day for local guides.
Drivers: You may have a range of private drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however US$1-2 per person per day is generally appropriate.
Public toilet attendants: When using public toilets there will most likely be a attendant that will expect a tip. 20- 50 cents is appropriate.
Desert Camp hosts: If you have a night camping included on your itinerary US$2-3 is appropriate for the camp hosts.
Your Group Leader: You may also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline US$3-4 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
All departure taxes should be included in your international flight ticket.
RAMADAN & THE EID UL-FITR FESTIVAL 2012:
In 2012, the important month of Ramadan will be in progress from 20 July through until 18 August, and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.
Maximum of 12 travellers per group.
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.
Due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. However you can download Intrepid's FREE Meet Up app to chat with your fellow travellers before your trip. Meet up, discuss your upcoming trip and share the excitement of planning for your adventure. For more information visit:
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and don't involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multishare. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On a selection of our trips, you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have your own room (where available). Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.
A Single Supplement is available on this trip, please refer to your booking agent for further information. On the following nights the Single Supplement is not available:
- Day 9 Wadi Rum camp
Hotel (13 nts), Desert camp (1 nt)
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
HEATING & AIR-CONDITIONING:
Please note that as a desert region, Jordan can have extreme weather. Winter (approx. December to February) can be very cold. Consider bringing a sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in this period. Summer (approx. June to August) can be very hot. Although typically hotels do have air-conditioning it's not guaranteed that functioning air-conditioning will always be available.
Some Syrian hotels charge an extra YTL5 for air-conditioning however fans can be provided free of charge.
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. On our camping trips we often cook the region's specialities so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Van, Jeep, Public bus
All Intrepid group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.
Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Omar Bin Abi Rabiea St (behind the main Post Office)
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
Phone: +963 112229152
Fax: +963 112214683
We don't expect any problems (and nor should you) but if for any reason you are unable to commence your group trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your group leader.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer (where available) and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the starting point hotel, following the Joining Instructions in these Trip Notes. Should this occur, please apply to your travel agent for a refund of the transfer cost on your return.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Aisha Um Al Mu'meneen St
Please also make sure you have access to an additional US$400, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. As a general rule most countries expect that you will have at least 6 months' validity on your passport. On arrival visitors may be asked to present return tickets and evidence of means to cover your intended stay.
We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change - it's important that you check for yourself. Residents from other countries must consult the relevant embassies or your travel agent.
Australia: Yes - in advance
Belgium: Yes - in advance
Canada: Yes - in advance
Germany: Yes - in advance
Ireland: Yes - in advance
Netherlands: Yes - on arrival
New Zealand: Yes - on arrival
South Africa: Yes - in advance
Switzerland: Yes - in advance
United Kingdom: Yes - in advance
USA: Yes - in advance
Only when there is no Syrian embassy or consulate in the passport holder's country may an entry visa be issued at the border, such as New Zealand & Dutch passport holders. Depending on your nationality getting a visa at the border is often difficult and problematic.
Please note that it won't be possible to attain a visa or enter Syria with Israeli stamps in your passport.
Australia: Yes - on arrival
Belgium: Yes - on arrival
Canada: Yes - on arrival
Germany: Yes - on arrival
Ireland: Yes - on arrival
Netherlands: Yes - on arrival
New Zealand: Yes - on arrival
South Africa: Yes - on arrival
Switzerland: Yes - on arrival
United Kingdom: Yes - on arrival
USA: Yes - on arrival
Visas are required by all visitors entering Jordan. Single entry visas valid for 14 days and can be obtained, by most nationalities, on arrival at the airport in Amman or at the Jordanian border for approx. JOD20. It can be significantly more expensive to acquire your visa from the embassy in your home country. If you require a stay longer than 14 day, a visa obtained from the embassy in your home country will be valid for 2 months.
Please note that although there are ATMs in Amman airport, there are currently no ATMs in the immigration halls of Amman airport (but there are currency exchanges), so ensure you have some foreign currency on hand if you do not have your visa in advance.
Your Syria visa application form may require you to state the following entry & exit points:
~ point of exit from Syria is Nasib
~ point of entry to Jordan is Jabir
~ mode of transport is bus
You may also be required to supply your trip itinerary.
Issues on your trip
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. But we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete.
What to take
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg / 22lb.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list.
CLOTHING & CLIMATE:
Please note that as a desert region, the Middle East can have extreme weather!
Winter (approx. December to February) can be very cold. Consider bringing a sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in this period. Summer (approx. June to August) can be very hot. Although typically hotels do have air conditioning it is not guaranteed that functioning air conditioning will always be available.
Consider bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion ends up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please consider water purification techniques such as iodine or micropur and use the water dispensers which are provided at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day
All Intrepid travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please note that if, in the opinion of our group leader or local guide, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Intrepid reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations and anti-malarial requirements before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses) as they may not easily be obtained at the locations on this trip. For legal reasons our leaders and guides are prohibited from administering any type of drugs including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
As a rule we recommend you don't drink tap water, even in hotels, as it contains much higher levels of different minerals than the water you may have at home. For local people this is not a problem as their bodies are used to this and can cope, but for visitors drinking the tap water can result in illness. Generally this isn't serious, an upset stomach being the only symptom, but it's enough to spoil a day or two of your holiday. Bottled water is widely available and your leader can recommend safe alternatives when available. Water consumption should be about 3 litres a day. Rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets, and diarrhoea blockers are available from many pharmacies.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy on our website. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field:
Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
TRAFFIC AND DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD:
Depending on where you come from please note that drivers in this part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to. Look both ways before crossing any road. Traffic can be a little more chaotic than you might be used to at home. Be aware!
PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY:
While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing.
Some hotel balconies don't meet UK standards in terms of the width of the balcony fence being narrower than 10cm.
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in the western world or from your home country and not all the transport which we use provides seat belts.
Please take care when taking part in any activities in the ocean, river or open water, where waves and currents can be unpredictable. It's expected that anyone taking part in water activities is able to swim and have experience in open water. All swimmers should seek local advice before entering the water.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
When travelling on a group trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Please go to our website for links to various travel insurance providers:
We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. Please visit our website for further details and suggestions on how you can be a responsible traveller:
When packing be aware that dress standards are conservative and you should dress accordingly. To respect the local culture and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. As a guideline, shoulders and knees at the minimum (and everything in between including midriff and cleavage) should be covered at all times. Wearing shorts and singlet tops is not appropriate and may well restrict your entry into sites of a religious nature, family homes, and will limit your local interaction opportunities in general. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly warm climate.
A couple of rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Intrepid travellers. Intrepid's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular, the local people who make our destinations such special places. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
The Intrepid Foundation
Since Intrepid Travel commenced operating in 1989 we've been committed to giving something back to the communities we visit. One way has been through our support for local humanitarian, development and conservation projects. Many of our travellers want to contribute something too. Whilst it is often tempting to give hand-outs to those less fortunate, this has the potential to promote a culture of begging and dependency. Handouts are not a sustainable way for individuals or communities to live. That’s why we established The Intrepid Foundation – to make it easier for travellers wishing to give back to communities in an effective and meaningful way.
The Intrepid Foundation is a not-for-profit fund offering a selection of excellent grassroots organisations which you can contribute to. All donations to The Intrepid Foundation will be matched by Intrepid Travel dollar for dollar (up to AU$5,000 per donor and a total of AU$400,000 for all donors in each financial year). And every cent gets there as Intrepid Travel pays for all the administration costs. Donating is simple and secure. Please ask your group leader for information on the projects we support through The Intrepid Foundation or go to our website:
Carbon Offset C02-e 488.00 kgs per pax.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! This is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next trip if your feedback is completed online within 4 weeks of finishing your trip.
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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with VanuatuPublic Information Notice (PIN) No. 11/59
May 23, 2011
Public Information Notices (PINs) form part of the IMF's efforts to promote transparency of the IMF's views and analysis of economic developments and policies. With the consent of the country (or countries) concerned, PINs are issued after Executive Board discussions of Article IV consultations with member countries, of its surveillance of developments at the regional level, of post-program monitoring, and of ex post assessments of member countries with longer-term program engagements. PINs are also issued after Executive Board discussions of general policy matters, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Board in a particular case.
On April 22, 2011, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Vanuatu.1
Economic activity is showing signs of a moderate rebound after both external and domestic demand slowed down in 2009–10. Private investment is picking up, tourism is gradually expanding, and agricultural production is increasing partly in response to sharp rises in copra prices. The key downside risks are delays in infrastructure investment and slower tourism growth owing to recent natural disasters in the region. Inflation is ticking up and is expected to reach 4 percent on the back of higher food and oil prices, as well as rising domestic demand.
The balance of payments has been stable. The current account deficit remained high at about 6 percent of GDP in 2010, but was fully financed by foreign direct investment inflows and official grants. Official reserves remained around US$160 million (covering six months of imports) in 2010 after rising throughout 2009 (helped by the Special Drawing Rights allocation).
The fiscal deficit deteriorated to 2.7 percent of GDP in 2010 as revenue fell short of budget projections. Total revenue excluding grants shrunk 2.4 percent from 2009, compared with a budgeted increase of 17 percent, reflecting weaknesses in revenue from both external trade and domestic activity. For 2011, the authorities are targeting a substantial reduction in the deficit to 0.7 percent of GDP. They expect to achieve this reduction by maintaining the nominal wage bill broadly at the 2010 level and lowering capital expenditure.
The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV) maintains an easy monetary stance established at the onset of the global financial crisis. There is ample liquidity in the banking system, and bank lending grew by 12 percent (year-on-year) in 2010, with loans to households and foreign-exchange denominated loans increasing significantly. The vatu has changed little in effective terms since 2009.
Executive Board Assessment
Executive Directors commended the authorities for implementing appropriate policies, leading to a strong rebound in economic activity. The challenge now is to support the recovery while guarding against inflation risks and pushing ahead with fiscal consolidation. Over the medium term, rebuilding fiscal, external, and financial buffers is crucial to enhance Vanuatu’s resilience to shocks.
Directors considered this year’s budget expenditure target to be appropriate. They stressed the importance of limiting total expenditure to the budgeted level, particularly by containing the wage bill, but encouraged the authorities to allow free play of the automatic stabilizers on the revenue side, if needed. Directors recommended a broadly balanced budget for 2012, which would restore room for policy maneuver against future shocks. Further efforts to mobilize revenue, improve tax administration, and reduce contingent liabilities at public enterprises will also strengthen fiscal buffers.
With rising inflation risks, Directors encouraged early action to unwind the accommodative monetary stance. Rapid growth in credit to households and foreign currency loans calls for continued vigilance and, if necessary, additional prudential measures. Directors saw scope for some exchange rate depreciation as part of a broader macroeconomic response to persistent pressures on Vanuatu’s official foreign exchange reserves. More broadly, they underscored the need to safeguard external buffers by maintaining an adequate level of foreign exchange reserves.
Directors welcomed progress in bolstering the soundness of the banking sector, particularly the recent decision to tighten capital and liquidity requirements. They encouraged further efforts to strengthen the regulatory and supervisory framework that covers the whole financial system, including micro lenders and offshore banks.
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The environment we live in now is referred to as obesogenic and it's practically designed to make us fat. We're surrounded with overly tasty and incredibly convenient food. Sure, the super tasty stuff is addicting, but it's more than just an addiction to the taste, it's an addiction to the convenience. Because honestly, cooking can be a pain in the butt.
This past Father's Day was also my birthday, and in addition to a long ride on a new bicycle I gave myself the gift of not having to cook. We ordered pizza for the first time in a long time. I commenced inhaling it like the apocalypse was nigh. If I had to guess, I'd say I ate close to 2,000 calories worth of cheese-stuffed crust pizza. My teenage son came pretty close to that as well. That stuff just goes down, it's so easy. Just a phone call. No shopping. No thawing. No ingredients. No planning. No effort.
- The only thing a healthy diet costs is some extra time
- Lose Weight Fitness and Meal Plan: 28 Days to a Slimmer, Fitter You!
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When you're driving home from work after a long day and you don't know what to do for dinner, it's easy to hit that drive-through and pick up something greasy for everyone. You'll be a hero to the kids, because they love that stuff. Clean up is a breeze too. Just stuff it all into a garbage bag and you're all finished.
What to do?
I'm not sure about the relationship stuff. My wife doesn't cook, but we've got a great division of household labour so I've got the time and energy to look after the food side. When it comes to limiting the amount of processed, fast and restaurant food you eat, I can offer one tip: Avoid the all or nothing mentality.
Just because you're committed to making dinner at home with fresh ingredients doesn't mean it has to be fancy, take a long time or a lot of ingredients. The other night I made grilled cheese sandwiches (using whole grain bread and real cheese, of course) and put a bowl of grapes and raw carrots on the table. Maybe not the greatest dinner, but better than pizza, burgers or a bucket of fried chicken. Scrambled eggs are easy too. Sometimes it's just some spaghetti boiled up with butter and parmesan cheese on top.
Making sure the vast majority of your meals are cooked at home doesn't mean it has to be a tremendous effort every time. Feel free to embrace the "good enough."
Connect with Chatelaine:
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I have not yet hooked up limit switches to my G540, so what I am going to describe is based on reading the documentation only.
You should be able to wire all of the NO proximity switch outputs to a single G540 input in parallel, using the wiring diagram identified as "NPN parallel connection". Or, you could wire some of them in parallel to a single input and some others to individual inputs.
The output resistor labeled "R" in that diagram is actually built in to the G540 as the input "pull-up" resistor. With the output wire(s) of one or more NO switches wired to an input, the voltage on that input would normally be close to 12 volts, and that voltage would drop to near zero when any switch has been activated.
You will need to connect a positive power supply voltage to the +V terminals of the switches, and connect the minus terminals of the switches to the power supply ground terminal of the G540.
The question of where to get the +V positive power supply voltage for the switches will take some planning. Your best bet would probably be to find out what other G540 users are using to supply power to their proximity switches.
If I have read the datasheet correctly, the maximum power supply voltage for the switches is 30 volts. Many G540 users have something like a 48-volt power supply connected to the G540 power input terminal, and so if that's what you have, that is too high a voltage to connect directly to the proximity switch +V terminals. So you will either need to find a separate power source for the proximity switches (for example, a 24-volt DC supply) or else you will have to use a circuit that will drop the motor supply voltage to a suitable value.
If you decide to tap off of the 48 volt supply to provide power to the proximity switches, you would probably want to use a decent voltage regulator rather than a simple resistor to drop the voltage, to avoid any possibility of coupling motor-induced power spikes into your proximity switches. I don't think that you can get by with a simple 3-terminal 24-volt regulator such as a 7824 type to do the job, because 48 volts is probably higher than the maximum rated input voltage for those regulators.
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Kellogg recalled about 28 million boxes of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey Smacks this afternoon. The recall is due to an unpleasant smell and flavor from the boxes' plastic packaging that may be the cause of nausea and diarrhea. The boxes in question have better-if-used by dates ranging from March 26, 2011, to June 22, 2011. Kellogg claims the potential for any serious health problems is low but about 20 people complained of the smell, including five who reported nausea and vomiting. Ƒor more information, visit the company's website.
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Stevie Davies is no stranger to combining compelling story telling with moral complexity, so it comes as no surprise that her latest novel is set in Germany immediately after the Second World War.
Set on Lake Plön, a final retreat of the crumbling Third Reich, The Element of Water daringly explores issues of knowledge, guilt, complicity in horror.
The story splits into two time zones. First, the final days of the war after Hitler’s death. Then, 13 years later, when the Lake Plön naval barracks have been turned into a British Forces boarding school where German ex-naval intelligence officer, Michael Quantz (also at Plön in its earlier incarnation) and his son Wolfie now teach music.
Onto the scene arrives, fresh from Wales, a new teacher, Isolde – a young naturalized British woman who does not know her own long-lost father was a high-ranking SS thug. Without in any way excusing the evils of Nazism, this book has a somewhat unusual way into the issues. Isolde is shocked at the level of sadism and degradation at the English boarding school. But her protests are too weak to prevent tragedy. While her fellow English teachers ooze moral superiority over ‘Gerry’, Isolde sees nationalism and anti-semitism flourishing both inside and outside the school walls. It makes one wonder: what form of Anglo-Saxonism might have emerged from a Nazi victory?
The Element of Water has a lyrical, brooding quality and an atmosphere as airless as totalitarianism itself. But there are moments of transcending tenderness too, especially in the love that develops between Isolde and Wolfie. And Davies’ depiction of the fraught, painfully moving relationship between father and son has a tremendous psychological acuity. This is a soulful, nuanced book; full of shades of grey, with no easy answers, punctuated by the odd, welcome flash of wry humour.
This first appeared in our award-winning magazine - to read more, subscribe from just £7
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Then, in the distance, Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men.
Jacob now arranged his family into a column, with his two concubines and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him.
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears.
Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, "Who are these people with you?""These are the children God has graciously given to me," Jacob replied.
Then the concubines came forward with their children and bowed low before him.
Next Leah came with her children, and they bowed down. Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and made their bows.
"And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?" Esau asked.Jacob replied, "They are gifts, my lord, to ensure your goodwill."
"Brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."
"No, please accept them," Jacob said, "for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God!
Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me. I have more than enough." Jacob continued to insist, so Esau finally accepted them.
"Well, let's be going," Esau said. "I will stay with you and lead the way."
But Jacob replied, "You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, they may die.
So go on ahead of us. We will follow at our own pace and meet you at Seir."
"Well," Esau said, "at least let me leave some of my men to guide and protect you.""There is no reason for you to be so kind to me," Jacob insisted.
So Esau started back to Seir that same day.
Meanwhile, Jacob and his household traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his flocks and herds. That is why the place was named Succoth. a18
Then they arrived safely at Shechem, in Canaan, and they set up camp just outside the town.
Jacob bought the land he camped on from the family of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver. b20
And there he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. c
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (New Living Translation - The Bible Online)
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The future of the Fay Apartments is in doubt, and the City is exploring its options should the West Side complex close down.
A recent report issued by City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr is the result of a March 5 motion by City Councilmember Jeff Berding, signed by councilmembers Chris Monzel and Chris Bortz, asking the City Solicitor to look into any possible recourse that the City has should owner Stern-Hendy Properties, Inc.default on the terms of a sales and operations contract, and what is the likelihood of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) closing the apartments for good.
Fay Apartments is an 893-unit complex of affordable rental units located off of Baltimore Avenue (BIRD'S EYE), just south of I-74 and west of the community of South Cumminsville that includes:
* 650 units of project-based Section 8 rentals
* 128 units under a Moderate Rehabilitation contract through the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority
* 112 market-rate units
In 1982, the City of Cincinnati acquired the property from HUD and sold it to Stern-Hendy for $1 per unit in 1986.
Since that time, the City has provided nearly $1.2 million in loans to rehabilitate and upgrade the units.
With interest, the balance of that loan now stands at $4.2 million.
In late 2005, Stern-Hendy had proposed to sell the development to the National Housing Trust, a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to preserve the nation's affordable housing stock.
The National Housing Trust requested a $7 million gap financing loan to assist with its $65 million acquisition and redevelopment cost, which included the $35 million renovation of the Fay Apartments and the assumption of some of Stern-Hendy's debt.
Following the sale to the National Housing Trust, the market-rate units would have been eliminated and the Moderate Rehabilitation contract would have been replaced with a project-based Housing Assistance Program contract.
The National Housing Trust had planned to re-create the complex as a series of smaller "urban villages", with new kitchens, bathrooms, and air conditioning to be installed in all of the units.
Stern-Hendy would continue to maintain the buildings and grounds.
Despite a reconfigured, two-phased housing plan that would have lowered the initial cost to only $20 million, the National Housing Trust couldn't make the numbers work.
On March 6, Stern-Hendy alerted the City that the National Housing Trust had dropped out of the project entirely.
Trouble in the mortgage market is blamed for killing the deal.
As a result of the financial shakeup, large banks, as well as the federally-backed lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, stopped buying low-income housing tax credits, making most affordable housing redevelopment projects impossible.
Although Stern-Hendy promised the City an updated proposal for the complex, there has been no contact between the two parties since.
Spokespersons for Stern-Hendy have said on several occasions that without renovations, they would have to shut their operations down.
"Now this same developer is seeking more - $10,000 a unit," Berding wrote in a statement accompanying his motion. "It's difficult to determine the proper course of action when the only other option that has been presented by the owner is to close down the complex, leaving hundreds of tenants without a home."
The original sale agreement between the City and Stern-Hendy states that the Fay Apartments must be operated as low- to moderate-income housing, under HUD regulations, until the year 2018.
The agreement also says that Stern-Hendy must maintain a minimum number of units on the site, and cannot demolish any units below that minimum without City permission.
If the complex does close, it will likely be by Stern-Hendy's choice.
The property has remained in compliance with HUD regulations and quality standards and is up to City code.
If Stern-Hendy opts to close the Fay Apartments, the City would declare all outstanding notes due and payable and would begin the process of relocating tenants.
"The City Solicitor should be prepared to exercise the City's legal rights to hold the owner accountable to the original agreement while the administration determines the necessary orders needed for improvements in the quality of life for tenants," Berding wrote.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Posted by Kevin LeMaster at 5:10 AM
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By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY
Jack Bauer may lose 24 hours of sleep worrying about suitcase nukes, but should his viewers?
Probably not, nuclear weapons experts say.
Nuclear bombs cleverly concealed in suitcases don't exist in real life. Even so, they have long been a popular Hollywood plot point.
The lethal luggage — or what non-proliferation experts prefer to call portable nuclear devices — have been featured in action thrillers, including 1997's The Peacemaker with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman and 2002's Bad Company with Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock.
Now, 24 (Fox, Monday, 9 p.m. ET/PT) has had Kiefer Sutherland and the gang hunting for three bombs packed into suitcases.
But how concerned should we really be that suitcase nukes will one day be fact rather than fiction?
Arms control expert Charles Thornton of the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland calls the scenario "so highly unlikely as to be approaching fantasy."
Nikolai Sokov of the Center for Non-proliferation Studies in Monterey, Calif., says there is no evidence any scientist has been able to create a suitcase-contained nuclear device. In science fiction, "the more disastrous the event, the less likely," he says. "God forbid it happens. But no, it's not very likely."
Still, this threat is not just the imagination of an overcaffeinated screenwriter. Modern-day worries about suitcase nukes crested in the late 1990s, when the late Russian general Alexander Lebed suggested that a few dozen portable nuclear devices had disappeared from Russian military stockpiles at the beginning of the decade.
Loose Russian nukes have been a major preoccupation of weapons experts since the end of the Cold War. Concerns were underlined by the interception last year of an illegal shipment of weapons-quality uranium, 4 ounces in all (quite a bit less than the amount needed for a bomb), announced in January by Ivane Merabishvili, an official with the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.
In particular, worry centered on nuclear artillery shells built by the Soviet Union before its demise. The United States built its own lightweight devices, the parachute-borne Special Atomic Demolition Munition (SADM), which were phased out in 1989. Such devices had similar characteristics to the theoretical suitcase nukes, Sokov notes, including:
•Small size, perhaps measuring 23 inches long by 8 inches tall and weighing less than 70 pounds.
•Explosive yields from plutonium explosions under 1 kiloton, less than one-tenth as strong as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
•Short battery life for the devices, requiring recharging perhaps every six months.
Battery life is one glaring sticking point, Thornton and others say. Any device lost in the early '90s would be battery dead by now, as well as missing a few dozen maintenance checks. (24 plot spoiler alert: The story revolves around the villain seeking to somehow revive the batteries in his suitcase nukes.)
A 1-kiloton blast set off from a low-flying airplane would send out lethal radiation in a half-mile radius, leveling most of the buildings in a crowded city, the Federation of American Scientists says.
Though it's scary, such a scenario is far from our biggest nuclear terrorism worry, says nuclear physicist Peter Zimmerman of King's College London. In November, Zimmerman and Jeffrey Lewis of Harvard wrote in the journal Foreign Policy about the steps a domestic terrorist team would have to take to produce a full-fledged atomic bomb.
More real threats
Other experts, including Sokov, warn that a "dirty bomb" seems a more likely form of nuclear terrorism, albeit a less deadly one. A dirty bomb would blow up some radioactive material, perhaps discarded medical diagnostics such as radioactive cesium, in a crowded place. It would kill some people with the explosion and contaminate the area. The technical expertise needed to create such a bomb is much less, Sokov says.
Zimmerman views the poisoning of ex-Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in November as genuine nuclear terrorism, in part because Russians implicated in the death reportedly have left traces of polonium-210 across Europe, enough to trigger health concerns.
One side benefit of 24's hunt for suitcase nukes, fanciful or not, may be raising awareness of the threat of smuggled radioactive materials, Sokov says. But, he says, if people think spies rounding up non-existent suitcase nukes, rather than real anti-smuggling pacts between countries, will stop nuclear terrorism, "that's probably not a great message."
Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.
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A diver’s scuba gear malfunctioned off the coast of Port Aransas and he was brought to the surface unconscious, KIII-TV is reporting.
Brent Casey, 60, was helping out Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Harte Institute on Sunday by checking underwater sensors that monitor fish migrations, the Corpus Christi station reports.
About 3 p.m., 32 miles offshore, Casey’s equipment suddenly indicated his tanks were out of oxygen, KIII says.
“I put the regulator in my mouth. … I took in a breath of air and when I did it was water,” the diver told the station. “I sucked in water and I got choked. I hit the purge button, held it, and it was like blowing water down my throat instead of air.”
He passed out and other divers brought him to a ship waiting on the surface, where CPR was administered, KIII says. Casey then was flown to Spohn Shoreline Hospital, where he underwent hyperbaric treatment to depressurize his body.
Casey has been diving in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 30 years, the station notes. He operates his own fishing charters and gulf expeditions.
Read and view more:
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As the housing market recovers from the worst bust since the Great Depression, neophyte investors are following the lead of private-equity firms by investing in properties they can pick up cheaply, rent and sell when values rise enough, Bloomberg reported.
"The typical small-size mom-and-pop investor has two or three properties, looking at it as an income supplement with the possibility of being able to sell at some point when prices rise enough for them," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors.
Investors are becoming more comfortable with real estate after a six-year housing slump, which brought prices down nationwide by 35 percent, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index. Many remain skeptical of stocks, even though the Standard & Poor's 500 index has more than doubled since falling to a 12-year low in March 2009. Read more.
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Oct. 7, 1954
13 Airmen Die When B-50 Crashes And Burns; Four Crewmen Survive
By FLOYD TUCKER
An Air Force B-50 bomber on a weather reconnaissance mission from El Paso, Texas, crashed and burned five miles south of Willows last night, killing 13 of 17 crewmen aboard.
One crewman rode the plane to earth in the tail gunner's cramped turret, and miraculously survived the crash and fire that followed. Three others parachuted to safety. All four walked to ambulances.
Three of the victims jumped too close to the ground for their parachutes to open. Ten bodies were found in the wreckage.
Sheriff Lyle Sale of Glenn County was an eyewitness to the disaster. He was investigating an auto accident on the Riz Road less than one-quarter of a mile from the alfalfa field where the huge craft fell.
The plane's motors roared to a high pitch, faltered, and then quit. The ship nosed earthward, but appeared to level off slightly several hundred feet above the ground, Lyle said.
Mrs. A.B. Chittenden, whose ranch home is only 100 yards from the crash, said she and her husband heard a roar that got "louder and louder."
Run For Safety
"It wasn't a normal sound for a big plane, but more of a screaming noise as if it were in a spin. We thought it was coming right at us and we turned and ran away as fast as we could." she said.
Sheriff Sale sounded a call on his patrol car radio for all Glenn County law enforcement officers, doctors,
Fuel Tanks Explode
Six volunteer fire companies from communities as far as 30 miles away fought to control fires that broke out in all parts of the scattered wreckage. The plane's fuel tanks burst, and minor explosions continued for 25 minutes.
By chance, 1,400 gallons of gasoline stored in a tank near the Chittenden house did not catch fire. Sections of the plane struck two rice storage bins, knocking them off their foundations.
Air Force officers heading a rescue unit from Hamilton Field rang down a curtain of security upon their arrival an hour after the crash. The wreckage was roped off, and the four survivors were placed under a security watch. The Air Force lifted the security ban briefly at 2 a.m. today to allow Bay Area newspapermen to visit the scene.
The survivors were identified as T-Sgt. Natividad Vasquez, S-Sgt. Joseph E. Wittene, Airman 1-C John B. Patton, and Sgt. Frank M. Imely.
Air Force investigators probed the wreckage today, seeking a clue to the cause of the crash. Similarities were noted between accounts of eyewitnesses to last night's crash and witnesses to the crash of a B-50 west of Gridley on Jan. 12,1953.
In both cases, the witnesses said the plane appeared to be flying normally until engines suddenly roared faster than usual. In both cases the witnesses said the planes appeared to level off slightly just before the impact.
Glenn General Hospital reported today that each of the four survivors is in "satisfactory condition." Sheriff Sale said he saw three parachutes leave the plane as it dove earthward, and another crewman jump when the plane was only about 100 feet above the ground. The man who rode the tail section to earth crawled out of the wreckage as Sale ran up.
Wanted To Search Plane
"How he came through that I'll never know," the Sheriff declared. "He didn't want to leave even after the ambulances arrived. He wanted to go back over to the wreck and help look for his buddies."
The B-50, a post-war version of the B-29 "Super fortress," has a cruising range of 5,000 miles and normal speed of 300 miles per hour. The ship was 99 feet long with a 141-foot wingspan.
Oct. 7, 1954. the Korea War was over, well not really over, a truce had been signed and the killing of Americans had stopped, well not really, more Americans would die in Korea over the coming years, most by accidents but some by hostile action.
I was 14 years and 3 days old, I had not yet started to read the Oroville Mercury, although by my next year my Civics teacher at Oroville High, Mr. Fylling instructed us to read a local newspaper throughout your life, to be a good citizen you need to know what is going on around you. So therefore you reading this are good citizens.
I don't remember ever hearing about any of these crashes. I did write about the above-mentioned B-50 crash west of Gridley.
I found a way to get tiles on our wall to honor those eleven brave young men; maybe it can be done some how for these 13 airmen that flew over our skies. Perhaps even over Oroville that day and died in an alfalfa field so far from their homes. Something should be done. Maybe there is a memorial for them over in Glenn County. I will try to find out. Anyone want to help?
They can be put on our tile wall, but to be put on our main Cold War stone you needed to die in Butte County or be from Butte County and in the service of your country when you died. All memorials have to have some kind of guide lines or things would get out of hand. Remember our tile wall is to honor all service men and women.
Flag Day went very well. Thanks to all especially James Lenoff and "Alberta Tracy and all that held that big flag. Good job Jessica!
Bill Connelly and I are co-chairmen of the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Honoring All of Butte County. Please check out our website, by webmaster Daryl Autrey, at www.orovilleveteransmemorialpark.org. If you have anything you would like to share with me please call me at 533-8147.
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As a multi-instrumentalist, he is famous for playing the guitar, piano, and saxophone, but also plays the harmonica, drums, cello, marimba, bass guitar, koto, and stylophone. His first single was released in 1964, but he rose to fame with the 1969 single “Space Oddity” and the 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Subsequent albums have explored blue-eyed soul, electronica, and new wave, often pre-dating these genres’ popularity or even the point at which they were defined as genres.
Bowie is one of the most influential rock musicians from the 1970s to the present. He has sold an estimated 136 million albums in his career and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to his musical career, Bowie has had success as a painter, web-designer, sculptor, Broadway actor starring in The Elephant Man, and film actor starring in many films.
Bowie is also credited as being a major inspiration behind the new romantic, futurist movement, and subsequent development of electronic/electronica music.
Bowie frequently brings the worlds of high art, mime, and straight theatre to his stage acts. His most famous on-stage look was that of Ziggy Stardust; other personae include Halloween Jack, Aladdin Sane, and the Thin White Duke.
Edited by NoirVixen on 25 Jan 2013, 14:29
Registered users can edit this page. Sign up now, it’s free and you will discover so much great music :)
Generated from facts marked up in the wiki.
- Formed in
- Founded in
- Brixton, London, UK
You can also view a list of all recent wiki changes.
From other sources.
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On the evening of Apr. 8, 2005, holders of tickets for Vanessa Beecroft's sold-out VB55 lined up around the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, an unfortunate repeat of the long queues that also attended the "Das MoMA in Berlin" exhibition last year. The monumental, four-sided pavilion of glass and steel, sited on its massive granite foundation, was the last project completed in his lifetime by the eminent architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Like none of his other buildings, the Neue Nationalgalerie creates an absolute dissolution of the boundaries between architecture and environment, with the most perfect proportions and a virtual elimination of any functional details.
It was of course a dream for Vanessa Beecroft to stage one of her tableaux-vivants in such a sublimely reflexive architecture, and considering her emotional attachment to Berlin, where she used to visit her grandmother in the former East German part of the city.
VB55 is the Italian artist's largest performance to date, featuring 100 naked women, from 18 to 65 years old, presented barefoot on the stone floor for three uninterrupted hours, wearing sheer panty hose, their heterogeneous bodies lubricated with almond oil. Aligned between the two colossal marble pillars that support the suspended steel roof, once one of the largest structures of its type, the human props are loosely ordered by hair color (and accordingly, pubic hair color), from red through yellow to black, a reverence to the German national flag.
Beecroft has already expressed her taste for military paraphernalia in VB38 and VB42, her only performances using the "stronger sex," which featured men in uniforms. The performance is also intended to function as a self-portrait, and indeed, the artist could be considered a perfect representation of her work, albeit remaining dressed and holding a bottle of water, roaming around with an artificially cool aura.
But we do not have here one of Santiago Sierra's brutal demonstrations putting "workers" through their sadistic paces. Despite Beecroft's set of rules that are allegedly "interpreted" by the models, none of the living sculptures fainted from the voyeuristic gaze of the amateurs in the audience (though mercifully both a psychoanalyst and an emergency nurse were on the ground ready to intervene.
Unlike with VB35, the memorable 1998 performance in the rotunda of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York [see "Nude at the Guggenheim," Apr. 24, 1998], the overcrowded flat space of the Neue Nationalgalerie did not permit an overview of the installation of nude flesh. The performance had felt more human, and in subtler interaction with the empty architecture, the day before, during the shooting of the photographs and video that are now the only record of this ephemeral work.
Notwithstanding the current attention for process-oriented art, Beecroft is keen to refer to Italian Mannerist painting or Neo-Classical sculpture rather than performances by Yves Klein or Gilbert & George, and even with her mimetic predilection for Rainer Werner Fassbinders cinema she avoids the inclination toward lesbian sadomasochism.
The work is about contradictions and this is what probably constitutes its contemporary magnetism. It is about internalized feminism and autobiographical eating disorders. It is not about fashion though Beecroft's 2000 wedding, VBGD (the couple's initials), was produced by Italian Vogue. It is not about fascism, but the "master" refuses to speak directly with her controlled human tools -- to keep what she called a "violent tension."
It is about a diverse and democratic ideal of beauty, but regardless of the quintessential transparency of this public building, the non-paying populace is kept far away -- one of the curators justified the policy as necessary to avoid sexual harassment, even though complete nudity can be seen in the citys parks all summer long.
In our post-political liberal society, public order is no longer maintained by dictatorial repression and strict regulation; our impulses, from sexual orientation to cultural behavior, are more and more often experienced as matters of free choice. In this hedonistic and permissive context, the rigidly codified, authoritarian relationship in Beecrofts performances becomes transgressive and appeals metaphorically to the need for structure in our chaotic social lives -- a freely chosen master/slave form of coexistence, which might provide deep esthetical and libidinal satisfaction, and which, along with naturism, provides two requisite German fetishes.
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Luck apart, it was modern telecom to the rescue, while TV kept the worry on
Hiroshi Alley, Chief Sales and Operations Officer of Wipro Japan, was in his cabin in the afternoon on the 26th floor of the building in their main centre in Yokohama when he felt the ground beneath and everything else in the office was shaking.
Being in an earthquake-prone region, this is not uncommon in most Japanese cities. But he soon realised it was not the usual mild stuff. “It started very slow and then became very strong, rocking the whole building back and forth. Then I realised it is quite a big earthquake,” he told Business Standard from his office.
Alley and his colleagues were lucky; Yokohama was 250 km away from the epicentre. “Fortunately, no building here has been damaged,” he said, merely played around with as though on a pendulum. So, while staff and their kin in this city are safe, getting back home is an issue: trains have been cancelled and the traffic jams are “terrible”.
It was modern telecommunications that spread the news — and the relief — fairly quickly. Tata Consultancy Services, for instance, also has about 300 people in Yokohama, plus its largest client there; some staffers work at the latter’s premises. They had to get in touch right away, as the news came and did so, but found the telephone lines dead. But e-mail worked: “We are in constant touch with our delivery centre head and other senior people through e-mail. All are safe,” said a spokesperson.
For Japanese managers in India, it was a far more harrowing day. At Panasonic’s Gurgaon office, Japanese managers were glued to television sets, desktops, laptops and hand-held devices, desperately seeking updates. Their Indian colleagues were equally disturbed. Said Manish Sharma, director, marketing: “It’s sad to see them so down. We all work together. And, what affects them affects us.”
Part of the problem was the television visuals. Though most companies — Sony, Toshiba, Daikin, Hitachi, besides Panasonic, said all staffers were safe, the screen images offered no relief. “It is terrifying to see those pictures on TV,” says an executive from Delhi-based Hitachi Home and Life Solutions. “Three people from the Indian team were travelling to Japan today. We are hoping they are safe.”
According to industry sources, Japanese consumer electronic companies are assessing the potential damage caused by the quake and tsunami to their manufacturing operations. Companies such as Sanyo, Sharp and Panasonic have already suspended operations at several plants in the country. This is likely to affect production and distribution of their products.
At other industries, too. Toyota Motor Corporation and its affiliates have temporarily shut operations at three plants in Japan. A spokesperson for Honda Siel Cars India said there were reports of a Japanese government advisory to halt production across factories in the country, which they were trying to confirm.
Shashank Srivastava, chief general manager (marketing), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said, “Some (of our) factories are close to the coast. Till now, we have not got news of operations being affected in Japan. But an assessment has to be carried out.”
“At any given time we have 100 engineers stationed in Japan, who have been sent for training purposes. We have contacted each of them and they’re all fine,” stated a senior executive from MSIL’s R&D team.
As a matter of fact, R C Bhargava, chairman, and Shinzo Nakanishi, managing director, MSIL, were on their way back to India from Japan at the time of the quake. They are safe.
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Charles Gelman has already posted here on Stephen Prothero’s book God is Not One, but a new interview with the author, published at Religion Dispatches, may be of additional interest. In it, Prothero clarifies his book’s location and argument:
In some ways it’s a follow-up to Religious Literacy, which argued that while the United States is one of the most religious nations on Earth we know almost nothing about our own religions and even less about the religions of others. Here I wanted to provide some basic literacy about the world’s religions, and do a little ranting along the way.
The main argument is that the world’s religions are climbing different mountains with very different tools and techniques. One perspective that new atheists and liberal multiculturalists share is that the religions are essentially the same (false and poisonous on the one hand, and true and beautiful on the other). I think this view is dangerous, disrespectful, and untrue.
The notion that all religions are in essence one seduces us into thinking that we can send 160,000 troops into Iraq without reckoning with the fundamental differences between Christianity and Islam or, for that matter, between Sunnis and Shias. It prevents us from seeing the role that religions plan in many of the world’s hotspots: from Israel and the Palestinian territories to Nigeria and Kashmir. Equally importantly, it prevents us from seeing and appreciating the unique beauty of each of these religions. If I am a Christian and all religions are essentially the same, what do I have to learn from reading the Daodejing or from attending a Hindu wedding?
The bottom line? Tolerance is an empty virtue if you don’t even understand what you are tolerating. In God is Not One, I try to present as best as I can my own understanding of the world’s most influential religions.
Additionally, regarding the book’s reception and audience, Prothero states:
I’m writing for general readers rather than academics. Some academics who have read the book have said I’m coming late to the party—that religious studies scholars have been rejecting the so-called perennial philosophy for a generation. That is largely true. But not many religious studies scholars write popular books on religion, so the most widely-read books on the subject still preach pretend pluralism. What good does it do our soldiers in Iraq to tell them that Sunni and Shia Islam are essentially the same? Or our diplomats in the Middle East to tell them that the differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are inconsequential. So I’m for those soldiers and those diplomats—curious readers who know you can’t understand the world without understanding the powerful role the world’s religions play in it.
Read the full interview here.
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Roof Coatings Phoenix: Comparison between commercial Elastomeric Roof Coating and Aluminum Roof Coating
Commercial roofs are a vital part of any business and provide protection from heat and cold for its occupants. When constructing flat or low sloped roofing systems, contractors, architects and building owners are typically unaware of the important roll roof coatings can play in the performance of their new or existing roofing systems. Aluminum and elastomeric coatings are among the many varieties that are available today in the roofing industry. Roof Coatings Phoenix tell us that these coatings can help extend the life of a new or existing roof if applied properly on the top layer of a roof system to protect the roofing materials from the damaging effects of ultra violet light degradation and everyday weather conditions.
Benefits of roof coatings
Benefits of roof coatings
Coatings can deliver cost benefits no matter which type you use. Roof Coatings Phoenix says the important thing to remember is that they need to be applied professionally in the recommended manner to provide long term sustainable performance and a given value for the money invested. Commercial roof coatings help save on costs due to roof problems and avoid the disruption to a business that comes with replacing a roof due to damages caused by a failed roofing system. Coatings can typically be used to restore roofs made of metal, polyurethane foam, single ply, built-up and modified bitumen among others types. Among the widely used types of roof coatings are acrylic elastomer coatings and aluminum coatings. But how do you decide which type of roof coating is better and enduring?
Elastomeric commercial roof coating
Most elastomeric commercial roof coatings are a premium, water-based acrylic latex coating with superior elongation, tensile strength, ponded water and ultra violet light resistance. Properly applied, white elastomeric roof coatings can reflect up to 88% of sun’s heat and UV rays, lower roof and interior temperatures, prolong roof life, and reduces air conditioning usage and costs. But keep in mind, not all elastomerics are the same, elongation and tensile strength properties are often used by Roof Coatings Phoenix to promote one elastomeric coating over another. Unfortunately, a coating may yield different properties depending upon how the coating is formulated. What about low temperature properties? A coating that may provide satisfactory elongation in warm climates may not be suitable for colder climates. Moreover, a coating applied to a roofing substrate that is less dynamic, such as pre-cast concrete or metal roofing may perform satisfactorily. Thus, substrate dynamics must be considered when making a prudent choice.
Aluminum commercial roof coatings
Summer heat can severely distort many types of commercial roofs that have a built-up or modified bitumen roof and create splits, voids, and cracks in the surface of the existing roof. However, not all roofing systems can be coated with white elastomeric coating if they have been previously coated with aluminums. In most cases, aluminum coatings are typically used when trying to keep costs to a minimum. Though highly reflective, aluminum coatings do not provide the cooling effects and the reduced heat transfer in to the building structure of white elastomeric coatings. If you’re a building owner with an existing built-up or modified roof already coated with an aluminum this will be the best choice as aluminum coatings will bond well together than that of a white elastomer coatings. Aluminum coatings also work well for restoring existing metal roofs.
Here are two very important factors to consider when choosing and aluminum roof coating:
1. Some manufacturers incorporate rust inhibitors into their formulations to smother and prevent any further damage to rusted metal panels.
2. Some manufacturers have Energy Star certification.
Roof Coatings Phoenix states that this is another one of the many ways in which aluminum roof coatings help save you money. However, do your homework because not all aluminum coatings are created equal and these two factors can make a big difference in how well your aluminum coating performs.
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The Reality of Ascension on the Spirit Planes
To the residents of the physical plane, the whole notion of ascension is novel, but to the residents of the spirit planes, those who have passed through the transition we think of as “death,” the notion of ascension is well accepted and much better understood.
Frederic Meyers tells us that “we dwell in each state or world during the time we are attached to the appearances that constitute that world.” (1) His is not an uncommon comment.
The unnamed teacher who spoke through Betty Bethards also revealed that “you experience the level to which you have learned to attune your consciousness. When you learn the lessons of a particular vibration, you may move to a finer vibration of experience.” (2) That is essentially what’s happening for us at this time, is it not?
And Silver Birch, the well-known spirit guide who spoke through Maurice Barbanell and who was the earliest channeled voice I listened to and the SaLuSa of his day, also told us many years ago about ascension. As I said a few days ago, the spirit world works differently than the material plane in the sense that people are sorted out according to their level of attainment.
“The sphere or plane on which you exist in our world contains individuals at the same stage of spiritual development as you are. You can’t go higher spiritually until you are ready. You can go lower, as many of us do to perform missionary work among the unenlightened beings in the lower spheres.” (3)
Ascension involves movement of people from one dimension or plane to another, he explains. “As you advance beyond [one plane], you leave it behind. As the spirit qualifies itself, by growth, progress and evolution, so it naturally passes to the next stage of spirit life.” (4)
He describes ascension from one plane to another this way: “You do not climb from one sphere into another; you grow, you evolve. The lower gives way to the higher. You ‘die’ and are born again and again.” (5)
Silver Birch reminds us that “there are many deaths and many births.” (6) There is one “death” so to speak for each plane we ascend to because we leave the body appropriate to the former plane behind. It isn’t similar to physical death, he explains.
“You do not lose the astral body in quite the same way that you lose the material body. It becomes rarefied, it becomes refined, as the lower drops away. That is its death, for death really means transformation, resurrection, the rising of the higher out of the lower.” (7)
Some like WWI soldier and artist, Sigwart, advanced quickly from sphere to sphere. What I’ve called spiritual evolution, he called “continuous development.” (8) And he was very eager to advance.
He was given a preview of the Mental Plane and exclaimed: “When one has had a few glimpses into the higher spheres, how great and glorious everything is! This is a strong incentive to advance further.” (9) There was no holding Sigwart back: “My will to know is becoming greater every day and daily I am gaining more.” (10)
Then he entered what probably was the first subplane of the Mental Plane and told his relatives: “I am not in the so-called “Astral Sphere” nor in the “Devachan Sphere” [Heaven or the Mental Planes proper] at present, but in a middle realm. I have advanced farther in a shorter time than many others because of my interest in everything spiritual during my life on earth.” (11)
Residing in the early stage of entry into the Mental Plane, he told his earthbound family: “I have reached a sphere where everything is easier. I am less disturbed by many things that used to confuse me. An oscillation of equanimity surrounds me.” (12) “New doors are opening for me; I may behold glorious sights. Have I not reason to be happy? … It is … satisfying to advance as quickly as possible and explore all the splendor.” (13)
In this first subplane of the Mental Planes comes the reflective process known as the” Judgement,” after which comes the shedding of the body in the “Second Death.” (I don’t believe these processes will be a feature of our Ascension.) Prior to these events, Sigwart says:
“I do not know how long I shall remain on this present spiritual level, but I believe it will not be much longer. Then I shall step out of my present body just as you would lay aside your physical body.” (14)
Waiting was tedious for him. Yet he was now in touch with the higher life of the “Devachan” more completely than he had been when he merely visited the Mental Plane from the Astral.
“How long the process of dying lasts! I am still dying; I am divesting myself continuously of sheaths and each time I perceive more and feel differently. … “My true life has begun now; the dream condition has ended.” (15)
He then passed through most of the Judgement, as he states here:
“I have overcome most of the hardships now. I have passed a test. It was not easy but then the feeling of success is glorious. … The period of self-contemplation has ended. Part of my ego is still occupied with it, but for a few hours I may enjoy again the pleasures of sublime existence.” (16)
After the Second Death and the total falling away of the Astral body, he exclaimed: “The fetters of earth have been stripped off me.” (17) After his ascent, he related back to his family: “You have to imagine me in a different light now, because I have changed completely.” (18)
In an earlier article, I described the ascent of “Dr. G.” (19) Here then is a second ascent: that of Sigwart.
I’ll look more at ascension from the spirit side in other articles. But these descriptions for now can show us that ascension is well known in the spirit planes and anticipated by all residents there who are aware of it.
(1) Frederic W.H. Myers through Geraldine Cummins, medium, Beyond Human Personality. Downloaded from http://www.trans4mind.com/spiritual/cummins/cummins2.html, n.p.
(2) Unnamed spirit teacher through Betty Bethards, medium, There is No Death. Novato, CA: Inner Light Foundation, 1976; c1975, 15.
(3) Silver Birch, Light from Silver Birch. Comp. Pam Riva. London: Psychic Press, 1983 19.
(4) Silver Birch, Silver Birch Anthology. Ed. Wm. Naylor. London: Spiritualist Press, 1974; c1955, 57.
(5) Ibid., 58.
(6) Ibid., 57.
(7) Ibid., 58.
(8) Sigwart in Joseph Wetzl, trans., The Bridge Over the River. Communications from the Life After Death of a Young Artist Who Died in World War One. Spring Valley: Anthroposophic Press, 1974, 34.
(9) Ibid., 14.
(10) Ibid., 15.
(11) Ibid., 28.
(12) Ibid., 30.
(13) Ibid., 32.
(14) Ibid., 9.
(15) Ibid., 30.
(16) Ibid., 35.
(17) loc. cit.
(18) Ibid., 34.
(19) In “Dimensions: Differences and Similarities,” July 23, 2012, at http://the2012scenario.com/2012/07/dimensions-differences-and-similarities/ and “Why is This Transformational Process Called “Ascension”? Nov. 17, 2011,” at http://the2012scenario.com/ascension/what-is-ascension/why-is-this-transformational-process-called-ascension/. The account of Dr. G’s ascension occurs in T.E. Lawrence through Jane Sherwood, medium, Post-Mortem Journal. Communications from T.E. Lawrence. London: Spearman, 1964, 77.
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This Protocol shall be open for signature at the United Nations Office at Nairobi by States and regional economic integration organizations from 15 to 26 May 2000, and at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 June 2000 to 4 June 2001.
730. Article 36 specifies which entities may sign the Protocol, and the arrangements for signature.
731. The term “regional economic integration organization” is defined in Article 3(j).
732. As of June 5, 2001, 102 States and the European Community had signed the Protocol.
733. By signing the Protocol, States indicate that they intend to become bound by the obligations contained in it. However, signing a treaty does not normally of itself have a binding effect on the State concerned if that instrument requires ratification, as is the case for this Protocol. The Protocol becomes binding in accordance with its provisions on entry into force (see commentary on Article 37). However, after signature, the State concerned is obliged to refrain from acts which could defeat the object and purpose of the instrument.139 In the case of this Protocol, the objective is set out in Article 1.
734. Article 36 allows “States” to sign the Protocol, while only “Parties to the CBD” may actually become Parties. No State that is not Party to the CBD, however, signed the Protocol before the close of the signature period.
139 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Article 18.
< previous section < index > next section >
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Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down personhood proposal
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the proposed personhood measure violates a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court opinion upholding the right of a woman to have an abortion.
A proposed ballot issue that would have defined a fertilized human egg as a person is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The nine justices were unanimous in ruling the personhood proposal was void and should be stricken, saying the U.S. Supreme Court already has ruled that women have a constitutional right to an abortion. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled in the past that unconstitutional initiatives should not make it to voters on a ballot.
NewsOK Related Articles
The personhood proposal, Initiative Petition No. 395, would have effectively banned all abortions and many types of birth control, as well as severely threatened fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, said officials with The Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the lawsuit questioning its constitutionality. Backers were trying to get it on November's general election ballot.
Dan Skerbitz, of Tulsa, director of Personhood Oklahoma, said the group will look at its options, including the possibility of getting lawmakers to pass a resolution to put the issue directly on the ballot.
“We're disappointed by the ruling,” Skerbitz said. “We're going to look at the legal ramifications of the ruling and what legal options are there if any, and then also how that impacts what we're trying to do from just a pro-life option, which will never stop.”
It's the second blow in less than a week for backers of the personhood effort in Oklahoma. Leadership in the state House of Representatives on Thursday refused to take up Senate Bill 1433; it was the last day Senate bills could be taken up in the House. Backers of SB 1433 said it was a statement that Oklahomans value life and that nothing in the measure would prohibit contraception or in vitro fertilization; opponents said it could lead to restrictions on abortions, birth control, in vitro fertilization and stem cell research.
“This is a highly charged issue and one that draws a lot of attention from all over the country,” Skerbitz said. “What the Legislature did was a huge disappointment; we'd hoped they'd showed a little more courage.”
Skerbitz said earlier that a goal of seeking the constitutional amendment is to draw a legal challenge to the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that struck down anti-abortion laws in the
About the lawsuit
The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit on behalf of Oklahoma physicians who provide a range of reproductive health care to women, including contraceptives, abortion care, prenatal care and infertility treatment, and on behalf of women who would have been affected by the amendment.
Nancy Northup, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said, “In this case, the Oklahoma Constitution said it best: It is not acceptable to propose amendments that are ‘repugnant to the Constitution of the United States.'
“This amendment would have run roughshod over the fundamental, constitutionally protected reproductive rights of all Oklahoma women,” Northup said.
Ryan Kiesel, a former state lawmaker who is executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, said he was relieved by the high court's ruling.
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Boys are made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails while girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, right?
In this post-female-emancipation era of gender equality, we as parents still firmly hold on to the outdated gender stereotypes of sweet, pink-tutu-clad girls and tough, dinosaur- and gun-loving boys. Research shows that schoolteachers continue to reward kids in gender-stereotypical way -- girls for being sweet and compliant, and boys for being outspoken and assertive. No wonder gossip magazines are having such a field day with the tomboy Shiloh, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's adorable daughter, who insists on wearing her brothers' clothes. The same media that vilifies Shiloh's gender-bending ways extols Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise's ultra-feminine daughter Suri, who took her first steps wearing toddler high-heels and toting designer baby purses that cost more than most mothers' monthly salaries.
I must admit that it took some willpower for me to stop buying dresses for my athletic older daughter after she denounced them as uncomfortable. Come to think of it, they are! Pants and flats are far more comfortable than dresses and heels, yet, as mothers, we still prefer our daughters in gender-stereotypical garb. But while most mothers merely frown at their daughter's dislike of dresses, they seem to be far less tolerant of any less-than-masculine manifestations in their sons. Research shows that given a choice, parents prefer their sons to grow up to be bullies rather than wussies, linebackers rather than Billy Elliotts. I remember how difficult it was for my tomboy sister, a black belt in martial arts and a fitness devotee, to watch as her chubby son refused to fight back in karate classes or display any interest in team sports. She eventually resigned herself to his wimpy ways and artistic inclinations, limiting her intervention to helping him lose weight by cutting out junk food and installing a treadmill in his bedroom. Unfortunately, many parents take the gender-role enforcement much further than multiple attempts to push their sons into male athletics.
Take the case of Kirk Murphy, who received government-funded experimental psychological treatment as a child in the 1970s, to nip his "errant," effeminate ways in the bud. Kirk's mother was concerned because he liked playing with dolls and petting their hair, so she took him to a doctoral psychology student, George A. Rekers, whom she saw advertise his gender-affirming therapy on television. In the lab the experimenters told to ignore her son when he played with feminine toys and compliment him when he played with masculine toys, and the mother complied, despite her son's tantrums and desperate bids for her attention. To continue the experiment at home, the mother was told to give out blue chips for masculine behavior, which would bring rewards, such as candy. The red chips, given for effeminate behavior, resulted in "physical punishment by spanking from the father," which turned out to be so severe that his mother had to hide under the pillow to escape the sound of her son screaming. Kirk's formal clinical treatment lasted 10 months, but the family said that some of the treatment techniques and practices lasted longer at home. His older brother remembers Kirk's disposition changing from a happy one to withdrawn and taciturn as a result of the treatment.
The study about Kirk's treatment, later published in an academic journal in which experimenters referred to him as "Kraig," concludes that this therapy was successful in eliminating Kirk's feminine behavior and that he became "indistinguishable from any other boy." Kirk went on to have a successful eight-year career in the Air Force and a high-profile position with an American finance company in India, but at the age of 38, he suddenly committed suicide by hanging himself. The family now blames Kirk's suicide on Rekers, who for three decades was a leading national expert in trying to prevent children from becoming gay (until an embarrassing scandal with a male escort ended his anti-gay championship).
I won't expound on the blatant lack of ethics inherent in this treatment, which encourages corporal punishment of a child. The history of psychology has been built on unethical and inhumane experiments. Remember John B. Watson, the luminary of behaviorism, who scared the daylights out of someone's infant with loud noises in his famous white rat experiment? This research was immortalized in psychology textbooks as the "Little Albert" experiment. As psychology students, we were never told that Watson never bothered obtaining written permission from the infant's mother, who was an unmarried wet nurse at the hospital, nor did he care to explore the long-term effect of this experiment on the child's well-being. Watson was eventually dismissed from John Hopkins University, not for his reckless experiment on someone's baby but for having an affair with his student, which led to a scandalous divorce.
When CNN contacted Kirk's experimenters, who went on to publish 17 papers and book chapters about "Kraig," they claimed that Kirk was perfectly well-adjusted following their treatment and that they did not see "any red flags." There were no empathic condolences or apologies offered to the family by the researchers, whose research was discredited as homophobic. But what is even more troubling than the callousness of these psychologists is Kirk's mother's complacent disregard of her own maternal instincts to protect and cherish her child as she delegated her parental prerogative to coldhearted experimenters, who were more concerned with their careers than this child's well-being. Kirk's tragic story is one of many proofs that failing to validate our children's burgeoning identity and pressuring them to adopt societal stereotypes results in long-term self-loathing and maladjustment and, possibly, self-annihilation.
With all the pep talk of encouraging our children's self-determinism and self-acceptance, why are we still hellbent on enforcing our children's conformity to gender stereotypes? Is it because we view our children as our little extensions, projecting our own unfulfilled dreams and desires upon them? They become litmus tests of our parental success, their gender conformity serving as a tribute to our normality, whereas their deviation would reveal our fears of our own psychological maladjustment. In fact, recent research shows that we have a much smaller impact on how our children turn out; upbringing accounts for less than 30 percent, with the rest of the outcome being influenced by genetics, intrauterine events, societal and peer influences and other variables. Kudos to Brangelina for letting Shiloh be the little tomboy that she is, nonchalantly brushing off criticisms of her boyish haircut and suggestions that she will follow in the footsteps of Cher's daughter Chastity, who became Chaz after gender reassignment surgery. And kudos to Cher for loving and accepting her overweight daughter, even after she became her son, even while admitting that such acceptance was not easy for her.
As hard as it may be, we must make it a goal as a humanistic society to accept the biological randomness of gender identity presentations and to offer every individual, regardless of their appearance, validation and support instead of criticism and scorn. And it is our penultimate parental task to realize that variations of human phenotype are independent of our influence as parents and to give up the pathological need to make our children fit into the mold of our stereotypes. Effeminate boys and masculine girls may challenge our own cultural biases as parents, but in such challenges lie opportunities for deeper existential experience and growth of our parental love. As a therapist, I often present the parents I counsel with the following wisdom of Kahlil Gibran:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
|
<urn:uuid:22ac1f43-7ae9-4006-9e8d-7bc70d91107f>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victoria-z-wilson-jd-phd/kids-gender-stereotypes_b_877730.html
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The Salvation Army Correctional Service
105 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60607-2401
Phone: (312) 421-2406
What Is Correctional Services?
A variety of programs have been offered under the umbrella of SACSP to assist incarcerated men and women, those in transition from prison to the community and troubled youth. These include an adult Community Correctional program, a transportation program to help families visit incarcerated relatives, a Christmas gift program for children of the incarcerated and Chaplaincy services.
What Is The Community Correctional Program?
Since its inception in 1975, The Salvation Army Community Correctional Program, currently known as the “Pathway Forward” program, has assisted more than 20,000 men and women in their return to the community. The Salvation Army Pathway Forward program is a residential work-release program designed to help those who have been imprisoned to effectively re-enter society. We provide transitional housing and services for offenders who are referred by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) under contract with the U.S. Department of Justice. The facility receives pre-release referrals from the BOP and probation cases from the Federal Courts. The Pathway Forward program provides residential services for up to 210 men and women. The program offers a safe, secure and structured environment in which offenders are given positive motivation to make effective changes in their lives.
Each resident works with a Resident Advisor, who conducts a Needs Assessment and helps develop an Individual Program Contract. The contract addresses all areas of resident needs and goals and includes a time schedule for achievement.
Counseling And Guidance
Professional counselors work with residents to resolve personal problems and assist in family reconciliation. Family counseling and spiritual development are also offered.
Substance Abuse And Mental Health
Some residents participate in Substance Abuse Education and Treatment conducted by certified therapists. Others receive help with mental health issues. Assessment, individual counseling and group counseling are provided as part of this program.
Restorative Justice And Life Skills
Residents are required to participate in programming that combines personal life skills training and specially planned efforts to reconcile with family and the community. Programming supports family reunification, meaningful employment and financial stability, as well as personal adjustment.
Academic And Vocational Skills
Some residents have had little or no formal education and lack reading and writing skills. Non-graduates of high school enroll in a community GED program to earn a high school equivalency certificate. English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are also available in the area. Within the program, students are taught basic computer skills. Residents also may enroll in community college, universities and trade and technical schools to prepare for employment.
Preparation For Employment
All residents are expected to be employed or seek employment within 21 days of arrival at the facility, unless enrolled in a training program. Many clients have never held steady jobs or had experience in locating employment. Residents receive help in preparing resumes and conducting on-line job searches. Through videos and motivational workshops, residents learn such skills as time management, interviewing skills, how to apply for positions, appropriate dress, positive presentations and job retention.
|
<urn:uuid:e11ee85c-fb59-4d04-93c7-39f5d0b84f95>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.salarmychicago.org/services/corrections.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.955562
| 636
| 1.523438
| 2
|
A community centre for the gay community in Jerusalem is facing closure because of the credit crunch.
A “high percentage” of Jerusalem Open House’s annual budget is built on grants and gifts from abroad.
In a letter to supporters JOH said: “we are already feeling the pinch, as the flow of funds slows down.
“JOH is the only LGBT organisation in Israel to be so detrimentally affected by this world crisis. Activity has grown over the last years, directly increasing our expenditure.
“The lack of self-generating income and adequate funding from the Jerusalem municipality has forced us to rely on gifts from abroad, more than other LGBT organisations.”
For the past seven years JOH has held Pride events in Jerusalem, in the face of opposition from religious groups.
In 2005 a man stabbed three Pride participants and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The following year the venue was switched to a sports stadium following violent protests by rightwing opponents who consider the event “a profanity” of the Holy City.
Last year about 2,500 gays and activists marched down King David Street despite protests by thousands of people.
This year Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a petition to ban Jerusalem Gay Pride parade.
JOH also provides a place for LGBT people of all religions and political views to come together.
“Firstly, I would like to remind you of a number of successes, which demonstrate the necessity of the JOH for the city of Jerusalem: diverse cultural and social activities; growing community participation; highly-attended Kabbalot Shabbat; strengthening of the ‘reception’ team; a sane and safe parade; moving of the Open Clinic to the JOH centre and larger numbers of people tested; growing activities for youth and young adults; new programmes and initiatives in the offing,” JOH said.
“JOH presently finds itself in a serious cash flow situation, the most serious ramification of which is the delay in paying salaries to our staff.
“Grants and gifts that were supposed to arrive have not done so on time.
“Some will still be paid, but regarding others, we are not sure if the donors will be able to hold by their commitment or make their annual donation.
“The main cause of the present problem is two long-standing annual grants that have not yet been received.
“We are initiating a series of cuts, some of them quite sweeping: lowering the hours of all staff by an average of 50% and additional reduction in other expenses. At the same time, we will also increase our fundraising efforts in Israel and abroad.
“I would like to request that you, members of the JOH and the LGBT community in Jerusalem and Israel, as well as all our supporters, take part in ensuring the orderly continuation of activities at the JOH.
“We do not only need your material help, in funding and operating our various programs, but also your “spiritual” support, by participating in our diverse activities.”
For more information click here.
|
<urn:uuid:c482ce23-b947-4e4b-b2e8-2c2a30805788>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/10/30/jerusalems-gay-oasis-under-threat-from-financial-crisis/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959278
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| 2
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