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Introductory RemarksPaedobaptist Concessions.
Baptists are often asked for information respecting the history of their distinctive opinions and practices. Inquirers say that statements various and even contradictory are made in their hearing, and they are very desirous of being put on the right track, so that they may be able to correct the erroneous and expose the false. It is the object of this work to endeavour to meet their wishes.
Let us begin with the New Testament. Who can read that blessed book with serious attention without coming to the conclusion that the religion of which it treats is personal and voluntary, and that none are worthy to be called Christians but those who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh? (Phil. iii:3). When Moses addressed the Israelites, and exhorted them to obedience, he included their children in his exhortations, because the children were in the covenant. Judaism, with all its privileges and responsibilities, was hereditary. The rights and duties of the parents became the rights and duties of their offspring, as such. It is not so under the New Dispensation. Men are not born Christians, but they become Christians, when they repent and believe. As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John i:12, 13). Judaism was a national institute: Christianity is an individual blessing. The Jews were a nation, dealt with as such, and separated from other nations Christians are believers, taken out of all nations, and in Christianity there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all (Col. iii:II). Hence, when the Apostles wrote to Christian churches their mode of address was altogether different from that adopted by Moses. They did not say, you and your children, or represent the children as in covenant with God, and therefore entitled to certain rights and bound to the performance of certain duties. The churches to which they sent their epistles were spiritual societiesthat is, associations of individuals professing repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom they had surrendered themselves, as their Prophet, Priest, and King. If those individuals were parents, they were taught to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; but their children were not classed with them, as the children of the Jews were, nor could they be, till they themselves also repented and believed. It is an obvious inference, that no modern society deserves to be called a Christian Church, which is not founded on such principles as have now been explained.
If you were to place a New Testament in the hands of an intelligent, impartial person, who had never heard of our divisions and denominations, what idea would he be likely to form of the spirit and design of Christianity, or of a Christian Church? Would he not see, in every part of the book, appeals to mens understandings and emotions, and such requisitions as could be addressed to those only who were capable of thinking and acting for themselves? Would he not conclude that Christianity has to do with mindthat a Christian must be a man of repentance and faith, and that a church is a voluntary society, formed of such men?
We come to the question of baptism. What is baptism? It is the answer of a good conscience toward God (i Peter iii:21). It is putting on Christ (Gal. iii:27). It is the voluntary act of a believer, an act of obedience and self-dedication. Such is the uniform tenor of the history. So the multitudes went out to John, even all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan (Mark i:5). So the Samaritans, when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, were baptized, both men and women (Acts viii:12). Mark it wellmen and women,no children! So, in later times, the baptized were reminded of their obligations: We are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life (Rom. vi:4).
The New Testament tells of the baptism of believers, and of churches composed of believers. We read of no other baptism, no other churches. It will not do to say in reply that all who were baptized were not believers, and that all the members of Apostolic churches were not sincere. There were, doubtless, hypocrites then, as there are hypocrites now. Even the Apostles were sometimes deceived. But this does not affect the case. All who were baptized professed to be believers, and were baptized as such. The profession of faith was held to be essential to baptism and to church fellowship. None could profess faith who were incapable of understanding the faith. The act of profession implied approbation, conviction, choice.
This, then, is the starting point. Here is the beginning of the history of baptism. With the New Testament only before us, we find baptism connected with the profession of faith. It is a personal, voluntary act; and such an act only is befitting Christianity.
But in the Christianity of the nineteenth century, or what is called such, there is a service of another kind. It is sprinklingnot immersion; and the subjects are infantsnot believers. How is this? In what manner was it introduced? How and when did it originate?
These questions will be answered hereafter. This section will be closed by placing before the reader a few extracts from P?obaptist writers of the nineteenth century, showing how the learned men of these times regard the subject, from an historical point of view.
NORTH BRITISH REVIEW, Presbyterian (article ascribed to the Rev. Dr. Hanna). Scripture knows nothing of the baptism of infants. There is absolutely not a single trace of it to be found in the New Testament.1
PROFESSOR JACOBI, University of Berlin, Reformed Church. Infant baptism was established neither by Christ nor by the Apostles. In all places where we find the necessity of baptism notified, either in a dogmatic or historical point of view, it is evident that it was only meant for those who were capable of comprehending the word preached, and of being converted to Christ by an act of their own will.2
DR. HAGENBACH, Basle, Reformed Church. The passages from Scripture which are thought to intimate that infant baptism had come into use in the Primitive Church, are doubtful, and prove nothing.3
NEANDER, the Church Historian. Baptism was administered at first only to adults, as men were accustomed to conceive baptism and faith as strictly connected. We have all reason for not deriving infant baptism from Apostolic institution; and the recognition of it which followed somewhat later, as an Apostolical tradition, serves to confirm this hypothesis. . . . In respect to the form of baptism, it was, in conformity with the original institution and the original import of the symbol, performed by immersion, as a sign of entire baptism into the Holy Spirit, of being entirely penetrated by the same.4
PROFESSOR STUART, late of Andover, Congregationalist. There are no commands, or plain and certain examples, in the New Testament relative to infant baptism.5
DR. HODGE, of Princeton, New Jersey, Presbyterian. In no part of the New Testament is any other condition of membership in the Church prescribed than that contained in the answer of Philip to the eunuch who desired baptism. The Church, therefore, is in its essential nature a company of believers.6
DR. WOODS, Congregationalist. We have no express precept or example for infant baptism in all our holy writings.7
DR. CHALMERS, Presbyterian. The original meaning of the word baptism is immersion; and though we regard it as a point of indifference whether the ordinance so named be performed this way or by sprinkling, yet we doubt not that the prevalent style of the administrations in the Apostles days was of an actual submersion of the whole body under water.8
DR. BLOOMFIELD, Episcopalian. There is here (Rom. 6:4) plainly a reference to the ancient mode of baptism by immersion; and I agree with Koppe and Rosenm?ler (two German commentators), that there is reason to regret it should have been abandoned in most Christian churches, especially as it has so evidently a reference to the mystic sense of baptism.9
Rev. W. J. CONYBEARE, M.A., Episcopalian. This passage (Rom. 6:4) cannot be understood unless it be borne in mind that the primitive baptism was by immersion.10
Many more quotations might be given, but these will be sufficient. It will be observed that none of these writers are Baptists. But they do not venture to affirm that infant sprinkling is derived from the New Testament. Learned P?obaptist generally admit that believers only were baptized in Apostolic times.
1 August, 1852.
2 Kittos Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature. Art. Baptism.
3 History of Doctrines, i. 193.
4 History of the Church, i. 310, 311.
5 Haynes Baptist Denomination, p. 31.
8 Lectures on Romans, ch. vi. 4.
9 Critical Digest, in loc.
10 Life and Writings of St. Paul, ii. American Edition.
The Reformed Reader Home Page
Copyright 1999, The Reformed Reader, All Rights Reserved | <urn:uuid:be176573-6c2c-4518-8954-37ad5647e1b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reformedreader.org/history/cramp/s01ch01.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97403 | 2,074 | 2.5 | 2 |
For me, fresh raspberries in cream are pure decadence. If you don't already grow raspberries, here are some pointers to get a patch off to a good start.
When buying plants, be sure to get them from a reputable nursery. It's important that the canes are free from viruses and insects, and that you buy varieties suitable for your area. In the Atlantic region, 'Nova' is a good choice—it produces large, disease-resistant berries with excellent flavour. 'Boyne' is a hardy, productive variety popular across the country, especially on the Prairies. Gardeners in southern British Columbia can grow many high-quality berries; new varieties worth watching for there are 'Tulameen' and 'Qualicum'—they're large, sweet and prolific.
Prepare your bed at least a year in advance. I have known too many gardeners who thought a quick tilling or plowing was enough preparation. The results are raspberries that struggle in a sea of perennial weeds by the end of the year.
We prepare our beds by first plowing or tilling, then seeding with buckwheat, which is a broad-leafed plant that allows very little light to reach the soil. When the buckwheat begins to flower, we till it under and plant a crop of fall rye. The next spring, the rye is tilled under and the ground is ready to plant. As well as shading out weeds, these cover crops enrich the soil with humus, and are toxic to quackgrass.
Choosing the best soil
Raspberries are tolerant of many soils, but the best growth occurs in deep loam soils that are neither too wet nor too dry. If your soil is sandy or gravelly, the addition of rotted manure or compost helps retain moisture and provides nutrients. It's best to avoid heavy clay soils, but if you don't have a choice, work coarse organic materials into the top four inches (10 centimetres) to create a well-aerated top layer where the roots can run freely. Plant your canes in this amended top layer, then apply mulch.
Raspberries prefer a slightly acidic soil; pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal. Add sulphur or lime to adjust.
The distance between plants is a matter of debate among experts. My personal preference is to plant them 30 inches (75 centimetres) apart in the row, the rows approximately 50 inches (125 centimetres) apart. In the end, raspberries will fill whatever space you allot them. | <urn:uuid:6fd77470-3d63-42e7-b553-7f9595d825c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.canadiangardening.com/gardens/fruit-and-vegetable-gardening/caring-for-raspberry-canes/a/1307/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943801 | 536 | 2.203125 | 2 |
The Ruffin Family
Richard Eppes purchased James Madison Ruffin in 1847 from a Dr. Lockhead. Madison, who was born in 1812, was the most trusted slave of the Eppes family. He frequently was sent on errands to Petersburg and Richmond for his owners. Serving in various capacities as a gardener, ornamental gardener, and waiting man, Madison also knew his characteristics of being what his master said was “honest, truthful, and truly pious” allowed him to stretch the patience of his master. Madison frequently was allowed to visit family in Smithfield, Virginia where he would take an extra day or so. His trips to Petersburg and Richmond also at times included a delayed return to the plantation. Richard Eppes never recorded a whipping of Madison, but at times he did reinforce through an argument that ultimately, Richard Eppes had the final say.
Madison married Harriet, whose parentage is unknown. Harriet was born on the Eppes’ plantation in 1816. Eppes described her as being an “excellent house servant.” She served as Mary Eppes Cocke’s (Richard’s mother) personal maid in her youth. She continued as the household maid while Richard Eppes’ owned her. Madison was not Harriet’s first husband. She had Robert Moody (born 1835), George Gilliam (born 1838), Richard Gilliam (born 1840), and Patty Rud (born 1845), prior to her marriage to Madison not long after he was purchased. Madison and Harriet had a total of six children: Paulina (born 1848), James (born 1850), Agnes (born 1851), John (born 1853), Samuel (born 1855), and Indianna (born 1858).
Richard Eppes would experience nearly the wholesale disappearance of this family as a result of the Civil War. Richard Eppes took Robert Moody, Harriet’s son, with him as a body servant in 1861. Robert was the first of Richard Eppes’ slaves to take control of his destiny. He “ran away from camp at Burwell’s Bay near mouth of James River, Aug. 24, 1861” and stole his master’s pistol. Madison, Harriet, and all but one of their children, James, left in May 1862 and sought freedom behind the Union lines during the Peninsula Campaign. The exact reason why twelve year old James was left behind is unknown.After the war, Madison, Harriet, and the children from their marriage returned. Harriet’s children from her previous relationships did not. Madison worked for Richard Eppes until his death in 1876. Madison was buried in St. John’s Episcopal Church’s cemetery a few feet away from the burial spot of his former owner’s family. Harriet died in 1892 and her former master went to collect her remains and had her buried at the People’s Cemetery in Petersburg. Their daughter, Paulina married Henry Epps (no relation to Richard Eppes’ family), a sailor in the United States navy. Paulina continued working as a domestic servant for the Eppes family until her death in the 1940s.
Did You Know?
Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant and Army of the Potomac Commander George G. Meade met with Abraham Lincoln on April 3, 1865 at the Thomas Wallace house on Market Street in Petersburg. President Lincoln visited Petersburg again on April 7, 1865. (Petersburg National Battlefield) | <urn:uuid:63ae01f7-1364-44e9-90eb-194e612a39ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nps.gov/pete/historyculture/ruffin-family.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989384 | 738 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Building owners and businesses spend millions of dollars annually to deal with infestations and the problems associated with pest birds. The risks associated with these pests increase year after year as bird populations continue to grow in both inner city and urban environments. The fact is, these pests are out of their natural element and without proper bird control measures, they can wreak havoc on commercial buildings and the people around them.
Perhaps the most obvious of problems are the droppings pest birds leave, which are not only unsightly, but can cause accelerated deterioration of buildings, structures and statues. Limestone is particularly susceptible, not just to a bird’s droppings, but the acid secretion produced by the fungi that live in them. Cleaning and restoring buildings so damaged can be expensive. Nests and droppings can quickly clog gutters and down pipes. Left unchecked, these bird by-products can lead to timber and structural damage, unsightly decor, and huge repair costs. Pigeons nesting around commercial air conditioning units deposit fecal matter that can get sucked into ducts, grilles and vents, damaging these expensive systems. Bird droppings that accumulate on ledges, sills and signage are unsightly and ruin the image of a business, especially an eatery. Droppings deposited on pavements, entrances and fire escapes makes them hazardous as pedestrians may slip and fall on them, creating a huge legal liability to commercial property owners. One quickly can see why bird control has become so vital to commercial building owners.
But bird control solves other problems as well. There’s the incessant and irritating noise pest birds produce whey they gather in sizeable numbers. They not only annoy maintenance workers, but can be distracting to visitors in hotels, hospitals and office complexes. Another problem is the offensive odor many birds produce—both in droppings and nesting—a particular nuisance to restaurants with outdoor service. Droppings also spoil finished products in loading bays and storage areas. They can severely stain and damage goods, ruin expensive paintwork, and mar the appearance of costly finished goods, metal panels, and stonework. Droppings can also eat into and destroy wood, paper and cardboard packaging.
Pest birds can be a health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. Birds, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites. These insects can damage property, stored foods and fabrics.
As many building owners have learned, keeping pigeons and other pest birds away from commercial buildings is not an easy thing to do. These days, proper bird control takes more than a plastic owl or two to scare away pests. What to do?
Thankfully, there are a number of effective and humane bird control products to keep pest birds off your property. Most are maintenance free and easy to install. Bird spikes, for example, are ideal for pigeons and other large birds. Some have spikes made of strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. Others have stainless steel spikes. Another useful bird control product is the bird spider. It’s ideal for awnings and patio covers. The spider arms move with the breeze, keeping pest birds from landing. Most of these deterrents are sturdy and stable, come in a variety of diameters, and install easily. They also won’t harm the birds.
Another effective bird control solution is bird netting. It’s ideal for a broad range of commercial uses, including signs, warehouses, courtyards, canopies, airplane hangars and rooftops. With its ability to control all species of birds, bird netting is often prescribed by architects. Some products in this category are U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. The webbing is usually available in a variety of mesh sizes to deter sparrow, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.
A simple, easy-to-install bird control device that discourages bird pests from landing and nesting is the bird slope. These angled, slippery panels are ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds tend to nest and roost. Also simple and easy to apply are bird gels. This bird control measure creates a sticky surface that birds hate.
Finally, there are the higher –tech bird control solutions, known as electric-track systems. Ideal for deterring all types of pest birds, these are easily mounted on ledges, signs, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. They discourage birds from landing by conveying a mild electric shock that’s harmless to birds. They also alter a bird’s habits to nest or feed. These systems are low profile and almost invisible. Be sure to get a flow-through design to prevent water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces. Look for corrosion-resistant products that can stand up to alkali and acidic environments. The bottom line: bird control is good for your business. | <urn:uuid:55891d29-2efe-4e8d-bea3-82c3bd0f00b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.birdbgone.com/es/component/wordpress/archives/tag/bird-control-methods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948744 | 1,046 | 2.953125 | 3 |
For many years the business model of CAD, PDM and later PLM vendors was structured as high upfront license combined with continues maintenance payments. The same is true for many other enterprise software vendors. PLM vendors built their businesses around expensive licenses sell covering significant sales cycle cost and even pilot implementations. The majority of PLM software is running on top of relational databases (RDBMS) licensed from big 3 vendors – Oracle, Microsoft and IBM. Back in 2010, I posted Faltered licenses and future PLM business models. 3 years ago it sounded as something that will never happen to enterprise software. However, things are going differently in 2013. Navigate to ReadWrite Enterprise article Oracle big miss and the end of an enterprise era. The author, Matt Asay, VP of 10gen, the outfit behind noSQL open source database MongoDB is clearly biased with the disruptive ideas and business models coming to the enterprise space. Even so, some of his assumptions in the article resonated. One of the key points – Changing the way how vendors get paid. He doesn’t see the problem of bad sales execution, but a fundamental shift in technology and product landscape. Here is my favorite passage:
This isn’t just a matter of improving legacy software products. It’s a matter of fundamentally changing how these legacy vendors deploy and charge for software. For example, Oracle’s entire cost structure is built around the premise of a hefty upfront license and high-margin maintenance (Over 20% of the license fee). We believe the primary issue is a fundamental shift in the technology landscape away from legacy systems towards a new breed of better products at a lower cost both in Apps and in Data Management. Virtually every emerging software trend is having a deflationary impact on spend.
Another aspect of disruption is related to developer communities. Software developers and CIOs of enterprise companies are looking for technological platforms. They don’t like the idea of expensive licenses and approvals of enterprise vendors to develop software on top of their platforms. As a result of that, they are turning to open source as an option to have their “platform of choice”. Here is a interesting quote:
With the rise of open source…developers could for the first time assemble an infrastructure from the same pieces that industry titans like Google used to build their businesses — only at no cost, without seeking permission from anyone. For the first time, developers could route around traditional procurement with ease. With usage thus effectively decoupled from commercial licensing, patterns of technology adoption began to shift…. Open source is increasingly the default mode of software development….In new market categories, open source is the rule, proprietary software the exception. The top-down approach, in other words, is losing its currency within the enterprise, as both open source and cloud enable developers (not to mention line of business executives) to get work done without getting permission.
So, getting back to future PLM business models and ways to disrupt PLM today, what does it mean for PLM vendors? I want to outline 3 main points:
1 – Alternative business models.
Customers are looking for alternatives to existing PLM licensing models. The biggest conflict here is between high cost of lucrative PLM licenses and interests of PLM vendors to take PLM software upstream and downstream in the organization in order to increase usage. However, adoption speed of PLM software is low. High cost of additional licenses is one of the factors preventing customers to expand the usage of PLM software. PLM vendors need to think how to provide flexible portfolios with options allowing to customers to spread PLM systems and technologies across the enterprise.
2 – Diversify revenues and activities
PLM vendors need to learn from the past of IBM and some other vendors. Years ago, IBM reshaped their business from software licenses to services and consultancy. IBM was extremely successful in this change. We can see how existing enterprise software vendors (Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, etc.) are trying to diversify their activities by providing new services and solutions. PLM vendors might be taking a similar path in the future.
3 – Pay attention to open source disruption
Open source is disruptive. Period. It is very hard to compete with free software and good technologies that can be used to develop solutions. Mainstream web is running on top of open source technology foundation. New generation of developers are coming with a significant baggage of knowledge and experience in this space. PLM vendors, system integrators and service providers need to take a note, until it will be late. You future competitors are developing from Starbucks shop next to your office.
What is my conclusion? I think, Oracle miss is a big alert sign to PLM companies. Changes are coming. It will come from customers that will be looking for alternative business models, from developers that cannot tolerate an expensive infrastructure and from technological vendors that will propose alternatives to expense PLM infrastructure. All together it will move PLM industry towards new horizons. PLM vendors need to take a note. Just my thought… | <urn:uuid:32d9d06a-c6b2-43a3-8114-499ad59e887f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://plmtwine.com/tag/business-models/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936598 | 1,027 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Upon completion of the test, a score report is automatically generated. The score report includes the test taker’s name, the date the test was taken, the name of the test and the score received. The score received is represented by the number of points received over the total number of points possible, for example a score of 156/272 indicates that the test taker received 156 points over 272 (full test).
Each section is scored with a number of points (72 each for sections A and B and 64 each for sections C and D). If a candidate decides to take only part of the test, the score will be calculated on the total maximum points of the sections taken. For instance, if you take only sections C and D, the total maximum score will be 128 points.
The score report is generated automatically in the test centre. The results are given straight after the test is taken. | <urn:uuid:99be10f4-5e16-469c-8b6b-28c9e2db5e8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eubat.eu/en/score-report/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923359 | 183 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Researchers are learning more about how the human brain grows and functions, helping us understand some of the bizarre behaviors we find among us all.
For example, the part that helps us understand future consequences of current actions, located in the pre-frontal cortex (the front part of the brain), is the last to develop. Full development may take until age 25 (sometimes never). A teen may occasionally do something outlandish, such as setting fire to the bathroom, causing her parents to exclaim, “What were you thinking!” To which the teen may honestly reply, “I don’t know.”
This lack of connection between current action and future consequence is shamelessly exploited by armies, who like to engage 18-year-olds. At that age they’re easily manipulated into doing something that later in life they’d refuse to do. It helps explain the un-Christian atrocities in Iraq committed by those from a supposedly Christian nation.
Yesterday I saw a bumper sticker, “This is America. Speak English.” I realized there must be at least two people who felt that way, or just thought it was cute: the person who made it, and the person who bought it. Maybe they were both under 25.
In this neck of the woods, unless someone is Ojibwe or Dakota, they have no business saying how anyone else should speak.
There’s another part of the brain (I forget what it’s called) buried in the middle, that controls and generates empathy. Researchers found when that part of the brain is missing or dysfunctional, those people have reduced or no empathy for others. It’s why some people can become “cold-blooded killers”, or why some can torture with no apparent empathy, explaining overseas U.S. engagement the past few years.
Perhaps parts of our national brain have become damaged, or missing. | <urn:uuid:7beb2b19-f3e5-40a4-bd40-dcec2a412008> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brainerddispatch.com/opinion/open-forum/2011-02-10/open-forum-examining-our-national-brain | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96724 | 394 | 2.875 | 3 |
I successfully unlocked the 4th core on my X3 720 and overclocked the CPU to 3.6ghz. Voltage stays the same with the 4th core unlocked, at 1.41v, but I noticed that the CPU temp went up about 4c from 50c to 54c. I guess this makes sense because now I have four heat producing cores instead of just three.
Note that the CPU temp is the one from the motherboard, not the core temp. With 4th core unlocked, I can no longer monitor the core temp, which tends to be about 5c lower than the CPU temp reported by the mobo. So I estimate the core temp to be 49c unlocked, versus 44c with 3-cores.
I ran some benchmark and used the computer with 4-cores for a few days and it seems that having an extra core doesn't do anything. There is no noticeable speedup whether in office tasks or in video games. So is it still worth it to keep the 4th core enabled despite the higher CPU temp?
Unlocking cores disables the Core temperature sensor, which is why you can no longer see it. If your primary use is Office Tasks and games (which except for a few exceptions show no real benefit from 3 vs 4 cores) then it would probably be best to go back to three cores. It will run cooler (so last longer) and use less power (though if you are using it as a space heater, then that is a bad thing).
Few tasks are truely multithreaded yet, and only use 1 or 2 threads. Than most games that show benefit going from 2-3 cores, shows almost no gain from 3-4 cores. You'll only really see a difference in a number of applications that are 4+ threaded.
It's probably best to just keep it as a tri-core for now and maybe two-three years down the line (if you're still using that system), it would be worth unlocking the fourth core. Hopefully applications will be more optimized to make use of the 6-12 cores CPUs will have in the next several years. | <urn:uuid:d08287df-a808-4293-ad78-de48efd9e3a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274942-28-core-quad-core | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965774 | 436 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Waco Manufacturer History
Garages and fields across America were filled with eager aircraft experimenters after World War I. Pilots, mechanics, and enthusiasts were sure that aviation was going to be a major new business and they rushed to find some way to participate. The early days of aviation’s Golden Age saw hundreds of shifting partnerships and companies, many advertising undeveloped products using outrageous performance claims.
One such group of enthusiasts, all in their early 20’s, formed the first of the companies that later produced Waco aircraft. George “Buck” Weaver was a flight instructor and barnstorming pilot. Elwood “Sam” Junkin had been a draftsman and worked together with Clayton “Clayt” Brukner, an assembly foreman, at Curtiss and another aircraft company. Constantly seeking development funds, these three combined their talents to try building airplanes. Like many before and since, they learned that designing and building airplanes was much more difficult than flying them and that building a successful airplane company was even more challenging.
Their early efforts would have discouraged a less enthusiastic group. While still in high school, Junkin and Brukner made an unsuccessful attempt at building a biplane powered by a motorcycle engine. Their second design was flying boat that turned out far too heavy to fly. Their third aircraft, the parasol-design “Waco Cootie,” looked promising, but it crashed on its first test flight, destroying the plane and leaving Weaver with extensive injuries. They continued to advertise it for sale, however, with exaggerated performance claims. The Weaver Aircraft Company, as it was then known, was in constant need of money to fund development. The partners barnstormed using war surplus airplanes, dropped samples of candy and cereal, did odd jobs and sold shares in the company to optimistic investors.
A redesigned “Cootie,” now a biplane design, had more success. It set the stage for their first commercial success, the “Waco Four” three-person biplane. With a small family to support, Buck Weaver left the group to seek other opportunities. Junkin and Brukner each learned to fly and continued testing new designs, now as the “Advance Aircraft Company.” Their products continued to carry the Waco name, however.
The Waco Nine biplane firmly established “Waco” as a respected trademark. In 1926, it became the country’s most popular mass-produced airplane, costing about $2,500 with a production rate of one per day. About 75 men and boys built the airplanes in a former horse wagon factory. A key to the low price of the Waco Nine was its relatively inexpensive and readily available OX-5 engine. The engine’s low power limited the airplane’s performance, however.
In 1927, the Waco Ten was delivered, still using the OX-5, but also able to accommodate more powerful engines. The Model Ten had major design improvements, such as “oleo” strut hydraulic landing gear, a larger cockpit and a horizontal stabilizer that could be adjusted in flight. Improvements continued with introduction of the famous Waco Taperwing design in 1928. Company employment grew to almost 200 and production was moved from the wagon factory to a new facility built with its own airfield on the outskirts of Troy, Ohio.
The Great Depression, which started in 1929, forced many airplane companies out of business. The popularity of Waco designs allowed the company to survive, although with a reduced production rate. To meet varied customer needs, different Waco models were developed and produced simultaneously, many with fully enclosed cabins. A complex system of letters and numbers was used to identify Waco models in the 1930’s. While design improvements continued, most Waco models remained as biplanes with a welded tubing structure, wooden wing spars, and fabric covering.
World War II created needs for different styles of airplanes, emphasizing higher speeds and metal construction. Waco continued as a supplier of various aircraft subassemblies and was famous for producing CG4-A troop carrying gliders. The company that was so nimble in adapting to customer needs in the 20’s and 30’s was unable to adapt its designs to compete in the post-war market. After Waco ceased production the remaining Waco airplanes have been prized by collectors and aviation enthusiasts for their rugged and handsome design.
Of the three early principals, only Clayton Brukner survived to see the full span of Waco history. Buck Weaver and Sam Junkin each died before reaching the age of thirty and without knowing the impact the Waco name would have on aviation history. | <urn:uuid:a2b617c7-c09e-4944-8786-c9ec416cde5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Waco%20Manufacturer%20History.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976469 | 972 | 2.921875 | 3 |
I often reiterate to my students, and we read in the leading texts and blogs on this subject, that audience analysis and adaptation are the cornerstones of a strong presentation. However, many of us present with only our goals and needs (and hangups) in mind, leading to the “self-centered approach” (Duarte, 2010) to presenting.
This approach leads to the complete opposite of our goals for the presentation–for our audience to internalize and apply our messages. We want our ideas to spread, our concepts to be adopted, our lessons to be applied, but this cannot happen without one very important shift in thought…
In her latest book (which I am currently devouring), the HBR’s Guide to Persuasive Presentations, Nancy Duarte explains why: “The people you’re addressing will determine whether your idea spreads or dies, simply by embracing or rejecting it” (Duarte, 2012). In essence, to accomplish this, a presenter must take a supporting or mentoring role to the audience–the real hero of the presentation, the one who must take the risk to adopt and apply the presenter’s idea. Heroes, in mythology, literature, and film, have friends, helpers, and mentors (think Yoda and Luke, Gandalf and Frodo, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi) who provide gifts, tools, or much needed rescue.
Keep these three purposes in mind in considering how your goals align with your audience’s (Duarte, 2012):
- Give the hero a special gift (give people insights that will improve their lives)
- Teach the hero to use a “magical” tool (allow people to pick up a new skill or mind-set that empowers them)
- Help the hero get “unstuck” (an idea that gets the audience out of a difficult situation)
Students panic or become frustrated when I ask them who their audience is and explain that the answer cannot be “everyone” or “people” or “students” even. While they can agree that understanding audience and putting audience needs before individual wants/goals/anxieties is important, the process of actually analyzing an audience and then applying that analysis to content building is not easy (especially because they rarely spend time objectively considering these ideas before diving right into PowerPoint or Keynote). Another common anxiety stems from the inability to appeal to every member of the audience.
Audience segmentation, a strategy Duarte discusses in Resonate and the HBR Guide, is one important means by which you can better connect with and audience and move the members towards action or a shift in ideology. Segmentation or analysis generally happens across three areas (for a comprehensive discussion of audience analysis and segmentation, see this Six Minutes article):
- Demographics/Ethnographics (age, education, ethnicity, gender, geography, culture, society)
- Purpose: to learn who the audience is and what common ground there is
- Context/Politics (time/place, power, reason for attendance)
- To discover how environmental and outside factors might affect an audience’s reception of a message.
- Psychographics (beliefs, values, attitudes)
- Purpose: to discover what an audience thinks, knows, and believes about the topic
Answering these questions (What keeps the audience up at night? How might the resist?) may seem difficult or tedious, but the process is guaranteed to lead to a deeper understanding of each member or group of members of the audience. This understanding leads to crafting a message that is tailored to those who 1. would most benefit from the ideas presented, and 2. can help turn the idea into action. So, the purpose of segmentation is really two fold. Segmentation allows presenters to choose the person(s) who is going to help them spread an idea that resonates and helps the presenter determine how to also bring other members of the audience on board. So, even though a presenter should tailor his or her message to this one most useful audience member (or group, i.e. early adopters), he or she should not exclude other members of the audience.
Segmentation in action
In Resonate, Duarte illustrates the power of segmentation through an analysis of Ronald Reagan’s Space Shuttle Challenger speech. In this speech, Reagan expertly weaves between audiences, addressing individual groups all touched by this national tragedy while also leaving the nation with a sense of empowerment and hope.
I share this example with my students, but find that their lack of connection to this event and this president makes it challenging to really help them see segmentation in action. So, as per the advice of my very smart colleague, Alex Rister, I am going to use President Obama’s recent speech on the Sandy Hook school shooting as an example of segmentation in action.
In this 18 minute speech, Obama identifies and addresses specific audiences:
- The families of the victims
- The survivors of the shooting
- The first responders to the scene
- The town of Newton
- The nation as a whole (parents, non-parents, those who support stricter gun control, those who support 1st amendment rights)
The speech focuses on the immediate context (vigil) and places it in the national context (debate over gun control/gun rights). The immediate purpose of the speech is to eulogize the fallen teachers and children of Sandy Hook Elementary, but the greater purpose is to bring this event into the national gun control conversation.
How does Obama do this while still maintaining the immediate purpose? By addressing various members of the audience and then joining them via shared value–the value we all hold for human life, safety, and security. Obama doesn’t exclude the nation from either grief over the loss of life or responsibility for this incident. Instead, he honors the immediate impact of the shooting on Newton and connects this experience to the greater cause at hand.
In depth audience analysis is not easy or quick, but if done thoughtfully and thoroughly, it can help you transform your self-centered message into an audience-centered idea that stays with them long after your presentation ends. | <urn:uuid:2bb5ddf8-6406-44ee-8904-0a832f4f0da5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tweakyourslides.wordpress.com/tag/mentor/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93853 | 1,294 | 2.609375 | 3 |
IMPROVE LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS
The pressure on individual leaders to keep their priorities balanced in a stressful daily work life is becoming an increasing challenge.
The What a Day simulation helps individual leaders fine-tune their priorities to achieve maximum effectiveness. It also generates valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of leadership teams.
Participants must manage three competing challenges in a fictitious scenario (coming home from a great holiday). Information about the challenges can be found via e-mails, documents and dialogue with colleagues (via pre-recorded video calls).
Participants are forced to make decisions and there is not enough time (sound familiar?). And every decision influences how the game progresses.
During the game, each team’s behaviour is analyzed and reported back in the form of eight performance indicators in three categories: Time & Attention Management, Problem & Opportunity Management and People & Motivation Management
The debriefing is combined with strong learning points focusing on how to get better at balancing priorities in an intense everyday work situation, providing food for thought about how we, as a company, spend our time and effort.
Feedback, inspiration and tools for improving personal leadership balance.
New insights and inspiration for improving overall effectiveness by better balancing different leadership behaviours.
New insight into the corporate leadership culture and ideas for targeted follow-up initiatives.
Applications of What a Day
General Leadership effectiveness training:
A global corporation uses What a Day in its talent program. Participants play the simulation online, and qualified facilitators carry out the debriefings in training sessions.
New Managers’ Program:
A global corporation uses What a Day as a key element of its new Managers’ Program. In this case, new leaders play individually online and are debriefed in virtual meetings.
Top Management Conference:
A global corporation used What a Day to make discussions and reflections about leadership behaviour concrete and tangible. 300 players in teams of 3.
What a Day is regularly played at business Schools as part of MBA and other leadership programs.
In What a Day you interact with 21 character – collegues and customers
The key means of interaction are video meetings (about two hours of video are prerecorded).
Major events are personally debriefed by Professor Albert Angehrn, INSEAD.
All behaviour is measured and reported. This feedback plays an important part in the debriefing. | <urn:uuid:940a5c7e-66cd-4dcc-b81e-0cef42c0957c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wizerize.com/business-games/what-a-day/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917825 | 491 | 2.3125 | 2 |
William F Buckley’s 1951 contribution to the cold war and the McCarthy witchhunt was an account of his experiences as a student at Yale, the elite university that has educated many presidents including, recently, George Bush Sr and Jr and Bill Clinton. Buckley argued that it was the duty of universities to strengthen the souls of the elite for the struggle on behalf of God and free enterprise.
But this wasn’t happening, and he went through the university tutors deploring their approach: “There is widespread opinion that what Mr Greene teaches is ethics, not religion. I know of at least one occasion on which Mr Goodenough has classified himself, before his students, as 80% atheist and 20% agnostic. Mr Turner is emphatically and vigorously atheistic. Mr Kennedy never left room for doubt as to the contempt in which he held religion” (1). Buckley’s accusation against Kennedy was based on his wisecracks as noted by a group of conservative students.
The economics faculty was no better: Buckley was prepared to concede that “not one of them would call himself a socialist or even a confirmed collectivist”. But he still accused them of supporting “a slow increase of state power, through extended social services, taxation, and regulation, to a point where a smooth transition could be effected from an individualist to a collectivist society.” Overall, “the Yale economics faculty is roughly eight to two for economic collectivism. That was eight too many.”
In 1951 US academic freedom was already restricted by rules forbidding communists from teaching. But Buckley, fighting collectivism in the name of liberty, wanted to go further: “My task becomes, then, not so much to argue that limits should be imposed, but that existing limits should be narrowed.” His logic condemned socialism alongside communism: “Murder is a more grievous wrong than theft; but we discourage both.”
The intellectual climate has improved significantly since those dark days. But in sensitive areas the “war on terror” seems to have revived the reflexes of the cold war. There has been an organised campaign at Yale against a professor of Afro-American studies, Paul Gilroy, who dared to link the war against Iraq to Israeli interests. Harvard university has disassociated itself from a paper that appeared on its website, written by two academics, on the subject of the influence of the pro-Israel lobby in US politics.
Fox Television News has introduced a system to monitor - or denounce - academics suspected of “leftwing propaganda” (2). Rupert Murdoch’s network is not disturbed by rightwing propaganda, since that is its stock in trade. | <urn:uuid:98e449d7-b844-434d-b1e3-2547eed7cf90> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mondediplo.com/2006/06/17witchhunt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97745 | 553 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Cross-posted from The Deseret News
Written by JOHN HOLLENHORST
BUTTERFIELD CANYON (Apr. 25, 2011) — More than 100 wild horses have a new home at the Utah State Prison in Gunnison. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management moved the captured mustangs to a BLM corral at the prison after the agency’s Butterfield Canyon facility near Herriman drew national criticism.
The move of 108 horses doesn’t mean the BLM is taking any blame. Agency officials insist the horses are well-treated and the criticism — triggered by a video of muddy corrals that was posted on YouTube — is unfounded.
However, the agency does plan to move another 100 horses next week, cutting overall numbers at Butterfield Canyon by almost half, while employees work to clear mud from the facility.
“We’ve always had mud issues, but not like this year’s,” said Jared Redington, who manages the corrals for the BLM. “The reason we shipped those horses out was to make a little more room here at the facility.”
Periodically in recent weeks, workers have used bulldozing equipment to clear mud away and create dry spaces. Reducing the number of horses will make that task more efficient.
“With all the rain that’s projected we’re going to have,” Redington said, “we thought it was best to move those horses out of the facility to give us a little more room so we can rotate the horses into drier pens.”
The controversy began on March 15 when a potential horse adopter named Lisa Friday visited the facility. Concerned by what she saw at the muddy facility, she recorded video that was later posted on YouTube by the Cloud Foundation, a wild-horse protection group. On the video, a narrator says, “Lisa was unprepared for what she saw, animals that had no dry place to lay down, or those that had trouble walking in a urine-soaked quagmire of mud and manure.” Then, as a scene unfolds showing a motionless mare lying on the ground, Friday herself is heard on the video, saying, “That horse has been laying down since we got here. Hasn’t moved.”
The video generated fierce criticism of the BLM, but Redington said it’s misleading.
“Yes, there was some things in there where they didn’t tell the whole story,” Redington said. “But that’s their given right to come out and look at the facility. But what the video doesn’t show is the straw that we have out for the horses. And where the mare was actually laying down was on dry ground.” Continue reading >> | <urn:uuid:b38c2301-1aec-477e-b1be-0c293869be27> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/dozens-of-wild-horses-moved-from-herriman-following-posting-of-youtube-video/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966367 | 589 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The beauty of rereading a novel: those little gems you didn't notice the first time.
While rereading Catching Fire for the sixth or seventh time, I noticed this line from Effie as the District 12 team readies for their victory dinner in District 11: "So, I was just having a peek around because district ruins are going to be all the rage this year..." (page 69).
Talk about foreshadowing! I wondered why I hadn't I noticed that line before? The hint of what is to come at the end of the book is so obvious, yet I must not have paid any attention to it before. Or maybe I had forgotten.
Which really is the beauty of a re-read. There is always something I either hadn't noticed or I've forgotten that stands out. It does not matter how many times I've read the book, either. After almost 100 readings of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I still find these little gems sitting on the page waiting for me to discover or rediscover them.
This is one reason why I am still content with using The Hunger Games trilogy in my classroom. Yes, many students have already read the series before I have them in class. But showing them that a reread can be just as pleasurable, if not more so, is a lesson in itself. Many of them don't remember anything but the basic plot. Those little details that pop out now add more depth to the overall storyline.
Think about the line above: why would Effie use the term "ruins" as she is having a "peek around" District 11? Is she implying that District 11 is currently (because of its unkemptness) in ruins or implying that it was in ruins in the past...or that it will be in ruins? Or could she be suggesting that there is more than just one district, besides District 13, that is in ruins? Or is her quote foreshadowing that another district will be in ruins by the end of the book?
I find myself wanting to discuss more and more with students who have already read the series on this reread because it's so delightful to see the lightbulbs go off in their heads when they come across these little portending nuggets.
In case you are worried about reading a book half your class has already read: don't worry. Chances are they will take delight in these aha! moments along with you.
*Side note worth mentioning: I had noticed this when I first read the book, but it's worthy of discussion. Suzanne Collins uses the word "Peacemakers" here rather than the standard "Peacekeepers" she has been using throughout the trilogy. I believe this happens another time because I recall talking about the "Peacemakers" in class and having a student correct me (don't you love it when they do that!?). Then I went back to look at why I would have used "Peacemakers" and, sure enough, there it was in the book. I've always thought this was just a mistake. What are your thoughts? | <urn:uuid:cbeb2d12-0442-483f-ab17-cfcd2da3a8ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hungergameslessons.com/2013/02/the-beauty-of-rereading-novel.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982723 | 640 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Created by Jasper van Loenen using OpenFrameworks and Arduino, Test Screen is an installation designed with a physical interface for single purpose and to allow the viewer to see inside the complexity of the code involved. Included are a total of 93 switches and knobs allowing the user to alter properties of what may seem like a regular test screen. Instead, this test screen is made out of several objects in 3D space which all need the have exactly the right position, shape, scale and color. By altering the properties to his or her own liking, the normally fixed image is turned into a design tool driven by the user’s aesthetic preference.
You can download the desktop version of the app here to get a feel for the composition. Please bear in mind it’s meant to run using a dedicated interface. Due to the limitations of a keyboard, the other parameters can’t be controlled (arrow keys and + – to control the camera).
Jasper studied Interaction Design at the ArtEZ Institute for the Arts in Arnhem, the Netherlands and currently works as an independent designer in the field of interaction / information design and art. His interest lies in taking stuff away from the computer screen and finding ways to look at and interact with information in a different and more interesting way.
Posted on: 29/07/2010
Posted in: openFrameworks | <urn:uuid:8d17a9dd-d071-48e3-84e4-31103403ebfa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.creativeapplications.net/openframeworks/test-screen-openframeworks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930446 | 276 | 2 | 2 |
October Migration Musings
On these warm, sunny days of October, we should keep an eye out for flocks of birds as they swoop and swirl their way to winter feeding grounds.
According to Miyoko Chu in "Songbird Journeys", many birds fly at night, and rest and feed during the day to fuel their night flights. One recent afternoon, the trees were full of birds whose singing was loud and lively enough to beat the band. They jumped from branch to branch and glided from tree to tree, as if excited about their journey to a new destination. A pair of binoculars revealed numerous good-sized birds with dark brown backs, lighter breasts splotched with dark brown painterly strokes, and straight bills. What are these birds with the pretty song?
About the same time, a woodpecker was determinedly beating a hole in a tree somewhere. Who was it who said they must have rubber for brains? (We could look it up, come to think of it.) Then, the most striking multi-syllabic call insisted to the world, "This is my territory!" Did that call come from a woodpecker or maybe a competitor?
Answers to both these questions came from Birds of Noth America Online, a rich source of information available from the Library's website (look under Electronic Resources).
The chatty brown birds turned out to be wood thrush, evidenced by the numerous clear photographs as well as the audio clips of their songs. Wood thrush are common throughout the eastern United States and migrate to Florida and Latin America for the winter.
The territorial bird call did, indeed, come from a woodpecker, a pileated woodpecker, no less, which the audio clips definitively determined. We would bet the price of a bag of birdseed that this same call was heard during Ken Burns' magnificent film series on The National Parks, aired last week on PBS. (The DVD will be available in our collection soon.)
Birds of North America Online, a product of Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, allows you to identify birds by images or calls. Next time you see or hear an unfamiliar bird, look for it on BNAO.
And read Miyoko Chu's account of the amazing courage and endurance of creatures that weigh a couple of ounces at most, as they are battered by wind and rain, blinded by bright lights, and blown into buildings and the sea, and marvel at the miracle of their dangerous journeys.
As frosty weather approaches, natural sources of food for birds diminish. They need fat to survive the winter. Try this recipe from our bicentennial cookbook, "Tasty Tazewell Traditions: 200 Years of Cooking and History in Tazewell County, Virginia".
In a large pot, melt 2 cups of peanut butter and 2 cups of shortening. Stir in 2 cups of flour and 6-8 cups of cornmeal. Line a 9 x 13 pan with waxed paper and pour the peanut butter mixture in. Smooth it out evenly. Let it sit several hours or overnight. Grasp the ends of the wax paper and remove the mixture to a cutting board. Cut into 6 rectangles. Put one into a suet hanger to feed the birds now. Wrap the remaining pieces in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze for later. The birds will flock to your feeder for this ambrosia. You can enrich the mixture by adding raisins, chopped peanuts, oats, and/or cereal.
Think about planting sunflowers next spring to supplement the bird seed supply. Chickadees, as well as other birds, love to pull seeds from the dried flower heads. Wouldn't Tazewell County look beautiful with swaths of sunflowers east to west, north to south?
For more about birds, their fragile habitats, and ways to help them survive, visit your library at www.tcplweb.org, or call 988-2541. | <urn:uuid:5c07437a-49a3-4d71-bce3-56dd5d618069> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tcplweb.org/libraries/newspaper-articles/document.2009-10-20.9055009668?date=2013-3-7&month:int=4&year:int=2013&orig_query=date%3D2013-3-7%26amp%3B | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95347 | 818 | 2.484375 | 2 |
Cali's jubilation is fueled by the rhythm of salsa, its warm climate and especially by its warm people. Cali is an unforgettable city.
You are here:
The lake with the fastest winds in America is called Calima and is located in the Municipality of Calima El Darién. It is a top site for water-skiing; catamaran, sunfish, and laser sailing; and wind and kite surfing. Calima El Darién is the setting for regional competitions, as well as national ones like the Copa Moto Neumática de Occidente, the Triatlón Copa Colombia, and the national windsurfing tournament. Ultralight flying is also practiced.
A land open to adventure
Two factors make Valle del Cauca a first rate destination for aerial sports: the presence of winds coming from the Pacific Ocean and the two mountain ranges that cross the destination. Specialized instructors accompany practitioners of paragliding, ala delta, and parachuting on these experiences that seek to conquer the heavens in what many call the Paradise Destination. Sites in the municipalities of El Cerrito, Ginebra, Buga, Guacarí, and Palmira have been especially adapted for these sports.
With four 18-hole courses (one of them par 73), Cali is a magnificent destination for the sport. A warm climate and interesting designs will convert your golf experience into a challenge.
Mountain biking, Tibetan bridges, wall climbing, rappelling, rafting, and canopying are also part of the offer of Valle del Cauca in Paradise Destination, in the municipalities of Santa Helena and Jamundí. | <urn:uuid:03f8ee56-e898-4a94-a309-7ec6ffddcb5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.colombia.travel/en/mice/incentive-trips/cali/sports-and-adventure | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90148 | 348 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Tune into just about any episode of The Colbert Report, and you'll hear Stephen Colbert extolling the virtues of the "Colbert bump," the phenomenon wherein candidates, authors, and musicians appearing on his show experience an immediate surge in popularity and sales of whatever they happen to be hawking. Among the many bumps for which Colbert has claimed credit, see Toby Keith's #1 album last year, Salman Rushdie's knighthood, and the fact that the names Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee mean something to you.
Now, James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego, has just completed a study demonstrating the "first scientific evidence of Stephen Colbert's influence on political campaigns." Yes, Virginia, the Colbert bump is real.
Fowler examined the rate and amount of fundraising done by House candidates who appeared on Colbert's show for his "Better Know a District" segment. Democrats who appear on the show raise 44 percent more money in the 30 days after appearing on the show than Dems that don't appear. But it's bad news for Republicans: No bump. Their donations stay flat.
Advice for Barack and Hillary, given that Colbert is taking his show on the road next week to Pennsylvania in advance of the presidential primary there: Get thee to the Report.
H/T: The Monkey Cage
Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world. | <urn:uuid:e88baa3c-2e94-4a51-a9f4-e7c74deac554> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2008/04/07/the_colbert_bump_is_real | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952115 | 308 | 1.859375 | 2 |
In this post, author Hillary Hall De Baun reflects on how her years of participating in amateur theater productions helped her breathe life into the characters of her first novel, Starring Arabelle, and she looks at a few of the unexpected ways in which the worlds of “the stage” and “the page” seem to parallel one another.
* * *
For many years, amateur theater was a regular and significant part of my life, and memories of life on the stage served as the inspiration for my debut novel Starring Arabelle, which centers around a high school play. To write into my broad cast of characters the vibrancy they deserved, I had to relive my own past experiences with directors and actors.
I was a little older than freshman Arabelle Archer — the irrepressible lead character in Starring Arabelle — when I acted in my first play. My first role came my junior year in high school, as I recall. It was a terrible play, the title of which I’ve long forgotten. But I do remember the play’s director, a coach given to using sarcasm and put-down to get the best out of his hockey players. This caustic approach didn’t work so well on his actors, though. We lived in terror of his tongue and cringed when he corrected our many mistakes in a thundering voice.
Since then, I’ve encountered different styles of directing. The gruff-but-likeable Mr. Zee in Starring Arabelle barks instruction to his actors from the house seats, but he later provides a calm and thoughtful critique that brings out the best in his players. This is my favorite style.
Most dispiriting is the director who dictates the precise delivery of every spoken line and emotion down to the last heartrending sob. He’s apt to jump up on stage in the middle of rehearsal and assume an actor’s role, insisting, “This is how it’s done! Not the way you’re doing it!”
Then there’s the director who wants her actors to “feel” their way into their parts, to dig down to the emotional core of the characters they’re playing. If an actor is playing the part of an old, downtrodden character, this director might say, “Imagine a dog, a starving dog, now imagine the dog is human, imagine the dog is you,” and so forth. These exercises might be repeated week after week in workshop until the actor achieves the emotional truth that the part requires.
I’ve never personally encountered a “murmuring” director, but I know they exist. George S. Kaufman, co-writer with Moss Hart of You Can’t Take It With You, the play featured in Starring Arabelle, directed his actors in an undertone. Finely attuned to their sensibilities, Kaufman would take them aside and suggest in a whisper how to improve their performance. No one else got to hear what he said.
Directors aren’t the only colorful characters in theater, though. There are also the actors. Ah, the actors. They make up as varied a group as you’ll find anywhere: the ad-libbers, the spotlight-seekers, the line-forgetters, and the melodrama queens and kings.
In Starring Arabelle, Bonnie Atwood ad libs wildly, which throws everyone on stage off balance. A serial ad-libber can stop a play dead in its tracks. The prompter, who quickly loses his place in the script, has little effect.
Spotlight-seekers are like moths. No matter where they’ve been told to stand, they somehow gravitate to the brightest lit spot on stage. Getting them to budge is like moving a three-hundred-pound defensive tackle.
In every play I was ever in, there were actors who simply couldn’t learn their lines. I remember one who planted little crib notes all over the set — on tables, in ashtrays, on the floor, on the front of another actor. One time, when the crib notes mysteriously disappeared between acts, the panicked actor had to rely on his fellow actors to feed him entire speeches. Like Camille Becker in Starring Arabelle, actors usually know each other’s lines.
Then there are the actors who thrive on melodrama. They never say a line straight if they can turn it into an Academy Award performance. In the book, my heroine Arabelle is such an actor, trying desperately to prove herself by over dramatizing — and she bombs until she learns to tame her own exuberance.
Somehow, in the end, despite their many different approaches to directing a play and acting in one, despite the clash of egos on stage and the histrionics off stage, the director and the cast come together in a miraculous display of teamwork. The play’s the glue that binds them together.
My amateur theater days are long gone. Writing books for young readers has taken center stage in my life now. Yet do you, like me, see the parallels between the theater world and the book world? I see you shaking your head. But consider this. In the book world, editors (directors) point writers (actors) in the direction that will make their book (a play) better and help place it into the hands and hearts of readers everywhere (an extended run).
In the end, as in the theater world, the writer and the editor unite in a common effort. The book is the glue that binds us together. | <urn:uuid:6a7a79aa-77b4-443c-b337-8a315e2b8547> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://eerdword.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/all-the-books-a-stage-by-hillary-hall-de-baun/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967036 | 1,180 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Babar and Father Christmas ¦ Babar's Travels ¦ Babar the King ¦ Babar's Friend Zephir ¦ Babar at Home
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What to say about these classics? Firstly they have lost nothing in their transmutation to small format paperback. The style of illustration is simple, bold and the typeface sufficiently large for there to be no sense of claustrophobia (remember those eye-boggling Asterix reductions?). To anyone coming new to the Land of the Elephants the style of writing will seem stilted - very thirties middle-class: 'I am a stray dog and I should be very pleased to go with you.'
The storylines will also seem precious. After a lovely day in the newly created Celesteville - built by happily co-operative elephants who go no to choose a new profession - Babar has nightmares of ugly creatures called Indolence, Fear, Despair, Ignorance and so on. These are dispersed by' ... glorious elephants with wings who chased Misfortune far from Celesteville and brought with them Happiness.'
And yet it escapes being 'twee'. Life for the elephants is dangerous (they war with the rhinoceroses) and hardworking but they play hard too and uphold the kind of moral code associated with Arthur Ransome or Kipling.
If you are not utterly deterred by this description, please try them with top infants or young juniors. Will they relate to the traumas of bringing up children in Babar at Home? Will they read Babar's Friend Zephir as a fairy tale - ingenious protagonist saves royal princess? Will they enjoy the plan of Father Christmas' underground house? Or will they dismiss the lot as out-dated, highflown nonsense? | <urn:uuid:11d40c51-9a31-4780-a5f6-902e4daf5e2b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/50/childrens-books/reviews/babar-and-father-christmas-%C2%A6-babars-travels-%C2%A6-babar-the-king-%C2%A6-baba | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934289 | 388 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Abe’s education push
[29 Oct 2006]
Abe Shinzo, the new prime minister of Japan, has continued Koizumi’s weekly email magazine, providing an interesting insight into the PM’s thinking.
In last week’s edition, he wrote at length about the problems of Japan’s education system:
At any given time or in any given country, education invariably plays a critical role in nurturing people with the vision and aspiration to build a dignified nation. As such, restrengthening the role that education plays is most important in order to nurture people who value their families, their communities and their country, and who cherish human life.
I will devote my efforts to rebuilding education, to form the backbone of Japan’s next century, by expanding the floor for discussion and lending my ear to a wide range of opinions.
Abe would like to see a stronger and no doubt more nationalistic Japan. And yes, the education system is one place to achieve this. But he may have his work cut out for him as the teachers’ unions are quite strong and somewhat leftist.
He then goes on to talk about bullying:
Today, children are taking their own lives after being bullied. Children are being abused by their own parents. I am utterly shocked to hear the frequent occurrence of such incidents. How are such tragedies possible? How is it that even children with their whole future ahead of them are being abused and bullied at home and in school, the very places that should protect and nurture them? I sent [several advisors to] Fukuoka Prefecture immediately after a student committed suicide there as a result of having been bullied in school.
Japan’s youth are suffering from serious identity crises (caused in part by the loss of the “jobs for life” concept) and dysfunctional families (as a result of fathers spending no time with children). In Japan, suicide is all too readily seen as a way out.
The 17 members [of the Education Rebuilding Council] passionately spoke their views on educational reform, an area of endless debate. [...] The situation surrounding education is changing greatly, as can be seen in advances in science and technology as well as in the declining birthrate and graying of society. [...] I will make every effort to enact the bill concerning the Fundamental Law of Education to clarify the educational principles for the new era and to ensure education that will open the way to the future.
It will be interesting to watch this debate unfold. Japan does a lot of things right when it comes to education, but it still tends to be authoritarian, assessment-based (with huge emphasis put on entrance exams) and requiring rote-learning that can only be successfully achieved in juku, the after-hours cram schools that can be found all over Japan.
Some advice for Abe
Seems to me that the best agent for change in educational reform is to modify the end game. That is, if you have students running around spending every waking moment rote-learning for some (otherwise meaningless) high-stakes entrance exam, and everyone knows this causes undue stress, then change the university entrance criteria. Change the job market so that changes in the education system will follow naturally.
Change the working culture where nobody leaves at night before the boss leaves, even though the workers are just filling in time trying to look busy. Japan has slowly moved in the direction of better work-life balance, but has a long way to go.
But whatever you do, make decisions that increase the level of meaning for the learning. | <urn:uuid:b39aa4ee-9ac9-4501-9529-46aec785a0eb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.intmath.com/blog/abes-education-push/451 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968895 | 735 | 1.851563 | 2 |
Canadians gave Conservative Stephen Harper a victory in the Jan. 23 election, but no mandate. His party won 124 seats in Parliament, 31 short of a majority, meaning a coalition government with the inevitable compromises.
The outcome seemed less about enchantment with Harper and his agenda than weariness with the Liberal Party, grown stale and corruption-prone after 13 years in office.
Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin was untouched by the scandals. Unlike the relatively inexperienced Harper, he is a veteran of the top levels of government and, as finance minister, can legitimately claim credit for a long run of healthy economic growth. The voters, it seems, just felt it was time for a change.
However, if Harper’s election wasn’t a sharp turn to the right for Canada, it does nudge the country in that direction. He campaigned on cutting taxes, getting tough on crime, turning more power over to the provinces, replacing government-funded day care with direct grants and allowing patients a limited right to opt for treatment outside the national health-care system.
From this side of the border, the most satisfying outcome of the election campaign is that U.S.-bashing by the Liberals didn’t work. It helped defeat Harper in 2004, but this time tarring him as, heaven forefend, “pro-American” and an ideological soul mate of U.S social and political conservatives failed to sufficiently alarm the electorate.
It does not speak well of the Bush administration that relations with the rest of North America — Canada and Mexico — have deteriorated under the president. Here, at least with Canada, is an opportunity for a fresh start. | <urn:uuid:383fd816-9bf7-473d-865e-e7968eafac65> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/opinion/article_20c5a086-c80e-5e00-809a-4e2d1d65d0ef.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959258 | 339 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Progressive Keynesian Myths Debunked: The Coming Redistribution of Political and Economic Power Among the States
Ongoing effective economic experiments among the 50 states are sharpening, and definitive results will pour out in the real world, editorial and opinion fallacies to the contrary notwithstanding.
Seventeen states have formed an alternative to the federally run National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA).
Throughout the debate over ObamaCare—and back to HillaryCare and beyond—the fundamental question in health reform has always been this: Who will control our choices—government or individuals?
President Obama's re-election impacts the domestic policy future of the United States in a number of meaningful ways, but particularly in the arena of health care policy, where the law that bears h
Vermont is on a path to become the first state in the nation to have a government-run health care monopoly, as a result of a health care bill signed Democrat by Gov. Peter Shumlin in May.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) has signed into law a $40.1 billion budget that includes the largest tax hike in the state’s history.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts could cut more than a billion dollars from its annual education spending without measurably affecting the performance of public schools, according to a study by th
Workers around the nation envy Connecticut state employees, according to their lead negotiator.
Illinois lawmakers have placed a huge bet on gambling to boost the state’s economy.
It’s a bet the chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board calls “garbage.” | <urn:uuid:9ee6ca36-35f8-4b9f-8d37-28938cdacee4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://heartland.org/tags/states?quicktabs_1=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931772 | 335 | 1.5 | 2 |
As we have reported earlier, more than 15.000 submissions were made to find a universal logo for human rights in an initiative by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cinema for Peace and the German Institute for Human Rights. A Jury comprised of renowned designers, human rights activists and political figures including Mohammad Yunus, Shirin Ebadi and Michael Gorbatschow, as well as Waris Dirie, selected ten designs out of 100 designs picked through an online vote. Ten ten finalists were again presented to the online community, who chose the winning logo.
The Logo was presented by the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle during the United Nations general Assembly in New York on Friday.
“I would like to thank each and everyone who participated in this contest. The sheer amount of submissions was incredible! There were designs sent in from all over the world and I was very impressed with the variety of the ideas presented”, Waris Dirie said of her role as a member of the jury.
More than 130.000 people voted to choose the winning design. The chosen design was submitted by a graphic designer from Belgrade, Serbia. | <urn:uuid:12f1787a-fc30-47c8-b8bd-2db375c44d5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://warisdirie.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/a-logo-for-human-rights-and-the-winner-is/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984029 | 232 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Health Front: The Flu Near You
By DR. JERRY DeCAPUA, TRT Contributing Writer
● All those who cough around you throughout January do not have the flu. Some people who cough frequently during the deep winter months are sensitive to household dust from forced air duct heaters and dust from the wood stove. Some people are extra sensitive to molds that proliferate during the damp season. Being indoors can cause any number of allergies to act up with the symptoms of coughing and running nose. Common colds appear and go during the winter months, and are caused from a variety of common viruses, including a non-invasive polio virus. Most everyone has had one form of the polio virus once in their life. It appeared and went as an average common cold.
Regardless, the influenza virus certainly makes its appearance in the north and south hemispheres during their respective winters. The influenza in South America is studied by the CDC scientists while we enjoy the hottest days of July. This is where the CDC first begins to study, identify and tract strains that may affect us later.
The newest strain of influenza is presently moving very quickly across North America. Lately, the flu’s acceleration has quickened and is widespread in 41 states. As of December 31, 2,257 people had been hospitalized and 18 children have died. Of all the people who received the latest influenza vaccination, 25 percent still got the flu, states Professor John Browstein of Harvard Medical School. The CDC states that the 2010-2011 flu season had a vaccine effectiveness of 60 percent. They probably based that statistic on a fact that four out of ten people vaccinated still got the flu. There is the dilemma that the precaution of the flu vaccine does not necessarily secure you from the disease. People must initiate behaviors and measures to insure security and protection from the influenza, whether vaccinated or not. The following is a list of them.
● You must put on a coat to keep warm and dry. Some people with self-esteem issues feel slightly vulnerable when they have to put on a coat for protection. It may be shocking news to them that a microscopic organism can make them deadly sick, or that they can be a carrier that infects those around them. Help us all out and stay healthy by bundling up with protection. Only a fool disregards the elements or is insensitive to others.
● Drink only warm or hot fluids. Ice, cold drinks and ice cream can make you cold and your lungs vulnerable.
● The U.S.D.A considers garlic and ginger antibiotic and antiviral tonics. Use any tonic or able herb regularly that might strengthen the immune response.
● Take Zinc and Vitamin C daily to strengthen the immune system.
● Be aware of your allergies. Take note of what triggers your immune defenses. Watch out for foods that are inflammatory. Avoid any drink, food, mold or particulate that might weaken your immune response. The most likely consumed items are alcohol and dairy. Animal dander, car defroster air, wood smoke and second hand cigarette smoke are particulates that over tax the immune response and the defense against viruses.
● The Pittsburg school system reduced the effects of flu season by taking certain precautions. Kids brought handkerchiefs to school and were taught to use them preventively. Desks to doorknobs were wiped continuously for germs. Kids stayed home if they were sick and a threat to others. Teachers and students observed good hygiene and washed their hands often.
● Gargling with antiseptic or salt water every day is a good preventative measure for you and others.
Establishing better hygiene behaviors is the first line of defense during the flu season, which has not peaked as yet. Another precaution to enlist might be to watch the progression of the influenza on a website called flunearyou.org . This website offers the latest regional status and the acceleration of its spread. It shows by map how the cities that are major transportation hubs are infected first prior to the flu spreading and branching to smaller communities. It also shows historical graphs on flu activity levels for 2012. Last year’s flu was at its peak during the first two weeks of February. This year’s influenza is accelerating faster. | <urn:uuid:7f32911c-4c6d-4bed-a61a-72be3590d56b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2013/01/health-front-the-flu-near-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972195 | 867 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Nonetheless, Qa'ani, the second-in-command of Iran's infamous Quds Force, has given the first real indication of what the Islamic Republic is actually up to in Syria.
The Quds, named for the Farsi word for Jerusalem, are Iran's special forces unit -- in American equivalents, a mix between black-ops and the CIA. As the Revolutionary Guard's external force, the Quds support and facilitate Islamic movements in other nations on Teheran's behalf, movements that allegedly include terrorist organizations.
Quds are adept at coordinating sabotage missions outside Iran, said Dilshod Achilov, a professor of Middle East politics at East Tennessee State University. And in Syria's case, he said, it's not just a few soldiers we're talking about, but highly trained units who know the area and the terrain and are in close cooperation with the Syrian regime.
According to Qa'ani, the Quds have actually had a positive effect on the situation in Syria. He told the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency that if the Islamic republic was not present in Syria, the massacre of people would have happened on a much larger scale.
In reality, the opposite may be true. Qa'ani may think that Iran is keeping what Assad calls armed terrorists at bay, but the Quds are undoubtedly helping the Syrian regime attack the opposition and its own people.
As long as the Iranian regime is keeping Assad in power, the Syrian people are at risk, said Mark Jacobson, the Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshal Fund.
The extent of Iran's involvement in Syria is unclear. So far, Qa'ani's interview is the closest thing to an official confirmation of the Quds' presence there. Western observers believe that the Iranians are not only training Syrian soldiers, but also actively engaging in battle with opposition fighters.
The Iranian interference in Syrian affairs includes training militia on the responses of the demonstrators, as well as providing the techniques and devices to do so, including bugging devices, surveillance, and the transfer of large shipments of weapons including assault rifles and machine guns, explosives and explosive devices and rocket artillery and tanks, a spokesperson for the Syrian Nation Council, the umbrella group of the opposition, said.
Iran also participated in security operations to hunt down opponents of the (Syrian) regime, the spokesperson added.
Battle of Zabadani
On Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that the Shabiha militia, accused of carrying out the Houla massacre, has been modeled after Iran's paramilitary Basij force, suggesting that the Iranian military could have trained the Syrian civilian soldiers.
Two days later, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby told reporters that he has reason to believe that Iran continues to assist the Assad regime in committing these acts of atrocities against the Syrian people, and on the same day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during an appearance in Copenhagen that Quds are coaching the Syrian military ... helping them set up these sectarian militias.
By some accounts, the Quds have been in Syria since January, when Assad's forces clashed with rebels in the battle of Zabadani. At the time, the Free Syrian Army, the primary armed resistance, was in control of the city and apparently well equipped to defend it from the government regulars. Knowing that Zabadani is strategically important for both Syria and Iran because of its proximity to Lebanon, less than 10 miles from the border, Assad's generals called in the Quds, as well as another Iranian ally, the Lebanon-based Shiite movement Hezbollah, for help.
The Syrian intelligence weren't qualified; they didn't have decent snipers or equipment, Mahmoud Haj Hamad, the Inspector General with Syrian Ministry of Defense, who has defected to the West, told the Times in January. They needed qualified snipers from Hezbollah and Iran, which they got, and then used to reclaim the city in just a few days.
After the battle, Quds leader General Qassem Suleimani joined the Syrian military command apparatus, according to the former head of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Steven K. O'Hern, who runs the Intelligence Wars blog. Suleimani is reportedly a regular visitor to Assad's war room in Damascus.
The Enemy Of My Enemy
The friendship between Syria and Iran stems from shared enemies. The two countries first signed a military pact over their mutual dislike of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Now, with Saddam out of the way, Teheran sees Syria as a regional counterweight to Israel, Iran's sworn enemy.
There is also a religious aspect, with Iran's Shiite leaders and Syria's Alawites on one side and Sunni Muslims on the other. Involved in that dynamic now is Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Shiite political group that still has a paramilitary wing. Iran and Syria are Hezbollah's biggest military, financial and political supporters, and Syria offers a bridge between Iran and Lebanon. If Assad falls, Iran doesn't just lose its closest ally: It may also lose a direct geographical link to Hezbollah.
Still, Iran's future involvement in the Syrian conflict is unpredictable, mostly because the outcome of the Syrian conflict itself is still uncertain. As long as the fight between the government and the rebels continues as it has for the past year, Iran may be content operating behind the scenes. But the one thing it won't do is go away: The roots go very deep, and Iran is very invested, said Achilov. We cannot expect Iran to let Syria go without a fight. | <urn:uuid:5992bf36-fdc4-4930-909b-81c92edbe0e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ibtimes.com/what-are-iranian-special-forces-doing-syria-705538 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966281 | 1,138 | 1.671875 | 2 |
New answers tagged formatting
I am often the same way with my chapters and scenes. I really think the varying lengths of your chapters depends on what you as an author are comfortable with. If you feel like it is how it should be divided, then by all means do it that way! Hope this helps.
I think your first example is perfect, making sure that you drop out words from the speaker to indicate the passage of time as your foreground characters are talking "over" the speaker. It makes perfect sense to me as a reader what's occurring.
Let your co-worker know that overuse of bullet points signifies a need to compartmentalise and control information in an attempt to render it harmless, and thus it is a sign of mental illness. Let your tone be sympathetic and understanding. Seriously though, the reading of prose is becoming a lost art in the world of business, and complexities and nuances ...
It's a sign of a poor writer if they have to use color and weird visual hints and the likes to express nuances of the scene on regular basis. There are writers who can use that skillfully and for real impact (bows to sir Pratchett with his full-page "YES") but even they use it sparingly - or all the impact will be lost. Thing is, if you go into too ...
Your co-writer is a pain in the tuchus. I am sorry you have to put up with this annoying quirk of writing. That being said, I found two references so far: The Oxford Dictionaries: Bullet points are visually attractive and make it easy for a reader to locate important information. Nevertheless, try to use them sparingly: too many bullet-pointed sections ...
Top 50 recent answers are included | <urn:uuid:ea1fc22a-e74c-467a-a30e-da405602ced9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://writers.stackexchange.com/tags/formatting/new | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963004 | 357 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Nanoparticles successfully deliver RNA interference in cancer patients
21 March 2010
US scientists have created a nanoparticle drug that acts like a stealth bomber to smuggle its RNA-interfering payload past the body's defence systems and drop it on to cancer cells. It is, say the researchers, the first example of a nanoparticle that can seek out its target after being injected into the bloodstream and paves the way for the selective targeting of cells and tissues in the body while causing only little 'collateral damage' in the form of side effects.
- Mark Davis, California Institute of Technology
The system aims to exploit the phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi), where short sequences of double-stranded RNA, called small interfering RNA or siRNA, can trigger the disruption of the manufacture of certain proteins in a cell. RNAi holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases such as cancer, but a number of hurdles remain, not least delivering the RNA to the target cell.
'If you use pure RNA it is very quickly degraded in the bloodstream,' says Mark Davis, of the California Institute of Technology, whose team carried out the new research. Even if the RNA is stabilised to survive in the blood, it can then be excreted via the kidneys. If this can be avoided, the RNA must then be taken to its specific target tissue.
Davis's team has spent 15 years on the problem and has come up with a multi-component system that tackles each of the challenges. A cyclodextrin-based polymer (CDP) self-assembles with siRNA to create the basic nanoparticle in which the siRNA is protected from degradation. Polyethylene glycol containing the cycloalkane adamantane (AD-PEG) decorates the surface of the particle to provide stability against aggregation and binding to unwanted entities in the blood. Finally a targeting ligand is attached to the surface, the protein transferrin (Tf), which homes in on excessive transferrin receptors present on the surface of the cancer cells being targeted.
The various components self-assemble into a targeted nanoparticle when mixed together
When the particles were injected into patients with a form of cancer called melanoma, the researchers found that the particles accumulated in the cancer cells, and that the greater the dose of nanoparticles, the greater the accumulation. Furthermore there was evidence that RNAi was occurring in the cancer cells.
'This is the first example of dose-dependent localisation of nanoparticles within cancer cells from systemic injection,' says Davis, 'and the first proof of concept that RNA interference can occur in a human from delivered siRNA.'
Snow Stolnik-Trenkic, an expert in drug delivery systems at the University of Nottingham in the UK, says, 'At present effective siRNA delivery is considered the bottleneck in the proof of the concept of siRNA therapeutic potential and the translation of this potential into the clinic. The big advance of this new work is that it has for the first time been done in humans.'
Interesting? Spread the word using the 'tools' menu on the left.
ReferencesM E Davis et al, Nature, 2010, DOI: 10.1038/nature08956
Also of interest
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Chemically modified, stabilised RNA molecules find their way into cells more easily, claim researchers
Comment on this story at the Chemistry World blog
Read other posts and join in the discussion
External links will open in a new browser window | <urn:uuid:9c96eba4-7bc7-48a3-8c8f-ca47b23173f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/March/21031001.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929724 | 732 | 2.828125 | 3 |
PORTLAND, Maine — Ambulance crews and firefighters in Portland say a new system that changes the way they treat cardiac arrest victims has raised the survival rates of people whose hearts stop beating properly.
In a year survival rates have risen from about 5 percent to more than 17 percent.
The new system calls on emergency rescue workers to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation chest compressions at the scene, rather than first carrying the victim to an ambulance.
In addition, all seven of the city’s ambulances have been fitted with new $35,000 automated external defibrillators, which guides firefighters to achieve the proper depth and rate of chest compressions.
Deputy Fire Chief David Jackson tells the Portland Press Herald everything available in the emergency room is now available in the ambulance. | <urn:uuid:cd40955e-634c-4cf4-b327-1471b424c8ab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/16/news/portland/portlands-new-cardiac-arrest-system-reduces-deaths/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903396 | 161 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Did Turkey Just Declare War On Syria?
Just out from the WSJ:
- Turkey's parliament has approved a bill authorizing the military to conduct cross-border operations in Syria, a day after a deadly shelling from Syrian territory killed five civilians
So, just how is this different to war? And how does NATO, and specifically Article 5 feel about this? What about Russia and China?
More from the WSJ:
Turkey's parliament approved a measure proposed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, giving the government broad powers to send soldiers into "foreign countries" after Turkish armed forces and Syria traded fire on Wednesday and Thursday.
The measure is valid for one year and allows Mr. Erdogan to deploy troops into Syria without consulting with the national assembly in Ankara. The measure was opposed by the main opposition Republican People's Party, which dubbed it a "war bill."
Opponents argue that the rules of engagement adopted after Syria downed a Turkish reconnaissance jet in June provide a broad enough mandate to thwart threats from President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which has been battling an uprising that started in March 2011 and is supported by Turkey.
"The negative impacts of the ongoing crisis in Syria on our national security is visible in an increasing fashion," Mr. Erdogan said in the bill he submitted to parliament. "The aggressive actions targeting our national lands are at the threshold of armed attacks.... For that reason, it has become necessary to take precaution to act in a timely and quick manner against additional risks and threats facing our country." | <urn:uuid:a4b679af-6857-49aa-af21-013218beba91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-10-04/did-turkey-just-declare-war-syria | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965456 | 307 | 1.859375 | 2 |
Scandal will bolster calls for direct aid to NGOs
BACKGROUND:The suspension of any further Irish aid to Uganda’s government is an unprecedented move
NEWS THAT the payment to Uganda of €16 million in aid from Ireland has been suspended is a serious development, and not just for the east African state.
Reports that up to €4 million from last year’s Irish allocation to the country, along with a further €8 million from Scandinavian countries, has gone missing are a cause for grave concern.
The suspension by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, of that element of Irish aid that goes through Ugandan government channels is unprecedented in terms of the amount involved.
The sharp and decisive Irish move reportedly took even the Scandinavians aback, but Government sources say it reflects constant, close monitoring of aid money and its dispersal overseas.
Millions in public money going astray would be bad news at any time, but is particularly so now.
Ireland has a tradition of generosity towards the developing world. However, there are minority views that (a) we should put ourselves first, (b) that development aid doesn’t really work and (c) that the danger of corruption is too great.
At the height of the Celtic Tiger era, during Ireland’s successful campaign to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council, then taoiseach Bertie Ahern pledged at the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000 that by 2007 we would reach the UN target of allocating 0.7 per cent of Gross National Product to development aid.
That was then. The aid budget now is €639 million, or 0.5 per cent of GNP. It is still a substantial figure, and proponents of development assistance would argue it has saved many lives and helped countries to find their feet.
It is unusual for a senior official from the Department of Foreign Affairs to take to the airwaves. That Brendan Rogers, the widely respected head of the development wing of Irish Aid, went on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday to talk about the bad news from Kampala indicates the seriousness of the issue.
Rogers worked in Uganda from 1996 to 1998, and saw it emerge from the bad times of Idi Amin, surely the most bizarre and eccentric of dictators, and his successor Milton Obote.
While acknowledging that Uganda has been “a poster-boy for corruption”, Rogers drew attention also to major progress made in education and in combating HIV/Aids and poverty.
The missing money, he said, was diverted to a fund linked to the office of prime minister Patrick Amama Mbabazi. “This money was taken when it was in the care of the government of Uganda,” he said bluntly. “We want it back.”
The money was earmarked for northern Uganda, which endured terrible suffering in a 20-year conflict involving Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The incident will be used to bolster the argument that aid should be channelled through NGOs and missionary orders, not governments.
Rogers will travel to Uganda next week, where he wants to ask Mbabazi what has happened with the Irish funds.
He needs answers, and so does the Irish taxpayer. | <urn:uuid:2a6c388f-3083-43d4-98ee-4bea75373d4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.irishtimes.com/news/scandal-will-bolster-calls-for-direct-aid-to-ngos-1.558259?via=rel | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963614 | 678 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Re: Proposal for a new PKI model (At least I hope it's new)
From: Anne & Lynn Wheeler (lynn_at_garlic.com)
Date: Sat, 06 Sep 2003 15:21:56 GMT
George Ou <firstname.lastname@example.org> writes:
> But I don't want to use just one portal or a wild card. I want to be
> able to issue an unlimited number of hosts and email addresses for my
> domain. I want to be able to use SMTP-AUTH and SMTP-TLS. I want to
> enable secure XML transactions. I don't want to buy just one host
> certificate. I want to buy one master certificate for my root PKI
> server. There is a huge difference.
> Companies buy so few because they can only afford one or two certs.
> Take away the cost factor and watch PKI deployment go up.
majority of the internet are using SSL domain name certificates when
they have trust issues with the domain name infrastructure and they
are doing something of value (certificates represent a patch on
perceived trust shortcomings of the current domain name
infrastructure, as opposed to directly fixing the turst shortcomings
... they are being coated over with SSL domain name certificates).
In the early days of SSL, the original discussions were assuming that
SSL would be used for all shopping related activities going on over
the internet ... until it was determined that there is something like
a five-fold difference between SSL sessions capacity and non-SSL
session capacity. As a result, instead of seeing SSL being default for
everything that went on the internet .... yoo saw it being cut back to
only the phase involving entering the credit card number ... and
frequently the credit card number processing being handed off to a
dedicated credit card processing server (for the ten large guys they
are probably doing their own ... for the small to medium tier sites,
you find many are outsourcing ... where a single processor actually
may handle hundreds of shopping sites). This limited deployment wasn't
because of the cost of the certificates ... which is trivial compared
to the cost of the additional infrastructure for running the actual
SSL operation (and which doesn't go away, even if SSL domain name
certificate costs totally disappear).
So, as I've repeated numerous times before ... if you fix the
underlying domain name infrastructure ... it almost totally eliminates
any possible demands for SSL domain name certificates (of any kind)
... and would still allow SSL type public key sessions ... with
little additional cost. However, the cost issue of operating SSL (or
SSL-like) sessions still appears to dominate.
A current issue is that the domain name infrastructure has to be fixed
in any case (since its difficiencies also put the SSL domain name CA
business at risk). Part of the current CA cost is that they need a
totally different business operation, staff, training, and their own
operation which needs an independent revenue flow is need to support.
Making public key distribution part of the standard domain name
operation eliminates almost all that infrastructure costs and just
merges it into the existing dynmamic, timely information distribution
So there are a couple of infrastructures that have deligated trust of
the type you are proposing (not the technical mechanics ... but the
process that one business will deligate certificate trust operations
to another certification business operation). The scenario is that the
deligated agent has to have processes in place that they follow all of
the business processes followed by the root trust operations (for
establishing the validity of the information being placed in the
certificate) or the resulting sub-certificates don't mean anything.
They require the sub-agent to have totally separated computer
operations in secured facilities and the cost of the deligation
certificate frequently is in the tens of thousands or hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
Another way of looking at this ... is if they don't require such
processes and costs they would be severely diluting their brand name
to the point that it would mean little more than any randomly
self-signed certificate. In effect, the sub-agent signed certificates
would have significantly lower trust unless they implemented all the
processes (and costs). The only thing that such CA operations would
then uniquely have is that they had undergone the costs to have their
root certificate preloaded into major browsers and they would be
franchising out access to that browser pre-loaded root certificate
with possibly little or no control over the franchised operations.
There is nothing stopping any entity from going to the major browswer
venders and going through the necessary steps to get a brand new root
certificate preloaded into browsers ... and establish whatever
business procedures they want to for managing delegated trust.
-- Anne & Lynn Wheeler | http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/ Internet trivia 20th anv http://www.garlic.com/~lynn/rfcietff.htm | <urn:uuid:7a4bca7c-18e2-4951-9ced-4f8c96a33f34> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.derkeiler.com/Newsgroups/sci.crypt/2003-09/0410.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941886 | 1,062 | 1.523438 | 2 |
The campaign is being conducted in accordance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Permit requirements.
Using a comprehensive, multicultural approach, the Don't Trash California campaign targets primary offenders of highway littering,
as well as the general public, to create a social mindset in California that this State does not tolerate polluting our freeways and highways.
The campaign implements proven strategies, including media advocacy, special events, partnerships, paid media and community outreach, to raise
the level of awareness of the effects of littering and encourage the public to avoid littering. | <urn:uuid:9a4d3467-1886-4de6-88eb-9f4a93501d7e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.donttrashcalifornia.info/about.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.900522 | 121 | 1.695313 | 2 |
plans to ‘merge’ two Leeds fire stations that critics say will ‘cost lives’ have taken a step forward.
Members of Leeds City Council’s north and east plans panel yesterday discussed issues relating to the consolidation of Gipton and Stanks stations.
Planning permission is being sought to bring them together in a new fire station on the site of a former petrol station at Killingbeck in east Leeds by 2015.
The move will reduce the number of pumps from three to two, and see the loss of 24 members of staff, according to West Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union (WYFBU).
David Williams, WYFBU secretary, said the Union actively opposed the plan that would reduce fire cover and increase response times.
He said: “Minutes matter. Closing Gipton and Stanks stations and moving them a couple of miles further out is not right and we will continue to oppose it. It will cost lives.”
He added: “There will be a reduction in fire cover. People will not experience the same response times. While they might not notice any difference on the first call, they will see delays on the second and third calls as resources are stretched.”
The existing stations at Gipton and Stanks are located 3.7 miles apart. The application is for a new two-storey fire station with associated access, car parking and landscaping.
Proposed accommodation will comprise of a three-bay vehicle garage, offices, sleeping facilities and rest and recreation areas.
A training tower measuring 13.89 metres is to be located to the west of the site.
If passed the new station would be located just north of the A64 York Road, at its junction with Moresdale Lane, to the east of Killingbeck Police Station.
One third of the site comprises a former petrol filling station. The other two-thirds is green belt.
Consolidating the two would represent an ‘economic, effective and efficient way of providing fire and rescue services for these areas’, according to the case put forward by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).
Submitted documents claim both Gipton and Stanks stations are ‘dated’ and ‘not situated within the best locations to serve the catchment area’. English Heritage wants to make Gipton station a listed building. | <urn:uuid:9a672de1-ccbc-4a29-83f7-fe72c972997e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/merger-plans-for-two-leeds-fire-stations-blazing-forward-1-5521525 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968014 | 491 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Retirees Go Green in Maryland Community
from Wildlife PromiseIn the summer of 2011, resident George Walter submitted an application to the National Wildlife Federation to designate his retirement community, Oak Crest, as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®.
Oak Crest is the largest retirement community in Baltimore, Maryland with over 2,100 residents and sits on an 87-acre campus amongst a flourishing ecosystem. In November, residents and staff came together to celebrate the receipt of that designation at a ceremony, appropriately held by the pond on campus.
The pond is used to encourage wildlife and recreation, individual garden areas and a greenhouse for residents, a nature trail and forest buffer zones. In the fall of 2009, a “green roof” was installed on the assisted living and skilled nursing buildings that comprise Renaissance Gardens.
A Flourishing Eco-System
Oak Crest supports numerous species of wildlife on the grounds of its campus, including deer, squirrels, foxes, geese, ducks, hawks, bluebirds, woodpeckers and catfish. There is a nature trail that is maintained by residents and staff.The grounds team provides shelter for habitat including fencing for geese nests and houses for bluebirds. The trees planted in the Memory Forest have a wildlife benefit. The crabapple, cherry and viburnum trees offer food for birds; the oak and hickory trees do the same for squirrels. Additionally, there are feeders for fish, ducks and geese at the pond.
Brian Dorsey, facilities manager for grounds and transportation, noted that the National Wildlife Federation has “strict guidelines on the habitat elements that must be in place to receive the award. A property must provide food sources for wildlife. These can be supplied naturally through plants or supplemented through feeding. Also, there must be water sources, cover and places to raise young established on the property.”
A Resident-Driven Effort
Many of Oak Crest’s initiatives are resident-driven. The “green” approach is a collaborative effort between the residents and staff of Oak Crest. Resident groups such as the Garden Club (consisting of Garden Plots, Greenhouse & Nature Trail committees), Recycling Plus Group, For the Birds, Earth Day and the Blue Heron Yacht Club provide input regarding campus environmental policies.
“These requirements have been intrinsically satisfied for years through the ‘green’ approach to operations to which our residents and staff have been so diligently committed,” continued Mr. Dorsey. “I’m most proud that this is a grass-roots effort. The fact that we supply all of these elements implies good stewardship by Oak Crest to the air we breathe, water that we shed and the plants that support a healthy ecosystem.”
If you would like to certify your own backyard, go to www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife to learn more. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a certified Community Wildlife Habitat, go to www.nwf.org/community.
Contribution of blog content and photos: Jeff Getek, Public Affairs Manager, Oak Crest | <urn:uuid:f2b4ffad-1b4d-46f0-9a74-63a4cc59ad15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.nwf.org/2011/12/retirees-go-green-in-maryland-community/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933452 | 642 | 2 | 2 |
LSD 'may aid alcoholism treatment'
Psychedelic drug LSD could be used as an effective method to treat alcoholism, scientists say.
The use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), coupled with relapse prevention treatments, could help alcoholics steer clear of the bottle, research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests.
Teri Krebs and Pal-Orjan Johansen, who were performing research fellowships at Harvard Medical School in the US, examined a number of previous studies, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s, and found that a number of clinics used LSD to treat alcoholism with some success.
They said they found evidence for a clear and consistent beneficial effect of a low dose of LSD for treating alcohol dependency.
They examined 536 participants, across six medical trials, and found that 59% of LSD patients had improved compared to 38% of control patients.
Researchers said the positive effects of a single dose of the drug, tested by a standardised assessment of problem alcohol use, appeared to last for up to 12 months.
However, they suggested the repeated use of the medication, coupled with preventative treatments, might provide more sustained results.
Investigators of one trial which was examined said: "It was rather common for patients to claim significant insights into their problems, to feel that they had been given a new lease on life, and to make a strong resolution to discontinue their drinking."
Mr Johansen said: "Given the evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcoholism, it is puzzling why this treatment approach has been largely overlooked."
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- 1 Stoke City investigate 'religious abuse' after 'pig's head is found in Kenwyne Jones' locker'
- 2 Gove’s lesson: spare the comma, spoil the child
- 3 Grace Dent on TV: Extreme Couponing, My Strange Addiction, and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, TLC
- 4 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 5 Join Ryanair! See the world! But we'll only pay you for nine months a year
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£85 - £120 per day: Randstad Education Cheshire: KS2 teacher needed to do PPA ... | <urn:uuid:c7d18a8e-2a2d-448e-9f4b-8c437bbb8a30> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/lsd-may-aid-alcoholism-treatment-7546295.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944153 | 648 | 2.625 | 3 |
Work for hire
A work made for hire (sometimes abbreviated as work for hire or WFH) is a work created by an employee as part of his or her job, or a work created on behalf of a client where all parties agree in writing to the WFH designation. It is an exception to the general rule that the person who actually creates a work is the legally recognized author of that work. According to copyright law in the United States and certain other copyright jurisdictions, if a work is "made for hire", the employer—not the employee—is considered the legal author. In some countries, this is known as corporate authorship. The incorporated entity serving as an employer may be a corporation or other legal entity, an organization, or an individual.
Author accreditation
The actual creator may or may not be publicly credited for the work, and this credit does not affect its legal status. States that are party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works recognize separately copyrights and moral rights, with moral rights including the right of the actual creators to publicly identify themselves as such, and to maintain the integrity of their work.
For example, Microsoft hired many programmers to develop the Windows operating system, which is credited simply to Microsoft Corporation. By contrast, Adobe Systems lists many of the developers of Photoshop in its credits. In both cases, the software is the property of the employing company. In both cases, the actual creators have moral rights. Similarly, newspapers routinely credit news articles written by their staff, and publishers credit the writers and illustrators who produce comic books featuring characters such as Batman or Spider-Man, but the publishers hold copyrights to the work. However, articles published in academic journals, or work produced by freelancers for magazines, are not generally works created as a work for hire, which is why it is common for the publisher to require the copyright owner, the author, to sign a copyright transfer, a short legal document transferring specific author copyrights to the publisher. In this case the authors retain those copyrights in their work not granted to the publisher.
Law in the United States
(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or (2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, as an instructional text, as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas, if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be considered a work made for hire. (17 U.S.C. § 101)
The first situation applies only when the work's creator is an employee, not an independent contractor. The determination of whether an individual is an employee for the purposes of the work made for hire doctrine is determined under the common law of agency, in which a court looks to a multitude of factors to determine whether an employer-employee relationship exists. In the Supreme Court case affirming that the common law of agency should be used to distinguish employees from independent contractors in the work for hire context, Community for Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, the Court listed some of these factors:
In determining whether a hired party is an employee under the general common law of agency, we consider the hiring party's right to control the manner and means by which the product is accomplished. Among the other factors relevant to this inquiry are the skill required; the source of the instrumentalities and tools; the location of the work; the duration of the relationship between the parties; whether the hiring party has the right to assign additional projects to the hired party; the extent of the hired party's discretion over when and how long to work; the method of payment; the hired party's role in hiring and paying assistants; whether the hiring party is in business; the provision of employee benefits; and the tax treatment of the hired party. See Restatement § 220(2) (setting forth a non-exhaustive list of factors relevant to determining whether a hired party is an employee)."
On the other hand, if the work is created by an independent contractor or freelancer, the work may be considered a work for hire only if all of the following conditions are met:
- the work must come within one of the nine limited categories of works listed in the definition above, namely (1) a contribution to a collective work, (2) a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, (3) a translation, (4) a supplementary work, (5) a compilation, (6) an instructional text, (7) a test, (8) answer material for a test, (9) an atlas;
- the work must be specially ordered or commissioned;
- there must be a written agreement between the parties specifying that the work is a work made for hire.
In other words, mutual agreement that a work is a work for hire is not enough. As a general practice, such commissions specify an exclusivity period, confer publishing rights to the commissioning organization, or exempt the commissioning organization from performance and print royalties. For vocal works such as operas, a common practice is for the author of the text to be compensated as work-for-hire and the composer of the music to assume full rights under the copyright law.
When forced to rely on an implied license, a hiring party often finds that it has only limited rights to alter, update, or transform the work for which it paid. For example, a motion picture feature may hire dozens of creators of copyrightable works (e.g. music scores, scripts, sets, sound effects), any one of which could limit use of the entire film by denying permission to copy their contribution; the producers avoid this scenario by requiring that all contributions by non-employees fulfill the work-for-hire requirements.
An author has the inalienable right to terminate a copyright transfer 35 years after agreeing to permanently relinquish the copyright. However, according to the US Copyright Office, Circular 9 "the termination provisions of the law do not apply to works made for hire." These restrictions, in both the work for hire doctrine and the right of termination, exist out of recognition that artists frequently face unequal bargaining power in their business dealings. Nonetheless, failure to secure a work-for-hire agreement by commissioning organizations can create difficult situations. One such example is the artist Raymond Kaskey's 1985 statue Portlandia, an iconic symbol of the city of Portland, Oregon. Unlike most works of public art, Kaskey has put strong prohibitions on the use of images of the statue, located atop the main entrance to the famous Portland Building. He sued Paramount Pictures for including shots of the statue in the Madonna motion picture Body of Evidence. As a result, it is nearly impossible to film portions of one of downtown Portland's most vibrant neighborhoods, and the city has lost out on the potential to create merchandise and souvenirs from one of its most iconic landmarks.
An author can grant their copyright rights (if any) to the hiring party. However, if not a work made for hire, the author or the author's heirs may exercise their right to terminate the grant. Termination of a grant cannot be effective until 35 years after the execution of the grant or, if the grant covers the right of publication, no earlier than 40 years after the execution of the grant or 35 years after publication under the grant (whichever comes first).
The application of the law to materials such as lectures, textbooks, and academic articles produced by teachers is somewhat unclear. The near-universal practice in education has traditionally been to act on the assumption that they were not work for hire.
Where start-up technology companies are concerned, some courts have considered that the traditional factors for finding that an author is an "employee" can be less important than in more-established companies, for example if the employee works remotely and is not directly supervised, or if the employee is paid entirely in equity without benefits or tax withholding.
Work for hire amendment
In 1999, a work for hire related amendment was inserted into the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999. It specified that sound recordings from musical artists could be categorized as works for hire from the recording studios. The RIAA faced controversy over this amendment, leading to the creation of the Recording Artists' Coalition.
Employer–employee relationship under agency law
If a work is created by an employee, part 1 of the copyright code’s definition of a work made for hire applies. To help determine who is an employee, the Supreme Court in CCNV v. Reid identified certain factors that characterize an “employer-employee” relationship as defined by agency law:
1 Control by the employer over the work (e.g., the employer may determine how the work is done, has the work done at the employer’s location, and provides equipment or other means to create work)
2 Control by employer over the employee (e.g., the employer controls the employee’s schedule in creating work, has the right to have the employee perform other assignments, determines the method of payment, and/or has the right to hire the employee’s assistants)
3 Status and conduct of employer (e.g., the employer is in business to produce such works, provides the employee with benefits, and/or withholds tax from the employee’s payment)
Copyright duration
In the United States a "work for hire" (published after 1978) receives copyright protection until 120 years after creation or 95 years after publication, whichever comes first. This differs from the standard U.S. copyright term, life of the author plus 70 years, because the "author" of a work for hire is often not an actual person, in which case the standard term would be unlimited, which is unconstitutional. Works published prior to 1978 have no differentiation in copyright term between works made for hire and works with recognized individual creators.
In the European Union, even if a Member State provides for the possibility of a legal person to be the original rightholder (such as is possible in the UK), then the duration of protection is in general the same as the copyright term for a personal copyright: i.e., for a literary or artistic work, 70 years from the death of the human author, or in the case of works of joint authorship, 70 years from the death of the last surviving author. If the natural author or authors are not identified, nor become known subsequently, then the copyright term is the same as that for an anonymous or pseudonymous work, i.e. 70 years from publication for a literary or artistic work; or, if the work has not been published in that time, 70 years from creation. (Copyright durations for works created before 1993 may be subject to transitional arrangements).
An exception is for scientific or critical editions of works in the public domain. Per article 70 of the German copyright law, editions as the result of scholarly or scientific analysis have a copyright length of 25 years. Therefore, the editor of an urtext score of an opera by Beethoven would only receive 25 years of protection, citation needed][
See also
- Copyright Act of 1976 (U.S.)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA; UK)
- Copyright law of the European Union
- Derivative work
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- US Copyright Office, Circular 9: Work-Made-For-Hire Under the 1976 Copyright Act.
- Cmty. for Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S. 730 (1989)
- http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/law/lwsch/journals/bclawr/41_3/02_TXT.htm , retrieved April 28, 2009
- http://apps.americanbar.org/buslaw/blt/content/2011/04/keepingcurrent-ip.shtml , retrieved April 15, 2011
- Sound Recordings as Works Made for Hire http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat52500.html retrieved April 17 2012
- Peter B. Hirtle, Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States, 1 January 2007.
- Section 11, UK Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as amended to 2005. As posted by R. G. C. Jenkins & Co., patent law office. Accessed October 25, 2007.[dead link]
- W. R. Cornish and David Llewelyn, Intellectual Property: Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks and Allied Rights, 5th ed. (London : Sweet & Maxwell, 2003) 471-72. ISBN 0-421-78120-3. ISBN 978-0-421-78110-8.
- Article 1, Directive harmonizing the term of copyright protection, Directive 93/98/EC.
- In the UK see for example Copyright law of the United Kingdom, and links from that page.
Further reading
- Landau, Michael. "Ownership Issues in Copyright Law" at the Wayback Machine. Archived from Gigalaw.com April 2000. Accessed October 25, 2007.
- Garon JM, Ziff ED. "The Work Made for Hire Doctrine Revisited: Startup and Technology Employees and the Use of Contracts in a Hiring Relationship." Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology. 2011;12(2):489-527. Accessed January 9, 2013.
Copyright codes of various countries pertaining to Work For Hire:
- United States
- "Circular 9: Works Made for Hire under the 1976 Copyright Act". An information circular provided by the U.S. Government Copyright Office.
- "Works Made for Hire under the 1976 Copyright Act". Works Made For Hire Complete.
- "Definitions" in USC section number 101 of Title 17 of U.S. Code. Provides definitions of various kinds of "Work for hire"; "Derivative work" based on WFH; and many other definitions of pertinent terminology used in the U.S. Copyright Code. | <urn:uuid:69695824-95e2-4f39-87c6-3340cebe672b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_for_hire | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935668 | 2,955 | 1.976563 | 2 |
CAP TODAY asked anatomic pathology systems vendors to share their thoughts about features that are the foundation of a comprehensive AP system, assessing return on investment for such systems, and the value of voice-recognition technology. Here’s what they had to say.
CAP TODAY: What are the three most important features of any comprehensive anatomic pathology system?
Gene Calvano, president, Small Business Computers of New England, Manchester, NH: The most important features of an AP system are:
- Data entry and reporting. One goal of a laboratory is to efficiently produce an accurate, quality assured diagnostic report. An information system must be easy to use, flexible, and customized to allow an efficient flow of information. Each lab is unique—varying in size, specialty, and other features. The system must provide an optimal fit for entering data; eliminating errors; and retrieving information from login to report distribution, statistical reporting, and quality control.
- The ease, response time, and cost of modifications. A system may appear complete when it is installed, but change will be required. Change results from new regulations, modified information flow, new tests or interfaces, management reports, client service requests, and more. The system must be conducive to change and the vendor responsive and willing to provide modifications at a reasonable price.
- Interfaces. A system needs to be able to add multiple interfaces, such as billing and report-delivery interfaces, easily and cost effectively to maximize the level of service a lab provides its clients.
George Rugg, vice president and general manager, Laboratory Systems, Impac Medical Systems, Mountain View, Calif.: It usually takes multiple features to perform a function thoroughly on an AP system. The most important functions performed by an AP system are:
- Workflow management. It is essential in anatomic pathology to be able to manage various complex processes. Workflow tools provide consistency, efficiency, and a means to measure and improve operations.
- Code capture. Labs are required to be diligent about coding for reimbursement. An AP system must provide the tools for optimal code capture and be able to deal with the complexities of code modifiers.
- Regulatory compliance. An AP system must provide documentation; operational controls, such as log files and user security; and standards compliance. The AP system should smooth the path to regulatory compliance.
Wally Soufi, chairman and CEO, Novovision, Princeton, NJ: The three most important features of an AP system are:
- Interfaces with other systems. AP systems must work with electronic medical record systems; practice management, state, hospital, and lab information systems; and Web portals.
- Flexible reporting formats and delivery methods. AP systems must generate unique reports based on specialty or a customer’s desired reporting format. They should be able to deliver these reports via paper and paperless methods, such as fax, voice, file transfer, and direct to EMR.
- Ability to adapt and expand as lab regulations change and the menu of tests expands.
John Detwiler, president, PathLogix Corp., La Jolla, Calif.: A comprehensive anatomic pathology system has hundreds of features, but ease-of-use is most important. Most features should be so intuitive that special training is not required to use them.
The automation of customer service is another important feature. Inadequate automation of customer service is the most common deficiency of anatomic pathology systems.
Also of importance is a state-of-the-art, user-friendly Internet customer interface with on-line requisition entry and on-line reports.
CAP TODAY: How can you determine the return on investment from implementing an anatomic pathology system?
John Detwiler (PathLogix Corp.): The only way to reliably determine your future return on investment is to have the vendor install the system that you are considering on your server in your laboratory so that your pathologists and other staff can use and test it for about a month. The vendor will also need to train your staff on the system.
If you skip testing and make a buying decision based on presentations and demonstrations, you will not know enough about potential problems, inadequacies, staff acceptance, and other factors. Selecting an anatomic pathology system is risky. However, a one-month test can greatly reduce that risk and will enable you to estimate the time that will be saved.
Gene Calvano (Small Business Computers of New England): ROI for AP systems suited to small to medium-sized labs (fewer than 30,000 surgicals and fewer than 50,000 Paps annually) should not be measured in classical terms because the cost is most likely less than one full time-equivalent employee. Furthermore, a financial ROI is irrelevant because you simply need an AP system to run a lab. Just make sure you don’t pay big bucks—that is, more than $25,000—for the software.
A better ROI metric could be based on a subjective percentage fit. Evaluate your fit by considering such elements as turnaround time, quality assurance, client service, efficient information flow, report distribution, personnel costs, and productivity. Is the system providing an optimal fit in these areas, or would they benefit from change? In other words, is your AP system a 75 percent fit or 100 percent fit with the way you want to run your lab? The laboratory and the vendor should work together to maximize fit.
Wally Soufi (Novovision): ROI can be measured in a variety of ways depending on each lab’s situation. Some labs use a reduction in turnaround time or reduction in administrative time as measures, while others measure ROI by looking at customer retention, increase in case volume because of new capabilities in the AP system, or increase in client satisfaction.
George Rugg (Impac Medical Systems): Return on investment generally results from increasing revenue, improving productivity, or reducing expenses. Revenue increases often result from more accurate ordering and coding and the electronic transfer of data and charge capture. An efficient AP system increases a lab’s productivity, which permits case volume to grow without adding staff. Expense savings result from overtime reductions and electronic report processing.
CAP TODAY: How widely used are the voice-recognition features in anatomic pathology systems?
George Rugg (Impac Medical Systems): Voice-recognition features for anatomic pathology have not achieved the same level of success as in radiology. However, improvements in speech-recognition technology and the escalating cost of transcription services may lead to wider acceptance. On the other hand, a greater number of sections of the pathology report are generated from captured discrete data elements input into the system from pick lists. And voice recognition is not usually the preferred method for capturing discrete data.
How we use voice as a tool may change in the future. Voice may be used to:
- supplement other input methods, such as pull-down lists, radio buttons, or check boxes, when interacting with the pathology system, not just to capture free text.
- capture discrete data. Voice will need to be intelligently integrated with the application to make selections on the computer screen and to navigate through the application.
Gene Calvano (Small Business Computers of New England): One percent of our customer base (predominantly independent labs) uses voice recognition, about the same percentage as five years ago. The technology is getting better, but a majority of lab users are simply not ready to make it prime time. Other alternatives are seen as easier to use, more efficient, and a better fit. They range from the efficient use of macros/templates to outsourced transcription services.
Voice recognition needs 100 percent of a lab’s users to buy into it. It would not be efficient to have one pathologist use it and two others not use it. The best approach may be to introduce voice technology with a single lab function, such as for entering gross descriptions.
John Detwiler (PathLogix Corp.): Due primarily to the speed and convenience of customized glossaries, voice recognition is not widely used. I recommend using voice recognition in the histology department and customized glossaries for diagnoses.
The rapid increase in computer speeds is increasing the capabilities and reliability of voice recognition. The best voice-recognition systems are made by companies that specialize in such technology, so it is important that you choose an anatomic pathology system that is compatible with those major voice-recognition systems. Your anatomic pathology system should allow you to use voice recognition for all text input if you so choose.
Wally Soufi (Novovision): Many labs have found voice-recognition software for anatomic pathology to be a test of patience and of limited use when dealing with complicated cases. Built-in digital dictation systems (to record and dictate later), abbreviations, and stored descriptions are a more efficient and predictable substitute to voice recognition. | <urn:uuid:9f8e3dc5-3663-4364-bf58-f6014233e426> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cap.org/apps/cap.portal?_nfpb=true&cntvwrPtlt_actionOverride=%2Fportlets%2FcontentViewer%2Fshow&_windowLabel=cntvwrPtlt&cntvwrPtlt%7BactionForm.contentReference%7D=cap_today%2Fsurveys%2F0307APsurvey.html&_state=maximized&_pageLabel=cntvwr | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927158 | 1,821 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Factors determining the effectiveness of Oxfam’s public health promotion approach in Haiti, 2012.
Nadja Contzen, Hans-Joachim Mosler. Eawag.
In response to the devastating Earthquake of January 12th 2010 and the cholera outbreak of October of that same year Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam Quebec and Intermón Oxfam conducted public health promotion and cholera response in Haiti. Different promotion activities were applied which aimed at changing hygiene behavior by changing perceptions and beliefs about healthy behaviors amongst people affected by crisis.
In February 2011 four Oxfam affiliates in Haiti in partnership with a team of behavior change researchers from Eawag launched the present research project to do an in-depth evaluation of the promotional activities that had been conducted with the goal of further improving the WASH situation for people in Haiti and worldwide by understanding how to make hygiene promotion more effective. The main focus of the research project was around the question which specific promotion activities were strongly associated with perceptions and beliefs about handwashing with soap and were thus capable of changing handwashing behavior at key times. | <urn:uuid:a7cc6241-a54b-47fa-ae46-ada7c5e61497> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sanitationupdates.wordpress.com/2012/04/18/factors-determining-the-effectiveness-of-oxfam%E2%80%9Fs-public-health-promotion-approach-in-haiti/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=04d8dffccf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96799 | 223 | 1.835938 | 2 |
- Monday, October 01, 2012
The importance of being prepared for the return of the Lord is the life-giving principle throughout the bible. Knowing what to do and when to do it is wisdom. Living in turmoil and buying into the hectic pace of life is not wisdom. You are called to be faithful and wise. Is it your habit to live in chaos and mind-clutter? (Luke 12:42) And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
Dr. David Hawkins is the director of the Marriage Recover Center where he counsels couples in distress. He is the author of over 30 books, including Dealing With the CrazyMakers in Your Life, 90 Days to a Fantastic Marriage, and When Pleasing Others is Hurting You. Dr. Hawkins grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and lives with his wife on the South Puget Sound where he enjoys sailing, biking, and skiing. He has active practices in two Washington cities. You can also find Dr. Hawkins on Facebook and Twitter. Dr. Hawkins offers a free, 20 minute consultation, with requests sent to his email address at TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com. Also, remember his guarantee at The Marriage Recovery Center: 3 Days To A New Marriage, Guaranteed!
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Listen to Your Favorite Pastors
Add Crosswalk.com content to your siteBrowse available content | <urn:uuid:28d239fd-369e-4ec3-80be-982f3d5cd9e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.crosswalk.com/newsletters-only/dr-david-s-daily-relationship-tip/wise-manager.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944603 | 330 | 1.53125 | 2 |
|"Nobody knows anything about the area of dietary supplementation, but the National Institutes of Health knows for sure it's impossible."|
|—Ruth F. Harrell, Medical Tribune, 1981|
The start of the second World War was breaking news when Ruth Flinn Harrell conducted her first investigations into what she called "superfeeding." Her 1942 Columbia University doctoral thesis, "Effect of Added Thiamine on Learning," was published by the university in 1943 and would be followed by "Further Effects of Added Thiamine on Learning and Other Processes" in 1947. Her research was not about enriched or fortified foods; "added" meant "provided by supplement tablets." In a 1946 Journal of Nutrition article, Dr. Harrell stated that "a liberal thiamine intake improved a number of mental and physical skills of orphanage children." One reporter wrote, "An experiment was conducted by Dr. Ruth Flinn Harrell which involved 104 children from nine to nineteen years of age. Half of the children were given a vitamin B1 (thiamine) pill each day, and the other half received a placebo. The test lasted 6 weeks. It was found by a series of tests that the group that was given the vitamin gained one-fourth more in learning ability than did the other group." By 1956, Harrell had investigated "The Effect of Mothers' Diets on the Intelligence of Offspring," finding that "supplementation of the pregnant and lactating mothers' diet by vitamins increased the intelligence quotients of their offspring at three and four years of age."
Early in 1981, Harrell and colleagues published a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that high doses of vitamins improved intelligence and educational performance in learning disabled children, including those with Down syndrome. Dr. Harrell, who had been investigating vitamin effects on learning for forty years, had at last succeeded in focusing much-needed public attention on the role of nutrition in learning disabilities.
—Saul AW. The Pioneering Work of Ruth Flinn Harrell, Champion of Children. J Orthomolecular Med, 2004. Vol 19, No 1, p 21-26. | <urn:uuid:28ab4cc6-8fd7-48ca-89dc-5edd34ffc7ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whale.to/a/harrell_h.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968036 | 438 | 2.890625 | 3 |
On May 20, 2004, Jerry Pendergrass’s convoy was ambushed. The National Guard sergeant was standing outside his Humvee when a rocket-propelled grenade landed a few feet behind him and exploded, launching him 15 feet in the air. A few moments later, Pendergrass found himself lying on the ground, shrapnel lodged in his leg and his helmet several yards away. He was conscious but unsure of where he was, classic signs of concussion. Another member of his unit pulled him behind the protective barrier of the disabled Humvee, where they awaited evacuation to a medical checkpoint in a secure zone down the road.
Pendergrass soon returned to duty, ignoring the persistent headaches and the sleep, memory, and balance problems that plagued him after the blast. When his tour was up and he returned home to North Carolina, he took prescription painkillers and drank, trying to wash away both his memories of war and the reality of his health problems. It wasn’t until he began a second tour–and was evacuated two months later for spinal damage linked to the earlier blast–that he realized the full extent of his injuries. He was diagnosed with both mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)–a condition, first defined in Vietnam veterans, that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event. “Big bangs scare the living fart out of me,” says Pendergrass, in a conference room at the Lakeview Virginia NeuroCare center in Charlottesville, VA. He seems startled by even small noises, jumping as a nearby copy machine is jostled into action.
Pendergrass has spent the last three months at NeuroCare, which is partnered with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. The small in-patient clinic, with an adjacent residence for patients, offers intensive therapy and is staffed by occupational and physical therapists, speech and language therapists, and clinical psychologists. Pendergrass is getting psychological counseling for PTSD and rehabilitation for his brain injury.
He expects to return home soon, but his recovery is complicated by his dual diagnosis. In blast-injured soldiers, PTSD and mild brain injury often occur together. The two conditions also share symptoms–including depression, memory and attention deficits, sleep problems, and emotional disturbances–and research suggests that they can aggravate each other. A 1998 study of veterans with PTSD found that those exposed to blasts were more likely to have lingering attention deficits and abnormal brain activity that persisted long after the injury. And a study published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the 15 percent of soldiers who reported having suffered concussions had a much greater risk of developing PTSD: 44 percent of soldiers who had lost consciousness on the battlefield met criteria for PTSD, compared with 16 percent of those in the same brigades who suffered other injuries.
However, the two conditions can have different prognoses. While PTSD is a serious anxiety disorder, it can often be treated effectively with psychological and drug therapies. Patients with moderate to severe TBI have a far grimmer prognosis. Even people with concussions, who often get better on their own, can have enduring damage: symptoms that linger more than six months may be permanent. No drug treatments have proved effective for curing long-term symptoms, and other therapies are limited. For the most part, patients are simply taught new strategies for dealing with their impairments, such as carrying notepads to help them remember important tasks or designating specific spots for their keys.
Determining the true extent of the Iraq War’s brain-injury epidemic will require sorting out whether individual patients’ persistent symptoms are caused primarily by PTSD or by physical trauma. Statistical analysis from the New England Journal of Medicine study found that lasting symptoms could be attributed largely to PTSD and depression rather than to brain injuries themselves. But the conclusion is controversial. “I think that’s minimizing the potential effects of concussion in this equation,” says Barth, the University of Virginia neuropsychologist. | <urn:uuid:e93c1f4b-2d62-4d06-a95a-04fbf77146d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/409938/brain-trauma-in-iraq/page/5/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97421 | 818 | 2.28125 | 2 |
The stress that can be caused by a malpractice suit can upset a physician's life immensely. Sometimes they throw themselves into their work, multi-tasking more than ever, when they should be keeping a normal routine of work, family life and recreation.
A lot of people envy physicians for reasons that they see from the outside. Money, stature, education, prestige, etc.
It is always easy to see the good side of a profession from the outside, because the details are easy to lose when one is not looking closely. But physicians have a tougher life than most people know. They struggle with many of the same things the rest of us have to deal with as well as their relationships with patients, many of whom are very sick.
And think about it. For most people, if they make a mistake in their profession, it may cost the firm a customer, create a bad image in the public's mind, or cost the company some money. For a physician, the cost of a mistake can be resulting physical and mental pain for someone, even death. How many times a day does a person in another profession make a mistake; how many times in their career do they not live up to that optimum performance?
Yet people hold doctors to a higher standard. What is an acceptable rate of miscalculation for a physician; one time in a 100? One time in a million? No one seems to be able to answer that question except through the courts.
Depending on the kind of physician a person becomes determines the direction for most of his or her life. For the last 20 years the move to specialties has become a real issue in the medical profession. It is estimated by the American Medical Association that only five percent of those going into medical school today go into what is called general or family practice.
The family doctor used to be the most common doctor in the phone book, but times have changed, largely based on financial considerations. It is hard to tell someone who is going to graduate from medical school with eight to 10 years of hard education and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to finance that training that they need to go into what is the lowest paying job amongst physicians; family practice.
And going into something other than general practice has one more thing going for it too; general practice doctors rank right up there with the doctors that are sued the most. The top list for being sued, along with the family doctor, are gynecologists, neurologists, emergency room physicians and even radiologists. General surgery and orthopedic surgeons are right in the same vicinity.
Doctors fear lawsuits because it can damage their business, and while many seldom have to pay anything out of pocket directly to a patient because they have insurance, their rates can be raised as well. On top of that lawsuits take up a lot of valuable time, and certainly energy. They are also mentally draining and stressful as well.
According to wrongdiagnosis.com over 50 percent of doctors get sued sometime during their career, and 10-20 percent of those cases reach the trial phase.
The problem also comes from court rulings which skew the factors in a suit or whether the lawsuit is even viable. For instance, according to the Wall Street Journal in 2007 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled for the plaintiff in a case concerning the death of a 10 year old boy in traffic accident, caused by a man who fell asleep at the wheel of his car while he was on prescription drugs. The court said the man's doctor had failed to adequately warn him of the dangers of the side affects of the drugs, and that contributed to the fact the man lost control while driving his car.
An odd case to be sure, but still it shows how court proceedings can go and it alarms everyone connected with medical practices.
So enter defensive medicine; the kind that takes care of all alternatives so that no mistakes are made.
In actuality, defensive medicine can be construed as a deviation from sound medical practice by some. A 2005 survey by the Journal of the American Medical Association says that 90 percent of doctors admit that they practice defensive medicine, but many find it cumbersome and troublesome as well.
There is also more to it than what appears on the surface. Of course everyone knows that doctors may order tests that are unnecessary to be safe, but some may also avoid taking high risk patients or they may not perform high risk surgeries either. That is truly a disturbing trend that ties into the fact so many are not going into facets of medicine which require those kinds of decisions.
A family physician sees all kinds of people; nothing is spelled out for him or her. The patient walks through the door with a variety of complaints, all of which do add up to something, but that something can be elusive.
Or take the emergency room doctor. A person can come into a hospital for everything from a cold to a broken arm to life threatening injuries. In this day and age the emergency room doctor often becomes the family physician due to insurance problems the patient may be experiencing.
In an article by Dr. Richard G. Roberts (Seven reasons family doctors get sued) featured by Family Practice Management, he says that there are many ways doctors and hospitals can let patients down, beginning with too slow a diagnosis. He says that first thing a doctor is responsible for is to keep a patient from harm or injury, but that they should secondly work toward avoiding malpractice claims. He says to do this a physician should follow their patients' complaints to a full diagnosis, prepare themselves completely before performing any kind of procedure and finally, know when it is time to consult with a colleague or when to make a referral of the patient to someone who may be more skilled in that patient's problems particular area.
Roberts also pointed out that there are a lot of myths about malpractice including the following:
â¢Lawsuits against doctors is a new problem. Actually the first recorded lawsuit concerning malpractice took place in 1794. In addition doctors sometimes refused to treat injuries incurred during the Civil War for fear of being sued.
â¢It's about money. Most suits take place because the patient or their loved ones don't want to see a reoccurrence of the problem they faced and they want someone to be accountable.
â¢The number of lawyers is the reason for the high number of malpractice suits. Actually it is the number of doctors that exist that predicts the number of suits.
â¢Frivolous suits are the cause of malpractice problems. Roberts states that a GAO report shows that less than 10 percent of malpractice suits are "insignificant." Actually frivolous lawsuits are uncommon because most concern serious problems the patient has.
â¢Doctors can do little to prevent suits. Not true; doctors who have a good bedside manner and relate to their patients have much less chance of being sued.
â¢Court cases favor the plaintiffs. That is not the case; in 2002 for instance doctors won 62 percent of the cases that went to trial.
â¢New laws concerning limiting suits is good. Roberts says that is not true; some are actually make situations worse.
Of all the problems that a lawsuit causes for a physician, probably the worst is not money, but emotional stress. When a summons arrives physicians often feel a variety of emotions; shock, disbelief and denial. Many have no idea it is coming and their world of control is suddenly gone and in the hands of others, including lawyers and insurance companies. Knowing that their professional reputation is in question is very hard, and very traumatic.
Next comes the discovery period which in some instances can last for a very long time. Interrogations, investigations of records, charts and requests for written and then verbal statements during the deposition are tough steps to take. Often doctors are thinking about their status as a professional, and in their emotions forget that good doctors do get sued and that sometimes truly incompetent doctors do not. Often physicians begin to make up the feelings by working more and harder, but this can be detrimental to family and health.
While the discovery takes a long time, the settlement or trial can seem to be much longer. Doctors are often in a dilemma about settling, even if they know it may be the easiest action. Because settlements are often listed on the National Practitioner Data Bank, many worry even more about their reputation.
Even when the whole thing is over with doctors sometimes have problems handling the emotions of the situation for a very long time to come. Most enter the medical profession because they want to help people, and the possibility that one may have either harmed or damaged a patient in some way is a tough issue to resolve. At this point self-doubt about professional abilities can settle in regardless of the outcome of the case.
People in general are sued everyday. Often the suits have weak ground or are just a shot in the dark. For most people as emotional as it is, it is not about what they do for a living. For doctors it is a central part of their being.
As laws change, for good or for bad, it is obvious the idea of suing doctors for malpractice will not go away. While no exact statistics exist to say that defensive medicine to cover a doctors back does cost insurance companies and of course the public more, it's hard to imagine it doesn't. Tests to check for hard to detect problems will always be run for both analytical and defensive purposes. | <urn:uuid:14d09dbc-1750-45a6-a554-41f1175619f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sunadvocate.com/print.php?tier=1&article_id=15536 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974386 | 1,907 | 1.859375 | 2 |
The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, 2nd edition (9780443074899)
Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
This is a new edition of the most successful Chinese medicine textbook ever published in the English language. The book covers the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and discusses in detail the use of the acupuncture points and the principles of treatment. The material is based on rigorous reference to ancient and modern Chinese texts, and explains the application of theory in a Western practice context.
The new edition includes additional new material, as well as revised chapters, as detailed below. In particular, 50 more acupuncture points are discussed, and further patterns (as well as some combined patterns) have been added. More case studies and case histories have been included, and pinyin equivalents have been added to key terms.
Additional information is given on pathological processes and factors; principles of point prescribing; diagnosis, especially pulse diagnosis; the relative weighting of symptoms; identification of patterns according to the Four Levels and the Three Burners; channel theory; Warm and Cold disease; and vital substances. The glossary has been considerably expanded.
In addition, the text presentation has been redesigned to make it even easier and clearer for students to navigate around the chapters. A second colour has been introduced, and more drawings, diagrams and tables now supplement the text. Summaries are included at the beginning and end of each chapter, and icons have been added to support the clarity of the text.
A CD-ROM is also included with the book, and it contains over 750 self-testing questions in a variety of formats. The students have the option to be marked electronically on their answers. Also included are 65 full colour surface anatomy images as an additional resource.
- New edition of one of the most successful Chinese Medicine textbooks in the English Language written by Giovanni Maciocia who is recognized as one of the Western world's leading authorities on Chinese medicine.
- Contains all that a student requires for an introduction to the theory of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The text builds from basic theoretical concepts, through functions of individual organs, to disease categories, and the appropriate use of points. The logical sequential order builds the material clearly for the student.
- Includes 50 new points, more patterns, more case studies and case histories
- New modern and attractive 2-colour design ensures the book is easier to access and navigate, through the inclusion of summaries, icons and a more open page design
Additional illustrations, tables and diagrams help to support the text and make the information easier for students to learn and memorise.
- Includes CD-ROM with over 750 self-testing questions and 65 4-colour surface anatomy images.
Weight (including packaging): 2600g
99 in stock
Now: £81.89 (zero tax)
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Price: £89.10 £99.00
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Get a child in need a pair of shoes for free
When Genevieve Cook first met Barack Obama in the kitchen of a mutual friend’s New York flat, he was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a dark leather jacket. It was 1983, and she was impressed when this cool, self-assured young man could tell immediately she was Australian.
In those days most Americans, even supposedly cosmopolitan New Yorkers, couldn’t tell a Cockney from a Kiwi.
But Obama had met many Aussies while living in Indonesia as a young boy with his mother and stepfather, and it turned out he and Cook had lived in that country at the same time.
They exchanged phone numbers and the self-assured Obama didn’t waste time. Within days, he was cooking her dinner at his flat.
“Then we went and talked in his bedroom,” Cook recalled. “And then I spent the night with him.
“It all felt very inevitable.”
The US president and his first lady sometimes seem so well suited that it’s hard to imagine there ever having been any woman in his life other than the formidable Michelle, who he met while working for a Chicago law firm in 1989.
Obama has reinforced this notion by making only fleeting mention of ex-girlfriends in his carefully calibrated memoirs Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. The president gives the impression of a man in such a hurry to save the world that he had no time for such distractions as romance.
But now, in a blistering new biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss has pulled his exes out of the shadows.
In so doing, he has revealed an unflattering picture of a president so desperate to sell an image of himself as a pioneering race warrior that he has airbrushed many of the white elements from his life – including that string of well-heeled, well-educated white girlfriends.
Obama’s version of events, in his autobiography, is a moving story of a mixed-race child struggling to find his black identity after being deserted as a young child by his Kenyan father.
It tells how his grandfather was jailed by the British for helping the Mau Mau rebels in Kenya – an assertion that Obama’s step-grandmother later embellished with claims he was also tortured – for which Maraniss found no evidence.
Delighted Republican opponents are picking over the inconsistencies (38 at the last count) between Obama’s own memoirs – published in 1995 as he prepared to launch his political career – and the facts uncovered by Maraniss. Time and again, Obama, who has had to fight hard to convince other African-Americans of his “black credibility”, appears to have burnished his radical credentials, not least by playing up the roles of black people in his life and playing down the roles of the white.
And nowhere is this more apparent than in his romantic life. For Cook – to whom admittedly the president alludes in his memoirs – wasn’t the first white girlfriend in his life, or the last.
As a young student in the early 1980s at Occidental College, a small university in Los Angeles, Obama developed a serious crush on student Alexandra McNear, co-editor of a college literary magazine which published two of Obama’s poems.
McNear, described by Maraniss as “lithe and mysterious, with the face of a young Meryl Streep and a literary bohemian air”, had just the sort of rarefied upbringing that might impress an ambitious young man.
Both her parents were writers and her father, Erskine McNear, the scion of a property empire. In the summer of 1981, Obama and McNear moved to New York, she to do a theatre course, he to finish his degree at Columbia University, so he could explore his black identity in a more African-American city.
Far away from family and friends, Obama’s first summer in the Big Apple in 1981 might have been lonely but, suggests Maraniss, for the presence of McNear.
She recalls admiring his intellect, his sense of humour and his good looks.
After a first date at a dimly lit Italian restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, they embarked on a two-month affair. She remembers it as a “summer of walking miles in the city, lingering over meals at restaurants, hanging out at the apartments, visiting art museums and talking about life”.
When she went back to Los Angeles, their relationship continued, largely through an exchange of passionate if pompously intellectual letters.
They discussed everything from TS Eliot to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche – but mainly they discussed Barack Obama.
Supremely self-absorbed, Obama forever harped on about his search for meaning and identity.
He seemed oblivious to her feelings, once remarking that, tempting as it would be to run off with her when he finished his degree in New York, it would mean living “in some sense of compromise and retreat”.
Obama’s self-obsession would have left many women cold, if not bored to death, but McNear persevered.
Perhaps she appreciated his toe-curlingly pretentious notes on literature, like his observation that Elliot’s poem The Waste Land “contains the same ecstatic vision which runs from Munzer (a somewhat obscure Reformation theologian) to Yeats”. She told her diary that he was “the closest friend I had, and that I really loved him but didn’t know if we could sustain a relationship”.
Her instincts were correct.
A few months later, while Obama was visiting his mother in Honolulu, he wrote to inform McNear with cold detachment that he felt their relationship was changing from romantic love to “the more quotidian, but finer bonds of friendship”.
Next for Obama was Cook. She was three years older than him, and an assistant teacher at a private school in Brooklyn.
As Maraniss observes, “there had been girlfriends before her but none quite like Genevieve”, who “engaged him in the deepest romantic relationship of his young life”.
Cook is mentioned in Obama’s memoirs as a mystery woman. While never naming her, he wrote: “There was a woman in New York that I loved. She was white. She had dark hair with specks of green in her eyes. Her voice sounded like a wind chime. We saw each other for almost a year.”
She shared many of Obama’s obsessions and, like Obama, she had a burning passion to save the world.
Within two months of meeting, they were seeing each other every Thursday night and at weekends.
On Sundays, he would lounge around in his cheap, cockroach-infested flat in the less salubrious end of the Upper West Side.
Obama’s bedroom, she recalls, smelt of “running sweat, Brut spray deodorant and smoking”.
Like McNear, Cook was attracted by the “mental exhilaration” of his intellect, marvelling at how mature he was at 22, but dismayed by his remoteness and wariness about commitment. Needless to say, he was as self-obsessed as ever.
Cook described him as “an uncommon, earnest young man” and confided to her diary: “He is very beautiful – more than he thinks himself to be.”
But there was another side to him she found unsettling.
“Barack’s warmth can be deceptive. Though he speaks sweet words and can be open and trusting, there is also that coolness.”
They often talked about race and Obama would confide that he felt like an “impostor” as there was “hardly a black bone in his body”.
She eventually told him he “needed to go black” (to date a black woman), whereas he countered that he would never find a black woman he “would feel truly comfortable with”.
They moved into a flat together but their intellectual discussions eventually turned into fights over issues like the washing-up.
In the end, Cook tired of his emotional “withheld-ness, his lack of spontaneity”, and broke up with him in 1985.
Cook insists she couldn’t have been more sympathetic about his confusion over his racial identity, but that’s not how Obama portrayed it in his memoirs. Obama recounts taking his New York girlfriend to see a black play after which she “started talking about why black people are so angry all the time”. They had a “big fight” in front of the theatre and she burst into tears and said she couldn’t be black. All very dramatic, but Cook insisted to Maraniss that it never happened. The only play she saw with Obama was entirely different – British actress Billie Whitelaw performing a monologue written by Samuel Beckett. And there had been no row over race, she said.
Obama had to admit to Maraniss the incident happened not with Cook in New York but with someone else, though he wouldn’t elaborate.
Did it really happen? Obama mixed dates and places to protect former girlfriends’ identities, he said.
In a moment of acute foresight, Cook had told her diary that while she was not the woman for Obama, “that lithe, bubbly, strong black lady is waiting somewhere”. She may not be “bubbly”, but “strong” certainly sums up Michelle Obama.
However, before Obama met Michelle, he had a relationship with another white woman in Chicago. The woman, like Cook, was an anthropology graduate and is barely mentioned in Obama’s memoirs, but by then he was trying to establish his African-American credentials by toiling in a poor and predominantly black area of Chicago.
Within four years, he had met Michelle in Chicago and the rest we know. Obama finally had the partnership he wanted history to record – with a strong black woman, a descendant of slaves who had pushed her way up from humble roots. – Daily Mail | <urn:uuid:f0f7028d-fb34-4f4f-81bf-f62694ab95a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/the-white-girls-erased-from-obama-s-past-1.1326231 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986854 | 2,164 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al Bashir, right and Zimbabwean Deputy President Joyce Mujuru, left , upon his arrival in the resort town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP), a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Sudan Vision News Daily
Sudan in US Foreign Policy :Who Could Anticipate Normal Relations?
According to Foreign Minister's statement released recently the Sudanese/American relations are fluctuating.
Some time ago President Al Bashir emphasized that US Administration promises a lot but delivers none.
The U.S Administration still is holding a “carrot” for Sudan in case it changes its positions toward opening the door before foreign organizations to bring in relief aids to victims in Blue Nile and South Kordufan states. The government sees that for the organizations to operate in these particular regions will help provide supplies, ammunition and needed equipment to rebels, which will strengthen their will to launch more wars in the regions after the quelling of the rebellion has become clear to all. The government also wants signal a message to the U.S Administration that it has got tired of promises that have never been honored, and that whenever the government agrees to a condition, the U.S Administration sets other conditions. The government paints the U.S policies toward Sudan as “transferable agenda”.
The U.S Administration through its special envoy for Khartoum Princeton Lyman called for supporting the United Nations, African Union and Arab League Tripartite Initiative to provide humanitarian assistance to the needy in South Kordufan and Blue Nile states.
The Sudanese government affirmed to the envoy, who concluded a 2-day visit to Khartoum that it would soon reply to the tripartite initiative after consideration and assessment, pointing out that a report prepared by a task forces made up of representatives from the World Food Organization and UNICEF and Sudan would be announced soon.
The Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ambassador El-Ebeid Ahmed Marawah, following a series of meetings with the U.S envoy and Sudanese government’s delegation to Addis Ababa negotiations with the government of South Sudan, said that the Minister of Foreign Ali Ahmed Karti discussed with the U.S delegation a number of issues concerning relations between the two countries and development of situation in Sudan, pointing out that Lyman believes that among other reasons for not reaching an agreement is attributed to a great degree to weak confidence between Sudan and South Sudan. The U.S envoy hoped that the two countries would overcome the barrier of confidence in next rounds, noting his welcome of Sudan government’s design to assess humanitarian situation in South Kordufan and Blue Nile through involving regional and international organizations.
Marawah said the Sudanese government represented by the Foreign Minister demanded the U.S and the international community focus on the heart of the problem, not just deal with its side-effects, indicating that the state’s institutions are still considering the proposal of the tripartite move regarding humanitarian situation in South Kordufan and Blue Nile.
He affirmed that Lyman demonstrated his country keenness to ease tension between Juba and Khartoum, adding it hopes that the two countries will avoid all acts that may contribute to increasing tension. He noted that his country meant to send a positive signal to Sudan by signaling to support steps toward writing off its debts by including that in the U.S budget for next year.
NCP Rejects U.S conditions
The ruling National Congress Party has rejected conditions the U.S administration announced to write off Sudan’s foreign debts in return for the government’s consent to allow in foreign organizations in South Kordufan and Blue Nile states and hold a plebiscite in the region of Abyei. The party stressed that it does not trust Washington’s steps toward Khartoum no matter it dispatches one envoy or thousands, saying that normalization of the relations is conditional on dealing with it as a rival and respect.
The NCP officer for mobilization Haj Majid Suwar said in press statements yesterday that the successive U.S administration has been dealing with Sudan with more attempts of ignorance “therefore we don’t trust them and their positions because it promised prior to the signing of Naivasha agreement to remove Sudan’s name from terror list and cancelling sanctions on it but has not delivered and repeated the same behavior in Abuja agreement and backed down on its obligations.” He added: “the agreements we are making now are according to our political will. We are carrying on with them. We are satisfied with them and don’t need U.S administration’s incentives in this connection.”
Suwar affirmed that his party would continue to implement the agreement, which stipulated a plebiscite in Abyei, but the party that doesn’t acknowledge and want that is Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which is controlling South Sudan and holding citizens hostages in South Kordufan using them as human shields, in addition to committing crimes by SPLA division 9 in the region.
The officer for mobilizations affirmed his party’s rejection of the U.S conditions saying: “We don’t approve any of it and that if it is [U.S] willing to improve relations with Sudan, it is more willing, but if it responds to internal pressure groups, that is its business.”
In a reference to the U.S envoy for Darfur, he said: “if the U.S administration dispatched on envoy or thousands, we don’t trust steps it is taking because it has preconceived conviction and steps against the government…I don’t think it will add anything new.”
He criticized the remarks of South Sudan chief negotiator, Pagan Amum regarding the ejection of Chinese oil companies accusing them of involvement with Sudan in theft of South Sudan oil, saying that Amum’s remarks will contribute to further tensions between Sudan and South Sudan so that no agreement will be reached. He added that South Sudan has the right to expel Chinese companies or leave them, but the equation of oil production and sharing revenues is pretty clear because the wells are limited and known, citing that the last minister of oil was a southerner when Sudan was united, who knows the amount of oil and operating wells.
We will not bet on U.S promises
The NCP reiterated its rejection of U.S promises and allowing in foreign organizations to operate in Blue Nile and South Kordufan. The head of political sector with the party, Dr. Qutbi Al Mahdi in statements to the press pointed out diminishing confidence in Washington, and demanded it be more serious if it wanted to reach understanding and normalize relations with the government.
He noted that some organizations wants enter those regions to acknowledge reality created by the SPLM by violating the agreement, affirming they will not “reward” SPLM for the crimes it committed and humanitarian situation it has brought about in areas under its control.
Qutbi showed cautious welcome to the U.S Congress’ step calling for lifting support to organization that have been taking a hostile line against Khartoum such as Save Darfur and International Crisis Group. “We showed good will towards the U.S Congress’ step, although we have not seen its translation into actions…we have regard it as a natural response to positive development Darfur is seeing, especially in the sphere of development,” Al Mahdi said.
He noted that huge amount of money was gathered in the name of Darfur by those organizations, but the money has not gone to Darfur. he reiterated the government’s call for slimming down UNAMID in Darfur and transforming its budget to reconstruction and development in the regions estimated at hundreds of billion dollars. | <urn:uuid:23bfa287-c835-4213-983e-97f25bd035bb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2012/02/sudan-in-us-foreign-policy-who-could.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95586 | 1,642 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Your Name in History
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The Boston Pilot Newspaper, Boston Massachusetts
From October 1831 to October 1921, the Boston Pilot newspaper printed a Missing Friends (Information Wanted) column with advertisements from people looking for lost friends and relatives who had emigrated from Ireland to the United States & Canada. Many travelling to Canadian ports went on to USA, but others remained in Canada.
The Boston Pilot project (part of Missing Friends Project) is extracting the names and other details of those who sailed into Quebec and other Canadian Ports of Arrival.
The advertisements for missing family or friends were normally fairly detailed.
7 December 1833
Owen Moran, of Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland, emigrated from the town of Sligo, in 1832. Sailed in the James, of Maryport, bound for Quebec, since which time he has not been heard of, except a rumor of his death, which induces his wife to entreat of any who can contradict the above, not to be backward in so doing. The slightest information respecting him, either dead or alive, will be gratefully acknowledged by Catherine Louisa Moran, at No. 92 Sea Street, Boston. Catholic Editors are requested to give the above an insertion
Some, like the one below, were quite lengthy with amazing genealogical information:
16 October 1841
The undersigned being informed by John McDonald, of Brandon, Vt., that while working in Hoosick Falls, N. Y., last spring and summer, he met John Harnet, a laborer, and his brother, Thady Harnet, a pedlar, who stated to him that they had a first cousin in Middlebury, Vt., who kept an oil mill, named Tim Flanagan, and that said Flanagan was married in the county Limerick, Ireland, and left his wife and one child there. As said Flanagan is now about twenty-two years in America, and for the last sixteen or seventeen of which, has been living with a Methodist widow, and is supposed to be related, by marriage to Baggot, the schoolmaster, who formerly taught in Ballingarry, county Limerick: this is therefore to inquire of said Harnets, or of others, the name of the parish priest in Limerick, who married said Flanagan, and other particulars relating thereto. Letters relative to the above to be addressed to Rev. John B. Daly, Castleton, Vt. The Montreal and Quebec papers are respectfully requested to give a few insertions.
Missing Friends Project has organized the names of the missing alphabetically.
Choose from the following newspaper issues of Missing Friends:
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper: Long Lost Relatives 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1899 | 1900
Missing Friends Extracts from the Boston Pilot Newspaper, Boston Massachusetts 1830-1840 | 1840-1850 | <urn:uuid:d0d45677-0645-47a4-9516-c475297460c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/MissingFriends/BostonPilot.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954126 | 659 | 1.851563 | 2 |
Although many outsiders think our pastime is hockey, in actuality, it's talking about the weather. And this week we've had a lot to talk about. Victoria, B.C., for instance – the country's mildest winter-weather city, with only five white Christmases on record since 1965 – is experiencing its snowiest holiday on record. At the other end of the country, meanwhile, thousands of homes in Nova Scotia lost power after severe winter storms this week.
"Canadians are winter people. They are weather people,'' says David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada who received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada, for his forecasting work. "We are not just passionate about it, we're obsessed with it. We can talk about it forever and never grow bored."
That may explain why weather stories often are front-page news. And why 93 percent of us won't leave home without first checking the forecast, according to studies conducted by Mr. Phillips and his colleagues. It's little wonder, he adds, since we're not only the second-largest country in the world, we're also the second-coldest – just one degree warmer, on average, than Russia, and a bit colder than Mongolia.
Whereas sun and sand figures large in the literature of sub-Saharan Africa, snow plays a major role in Canadian literature. In fact, whole works by literary luminaries have been devoted to understanding how the inhospitable Canadian climate has shaped the national psyche. Perhaps the defining take on the nation's literature was provided in Margaret Atwood's dead-accurately titled book, "Survival." In terms of painters, the closest Canada has come to producing an Old Master was 19th-century artist Cornelius Krieghoff. He didn't do much portraiture – snowy landscapes were his thing. | <urn:uuid:b156d688-61b0-4b49-a329-1e45d0aa0a0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.csmonitor.com/World/2008/1226/p01s02-wogn.html/(page)/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979102 | 383 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Gives $25.4 million to Caltech for Nanoscale Systems Initiative
Nov. 10, 2004
PASADENA, Calif. — The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded a $25.4 million grant to the California Institute of Technology to establish the Nanoscale Systems Initiative (NSI). The grant will support one of the scientific and technological community's promising research avenues--the creation of extremely tiny devices to augment and in some cases displace the state-of-the-art electronic systems of today.
According to Michael Roukes, professor of physics, applied physics, and bioengineering at Caltech and founding director of the initiative, the new funding significantly augments the work at Caltech that is already at the forefront of the nanoscience revolution. Earlier this year, the Kavli Nanoscience Institute was founded at Caltech with a $7.5 million grant.
"If there's one theme that's unique about Caltech and nanoscience, it's that our small size allows us to make the most of our strengths and to work on our two strong themes, which are nanobiotechnology and nanophotonics," Roukes says, explaining that nanobiotechnology merges nanodevice engineering with the molecular and cellular machinery of living systems, and nanophotonics employs new materials technology and nanofabrication processes to develop novel devices such as optically active waveguides and microlasers.
Nanoscience is a term that refers to fundamental research to uncover the underlying physical principles that govern the function of devices measuring less than a billionth of a meter. Caltech has had an ongoing interest and presence in nanoscience and nanotechnology--or the engineering of such devices--and, in fact, one of the Institute's most renowned researchers is credited with the origin of the concept.
In 1959, Caltech physicist Richard Feynman gave a now-famous lecture titled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," in which he mapped out possibilities for extremely small devices, consistent with the principles of quantum mechanics. Since that time, research at the Caltech campus and other institutions has led to discoveries that are, step by step, bringing about a realization of Feynman's early vision.
In January 2000, President Clinton visited the Caltech campus and announced his administration's launch of the "National Nanotechnology Initiative," which has since led to a huge upsurge of activity nationally. A number of major universities and research institutions have embarked upon their own "nano" initiatives.
Roukes says the new gift will allow Caltech to further its work in nanobiotechnology and nanophotonics, in particular, through various efforts to continue probing the nanoscale frontier and to continually look for opportunities to employ nanoscale devices as new tools for frontier research.
"Fundamental work on the science of nanoscale systems will probably largely continue to be the province of the individual researchers," he says.
But as time goes on, researchers will find ways to integrate nanodevices into systems that yield transformational tools for forefront research, particularly in the medical and life sciences. For such integration, achieving the economy of scale for nanofabrication that is possible only in the context of a centralized nanoscience institute is crucial.
As a researcher who, in the past, has primarily been involved in fundamental work, Roukes says he is now especially optimistic about the engineering possibilities that can transform basic nanoscience into real nanotechnology.
"If we can reproducibly create new nanoscale tools, even in modest production, we'll be far ahead of the curve."
One of the avenues various Caltech faculty will explore within the nanoscience initiative is the creation of new nanoscale technologies to aid the emerging field commonly referred to as systems biology. Actually a methodology, systems biology treats biological systems as if there is an underlying "circuit diagram" that can be exploited--perhaps through the signaling mechanisms of individual biological molecules, and also through specific gene expression as well as through the detection of proteins expressed by genes. In many cases, systems biology depends on advances in genomics, which in turn is based upon large-scale assays of biological activity at much smaller scales. Nanobiotechnology promises to provide new means for such studies, ultimately at the level of individual cells and molecules.
In addition to enabling innovative research, the NSI will also create new educational opportunities in nanoscale science and engineering to attract stellar graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
The Moore grant will be used for architectural modification and creation of new laboratories, professional and administrative staff, facilities operations and service contracts, state-of-the-art research equipment, and a networking/communication program to link Caltech researchers with their peers worldwide.
The gift is part of a $300 million commitment the foundation made to Caltech in 2001.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation seeks to develop outcome-based projects that will improve the quality of life for future generations. It organizes the majority of its grant-making around large-scale initiatives that concentrate on: environmental conservation, science, higher education, and the San Francisco Bay Area.### | <urn:uuid:d23a141b-a8c0-4c97-9dce-9f883639f7ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://moore.org/pa-newsitem.aspx?id=470 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942174 | 1,061 | 2.34375 | 2 |
While painful, sprained ankle rehab is important to begin as quickly as possible to minimize scarring and limited range of motion. Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries. Depending on the seriousness of the sprain, they are relatively easy injury from which to recover.
Sprained Ankle Rehab
Ligaments are the structures that provide stability and support to joints. While they are strong, they have a relatively low blood supply making them slow to heal. An ankle sprain occurs when a ligament that surrounds the ankle or heel is overstretched or torn. The most common type of sprain is the inversion sprain. Inversion sprains occur when the outside, or lateral, part of the foot rolls outward and the sole turns inward. This results in the outer ligaments of the ankle being damaged.
There is a second type of sprain, called an eversion sprain, which generally occurs only with fractures. The leg and foot turn in to the center, while the sole of the foot turns outward causing the medial, or inner, ligaments are torn. Rehab from this type of injury is much more intense and takes more time.
Ankle sprains are graded from one to three, with one being a minor sprain to three being one that may require surgical repair. Grade one sprains have some stretching or minor tearing with little or no instability in the joint. There may be pain or swelling, but it will be minimal. Generally there is some stiffness, which may cause difficulty walking.
Grade two sprains have moderate tearing of the ligament fibers causing some joint instability. Walking is difficult and the pain is moderate to severe. The joint will be swollen and stiff with minor bruising evident in the area. Grade three sprains are caused by a total rupture of the ligament. The joint is completely unstable and severe swelling and bruising are present. While the pain is severe at the time of injury, it will dissipate and become pain free due to the rupture of the ligament.
If a grade three ankle sprain is suspected, patients need to be seen by a specialist immediately to prevent further injury to the area. Sprains graded one or two can generally be treated at home initially with a follow up with a specialist to ensure no additional damage has been done.
The first eighteen to twenty-four (18-24) hours are critical when dealing with ankle sprains. If proper care is not provided during this time, it will be more difficult to recover.
The first step in sprained ankle rehab is “RICE,” which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The ankle should be rested for the first day or so to prevent any additional damage to the area. Ice packs should be applied for twenty minutes every three to four hours to minimize swelling. Cold therapy is maximized at twenty minutes and ice applied longer than this can cause cold damage to tissues. Compression also helps minimize swelling and provides stability to the joint. An Ace Bandage can be wrapped from the toes to mid-calf to provide compression. Finally, elevating the injured ankle above the heart draws fluid from the area to reduce swelling and pain. The “RICE” treatment should be done for the first day or two. If there is no significant improvement in pain or swelling, patients should consult a medical professional as there may be additional injuries.
While the ankle is elevated, range of motion, or ROM, exercises can be performed as part of sprained ankle rehab. These ROM exercises, such as ankle circles, will help increase mobility and decrease swelling while the ankle is elevated. Another ROM exercise that can be done during elevation is alphabet writing, which uses the foot to draw letters in the air.
Calf stretches can also be introduced at this stage of sprained ankle rehab, if they can be tolerated. These cannot be done while the ankle is elevated. Calf stretches will keep the muscles supple since they tend to tighten up with this type of injury. Sprains make it difficult to pull the foot back, or dorsiflex, which causes a limp. These static stretches provide gentle pressure to promote dorsiflexion and increase stability.
After the initial forty-eight hours and if the ankle can take some weight bearing activity, sprained ankle rehab can progress to the next stage. Calf stretches can be done against the wall. Toe raises will help increase calf strength as well.
The next step in sprained ankle rehab is to include a Theraband resistance exercise. Therabands are large elastic bands that can be tied to an object to provide resistance. As the ankle flexes in each of its four natural directions (in, out, up and down), gentle resistance is applied. This increases the strength of the joint and surrounding muscles.
To prevent reinjury, many ankle sprain rehab programs include balance exercises. Poor balance is a component of most ankle sprains. Improving balance helps improve the patient’s gait as well, which also decreases the chances of an injury at a later date.
If sprained ankle rehab is being overseen by a doctor, they may prescribe an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprophen, to help with pain and to decrease inflammation. Many doctors recommend patients see a physical therapist for their sprained ankle rehab so patients can obtain specific treatments that may promote faster healing. Ultrasound therapy helps to increase circulation to the area while decreasing inflammation.
As sprained ankle rehab progresses, many patients choose to see a licensed massage therapist. Massage therapy can decrease scar tissue that can develop as the ligaments heal. Since ligaments have a poor blood supply, they tend to heal with more scar tissue than other tissues of the body. Massage therapy helps to break down the scar tissue and promote healing.
Sprained Ankle Rehab – The Conclusion
One final note concerning rehab: if the patient is part of a sport, they must undergo activity specific training. Both physical therapists and athletic trainers can provide specific programs.
While sprained ankles are painful and annoying, they are relatively easy injury from which to recover. Sprained ankle rehab can help regain flexibility and strength while preventing future injury. | <urn:uuid:c8cecfc7-a00b-49ae-bb69-e2b591aa5f76> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sprainedankletreatmentathome.com/sprained-ankle-rehab/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951596 | 1,262 | 2.28125 | 2 |
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- Press Kit
- 9/11: 'Never Forget' Must Include All Victims
- Atheists Advocate Separation of Church and State at DNC
- Congressman Pete Stark to Speak at 2013 National Convention
- American Atheists Announces 50th Anniversary Logo Design Contest
- American Atheists Announces Harassment Policy for Conventions and Conferences
- American Atheists Jubilant Over Latest Religion Report
- American Atheists Removes Religious Billboards from Charlotte
- Former Pastor Now American Atheists Public Relations Director
- Former Pastor Teresa MacBain New Public Relations Director
- ITALIAN JUDGE LUIGI TOSTI ACQUITTED!
- American Atheists to Protest Bradford County, FL Decalogue on May 19
Supporting Civil Rights for Atheists and the Separation of Church and State
The Creator Bill
The Creator Bill
The Creator Bill is a new and clever scheme to get more of an acknowledgement of religion into the classrooms. Under the guise of patriotism, proponents try to force all students to utter the \Creator Phrase\ from the Declaration of Independance.
\We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.\
On the first blush, this bill seems harmless, and our resistance seems like a dramatic overreaction. However, once you think about our points, our conclusion is really quite undeniable.
Proponents say it will increase patriotism, but never support this arguement. In fact, teachers know the opposite is true.
There is no support for a shortage of patriotism, nor that an increase of patriotism would do any good.
\We the People\ is a better phrase. Is all-inclusive and it is law (the Declaration of Independance is not),
The Proposed phrase offends:
- Women (\all MEN are created equal\),
- Pro-choice people (\among these are life...\), or African-Americans (it is well-known that the founding fathers did not include black people as \men\)
Then, why choose this phrase? Because this is the only fraction of a sentence in all the founding documents that sounds like an endorsement of religion. | <urn:uuid:68520380-7f7f-4b71-88fe-40dde1d022f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.atheists.org/content/creator-bill?page=13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930382 | 531 | 2.296875 | 2 |
101 Things to do this Summer
1. Have an old fashioned weenie roast—and make your own condiments. There are over 100 recipes for mustard in the below links: http://www.recipezaar.com/Dill-Pickle-Relish-124054 http://www.melborponsti.com/inxmtd.html http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/5/Best_Tomato_Catsup15315.shtml
2. Interview your grandparents. They're interesting people! Find out what games they played when they were young, what their parents were like (your great-grandparents), what kind of clothes they wore, etc. If you can, record the interview. You'll be glad you did. http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
3. Learn a new talent. What do you really wish you could do? Talk to your parents about it—they can help you achieve your goals.
4. Do yard work for an elderly neighbor. It will make you feel good and your neighbor will really appreciate it.
5. Give yourself, your friend, or your Mom a pedicure. Your Mom may even take you to get some new polish! Try some fun colors like bright yellow, lime green or sky blue. http://www.essortment.com/all/homepedicure_rsyy.htm
6. Make handmade gifts and cards for upcoming special events/occasions. If none are looming, make some up! Your cat's birthday, perhaps?
7. Learn about musicals. Watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. Note how modern music has incorporated musical lyrics from these productions. Discuss how these musicals would be different if made today. These are FUN musicals—you will enjoy them.
8. Read The Little Prince. This is a phenomenal piece of literature with multiple layers, and it's a short read. Discover why it has been translated into more than 180 languages and why it has sold more than 80 million copies making it one of the best-selling books ever.
9. Walk around your block and pick up all the litter you can find. Take a trash bag... or two...
10. Lie outside at night and watch the sky for shooting stars. Find out why shooting stars aren't really stars at all.http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question12.html
11. With your parent's permission, redecorate and rearrange your bedroom. You can get Oops paint for as little as a dollar a gallon at your local paint/hardware store.
12. Learn the alphabet in sign language.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_manual_alphabet
13. Spend one afternoon of quality time with each individual person in your family. Have a tea party with your little sister, play cards with you brother, and hang out with your Dad. Enjoy those that you love.
14. Plant an herb garden. Talk to your Mom about what herbs she likes to cook with. Then eventually, snip some herbs and make a recipe with her.http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-grow-an-herb-garden.htm
15. Turn into an expert. Pick a topic you're really interested in and research it online. Better yet, pick one subject per week. You'll be impressed with all you've learned by the end of the summer.
16. Read Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene and watch the video starring Kristi McNichol and Bruce Davidson. You can find the movie on YouTube.
17. Check out your local paper to discover any neighborhood, free-admission activities. Lots will be going on in your community and you don't want to miss a thing.
18. Get up at dawn and appreciate the coolness and peaceful feeling of the early morning. Compare it to the sweltering afternoon.
19. With your family, float down a slow river on an inner tube. Or maybe, not so slow of a river—tubing is a blast!
20. Play badminton. It's a fun game. Compare it to ping pong and tennis. Just because you're good at one doesn't mean you're good at the others. Why is that? http://www.badminton.org/badminton-rules.html
21. Learn about bats, why they are important and why they are beneficial. You can even build a bat house.http://www.batroost.com/bathousesandfreebathouseplans.aspx
22. Have a piñata party. Make your own.http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1ata
23. Have a pajama day. Stay in your pajamas all day long. But don't make this a habit!
24. Attend your sibling's game and REALLY root for him/her.
25. Bake a cake and then decorate it. There are a number of cake decorating shows on television--watch a few and then see what you can do. Have fun with it. http://www.wilton.com/decorating/decorating-basics
26. Get ahead! Enroll in Laurel Springs summer school program.
27. Get together with friends and play some childhood games like "Sorry", "Candyland" and "Operation".
28. Give your dog a bath, play ball with him, and take him for a walk. Spoil him for a day.
29. Make dinner for your family.
30. Make a scrapbook of your summer activities.http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-make-a-scrapbook
31. With your parent's permission, get a job or an internship.
32. Learn to sew, embroider or crochet. Maybe your grandmother can teach you.
33. Every day, look up and learn 2 new words from the dictionary.
34. Learn to play chess. Chess is Fun.http://www.princeton.edu/~jedwards/cif/intro.html
35. Have a neighborhood outdoor game day. Revisit 4-square, Red Rover Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, Mother May I and Hide and Go Seek.
36. Attend a first aid class. You never know when this knowledge will come in handy.
37. Research your family tree. Maybe your parents and grandparents can help. http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/hobbies/kidsgenealogy.htm
38. Choose a day—or two—and perform random acts of kindness. See how others respond. It's very rewarding.
39. Talk to your parents about what you'd like to learn next year in your homeschool program. Chances are your parents are looking at curriculums now—so now is the time to speak up!
40. Find a mentor. Want to learn a specific skill or knowledge. See if someone in the community can be your mentor. This can be a family member, family friend, or someone you don't even know yet.
41. Finger paint!
42. Celebrate National Fudge Day and National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Read the June 11 Daily News at Homeschool.com for some fun ideas on how to combine the two. It's entitled Chocolate Covered Carrots!
43. On a really hot day, go to the dollar movies and enjoy the air conditioning!
44. Learn how to French braid.http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-french-braid-hair-2
45. BE a mentor!
46. Check out the website http://www.sporcle.com
. See how quickly you can fill in the 50 states.
47. Learn jump roping tricks. Find jump roping videos on the internet to give you inspiration. It's AMAZING what people can do with a jump rope!http://www.buzzle.com/articles/jump-rope-tricks.html
48. Do some crazy fun science experiments (explosions, etc) with your parent's permission of course. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts.html
49. Learn how to make pickles. Did you know they come from cucumbers? Funny, huh? Since most kids LOVE pickles... but cucumbers, not so much. http://picklethis.com
50. Blow bubbles with bubble gum--gigantic, wonderful, BIG pink bubbles. Have blowing contests with your siblings.http://www.ehow.com/how_2105861_blow-bubble-gum-bubble.html
Throw the gum away responsibly when you're done.
51. Swing on a tire swing or a rope swing. Don't have one?
Make a tire swing or Make a rope swing.
52. Fix your bike... spruce it up... and ride with friends.
53. Learn how to do the backstroke.
54. Run through the sprinklers—this never gets old!
55. Make "custom" koolaid by mixing flavors. Make multiple pitchers so you don't waste the koolaid.
56. Develop your own superhero.http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Super-Hero
57. Have a water balloon fight with your siblings. But don't get mad when you get wet.
58. Go someplace you've never gone before. It can be a park, a store down the street... pick a place and go (let your parents know where you're going).
59. Make a new friend. Reach out to someone who has just moved into your neighborhood or to someone that maybe doesn't have a lot of friends. They might end up being your best buddy.
60. Give your grandparents a big hug for no reason!
61. Take an etiquette class. Learn when to use specific forks and how to be polite at all times.
62. Learn the physics of skateboarding.http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding
63. Barter your services. Want to ride a horse? Offer to clean out stalls in return for riding time. Want to take guitar lessons? Offer to mow the instructor's lawn in return for lessons. Get your parent's permission and then make sure you follow through on your end.
64. Think about what you want to be when you grow up and find out what type of education is required. Go online and determine the demand for that field and the starting salary. Some adults do what they love regardless of the compensation, others go into a field because of its high pay.http://www.careeronestop.org/studentsandcareeradvisors/studentsandcareeradvisors.aspx
65. Go to the drive-in movies with your family. Drive-ins are disappearing. Enjoy them while you can.
66. Learn how to do a cartwheel.
67. Celebrate June 21 Summer Solstice by playing songs with the word summer in them. http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970011044
68. Go to a garage sale... or two... or three. They're great fun.
69. Exercise in the pool. It's so much easier than on dry land—and more enjoyable too.
70. Clean your room for absolutely no reason, other than to surprise your Mom.
71. Play hide and go seek—in the DARK! Turn off all the lights in the house... and play for hours. Warning—this can get a bit raucous. Parental permission required.
72. Learn how things work. Explanations of how gps and the fax machine work are scheduled in the Homeschool.com news. Every month, we are going to explain how one piece of technology works. You can find out how just about anything works by going to http://www.howstuffworks.com
73. Try a food you've never tasted before. Come on... take a bite!
74. Dream big!
75. Check out the website http://www.freerice.com
. Learn and help people at the same time.
76. With your parent's permission, have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to charity.
77. Learn to whistle.
78. Understand the science behind fireworks. http://www.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htm
79. Build a time capsule.http://www.kids-party-paradise.com/time-capsule.html
80. Make a bird feeder out of a used milk container. Learn what kinds of seeds will attract the birds you want (make sure there are lots of dark sunflower seeds in the mix).
81. Write a play and act it out.http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-write-and-produce-a-play
82. Start a collection. What do you like? Rocks, stamps, figurines?
83. Go a day without phone calls, texts, tv, radio or computers. This might be difficult!
84. Make banana splits.http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-banana-split
85. Make a terrarium. http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium
86. Devise a fire plan for your home.http://earlychildhood.suite101.com/article.cfm/developing_a_fire_safety_plan_with_kids
87. Become a tourist in your own town. What do tourists see when visiting your area? Have you seen these same attractions?
88. Make up with someone. Go ahead, end the feud!
89. Make a bucket list of things you want to do before you are 12, 16, and 18. Share this with your parents. See how you can start crossing things off your list.
90. Learn all about wolves. http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/learn.asp
91. Understand the physics behind roller coasters. They aren't as dangerous as they seem! http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics
92. Eat healthy! http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm
93. Find out how hot air balloons work. Depending on where you live, you might be able to go on one or at least watch them take off. Did you know they actually make a lot of noise? http://www.howstuffworks.com/hot-air-balloon.htm
94. Read the book The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter. If you can, watch the 1958 feature film adaptation produced by Walt Disney Productions and then compare the two.
95. Make your own video. Humorous? A music video? Your choice.
96. Learn how to bowl. http://www.wikihow.com/Bowl
97. Make pink lemonade bars.http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/pink-lemonade-bars-83236
98. Do something...anything you choose... to make you a better you.
99. Learn to read music.
100. Make and fly a kite. There are 19 kite possibilities at-- http://www.howtomakeandflykites.com
101. Last but not least... get ready for school to resume. Summer is GREAT but so is the fall! | <urn:uuid:8851bc12-fea6-465d-b234-5786dc1c9e45> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abqhomeschool.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1241746931/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908057 | 3,338 | 2.125 | 2 |
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The Tropical Cyclone type holds all hurricanes, typhoons, tropical storms and other 'warm core' storm systems. A tropical cyclone is a storm system fueled by the heat released when moist air rises and the water vapor in it condenses. The term describes the storm's origin in the tropics and its cyclonic nature, which means that its circulation is counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Tropical cyclones are distinguished from other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows by the heat mechanism that fuels them, which makes them "warm core" storm systems. (via Freebase) | <urn:uuid:bf625914-9090-41e1-b759-f877a797f757> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.linktv.org/topics/tropical-cyclone | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931529 | 171 | 3.546875 | 4 |
The first story is not all that new, but I read about it only this week, so it was new to me :) It is about Georgia-Pacific (GP), one of the largest wood and paper products companies operating in the Southern United States, which announced that "it will no longer purchase trees from endangered forests and special areas, or from new pine plantations established at the expense of natural hardwood forests."
NRDC, which worked with GP to develop this new policy (together with other environmental groups - Dogwood Alliance and Rainforest Action Network) explained in a press release from last November that "While GP’s new forest policy applies to all of its operations, as a first step in implementing its commitment on Endangered Forests and Special Areas, GP worked with the environmental groups and scientists to identify 11 Endangered Forests and Special Areas totaling 600,000 acres in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Eco-Region, as well as 90 million acres of natural hardwood forests in the Southern region. Endangered Forests and Special Areas in other regions will be mapped in a similar process, over the coming years."
The South’s natural forests are home to more plant and animal species than anywhere else in North America, yet less than two percent of the region's forests are protected, and the South produces more wood and paper than any other place in the world.
This is an important step - “No other U.S. company has demonstrated this level of initiative in mapping unique forests across such a broad region,” said Debbie Hammel, NRDC Senior Resource Specialist in the NRDC's press release. And as Zacary Shahan of Planetsave that wrote on this story this week said "hopefully, the NRDC, RAN, and Dogwood Alliance can get other companies to follow suit soon."
The second story is definitely new - AFP reported yesterday that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a 278-million-dollar (279-million US) investment to help Canada's pulp and paper industry become more environmentally friendly.
"Speaking in Windsor, Quebec, Harper said Ottawa would namely allocate nearly 25 million dollars to paper manufacturer Domtar Corporation to help its pulp and paper mill "invest in energy-efficient and environment-friendly technologies."
The 24.8-million-dollar (24.9-million US) investment is part of the government's much touted Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, which seeks to help mills in Canada reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and produce renewable energy from forest biomass. The rest of the investment would go to plants in New Brunswick, Alberta and British Columbia."
Harper is not considered very green and is blamed for refusing to make combating climate change a priority, so it will be interesting to see if he will prioritize the efforts to green up the pulp and paper industry in Canada. He himself said about the new investment in the industry that "I'm well aware of the criticisms. But what we need are concrete measures in order to really meet those targets. And this government has been the first one to take concrete measures such as the one being announced today."
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading! | <urn:uuid:526604f5-0ead-4d78-80f8-bfa19144023b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2011_01_07_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959159 | 650 | 2.328125 | 2 |
“Write what you know.” I’m sure each of you has heard this phrase at some point in your life. Of course, you might say that if we all wrote what we knew, that could be rather boring. Part of the great fun of writing is leaving the realm of reality behind to explore what you have never known but have always wished you did.
That’s all well and good, but make sure to do your research first because the details matter.
I cannot tell you how many times I have read a partial or full manuscript only to find that some of the finer details don’t add up. If your character hails from Lisbon, why is she speaking in Spanish instead of Portuguese? If her family is so poor that they can hardly provide food and shelter, why is she carrying around an iPod? If the American government has a strong presence in her small town, how is she getting married at age fourteen in this day and age?
When the details don’t fit with the story or the characters, they stick out—and not in a good way. They show sloppiness and a lack of research, and as they add up, the story becomes much less believable and, in turn, less appealing. Then it becomes much more likely that I will not recommend requesting a full manuscript or representing a story.
Perhaps it would be best to return to the strategies of “Creative Writing 101” and create a character web, writing up every possible detail involving your character, from her ancestry to a list of her past relationships—even if you never mention them in the story. If you’re writing about a time or place you’re unfamiliar with, it also wouldn’t be a bad idea to pay the library a visit in order to research and learn as much as you can about what you want to write. (However, I will say that I wouldn’t recommend movies, which are often quite fictionalized.) It might seem tedious in the short term, but in the long run, it will make your story that much stronger, more believable, and more likely to be published.
When writing, it’s fine not to write about what you know. You just need to remember to ask yourself, even when writing fiction, “Do all the details make sense together? Is this believable?”
Unless, of course, you’re writing a story that takes place in a fantastical alternate universe, in which case, suspension of belief is acceptable—even encouraged. | <urn:uuid:4872ea02-7870-4d80-b98b-913b81343670> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://elainepenglish.blogspot.com/2010/02/details-matter.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976945 | 525 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Fri 5 Oct 2012
Filed under: Opinion
Naypyitaw – Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is making a career change, from icon of liberty opposing Myanmar’s junta to party boss in a fragile new quasi-democracy. The transition hasn’t been easy.
At a talk in London in June, a student from the Kachin ethnic minority asked why Suu Kyi (a majority Burman) seemed reluctant to condemn a bloody government military offensive against Kachin rebels. The conflict has displaced some 75,000 people.
Suu Kyi’s answer was studiously neutral: “We want to know what’s happening more clearly before we condemn one party or the other.”
The Kachin community was livid. The Kachinland News website called her reply an “insult.” Kachin protesters gathered outside her next London event. An “open letter” from 23 Kachin groups worldwide said Suu Kyi was “condoning state-sanctioned violence.”
That a woman so widely revered should arouse such hostility might have seemed unthinkable back in April. A landslide by-election victory propelled Suu Kyi and 42 other members of her National League for Democracy into Myanmar’s parliament. Not anymore. Once idolized without question for her courageous two-decade stand against the old junta, Suu Kyi now faces a chorus of criticism even as she emerges as a powerful lawmaker here.
She has quickly become an influential voice in the country’s newly empowered parliament. Still, ethnic groups accuse her of condoning human-rights abuses by failing to speak out on behalf of long-suffering peoples in Myanmar’s restive border states. Economists worry that her bleak public appraisals of Myanmar’s business climate will scare foreign investors. Political analysts say her party has few real policies beyond the statements of its world-famous chairperson. She must also contend with conflict within the fractious democracy movement she helped found.
International critics have seized upon her ambiguous response to one of Myanmar’s most urgent humanitarian issues: the fate of 800,000 stateless Rohingya Muslims in remote western Myanmar. There, clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists have killed at least 77 people and left 90,000 homeless since June.
Spurned by both Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh, which hosts 300,000 refugees, many Rohingya live in appalling conditions in Rakhine State. The United Nations has called the Muslim minority “virtually friendless” in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. The violence erupted in June, days before Suu Kyi’s first trip to Europe in 24 years.
“Are the Rohingya citizens of your country or are they not?” a journalist asked Suu Kyi in Norway, after she collected the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded in 1991 while under house arrest.
“I do not know,” said Suu Kyi. Her rambling answer nettled both the Rohingya, who want recognition as Myanmar citizens, and the locals in Rakhine, who regard them as invaders. The reply contrasted with the moral clarity of her Nobel speech, in which she had spoken about “the uprooted of the earth … forced to live out their lives among strangers who are not always welcoming.”
Suu Kyi’s moral clarity helped make the former junta a global pariah. Her new role as political party leader demands strategic ambiguity as well. She must retain her appeal to the majority Burmans and Buddhists, without alienating ethnic minorities or compatriots of other faiths. She must also engage with the widely despised military, which remains by far the most dominant power in Myanmar.
Her political instincts have been apparent to Myanmar watchers since 1988, when she returned after spending much of her life abroad. Amid a brutal military crackdown, she emerged as leader of the democracy movement. She spent most of the next two decades in jail or house arrest and yet remained the movement’s inspiration.
“I don’t like to be referred to as an icon, because from my point of view, icons just sit there,” she said in a lecture on September 27 at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “I have always seen myself as a politician. What do they think I have been doing for the past 24 years?”
Suu Kyi declined multiple interview requests from Reuters for this article.
Myanmar’s reforms have accelerated since she was freed from house arrest in November 2010, days before an election stage-managed by the military installed a quasi-civilian government. This year, it has freed dissidents, eased media censorship and started tackling a dysfunctional economy.
Myanmar’s emergence from authoritarianism is often compared to the Arab Spring. Yet its historic reforms were ushered in not by destabilizing street protests, but by former generals such as President Thein Sein.
Suu Kyi’s role was pivotal. A meeting she held with Thein Sein in the capital of Naypyitaw in August 2011 marked the start of her pragmatic engagement with a government run by ex-soldiers. She pronounced him “sincere” about reforming Myanmar, an endorsement that paved the way for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Naypyitaw last November and, earlier this year, the scrapping of most Western sanctions.
A saint-like reputation for unwavering principle can be unhelpful in politics, a murky world of compromise and negotiation. So can adulation, which generates expectations that not even Myanmar’s “human rights superstar” – as Amnesty International calls her – can fulfill.
Suu Kyi realizes this. “To be criticised and attacked is an occupational hazard for politicians. To be praised and idealized is also an occupational hazard and much the less desirable of the two.” She wrote that 14 years ago.
Today, she regularly visits her parliamentary district of Kawhmu, a small and impoverished rice-growing area near the commercial capital Yangon. On a recent morning, as she was driven in an SUV along Kawhmu’s potholed roads, villagers spilled out of their huts to cheer for “Mother Suu.”
Kawhmu’s problems – household debt, lack of electricity, joblessness – are Myanmar’s writ small. “Some villages around here have no young people,” says Aung Lwin Oo, 45, a carpenter and member of the National League for Democracy. “They have all left to work in Thailand and Malaysia.”
Suu Kyi’s first stop that day was the Buddhist monastery. There, she prayed with the monks and met representatives from two villages to settle a money dispute. Then she ate lunch with NLD members at a tin-roofed wooden bungalow – the party’s Kawhmu headquarters – and discussed drainage issues with local officials.
Her new job is unglamorous, but aides say she relishes it. “She enjoys political life,” said Win Tin, an NLD elder and long-time confidant. “She enjoys it to the utmost.”
She is also adapting to life in Naypyitaw, the isolated new capital built from scratch by the junta, where she lives in a house protected by a fence topped with razor wire. In the Lower House of parliament, the colourful garb worn by many ethnic delegates lends a festive atmosphere. Sitting near Suu Kyi is an MP from Chin State who wears a head-dress of boar’s teeth and hornbill feathers.
Men in green uniforms, however, dominate one side of the chamber. Myanmar’s constitution, ratified after a fraudulent referendum in 2008, reserves a quarter of parliamentary seats for military personnel chosen by armed forces chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, a protege of the retired dictator, Than Shwe.
Suu Kyi’s mere presence in parliament breathes legitimacy into a political system built by the junta that jailed her. Her party has reversed many long-cherished positions to get here.
The NLD boycotted both the constitution-drafting process and the 2010 election. That vote was rigged in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, now the ruling party and the NLD’s main electoral rival. Suu Kyi’s camp also demanded that the military recognize the results of a 1990 election, which the NLD won easily but the junta nullified.
Her party abandoned these stances to take part in April’s by-elections. It now holds less than a tenth of the lower house seats, but Suu Kyi ensures the NLD punches above its weight.
She led opposition to a higher education bill that she deemed substandard; it was scrapped in July and will now be redrafted by legislators. She also helped kill a clause in a foreign-investment law that would have protected Myanmar’s crony businessmen.
In August she was named chair of a 15-member parliamentary committee on “rule of law and tranquility,” which could further amplify her influence.
Her star power has limits, however. Reforming the constitution to dial back the military’s influence remains an NLD priority. That requires three-quarters support in parliament, including from some military delegates – a daunting task even for Suu Kyi.
“She is very persuasive,” said Ohn Kyaing, NLD party spokesman and member of parliament. But “without the military’s help, we can’t change our constitution. We have no chance.”
REJUVENATING THE NLD
While the NLD’s by-election landslide suggests it will win the next general election in 2015, the party hardly seems like a government-in-waiting.
The NLD was formed in September 1988 after a military crackdown that killed or injured thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The junta arrested Suu Kyi before the NLD was a year old, and hounded, jailed and tortured its members. In 2003, government thugs attacked Suu Kyi’s convoy, killing dozens of her supporters. She was lucky to escape alive. Most NLD offices were shut down.
When Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest in 2010, her party was a moribund force with a geriatric leadership. She set about rejuvenating it, personally opening dozens of offices. Two of the party’s aging co-founders, Win Tin and Tin Oo, both in their eighties, have been nudged into “patron” roles.
The party is booming – it now has a million members, spokesman Ohn Kyaing said. But success is bringing a new set of problems. The NLD plans to hold its first national party conference in late 2012 or early 2013, and protests have erupted in several constituencies, including Suu Kyi’s Kawhmu, over who gets to attend.
The dispute highlights the friction between old NLD members, who survived two decades of persecution, and new members who joined in reform-era Myanmar. “The old ones don’t want to give up their posts because they struggled,” said Ohn Kyaing.
It also reveals a struggle between the party headquarters and far-flung branches, with local officials accusing their leaders of being bossy or unresponsive. At least five members were suspended for disobeying or protesting against the party leadership.
Suu Kyi heads a seven-member Central Executive Committee which, past and present NLD members say, effectively rubber-stamps her decisions. These included the NLD’s refusal in April to swear a parliamentary oath to “uphold and abide by” the constitution. Imposing her will might not be democratic, said Aung Kyi Nyunt, an NLD upper house legislator. “But it’s not authoritarian, because she never orders (us) to follow her decisions. We already agree.”
After a two-week stand-off and criticism from supporters, the “Iron Aunty” backed down and her MPs took their seats.
The NLD also has a troubled relationship with Myanmar’s reinvigorated media. One newspaper said in May that Suu Kyi’s bodyguards had assaulted one of its reporters, which the NLD denies.
Some Burmese-language websites are dedicated to smearing Suu Kyi. Their unsubstantiated gossip – one falsely claimed that she has a teenage daughter by a Burmese lover – strikingly resembles junta-era propaganda. (The websites, whose owners protect their identities by registering through proxies, couldn’t be reached for comment.)
The NLD’s parliamentary debut has also highlighted a lack of concrete policies and experts to formulate them, a critical weakness when Myanmar’s reformist government is drafting new legislation at a breakneck pace.
Pressed by Reuters in Kawhmu to explain the NLD’s policy on the Rohingya, for example, Suu Kyi seemed to say the party didn’t have one. “It’s not a policy that has to be formulated by the NLD,” she said. “It’s something that the whole country must be involved in. It’s not just a party concern.”
Suu Kyi’s popularity in Myanmar is not as universal as many Western admirers assume. She is adored in the lowlands, where fellow ethnic Burmans predominate and her image adorns homes, shops, cars and T-shirts. Burmans, or Bamar, make up two-thirds of Myanmar’s 60 million population.
That reverence fades in rugged border regions, occupied by ethnic minorities who have fought decades-long wars against Myanmar’s Burman-dominated military. In rural Shan State, named after the largest minority, images of Suu Kyi are hard to find.
Suu Kyi used her maiden speech in parliament in July to call for greater legal protection of minorities. But this has not inoculated her against criticism from ethnic leaders.
Among them is Khun Htun Oo, a leading Shan politician who was jailed for almost seven years by the former junta. Suu Kyi has been “neutralized” by participating in parliament, he told reporters in Washington last month, a day before the two of them picked up awards from a human-rights group. “The trust in her has gone down.”
In an interview with CNN during her U.S. trip, Suu Kyi stoked the anger with a gaffe. She admitted that she had a “soft spot” for Myanmar’s military, which was founded by her father, the independence hero General Aung San. That expression of filial piety ignited a storm of negative comments on Facebook, Myanmar’s main forum for popular political discussion.
For years, the NLD backed calls for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Myanmar. This push has been quietly dropped since Suu Kyi’s release. “What we believe in is not retributive justice but restorative justice,” she said in March. Restorative justice, she added, did not mean putting junta members on trial.
Western governments take their cue from Suu Kyi on human rights. And they use such equivocations “to justify doing nothing” about issues of justice and accountability, said Mark Farmaner of London-based advocacy group Burma Campaign UK. He noted it took more than two months for British Foreign Secretary William Hague to comment on the violence against the Rohingya minority.
Suu Kyi will speak up on the Rohingya issue “when the time comes,” said NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing. “Politics is timing.” (Reporting By Andrew R.C. Marshall; editing by Bill Tarrant and Michael Williams) | <urn:uuid:5b57d053-4442-4730-acb1-742462373428> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.burmanet.org/news/2012/10/05/reuters-alertnet-special-report-suu-kyis-perilous-pivot-from-icon-to-party-boss-andrew-r-c-marshall/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964951 | 3,392 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Samuel L. Cutler closed the door of a plane and watched it take off, but to his shock, it stayed aloft for only minutes.
In his World War II diary now available in a book, Cutler, a Springfield native who died in 1990, wrote about how the plane dropped from the sky and killed 40 servicemen in Australia.
Cutler was the last to see the servicemen alive and it haunted him.
“What a day and a TRAGIC one....killed while flying at 200 mph. Terrible,” Cutler wrote June 14, 1943
His son, Robert S. Cutler, shepherded the diary and edited the book that he calls a labor of love.
“I think my daughter said it in the forward, that somewhere, Sam is smiling. What is the line about a story with legs? It’s a Springfield story about a Springfield boy,” said Cutler, 78.
The book is “Over and Out! Sam’s Story: The Private War Diary of Captain Samuel Cutler, Army Air Corps U.S. Forces in Australia, 1942-1944” (Xlibris Corporation, 250 p., 2011).
The book is a quick read loaded with detail. On page 185, Cutler writes of exploring the plane wreckage and finding a playing card jammed half-way into a tree by the force of the crash.
Some of the chapters begin with scene-setting text written by Robert Cutler. The first diary entry is Feb. 18, 1942 as Capt. Cutler’s convoy leaves Bangor, Maine. The last is May 20, 1944 in Australia.
Norman Corwin, former Republican reporter, wrote the introduction for the book filled with photographs of Cutler with kangaroos, army life and the crash wreckage.
Robert Cutler places the occasional “War News Update,” such as this one in March 1942: “General Douglas MacArthur arrives in Darwin from Philippines to take command of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific. When asked about the Philippines, he replies, ‘I shall return.’”
Diary entries address a soldier’s heartbreak at not getting mail – “Tough when you expect some and don’t get it”– and hometown references to the Eastern States Exposition and Agawam Race Track.
Robert Cutler, like his father a Springfield native, is an engineering management professor who splits his time between Pennsylvannia and New Mexico.
Samuel Cutler was duty officer on the runway at Bakers Creek, near the northern seaside town of Mackay, Australia June 14, 1943.
The duty required that Cutler read aloud the roll of 41 passengers and shut the door of the B-17C “Flying Fortress.” Only one passenger survived.
The cause of the crash was never determined. Robert Cutler writes in the book that factors probably included fog restricting visibility, an inflight malfunction of one of the four engines, crew inexperience, and the gross weight of the plane, passengers and cargo.
Converting his father’s diary into a book is just the latest effort Cutler has made to commemorate the crash.
One of his successes came in 2009 with dedication of the Baker’s Creek Air Crash Memorial at the Selfridge gate to Arlington National Cemetery in Fort Myer, Va.
That ceremony included U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, a friend of Samuel Cutler’s. Neal wrote in an email Thursday he can picture Cutler wearing his trademark VFW hat and trench coat.
“While serving his country honorably in World War II, Sam became a part of history when he witnessed a tragic plane crash in Australia killing 40 American servicemen,” Neal wrote. "He kept a diary and his incredible story can now be told.”
The book is available by calling (888) 795-4274 or at Xlibris.com Prices are $9.99 electronically, $19.99 paperback and $29.99 hardcover. | <urn:uuid:17e3489e-1e0a-4d2c-b6d6-7077512b4495> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/world_war_ii_diary_of_the_late.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956803 | 839 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Winter in the Woods
Ponderay Valley Fibre finds
more than wildlife benefits from habitat improvement.
Winter jobs are a
premium and Ponderay Valley took on just such a project with the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with unique requirements and
a timber purchase does not always have to show an immediate and strong profit on
the balance sheet in order to yield a positive effect on the company’s long-term
health and stability. Take as an example Ponderay Valley Fibre of Usk, Wash. Not
too long ago it won the bids on a couple of timber sales put up by the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Because of some unique
requirements and restrictions, neither job was hugely profitable, according to
Bernie Janoski, Forester for Ponderay Valley Fibre, but it still worked out to
the company’s benefit.
"It was winter logging, and it’s always a premium to capture that winter and
early spring wood," said Janoski. "Our mill is cutting 60 million board feet of
lumber a year and you have to look at every opportunity that comes along. It was
a bit of a reach [distance-wise from the mill to the job site], but we live in
an area with a lot of federal lands and there hasn’t been much activity on
federal lands here in the last few years. Every mill in our area has had to
expand their working circle." That’s putting it mildly. The first job Ponderay
bid on and won was outside of Ellensburg, Wash., a 246-mile haul each way from
its mill in Usk.
Even Doug Kuehn, the Wildlife
Forester with WDFW who put the bid together, was a little surprised that a mill
from so far out of the area would be interested. "We weren’t sure if we’d even
get any bids," said Kuehn. "Our goal was to just break even. In the bid we
required them to remove the timber to a 5-inch top and the pulpwood to a 2- 1/2
inch top because we wanted to reduce the fuel so it wouldn’t burn so hot that we
killed off all that we were leaving. I think they were only able to get about
$20 per ton for the pulpwood, and we figured it cost around $28 per ton to get
it cut and delivered."
Operators had to
reprogram themselves for cutting specifications. They ended up sending
ground crew ahead of marks trees.
Fortunately there wasn’t all that much pulpwood to contend with, but that was
just one of the complicating factors in the job. The Ellensburg job was
officially known as the Joe Watt Habitat Improvement 2003, located in the LT
Murray Wildlife Area. Joe Watt is the name of the creek that runs through the
140-acre site, and the job was for an experimental thinning project for
small-diameter trees to improve deer and elk winter range habitat. According to
Kuehn, "Because people keep-ing expanding out into what used to be deer and elk
winter range, we now have a 10-foot fence around Interstate 90 and the elk can’t
cross I-90 to get to their traditional winter range. Rather than have them
getting into people’s hay stacks and fruit orchards, we feed them between 400
and 500 tons of hay each winter."
At a cost of somewhere around $160
per ton, that’s an expense they’d like to avoid. The test area is only a small
portion of the over 200,000 acres of wildlife area purchased from Murray Pacific
around 1968. Logging continued up until about a dozen years ago, so most of the
timber is small-diameter material that represents not only a burn hazard, but
which also shades out most of the browse vegetation for the deer and elk.
What’s Best for the
To determine how best to restore the habitat, Kuehn divided the area into 20
seven-acre test plots and mandated a thinning program that would leave spacings
of 25 by 25 feet (70 trees per acre), 30 by 30 feet (50 per acre), 35 by 35 feet
(37 per acre), and 40 by 40 feet (27 per acre). The different densities would
then be treated to a spring burn, a fall burn, or no burn at all, and the
regrowth rates would be measured and compared. The overall goal was to bring
back the ceanothus and other fire-dependent species that had largely disappeared
due to fire suppression programs over the years. For Ponderay, it meant a lot
more attention to detail both on the ground and in the cab.
Unless otherwise specified, the
Ponderay crews were to leave the dominant and necessary co-dominant trees and
maintain the average number of trees per acre for that spacing, leave all
existing wildlife trees that had been left from past timber harvests, leave all
damaged or diseased trees when their removal would create a void in the stand,
and convert trees with scars or open wounds on the lower bowl to wildlife trees
by cutting a high stump. At first, said Ponderay’s Janoski, they tried to leave
all the decision-making to the equipment operators, but it impacted productivity
too much. "We were using single grip harvesters with forward logging, and while
we’ve been doing cut-to-length forwarder logging over here for quite a while,
the operators had to reprogram themselves for the cutting specifications. They
had to look past what they used to think of as a trash tree, for example
mistletoe, and look at it on a wildlife basis and see the benefits for the
They ended up sending ground crew
ahead of the processors to mark which exact trees were to be cut. That brought
the cutting back into schedule, but because the job window ran only from
mid-November to mid-December, many of the deer and elk had already re-entered
the area from their fall grazing range — and that in turn placed even more
challenges on the crews.
Hanging Out with the
"We had probably 150 head of mule deer and 400 head of elk in the area by the
time we finished," said Janoski. "They didn’t seem to mind us though. In fact,
they enjoyed the tops of the felled trees with the lichen in them, although the
forwarders often had to wait for the deer to move away from the bucked logs
before they could take them into the landing." Kuehn agreed that it was a
learning experience for everyone involved. "I went out with the crews on the
first day and I remember talking to one of the guys and saying ‘See that tree
with the witch’s broom and mistletoe? I want you to leave me like six of these
per acre.’ And he asked me ‘Why would you want to leave something that ugly?’
Just then two northern flying squirrels flew out of the clump and landed about
10 feet in front of us. He looked at me and said, ‘I haven’t seen a flying
squirrel in 20 years.’ Well, that’s why we wanted to leave those things."
Deer and elk enjoyed the
felled tree tops, to the point forwarders often had to wait for the deer
to move to get bucked trees to the landing.
Despite the challenges, Ponderay did such good job that when they finished the
Joe Watt project, Kuehn encouraged them to bid on a second project of a similar
nature in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, about 25 miles outside of Omak, Wash.
Called the Cope Habitat Improvement Timber Sale, this second job required the
same care and attention to detail that had been needed to pull off the Joe Watt
cut, but the big difference was, it was closer to the Ponderay mill and it
netted out about 745,000 board feet of good usable Doug fir and pine. The pine
made up only about 10 percent of the total, and Ponderay trucked that a short 22
miles to the Caulville tribal precision pine mill in Omak. The fir, except for a
small percentage of oversize logs, all went to Ponderay’s mill in Usk. The Cope
sale was designed specifically to improve mule deer winter range by reducing the
density of Doug Fir that had invaded as a result of fire suppression (the last
fire in the area happened in 1911).
The Forest Service was planning to
do a prescribed burn on about 10,000 acres of land adjacent to the WDFW land,
but before that happened Kuehn wanted to significantly reduce the fuel load on
the wildlife land so things didn’t burn so hot that the dirt became sterilized.
"Just like with Joe Watt, I required them to use a single grip feller-processor
and then load directly onto a county road," said Kuehn. The timeframe for Cope
was between December 15 and March 15, which meant that as soon as Ponderay
finished in LT Murray, they packed up their equipment and moved it over to
Sinlahekin. Kuehn also required removal of everything above 7 inches dbh up to a
4-inch top. That was perfect for Ponderay, since its mill will take to a 3- 1/2
inch top and 13-inch maximum diameter. In summary, said Janoski, "it was a
pleasant experience working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
It’s good to see a government agency wanting to do something to benefit their
land. You want to do the right thing out there and it just took a little time
for the operators to understand the gist of the sale and what they were really
trying to accomplish."
service is temporarily unavailable | <urn:uuid:2d494c46-c810-46fc-9474-afc60a1708d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.forestnet.com/timberwest/archives/March_April_05/winter.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9632 | 2,154 | 1.8125 | 2 |
The First Battle of Chattanooga was a minor battle in the American Civil War, fought on June 7 and June 8, 1862. The larger and more famous battle was the Third Battle of Chattanooga (generally referred to as the Battle of Chattanooga) in November 1863.
In late spring 1862, the Confederacy split its forces in Tennessee into several small commands in an attempt to complicate Federal operations. Maj. Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel received orders to take his division to Huntsville, Alabama, to repair railroads in the area. Soon, he occupied more than 100 miles along the Nashville & Chattanooga and Memphis & Charleston railroads. In May, Mitchel and his men sparred with Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith' men.
After Mitchel received command of all Federal troops between Nashville and Huntsville, on May 29, he ordered Brig. Gen. James Negley with a small division to lead an expedition to capture Chattanooga. This force arrived before Chattanooga on June 7. Negley ordered the 79th Pennsylvania Infantry out to reconnoiter. It found the Confederates entrenched on the opposite side of the river along the banks and atop Cameron Hill. Negley brought up two artillery batteries to open fire on the Rebel troops and the town and sent infantry to the river bank to act as sharpshooters. The Union bombardment of Chattanooga continued throughout June 7 and until noon on June 8. The Confederates replied, but it was uncoordinated since the undisciplined gunners were allowed to do as they wished. On June 10, Smith, who had arrived on June 8, reported that Negley had withdrawn and the Confederate loss was minor. This attack on Chattanooga was a warning that Union troops could mount assaults when they wanted. | <urn:uuid:d3e6cecc-0d7e-43d7-9e7a-74e05855a18e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://worldhistoryproject.org/1863/11/23/third-battle-of-chattanooga | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983273 | 351 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Summer presents special problems for the pet pig. These tips will help you manage and avoid dangerous situations...
Q. What special care does my pet pig need in the summer?
A. Pet pigs are susceptible to sun burn and heat stroke just like we are, white or light pigs even more so.
Be careful...provide a place to get in the shade, use a good sun block and make sure they have plenty of fresh water. Remember pigs cannot sweat like we do. That's why they like to make mud holes in warm weather.
Signs of heat stroke may include some or all of these symptoms: Panting, elevated body temperature (a normal body temperature is about 99 to 101 degrees, use a rectal thermometer to check) lethargic or confused behavior. If you suspect trouble, call a vet at once and start first aid.
Heat stroke and sun burn are dangerous. They can come on quickly. The vet has drugs that can help lower body temperature but you will need to administer First Aid until help is available.
First Aid includes getting them out of the heat and cooled down quickly. Use a shower or bath of cold water and ice packs if necessary.
Q. Are there other dangers?
A. Your in ground swimming pool can be dangerous too
Since pigs do not have sweat glands they need to find other ways to stay cool. They love to make mud holes and if your yard can accommodate them, great. If not, a children's shallow wading pool is fine. The real danger is your in ground pool. ONCE THEY GET IN... THEY CANNOT GET OUT AND WILL DROWN... BE CAREFUL
Enjoy the summer...summer heat and sun does not mean you need to hide you pet pig inside all day. It does mean you should be careful, provide the right environment and watch their behavior.
Just in time for summer at the Ross Mill Farm Pig Store:
NEW Portable Shade for Your Piggy's Comfort and Safely
- Large 6 ft diameter tiltable umbrella
- Scotchgard protected/water repellent
- Over 4 ft. tall to the ground
- Sturdy special tie-out (chrome plated steel)
- Tangle-free leash attachment
- Sets up in seconds
- Durable carry/storage bag included
- Available in Hunter Green, Khaki, Yellow
To order, Visit the pigstoreonline
Help is Just a Phone Call Away
The Ross Mill Farm "Home of The Pet Pig" is just a phone call away. If you need more information on the care of your Pet Pig, just give us a call. Ask for Susan (215) 322-1539. We are here to help. | <urn:uuid:a566d591-4a99-4dd0-8bd0-f42a77ed575f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rossmillfarm.com/summer-tips.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906045 | 554 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Well, not exactly the top of the world, just closer to the top of the volcano. Still the image of James Cagney burning at the end of White Heat did cross my mind.
I guess this view of the volcano from the hotel wasn't good enough, we had to get closer.
The journey started out ominously enough when we came across this eyelash viper (Phylum - Chordata, Class - Reptilia, Order - Squamata, Suborder - Ophidia, Family - Crotalidae). Bar Man tries to educate.
He was lurking in a stone wall not far from the path we would take. If he wasn't enough of a warning, there were more to come.
I Get The Point
This was starting to remind me of some bars I have visited.
We did finally get underway and began our somewhat arduous climb.
Rocky Mountain High, Kind Of
And who do you suppose that was bringing up the rear?
As you can see, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Well, yes it was, but not a park park. You know what I mean.
Walk In The Park
On the other hand, after clambering over piles of rocks the view was spectacular, more rocks.
If I hadn't made the climb I would have missed seeing the wildlife though.
Wildlife At The Top
But, I am being a bit cynical. The view was really nice. You got a good look at Lake Arenal, which we would be crossing the next day on our way to Monteverde and a cloud forest.
The Mysterious Chinese Woman's sister joined us on the trip and here we are posing for pictures at the top. That is Lake Arenal in the background, but you probably guessed that already.
Turning the other way we did get a nice look at the volcano though.
It was well worth the climb because the view was so much better than the one from my hotel room.
View From My Room
It really was a fun climb. You could hear the rocks booming as they were being blown out of the top. This thing erupts all of the time and has been since 7:20 A.M. on July 29, 1968 when the west side blew off and destroyed two villages, Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon, killing 78 people in the process.
One night we went to the side facing away from the hotel and saw a bit of the lava that periodically spews out of the three openings. Not too long ago the lava flowed down the side facing the hotel. That would have been a spectacular view on a clear night. The lava flows down in different spots at different times, not unlike the way melted wax flows down different sides of a candle as it burns.
Tomorrow we head to Monteverde, founded by Quakers in 1950. Stay tuned and I will tell you why they settled there. | <urn:uuid:d6360443-81c3-4daa-83a4-cdbd771535a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thousandbars.blogspot.com/2007/06/top-of-world-ma.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970494 | 604 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Death is a popular subject in art, just look at Damien Hirst’s retrospective. SHOWstudio is better known for its links to the fashion industry but in its shop three artists have all created one piece each to explore the inevitability of dying.
The largest work is the Gao brothers’ ‘The Execution of Christ’, where several replicas of Chairman Mao prepare to execute Christ. It’s an unsubtle reference to Mao’s oppression of Christianity and also a reference to the artists’ father who was executed during the Cultural Revolution. They’ve done an excellent job of basing the poses on Manet’s ‘The Execution of the Emperor Maximillian’, as this was another event that sent shockwaves through Europe. The statues are bronze except for the steel bayonets, a clever allegory for the spear that ended Christ’s life.
Claire Morgan has clearly been inspired by Hirst, as she uses dead bluebottle flies in her work. They’re delicately hung from the ceiling to create a macabre geometric pattern that highlights the uniformity of death. The increase in density of flies toward the centre of the square draws you in to her work.
The final work by Nick Knight is a wax sculpture depicting Kate Moss as an angel but when we visited, the wax sculpture had succumbed to the heat and was being repaired so we didn’t get a chance to see it.
None of this work is subtle nor do the artists explore new themes, but the pieces do grab your attention and make you want to see other creations by these artists.
Death is on at the shop in SHOWstudio, 1-9 Bruton Place, W1J 6LT until 31 August. Admission is free. | <urn:uuid:855243bb-16b8-454c-8079-e9087420aac4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://londonist.com/2012/07/art-review-death-showstudio.php?showpage=5 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96685 | 369 | 1.554688 | 2 |
In this section you will find countless tips on how to improve your tennis technique.
These tips come in the form of articles as well as videos, which will help explain the various intricate details required to play technically perfect tennis.
Improving your technique does not come from mindlessly hitting thousands of balls. Improving your technique comes from:
2 – Understanding the technical mistakes you have made in the past, and correcting them. You must have a clear understanding in your mind of what you have to do with each shot.
3 – Correctly implementing the first two steps. Only after having fully come to terms with the first two steps will you be able to consistently implement correct technique on the court.
Tennis World’s articles on proper tennis technique will help you come to grips with the first two steps, and put you well on your way to playing technically correct tennis.
All of the articles have been written by coaches and players with many years of national and international experience.
These tips and tricks are also immediately applicable, and if you follow the articles carefully you will probably see immediate results!
Under each of these you will find advice for beginners, intermediate players and advanced players. | <urn:uuid:6840d1b5-9f00-46d8-9fff-3a012d54dce8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Tennis-Technique-tmenu3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958398 | 241 | 2.296875 | 2 |
"Appellant Helig-Meyers Company and five of its wholly-owned subsidiaries appeal the decision by the [US] Bankruptcy Court [BC] for the Eastern District of Virginia that debtors were solvent on the date of the alleged preferential transfers to Wachovia Bank, N.A., and others (collectively 'the lenders'), as part of a financial restructuring on May 25, 2000. ... The debtors argue that the [BC] improperly applied the balance sheet test and relied upon an analysis of the creditor's expert on the mistaken belief that sich expert executed a balance sheet test of the debtor's solvency", In Re Helig-Meyers, 328 BR 471, 474 (ED Va., 2005). "The burden is on the trustee to prove the avoidability of a transfer under subsection (b); however, 'the debtor is presumed to have been insolvent on and during the 90 days immediately preceeding the date of the filing", 475. "The definition of insolvency nicely frames the issue. An insolvent debtor's financial condition is such that 'the sum of such entity's debts os greater than all of such entity's property at a fair valuation.' ... The qualification of 'a fair valuation' in the definition often requires that the judge sort through the differing presentations by the parties' valuation experts and to make factual findings. Not surprisingly in this case, the two valuation experts reached vastly different conclusions regarding the value of the debtors' assets. ... As a threshold matter, Judge Tice considered whether, on the date of the transfers, the debtors collectively operated as a going concern or were on their deathbed", my emphasis, 477. "A debtor lies on its deathbed where the debtor is 'in a precarious financial condition' so that 'liquidation was imminent when the petition was filed", 477. "As a going concern, the court applies the balance sheet test to measure the debtors' solvency. The balance sheet method 'contemplates a conversion of assets into cash during a reasonable period of time'," 477.
If HM is right, "the fallout ... could have been avoided", why does HM think the regulators "totally missed it"? Did they? Was the result intended? In reading this I conclude A&M and HM "cleared" reports before release. They both want to protect LEH's board and the counterparties. "Look what happened"! Yes, look! "Forced into bankruptcy", what nonsense. Either ZB, CC and HP did not anticipate what looks like the counterparities $50 billion gain, or they did. Is A&M preparing a smiliar AIG report at this minute? "Orderly unwinding"? Should HM come back, in his next life, he could make a fine offensive lineman, protect that quarterback! What does "cost the economy" mean? Which participants in the economy? "Counterparties ... are all financially exposed". Yes they were. Should they be dragged into federal district court? Well HM, how big are your cojones? Will you make enemies of every other Wall Street house to benefit LEH's unsecured creditors? If not, you should be replaced. I refer again to Switzer, my 18 December post: http://skepticaltexascpa.blogspot.com/2008/12/deprizio-doctrine-and-aig.html.
Look at some expert "advocacy". In about 1971, McKinsey, the big consulting firm, disgraced itself, in my opinion, by writing Pan American's plea for government subsidies. In about 1999, KPMG wrote a report economically "justifying" subsidies for a Hartford, Connecticut sports stadium. Forensic experts produce junk to attempt to mislead juries into convicting defendants with forensic evidence, my 8 June 2008 post: http://skepticaltexascpa.blogspot.com/2008/06/expert-monopolies.html. No matter how much expertise A&M supposedly has, we don't know why it wrote what it did. No document reveals the circumstances of its preparation, my 7 February 2008 post, link: http://skepticaltexascpa.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-dont-we-learn-from-history.html.
A significant similarity between LEH and AIG is: the derivatives counterparties were protected. HP, ZB and CC seem to have their answer to "Carthago delenda est", i.e., "The counterparties will be protected".
What Judge Tice did at Helig cannot be done for AIG lest someone conclude AIG was insolvent months ago and that liquidation, not going concern valuation was appropriate. | <urn:uuid:fbc3c974-2273-44e6-a84e-8a9c08e53dc4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://skepticaltexascpa.blogspot.com/2009/01/we-are-all-experts-now.html?showComment=1233019020000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951788 | 977 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Storm chasers brave danger and debris as they try to capture photos of tornadoes' destructive power. Slideshow
Obama to address new economic ideas next Wednesday
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday he would outline new measures next week to boost the U.S. economy, but analysts were skeptical he would be able to deliver a big enough package to lift growth significantly.
Obama made his remarks after August data showed that jobs -- the central issue in November congressional elections -- were being created too slowly.
The White House is under pressure to show tangible results in lifting growth and hiring before the November 2 election, when Obama's Democrats face punishment from voters anxious about near double-digit unemployment.
"I will be addressing a broader package of ideas next week," Obama told reporters in the White House Rose Garden.
"We are confident that we are moving in the right direction. But we want to keep this recovery moving stronger and accelerate the job growth that is needed so desperately all across the country."
The White House has ruled out a second stimulus program along the lines of the $814 billion emergency spending package Obama signed into law in 2009, limiting the scale of any new initiatives and the likely impact on U.S. growth.
Polls show voters are worried by the record U.S. budget deficit and Obama's economic team will take care to design measures that do not add significantly to the funding gap.
They will also likely lean toward measures that ought to be popular with Republican lawmakers, like tax cuts, in order to win the support Obama's Democrats will need to get any new law through Congress.
With little time left before the November vote and the risk Democrats could lose control of Congress, analysts saw little chance Obama could get backing for major measures.
"This is political positioning going into the elections. It is not the stuff of economic policy-making," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who advised Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain during the 2008 campaign.
'TARGETED PROPOSALS' ON WEDNESDAY
The White House said Obama would "discuss some targeted proposals" during a visit to Cleveland on Wednesday, specifically noting his long-standing promise to extend tax cuts for American families earning less than $250,000 a year, and investing in parts of the economy likely to grow fastest.
White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer also spelled out that Obama would deliver his message in the same city where the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, urged the president to fire his economic team.
"The President will lay out the choice between his ideas and the failed policies and failed philosophy that led us into this mess," Pfeiffer said in a blog post.
Obama aides said the speech in Cleveland would be broad in outlining ideas he believes will help stimulate the economy.
On Monday, the president highlighted a number of possible options including extending middle-class tax cuts, investing in clean energy, spending more on infrastructure and delivering more tax cuts to businesses to encourage hiring.
"The politics make it really difficult to do what should be done, and therefore trying to draw a balance between getting something and being politically realistic is problematic," said Chad Stone, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.
The White House declined to give more specifics about the measures under consideration and a spokeswoman said no final decisions had been made.
"We need to take further steps to create jobs and keep the economy growing, including extending tax cuts for the middle class and investing in the areas of our economy where the potential for job growth is greatest," Obama said.
Obama will travel to Milwaukee on Monday, the Labor Day holiday. He will also hold a White House news conference next Friday.
"I'm going to have a press conference next week where, after you guys are able to hear where we are at, we'll be able to answer some specific questions," he said.
The August employment report earlier showed a bigger-than- expected rise of 67,000 in private payrolls, while unemployment inched up a tenth of a percentage point to 9.6 percent.
Overall, U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell 54,000 as temporary jobs to conduct the decennial census dropped by 114,000.
"Jobs are being created. They're just not being created as fast as they need to, given the big hole that we experienced," Obama said.
"We're going to have to continue to work with Republicans and Democrats to come up with ideas that can further accelerate that job growth. I'm confident that we can do that."
(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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- Digg this | <urn:uuid:3d1481ec-3a4e-45c0-ae72-3811bc189aec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/03/us-usa-economy-obama-idUSTRE6822TV20100903 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969253 | 979 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Here is an important story, about which we have heard rumors for the past few days, apparently confirmed by National Catholic Reporter. In response to the Apostolic Visitation, many women's religious orders are, according to NCR, not complying with requests to answer the Vatican questionnaire, and instead are sending in their constitutions (that is, their foundational--and church-approved--"rule") to the Apostolic Visitator, as an alternative response and, also a form of protest. (I had also heard this reported independently from several people familiar with the visitation. One described it to me as "nonviolent protest," something echoed in a statement below.)
If this is true, it would constitute an historic protest of Vatican authority on the part of women religious in this country. Tom Fox, editor of NCR, reports:
The vast majority of U.S. women religious are not complying with a Vatican request to answer questions in a document of inquiry that is part of a three-year study of the congregations. Leaders of congregations, instead, are leaving questions unanswered or sending in letters or copies of their communities' constitutions. "There's been almost universal resistance," said one women religious familiar with the responses compiled by the congregation leaders. "We are saying 'enough!' In my 40 years in religious life I have never seen such unanimity."
The deadline for the questionnaires to be filled out and returned to the Vatican-appointed apostolic visitator, superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Mary Clare Millea, was Nov. 20. On that day, according to an informed source, congregation leaders across the nation sent Millea letters and, in many cases, only partial answers to the questionnaire. Many women, instead of filling out the forms, replied by sending in copies of their Vatican -approved orders' religious constitutions. A religious order's constitution states its rationale, purpose and mission.
The Vatican initiated the study in January, saying its purpose is to determine the quality of life in religious communities, given the decline in vocations in recent decades. From the outset, the women have complained they were never consulted before Vatican officials announced the investigation and there is no transparency in the process. Some have called the effort demeaning and intrusive. The decisions by congregation leaders not to comply follow nearly two months of intensive discussions both inside and across religious congregations. They follow consultations with civil and canon lawyers, and come in the wake of what some women religious see as widespread support by laity for their church missions.
With about half of the responses from the nation's 59,000 women religious accounted for, only about one percent answered, as directed, most or all of the questions contained in the study's working paper, officially called an Instrumentum Laboris, according to one informed source. By contrast, according to the source, congregations representing, by far, the greater majority of women religious decided not to comply and answered only a few, or none, of the questions. Many of the 340 U.S. apostolic congregation heads instead sent letters to Millea stating that what they were sending was what the Vatican was looking for.
Several women said canon lawyers told the women they were not required to answer all the questions. Religious, unlike bishops, priests and deacons, who make up the clergy, are not officially part of the church's hierarchical structure. According to this reasoning, women religious are responsible to their congregation leadership and to their constitutions.
All along, said one woman religious, the challenge has been to respond to the Vatican in a way that breaks a cycle of violence. She said that the women religious communities have attempted to respond by using a language "devoid of the violence" they found in the Vatican questionnaire and within the wider study. She characterized the congregation responses as "creative and affirming," and part of an effort to set a positive example in "nonviolent resistance."
"Women religious, she said, are asking if there is a "Ghandian or Martin Luther King way" to deal with violence they felt is being done to them. | <urn:uuid:4f00da5f-f4dd-49dd-947e-320e7671ab69> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://americamagazine.org/node/125926 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972354 | 838 | 1.5 | 2 |
Color: shades of blue to blue-purple
Moh's hardness: 7 - 7.5
The name iolite comes from the Greek 'ios', which means violet. Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly, the richer the blue the better. Iolite is a quite hard and durable stone with a hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Moh's scale, and the abundant resources of this gem make it relatively affordable.
Pleochroism, which means 'multicolouredness' is a phenomenon that is very prominent in iolites and is seen as three different color shades in the same stone: violet blue, yellow gray and a light blue.
Viking mariners used thin pieces of iolite as the world's first polarizing filter when they ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, away from any coastline that could help them determine position. By looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely to the new world and back.
Pleochroism may have been helpful in navigation but it makes things difficult for a gem cutter. If iolite is not cut from exactly the right direction it will not show its optimal color.
Iolite is mainly mined in India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil. | <urn:uuid:e46ffcc5-1582-4452-bcf3-fda297157ead> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sohogem.com/t-iolite.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929496 | 285 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Here’s a short documentary film directed by Oskar Barnack (father of 35mm photography and inventor of the Leica camera) showing the workings of the factory where the first Leica cameras were made. The film includes footage showing the assembly of the Leica 1, produced between 1925 and 1932.
(via Leica Rumors)
P.S. Did you know Leica stands for Leitz camera, named after the founder Ernst Leitz? | <urn:uuid:1a6fdf3f-c9bb-4f91-8950-a4a85c28c254> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://petapixel.com/2011/04/28/documentary-footage-shows-workings-of-the-first-leica-factory/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961341 | 90 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Conference confronts ‘new reality’ for day schools
|More than 550 educators from across the United States and Canada gathered in Teaneck earlier this week for the North American Jewish Day School Conference. Photos by Robert A. Cumins|
In a time of economic uncertainty, when fund-raising campaigns are down and school tuitions are up, members of the North American day-school community crossed denominational lines to come together for one big powwow in Teaneck this week.
The heads of the four major day-school networks — RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University, the Solomon Schechter Day School Association, and PARDeS: The Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools — spent 2009 organizing the three-day North American Jewish Day School Conference at the Marriott at Glenpointe that wrapped up on Tuesday. With the theme “Thriving in a New Reality: Klal Yisrael, Community, School, and Home,” the conference drew more than 550 participants from across the continent, surprising organizers who expected a much smaller turnout because of the economy. Excluding accommodations, registration cost between $550 and $595 per person, depending on how many participants each school sent. Some 200 participants received subsidies of 50 percent from the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, the Covenant Foundation, and the Kohelet Foundation.
“We’re all dealing with the same challenges of trying to make quality Jewish educational experiences for children,” said Scott Goldberg, director of the Institute for University-School Partnership. “That commonality drove our programming from the macro-level — needing to do more with less and really forcing us to reassess how we do things.”
One of the challenges facing the day-school system is how to maintain relevance in the wider Jewish community. With affordability issues abounding, other options such as charter schools have grown in popularity.
“There is no alternative to day school,” Goldberg said. “There’s day school and there’s not day school. Day school is the most effective means of keeping the community vibrant. Other things will come along that will contribute to the perpetuity of the Jewish people, but they’re not [as good as] day school.”
Marc Kramer, executive director of RAVSAK, said that while the four sponsors may disagree on aspects of halacha, they all agree that day schools are the best way to promote Jewish identity, and they worked from that premise.
“We put all our cards on the table and saw most of us were holding the same cards,” he said. “There are lots of different ways people express themselves Jewishly. I don’t think anyone gave up [anything] in order to make that happen [at the conference].”
Organizers would not comment on the conference’s budget. The final costs — and how they would be divided among the sponsoring organizations — have yet to be determined, they said.
In addition to workshops on best-practice issues such as hiring and dealing with school boards, many of the sessions focused on cooperation — between schools and federations, schools and government, schools within the same network, and schools from different movements. In the wake of what is now recognized as a tuition crisis in the day-school movement, many of the collaborations focused on finding new sources of funding.
“The cost of Jewish education has been growing faster than income for a very long time,” said Nathan Lindenbaum, a trustee at the Moriah School in Englewood and Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, during a Monday session on community collaboration. “We believe the current model is not sustainable. It’s impacting across denominations.”
Lindenbaum introduced session participants to Jewish Education For Generations, a group of North Jersey rabbis and educators representing the Orthodox and Conservative day schools in the area who banded together to create alternative funding. One result is Northern New Jersey Kehillot Investing in Day Schools, commonly referred to as the kehillah fund.
|The conference represented the four main day-school organizations coming together across denominational lines. From left are Scott Goldberg, director of the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University; Elaine Cohen, executive director of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association; Marc Kramer, executive director of RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network; and Jane West Walsh, executive director of PARDeS.|
The group collects donations through its Website, nnjkids.org. It has made one distribution to the area’s eight elementary day schools and intends to continue distributing funds quarterly.
“Our fundamental belief is there is nothing wrong with our educational model,” Lindenbaum said. “Our educational model is wonderful. What’s wrong is our funding model.”
Also on the panel were Uri Cohen, director of development at the Solomon Schechter School Manhattan, and Elaine Suchow, director of development and coordinator of the Tri-State Consortium at the Solomon Schechter School of Queens. The Consortium brought together area Schechter schools for a joint branding campaign, the first such cooperation for the schools.
“In the landscape of day schools, collaboration is not assumed,” Cohen said. “There’s not an expectation that the schools work together, so any collaborations at any level is a step in the right direction.”
The tuition crisis is the “subtext” for the entire conference, said Elliot Prager, principal of the Moriah School in Englewood, but the event should become a model for future collaboration between the movements. The day-school community as a whole has shifted its focus in the past two years from innovation to simply remaining viable, he added, and that is a major challenge for everybody.
“Each movement may have its own visions and its own priorities, but ultimately we’re all guided by the same goal and ideal of ensuring the future of the Jewish people,” he said.
“Working across the denominations is a wonderful success and breakthrough,” Rabbi Jonathan Knapp, principal of Yavneh Academy in Paramus, told The Jewish Standard. “We are all jointly invested in Jewish continuity. We all know the No. 1 indicator for successful Jewish continuity is a Jewish day-school education. It’s exciting [to have everybody together].”
Others echoed Knapp’s sentiments.
“It’s incredible that we have all these different networks coming together,” said Susan Weintrob, head of school, Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City, Calif. “It becomes much better for the Reform, the Conservative, the modern Orthodox, and community day schools. We find we have a lot of common ground. We have a diversity of ideas.”
Weintrob, who recently stepped down as president of RAVSAK, noted that RAVSAK and PARDeS held a joint conference last year in San Francisco.
|Nathan Lindenbaum, a trustee at Moriah and Yeshivat Noam, spoke about Northern New Jersey Kehillot Investing in Day Schools, the area’s day-school kehilla fund, during a panel on community collaboration.|
Ariella Allen, Judaic coordinator at Yeshiva Atlanta, said that upon her return she would begin looking into new technologies she learned about at the conference, such as video-conferencing between classrooms in different regions.
The conference was “a great opportunity to learn from one another,” she said. “We have excellent educators all over the field. People have been more than willing to put aside their differences and gain from what everyone has to offer.”
Nellie Harris, upper school principal of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Westchester in New York, said she was particularly interested in the conference’s theme of how Jewish education will adapt to the 21st century. She called the conference “a balance between theory and practice,” as educators figure out how to move forward.
“There was an opportunity for us to not only talk about those skills but what is unique about Jewish day schools,” she said.
As the conference concluded Tuesday evening, organizers had already begun to receive the positive feedback they had hoped for. A decision on whether to repeat the conference is still far off, though, Kramer said.
“We are leaving open the door to all the possibilities,” he said.
Renee Salzberg, of the Hebrew Day Institute in Baltimore, said she hoped that the conference would lead to more collaboration.
“It’s a great beginning,” she said. | <urn:uuid:51047b36-539e-41f2-b12e-3e2d25e5dfe4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/content/item/conference_confronts_new_reality_for_day_schools/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956911 | 1,847 | 1.671875 | 2 |
My goal is to not enter a single mall this holiday season. If I can do the majority of my holiday shopping at trusted online retailers, and the rest at Costco, then I’ve done well. To me, malls seem to be places for people with lots of time on their hands to drive around looking for parking spots and then stand in line with other people who apparently all enjoy being annoyed by each other’s pushiness. But maybe that’s just me.
Keep safe and sane this holiday season:
1. Look for indications of online security. Depending on your browser, there may be an icon of a yellow lock at the top of the window, near the address bar, or at the bottom, near the taskbar. If the website is secure, the yellow lock should be closed. Some browsers use a color coding system, displaying red to indicate that a website is not secure and may potentially be infected, or green to indicate that it’s okay.
2. Update your operating system. If your computer’s operating system is out of date, it may invite trouble when heading out to the wild, wild web. Go to your security center to download the latest critical security patches.
3. Update your browser. While your operating system may be up to date, which would mean that Internet Explorer is most likely up to date as well, if you are using Chrome or Firefox, you may need to update manually. Select “About†in your browser’s toolbar to check for updates.
4. Protect your computer with antivirus software. Antivirus protection that includes a firewall will, in most cases, shield you from “drive by downloads†and other malware. Even a major online retailer with a secure website can be vulnerable to criminal hackers.
5. Beware of phantom websites. Criminals love to pull the wool over unsuspecting eyes. One technique is to use “black-hat SEO†to place fake websites at the top of organic search results. Customers who attempt to make purchases via these fake websites are unknowingly transmitting credit card numbers directly to the hackers, and it’s safe to assume they’ll never receive the products they believe they’ve purchased.
6. Check credit card statements often. I still have to search the Internet for the names of unfamiliar retailers that appear on my credit card statements with unauthorized charges. Check your statements online weekly, and refute unauthorized charges within 60 days.
Most major online retailers are already using multiple sophisticated fraud prevention procedures to protect you. Oregon-based iovation Inc. is one hot technology company offering a device reputation service that alerts businesses to suspicious behavior such as someone attempting to hijack your account or use your stolen credentials (and  many others’) to steal from online businesses. | <urn:uuid:91a5842f-450d-4a4b-aad6-e0a735bf9f1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bloggernews.net/127366 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923827 | 596 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Regardless of what one’s politics may be, it’s interesting to get a perspective on western values from the “other camp” – in this case from behind the Iron Curtain.
Radio is most definitely involved so we’re on topic…
As I and many other western hams were listening to Radio Moscow in the 1980′s (and earlier), Oleg Atbashian was listening to western radio via his shortwave receiver in the Ukraine.
Here is his story of a period that helped shape his values – and a heartfelt tribute to one person responsible.
Oleg now lives in New York and I thank him for permission to post this and for the interesting email aside from this article.
by Oleg Atbashian:
A story of how Margaret Thatcher brought down the Iron Curtain inside of me and how I paid her back.
It wasn’t just Margaret Thatcher’s steadfast economic and foreign policies that helped to defeat the Evil Empire and to bring down the Iron Curtain. She also changed hearts and minds — and this author, who grew up on the other side of the Iron Curtain, has a personal story to tell.
As many Soviet kids did in the 1970s and 1980s, I occasionally tuned my shortwave radio to Voice of America or the BBC Russian Service, hoping to hear their alternative take on world events and, if I was lucky, get the latest rock-music updates. One of the functions of the Iron Curtain was to keep us, the “builders of communism,” blissfully unaware of the outside world. All our news had to be processed by the state-run media filter and approved by the formidable censorship apparatus. Continue reading 'How Thatcher changed a Soviet man’s heart and mind'»
Kure Island, 1969. Click for larger image.
Here’s a method of activating a rare DX entity that I don’t think has ever been utilized before or since…..
In 1973, Gene KH6NR/KH6 (now W5LE) decided that the only way to initiate a long-term DXpedition to Kure was to join the Coast Guard for four years with the proviso that they assign him to Kure for one year!
So that’s exactly what he did.
Thanks to a LORAN station, Kure at that time had a 20-man contingent of Coast Guard personnel. And Gene had prior experience on the island thanks to his previous stint in the Navy when he and Marine buddy Don Chilcote KH6GKV (now VE6NN) staged a very brief 2-man DXpedition to Kure in 1969.
Gene – thanks for your informative emails, photos and the telephone QSO.
From Gene W5LE: Continue reading 'Kure Island – How far would you go to activate a rare DXCC entity?'»
Click for larger
Although ham radio transmission was suspended in the US during World War II, there were no rules regarding reception.
Throughout the war, hams and shortwave listeners alike used their capabilities and equipment to perform a valuable and heartwarming service to a great many family members who had a loved one reported as “Missing in action” in Germany.
This almost always involved a member of a bomber crew.
In order to get Americans to listen to their propaganda, the Nazis realized there had to be something of value injected into their program for the intended audience.
Calling Back Home was a nightly 30-minute broadcast on the 31 and 49 meter shortwave bands from German stations DXP and DXB in Berlin.
Ten names of American prisoners would be mentioned in each broadcast along with pertinent info that would allow their family to be contacted by those receiving the broadcasts.
Hams and SWLs throughout the US dutifully tuned in and logged what they heard – often in the prisoner’s own voices – and then they wrote letters. Continue reading 'WW2: From POW camps to Hometown USA…via SWL’s and hams'»
Depicted as operating from Le Chanbon sur Lignon with resistance fighter Edmund Lebrat operating the generator. (Click for larger image)
It’s not often that a portable QRPer operating CW captures the imagination of an artist.
The painter in this case is Jeff Bass and the woman at the key is Virginia Hall, aka “the spy with the wooden leg”.
Born in 1906, Hall grew up in Maryland and was educated in Radcliffe College & Columbia University before going to Europe to continue her education and study of languages.
She was in France when WW2 began, then left for England where she volunteered to serve the Allied Forces as a spy. The Brits sent her back to France for 8 months to help coordinate activities of the French Underground. To those not in the know, she was simply a journalist for the New York Post. Continue reading 'Portable CW operation under duress: A YL in WW2'»
Television’s first successful broadcast
Of all the people who had a hand in the invention of television, John Baird is by far the most interesting.
He was also the first to pass the litmus test of what constituted successful television – the transmission and reception of a recognizable human face.
This occurred in 1925.
In 1923, Baird came to Hastings, England from his native Scotland. He was in poor health, had little money and was soon rebuffed by a young woman who caught his eye. Seeing that he had little to offer her or any other woman, Baird wrote in his journals, “I must invent something!”
Baird’s first attempt at bettering himself was to market a hemorroid cream developed by a friend. After trying the white ointment: “I was unable to sit down for some days”. Continue reading 'How to pick up women, Baird-style'»
Readers of a certain age may remember shoving a tape into the 8-track player mounted beneath their dash and listening to Evil Woman, Mr. Blue Sky, Strange Magic and other tunes by the Electric Light Orchestra.
That band’s leader, Jeff Lynne, has just released a new solo album entitled Long Wave – a collection of “pre-rock standards”.
From Lynne’s website:
I call this new album Long Wave because all of the songs I sing on it are the ones heard on long wave radio when I was a kid growing up in Birmingham, England. Continue reading 'Long Wave: LF radio via a crystal set influences a pop musician'» | <urn:uuid:e9aaf39e-40ff-4d2d-9621-7b1e116dac74> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ae5x.com/blog/tag/personalities/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967475 | 1,376 | 1.804688 | 2 |
MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti)
- First ever joint U.S.-Russian drugs operation in Afghanistan wipes out $250 million of heroin
- NATO troops seize 2 tons of heroin in south Afghanistan
- Russia proposes aid for Tajikistan to combat Afghan heroin
- Russia rebukes US over Afghan heroin output
Russian, U.S. and Afghan law enforcement agents seized 180 kilograms of heroin in a joint operation in northeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, Russian narcotics agency FSKN said in a statement on Thursday.
“An operation conducted in Badakhshan Province has seized 180 kilograms of heroin, 1,500 kg of morphine, 1,200 kg of opium, 2,000 kg of opium poppy seeds and 700 kg of precursors, and destroyed six drug manufacturing labs,” the statement says.
Flooded by Afghan heroin being smuggled through former Soviet Central Asian republics, Russia has cooperated with NATO in fighting the drug business in Afghanistan for years, carrying out raids on drug laboratories and training anti-drug officers.
Russia remains highly concerned about the persisting threat of terrorism and drug trafficking from Afghanistan, particularly after international combat troops leave in 2014.
According to Russia’s federal drug control watchdog, heroin production in Afghanistan rose 40-fold in the past decade, with opium poppy plantations currently covering 130,000 hectares in the southern Central Asian country. The drug business has been a major source of income for Taliban warlords, bringing them hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
Russia consumed an estimated 70 tons of heroin in 2010, according to the UN’s World Drug Report.
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Image Galleries: The Russian Cities With the Best Quality of Life
Infographics: Powerful Ship-Borne Laser System
Cartoons: Polar Explorer Day
The current contract portfolio of Russian arms exporters is worth about $46 billion. Annual exports total $15 billion, and this will ensure uninterrupted deliveries for the next three years, even in the worst-case scenario. The list of the main buyers of Russian weapons is unlikely to change drastically. | <urn:uuid:f72c4db7-cc89-4ef2-8fe4-1cdf43457140> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.rian.ru/world/20120913/175933330.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.903854 | 444 | 1.65625 | 2 |
NOT Meteors! - NASA ATREX Rockets Launched US East Coast 04:58 (08:58 UTC) 27MAR2012
YouTube Uploaded by Sheilaaliens 730 views
NASA launches five-rocket science extravaganza at last
MSNBC by Joe Rao
ATREX mission studies high-level winds; glowing trails visible in skies over East Coast
At almost literally the last minute, NASA launched five suborbital sounding rockets early Tuesday on a mission to study high-level jet stream winds by creating artificial glowing clouds near the edge of space. ... (more)
27MAR2012 Kristen Trevose, PA US 05:00 - 05:10 am All 4 were between 10-15 seconds South East, Falling down Looked like a faint light falling slowly leaving a trail. There was 4, one at a time, and all 4 had the same exact smoky trail Like a dim star, reddish orange, going in and out of view/brightness as it fell No The smoke trails were almost like a wide upside down check mark, thickening as it faded after about 5 minutes. I tried to take a picture, but it wouldn't show in my camera.
27MAR2012 Korinna Nichols Virginia Beach, VA, USA 5:10 am EST 5 seconds N-S I was facing NW White - no sound Started out like a plane trail, but then like venus. Skipping - start and stop I took 2 photos
27MAR2012 Claudia Tabernacle, NJ 08088 0520 eastern time 15 sec E-W white sun Yes Smoke cloud lasted 15 minutes after
27March2012 Kris North East, MD, USA 00500 Eastern US time 15 SE/S white with expanding tail Very Bright: Luminus no Multiple items in the sky at the same time. Each one making its own distinct tail/trail. early morning sun may have given tails their brightness. Never seem anything like this before. I thought it was commet at first.
27March2012 Kim Forked River, NJ, USA 5:05am EST About 10 seocnds/ meteor. There were about 4. East White tail The reminents/ tail was a bright glowing white color It broke apart leaving a trail behind it. The glow from the trail lasted about 30 minutes before it dispersed throught the sky. It looked like a plane when it has the smoke behind it.
2012 THE Year of Meteors!
Meteor Sighting Reports
Latest 25 Worldwide Meteor Reports Dynamic MAP(Zoom in or move cursor over red markers to find location) | <urn:uuid:9674c24f-0599-4660-a4bc-380dcba375f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/2012/03/not-meteors-atrex-rockets-launched-us.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922235 | 530 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Born in Komárno, Czechoslovakia, Yehudit Arnon is a Holocaust survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp amongst others. Upon the conclusion of the second World War, she made her way to Budapest, Hungary and then in 1948 she arrived to Kibbutz Ga’aton, Israel which till today remains her home.
Small in stature yet exceptionally vibrant, she was the pioneering force and figure in dance within the kibbutz movement. Arnon founded the dance center in Kibbutz Ga’aton and devoted herself and her life to education, dance and community outreach.
Throughout the years, Yehudit Arnon has attained international recognition in the filed of the performing arts. In June 1997, she received the ISPA “Distinguished Artist Award” for her extraordinary contribution of creative talent and inspiration to the world of dance. | <urn:uuid:306ed305-4be4-4ce3-973f-951bba98f8c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kcdc.co.il/index.aspx?id=4493 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944956 | 179 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Why is this school finance ruling different from all other school finance rulings? For one thing, it was way more comprehensive.
The changes needed to correct the constitutional violations [Judge John] Dietz identified could comprise the most far-reaching overhaul of education policy the state has enacted in more than 40 years, said Lynn Moak, a school finance veteran who has testified in all six of the school finance lawsuits dating back to 1987.
“I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that the bill that resolves yesterday’s decision is going to be one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching pieces of legislation that we have seen in the education system certainly over my lifetime,” Moak said.
Dietz’s decision Monday looked much like the court order he issued in 2004, when he heard the previous legal challenge to the school finance system.
At that time, the Texas Supreme Court agreed with Dietz’s finding that the Legislature had effectively imposed a statewide property tax in violation of the constitution. The high court rejected his conclusion that the Legislature had failed to provide adequate resources to meet the state’s academic standards.
This time around, Dietz also declared that the funding differences between school districts are now constitutionally inequitable. He had turned aside that claim from property-poor school districts in 2004.
The funding gap between property-rich and property-poor school districts has grown since the previous case from $965 per student to nearly $1,600, according to data from the Texas Education Agency.
“The facts scream out that there is an equity violation,” said Richard Gray, a lawyer who represented more than 600 property-poor school districts.
The court has said that districts that tax the same must have access to essentially the same amount of funding. It is the state’s constitutional obligation to even out the differences among property-poor districts and their wealthier peers.
The fix implemented after the last lawsuit, which involved freezing the amount of per-student funding each district got, contributed to the inequity problem that Dietz ruled was unconstitutional. If the Supreme Court upholds this, it’s going to be a big effing deal.
On a side note, please read this. The key takeaway:
Bottom line: While the claim that the state has increased spending on public education is technically correct, data from the Legislative Budget Board, which accounts for inflation, shows that state spending has largely flat-lined — even before accounting for the roughly 70,000 students who enter the school system each year.
That was a key aspect of Judge Dietz’s ruling as well. The budget cuts of 2011 exacerbated the problem, but it was a problem even before that. Assuming the Supreme Court doesn’t gut Judge Dietz’s ruling, it will finally be time to fix this.
Finally, the Chron prints an excerpt of Judge Dietz’s remarks from his ruling.
Finally, I would point out the simple truth: We are in competition with 195 other nations and their economies. If I ask the 20 million Texans who are not in school right now whether they agree that we should have more rigorous and challenging standards for our education systems, what would their answer be? I believe a vast majority of Texas would say “Yes” and that for our students to successfully compete in the future, we must have tougher, higher standards now.
So with this vast majority of Texans in support of higher standards, I now say, “Great, we’re going to have to develop a new curriculum, we have to substantially upgrade our technology in schools, we have to increase training for teachers, we have to hire some new teachers in complex content areas that we will be teaching and we have to provide more tutoring and remediation to our challenging population. We need to have evaluation and accountability to make sure we are meeting our goals concerning these increased standards. Finally, we need some public outreach to make sure the parents buy into this new program. I think we can do all of that for an additional $2,000 per student, or in other words, an additional $10 billion to $11 billion. You support this tax increase, don’t you?”
Suddenly, my vast majority becomes a minority. Now, what I begin to hear from my vast majority is, “You can’t solve the problems of education by throwing money at it.”
As the economists put it, there is no free lunch. We either want the increased standards and are willing to pay the price, or we don’t. However, as the economists point out, there is a cost to acting, namely the tax increase, and there is a cost to not acting, namely loss of competitive position. So, we as a state and as a nation are wrestling with this question of priorities, and our leaders are looking for direction from you, the public.
The full decision will be released later this month. Given the price tag suggested, you can see why most Republicans are eager to appeal this, and not so eager to do anything until the Supreme Court has ruled. | <urn:uuid:50e3bfc3-2feb-4664-b774-8fb30923ce80> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=50718&cpage=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973577 | 1,060 | 2.15625 | 2 |
Lawmakers heard public debate at the state Capitol Thursday on three bills that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, adoptions or foster care placement.
Gay rights advocates lined up to tell judiciary committee members they've felt the sting of discrimination because of who they love.
“I have personally felt the cost and consequence of being excluded from employment because of sexual orientation, not my ability to perform my duties,” said proponent Todd Ruhter.
“We looked into becoming foster parents and learned quite quickly, despite the overwhelming needs for families in Lincoln, we couldn't be considered because we were both women who were living together,” said proponent Tami Lewis-Ahrendt.
Religious and family groups said they are against discrimination of any kind, but the bills would infringe on their constitutional freedoms.
“Then we would be required to hire people who are at odds with our biblical values,” said the Rev. Mark Ashton with Christ Community Church Omaha.
“These bills would basically allow two people with no ties together legally, unconnected, any two persons, to adopt children or provide foster care,” said Dave Bydalek with Family First Nebraska.
Some argue the bills hurt businesses by leading to frivolous lawsuits. Others said change is needed.
“If we are to attract and retain the brightest and best workers, we must be inclusive and welcoming, not exclusive and hostile,” said Jill Liske-Clark, Lincoln business owner. | <urn:uuid:c548ff1e-7d4c-4528-b61c-5c28d6512e80> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ketv.com/news/politics/Lawmakers-hold-LGBT-fairness-bill-hearing/-/9674400/19322652/-/muu7wk/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97043 | 307 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Chris Fairchild is a busy guy. His passion is powerboat racing. He’s been racing tunnel boats for over 20 years. He not only races his own boats in F1 and SST 120 classes, he also builds and repairs race engines and gearcases. He manages to do this in addition to his “real job” of building custom homes with his father, Jim. So, when he sent me pictures of his latest project, I wasn’t surprised. But it still impresses me that he accomplishes what he does with all of the things going on in his life.
A neurosurgeon approached Chris with the idea of restoring the family boat he grew up with. The boat started life as a 1959 Glass Craft Aero Dynamic Citation outboard runabout. The doctor wanted to restore the Glass Craft so he could have something to run on the river during the limited time he is “off-duty.” The challenge was the water levels are too low for traditional outboard propulsion. The doctor asked Chris if the boat could be converted to a jet boat. Chris, always up for a challenge and a journey into the unknown, said, “why not?”
So the project began in the Spring and continued between home builds, remodeling projects, boat racing, and family commitments. The conversion from traditional outboard power to the modern 200 h.p Mercury OptiMax Sport Jet propulsion provided Chris and his dad some styling freedom. Being a racer, nothing was left untouched.
The bottom was cut into four sections to update it from a flat bottom design to a blueprinted vee bottom with 15-degree deadrise. A 15-inch wide pad was added for the Mercury jet pump. The overall hull was extended seven inches in length and widened by 19 inches. Other updates include the addition of an integrated swim platform. The retro styled dash features modern Mercury SmartCraft instruments.
Chris bleeds black. He is by far our greatest asset when it comes to promoting Mercury Outboards on and off the race course. So, when it came time to design the engine cover – he didn’t think twice. It had to look like the “alien” race cowl featured on the OptiMax 200XS SST race outboard.
“She looks great. She floats, too!” said Chris. Now – the true test. How does she run? “We’ll, for the first time out she didn’t run bad. The top speed was around 30 m.p.h.” Chris knew it could run better. He felt the boat could benefit from power trim to address the porpoise (or hop) it had on the initial sea trial. They found their solution by replacing the stock Mercury jet pump ride plate with a Place Diverter hydraulic plate. Now they could fine tune the running attitude of the boat while under way. To date, they have reached a top speed of 50 m.p.h. Chris plans to add a jet nozzle wedge which will divert thrust down for enhanced acceleration out of the hole. The adjusted thrust angle should work, in concert with the hydraulic trim, to limit bow lift and level out the running attitude at speed. Chris thinks the boat is capable of reaching 60 m.p.h.
When we spoke recently, Chris said they were putting on the finishing touches including a replica of the original Glass Craft windshield. I bet the doctor is excited to take delivery. I wonder how Chris is going to get it down the chimney and under the Christmas tree without making a sound? If anyone can do it, he can. Ho, ho, ho! | <urn:uuid:6faa899d-feb3-42e6-9ba5-004f61fd7293> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mercuryracing.com/blog/retrojet/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968237 | 752 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Below are some screenshots of some of the code we learnt today. The first two shots are examples of mobile ‘Meta Data’. Meta Data is what passes the information to the browser.
The first shot shows the code for having a specific width to a viewpoint (or screen). The second code shows the code that allows the site to change size to fit the viewpoint (screen).
Adding a mobile css page will allow you to add formatting to the site and would be linked the same way as other css pages. Adding media ‘screen’ and ‘handheld’ to the html will allow the browser to detect which code to use for which device.
The css above shows the width the site will ‘snap’ into the mobile web view when it detects this screen size. The 340px is due to padding and the screen size is 400px.
Below is how the site looked before the extra code and the next is how it looked at the end.
The second image is more spaced out and clear and the menus are easier to tap. The huge grey block has also been removed allowing more space for content which is important due to the screen size. With the menus, the font is bigger and the links are now set to active instead of hover (as I noted earlier, hover doesn’t work on a mobile).
We also looked at how to add forms using HTML5 and tried a very basic one for an email address.
We were given names of book titles to read if we wanted to learn about mobile coding in more depth. These books were:
- Responsive Web Design
- Mobile First
I would like to look into this more and will invest on getting the above books. As I am considering this route as a career, these books would definitely be a good idea! | <urn:uuid:172a6ae7-442c-47c5-aa66-043006d9e763> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://helenamasterson.tumblr.com/tagged/coding | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95769 | 374 | 2.375 | 2 |
Using concrete in buildings today to conserve the future
An interior floor by Kemiko Concrete Products. Installed by Jagger SSC Inc, Dallas, Texas. Courtesy of ConcreteNetwork.com
The 9,000-square-foot New American Home for 2009 was built in Las Vegas and achieves a 76% energy-use savings.
By William D. Palmer, Jr.
Let’s begin with the things you already know about concrete: Concrete is, of course, strong — at least in compression. And concrete reinforced with steel can handle the worst abuse — we build bomb shelters and prisons with concrete. It doesn’t rot, even under water or in soil. It can be molded into nearly any shape imaginable. (Think Calatrava’s Tenerife Auditorium.)
You may also know that concrete’s thermal mass can contribute to a building’s energy efficiency by reducing interior temperature swings, thereby reducing the size of heating and cooling equipment. It can incorporate recycled material like fly ash and blast furnace slag. And, it’s mold-proof and does not off-gas toxic substances.
On the other hand, you also know that concrete requires formwork that can be expensive, increasing the initial cost of construction. Concrete is more complicated to build with and once in place is difficult to change. Poorly built concrete surfaces are not very attractive and cracking seems inevitable. And it just isn’t warm and inviting like wood.
However, concrete is an essential ingredient of sustainable construction.
Concrete’s greatest contribution to sustainability lies in is its durability. When a concrete building is designed properly, it will perform admirably for many years and will offer its residents energy efficiency and safe shelter from nearly any natural or manmade disaster. And when the end of its life finally does arrive, concrete is eminently recyclable and can even be turned into new concrete by crushing it into aggregate.
But aren’t concrete structures more expensive? The same question is often asked about sustainable construction in general and that, of course, depends on how you measure it. The initial cost for concrete buildings is typically a bit higher than for buildings using other materials. But we all know that is only a small part of the story. The true way to look at the cost of a building is through life cycle assessment, including everything from extracting the raw materials (and reclamation of mine sites) through operating and maintenance expenses until the end of the building’s life. This is where concrete shines, since operating expenses are typically much less for a concrete structure. Consider the Roman Pantheon’s concrete dome, which is still standing after 2000 years. (To learn more about life-cycle costs and concrete, go to ConcreteThinker.org.
In residential construction, concrete’s advantages may be even more pronounced. Energy-efficient, safe concrete homes come in a wide variety of configurations. “The initial cost of a concrete home depends on several variables,” said the PCA’s Jim Niehoff, “especially the experience of the builder with the particular system and part of the country you are building in. In a costal area, for example, you have heightened requirements to meet certain wind loads. You really have to beef up wood frame construction to meet those standards, but you don’t have to do much different with a concrete home. So all of a sudden, concrete is very competitive.”
Even typical cast-in-place concrete construction is air tight and has thermal mass, although without added insulation its R-value is low. Many modern concrete homebuilding techniques, though, incorporate insulation in a variety of ways to result in energy-efficient, quiet, disaster-resistant homes:
Precast panels: Sandwich panels incorporate insulation into the wall cross section. Dukane Precast in the Chicago area, for example, manufactures double-wall panels with 3-1/4 inches of insulation sandwiched between layers of concrete to achieve an R-22 wall.
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs): Once relegated to residential basements, highly energy-efficient ICFs are now also being used for above-grade walls for homes and even for multistory buildings, especially hotels and schools.
Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC): Blocks and panels made from AAC are lightweight and a 10-inch wall has equivalent R-values in the low 20s.
Tilt-Up: Several systems are in use today to insulate tilt-up panels for homes, including T-Mass from Dow Chemical’s Styrofoam line. The New American Home (TNAH) at this year’s International Builders Show used T-Mass panels (see sidebar) but with plant precast panels rather than site-cast tilt-up panels.
Concrete Masonry: CMU construction can achieve high R-values by injecting foam into the cores. The majority of Florida homes today are built with CMUs.
Sprayed concrete: Several systems have emerged recently where polystyrene insulation is erected and then concrete is applied to both sides by spraying or shotcreting. A recent 9,200-square-foot home in Illinois built with this method has an expected 100-year life.
Concrete’s contribution to sustainable construction doesn’t end with walls. During the past 10 years, we have seen a revolution in decorative concrete, especially for interior floors and countertops. Durable decorative surfaces have many advantages both in commercial and residential construction.
Streets, driveways and parking lots have been concrete for many years, and contribute to sustainability by reducing heat-island effects with their lighter, more reflective surfaces. But pervious concrete takes this one step further, by draining rain and snowmelt directly into the subsurface and eliminating the need for runoff retaining ponds. For more information about pervious concrete, visit the ConcreteAnswers Series for Architects, Engineers and Developers.
One criticism of concrete has always been that cement manufacturing is energy-intensive and produces large quantities of CO2. While at one time those points may have been valid, the cement industry has taken an extremely aggressive approach to reducing these impacts. Start with the fact that today cement manufacturing accounts for only 1.5 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions.
So come along with us to learn why when you think about sustainable construction, the first material that should come to mind is concrete.
The New American Home
Each year at the International Builders Show, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a special home is built to showcase the most innovative materials and methods in homebuilding. For six years in a row, including the home built for the 2009 show, concrete has been a primary component of The New American Home. “There’s a nice synergy since they always want to demonstrate cutting edge housing technology and each year that includes concrete,” said the Portland Cement Association’s residential promotion manager, Jim Niehoff.
The 2007 TNAH used insulated precast panels for walls and hollow-core precast planks for floor/ceiling decks. By combining air-tightness and thermal mass, the above-grade walls provide thermal performance equivalent to an R-26 wall. Foundation walls are also precast panels, with exterior R-5 insulation. The cement-based stucco used on much of the home’s exterior incorporates a new photocatalytic cement, TX Active, from Italcementi. Developed initially as a self-cleaning cement, it was soon learned the reaction also consumes carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur dioxide. Italcementi has calculated that coating 15 percent of the exterior wall surfaces in Milan with TX Active would result in a 50 percent reduction in airborne pollutants.
Protecting America’s Homes
Although building codes, especially in coastal regions, are becoming more stringent, the U.S. insurance industry is funding an effort to make buildings even safer. While safer buildings may be good for the insurance industry, they are much better for the people who live in them. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (www.ibhs.org) has developed a program called “Fortified…for Safer Living” to develop guidelines that will minimize the property damage homeowners suffer from natural disasters. Fortified program manager Chuck Vance says, “the program is code-plus with independent verification inspection. Any home that meets the Fortified standards will be above the minimum standards if code is in place and quite a bit above local practice in areas where code is not in place.”
To achieve the Fortified seal of approval, a home — regardless of the building material — must be able to demonstrate that it is constructed to better withstand the “perils” it is subject to, whether that be hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme winter weather, wildfire, or flooding. “Every Fortified home must have independent verification by an IBHS-certified inspector that it meets a specific requirement for a given location, which is code-plus, even if they already have a code in place,” said Vance. “We believe these homes will stand up even better than code-designed and built homes. For the homeowner, this means peace of mind and a stronger, safer, more durable home that is more sustainable in the face of the perils in their region.”
Concrete homes are not a requirement of the Fortified program, but there is an advantage.
“The factor that makes concrete a good building material for residential construction,” said Vance, “is that whether it’s block or ICF or poured, it’s reinforced with steel and can withstand the wind loads, and is fire resistant and very durable. So, it’s a little easier to get to a Fortified home using concrete. Those builders that are using concrete residential building techniques tend to be building a stronger better home already and they know it and want to get credit for it.”
Royal Concrete Concepts, a manufacturer of modular concrete homes, was recently recognized by IBHS as a builder of Fortified homes. “All single-family homes offered by Royal Concrete Concepts will receive the Fortified designation when sited according to our qualifying criteria,” said Vance. “By offering affordable homes up to 2,500 square feet, Royal is furthering the Fortified program’s goals to make disaster-resistant housing an option for more people.”
William D. Palmer Jr. is a construction writer and president of Complete Construction Consultants in Lyons, Colo. He was formerly editor in chief of Concrete Construction magazine and executive director of The Masonry Society. He writes a blog that appears regularly on the Concrete Network. This article originally appeared in Environmental Design + Construction magazine. | <urn:uuid:02fdd1e4-1621-4304-b6bf-695288775a5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.greenmagonline.com/?p=1403 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948414 | 2,245 | 3.09375 | 3 |
In 2000, the National Center for Victims of Crime partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to create the Stalking Resource Center (SRC). Since its inception, the SRC has trained over 60,000 professionals who work with victims in all 50 states, two US Territories, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Germany and provided technical assistance to hundreds of communities seeking to enhance
their response to stalking. Though the United States has come a long way in how the crime of stalking is addressed and victims are treated, there is still much work to be done. The SRC is committed to continuing its national effort to promote Awareness, Action, and Advocacy through the next decade and beyond.
The mission of the Stalking Resource Center is to enhance the ability of professionals, organizations, and systems to effectively respond to stalking. The Stalking Resource Center envisions a future in which the criminal justice system and its many allied community partners will have the best tools to effectively collaborate and respond to stalking, improve victim safety and well-being, and hold
Who We Serve
- Office on Violence Against Women grantees;
- criminal and civil justice system practitioners;
- community based agencies;
- media representatives; and
- the general public.
The Stalking Resource Center provides multiple services including: Training, Technical Assistance, a Web site, and an Information Clearinghouse.
The Stalking Resource Center provides training that is victim-centered, research informed, and practice based. Stalking Resource Center staff are available to participate in training events sponsored by practitioners on the local, state, and national level. Training topics include:
- Stalking: Prevalence, Lethality, and Impact
- Stalking & Intimate Partner Violence
- Stalking and Sexual Assault
- Using Technology to Stalk
- Stalking on Campus
- Teens and Stalking
- Analyzing Your Stalking Laws
- Investigating Stalking
- Prosecuting Stalking
- Threat Assessment
- Safety Planning
- Working with Stalking Victims
- Developing a Coordinated Community Response to Stalking
Training content can be developed and topics can be integrated to meet your specific training needs and can vary in length from 1 hour to 2 days. The Stalking Resource Center often partners with local and nationally recognized law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals in providing training. The Stalking Resource Center is committed to providing training
to meet the individualized needs of communities working to enhance their response to stalking.
For more information on training available from the SRC, contact us at email@example.com or 202-467-8700. To request training, please complete (to the best of your ability) our Training Request Form.
Download our Training Request Form
The Stalking Resource Center provides direct assistance to build the capacity of criminal justice and victim services organizations to respond effectively to stalking. Topics include:
- developing a coordinated community response to stalking
- developing and implementing effective stalking protocols and policies
- accessing civil and criminal remedies for stalking victims
- developing and enhancing services for victims of stalking
- case specific questions
A continually growing resource for practitioners and victims, the Stalking Resource Center website provides diverse resources, including information about federal, state, tribal, and military stalking statutes, compilations of state and federal legislation and protection order statutes, a guide to online resources, practitioner profiles, and more.
The information clearinghouse provides a wide range of useful information for practitioners. Materials include:
- statistics on the prevalence of stalking
- practitioner-specific educational tools
- multidisciplinary curricula
- promising practices and innovative strategies
- model protocols, forms, and procedures
- research articles on stalking and related issues.
The Stalking Resource Center can be reached by phone at (202) 467-8700, or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Help for Victims
*PLEASE NOTE: The National Crime Victim Helpline is closed. We regret the inconvenience. Please refer to our victim assistance resources. | <urn:uuid:34159439-d470-408e-8f34-101ee66119d9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/about-us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.904624 | 836 | 2 | 2 |
As I have blogged about in the past, sometimes I feel like I am often defined by other people in terms of my politics, especially when it comes to my feminism. It seems like politics and feminism are the first topics people reach for when they talk to me. This has even happened on several occasions with people I didn’t really know.
A few nights ago a friend of mine sent me an instant message. “Guys are bastards,” he moaned, complaining about the type of guy who doesn’t know how to respect any human being, let alone a female. Then this friend started talking about his personal code of conduct when it comes to women. He opens doors for women, walks closest to the street on the sidewalk. He calls it chivalry, and he said he does it out of respect. It’s not that he thinks girls aren’t as capable. It’s just about respect.
I admit that I have not spent enough time thinking about this kind of chivalry that is framed by those who practice it as being beneficial for all those involved, but this is what I came up with that night and I still find validity in.
I believe that he believes that his behavior is to be respectful and to show he cares. I think that was why he was unmoved by my attempts to show him that he was actually being harmful. He is able to justify his behavior because it works for him. He doesn’t need to care how others might see his actions. He is free from the consequences.
To challenge him, I asked my friend if he treated his male friends the same way. Surely he respects them as well. No, he told me. With guys, the behavior was reciprocal, where it was not expected to be reciprocal with girls.
So, it’s really not about respect. It’s about gender. When this guy is with a female, he must do things for her, care for her, protect her…because she is a girl. When he’s with other males, the behaviors are returned because men are not perceived as needing to be cared for, of being protected. It really is just about being a good guy.
As I tried to explain this, my friend proceeded to tell me that I was actually the one being hurtful because it is a lack of this kind of chivalry that leads to instances of “guys being bastards,” such as sleeping (raping) drunk girls, cat-calling, and such. In his mind, chivalry is what teaches men to be respectful of girls. Really, this kind of chivalry only teaches men to see people for their gender, not their ability, not their state of need at a particular moment. Just their gender.
And then this friend ended the conversation by saying that I would never convince him to think otherwise about this topic because I was arguing from the assumption that I was right. I thought for a minute.
Why else would I possibly argue about anything? | <urn:uuid:53012d04-fd79-46ac-a30f-a07aabcb184a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://impersonated.blogspot.com/2009/04/newsflash-without-chivalry-respectful.html?showComment=1240562100000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991388 | 626 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Forest officials say the project involves recreation enhancement and habitation restoration, including the removal of non-native species such as salt cedar and Russian olive trees on 34 acres.
Trailheads will also be designated.
The decision to move forward with the project stems from years of collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
During the environmental review, forest officials say concerns were raised about the safety of encouraging recreation in an area where legacy contamination from Los Alamos National Laboratory has been found.
Other concerns included the proposed use of herbicides to get rid of the non-native vegetation. Officials found there was low risk to public safety. | <urn:uuid:a5c532d3-4c09-463e-85c2-2e555c026043> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_22040198/santa-fe-forest-working-buckman-restoration | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951376 | 134 | 2.4375 | 2 |
What is Marketing?
Marketing is an ongoing, ever changing and dynamic culture. There are many opinions on what marketing is and what it is not. Marketing is an inexact science with many varying experts and many varying answers!
The one constant in marketing is the need to advertise. The biggest question with advertising and marketing is "How do you reach your target audience within an effective campaign?"
For example, how do you promote a Roth IRA to your prospects? The answer is, “many ways”. The same product which is needed and can benefit all cross sections of people has to be marketed differently. You first need to educate prospects on what exactly a Roth IRA is and how it can benefit your prospects. If they don’t know what it is, why should they invest in one? It won’t happen.
You need to educate and market to the varied segments of customers differently. Middle-aged, Baby Boomers, Gen Y and Gen X all can benefit from a Roth IRA, but Gen X and Gen Y will probably not go into a building; they have to be contacted electronically. They may respond to direct mail, but a picture of a 35 year old with small kids will not relate to them.
So depending on the cross section of clients you are marketing to, different photos, different messages and different methods have to be used to market the exact same product. For Gen X and Gen Y, blogs may be the way to educate clients on certain products and their benefits to them like a Roth IRA. Electronically is going to be the best way to reach them.
LKCS can assist you in these needs! We can help you to determine the Return on Investment (ROI) on campaigns and also assist in showing how marketing one product can affect and grow other business for your organization. | <urn:uuid:2f68c429-7c5f-49ea-a117-0e656e63676b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lk-cs.com/marketing/marketing.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961874 | 373 | 1.9375 | 2 |
MRes: The department offers five Masters of Research (MRes) degrees.
The ESRC accredited MRes in Social Anthropology includes various social science components (for more see generic social science components), research and methodology training, along with core social anthropology teaching and dissertation preparation. For more information see Postgraduate modules.
The department also has three regional MRes pathways, which are geared toward students seeking ethnographic and historical specialisation in a particular region of the world. Currently, St Andrews invites application to an MRes in Social Anthropology and Amerindian Studies (MRes in Social Anthropology and Amerindian Studies); and an MRes in Social Anthropology with Pacific Studies (MRes in Social Anthropology with Pacific Studies) and an MRes in Social Anthropology with African Studies.
Finally, we have new degree for 2012: an MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception (MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception). This MRes forms an important masters’ training for postgraduate research into Anthropology of Art, Material Culture and Visual Expression. It takes perception and the senses as its starting point and draws on themes, which extend across the subject boundaries between art and anthropology.
The department offers PhD supervision across a diverse range of theoretical interests and topics. Prospective PhD candidates have typically taken on projects that are daring, explorative and creative, yet nevertheless require intensive ethnographic fieldwork.
As well as supervising projects linked to the three research centres: the Centre for Amerindian, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Centre for Cosmopolitan Studies and the Centre for Pacific Studies, the department and its staff especially invite project submissions for work on urban anthropology, migration, visual anthropology, postcolonial institutions, anthropology and literature, anthropology and history, new media cultures, apprenticeship, craftwork & material culture, Christianities, mining & resource extraction and anthropology of ethics. Other regional strengths include a strong focus on African societies, Britain and Europe, and Central Asia.
Our Research map shows the geographical range of our research. Our PG student profiles indicate research projects currently underway.
Research and the Postgraduate Community
PhD candidates have the opportunity to participate in, and organize various conferences and workshops. This often results in publication projects led by postgraduates. Additionally, MRes and PhD students take part in the Scottish Training in Anthropological Research (STAR Programme), which brings researchers together before and after fieldwork as part of the candidate’s continuing education and skill building.
Students are given ample opportunity to present and exchange ideas and writing drafts in a host of formal and informal settings. Weekly departmental seminars along with reading and writing groups allow postgraduates to discuss and analyze theoretical, methodological and ethical issues pertaining to social anthropology.
Students and faculty engage in a scholastic community that is friendly, intellectual, but not pedantic. PhD students returning from the field are allotted spacious offices for writing up. They are also given the opportunity to tutor in select undergraduate social anthropology and sustainable development modules.
Entry Requirements and the Application Process
Entry to the taught programmes is in mid September, and to the research programmes normally in September or January. The research programmes are available on both a full-time and part-time basis.
Admission to all programmes normally supposes that you hold a meritorious undergraduate degree, normally 2.1 or better or its equivalent (e.g. GPA of 3.6 or better on a 4 point scale). The undergraduate degree does not need to be in the discipline of Social Anthropology, but candidates may be advised to take the MRes first, if they have insufficient anthropological preparation.
If your first language is not English you must satisfy the University’s language requirements for entry, by submitting a recognised language certificate (such as a TOEFL or IELTS certificate). Further information and an online application form can be found on the Postgraduate Recruitment pages.
Information on how to apply to the University is available via the Postgraduate Recruitment pages.
General Enquiries should be addressed to the Postgraduate Secretary on firstname.lastname@example.org.
For more specific information about either the MRes or PhD programme please contact the Director of Postgrduate Studies Dr Adam Reed | <urn:uuid:ed3ca204-d87f-4201-8ed1-b3e75d392fcd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/anthropology/prospective/pgrad/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91089 | 863 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Let's talk about Monarchs!
Moderator: Monarch Watch
ChrysCook wrote:Here's another interesting article:
http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2002 ... tracts.htm
"Experimental evidence has shown that neither glyphosate nor AMPA bioaccumulates in any animal tissue. No significant toxicity occurred in acute, subchronic, and chronic studies."
"Therefore, it is concluded that the use of Roundup herbicide does not result in adverse effects on development, reproduction, or endocrine systems in humans and other mammals."
AMPA is glyphosate's major breakdown product aminomethylphosphonic acid. Amphibians are not mentioned in that article.
But this article shows opposite findings in laboratory studies where the concentrations were probably much higher than when used properly. There's a good section about persistence in water and soil:
http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Roun ... et-Cox.htm
And part 2 goes into detail on effects to fish and beneficial organisms:
http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Roun ... t-Cox2.htm
Paul Cherubini wrote:In some areas of the USA where pesticide use is great, butterflies, moths, frogs, honeybees, bumblebees, etc. can still be abundant. In Iowa & southern Minnesota, for example, 75% of the entire landscape is covered with monocultures of herbicide and insecticide treated crops and yet butterflies can still be this abundant:
Mona Miller wrote:Many butterflies do partial migrations south. The painted lady is one of them. And, the Monarch is migrating south, too. Your pictures only show one part of the story. What has happened before and what is happening after?
Mona Miller wrote:http://www.jstor.org/pss/25083046 I can't see how the painted lady is a pest anymore with the planting of Bt corn all over the united states.
ChrysCook wrote:"Food Inc" is a must-see movie for everyone! Just saw it tonight. Monsanto declined to comment in the making of the film. You'll probably walk away enlightened and upset about some of their and other big players in the food industry's practices.
Mona Miller wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah0SBALIc0o
National Geographic -- Monarchs in Mexico
roundup weed killer more toxic than originally believed
Lawn Care Chemical’s Deadly Secret
Report: A labeling loophole means the world’s most common herbicide is even more toxic than originally believed.
By Leah Zerbe
researchers who recently tested the product’s active ingredient in combination with certain inert ones found the combo makes this weed killer much more toxic than previously disclosed. “It’s not as benign as people are led to believe,”
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests | <urn:uuid:006e92c8-913b-482f-b765-d68fdd750b80> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://monarchwatch.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=8618 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921388 | 625 | 2.234375 | 2 |
UNICEF welcomes signing of two conventions on children by South Asian leaders
Kathmandu / New York, 5 January 2002 - UNICEF today welcomed the signing of two important conventions on the trafficking of women and children and child welfare by seven South Asian nations. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed the conventions this week at a summit of South Asian leaders in Kathmandu, Nepal.
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy congratulated the South Asian leaders for addressing children's and women's issues at a time when their nations are grappling with the dual threats of war and terrorism in the region. She welcomed their commitment and said that lasting peace and stability could not be achieved without respect for human rights, including the full rights of children and women.
The trafficking of children and women for sexual exploitation is on the increase in South Asia - a result of poverty, deeply-rooted social and gender discrimination, weak legislation and spotty enforcement. The conventions signed this week by South Asian Heads of State and Government deplore the "evil of trafficking in women and children" as a "violation of basic human rights."
Now that they have signed them, UNICEF urged the governments of South Asia to ratify the conventions, as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, which so far has been signed Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, and ratified by Bangladesh alone.
Each country must also take immediate steps to strengthen regional co-operation to effectively implement both conventions, UNICEF said. Most South Asian countries already have detailed national plans of action to combat sexual trafficking, but follow-through has been less thorough.
"It is now time to act," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kul Gautam, who is attending the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit. "Now that every leader has signed these conventions, community groups and the media must be vigilant in holding governments accountable. Perpetrators must be challenged and their impunity stopped."
* * *
UNICEF New York, +1 212 326 7261
UNICEF-ROSA, Kathmandu, +97-1-417082
Press releases on sexual exploitation: | <urn:uuid:a3b732bf-7c51-4351-9b72-513403f8d387> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr01.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945239 | 474 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Lights, Camera, Action
Digital Designs Movie Sets
By Melissa Donovan
A glamorous look into filmmaking is something that many print production facilities find themselves in on a daily basis. While we may ogle at stars, plotlines, and dialogue in a movie; none of this would be possible without extravagant set pieces designed for multiple film scenes.
Many times, actual locations are used to save on costs and give a boost to a local economy. Printed signage may be required to create fictitious places. In other instances, back lots use scenery crafted from hand or designed with the help of a digital printer. This method is cost effective, as the print will only be used once and the color gamut is ideal for high-quality backdrops.
Printing Movie Magic
SagaBoy Productions, based in Santa Monica, CA, is one company creating movie set graphics. In business since 1997, the one man operation designs visual graphics for films and generally prints and produces about 99 percent of the job. Martin T. Charles, graphic designer, SagaBoy, has worked on countless full-length feature films. Of note are The Avengers, Charlie Wilson’s War, Date Night, Frost/Nixon, Leatherheads, and Public Enemies.
Most recently, he collaborated with Tom Hanks for Larry Crowne, which was co-written and directed by Hanks and opened in theaters on July 1, 2011. In the movie, Hanks plays a star employee at a big box store which is downsized. He decides to start over by enrolling in a local college, where he meets his professor, Mercedes Tainot, played by Julia Roberts.
Charles relies on SOLJET PRO III XC-540 and VersaCAMM VS-640 printers from Roland DGA Corporation for printing in his space of 400 square feet. He became familiar with the printers in 2005 when a need to print and cut vinyl for race boats in the Miami Vice movie arose.
“To design a graphic that could be printed and contour cut in one continuous motion was the beginning of a new experience,” comments Charles.
Movies are made quickly and that requires SagaBoy to design and output sets and props at a fast pace. Charles says project timelines generally range from three to six months on average. To keep up with demand he credits his Roland printers. “I know their capabilities and it cuts down on the guesswork, making me more efficient,” he adds.
Designing a Film Set
For Larry Crowne, Charles spent two months producing his first test graphic and then another two were needed to complete all of the graphics for the movie. In total, 12 to 15 graphics were created, ranging from 18x24-inch signage to a 40x16-foot billboard, and a 60x12-foot wall mural.
Sets included a community college classroom, a corner building façade, and backlit graphics for a restaurant. Media ranged from wallpaper, clear and white static cling, adhesive matte vinyl, adhesive backlit fabric, backlit film, vinyl banner, and silk fabrics—all printed on the Roland SOLJET PRO III XC-540.
“Choosing and testing the print materials is important. That is one of the reasons I use Roland media—it is profiled for the printer, which saves time and ensures top-quality results,” explains Charles.
In the movies, real life fixtures and objects are sometimes hidden to create a fictional setting. For the design on the façade of a corner building, a newly opened boutique needed to be depicted. Using removable adhesive fabric, Charles printed a photographed image of the building’s stucco and manipulated it to resemble an Italian Piranesi etching. This was applied to the wall and later uninstalled without damaging the building’s exterior.
The backlit graphics found in the restaurant scene were another challenge. Covering a 20-foot glass wall, Charles used the same removable fabric found in the building façade, which allowed for visible images when the fabric was backlit. A second mirrored wall was covered in sheer white static cling and a window covered in removable fabric as well. These areas all contained a specific café logo which had to match across all materials. Using the SOLJET PRO III XC-540, Charles was able to precisely match the colors.
Lights, Camera, Action
With the assistance of his Roland digital printers, Charles is able to effortlessly create scenery for some of the biggest productions. With his busy schedule, the newly acquired VersaCAMM VS-640 has yet to be fully utilized, but Charles looks forward to mastering both the metallic and white ink features the device offers. Digital’s continue advancement allows SagaBoy to offer movie producers high-quality representations of real locations or fictitious places in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Oct2011, Digital Output | <urn:uuid:15fd652a-a756-472b-b104-fe3fcd5cb9f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.digitaloutput.net/content/ContentCT.asp?P=2689 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946169 | 1,003 | 1.617188 | 2 |
We are fortunate to live in the age of technology and the internet. I have my office and it’s on my laptop. I can even take it in my pocket with a smartphone. There are enormous benefits of having your complete office on your laptop. But first let me share you how I came up with the transition?
Last year on a vacation I went to a doctor’s chamber. No I was not sick; he was the friend of my uncle. His office was a small 12 by 12 feet room. Inside he had table, chairs, a bed for the patient, a laptop table, an ultra sonogram machine and lots of other stuff. The table had lots of medical equipment throwing everywhere. Here is a picture of that particular office,
Now I was thinking how hard it would be to move or relocate that office? What if the doctor had his entire office packed up in something smaller?
Yes there are these kinds of chambers available in our country, but these are not what I have in mind.
Doctors, lawyers, engineers are all freelancers. Most of them quit their jobs and run their own private office. Instead of following what everyone else is doing, you should think smarter and think of new ways to do business.
Now since my work is related to online, and I am quite successful on my work –I too had the urge to have a physical office, have employees and show people that I am a big thing.
But I realized that it’s actually a backward step for someone whose work is 100% online. So I dropped that idea and put everything online. Even my work is not inside this particular laptop, it’s in the cloud. So if I move to another computer or smartphone, I can resume my work.
Here are the cool benefits that I am enjoying for having the laptop as my office,
No office space, no rent
Just imagine how much money I am saving every month by not having a physical office space? It’s very costly and hard to find a good work space here in my city. So I am not just saving rent, I am saving lunch money and no need to buy any furniture.
No employees, no stress
My business is a self owned operation and I do my work best. The only people who help me in my work are my siblings, whom I pay a monthly fee. Outside help that I get are from freelancers and I pay them on a contract basis. So I don’t have to hire a beautiful receptionist, a secretary, an accountant and a peon to make tea for me. Who I need to impress?
No transportation, save time
Some study (I can’t remember where I read) suggest that on average we spend 4 hours a day for transportation. This includes waiting for the bus/taxi in cold, rain or hot weather. Then inhaling polluted air and wasting time on traffic. I am using that extra time every day for my business, leisure and for my family. And also thank me for contributing even a small bit for reducing the traffic jam.
No maintenance for gas, water or electricity
If I had an office space, I had to pay extra for gas, water and electricity. Even if some office space don’t have gas/water bill included, it still has some extra maintenance fee. Then an extra internet bill and security fees I had to pay every month. I am saving that all by using a laptop as my office. The only things that I pay are for my laptop (when it needs a fix) and the internet bill, but you can also find a free WiFi.
I take it wherever I go, it’s mobile
Having a physical office will make you handicapped. You cannot stay away for longer. When you are in a vacation, your earning is stopped. But with having a laptop as my office, I took it with me last year on vacation. It helped me work and earn money. This office is flexible and easy to move.
My business runs on auto-pilot
I have setup websites & softwares that are running 24/7. This is called automation. It is doing its job and earning me money. I just have to keep it updated from time to time.
No office hours, no daily routine
Having a physical office and employees will make you commit to a time table. Did you forget that the whole point of working online and all that was to quit that life? With no more physical office, I can work and take break when I want. I don’t have to follow a routine.
No tax rules no legal trouble
Self owned businesses (sole proprietorship) doesn’t require any legal incorporation. The same way this business is shielded with lots of tax benefits. Internet business is a new concept all over the world so right now no such rules are present for doing this kind of business.
Finally it weighs just 2.5 KG’s –and it can be even lighter with a slim model!
So what are you waiting for? It is the right time, you have the tools. My new course is 100% online and it will guide you exactly the same steps you need to bring your business online just like I did.
Check out BlogKori Academy
P.S: It takes hours of research and preparation to come up with these articles. Please click on the social buttons below, as a way to say thanks -it will take just a second!
You will also start receiving my New Blog Articles through email.Just enter your email below and click Sign Up! | <urn:uuid:55a435a0-94db-4c0b-876f-3af2fcfbfae6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.blogkori.com/office-on-your-laptop/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96894 | 1,154 | 1.601563 | 2 |
M/S of 80 year old Miss Olive Harbutt sat in a room painting at an easel, there are many pictures on the walls behind her. M/S over her shoulder, she is working on a picture. M/S of different coloured rolls of plasticine. Her hand picks up a green bit and pulls a piece off....
A modern way to make stained glass which makes it suitable for new concrete buildings.
Fabulous story shows how dollies are made at a famous toy factory.
Plaster models are made from gelatine moulds by an Italian firm.
Item about man who models personalities with the use of wishbones. London.
A look at children in the first LCC nursery school opened since war. Poplar, London. | <urn:uuid:ab749e68-cabd-4aa1-b094-9a44a2323c3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.britishpathe.com/video/painting-with-plasticine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949978 | 156 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Many well known companies today have received private equity funding at some point in their history – about a third of them. The number would be higher, but many of today’s largest companies are older than the venture capital industry. Well known companies that received venture capital include Google, Apple, Amazon.com and Facebook.
Getting venture financing doesn’t mean that your startup will be successful. It’s hard to give a percentage because it varies over the course of an economical cycle, but it’s safe to say that between 20 to 50 percent of venture funded companies fail (the failure rate in hyped sectors are at the higher end of the range), and only about 10-15% succeed; the rest survive but are not great successes. Most investors would agree that most of the ventures they back are flawed, perhaps as many of two thirds of venture funded companies have some major drawback.
Venture backed companies are usually able to grow much faster than non-funded companies, not only because they have more resources, but also because being venture-funded gives a company a certain cachet, which can help a company in building confidence among customers and lenders.
Less than 1% of startups who seek venture funding ever receive it. Today it’s harder than ever because many venture capital firms are focusing on “growth companies”, not start-ups. If you are trying to raise money for a start-up, it might be better to speak to angel investors. | <urn:uuid:6d896ebe-6ab9-4757-8a3f-c1107df23dbc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sternfisher.com/blog/bootstrapping-vs-venture-funding-statistics-how-many-large-companies-eg-fortune-500-ever-received-venture-financing-what-percentage-of-venture-funded-companies-succeed-or-fail-what-percentage/comment-page-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980788 | 303 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Itching to get to work on the three-fold goals of political education, legislation and getting out the vote, they lost no time in establishing the "Pasadena Unit." Three months after the initial session, about 100 women convened March 31, 1936, at Pasadena's public meeting hall, La Casita del Arroyo, to launch the local League of Women Voters.
Working out of an office in the Women's City Club, the fledgling Pasadena LWV began setting an agenda that would endure throughout its history. While city government and children would continue to top the League's agenda, eradication of gender and racial discrimination in housing, education and government also ranked high in LWV priorities. Each decade saw the League addressing these issues.
In its first four years, the new League provided a steady influence in healing wounds of a nasty recall over paving-contract scandals. Despite its pledge to leave local issues to the Pasadena Civic League established 25 years earlier in 1911, the Pasadena LWV also was instrumental in a "street-trader law" that protected youths who hawked newspapers on city streets.
In the 1940s, a "Know Your Town" study that covered housing, health, financing, planning led to League-guided tours of City Hall, and the appointment of two women to the Planning Commission.
"The boys at City Hall were made very much aware that there was an organization of high-minded, low heeled ladies on the barricades," said a past president from the 1950s.
Continuing on the equality and good government front in the 1950s, the League urged the formation of a Redevelopment Agency to address blighted residential areas, notably west of Fair Oaks Avenue and south of Green Street. The League also published a pamphlet, "The Perfect City," to help citizens understand the need for city planning and creation of a General Plan as a policy for growth and development.
The 1960s and '70s marked a watershed for the Pasadena League. Embracing La Canada Flintridge and Sierra Madre (later incorporating the Alhambra and South Pasadena leagues) it became the LWV Pasadena Area, and by 1976 was the second largest league in the state. At about the same time, it hosted the state LWV convention. Also, as it gained prominence as a political force, LWVPA gained more visibility and accessibility by moving from its quarters in the Women's City Club to a storefront office in a shopping center at Lake Avenue and Washington Street. (It subsequently moved twice in the same general area, currently to an office on Hill Avenue just north of Washington.)
The League's mission to eradicate both racial and gender discrimination in housing, education and government moved to the forefront along with the civil rights movement. Based on a comprehensive survey of school operations, the LWVPA became an advocate of the Pasadena Plan to integrate the public schools. It boldly sued the anti-integration Board of Education in 1975 for violations of the Brown Act. Although each side paid its own legal fees, the judge congratulated the League for educating the board about the provisions of the public meeting act.
To promote minority representation in local government, the League backed a 1968 measure that changed the election system for the Pasadena city council to district-only primaries with a citywide runoff of the top two candidates if no one received a 60 percent vote in the primary elections. In a continued drive for greater minority representation 14 years later, the League pushed to eliminate the primaries in favor of district only elections, a system adopted in 1982.
In this same '60s and '70s era, LWVPA was instrumental in the formation of the Pasadena Human Relations Commission and the Pasadena Commission on the Status of Women. (The League continues to support the commission.)
As part of its mission for gender equality, the maverick Pasadena League admitted male members a decade before the national League broke the gender barrier in 1974 by amending its bylaws. Lee Merriman, editor of the Pasadena Star-News, claimed in one of his columns from the 1960s to be a "card-carrying member" of the LWV.
As the League was promoting racial equality in schools and government, its own members were moving into leadership positions on city commissions, the redevelopment agency, the City Council itself and the Board of Education. Other women League members also were developing their own professional careers, assuming management positions in influential community organizations and businesses. The membership was changing to reflect the tenor of the times.
The 1970s was the decade the national League won new respect by sponsoring and moderating the first presidential debates on television. It also was the era the League endorsed direct election of the president - long before the photo-finish presidential election in 2000.
Decades before the ensuing controversy over voting devices in 2000, the Pasadena League had studied election procedures and advocated the selection of the now infamous, punch-card Vote Recorder in 1968. By end of the 1900s LWVPA found itself assessing alternative voting devices.
As the 21st century began to dawn, male members of LWVPA were exerting more influence as electronic communications and study of elections systems became a focus. They were pivotal in the LWVPA study and endorsement in 1999 of Instant Runoff Voting and Choice Voting in 2002 on the local level to promote fairness and equality of representation. Men also were influential in the creation of a state League study on election systems in 1999-2001. Furthermore, men were major contributors in setting up an innovative electronic advocacy network that sends out alerts on local and state issues to all members with email.
SmartVoter.org, a web site with information about candidates and voting issues, is another up-to-date, state League enterprise in which LWVPA participates. In addition, the LWVPA continues to moderate election forums and to distribute publications of pros and cons on ballot measures and Easy Reader Voter Guides about candidates and issues in general elections.
About 70 years after its founding, LWVPA carries on the tradition of building bridges. It is forging coalitions with other civic groups, particularly in the minority communities, reaching out to new citizens and carrying out a Youth Outreach Program in high schools and community college. In particular the LWVPA founded a partnership with the Pasadena Board of Education, the city of Pasadena and a host of other community agencies in 1992 to set up enriching, after-school programs, called the Partnership for School Age Children.
The faces and times may change, but the mission remains the same: to educate voters and implement | <urn:uuid:a6787274-748f-4176-9fb6-0bf302ed3c98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lwvpasadenaarea.org/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962945 | 1,327 | 2.3125 | 2 |
I decided to post this here as we are discussing the "ins and outs" of the feast of Tabernacles. Here is some understanding He has given me on part of it. He calls it the feast of TABERNACLES for a reason.
He's making us a feast of FAT things = those that have not been circumcised
by the processing of the work that is inherent in tabernacles. This is in Isaiah 25 or 26 I believe.
This ties in with the bones Ezekial saw.
Bones without meat on them = first veil of our flesh laid down.
DRY bones=those that have laid down the Christ veil of His flesh (because Spirit is water/life of them).
Where He makes "fat" our bones is where He puts the glorified word/flesh back on them, ie. that which has been thru the fire of the fullness of the Holy Ghost/Father, after laying down the "flesh" of Christ.
Now let me explain what that means. We were called out into the wilderness here to "die", and be made of no reputation, taking on the image of sinful flesh, or being made conformable to His death.
For most of us, if not all of us, we look like we've lost our minds, our salvation, aren't really Christians,ect. to the outside world, because we are not worshiping Him in the confines of Babylonian confusion anymore. And so we "laid down" the "image" of Him, but not the reality of Him in our lives and hearts. Just the opposite, in fact.
This is why the fat was an offering only for God the Father,and why we were told not to eat the fat of an animal in dietary laws (aside from making you sick). The fat (think about it--fat is above what is needed; as oil that has congealed, not flowing, LAID UP).
This is representative of the wisdom of the Spirit which is Christ, that is hidden in the
uncircumcised (definition of gentiles NOW) that cannot be a light without the fire of the Holy Ghost consuming it. Uncircumcised ones, meaning those that have the wheat and the tares together still, that must still go thru the cleansing fire of the Holy Ghost (in the HARVEST, He will send His angels and they will GATHER up.....= Math. 13).
WE ARE becoming the lake of fire they get cast in, as the Father consumes US, LOL :).
Without THIS FIRE being the one to do it, trying to consume this fat is as offering up
strange fire, which is what you see happening to those that think it's ok to consume other things outside the Word, APART FROM THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
With the Spirit leading, no harm can come, for the tares are burned/consumed in the fire, REFINED in the refiner's fire, leaving the life of Spirit which is Christ hidden in the people this pertains to, revealed by cleansing, distilled like wine.
It's the same as refining gold, where the dross (doctrines without life) is consumed, but the gold (higher nature of God revealed, ie. revelations of the Word that IS life and Spirit) is retained.
They SHALL PICK UP serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them.
When God told Moses to CAST DOWN His rod of authority = veil of Christ's flesh as it pertains to coming outside the camp and dying, ie. laying down of all, it then took on the IMAGE OF SINFUL FLESH, but it CONSUMED the serpent natures of the uncircumcised Egyptians (flesh),
And then the Lord God told Him to pick it back up ie. after suffering with Him, we are glorified with Him = MIRACLES to set ALL creation free. He did His first miracle at Cana, which runs into word used in Psalms (I believe it was) that means "possessor of heaven and earth" ie. the ALmighty God, the Father God that is in our new
heaven/glorified Christ AND our new earth/glorified body. This is why it says, God was IN Christ reconciling all men unto Himself.
This rod of Moses, ties in with the PICKING UP (catching up) of the TWELVE BASKETS OF FRAGMENTS = 12 tribes of humanity He "fragmented" Himself in, after the 5 (grace ministered thru ministry of 5 fold) fishes and 2 loaves (witness of Son and Spirit together = inner court) dispensation has ENDED. It is time for the Father to come on the scene, and FULFILL the promise with HIMSELF.
Additionally, look up word for lake and it runs into haven, which in the Hebrew means among other things, "to cover"(as in the blood of the Christ that is laid down now thru the laying down of the flesh of Him, has the POWER to cover or expiate THEIR sins), and runs into word meaning "to enclose" (as in, a garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse) and also, compassionate, pity, regard, spare, and protection.
It also runs into word that means to stroke, erase to smooth (as with oil), grease or make FAT, blot out, full of marrow.
If you go to Ephesians 1:7 it says we are set FREE by the DEATH of CHRIST. And 2Cor.4:4 the word image, as in Christ made in the image of God runs into word that means "GOAT".
His image is one of life thru sacrificial death, and Paul prayed to know what is the power of His resurrection, that he might be conformed into the IMAGE OF HIS
DEATH, that he might by any means, ATTAIN THE RESURRECTION.John 7:10 -But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
Starting with the above, the feast He went to in secret in this passage, was literally the feast of Tabernacles.....and so too does He do this thing in secret with us spiritually, because it is unobservable, unlike Passover and Pentecost, and is typified by the fact the High Priest went in ALONE into the Holy of Holies.Job 12:22 -He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
If you understand what's below that I shared first, pertaining to what this "darkness" IS, ie. the ones holding Christ in UNrighteousness, the wisdom hidden in the UNcircumcized of heart.1Kings 8:12 -Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
God hid Himself in the last place man would ever think to look......IN MAN.Daniel 2:22 - He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Isa 45:3 -And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
These treasures of darkness and hidden riches are none other than the wealth of the WICKED held up (RESERVED IN HEAVEN/Christ IN them) for the just (us), ie. those that have followed Him to celebrate Tabernacles.
Carnal man thought the wealth was material goods or gold and silver (and He can and will bring that also once we are fully one with the Head from whom all blessing flow, which is the purpose of this feast), but the true riches are wisdom in Christ, for wisdom is more valuable than rubies. 2Samuel 22:12 - And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
That Hebrew word pavilions there is the same as TABERNACLES.
Thought I'd better add a "natural practical" word about how this is working in us. Have you ever received the LIFE of His Spirit speaking to you either out of the writings of others, or even out of others who are not Christian?
Then you are "eating" or consuming the riches laid up for the just. He is turning their water into wine for you, distilling out of them the new wine of the Kingdom which is Spirit contained in flesh. Blessings..... | <urn:uuid:6916f616-f890-4389-addb-dd9879afa994> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tentmaker.org/forum/christian-life/who-lives-who-dies/225/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959195 | 1,815 | 1.5 | 2 |
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China: MSF Focuses on Mental Health and Shelter
May 30, 2008
China 2008 © Kris Torgeson/MSF
Tony Marchant is the outgoing emergency coordinator in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
What are the main needs of the people in Sichuan now?
Following extensive assessments in the affected region, MSF teams have found that the response in terms of food, water, sanitation and hygiene is largely adequate in most places. Over 5 million have been left homeless by the quake, so the need for shelter is tremendous. MSF has distributed 4,560 tents in close collaboration with the Chinese Red Cross, as well as plastic sheeting to the families in need. Many survivors have not only lost their houses and belongings, but also friends and, or, relatives. Many are still in shock after the terrible experience of the quake. They clearly need psychological support.
Are there specific groups in need of mental health support?
When we come across survivors here, they tend to say that things are OK and they can cope with the situation. Like an elderly woman on Wednesday who told us she was fine and we could focus on assisting others. But when we started asking questions, her tears started flowing quite quickly. The same day, a bulldozer driver came to us, asking to see one of our psychologists. He had been removing dead bodies from the rubble since the quake and was feeling very bad, and having nightmares about his terrible daily experience.
Several specific groups are in need: school children, as many school buildings collapsed and many have lost their schoolmates, or they lost their parents; the elderly are a group sometimes left unattended; and disabled patients suffering from major trauma injuries and for whom it is even more difficult to get back to normal life and cope with the situation.
What are the plans for MSF mental health work in Sichuan?
“In a large-scale disaster such as the Sichuan earthquake, you could find large unmet needs. But there are very few gaps; they are mainly in the fields of mental health, basic relief items, and shelter. MSF is trying to respond to these gaps.”
MSF psychologists have offered support and counselling in reference hospitals, and they have provided training to medical staff on how to provide basic psychological first-aid to support the patients.
A team of four psychologists will work in two locations where people displaced by the quake have sought refuge. In Long Men, Pengzhou city, a mountainous area where about 10,000 people are living in 10 temporary settlements, we will set up a tent next to the medical facilities where three MSF psychologists will provide consultations and counselling. Another team will start psychological support in a temporary settlement for around another 10,000 displaced people in Hanwang, Mianzhu city.
In parallel, MSF teams will continue to respond to the basic needs of people in the affected areas of Long Men and Hanwang. We will distribute more tents; basic items, such as washing basins; and even clothes, when needed.
Is the local response covering all other needs?
In the many different emergencies I have witnessed, I have never seen such a response from the national authorities. On top of that, there has been a lot of social mobilization?volunteers coming into the affected area to offer their support. In a large-scale disaster such as the Sichuan earthquake, you could find large unmet needs. But there are very few gaps; they are mainly in the fields of mental health, basic relief items, and shelter. MSF is trying to respond to these gaps.
At the medical level, MSF offered some clinical and surgical support to hospitals in Guanghan and Hanwang. A team of three nephrologists from the International Society of Nephrology provided expertise in kidney problems often linked to hyper tension at three of the largest hospitals in the provincial capital of Chengdu, as well as in the temporary triage referral hospital in Guanghan.
Almost three weeks after the earthquake, can you feel the start of recovery?
So far, people have been totally reliant on assistance from the government and non-governmental organizations, both local and international ones. The first phrase–the rescue operations–is mostly complete. Now we see signs of reconstruction–the construction of pre-fabricated housings, schools, and general infrastructure is underway. Nevertheless, many survivors have lost everything and they have to continue to rely on governmental and non-governmental assistance to recover from such an extensive disaster. Without doubt, it will take years for the people here to get back to a normal life.
What is the next plan for MSF?
MSF remains in Sichuan and will work essentially in the field of mental health and distribution of basic relief items. We carried out medical activities in the phase of relief operations, including nephrology, surgery, and internal medicine, and these emergency activities have now come to an end. But MSF will continue to follow up on extra medical and basic needs of the people who were injured and affected by this disaster. | <urn:uuid:b039b8c0-5ae3-4cc5-9633-63a2f119d117> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=2733&cat=field-news | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967137 | 1,079 | 1.953125 | 2 |
THE JAGUAR SMILE. A Nicaraguan Journey. By Salman Rushdie. 171 pages. Viking. $12.95.
In his last two remarkable novels, ''Midnight's Children'' and ''Shame,'' Salman Rushdie looked at the history of his two homelands, India and Pakistan, through the distorting/truth-telling lens of magical realism, and in doing so he limned, with visionary fierceness, the tragic spirals of history.
Given this passionate interest in public events - and their consequences on individual lives - it is not all that surprising that Mr. Rushdie should eventually become interested in recent developments in Central America, another third world arena with a long and tortured history of conflict. Last year - in July, to be precise - he went there for three weeks, a period, he says, that came in retrospect to feel ''close to the fulcrum of history, a time when all things, all the possible futures, were still (just) in the balance'': it had been just seven years since Anastasio Somoza Debayle's departure and the takeover by the Sandinista Front. The International Court of Justice in The Hague had ruled that United States aid to the contras was in violation of international law; the House of Representatives had, meanwhile, approved President Reagan's request for $100 million in aid for the counterrevolutionaries; and the Sandinista Government had closed down La Prensa, the country's one opposition newspaper.
As Mr. Rushdie quickly points out, he did not go to Nicaragua as ''a blank slate.'' His own experience as ''the child of a successful revolt against a great power,'' he says, predisposed him to feel sympathy with the Sandinista regime - he shared with them, he writes, ''some awareness of the view from underneath, and of how it felt to be there, on the bottom, looking up at the descending heel.'' But at the same time, he adds, ''I was familiar with the tendency of revolutions to go wrong, to devour their children, to become the thing they had been created to destroy.'' Indeed, one of the central motifs in ''Midnight's Children'' was the foundering of India's bright dream of independence during the repressive state of emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
While he speaks with the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega Saavedra, interviews Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, the widow of the former editor of La Prensa, Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, and questions other prominent Nicaraguans about eveything from the possibility of United States military intervention to the ethics of press censorship, Mr. Rushdie's political musings tend to sound superficial -and sometimes naive. He accepts without serious questioning or research the figures quoted to him by the Sandinistas on land redistribution and yet asks members of the constitutional committee why the right to abortion on demand cannot be included in the new Constitution of this deeply Roman Catholic country.
Where ''The Jaguar Smile'' is stirring and original is in its simple descriptions of the country and the people. Though the book lacks the perfect melding of subject and sensibility found in Joan Didion's ''Salvador,'' though it lacks the verbal energy of Mr. Rushdie's own fiction, it has been written with a novelist's eye for irony and metaphor; and it gives us an impressionistic picture of the country in bright, patchwork colors unavailable in your usual journalistic dispatches.
Mr. Rushdie notices things. He notices that ''the Nicaraguan fondness for naming their ministries acronymically'' can result in unfortunate Orwellian echoes (the Ministry of Culture, for one, is known as ''Minicult''). He notices that farm cooperatives tend to possess ''resolutely optimistic names (''La Esperanza,'' ''La Paz''). And he notices that American culture has a firm foothold in Nicaragua: old Jack Nicholson movies run on television; Madonna songs play on the radio; and the Inter-Continental Hotel, ''a sawn-off concrete pyramid,'' stands ''amidst the wraiths of old Managua like an omen: an ugly American, but a survivor, nevertheless.''
As a piece of reportage, ''The Jaguar Smile'' obviously does without the more extravagant flashes of surrealism found in ''Midnight's Children'' and ''Shame,'' but Mr. Rushdie's point - that history is a kind of nightmare, full of distortions and absurdities - is not lost on Nicaragua. Indeed, he is able to make us see that the factual reality of this country already verges on the surreal: a country in which newspapers (under the Somoza regime) printed ''photographs of Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood movie stars in place of the banned articles,'' a country in which 19-year-old soldiers can be veterans with six years' fighting experience, a country in which a tree across the road becomes an ominous and frightening sight.
And yet, reports Mr. Rushdie, literature continues to flourish in this war-ravaged land. Many of the country's leaders - including President Ortega (whose most popular work was called ''I Missed Managua in Miniskirts'') and Minister of Culture Ernesto Cardenal - are also well-known poets, and debates over declining standards in verse co-exist, happily, with more overtly political discussions.
Near the end of his travels, Mr. Rushdie wonders about ''the relative absence of novelists in this poet-stuffed country.'' ''There was never time for novels,'' a poet explains. ''You could squeeze in poetry between other things. Not a novel.'' | <urn:uuid:29307b56-5dff-4d35-9252-efcf47c088b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/21/books/books-of-the-times-novelist-in-nicaragua.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94748 | 1,175 | 1.867188 | 2 |
By Hannah Sentenac
By Hannah Sentenac
By Ciara LaVelle
By Ashli Molina
By Elisa Melendez
By Briana Saati
From 1915 through 1923, one and a half million Christian Armenians died at the hands of their Muslim Turkish neighbors as part of a holy war declared by the Turkish government. Entire families were wiped out; whole communities were brutally destroyed. Like so many other people turned into refugees by this century's "ethnic cleansings," a considerable number of the Armenians who escaped death sought new lives in the United States.
Playwright Richard Kalinoski pays tribute to the suffering endured by these Armenians in his emotionally resonant two-act drama Beast on the Moon. Using spare and unflinching language, he crafts an indelible portrait of two characters -- young Aram Tomasian, a photographer, and his wife Seta, both displaced by the genocide. A "memory play" relayed in flashback by an older narrator who, we later learn, was adopted by the couple when he was a boy, Beast provides intimate glimpses of the Tomasians' lives in Milwaukee from 1921 through 1933, beginning with Aram welcoming his fifteen-year-old "picture bride" into her new home. The two were married "by proxy," as Aram calls it, after he literally bought Seta based on a snapshot of her sent to him by an orphanage in Armenia. Driven to replace his ghost-ridden past with a successful American present and future, Aram has procured Seta to help him realize his plan. Yet he finds himself thoroughly unprepared to deal with this childlike wife, who seems grateful to him for saving her, but who also has a mind of her own. Through a careful layering of details about each character -- as well as by adding visual elements such as Aram's camera, a photograph of his family, and Seta's childhood doll -- Kalinoski takes us on a journey through this marriage, from its initial confusion and miscommunication, through disappointment and anger, and on to a place of deep connection between two exiles who find solace in each other.
While Kalinoski recounts the atrocities committed by the Turks against both Aram's and Seta's families in staggering detail, those atrocities are not at the core of the drama. Instead of focusing on the dead, the playwright asks probing questions about the survivors, questions that could apply to all of us: How does a person who has weathered unspeakable loss piece together a meaningful existence? How do people who need each other but who cannot seem to communicate create a life together? The script doesn't attempt to answer these questions, but rather illuminates a range of bittersweet possibilities while telling a luminous and eloquent story.
Nominated as Best New Play of 1995 by the American Theatre Critics Association, Beast on the Moon drew standing ovations at the 1995 Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville last spring. Lauded by critics for runs that recently closed in Milwaukee and Sacramento, the play is scheduled to open in San Francisco, Chicago, and Pittsburgh over the next few months. Under the guidance of director Irina Brook (daughter of acclaimed director Peter Brook), stagings in Paris and London are also in the works. In South Florida, audiences can see the drama through February 11 at New Theatre in Coral Gables, where it's being directed by company artistic director Rafael de Acha, who fell in love with the drama as soon as he read it.
Traveling around the country from opening to opening, Kalinoski was in town for the New Theatre debut on January 5. He praised the theatre's "handsome production," although, he added, "I'm not really comfortable [comparing various stagings] because they're so different. There is inevitably some considerable divergence in how to interpret a given character, especially the main two characters."
A playwright since 1968, Kalinoski earned an M.F.A. in drama at Carnegie-Mellon, and currently directs the English education department at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. Born and raised in Wisconsin (the setting for Beast on the Moon), the author is not Armenian, although he was married to an Armenian woman for seven years. Commenting on what led him to choose his subject, he noted, "As I moved out of my thirties into my early forties, I had a growing sense of a certain kind of courage of daily life that I see in women. I had already written about Armenians, and I thought I might begin a play in that context.
"The first thing I discovered was the notion of a child bride being brought into a space and then hiding underneath a table," Kalinoski continues. "That was the image that I started with and then I went from there." Seeking the most encompassing way to tell Aram and Seta's tale, he chose to use the device of a narrator who looks back at his adopted parents, comments on them, and searches for his own understanding of the time during which they lived. Kalinoski adds dimension to this often facile convention by juxtaposing the older commentator, known simply as the Gentleman, with the commentator's younger self -- a boy named Vincent who appears in act two.
Yet Kalinoski concedes that even in the best of circumstances such a device can be awkward. "Though I loathe to use a narrator, I decided I had to so that the general audience could appreciate the Armenian context through [another] speaker," he points out. "I tend to think that where narrators are successful they have their own specific identities, where it's not about exposition. [So] when there was a need for the narrator to be more vital, he became Vincent."
Kalinoski credits two films for influencing Beast: Terrence Malik's evocative turn-of-the-century period piece Days of Heaven (1978), and Francis Ford Coppola's dark, fatalistic The Godfather, Part II (1974). In Days, the story unfolds through flashback, as told in the older voice of a character reflecting on events in her past. "I find that use of the narrator admirable because there's a separate perspective instead of 'he did this' and 'she did that,'" Kalinoski says. He also was touched by the sparseness of Malik's film, as well as what he terms "the brooding silence" in Godfather II. Indeed, each of these qualities -- manifested in Kalinoski's sccinct characterizations, spare details, and pointed language -- inform Beast on the Moon.
As for theatrical influences, Kalinoski laughs, "I'm fascinated by what other people are doing, but I'm not particularly admiring of it." For example, while he admits Angels in America's author Tony Kushner writes with a dramatic flair, he also thinks Kushner indulges in "intellectual arias and ends up intimidating us because of the dimension of his intellect and the esoterica he uses. There's a measure of The Emperor's New Clothes coming out." In contrast, he respects the playwright William Mastrosimone, particularly for his play The Woolgatherer, which explores the offbeat relationship between a troubled salesgirl and a hard-drinking truck driver. He also admires Arthur Miller. "I teach Death of a Salesman every year," Kalinoski notes, "and I tend to go back to [it] as kind of a guidepost for my work."
In the tradition of Miller's best dramas, Kalinoski says he seeks to make his own work "both piercing and accessible." Beast on the Moon certainly accomplishes that goal. However, the New Theatre's production of the play suffers from overly methodical direction that slows down the proceedings in the first act. Additionally, Camilo Aladro delivers a lackluster performance as Vincent (Aladro plays Vincent on Thursday and Saturday nights, alternating the role with Sean Ferrer on Friday and Sunday). As the older Vincent, Bill Hindman assumes an air of patrician distance. At times this distance highlights the character's wistful sadness, while at other times it alienates the character from the profound emotions in the script. Also, because director de Acha has not seamlessly choreographed the narrator's entrances and exits, Hindman's arrivals and departures tend to be distracting. And while Steve Shapiro has composed a compellingly dissonant, near-Eastern flavored score, the music overlays rather than underscores too many of Hindman's monologues. On the other hand, Mikuni Ohmae's high-contrast lighting sculpts the faces of the characters, lending insight into their inner conflicts, and Michael Thomas Essad's mutely colored box of a set quietly evokes a pared-down immigrant home.
Ultimately, this production does pack a wallop, mostly owing to Pamela Roza's strong depiction of Seta and David Cirone's stunning interpretation of Aram. Although Roza offers a less shaded performance than Cirone does, she nonetheless transforms Seta from a child almost giddy with fear in the first scene into a dignified and loving woman in the last one, summoning reserves of strength and wisdom from within the character along the way. And Cirone imbues the self-absorbed, controlling Aram with a measure of vulnerability that is, finally, so raw I was left speechless at the play's end.
With Beast on the Moon reaching audiences around the U.S., and with staged readings of Kalinoski's new play Between Men and Cattle scheduled to take place in New York City and San Francisco in March, the playwright seems poised for wider recognition.
Beast on the Moon.
Written by Richard Kalinoski; directed by Rafael de Acha; with David Cirone, Pamela Roza, Bill Hindman, Camilo Aladro, and Sean Ferrer. Through February 11. Call 443-5909 or see "Calendar" listings. | <urn:uuid:4a67c997-0f3b-4aa0-bacf-a107ee413bd2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1996-01-18/culture/don-t-have-to-live-like-a-refugee/full/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96924 | 2,044 | 1.8125 | 2 |
After a two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America decided unanimously to continue to ban gays from the membership and leadership ranks of the organization on Tuesday. In an explanation of the decision, the organization's active spokesman Deron Smith informed that the decision was based on support from parents and "is absolutely the best policy for the organization." The decision will likely be challenged yet again by disappointed LGBT activists who have been fighting the policy for more than a decade since the Supreme Court upheld it by a 5-4 vote in July of 2000.
Chad Griffin, who serves as President of the Human Rights Campaign, lamented the decision as a "missed opportunity of colossal proportions." Griffin further stated, "With the country moving towards inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued. These adults could have taught the next generation of leaders the value of respect, yet they've chosen to teach division and intolerance."
While Mr. Griffin is certainly entitled to his own opinion, I think the most disrespectful and intolerant thing I have seen is the way homosexuals have continued to make a big deal out of an issue that was settled by the Supreme Court in 2000. Their persistence in doing such has only elevated my concern that they are not really seeking equal rights, but rather special rights. While I am not opposed to equal rights for homosexual couples as citizens of society, imposing upon the policies of a privately funded non-profit institution with strong religious emphasis such as the Boy Scouts of America is where we must draw the line.
I get the feeling that for those in the LGBT movement it's really not about serving, but rather imposing their will on any individual or organization that dares not to put their stamp of approval on the lifestyle choice of homosexuality. Non-profit privately run organizations have every right warranted to them under the freedoms of the Constitution to have whatever membership policies they feel necessary as long as those policies do not maliciously interfere with the freedoms of others. If homosexuals are so passionate about serving, I am certain there are youth organizations other than the Boy Scouts of America that do not have policies of exclusion.
The LGBT movement does not have the right to impose it's will upon the Boy Scouts of America anymore than an African-American would have the right to a position of leadership and membership in the Ku Klux Klan. Although African-Americans despise the KKK and would love to be in the position to change its disapproval of the color of their skin, I don't see or hear any of them making a big stink about it. This begs the question of what exactly the LGBT movement has in mind with their agenda. If they approve of their own sexual lifestyle choice, would they really feel the need to impose their will on others so as to browbeat them into unconditional approval? | <urn:uuid:084c5ccd-8d4d-40b4-acb7-d71020251c13> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.policymic.com/articles/11437/boy-scouts-gay-policy-boy-scouts-of-america-rightly-continues-its-ban-on-homosexuals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976059 | 569 | 1.6875 | 2 |
An Irish American Serb story
By: Tom Deignan | Published Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 2:43 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:27 PM
In June of 1979, a hijacked Boeing 727 landed at Ireland's Shannon airport. The plane had been commandeered by a Serbian nationalist who had been flying to Chicago, to be sentenced on a bombing charge.
Before the plane landed, however, the Serb, named Nikola Kavaja, burst into the cockpit and claimed to have a bomb. Kavaja eventually freed most of the crew and passengers, but maintained control of the plane.
His ultimate plan was to fly the aircraft to Yugoslavia and crash it into a building housing Communist officials.
The plane, however, ran low on fuel and had to land at Shannon, where the hijacker ultimately surrendered.
Ireland did not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., though diplomats scurried to put one together in about five minutes, so that Kavaja could be handed over to U.S. authorities. He was arrested in Dublin and Kavaja was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in jail.
This is one of the few, and certainly most colorful, Irish-American-Serb stories out there. But it is not the only Irish-American-Serb story.
A close associate of Kavaja's, who went to prison for participating in the same bombing, was a man by the name of Bosko Radonjic, who died earlier this month in Belgrade at the age of 67.
Known as "The Yugo," Radonjic had earlier lived in New York City before serving three years for the Chicago bombing. Radonjic later returned to New York City, where he found work as a humble parking lot attendant.
It so happens that Radonjic settled on the West Side of Manhattan, an enclave known as Hell's Kitchen. At the time, for an enterprising young man unafraid to spill blood, this was not a bad place to be.
Within a decade, Radonjic would find himself aligned with John Gotti. The Serb would also become the unlikely leader of the most famous Irish American criminal gang in New York history.
But that's getting ahead of ourselves. The year was 1982. The bars and docks and gambling halls and loan-sharking operations in Hell's Kitchen were generally ruled by Jimmy Coonan and the Westies, the Irish American gang linked to the Gambino crime family.
Just a few years earlier, Westies leaders Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone had been in prison. But the duo had maintained control of the West Side.
Though heavily Irish, the Westies were willing to take on an associate who could earn and take care of himself. So, beginning in 1983, Radonjic -- "The Yugo" -- went to work for Coonan.
Two years later, the killing of Gambino kingpin John Castellano outside of Spark's steakhouse in Manhattan shocked the underworld. Gotti was now ruling the Gambino family, and proved willing to work with the Westies.
Soon enough, however, the Westies themselves were in decline.
Featherstone began providing the government with information about Irish associates such as Coonan, "Mugsy Ritter" and James McElroy, some of whom were sentenced to decades in prison.
This came just as the West Side was flush with cash, thanks to yuppies willing to live in the formerly rough neighborhood because of its affordable rents. Not a few of those yuppies were interested in buying cocaine.
Irish American Westies such as Kenny Shannon and Kevin Kelly spent several years attempting to exploit this market. But police pressure grew too great and they turned themselves in.
And so, as the 1990s dawned, it was time to call in "The Yugo." Bosko Radonjic became the acknowledged leader of what remained of the Westies, dabbling in high-profile burglaries.
But even The Yugo couldn't stand the heat in Hell's Kitchen. He returned to his native Serbia in the early 1990s where, during the wars that wracked that region, he became a close adviser to accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic.
The Yugo was eventually arrested on jury-tampering charges in 1999, but he was released when the main witness against him -- Sammy "The Bull" Gravano -- was deemed unreliable.
The Westies. A war criminal. Sammy the Bull. The Teflon Don.
Yup. It's just your average Irish American Serb story.
(Contact "Sidewalks" at firstname.lastname@example.org or facebook.com/tomdeignan) | <urn:uuid:9cc0ebb7-7f93-4292-bbec-cc23fb36d430> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.irishcentral.com/story/news/sidewalks/an-irish-american-serb-story-120539419.html?mob-ua=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981369 | 994 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Reaching Survivors in Japan
When Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami struck on March 11, more than one million people lost everything. In a blink of an eye, hundreds of thousands of families were without the basic necessities of shelter, food and clean water. Critical infrastructure including roads and phone lines was destroyed. Through our dedicated partners on the ground, the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA), Peacebuilders and the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan), we rushed medicine, food, water and other essential supplies to survivors.
As of April 22, approximately 12,000 people are still missing, 1.4 million survivors lack access to water, and nearly 131,000 remain displaced. Relief International is meeting the needs of those who need it most by working through Japan-based organizations with proven experience, long-term commitment to the country and deep understanding of local needs.
• In Fukushima prefecture, Peacebuilders is providing much-needed logistical support and basic emergency supplies such as bottled water, ready-to-eat meals, clothing and hygiene items to thousands of families throughout the region, particularly in Minamisouma City where rumors of radiation leaks have resulted in a critical shortage of volunteers.
• Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) has dispatched 131 emergency medical personnel, truckloads of medicine, vitamins, dust-proof goggles, sanitary goods medical supplies and services through mobile medical clinics. In Iwate prefecture, AMDA is distributing donated toys and stuffed animals to children during their medical treatment and has implemented a nutritional program to improve the health of evacuees. In Miyagi prefecture, as virus outbreaks become more prevalent and hygiene concern increases with the approach of the warm season, AMDA is delivering mobile clinic services through preventive and hygiene assistance.
• In Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan), a 31-year old leading Japanese nonprofit, has delivered food, six tons of water, 3,200 liters of kerosene, 3,400 sleeping bags, warm clothes, and hygiene supplies to 20 care centers. AAR has assisted more than 15,000 people in the affected areas, particularly the elderly and disabled.
The recovery in Japan will take time. Relief International and our supporters share an ongoing commitment to assist local Japanese groups in helping communities recover, especially those serving the most vulnerable people affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Your generosity and support can translate directly into the activities noted above and will continue to assist people who have experienced a profound tragedy and face severe challenges in the months ahead.
While the efforts of Relief International and its partner organizations have greatly helped the survivors of Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, more help is still needed:
Thank you your support to help the people of Japan during this critical hour of need.
Photo Caption: Peacebuilders team member Ms. Imamura (left) delivers goods funded by Relief International to Mr. Hoshino, who represents the Town Office in Noda in Sendai District, Miyagi prefecture. This photo was taken on April 1, 2011. | <urn:uuid:55a6bdc5-8d76-474e-bc01-9b56a356dfd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ri.org/newsroom/news-article.php?ID=10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947388 | 635 | 2.078125 | 2 |
In 1933, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers first danced their way across the silver screen as supporting characters in Flying Down to Rio. Over the next seven years, Astaire and Rogers would partner in eight more movies, easily dancing their way into moviegoers’ hearts. After The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle in 1939, Astaire and Rogers went their separate ways, each establishing their own solo careers. Rogers quickly won an Academy Award for Best Actress in the movie Kitty Foyle (1940), then continued on to act opposite stars like Cary Grant in Monkey Business (1952). Astaire, on the other hand, continued dancing in movie musicals like Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby and Easter Parade (1948) with Judy Garland, each with enduring universal appeal.
In 1949, Astaire and Rogers collaborated one last time in The Barkleys of Broadway after Judy Garland had to step down. (Incidentally, this was their first and only picture shot in Technicolor.) Over the course of their careers, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced together in only ten films, but they will forever be remembered as the most iconic dancing duo in Hollywood.
If you are interested in learning more about the dynamic dancing duo, don’t miss these books: | <urn:uuid:6b6b2e6d-4230-47bb-836a-72030cce4165> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hcpl.net/print/10731 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943188 | 260 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Gartner Says Big Data Getting Bigger, Skills Lag
Published: October 29, 2012
by Dan Burger
It's a mighty big shadow that Big Data casts. As is the nature of shadows, their size has a lot to do with the source of the light. Last week Gartner was the source, and reports were published from one end of the media galaxy to the other concerning the firm's predictions for the future of IT. Big Data loomed large and predictions were appropriately big with forecasts for increasing bigness. The question this begs is: Who's prepared for this?
Anyone who has not already been handling Big Data (the capitalization makes it even bigger, don't you think?) can take a seat in the waiting room. Dr. Gartner will see you momentarily. I'm no doctor, but I can tell you a few things about Big Data that Gartner believes to be true.
The first is a lifestyle change. It's time to reshape staffing with the skills to deal with the Big Data pandemic. Those that are competent at obtaining and/or expanding competencies in areas such as data management, analytics and business expertise, and nontraditional skills necessary for extracting the value of big data, as well as artists and designers for data visualization will have a financial and competitive advantage, Gartner predicts. This won't be easy for staff-starved companies that have a difficult time implementing new IT projects and prefer it that way, but they risk losing competitive advantage (and maybe already have) by remaining inactive when it comes to stockpiling skills.
Good luck putting some meat on those skeleton staffs, because demand will soon overpower supply. Big Data is going to be a job-creation machine. Gartner forecasts that by 2015 there will be 4.4 million jobs for Big Data workers worldwide. In the U.S., Gartner is estimating the number to be 1.9 million jobs. Keep that figure in mind and compare it to the anticipated skills shortage that will only allow about a third of those jobs to be filled. Sounds like a recipe for high wages whenever demand outstrips supply. Good for the people who have the skills, but not so good for those who have to pay for the skills.
And that's not the end of the employment opportunity that Gartner sees coming this way. There will be spin-off jobs for three people outside of IT for every Big Data-savvy IT employee. Now you get the idea that Big Data will be putting this country back to work.
That's a jobs creation bonanza and a great talking point in this time of high unemployment. But who's going to take the Big Data and turn it into useful data? Making a plan for gathering and analyzing data takes people with skills. Retrained IT workers and graduating college students can't carry all of the load.
Gartner's vision of how this will be handled is that investments in the United States and other Western markets will come from companies outside these countries. And those companies will be eager to hire the needed skills from their homelands. China and India are sited as sources of companies most likely to deploy this type of business strategy.
Uh-oh. There goes the jobs bonanza, unless we can really ramp up education and training to narrow the skills gap. Ah, but such an occurrence will have the effect of keeping a lid on IT wages. Maybe that's a good thing if you are more of a skills-as-a-commodity thinker.
Compounding the far-reaching effects of Big Data is the anticipated restructuring of the IT services market, which Gartner estimates at nearly $1 trillion. This unfolds with the help of cloud computing, social media, and mobile computing. It begins as low-cost cloud services skimming 15 percent off outsourcing revenue. In addition, more than 20 percent of large IT outsourcers--those with inadequate investments in industrialization and value-added services--will disappear through merger-and-acquisition market consolidation.
OK, Gartner, where's the good news?
All this will cause CIOs to move to the next generation of business-driven solutions, Gartner forecasts. Sounds like a forced march, but OK, if that's what it takes to realize the benefits of Big Data.
Meanwhile, as Gartner is making news with its predictions (many relate to things other than Big Data, like the slow adoption rate of Windows 8 and the changes coming as a result of mobile devices), IBM was timely in its barrage of Big Data product introductions last week using its Information OnDemand conference (overlapping the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo) to launch a bevy of data-management and analytics offerings.
One that is interesting for its technology and maybe its business transformation potential connects relational databases and Hadoop environments as a way of combining structured and unstructured data that can uncover, discover, and visualize relationships in data from multiple sources. After all that is the core of Big Data projects. And because security commands a lot of attention in the world of Big Data--along with mobile and cloud computing--IBM had some products to talk about in this vein as well. (More on these in the near future.)
Possibly you noticed that IBM's vice president and group executive for software and systems picked this time to make comments in a Forbes magazine interview that indicated it's affordable software--like the kind IBM makes--that is bringing analytics to the mainstream whereas before it was only within the reach of governments and high-level research organizations.
"It isn't that people woke up and saw they suddenly had more data," IBM's Steve Mills said. "Everyone knew it was there, everyone knew they could do more if they had more data. The challenge was being able to afford to do it."
"Everyone has an agenda for transformation and change," Mills continued. "Companies are trying to improve themselves operationally, reducing overhead while improving customer relationship loyalty."
So the take-away from Big Data Week last week is that jobs will be created, but we won't have the skills to fill them. So large international companies, through mergers and acquisitions, will move into the U.S. with a plan to fill the skills gap with less expensive skilled labor in their home countries. But that's OK, because trusted vendors like IBM are making software that's a lot less expensive than it used to be.
And Big Data will have more than a designated week of celebration. It's going to be celebrated all year long and longer.
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