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Once again in this story of love among the waifs of Paris, Cunningham deals in pathos and sentimental stereotype. The sparrow of the title is a nine-year-old who is sprung from an orphanage by a sympathetic older boy, Mago. As she has no name Mago gives her a "tough" one, "Little Cigarette." He then takes her to live in an abandoned apartment with him and his two other charges, a dying girl who soon commits suicide and a retarded boy. When the boy, Drollant, breaks his leg and Mago wants money to put him in a private clinic, Cigarette agrees to steal a valuable painting. Her subsequent need to lay low, coupled with her guilt over violating the trust and friendship of the painting's owner, take her on an odyssey during which she is befriended by kind ladies, threatened by a "witch woman," and joined by a little dog. In the end the wronged man forgives her; Mago dies trying to protect her from Eel, the evil youth who arranged the theft; and she is free to return to the most inviting of the kind ladies and lead a normal life. Cunningham has curbed her excessive poeticizing here, but her imagination remains aquiver with maudlin frissons. | <urn:uuid:e2a5985c-101f-4449-bd9c-0ca2384ee911> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/julia-cunningham/flight-of-the-sparrow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976886 | 264 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Clinton inherited a $290 billion deficit from George H.W. Bush. He reversed Bush's and Reagan's trickle down economic policies, raising taxes on the wealthy, and reducing them on the working and middle classes. He was able to reduce the deficit every single year of his presidency. By 1997, the government was running budgetary surpluses, the first since 1969. He delivered a $230 billion surplus in 2000.
Bush reversed Clinton's policies, lowering taxes on the very wealthy - his "base" as he called them - and effectively raising them on everyone else. In his first full year at the helm of the economy, he delivered a $157 billion deficit, and he never looked back. By 2004, the deficits were topping $400 billion a year. While Clinton delivered surpluses, Bush's deficits totaled some $3.7 trillion over his eight-year term. Clinton 6: Bush 0.
There is no subtlety, no ambiguity about the data or the economic performance they reveal. By every single measure, Bush's policies and tenure were worse - much worse - for the American economy and the American people than those pursued by Bill Clinton. And we are still living today in the aftermath of the destruction they have wrought.
We could add any number of other measures as well, measures not offered up by Forbes but which are still straightforward indices of economic performance. Clinton reduced poverty, from 15.1% when he took office to 11.3% when he left. Bush increased it, from 11.3% when he started to 12.5% at the end of 2008.
The stock market more than tripled under Clinton's tenure. The Dow went from 3,241 when he took office to 10,587 on the day he left. It actually declined under Bush's tenure, from 10,587 on the day he took office to 8,281 on the day he left. Between the recent stock market collapse and the housing crash, Bush destroyed more than $14 trillion in consumer wealth, a staggering, almost incomprehensible legacy of devastation that will haunt Americans for decades to come. | <urn:uuid:d85f942d-e39b-44a6-b75d-a8a7641a2307> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sndg.org/forum/read.php?9,169132,175460,quote=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976341 | 423 | 2.484375 | 2 |
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January 8, 2003
After the Storm
AIRO Here's a prediction: In the end, 9/11 will have a much bigger impact on the Arab and Muslim worlds than it does on America. Lord knows, 9/11 has been a trauma for us, and our response has been to strike back and install better security. But 9/11 has been a trauma for Arabs and Muslims as well - a shock to their systems that ranks with Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, the creation of Israel and the 1967 defeat.
For Arabs and Muslims, the shock has been that this act was perpetrated by 19 of their sons in the name of their faith. As a result their religious texts, political systems, schoolbooks, chronic unemployment, media and even their right to visit America have all been spotlighted and questioned - sometimes fairly and sometimes unfairly.
While the shock of 1967 was profound, it ultimately led to very little change in the Arab political or social order. Because the post-'67 shock was blunted by two factors: the existence of the Soviet Union, and Soviet aid, to cushion regimes from the need to reform; and the dramatic rise in oil wealth post-'67, which also bought off a lot of pressures for change.
Today there is no Soviet Union, and because of the huge population explosion in the Arab-Muslim world, there also is not enough oil wealth to buy off pressures anymore. At the same time, thanks to globalization, young Arabs and Muslims have a much better sense of where they stand vis-Ā-vis the world, and how far behind they are in many cases. Finally, because America was the target of 9/11, a refusal to face up to the local factors that produced the 9/11 hijackers runs the risk of a clash with the U.S.
Since 9/11 the Arab-Muslim world has passed through three basic stages: shock, denial and, finally, introspection. It is quite apparent here in Egypt, where, at least in part because of 9/11, issues that people did not feel empowered to discuss publicly are being tentatively aired.
ĀĀThere was a strong collision on Sept. 11 between East and West, between a car and a wall, and you can see the impact on both today,'' remarked the Egyptian playwright Ali Salem. ĀĀYou have become more suspicious, and we will become more progressive. ... Look at Iraq. People do not want to see any Iraqis killed. But few people will speak up for Saddam Hussein now. People are against Saddam, because they know there is no future for tyranny anymore.''
Two weeks ago Egypt's most influential newspaper, Al-Ahram, ran a thoughtful series by President Hosni Mubarak's most important political adviser, Osama el-Baz, cautioning Egyptians against buying into European anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. His articles were triggered by intense criticism of Egypt for broadcasting, on its state-run TV, a docudrama, ĀĀHorseman Without a Horse,'' that drew on the fraudulent anti-Semitic tract ĀĀThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion.''
ĀĀWe must uphold the correct perspective on our relationship with the Jews, as embodied in the legacy of Arab civilization and in our holy scriptures,'' wrote Mr. Baz. ĀĀThis legacy holds that ours is not a tradition of racism and intolerance, that the Jews are our cousins through common descent from Abraham and that our only enemies are those who attack us. ... It is also important, in this regard, that we refrain from succumbing to such myths as ĀThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion' and the use of Christian blood in Jewish rituals.''
In part as a reaction to the religious intolerance unleashed by 9/11, President Mubarak surprised his country last month by announcing that henceforth Jan. 7 would be a national holiday. Jan. 7 is the Coptic (Egyptian Christian) Christmas, and it has now been elevated to equal status with the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. For the first time the president's son, Gamal, attended midnight mass, a visit carried live on Egyptian TV.
After the prominent Egyptian journalist Mohammed Heikal raised the question, in a recent TV interview, of who will succeed President Mubarak, everyone has started talking in public about it, and several Egyptians expressed to me their hope that whenever the transition happens it will be the start of a more formal democratization process.
Will it? Will introspection around the region actually lead to a Stage 4 - fundamental political and economic reform? I suspect that the leaders understand that this is a storm they can't ride out. But they don't know how to change without losing the control they've enjoyed. This tension will be the drama of Arab-Muslim politics for the next decade. | <urn:uuid:49bf6aff-138b-4d6a-90b0-e61b06256a7d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.racematters.org/afterthestorm.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968508 | 1,001 | 2.21875 | 2 |
The Financial Times, which we once held in high regard for its excellent business coverage (and charitable donations to this very website), goes Live Journal on us today. With the new editorial direction comes exactly what you’d expect: oversharing, misinformation, and horrible (and unsolicited, we might add) advice. And Britney Spears. Not surprisingly, it can all be traced back to Jim Cramer.
Stock Market Scams
is anybody out there
We were always taught that if you want to manipulate a stock price, you do it the old-fashioned way: improve the operating performance of your company. A man who calls himself “The Bishop,” however, sees such tactics as those of amateurs, bludgeoning the craft. The Bishop, according to investigators, is responsible for sending at least six “threatening letters” to financial institutions over the past year and half, and two dud pipe bombs to Kansas City and Chicago in January.
In the epistles, The Bishop, or Mr. Bishop, demands that “the financial companies move the prices of certain stocks to certain levels, often $6.66—an apparent reference to the Antichrist,” according to corporate counterterrorism expert Fred Burton, who’s been hired by the financial companies that have been targeted. Burton also noted that the pipe bombs “were assembled with crucial components deliberately left out, in what was probably a warning,” but that “next time, the bombs could be real.”
Unabomber-Like Figure Baffles Feds [Breitbart.com]
One of the oldest tricks in the con-man’s bag is convicing the mark that he’s actually getting one over on the con-man. The classic example is the Fancy Umbrella.
You walk into a bar, have a drink and when you walk out you leave a fancy looking (although actually cheap, say $10) umbrella behind. Later, your friend walks in and spots the umbrella, and offers to buy it from the bartender for $500, claiming it’s a rare collectors item. The bartender isn’t a thief so, he doesn’t sell it right out. Instead, he asks your friend to come back the next day to buy it. When you walk back in later and ask for your lost umbrella, eight times out of ten the bartender offers to buy it from you for, say, a hundred bucks. His plan is to sell it to your friend, who is never returning. You just took him for $90 (the hundred less the ten dollar initial investment). And you don’t have to feel bad about it because, after all, he was trying to get over on you by buying an umbrella he knew was worth $500 for $100.
You can’t cheat an honest man but, fortunately for the conman, honest men are few and far between.
This is how the stock pumping trick the NASD is warning about today—it takes advantage of the willingness of investors to seek-undeserved gains. And apparently there are enough corruptible investors that conmen are making money off these things.
It’s a new twist on a classic stock scam: enticing people to buy certain stocks with phony e-mails that look as if they were intended for someone else, securities regulators say.
The National Association of Securities Dealers, the brokerage industry’s self-policing organization, issued an alert Monday regarding the so-called ”I hope this is your e-mail” scam.
It is the latest variant of a ”pump and dump” scheme, where perpetrators talk up small, thinly traded stocks to push up prices so they can sell their shares in those companies at a profit.
The e-mails, made to appear as though they were sent to the recipient in error, often are poorly worded, the NASD said.
An example: ”Hi I hope this is your e-mail. I was pleased to meet you the other day. I expect you was excited about New York. So much so much happening all the time, lot of great opportunities. And speaking of opportunities, the deal I was speaking about yesterday involves a company known as (company name) …
”It’s already heading up, but the big news isn’t even out yet, so there’s still time. I have got this shares already and made 2000. I propose you do the same. Hope this helps you out. I’ll see you this weekend.”
Investors Warned of E – Mail Stock Scams [Associated Press in the New York Times] | <urn:uuid:b4a82dcc-ace0-4cf4-a40e-39f75c13b971> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dealbreaker.com/stock-market-scams/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966302 | 972 | 1.5 | 2 |
How much of an impact can a small group of volunteers make after a disaster?
Last Wednesday, I had the honor of addressing the Hurricane Sandy Champions of Change – a group of “ordinary” people who did (and are still doing) extraordinary things to help those who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Many of them suffered damage to their homes and businesses as a result of the storm, but continued to fulfill the needs they saw in their communities.
CAPTION: Washington, D.C., April 24, 2013 – The White House Champions of Change event which honored people and organizations directly involved in response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. These hidden heroes implemented innovative, collaborative solutions to meet the unique needs of communities and neighborhoods as they worked to rebuild after the devastating effects of this disaster.
The exceptional work of these Champions of Change reminds us that every disaster, big and small, brings out champions in our communities. It’s our job as government leaders to recognize this and support their success. This impressive group showed us what it takes to be a champion:
- Champions aren’t afraid to act – When people hear the term “first responder”, they often think of fire engines and search and rescue teams. And that’s right. But many times, the “first responders” after a disaster are neighbors and those within the community. They’re the ones immediately knocking on doors, checking on friends and loved ones, and seeing if people’s basic needs are being met. And neighbors are the ones who know the community best. What makes the Champions of Change a special group was that they were able to identify the unique needs of their own communities and respond to them.
As the Champions shared their individual stories, a few of them said “Do what you’re good at.” That’s a great perspective, and that’s exactly what they did –they took it upon themselves to help their neighbors— applying their skill set to solving real problems. If they knew how to cook, they prepared meals. If they could gut and pump homes, they got to work. If they could set up wireless networks for internet access, they made it happen. Having an impact during and after emergencies can be as simple as focusing on what you’re good at and taking action.
- Seeing the public as a resource, not a liability – Within government, there’s often been a tendency to rely on government alone to respond to emergencies. This top-down approach, assumed people needed to be taken care of and have their needs met for them.
What the Champions of Change demonstrate is that this way of thinking is shortsighted – individuals and communities often rise up and solve problems on their own. We have to look to all of us to solve problems and bring our best. The best approach by government is to work with the public as a valuable partner— a resource that helps after a disaster, not a liability that needs to be taken care of. Those impacted by disasters aren’t “victims”, they are “survivors”. Those of us in government should be continually looking for ways to work alongside impacted individuals and communities so we can bring every possible resource to bear in helping their neighborhoods recover.
- Solutions built around government are too small – Another reality that the Champions of Change brings to light is how big disasters can be. If we only build solutions or systems that work within the capabilities of government, communities will suffer. What happens to that system when the disaster is bigger than the government’s scale? What happens to those impacted by the disaster when that system doesn’t do what it’s supposed to? Government by itself does not have all the answers – the team responding to disasters must be much bigger than that.
We can’t fall into the trap of government having the answers because disasters hit communities and families. That’s why we need to build our response and recovery systems around the public first. Members of the community need to be at the planning table alongside government, businesses, and non-profit organizations because they’re the ones that best know the needs of the community and they’re the ones who are often the first responders. That’s what the Champions of Change did – they identified people’s needs in the community and scaled their solutions to meet those needs.
During the event, the Champions were also asked to give their advice to others on how to prepare for emergencies, and our FEMAlive Twitter account captured what a few of them shared:
#whchamps one: "Ensure you have a way to communicate with the outside world. Charge your phone & have a solar powered cell phone battery."— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) April 24, 2013
#whchamps two: "Take storm warnings seriously; even if it's a temporary inconvenience for you to evacuate."— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) April 24, 2013
#whchamps three: "Prepare - have more batteries than you need, have more water than you think you need."— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) April 24, 2013
#whcamps four: "Heed mandatory evacuations. Staying home puts first responders' lives at risk if they need to rescue you after a storm."— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) April 24, 2013
#whchamps five: "If you're in a flood-prone area, plan to get your car to higher ground & have a place to go that's on higher ground."— FEMA Live (@FEMAlive) April 24, 2013
Without the tireless efforts and countless hours of volunteers, we would not be as far along as we are after Hurricane Sandy. There is still a lot of work to be done for every community to fully recover. The purpose of Wednesday’s event at the White House wasn’t just to recognize the impact of the 17 Champions of Change – it was also to inspire others to act. I hope you will follow the lead of what these Champions of Change are doing in their communities and take action to make your family, street, town, neighborhood, or city more resilient.
For more on the White House Champions of Change, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions. | <urn:uuid:e0f6f612-2398-42fa-a0a9-b943a11ca8aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fema.gov/blog/Craig's%20Corner?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973413 | 1,305 | 2.4375 | 2 |
The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
The coalition government is committed to reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
Within the built environment, government initiatives such as Feed in Tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive and particularly the Green Deal demonstrate a wider commitment to not only reducing carbon emissions, but also cutting energy costs, improving energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty.
The emerging new training, qualifications and certification arrangements are designed to provide an appropriately skilled workforce to implement these initiatives to a consistently high standard while creating jobs and assisting economic recovery.
Asset Skills is working, in conjunction with the government and other Sector Skills Councils, to develop new qualifications, pilot training programmes and facilitate existing low carbon training.
The section contain information on Green Skills projects currently underway with Asset Skills. Some of them will require input from informed professionals working within the built environment and energy industries. Please use the menu on the left hand side to find out more.
If you would like to be involved, or need further information, please email firstname.lastname@example.org or call 0845 678 2 888. | <urn:uuid:0ea22e60-8de2-43be-ac70-0bc76c8270a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.assetskills.org/GreenSkills/GreenSkillsHome.aspx | 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 | 0.927902 | 237 | 1.757813 | 2 |
The Debate is about Authority
Witnessing the continued implosion of the Anglicans and the ELCA over matters of Christian morality, I am intrigued by the way present circumstances have inspired renewed consideration of tradition, authority and obedience.
As I wrote a few months ago (“On the troubles within the ELCA” American Catholic September 7, 2009): “What is interesting, at least from this Catholic perspective, is the extent to which the critics of recent decisions recognize the seeds of their present troubles woven into the very fabric of their tradition.”
In a recent post to First Things‘ “On the Square”, Rusty Reno described the crisis of those experiencing “the agony of mainline Protestantism” thus:
One either recommits oneself to the troubled world of mainline Protestantism with articulate criticisms, but also with a spirit of sacrifice, as he so powerfully evokes. Or one stumbles forward-who can see in advance by what uncertain steps?-and abandons oneself, not to “orthodoxy” or “true doctrine” or “good theology,” but to the tender care of Mother Church.
As Joe Carter (First Things) noted, as with the Anglicans, so a faction of Lutherans have chosen a third route — forming a new Lutheran church body separate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Meanwhile, it appears that the homosexuality debate is fanning faculty and student protests at Calvin College — the furor instigated by a memo reminding faculty that they were bound to the confessional documents of the Christian Reformed Church:
[F]rom an historical point of view, there was nothing in the least bit controversial about the trustees’ memo. It merely reminded the faculty of their confessional commitments to a traditional Christian and Reformed understanding of sexuality and marriage, commitments that had been in place for centuries and are, in some quarters of the Church being challenged.Of course, that wasn’t how the Calvin faculty or the students received the memo. They viewed it as an assault on academic freedom, as a trampling of due process—the faculty senate had not been consulted—and as a pronouncement having a chilling effect on, as Christianity Today put it, “Calvin’s tradition of vibrant Christian inquiry.”
They, in effect, said that despite more than two thousand years of agreement in the Church on sexuality and marriage, college faculty and students get to make up their own minds as to what Scripture says and what obedience to God looks like today.
“To me,” remarked a trustee at another evangelical Christian college, “academic freedom means I can interpret Scripture in any way I see fit.”
As author Jim Tonkowich observes:
Just as the debate in the Protestant mainline are emphatically not about homosexuality, the debate at Calvin and at other evangelical schools is not about homosexuality either. The debate is about authority. And that debate goes back to the roots of Protestantism. | <urn:uuid:1112f4cb-725e-4152-8b44-d4f8e6a6b707> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/12/01/the-debate-is-about-authority/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962348 | 620 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Notice: If you come to a decision to declare significantly more than “9” (9) allowances, your employer will have to send your tax type to the IRS for overview.it is utilized by your employer to withhold the right amount of federal money tax from your paycheck.No matter if you are starting off a new project or you just want to change your withholding allowances for the 12 months, it is crucial to turned out to be familiar with Tax Sort W-4.Most Us citizens pay the bulk of their annual tax expenses by means of payroll withholding.WITHHOLDING TAXWithholding tax (also identified as “payroll withholding”) is effectively cash tax that is withheld from your wages and sent straight to the IRS by your employer.
Getting The Facts On Criteria For WithholdingBack to General Gaming Discussion
This topic has been locked due to inactivity.
Official WeGame Forum Rules - Read Before Posting Questions about the website or WeGame Client? Let us Know! | <urn:uuid:5e3fddc4-67e0-4e86-98d7-7992ad0478d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wegame.com/forums/general-gaming-discussion/getting-the-facts-on-criteria-for-withholding/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941562 | 206 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Vehicles for sale
If purchasing a car, you will need to understand the Australian car registration system or “Rego” as we call it.
Charges, and regulations/requirements vary greatly across Australia; in New South Wales it can cost over $800, while in Western Australia it can be half that. Rego must be renewed every year.
The Rego includes the minimum legal third-party insurance. This provides you with unlimited cover against claims for personal or fatal injury caused to another person (but not their vehicle/s and or property), as a result of your negligent driving of a Western Australian licensed vehicle anywhere in Australia.
In Australia every vehicle with a valid number plate (Rego) has compulsory third-party insurance along with it. It doesn't matter who's driving it - so insurance goes along with the vehicle. Sellers usually factor in the unused Rego into the selling price of the car. The reason you get additional insurance is to cover repairs on someone else’s car (and/or yours) should you be in an accident that is your fault. RAC Western Australia is a good provider of additional insurance cover. Fees, however are more for drivers under the age of 25, more again for drivers under the age of 19 or those with a bad driving history. RAC also offers the most comprehensive roadside assistance throughout Western Australia. This cover is a wise investment (about $140 per year) for those travelling in remote areas. See http://rac.com.au/.
Any person buying a car, regardless of how much Rego is left on it, is still responsible for the registration transfer fee, currently about $125 in Western Australia based on a vehicle worth $4000.
Your best bet is to buy a car that is registered in the State that you are buying it, with at least six months of Rego left on it – however this is often not an option that arises, particularly with travellers buying and selling cars in different States. If the annual Rego is due, or if you are buying a car in a different state to which it is registered, this will need to be paid and other conditions may apply such as compulsory mechanical inspections in New South Wales. Victoria and Queensland require you obtain a roadworthy inspection before you can even sell your car, so it may actually be more cost effective to transfer the Rego to another state, like Western Australia, and sell it here. When purchasing a licensed vehicle in Western Australia you must complete the vehicle license transfer form with the seller and submit the 'purchaser's copy' within 14 days of purchasing the vehicle. Failing to do so may result in a penalty. Failure to pay the vehicle license duty and transfer fee within 28 days of the invoice being issued will result in an infringement.
The following outlines the steps required to transfer vehicle ownership. More detailed information is provided in the vehicle license transfer form from http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/
Step 1: Complete the vehicle license transfer form with the seller (form obtainable from http://www.transport.wa.gov.au)
Step 2: Obtain licence papers and immobiliser information You (the purchaser) are responsible for ensuring that a government approved immobiliser is fitted to the vehicle. We therefore recommend you ask the seller if an immobiliser is fitted and if so obtain as many details as you can (e.g. type, date fitted). Please refer to http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/ web page on immobilisers for detailed information on what vehicles require an immobiliser, exemptions, 'approved' immobilisers and how to get one fitted.
Step 3: Complete the 'fitment of immobiliser' declaration form (if not exempt). If you are unsure we recommend you take the vehicle to an auto electrician or similar. Refer to http://google.com.au (search keyword 'immobilisers').
Step 4: Mail the 'Seller's copy' to Western Australian Department of Transport
GPO Box R1290, Perth WA 6844
Department of Transport – West Perth
Phone: 08 6551 6000
Facsimile: 08 6551 6001
Address: Corner Troode Street and Plaistowe Mews,
City West, West Perth WA 6005
Opening hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
If you bring a registered vehicle from interstate and want to register it in Western Australia, you can usually do so without the need for a vehicle examination, unlike in other States where a Roadworthy Certificate is required from an approved mechanic (within the State where the vehicle was registered). See http://www.transport.wa.gov.au for exceptions.
Cars in Australia are quite cheap with the cost of a typical backpacker vehicle ranging between $2000-$6000. As like in the rest of the world, buying second hand cars can be very dodgy, so have any vehicle that you are considering buying checked out by a mechanic.
It really is money well spent and the chances are, they will find something that will help you negotiate $80 or so off the asking price and if not, you’ve found a great vehicle. Cheap, reliable cars are generally large cars such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, which can cost a bit to run but are generally cheap to fix and service.
Check notice boards/websites and buy your car from another traveller, as it may come with camping equipment and you could be able to get a good bargain, considering that other travellers have a flight home to catch and are in a hurry to sell. Again, have any prospective purchase checked out by a mechanic. Some backpacker car dealers offer a buy-back guarantee, where they offer to buy the car back from you at an agreed (lower) price at the end of your trip. You can usually get a much better price selling the car yourself but a buy-back guarantee is handy if you don’t want to waste precious time trying to sell the car when you have finished with it. If you buy from a car dealer that offers a buy-back guarantee, read the fine print and make sure that you are not required to pass a roadworthy inspection. Very few vehicles can pass a roadworthy after a trip around Australia and a buy-back guarantee with this condition is virtually worthless. Travellers’ Auto Barn and are established buy back/resellers of vehicles and have depots nationally. See http://www.travellers-autobarn.com.au/
Vehicle licensing in other States:
New South Wales - http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/index.html
Queensland - http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/
Australian Capital Territory - http://www.rego.act.gov.au/
- Western Australia
- Buying a car
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- Useful Links | <urn:uuid:b503c9ca-63f7-46dd-9046-2a6400a6f729> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gowesternaustralia.com.au/vehicle-registration/buying-a-car-in-western-australia.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940386 | 1,527 | 1.515625 | 2 |
A very common problem that you have to face in nearly every application is resolving a source, which means finding a resource using a URI. Of course after you located the resource, you want to do something with it, like reading or writing or getting some meta information about it.
Of course, the JRE already provides some mechanisms and classes to deal
with resources. For example the
java.io.* package provides
a lot of useful classes to deal with files stored on the local file
java.net.* package provides similar functionality
if you want to deal with remote resources via http or ftp. In addition
there are various third party libraries, like the
Jakarta Commons HttpClient
library that deal with this topic as well.
But all these approaches have three problems:
Out of these problems the idea of the source resolver has been born. It provides a unique interface to any resource, being it a local file or a distant resource on an ftp server. And it is possible to provide your own application specific protocols in a multi application friendly way.
The source resolver of Apache Excalibur is a useful component
that resolves resources from a given URI. The URI can use all
available protocols of the JRE, like HTTP, FTP, FILE etc..
In addition own protocols, like
can be plugged-in and then be used in the same way, "usual"
resources (files etc.) are accessed.
The main advantage in comparison to the mechanisms provided by the JRE is that the source resolver can be used without any problems within web application servers. Each web application can use it's own configured version of this component avoiding any possible conflicts between these applications.
The architecture of this package is simple but powerful. The main component is the SourceResolver. It is used to resolve any URI. If the SourceResolver can resolve the protocol of the URI, it returns a Source object. This Source object is an abstraction of the underlying resource. This resource can be accessed by a provided InputStream.
Own protocols can be configured using the SourceFactory interface. Whenever the SourceResolver finds a protocol that it can't handle by itself, it gets a role selector for a SourceFactory and tries to get a component with the role name of the protocol. If such a factory exists, the source creation is passed on to this factory.
The Source object is handled similar to Avalon components. After it has been used it must be released using the SourceResolver. The SourceResolver in turn passed on the release of the object to the SourceFactory that created it.
The Source object is a lightwight object which can be extended with several interface. For example the XMLizable interface from the XML package to generate SAX events from the Source. Or the Monitorable interface from the monitor package to monitor the resource.
For caching purposes the Source object offers a SourceValidity object which can be used in addition to the system ID of the Source to verify if a cache contains a valid version of the Source object. | <urn:uuid:3aaf1937-ed54-4191-ad61-17dc9b81ea46> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://excalibur.apache.org/sourceresolve/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.900697 | 624 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Merryn Coutts, 39, was interested in riding a bicycle to work - for the combination of pleasure, fitness and clean, green transport efficiency it seemed to promise - but felt she wasn't fit enough. ''Not Lycra ready,'' is how she puts it.
''There are a couple of freeway overpasses I need to go over to get to work and I'd look at the cyclists coming up there and think … I don't think I'd make that. And I didn't want the embarrassment of having to walk my bike over the big hill,'' she says.
It was a bind - feeling she was not fit enough to do something that would help her get fit.
Then came the opportunity to enrol in an electric bike (e-bike) trial being run by Melbourne retailer Dolomiti. Coutts figured some battery-powered assistance might help bridge the gap between her fitness and her ambitions, and she has been riding a pedal-electric (pedelec) bike about 10 kilometres to and from work as part of the trial for the past two months.
''It helps you up the hills so I don't have to do the big sweat and pant, which is fabulous,'' she says. ''It's also really good when you take off at the traffic lights … You know you've got the power to get out of [the way of the cars behind you] quickly and not hold them up, so it takes away some of the nerves that you might have riding on the road.
''And I don't arrive at work as a big red sweaty mess.''
The range of e-bikes available in Australia is improving thanks to recent changes to the regulations governing their importation and use on the road (see box), Peter Bourke, the general manager of Bicycle Industries Australia, says. E-bikes, like regular bicycles, can vary hugely in terms of styling, number of gears and build quality, he says.
The model Coutts is riding has eight gears and a throttle. ''I certainly have found that the more I am riding, the less I use [the throttle],'' she says. ''I'm definitely getting a bit fitter. And I feel good about myself. I feel good that I'm getting out there.''
Chris Tzarimas, the director of the lifestyle clinic at the faculty of medicine at the University of NSW, says an increasing number of Australian employers are putting programs and facilities in place to encourage employees to ride to work but they often wind up ''catering to the converted''.
Tzarimas is also one of the authors of Physical Activity in the Workplace: A Guide*, which was launched yesterday by Exercise Is Medicine (Australia). Its evidence-based, activity-promoting suggestions are aimed at Australian employers and include a section on e-bikes.
''We are advocating electric bikes for a number of reasons,'' Tzarimas says. ''Some people, for example, need to travel quite long distances [to work] but might not have the fitness to [cover the distance].
''We want to maximise the options so that we can engage as much of the workforce as possible. The problem with a lot of these [workplace fitness] programs is that they haven't engaged the people who need them most.''
Professor Geoff Rose, from the institute of transport studies at Monash University, is helping Dolomiti process its e-bike trial data and is very interested in the potential of e-bikes in Australia, having seen them changing lives for the better in Europe and the US.
The e-bike is ''a space that's evolving'' in Australia, he says, but one that has potential to encourage not only those who are simply less fit than they want to be, but also older people, people with knee injuries, obese people and people with disabilities to become more active.
He also says that, aside from the potential individual fitness benefits of using an e-bike rather than a car, there are also benefits for the community at large. ''We haven't got the emissions from the car and we haven't got the congestion effects of the car,'' he says.
The e-bike is not, however, ''the silver bullet'', he says, largely because the biggest barrier to bicycle use in Australian cities is not lack of Lycra-readiness but lack of infrastructure.
''If people don't have safe places to ride, having a bike that will help them along the way a little bit isn't going to be the solution,'' he says.
Coutts will have to return her trial e-bike to Dolomiti at the end of the month but says she and her partner are considering buying one to replace their second car. ''For those trips that are a bit too long to walk but where you know you shouldn't be in the car, either, because it's bad for the environment, it's bad for everyone's health.''
With regard to her trips to work, however, she says she is probably going to progress backwards, as such, to an unpowered ''regular treadly''.
Physical Activity in the Workplace: A Guide is available as a free download from exerciseismedicine.org.au.
E-bikes get a charge from legal changes
CLOSE to 20 per cent of bikes sold in parts of Europe are e-bikes and the larger market means a greater range of designs, says Peter Bourke, the general manager of Bicycle Industries Australia. Until recently, restrictive regulations surrounding e-bikes in Australia have meant many of the European models couldn't be imported into the country, let alone taken out on the road.
The restrictions are now being eased. Australia's e-bike standard is being brought into line with that of Europe (EN15194), which allows for a little bit more power assistance when it's needed (such as going up hills), says Bourke, but the rider must be pedalling for the power-assist to kick in and it must drop out once the bike reaches 25km/h. Above that speed, you have to do all the work yourself.
Victoria has already put the changes into place. NSW, Queensland and South Australia should follow by the end of the year, Bourke says.
''These changes mean that a far greater range of extremely good quality bikes will be available here,'' he says. | <urn:uuid:181e5c41-f162-487a-8a45-f990728281cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.penrithstar.com.au/story/390322/pedal-power-gets-a-bit-of-a-push-along/?cs=27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977929 | 1,308 | 1.804688 | 2 |
|NEWSRoom | Source: NMQF|
Experts Call for Consumer-Oriented Healthcare System, Recognize Champions at National Health Disparities Summit
The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) in collaboration and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the CBC Health Braintrust, convened elite opinion leaders, Members of Congress and senior industry representatives to discuss challenges and solutions to healthcare disparities—the poor quality of health of minority populations compared with the white majority, and the lower quality of care that is provided to them. Senator Daniel Akaka, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and others were recognized for their courage and strong leadership in fighting health disparities.
"Our healthcare system is not built to provide optimal care to a diverse population. The problem begins with the under-recruitment of minorities in clinical trials and extends to minority-serving hospitals, many of which are struggling to survive," observed Dr. Gary Puckrein, founder and CEO of NMQF (www.nmqf.org). The Summit addressed teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, health equity research issues and the importance of health information technology. Healthcare leaders remarked that there have been many successes in the past two years due to healthcare reform. Dr. Puckrein called on the leaders assembled to build on the success by working towards a, "consumer-oriented healthcare system in which the market responds not to government edicts, but to the needs and preferences of all consumers, including minorities."
While health disparities continue to exist for every health parameter, the context for healthcare disparities is changing. Minorities constitute an emerging majority: 40% of the US population by 2020, 50% by 2050. White, non-Hispanics are currently 66% of the population, yet their care absorbs 80% of healthcare spending, according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
The Summit honored four dedicated Americans for their deep commitment and lasting contributions to the United States in the area of healthcare: Senator Daniel Akaka, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and James R. Gavin, MD, PhD. "Each of these honorees, have worked tirelessly to end health disparities. They have dedicated their lives and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensure the health and safety of all Americans, regardless of age, gender, income or ethnicity. On behalf of the underserved populations who have benefited from their actions we express our heartfelt appreciation for their efforts," concluded Dr. Gary Puckrein, host of the Summit and CEO of National Minority Quality Forum (www.nmqf.org).
The National Minority Quality Forum (www.nmqf.org) is a non-profit healthcare research and educational organization dedicated to the elimination of health disparities. The Forum supports national and local efforts to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in racial and ethnic minorities and other special populations.
|Short Link: http://www.news-line.com/?s155971|
comments powered by Disqus | <urn:uuid:ecc20132-6694-4130-9c07-86cd4d4a40e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.news-line.com/onenews.lasso?-Search=Action&-token.profession=SS&-token.target=onenews&-Table=webinfo&-MaxRecords=50&-SkipRecords=0&-Database=newsline&-KeyValue=13786 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945467 | 630 | 1.757813 | 2 |
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The Internet continues to evolve and change our daily lives. The total Internet population worldwide spent more than 2 trillion minutes online and viewed a whopping 3.5 trillion pages in March. While rising Internet usage has been a boom for some companies, it is quickly killing business models of others.
According to a new report by comScore Inc. (NASDAQ:SCOR), a leader in measuring several aspects of the digital world, overall e-commerce dollar sales have posted double-digit gains in every quarter since late 2010. In fact, sales are now ahead of levels seen before the Great Recession. In the first-quarter of 2012, e-commerce sales totaled $44.3 billion, representing a 42 percent surge from the same quarter in 2008. However, the rise of Internet retailers is magnifying problems at brick and mortar companies.
Over the past three years, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has been nothing short of a success story. Shares of the company have gained more than 170 percent and it currently holds the title of the world’s largest online retailer with nearly $50 billion in annual sales last year. Meanwhile, stores such as Best Buy Co. (NYSE:BBY) and RadioShack Corp. (NYSE:RSH) have faded into the background as more consumers use a strategy called “showrooming.”
The technique is when customers come into a store to see and test a product in person, but end up purchasing it from an online retailer at a cheaper price. ComScore’s report found that only 16 percent of respondents had aided awareness of the term “showrooming.” However, once the verb was explained, 35 percent of those polled claimed to have engaged in “showrooming.” The majority of consumers intended to purchase the product in the store, but changed their mind while there and instead bought it online. One-third said they went to the store always intending to purchase online.
With unemployment remaining near record highs, consumers are focusing more on price tags than ever before. Among those who participated in showrooming, 72 percent said the price was simply better online. Forty-five percent said they planned to buy online but wanted to see the item in person before ordering. Interestingly, comScore’s report showed that 24 percent did showrooming because the item was out of stock at the brick-and-mortar store, and 18 percent did so because they would rather have the item shipped to their home. So not only are better prices to be had online, but better customer service as well.
Big box retailers like Best Buy are hit especially hard, because consumer electronics is the number one category for showrooming. Clothing apparel and books are a distant second and third, respectively. In the first-quarter of 2012, unique visitors at Amazon sites increased 29 percent, compared to a year earlier. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Wal-Mart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) sites also witnessed impressive growth rates of 25 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
Investor Insight: Are Americans BOOSTING These Top 7 Restaurant Stocks?
Don't miss one of the biggest bull markets in history! Covers Gold, Silver, Gold & Silver stocks, and miners.
There's always a bull market in some sector! Find the best opportunities in commodities. | <urn:uuid:9001845c-933d-462d-8f6b-903115fda5c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/is-showrooming-destroying-these-stocks.html/ | 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 | 0.957789 | 718 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Considering Graduate School?
It's finally time! You're a senior and can't wait to graduate and move on to graduate school. But first you need to deal with those pesky graduate school applications. Remember that Senior year is graduate admissions time!
Here's how to go about it and what to do when to get into the graduate school of your dreams:
Summer/September Before Graduation
- If you haven't done so already, take the necessary standardized tests for admissions:
- Gather graduate program brochures (which you've collected over junior year and the summer or are working feverishly now to obtain) and narrow your choices.
- Consider which faculty members to ask for letters of recommendation.
- Research sources of financial aid.
- Carefully examine each of the program applications. Note any questions or essay topics that will require your attention.
- Write a draft of your statement of purpose.
- Ask a faculty member or the career/grad admissions counselor at your school to read your essays and provide feedback. Take their advice!
- Ask faculty for letters of recommendation. Provide faculty with a copy of your transcript, each program's recommendation form, and your statement of purpose. Ask him or her if there's anything else that you can provide to help them.
- Arrange for your official transcript to be sent to each program to which you apply. Request that the Registrar hold your transcript until the Fall semester grades are posted.
- Finalize your essays and statement of purpose. Remember to seek input from others.
- Apply for fellowships and other sources of financial aid, as applicable.
- Check and record the due date for each application.
- Complete the application forms for each program. Scan the form into your computer or use a typewriter for a neat and clean application form. Reread your essays and statement of purpose. Use spell & grammar checker!
- Mail your applications – then relax and breathe!
- Most schools send a postcard upon receipt of each application. Keep track of these. If you don't receive a postcard or letter, contact the admissions office by email or phone to ensure that your application has been received before the deadline.
- Depending on your field, starting planning for the admissions interviews. What questions will you ask? Prepare answers to common questions.
- Fill out the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. You'll need your tax forms to do this.
- Visit schools to which you've been accepted.
- Discuss acceptances and rejections with a faculty member or the career/graduate admissions counselor at your school.
- Notify the program of your acceptance.
- Notify programs that you're declining.
Individuals with disabilities who require accommodations may review Policies & Procedures. | <urn:uuid:e7123dfd-7b99-4b2a-99d2-9b14409dc902> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.msubillings.edu/careers/gradschool.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941207 | 566 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Congo River Study Suggests Climate Change Began On A Local Level 3,500 Years Ago
By David Biello
(Click here for original article.)
Humans may have been causing climate change for much longer than we've been burning fossil fuels. In fact, the agrarian revolution may have started human-induced climate changes long before the industrial revolution began to sully the skies. How? Through the clearing of forests, which still remains the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.
Sediment cores from the mouth of the Congo River -- the deepest river in the world -- suggest that humans may have played a significant role in changing the landscapes of Central Africa. That river curves through the world's second-biggest lingering tropical forest, but it and its tributaries also flow through the savannas so prized by modern-day safaris.
Scientists had previously thought that a climate shift from warm and humid to seasonally cooler and drier had helped create those savannas, which covered even more of Central Africa in the past. But the 40,000-year-old record preserved in the sediment cores tells a different story. Roughly 3,500 years ago the Congo River suddenly began dumping a lot more muck without any appreciable increase in rainfall to explain such weathering. One plausible explanation is the simultaneous arrival of the so-called Bantu people, who brought farming into the region.
They cultivated oil palm, pearl millet and yams, crops that need plenty of sunlight, which, of course, necessitated clearing forests. They also cut down trees for charcoal and as fuel for the fires of iron-smelting, which enabled them to make tools and weapons. Coupled with climate change, the result was savannas -- and mutually reinforcing climate change.
At the same time, the presence of crops such as millet and yams suggests that climate had already changed given that they require alternating seasons of wet and dry. So it remains unclear whether changing climate conditions created the savannas that made Bantu-style farming possible or if Bantu-style farming created the conditions for savannas and changed the climate. What is clear is that "the environmental impact of human population in the central African rainforest was already significant about 2,500 years ago," as the researchers write in the paper presenting their findings published online in Science on February 9.
The same story is being repeated today in the same area. Forest is being cleared for agriculture to feed a swelling population, though locals are caught up in regional wars. At the same time, exploitative mining is ongoing for resources such as coltan, the mineral compound that offers up the element tantalum, critical in the manufacture of the tiny circuits that make smaller cell phones possible. Once again the Congo River is discharging a record in sediment of humanity's forest-destroying ways -- and one that has been retold, with local variations, on every continent.
Image courtesy of NASA.
Also on HuffPost: | <urn:uuid:c0ec488d-c3e3-4518-9f0b-b8b54b0d1fc4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/congo-river-climate-change-study_n_1276837.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955691 | 618 | 3.796875 | 4 |
NATIONAL REPORT — Sixteen polo ponies have been tested since the U.S. Polo Association (USPA) unveiled its random drug testing program earlier
Horses at two USPA events in April were tested, including three horses from each of the four semifinal teams at the U.S. Open
Championship and two horses from each of the two finalist teams at the USPA President's Cup.
"The tests are so recent we are still waiting on the results," says Peter Rizzo, USPA executive director.
While the USPA unveiled its random drug-testing program in January, the rules were not officially published until Feb. 25.
Members of the USPA then had 30 days to familiarize themselves with the new procedure, making March 28 the earliest date that
a horse could be randomly drug tested.
"I was very proud of the fact that everyone understood why it was being done," says Rizzo, who was present during the testing.
"Everyone was very helpful, positive and completely understood the test. Everyone knows it's for the welfare and safety of
the horses and players."
The new drug testing policy came in response to the death of 21 polo ponies at the U.S. Open championship in 2009. Tests found
an overdose of selenium as the probable cause.
Six months later, on the recommendation of the USPA Polo Pony Welfare Committee, the USPA Board of Governors unanimously voted
to require random blood and/or urine testing.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Testing Laboratory will conduct the tests. Stephen Schumacher, chief administrator
in the Drugs and Medications division of the USEF, confirmed that USPA horses have been tested.
If a horse is selected for a test, samples will be taken after the polo match is over, but before the horse leaves the competition
area. Schumacher says they are testing for a variety of substances including doping substances, short-term tranquilizers and
According to USPA's Web site, permitted drugs include dewormers, hormonal therapies, anti-ulcer medications and antibiotics
— except penicillin procaine.A prohibited drug or substance is any stimulant, depressant, tranquilizer, local anesthetic,
psychotropic (mood or behavior altering) substance or drug that could influence the horse's performance, according to the
USPA. Other prohibited substances include adenosine triphosphate and selenium in any application and amount; and all vitamins
and minerals when given in excessive dosage quantities for non-therapeutic reasons.
Dr. John Harvey, executive associate dean at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, says the USPA took
a proactive approach after the tragedy. The university's racing lab performed lab work as well as necropsy and urine analysis
on approximately 15 of the affected horses last year.
"We didn't find anything of concern, other than the selenium. When the 21 horses died, the public perception was 'who knows
what they're injecting into the horses.' We didn't find anything suggesting a rampant problem," Harvey says. "I don't disagree
with them doing it [the drug testing], but it is important to point out that they are not doing it because we found big problems.
The U.S. Polo Association elected to do the testing to reassure the public that they care for the horses, like any other athletes."
As for intravenous selenium, Harvey says he does not see a need for it.
"It could be done as a dietary supplement," he says. "There are risks — like infections — associated with any intravenous
drugs. If I was in the horse business, which I'm not, I would not be giving IV selenium to my horses. I'm not convinced you
need it in the first place. "
There is no penalty during the 2010 pilot program, but horse owners will be notified if a prohibited drug is found. By 2011,
penalties — still being determined — will be enforced.
"We will be testing throughout the country — from the east coast to the west coast," Rizzo says. The USPA can revise the program
at any time. For a full list of prohibited drugs and medications, visit
Ms. Fellenstein is a freelance writer in Cleveland, Ohio. | <urn:uuid:ed2a6158-8881-453f-9758-e74530057705> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Toxicology/Drug-tests-begin-for-polo-ponies/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/672658?contextCategoryId=46877&ref=25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962169 | 902 | 1.757813 | 2 |
United States v. Louisiana - 446 U.S. 253 (1980)
U.S. Supreme Court
United States v. Louisiana, 446 U.S. 253 (1980)
United States v. Louisiana
No. 9, Orig.
Argued March 18, 1980
Decided April 28, 1980
446 U.S. 253
1. As the Special Master recommended, the United States is not obligated to account for and pay Louisiana either the value of the use of Louisiana's share of impounded funds that have been awarded and paid to the State under mineral leases on lands off its Gulf Coast, or interest upon that portion of those funds. The Interim Agreement that the parties entered into in response to this Court's ruling enjoining them from leasing wells in the disputed tidelands area except by agreement provided only that the payments made to the United States on each lease within the disputed area were to be impounded "in a separate fund in the Treasury of the United States" and, upon determination of the ownership of the lands, were to be taken from that fund and paid to the party entitled to them. The agreement contains no provision for the payment of interest or for the use of the funds or for investment, and there is nothing in the agreement's use of the word "impound," or in Louisiana's characterization of the arrangement as an escrow, to imply an obligation on the United States' part to pay interest or to pay for the use of the money. The impoundment of the funds having served its intended purpose, and all payments due Louisiana from the impounded funds having been made, the United States has fulfilled the obligations imposed upon it by the agreement. Pp. 446 U. S. 261-266.
2. Contrary to the Special Master's recommendations, Louisiana is obligated to account to the United States for revenues derived by the State from mineral leases on areas within the zone contiguous to the coastline (Zone 1) adjudicated to the United States. The provision of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act authorizing the United States to make an agreement with a State as to existing mineral leases and the issuance of new leases "pending the settlement or adjudication" of a controversy as to ultimate ownership, and stating that payments made pursuant to such an agreement shall be considered as compliance with certain lease validation requirements of the Act, does not govern payments made by Louisiana's lessees in Zone 1 so as to foreclose any federal claim with respect to those payments. The provision means no more than that a lessee is not in default so long as the agreement remains in effect and he makes the required payments, and there is no
basis for reading into the provision a waiver by the United States of Louisiana's independent duty to account, or a waiver of any claim for money due the United States. The State's obligation does not derive from the Act, but was imposed by this Court's 1950 decree specifying that the United States was entitled to an accounting from Louisiana of all sums received by the State from lands adjudicated to the United States, was not waived by the Interim Agreement, and is not excused by the above provision of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Pp. 446 U. S. 266-272.
3. The Court accepts, upon acquiescence of the parties, the Special Master's recommendations that Louisiana has no obligation to account for and pay to the United States money collected by the State as severance taxes on minerals removed from areas adjudicated to the United States. P. 446 U. S. 272.
Exceptions to Special Master's supplemental report overruled in part and sustained in part, and case remanded.
BLACKMUN, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and BRENNAN, WHITE, and STEVENS, JJ., joined. POWELL, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, in which STEWART and REHNQUIST, JJ., joined, post, p. 446 U. S. 273. MARSHALL, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | <urn:uuid:26fb6655-4efb-44cd-8dc2-b261e49f6a5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/446/253/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964756 | 854 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The authors of your article on Brussels "blocking" Britain's clean air plan (This Week, 18 November) omitted what appears to be a significant source of the PM10 emissions - that of railway locomotives. I have frequently stood in a cloud of evil-smelling exhaust gases on station platforms after Intercity 125 trains have departed. I also live between two rail tracks which carry both freight and passenger trains and the fumes from these frequently drive me indoors if I happen to be in the garden.
When you consider the number of trains that run daily into and out of a city, then they must surely produce a significant amount of diesel pollution?
We took trains off the graph because they produce so little PMIO in London - none at all in central London, and only 0.2 per cent in Greater London -Ed.
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content. | <urn:uuid:29a08db5-ecea-444b-9872-424b41fa8cfb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14820099.800-cleaner-by-train.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948395 | 194 | 2.3125 | 2 |
The history and archaeology of the Maesbury Street Cemetery, Kensington
In 1848 the Foundation Stone was laid for a church in Maesbury Street, Kensington. The following year the adjacent land was consecrated for use as a cemetery and over the next 25 years the area was used for more than 550 burials. In 1964 the cemetery was official closed by proclamation and ceased operation. In 1968 the Norwood Apex Club – acting with the best of intentions and as was common practice in the days before heritage conservation strategies were well established – removed all of the headstones in the cemetery (many of which were broken and fallen over) and grassed over the entire site (after which it was renamed Pioneer Park); unfortunately they made no records of the grave locations and consequently today people are entirely unaware of exactly where the burials are situated within the Park .
Discussions during 2006 between Lynley Wallis and Denise Schumann - the cultural heritage consultant to the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters - revealed that members of the local community were keen to establish a memorial garden in the Park to commemorate those buried there along with heritage values of the place. They were particularly interested in possibilities for using archaeological techniques to locate the grave locations, however were concerned that the methods used should be as least invasive as possible given the sensitivity of the area. The need to locate the original grave locations with a high degree of accuracy relates to the community desire for the proposed memorial garden layout to reflect the original layout and design of the cemetery.
The primary aim of this project was to use non-invasive archaeological and geophysical surveying techniques to establish the locations of unmarked graves in one of the oldest cemeteries in Adelaide. The grave locations will subsequently be used by the local community as the basis for designing a memorial garden commemorating the heritage values of the place and people buried therein. This project represented a rare opportunity to undertake a comprehensive geophysical survey for historical graves in Australia driven by community interests for the purposes of managing and commemorating local heritage.
Another important aspect of the Kensington project was to build up as much information about not just the locations of the graves within the cemeteries, but also about the people buried in the cemetery as well as their families through historical research and documentation.
Field Team and Fieldwork
The Kensington Geophysical survey was carried out over June and July 2007.
The field work team comprised the following people:
Dr Lynley Wallis, archaeologist (Flinders University)
Ian Moffat, geophysicist (Ecophyte Technologies)
Alice Beale, archaeologist.
Morgan Disspain, Yoko Luscher, Claire StGeorge, Matthew Ebbs, archaeology student volunteers (Flinders University)
Further research concerning documentation relating to the occupants of the cemetery was carried out by volunteer Flinders University students.
This project involved a multi-technique approach to surveying Pioneer Park in order to establish the locations of graves. Initially a tightly oriented survey grid was established over the expanse of Pioneer Park using an highly accurate RTK differential GPS system – this formed the basis for the subsequent geophysical instrument surveys and enabled researchers to link the collected data back to physical locations for providing advice on specific grave locations. Once the survey grid had been established a series of different geophysical techniques was used to indicate the grave locations including single sensor magnetometer, Ground Penetrating Rader (GPR), electromagnetic induction and direct current resistivity. Now that the on-ground data collection has been completed, Moffat is currently undertaking the processing and interpretation in order to identify where the graves are situated. Onc the processing is completed, a report will then be provided by Moffat to Wallis and Schumann, who will use it as the basis for preparing a community style report that can be used by community members to assist in layout planning for the memorial garden.
Research concerning the people known to have been buried in the Kensington cemetery was carried out by volunteer students from Flinders University. This research included searching documents available at the South Australian Geneaology and Heraldry Society, The State Records office, The National Archives office and the State Library.
Moffat, I., L.A. Wallis, N. Chang and A. Beale. 2008. Locating historic graves with geophysical techniques. Unpublished paper presented in the Department of Archaeology (Flinders University) Public Lecture Programme, 13 March Canberra.
Moffat, I., L.A. Wallis, N. Chang and A. Beale. 2008. The geophysical detection of historic graves. Unpublished paper presented to the ANU Archaeological Science 2008 Conference, 4-6 February, Canberra.
The Maesbury Street Cemetery project was generously funded through a Flinders University URB project grant. | <urn:uuid:d38b70f9-8ba7-4f79-bc58-8613cd752640> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/archaeology/research-profile/current-projects/kensington.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954627 | 981 | 3.015625 | 3 |
By Regan Good
Friday, February 22, 2002
Despite dramatic advances in the number of women competing at the Olympic games, men still outnumber women 2 to 1 on the playing field--and 10 to 1 in the boardrooms of the Olympics' governing bodies.
(WOMENSENEWS)--The surprise victory of Americans Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers in the first-ever Olympic women's bobsled competition marked another milestone for female athletes at the international games. Yet despite significant progress during the 1990s, preliminary statistics from Salt Lake suggest that women continue to be underrepresented at the games, both as athletes and Olympic officials.
After several years of exponential growth in the number of women competing at the Olympics, the percentage of athletes competing in Salt Lake who are women is no greater than in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan--and slightly down from the percentage of women competing in the 2000 Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. Of the 2,523 athletes accredited by the International Olympic Committee to participate in Salt Lake, 915 are women, or 36.2 percent. In Nagano, this figure was also 36.2; in Sydney, it was 38.2 percent, according to official counts provided by the International Olympic Committee.
In addition, of the 78 countries participating in Salt Lake, 22 brought no women to the games, including Belgium, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa and India, according to news reports. (Hong Kong fielded the only all-female team, comprising 3 short-track speed skaters.) In Nagano, 18 of 72 nations fielded all-male delegations, the committee reported.
Members of the International Olympic Committee and its various arms also continue to be overwhelming male. Only 11 out of the committee's 149 active and honorary members are women. Earlier this year, the committee announced that it would seek to increase the number of women officials to 20 percent by 2006 on the committee and its various arms, including Olympic committees in each country and international federations for each sport.
The committee's first woman vice-president, American Anita DeFrantz, was appointed in 1997. Now head of the committee's Women and Sport Working Group, she was recently defeated in a run for presidency of the organization. She was eliminated on the first ballot, receiving only nine of the 107 votes cast.
Asked if she had been a victim of sexism, DeFrantz said, "Yeah. I have the same credentials or better than any of the candidates."
While some nations sending no women to the games point to a lack of funds, the majority of these countries cite cultural, social and religious differences as the reason for excluding women. In particular, adherence to strict Islamic code forbids women from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan to display their bodies and compete in sports before a male audience.
In Salt Lake, predominantly Muslim nations Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sent no women, although the nations did field very small teams overall. Muslim nations typically field larger summer Olympics teams; in Sydney two years ago, for example, Saudi Arabia sent 23 men and no women, Kuwait sent 32 men and no women, Iran sent 34 men and 1 woman and Pakistan sent 26 men and 1 woman.
"If the IOC could ban South Africa for 28 years on the basis of racial discrimination, why can't it do the same on the basis of gender?" said Linda Weil-Curiel, founder of Atlanta Plus, a France-based group fighting for equal representation of women at the Olympics. The organization was founded prior to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is now focused on bringing more women to the Athens games in 2004.
"In Sydney we had a five hour meeting with the IOC during which it was acknowledged that persuasion would work with some countries, as the number of delegations without women is decreasing," said Weil-Curiel. "But there is a hard core of countries with which a different approach should be considered."
Despite their lack of representation at the Olympics, Muslim women have embraced competitive and recreational sports in recent years. Faezeh Hashemi, a member of the Iranian Parliament, founded the Islamic Countries Women Sports Games in 1991 as an alternative to the Olympics. Last October in Tehran, the Muslim Games were held for the third time with Muslim women competing before all-woman crowds in skiing, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, shooting, fencing, karate and basketball.
"With regard to our participation in social and sports activities, we Muslim women have no intention whatsoever to resemble men," said Hashemi at the opening of the games. "We practice sport because it guarantees our health and grants us joy and strength, but not at the cost of damaging reverence and sanctities."
Muslim women's rights activist Parvin Darabi, founding director of the U.S.-based Dr. Homa Darabi Foundation, complained, however, that women competing in the Islamic Games were not allowed to be photographed, written about or seen by their male relatives during competition.
"Why should a woman be denied the right to show the world what she is capable of?" Darabi said.
Regan Good is a freelance writer based in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
International Olympics Committee
Women and Sport Working Group:
Islamic Countries Women Sport Federation
Homa Darabi Foundation: | <urn:uuid:1a077ee9-3216-4270-8c5e-77e87355b33a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://womensenews.org/print/4344 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957608 | 1,103 | 1.914063 | 2 |
Tags: Alison Weir, governess, Innocent Traitor, Kat Ashley, Kat Champernowne, Katherine Parr, Queen Elizabeth I, The Lady Elizabeth, The Last Wife of Henry VIII, The Queen's Fool, Thomas Seymour
I had eagerly anticipated this book from the moment I first heard about it. When I heard that Tracy had a copy, there was virtually no stopping me from purchasing it and reading it immediately. While the writing was equally good here as it was in Innocent Traitor, the euphoric reading high I felt while reading Weir’s first novel did not carry forward into her second. The story of Elizabeth I‘s youth leading up to her rise to the English throne feels like well covered territory to me. That which was new or different in this novel wasn’t enough to have me hanging on every last word like before. Perhaps that is the danger of anticipating anything too much.
It’s not that The Lady Elizabeth wasn’t enjoyable. It was never boring. It just was never the captivating novel I was hoping it would be. There was a point fairly early in the novel where a rivalry was building between Kat, Elizabeth’s governess, and the final wife of Henry VIII, Queen Katherine Parr. My mouth almost watered with anticipation when it felt like this was ramping up to something. For me, that build up led no where. Even her encounters with Lord Seymour didn’t capture my imagination the way that they have in The Last Wife of Henry VIII or The Queen’s Fool. In fact, they felt a little flat and forced. I’m not sure if this is because I’ve already read about some of these scenes before or if it is because they were better seen through the eyes of other characters.
The most enjoyable aspect of this novel for me was Weir’s exploration of the father-daughter relationship between Henry and Elizabeth. How strange it must have been for him to fully embrace the daughter of a woman he had tried and condemned for high treason, especially if he had doubts about her guilt. How troubling it must have been for a young girl to feel such strong love for both parents while wondering where her loyalties should lie in the deadly fight that was between them long before she was old enough to know any better.
At the end of the novel, the author points out several aspects of the novel that she felt might be quite controversial. I didn’t find those things controversial at all. This is a work of fiction and, with the exception of making a three year old much wiser for her years than any three year old I have ever met, they were all quite plausible journeys into the “what ifs” of Elizabeth’s life.
I do not say these things to dissuade people from reading this novel. Alison Weir is a skilled author and this book is an good read about Elizabeth’s early life in one place. I would suggest it more to those who have yet to discover her in fiction. For others, it might feel a bit like reviewing for a test you could easily pass without studying.
To buy this novel, click here. | <urn:uuid:8fe86dfb-d655-491e-9e47-f7df3f31360f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://literatehousewife.wordpress.com/tag/kat-champernowne/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983445 | 652 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Khan: Betray Afghan women, we lose the war
Three prominent Afghan women will make it clear to a crowd of legislators on Capitol Hill Tuesday that a crucial measure of success in Afghanistan will be what women and girls can accomplish after U.S. troops leave.
If a woman is free to vote and determine her own future and a girl is free to get an education, then more than 12 years of American engagement have not been in vain.
A strong Afghan woman is a defeat for the Taliban. A determined Afghan woman who can vote will wrestle the country away from tribalism and promote democracy. An assertive Afghan woman will bring back the Afghanistan that once preached moderation and tolerance of all religions, a country where women were on par with men assisting in resolving political and ethical conflicts.
But if girls are denied an education or forced into child marriages; if talented women cannot pursue their goals, then nothing will have changed for all of cost in blood and treasure the United States has spent.
The women -- Suraya Paksad, founder of the Voices of Women Organization; Massouda Jalal, former Afghan minister of women's affairs and presidential candidate; and Sajia Behgam Amin, a gender and policy adviser who ran an underground school for girls in the Taliban era -- are warning legislators that the next two years before U.S. forces withdraw are crucial in developing methods to empower Afghan women and to create resilient communities.
No time can be lost.
Already the Taliban is regrouping and is poised to fill any power vacuum created by a weak government in Kabul. Warlords are forming coalitions to push back on the Taliban. Afghanistan could be heading toward civil war. Who will bear the brunt? Women, whose rights can easily be traded off if they are not at the table when decisions are made.
In a negotiation without women, if one side says it doesn't want schools for girls because Islam does not permit it, the other side may say sure, no problem. But if women are at the negotiating table, they can make the argument forcefully that Islam does not ban education for girls and that, in fact, Islam supports it.
Karzai already has showed he cannot be trusted to support the rights of women by signing a clerical council's "code of conduct" for women, which, among other strictures, supports women's segregation, bans women's travel without a male guardian and gives husbands rights to beat their wives in certain circumstances.
Seeing this looming threat to American war aims, last week Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, introduced the Afghan Women and Girls Security Promotion Act. It requires the Defense Department to produce a strategy to promote women's security during the transfer of power to Afghan forces.
Casey said that is the only way to achieve our overall goal of a secure and stable Afghanistan.
In consultation with Afghan women, we believe four things must be done before the United States loses its bargaining position in Afghanistan after our troops withdraw.
Create a coalition of women leaders: A coalition of prominent Afghan women ought to be created with the mandate of providing counsel every time an issue of women's and girls' rights is on the negotiating table.
Make sure women can vote: The United States must make sure that Afghan elections are not corrupt and that women actually get to vote. Women will vote against the Taliban if they are free to go to the polls. But we must have election monitors to be sure their votes are not stolen.
Imams must become advocates for women: As a deeply religious society, Afghanistan must solve its problems within a framework of Muslim beliefs. The people devoutly follow their imams and mullahs. Our experience shows that through an imam training program, they can become advocates for girls' and women's rights. Expanding our support for these training programs will pay big dividends.
Direct aid to support communities: Billions of dollars in U.S. aid will be squandered if Afghan women do not believe they are integral to the political and economic process. We have two years to redirect part of this aid to fortify communities so that Afghan women, imams and community leaders can resist the Taliban on their own terms.
If Afghan women suffer again, it will be as if we went to war for no reason. We must remember that we had three objectives for launching the Afghan war -- capturing Osama bin Laden, defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban and protecting Afghan women and their rights.
If we walk away and allow Afghan women to be subjugated, we will have made the same mistake we made after we helped the Mujahedeen push the Soviets out of Afghanistan. We left the country in a power vacuum, which was filled by a radical fringe known as the Taliban.
We know how badly that turned out.
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Copyright 2012 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:b50efc17-d8c1-4d2f-9d53-f1627725f0c6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wesh.com/news/national-news/Khan-Betray-Afghan-women-we-lose-the-war/-/11788232/17641482/-/view/print/-/d08f3x/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954175 | 1,026 | 2.078125 | 2 |
A picture of the tail rotor of the chopper that the Navy SEALs’ Team Six detonated revealed unfamiliar features. Reports say it could be a new, secret helicopter.
Part of a damaged helicopter is seen lying near the compound after U.S. Navy SEAL commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, May 2, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer
When the Team Six members reached Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, one of the choppers made a "controlled but hard landing," according to reports, probably due to higher than expected temperatures.
Temperature affects the density of the air, and low density makes it harder for the rotor to sustain the weight of the chopper, especially if it was near its maximum weight (being packed with soldiers and fuel to fly in from Afghanistan). Abbottabad is about 1200 meters above the sea level, and altitude also affects air density.
So what machine exactly experienced the hard landing described above? Short answer: we don’t know for sure. Long answer: It seems that the tail rotor visible in the picture belongs to a highly modified version of the H-60, the chopper of choice of the special forces for more than 30 years. Aviation Week doesn’t beat around the bush, claiming:
A previously undisclosed, classified stealth helicopter apparently was part of the U.S. task force that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 1.
Stealth technology on helicopters is not itself new, but the fact that a previously unknown machine was used in this raid is yet another proof of the degree of importance that this mission had for U.S. commanders.
Aviation Week then goes techie, explaining what we can see from that picture:
Photos disseminated via the European PressPhoto agency and attributed to an anonymous stringer show that the helicopter’s tail features stealth-configured shapes on the boom and the tail rotor hub fairings, swept stabilizers and a “dishpan” cover over a five-or-six-blade tail rotor. It has a silver-loaded infrared suppression finish similar to that seen on V-22s.
Low radar visibility was essential, for the Pakistani air force would have either scrambled its jets if an unknown threat to its airspace (and near the country’s best military academy!) was detected, or fired its surface to air missiles. It’s possibly more proof of the fact that Pakistan really knew nothing about the mission — or at least its first wave of attack — until it ended.
This would explain why the SEALs wasted critically precious time to blow up up the mysterious helicopter and why many experts had problems identifying its remains. It’s unclear what Pakistan could have made of the downed chopper, but growing ties between Pakistani and Chinese armed forces could have made the destruction of such new machine a must. China and Pakistan, over the past two decades, have developed a multi-role combat aircraft called JF-17 and an advanced trainer, the JL-8.
"This would explain why..."
No it wouldn’t. This part of the recent bin Laden narrative raises more questions than it answers. And the most common denominator of this whole affair has been unanswered questions and shifting stories.
"Policy of multiculturalism in Europe has failed" 2013 05 22 The UK is experiencing a deficit of Caucasian people in the regions where the majority of the population is made up of immigrants and ethnic minorities. In the last 10 years more than 620 thousand white Brits left the capital of the UK, where Caucasians are now a minority making up only 45% of London’s population.
The policy of multiculturalism in ...
Stockholm braced for further rioting by young immigrants 2013 05 21
Main article from FT.com follows below this comment:
Well, all of this is hardly unexpected, since there now is pretty much annual riots in Sweden. Disgruntled immigrants who are burning cars, schools and other buildings is now turning into the norm in Sweden ...as it seems to be throughout the rest of Europe. Stones are flying and you can smell the ...
Dzhokhar’s boat ‘confession’ the most unbelievable part yet of Boston psyop 2013 05 21 Remember the notes that accompanied the anthrax deliveries right after 9/11? They said things like, “Allah is great!” “Death to Israel,” “Death to America!” and “9-11-01: This is next.”
In other words, THE MUSLIMS DID IT: the same ones who had so handily defeated the world’s greatest military machine on Sept. 11, 2001. And they did it because they hate us ...
The Mystery of the ’Immaculately Conceived’ Baby Anteater 2013 05 21 [...]Staffers at a zoological conservation center in Greenwich, Conn., are very confused — as are the rest of us — because their female giant anteater, Armani, has managed to conceive a baby, apparently without the presence of a male anteater.
It all started in August, writes Lisa Chamoff for Greenwich Time. Armani, an anteater at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center, ...
The US Government Might Be the Biggest Hacker in the World 2013 05 21 Cyber crime is big business in the US. It’s used to spy, steal, harass competition, political opponents, or to stage an attack and blamed it on a foreign enemy.
Is the government in on this crime industry? Yes, and in bigger ways than you can imagine…
This trend is enabled domestically by an institutionally corrupt US legal system and a police state ... | <urn:uuid:d40df40e-1465-4545-9a4d-a045dd054916> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=15262 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949406 | 1,178 | 1.851563 | 2 |
Nov 24, 2008
Headline of the Day (hotd)
Want to make it to 120? Then get to shul once a week------ JPost
Is it healthier to go once a week then 7 days a week? Perhaps going too much is dangerous and bad for your health, just like going too little???
Just joking. Thought it was funny...
Actually, the article itself reminds me of the joke:
- 20% of all fatal accidents occur in automobiles.
- 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
- 14% of all accidents involve pedestrians.
- 16% of all accidents involve travel by air, rail, or water.
- 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals.
Happily, however, only .001% of all deaths occur during synagogue services, and these are usually related to previous physical conditions.
Logically, therefore, the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is in synagogue! | <urn:uuid:9a59bf5e-72b6-4656-bd29-c160fde9bae2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2008/11/headline-of-day-hotd.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943603 | 201 | 1.570313 | 2 |
*It’s always touching when celebrities show a different side of themselves and reveal those things, people or issues that are close to their hearts.
Singer Bilal recently shared about raising an autistic son in which he dedicated his recent video, “Little One” to.
His oldest son, Bashir was diagnosed with Autism some over four years ago and with the video he hopes to raise awareness about the illness.
“I just wanted to do a song for the fathers,” Bilal told TheUrbandaily.com. “People always write songs from a mom’s perspective or to their moms. This is something I did for my children.”
Autism is a developmental disorder that typically appears in the first three years of a child’s life. The effects vary and can be from minimal to severe, affecting communication and social behavior.
“My son is high functioning so he deals with a lot of sensory overload and high energy,” says Bilal. “I do a lot of things to calm him down. I changed his diet. He’s on an all-gluten free diet. I’ve also introduced different exercises and music to help him. I have him playing the drums so it allows him to get out a lot of his energy. It also teaches him focus and rhythm.”
The singer also participated in the National Mall in D.C. for Autism walk last year and performed his song “Little One” for the audience of family members and supporters.
“It was also cool to talk to other parents and see their methods and what they go through with their child,” he says. “For us to share…it was an inspiring type of thing that was needed for all of us.”
The video for “Little One” follows a family that has recently found out their son is autistic and follows their reaction to it.
“A lot of it is their initial reaction to how it affects a family,” he explains. “I think it starts out as a grieving period but then you start to understand the child and figure out ways to help them and then it’s very rewarding.”
Watch the video: | <urn:uuid:bce4e9d6-b2bd-48d7-8399-a48bc91a0f97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eurweb.com/2011/05/bilal-says-little-one-is-about-autistic-kids-like-his-son/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986153 | 469 | 1.570313 | 2 |
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One Very Hot Conference on Innovation And Design. |
| Wild and Wooly at the TED Conference in Monterey.
February 22, 2006
Deborah Tannen Teaches Us How To Frame Questions, Problems, Stories--and Ourselves.
When it comes to innovation, framing the problem is often the most important part of the process leading to the design of a unique, game-changing, paradigm-shifting solution. You hear the term "framing" all the time now in the innovation space. Even CEOs and managers are using it. In fact, one cardinal rule of innovation is don't always accept the problem handed you but reframe it to maximize the changes you can make in the space. For example, it isn't about a better looking MP3 player, it is about controlling and managing your personal music library with ease and pleasure--iPod.
So if you want to learn about framing, go to where the concept originated--in academic circles. Framing is hot and the most accessible linguist on the subject of framing is none other than the best-selling auther/professor, Deborah Tannen. Her latest book, "You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation," continues her examination of how we frame we other in conversation that began with a dissertation and found popular life in "You Just Don't Understand What I Meant!"
Tannen isn't the first academic in the field of framing. Erving Goffman was writing about it decades ago. But her books are not only serious, but great fun to read. And which daughters aren't interested in how they frame themselves to their mothers--and vice versa. I just wish Tannen does her next book on fathers and sons. Deborah?
TrackBack URL for this entry: | <urn:uuid:6542bcbd-f542-4e8e-9187-656a7b43aa75> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-02-21/deborah-tannen-teaches-us-how-to-frame-questions-problems-stories-and-ourselves-dot | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933099 | 383 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Table of Contents
Appendix A: State Capital Punishment Report Cards
This Appendix contains two-page capital punishment report cards on all 28
capital-sentencing states that reviewed at least one death sentence on direct appeal and
federal habeas corpus during the 1973-1995 study period. For comparison purposes, this
collection of report cards begins with the national composite capital punishment report
card (discussed in the main Report (hereinafter, 'Report') pp. 28-45) and then Table 30,
which compares the rates of capital-sentencing error that were discovered for each state
on state direct appeal, state post-conviction review, and federal habeas corpus, and the
total error and success rates for each state. (For a description of how those rates are
calculated, see Report, pp. 4-5 & notes 39, 40).
Description of Information in State Capital Punishment Report Cards
The state capital punishment report cards collected in this Appendix contain seven
categories of information:
- Capital-sentencing history.
In the 'History' section has information about the years in which four important
capital-sentencing events occurred in each state following the Supreme Court's
invalidation of all preexisting capital statutes and sentences in Furman v. Georgia 'the
state's first death sentence, first direct appeal, first consensual execution and first
- Sentences and executions.
This section of each state capital punishment report card provides information about how
many death sentences were imposed in each state and how many, and what proportion, of
those death sentences were carried out, during the study period.
- Error and success rates.
The third section of the report cards identifies for each state (a) the rates of serious
error discovered at each level of judicial inspection, (b) the overall error rate, meaning
the proportion of capital judgments undergoing judicial inspection that were thrown out
before reaching the end of the inspection process, and, conversely, (c) the overall
success rate, meaning the proportion of capital judgments found after a full complement of
inspections to be free of serious error.
- Length of time of review.
This section reports information for each state on (a) the number of years that elapsed
between the state's first death sentence and its first non-consensual execution (not
necessarily in the same case); (b) the average number of years it took death sentences to
proceed through the three-stage inspection process to execution in the small proportion of
cases in which an execution took place, and (c) the average time from death sentence to
federal habeas corpus reversal in the minority of cases in which reversal occurred at the
third (federal habeas corpus) checkpoint, as opposed to taking place at one of the first
two (state court) checkpoints.
- Capital-sentencing and execution rates.
This part of each report card answers two questions. First, how often did the state impose
death sentences' To answer this question, we consider death sentences per 1,000 homicides,
per 100,000 population, and per 1,000 incarcerated inmates in the jurisdiction. Second,
how often (relative to homicides, population and prison population) did the state execute
offenders' Because we are interested in success and error rates, we consider here only
'non-consensual' executions, i.e., ones that were subjected to full review and found to be
free of serious error.
- Demographic information.
The demographic information reported in this sixth report card category reveals the
population pools against which each state's number of death sentences and executions are
compared to determine the sentencing and execution rates. This part of the report card
also provides bases for distinguishing among states'and thus, potentially, for explaining
variations among states'in terms of the capital-sentence error rates detected on direct
appeal and habeas corpus inspection.
'Average population' is the state's yearly average
population from 1973-1995. 'Average homicides' are the total number of homicides in each
state from 1973-1995 divided by 23, the number of years in our study.
Homicides per population establishes a state's homicide rate. By 'average
homicides/average population,' we mean the average number of homicides per year during the
study period for every 100,000 persons in the jurisdiction, averaged over the state's
population during the study period.
'Average prison admissions' means the average number of persons admitted each year to
the state's prisons during the study period.
'Average prison population' means the jurisdiction's average population over study
We also report here the percentage of each state's population that was nonwhite during
the study period.
- Court factors: the context of state court decision making.
In the state capital punishment report cards, we report four pieces of information about
state courts and judges that may help explain state variations in capital-sentencing
success/error rates, capital-sentencing rates themselves and execution rates. These
figures are most informative when used for comparative purposes.
pressure' index measures the extent to which state judges are subject to electoral
scrutiny and discipline. Although nearly all the state judges in our study are subject to
voter scrutiny at some point if they wish to remain in office, the forms and frequency of
elections differ in ways that are likely to increase or decrease the extent to which
judges are politically at risk as a result of capital outcomes produced in their courts
(meaning, at the trial level, whether the verdict was death or life and, at the appellate
level, whether a death sentence under review was affirmed or reversed). More specifically,
our index considers whether judges initially are elected or appointed, whether judicial
elections are partisan, the length of judges' terms of office, and whether judges'
continuation in office is determined by contested or retention elections. (See Report,
notes 54, 221)
The 'party competition index' is a composite of the vote share of each party in state
gubernatorial and legislative elections from 1968-1996.
Our penultimate ('state court criminal caseload') category reports the yearly average
number of criminal case filings in each jurisdiction from 1985-1994 per 1,000 people in
Finally, we report each state's average annual court-related expenditures during the
fiscal years 1982-1992.
Table of Contents | <urn:uuid:c877c0ae-4e94-43ee-84b4-28233d4194ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.law.columbia.edu/instructionalservices/liebman/liebman/Liebman%20Study/docs/1/appaindex.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921818 | 1,346 | 2.265625 | 2 |
Colombia Free Trade Deal Could Boost Cocaine Exports May 9, 2011Posted by rogerhollander in Colombia, Drugs, Human Rights, Labor, Latin America.
Tags: coca far, Colombia, colombia cocaine, colombia drugs, colombia government, colombia labor, colombia unions, drugs, Free Trade, jess hunter-bowman, Latin America, NAFTA, omg.human rights, roger hollander, us-colombia, war on drugs
There’s only one Colombian industry that can potentially employ workers who would lose their job in the wake of a free trade deal.
Manuel Esteban Tejada was a teacher in the Colombian province of Cordoba, near the Panamanian border. Unfortunately for him, he was also a union member. On January 10, paramilitary gunmen broke into his house at 6 a.m. and shot him multiple times, killing him.
Tejada was the first trade unionist killed in Colombia in 2011, but not the last. At least five more have already been killed this year. Colombian and international labor officials report that 51 unionized workers in Colombia were killed in 2010–25 of them teachers. More union members were killed in Colombia last year than in the rest of the world combined.
The fact that Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to belong to a union hasn’t kept President Barack Obama from backing a free-trade deal with the South American nation that would further erode labor rights and wages.
Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos recently announced a labor rights “action plan” as a ploy to gain congressional votes in favor of the controversial deal. The Obama administration hopes this effort, which would do virtually nothing to deal with the violence targeting labor leaders, will convince some Democrats to hold their noses and vote for the trade deal, despite Colombia’s deadly labor track record.
Just days before the two leaders made their announcement, Hector Orozco and Gildardo Garcia–farm workers who belonged to a union–were murdered. Business as usual in Colombia.
It’s no surprise that Washington would sacrifice labor rights in the rush to secure this free trade deal. But Colombia isn’t only the world’s leader in union murders–it’s also the world’s leading cocaine producer. Although efforts to stamp out drug trafficking have dominated the U.S.-Colombia relationship for decades, this trade deal would likely boost cocaine production.
Free trade deals scrap tariffs and quotas on imports. Countries that enter such agreements can no longer protect strategic industries and sectors to ensure they are competitive. And no one in Latin America can compete with U.S. grain farmers. The technology, mechanization, and subsidies at U.S. famers’ disposal make grain production in the United States extremely cheap relative to Latin America.
For example, once Mexico eliminated corn tariffs and quotas under NAFTA guidelines, an estimated 2 million Mexican corn farmers went bankrupt. They simply couldn’t compete with U.S. corn prices.
Research has shown that 1.8 million Colombian farmers will see their net income fall 17 percent if the U.S.-Colombia trade deal is enacted. An estimated 400,000 will see their net incomes fall by between 48 percent and 70 percent.
Meanwhile, Caterpillar (which wants to sell bulldozers to Colombia), Walmart (which wants to resume tariff-free purchases of Colombian flowers), and other large U.S. corporations stand to profit handsomely from the U.S.-Colombia free trade deal.
Free traders in Congress and the corporate lobbyists who are pressuring them insist that the trade deal will create new jobs, absorbing people from sectors without a “comparative advantage.” That’s a boldface lie. Since the early 1990s, nearly all Colombian exports have entered the U.S. tariff-free under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. Any jobs created in Colombia by gaining unfettered access to U.S. markets were created years ago.
But there is one Colombian export market that can always absorb new workers: the cocaine trade. When Colombian farmers are pushed out of grain farming due to cheap U.S. imports, expect them to face a terrible choice. They’ll either lose their farm, join the vast ranks of Colombia’s unemployed, and watch their children drop out of school and become malnourished–or switch to farming coca crops to stay on their farm, keep their kids in school, and put food on their tables.
Colombian farmers want out of coca farming because it doesn’t pay very well and violence often dogs coca production. But the U.S.-Colombia trade deal will leave them with virtually no other choice.
By pushing it forward, Washington is catering to corporate interests instead of heeding Colombia’s human rights crisis and seriously considering its impact on illegal drug trafficking. We can only hope that there are enough lawmakers willing to recognize that this deal isn’t worth the costs to us or to Colombians.
Jess Hunter-Bowman is the Associate Director of Witness for Peace, a nonprofit organization with a 30-year history monitoring U.S. policy in Latin America. http://witnessforpeace.org | <urn:uuid:f5407aba-6d65-43fd-8e4f-20db5174bd83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rogerhollander.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/colombia-free-trade-deal-could-boost-cocaine-exports/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944969 | 1,106 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Nielson Field was Asia's first airport. It opened in 1937. It was set up by Laurie Reuben Nielson, a New Zealander. It was converted into a military airbase during World War II. It was built on 42 hectares of swampland. In 1948, it stopped operating and was converted into a business district. Its runways became the main avenues. Its radio or control tower is still standing as a museum. Today this district is the Ayala triangle in Makati City. | <urn:uuid:3b44c680-a4f5-442b-bb18-2635f105a9d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielson_Field | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98385 | 102 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Angel Rose, 34, an assistant vice president at a bank in upstate New York,
was interviewing candidates for a teller position, which required that a person
have good people and communication skills, a professional presentation, and a
strong focus on customer service, among other abilities.
One candidate in particular stood out, but not in a good way. While she
could have been very intelligent, her nonverbal communication and body language
were way off. Her handshake was more of a finger shake, her eye contact was
nonexistent, and her slouched posture exuded insecurity. For Rose, what the
candidate said didn't matter because her body language spoke volumes: she
wasn't a good fit for the position.
By Sara AndersonRedbook readers - and their guys! - share how they show their
You already know it's important for you and your guy to tell each other
"I love you" — as often as possible. But you shouldn't depend on those
three little words to let your one-and-only know what's in your heart. In fact,
nonverbal displays of affection are often a better way to get through to
the man in your life. "Guys tend to be action-oriented, so they feel less
comfortable using words to express emotions,"...
"Most communication experts now believe that almost 90% of what we say
comes from nonverbal cues, which includes our body language," says Patti
Wood, author of Success Signals: A Guide to Reading Body Language.
Body language, she explains, is everything from our facial expressions, to
eye contact, to our gestures, stance, and posture. While the nuances of body
language are complicated, there are some common body language signs worth a
Body Language ABCs
Flipping your hair, shaking hands, making eye contact, and smiling are more
than just movements -- they're a part of your nonverbal communication, adding
emphasis and emotion.
"Body language represents a separate communication process beyond
words," says Ross Buck, PhD, a professor of communication sciences and
psychology at the University of Connecticut. "It exists simultaneously with
language, but it is emotional and largely happening at the subconscious
What are some of the basic body language cues that we display and what kind
of effect can they have on the impression we make on other people? Here's a
beginner's guide to understanding what our bodies are saying:
Handshakes. A handshake can say so much more than hello, nice to meet
you. "The most important part of a handshake is palm-to-palm contact,"
says Wood. "It's even more significant than the grip."
The palm-to-palm contact expresses an intention of honesty and openness, and
that your interaction will be sincere and nonthreatening.
The "limp fish" handshake, Wood explains, seems so uncomfortable
because it usually means that the palms don't touch, as Rose experienced in her
Here are other handshake types:
Bone crusher: A person may be insecure and trying to overcompensate with an
Palm-down handshake: A person may be trying to express his dominance.
A left-handed wrap of the handshake from the top: A person may be trying to
express his dominance.
A left-handed wrap of the handshake from underneath: A person may be trying
to support and comfort you.
Synchrony. Synchrony happens when two people who are interacting
mirror body language cues, explains Buck. What can it mean?
"Synchrony is a signal that both people are on the same page," says
Buck. "When you see someone copying your body language, or you notice that
you are copying his, it's a clue that you are probably sharing a similar
mind-set at the time." | <urn:uuid:b0ab6739-0ecf-4f45-b191-f699bd3c2246> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/body-language-basics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940651 | 805 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Apple's next iPhone will not be getting a near field communications (NFC) chip, according to a new report from analyst group Bernstein Research.
That report, picked up by Bloomberg and care of Business Insider, comes more than a year after signs surfaced that Apple was exploring the use of NFC chips in its mobile devices. Reports since then have been conflicting, with some saying the feature would arrive in the next device, and others pushing it out to the version after that.
NFC allows data transfer between two devices at short distances (about 4 inches). For phones and other mobile devices this could allow things like mobile payments, as well as transferring data between devices without the use of a cellular or nearby Wi-Fi network in a similar fashion to Bluetooth.
The payments part in particular could have a big impact on Apple as a business, not only in terms of revenue, but also in helping it to become an enabler for making purchases of non-digital goods. There are some big strings attached though, particularly in the infrastructure involved, as well as making deals behind the scenes with credit card companies who are already getting into the market with their own solutions.
Federal Reserve findings pegged electronics payments in the U.S. at topping $40 trillion during 2010. Mobile payments could push that number even higher, and give the companies enabling the transactions a chance to get a piece of the pie with fees, according to NFC experts CNET spoke with earlier this year. Bernstein's note says NFC has the potential to bring $15 billion to $30 billion in revenue to mobile companies, with Apple picking up a $4 billion to $9 billion chunk of that.
This is not the first time NFC has been called a no-go for the next iPhone. While The New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, and China Times have published reports at various intervals saying Apple was planning to use the technology, the Independent in March said Apple found the current NFC landscape to be too fragmented.
Apple's next iPhone is expected to be unveiled in September, which is a few months later than previous devices have been released. More recent reports, including one from last week have pointed to Apple releasing a souped up variant of the iPhone 4 with faster internals and a better camera, akin to what it did between the iPhone 3G and 3GS. | <urn:uuid:e8adf4b1-affe-45ef-b3e1-d2b35dda762e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20063294-248.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973602 | 470 | 1.875 | 2 |
City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
- Open Office
- Private Office
Once city water is flushed down the drain, the City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) takes it from there. The bureau manages the city's storm and sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants; it oversees industrial runoff; and it protects Portland's many watersheds. It's a big job, and with over 400 employees in its main location, the bureau had run out of space. So, a new space was leased, and several departments were slated to move.
The new location, however, had a rectangular floorplate that would only awkwardly accommodate the bureau's standard 8-foot by 8-foot Ethospace workstations. "We wanted to decrease the footprint of the workstations and yet make them more functional," says Scott Turpen, facilities/administrative services manager, BES. "Our designer suggested that we consider Vivo (the forerunner to Canvas Office Landscape) product to meet our space requirements."
Vivo would allow the bureau to retain the aesthetic of a frame-and-tile system, yet it would offer employees, who not only had to move, but who were also moving into smaller workstations, a clean, new look and spacious feel. "Vivo looks more like furniture," says Linda Czopek, principal, Czopek & Erdenberger, Inc. "The feet make it float, and the frames are a good dimension—thinner yet still substantial."
Low frames topped with glass tiles enhance the airy look and allow light to circulate through the interior. Although smaller, the workstations are equipped with ample storage, including overhead shelves, a Meridian bookcase, cushion-top pedestal file, and tower. They also offer a secondary and a primary About Face work surface in a white Formcoat finish with a waterfall edge for ergonomic comfort.
Indeed, health and safety as well as environmental stewardship are front-and-center concerns for the City of Portland, and the BES was able to address both in this location. Because the bureau has a high level of churn, adjusting workstation heights for each new occupant had been an ongoing budgetary drain, costing the department some $25,000 per year. By placing all primary Vivo work surfaces on electric height-adjustable bases, the bureau eliminated that line item.
"The payback for the height-adjustable work surfaces will be relatively quick," says Mr.Turpen. "Then, the incremental cost difference between a hand-crank and electric was a no-brainer." Height-adjustable bases can mount on virtually any Herman Miller table or work surface as standard product, not a special order. Plus, "there's minimal obstruction under the work surface," says Designer Heather Dawson, Workplace Resource, a Herman Miller dealer. "You can place a pedestal file there without clearance issues."
As with most Herman Miller product, Vivo is GREENGUARD certified, and it is manufactured with 36 percent recycled content. Formcoat work surfaces reduce off-gassing, and the bureau's workstations also utilize fabric tiles covered in compostable, bio-based Kira material.
The Mirra chair was already the bureau's go-to choice for users with ergonomic issues, and it is the standard task chair in this location. Caper chairs provide guest, conference, and lunchroom seating. "Caper chairs are lightweight and comfortable," says Scott Fraunfelder, Workplace Resource Account Manager. "They hit a great price point, and they're indestructible."
A creative blend of products in private offices offers good function along with some variety and personal choice. One office typical, for example, has a "work wall" that may contain a Vivo work surface, sliding door overheads, a Meridian tower, lateral file, and a cushion-top pedestal file. A mobile, height-adjustable Avive Bean-Shaped table provides an additional work surface or meeting space. Another typical offers a Vivo work surface with a height-adjustable peninsula.
A multi-use space in the entry is furnished with a one-high Meridian Stackable Lateral file for bench seating and three-high files with a common top. An easel from the Intersect Portfolio and lounge seating from Brandrud, a Herman Miller company, create an attractive, informal space to gather, meet, or lay out drawings.
The overall effect in the new location is clean, crisp, and light. The bureau chose highly functional, well-equipped, and pleasant workstations that came in at a very good price. "Vivo has good function and good value," says Mr. Turpen. "My people are very happy, and they're living in less square footage than they were before." | <urn:uuid:7f6402da-0552-4a18-ba23-ded309ab66e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/research/case-studies/city-of-portland-bureau-of-environmental-services.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954583 | 990 | 1.59375 | 2 |
The Impact of the Fiscal Cliff on the States
The state impact of the fiscal cliff’s expiring federal tax provisions and scheduled spending cuts is missing from the national discussion. This study finds that the effects on the states vary greatly based on the extent to which states are tied to the federal tax code and federal spending.
The fiscal cliff looms large in current fiscal policy debates. Discussions about the effect of the tax increases and spending cuts included in the fiscal cliff have focused on the national budget and economy. But federal and state finances are closely intertwined, and federal tax increases and spending cuts will have consequences for states’ budgets.
For example, almost all states have tax codes linked to the federal code.
- For at least 25 states and the District of Columbia, lower federal deductions would mean more income being taxed at the state level, resulting in higher state tax revenues.
- At least 30 states and the District of Columbia would see revenue increases because they have tax credits based on federal credits that would be reduced.
- At least 23 states have adopted federal rules for certain deductions related to business expenses. The scheduled expiration of these provisions would mean higher taxable corporate income and hence higher state tax revenues in the near term.
- Thirty-three states would collect more revenue as a result of scheduled changes in the estate tax.
However, six states allow taxpayers to deduct their federal income taxes on their state tax returns. For these states, higher federal taxes would mean a higher state tax deduction, reducing state tax revenues.
The scheduled spending cuts also would have a significant impact on states. Federal grants to the states constitute about one-third of total state revenues, and federal spending affects states’ economic activity and thus their amount of tax revenues.
- Roughly 18 percent of federal grant dollars flowing to the states would be subject to the fiscal year 2013 across-the-board cuts under the sequester, according to the Federal Funds Information for States, including funding for education programs, nutrition for low-income women and children, public housing, and other programs.
- Because states differ in the type and amount of federal grants they receive, their exposure to the grant cuts would vary. In all, the federal grants subject to sequester make up more than 10 percent of South Dakota’s revenue, compared with less than 5 percent of Delaware’s revenue.
- Federal spending on defense accounts for more than 3.5 percent of the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the states, but there is wide variation across the states. Federal defense spending makes up almost 15 percent of Hawaii’s GDP, compared with just 1 percent of state GDP in Oregon.
The public interest is best served by an enriched policy debate that incorporates implications for all levels of government and leads to long-term fiscal stability for the nation as a whole.
Note that the general economic slowdown that could result if the full fiscal cliff were allowed to take effect would likely overwhelm any of the separate components discussed here. | <urn:uuid:9a83f073-9ba5-4211-ba0c-7451f345bbd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pewstates.org/research/reports/the-impact-of-the-fiscal-cliff-on-the-states-85899430339 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957488 | 609 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Implementing the Plan: Guiding Questions
- Are all teachers implementing the selected instructional strategies?
- Is the implementation of your plan making a difference in student achievement? Does collected data reflect improved achievement for all students?
- Are teachers knowledgeable and confident regarding the implementation of research-based instructional strategies in their classrooms?
- Are students using instructional strategies at all age levels and in all classrooms as tools for learning?
- Does your plan need to be revised based on data collected? How will the revision process work in your district or building? How will all staff be involved in the revision process? | <urn:uuid:195f3f17-92dd-4ae9-8e45-f9a116bce33e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.education.ne.gov/CIPToolkit/instructionalstrategies/implementing_questions.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.902714 | 122 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Suspected drug planes that enter Guinea-Bissau's airspace will be shot down in a bid to reduce rampant cocaine trafficking, the government says.
Guinea-Bissau is one of the major drug transit hubs in West Africa
Prime Minister Martinho N'Dafa Cabi said he had personally issued the uncompromising order.
This follows the army's seizure of a truckload of jet fuel in a forest outside the city of Buba on Thursday.
International drugs experts fear the poor, unstable country with numerous islands could become a "narco-state".
Mr N'Dafa Cabi said the order was "a means of threatening" drug traffickers "who profit from our fragility".
While the army chief of staff, General Tagme Na Waye said anti-aircraft guns were "already installed" on all the Bijagos Islands, and, "any plane detected in this zone without authorization will be shot down."
West Africa has fast become a transit hub for South American cocaine on its way to Europe - often via its many uninhabited islands, which are large enough for an airstrip.
The fuel found near Buba was enough to fill a mid-sized Gulfstream jet tank twice.
Interpol estimates that more than a third of the cocaine arriving in Europe is trafficked through West Africa.
The government of Guinea Bissau is telling the world that it intends to end the drug trafficking, but BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is clear that the very people who should be countering it have been involved.
Earlier this year a consignment of over 2.5 tonnes of cocaine was flown into a military airstrip.
Two soldiers were later arrested in cars which had been packed with over 600kg of cocaine.
Last year around $40m worth of cocaine was found in the capital, Bissau, after a gun battle.
It was stored in the treasury vaults but was never seen again, and nobody has been able to prove the claim that it was burnt.
After years of instability, the country is in ruins and does not even have a proper prison. | <urn:uuid:55eaa4da-b0a8-4388-9edd-8060e961e165> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6972468.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975559 | 436 | 1.664063 | 2 |
“Rick Doblin has done a lot for the field, but he is more of a populist,” Grob says. “We need careful and controlled scientific studies showing the efficacy of these drugs so funding can continue.” Broader awareness of these sorts of end-of-life psychedelic studies could be good for everyone, the researchers say. “If insurance companies knew about our outcomes, they might get a lot more interested in what we’re doing here.” Griffiths continued: “When you make people less afraid to die, then they’re less likely to cling to life at a huge cost to society. After having such a transcendent experience, individuals with terminal illness often show a markedly reduced fear of dying and no longer feel the need to aggressively pursue every last medical intervention available. Instead they become more interested in the quality of their remaining life as well as the quality of their death.” – How Psychedelic Drugs Can Help Patients Face Death, by Lauren Slater
It’s the 21st century, but enlightenment is a long way away.
We were better off and on the launching pad to a higher plain back in the 1960s. Even Richard Nixon believed in national health care and that was over 4 decades ago.
You’ve got to wonder when America will ever grow up. Watching the current bottom-feeder generation of politicians, it doesn’t look like it will be anytime soon.
Candidate Obama promised to keep a hands off policy on medical marijuana outlets. His alter ego, Pres. Obama, has done the opposite.
From Rolling Stone in February 2012, Obama’s War on Pot:
…Back when he was running for president in 2008, Barack Obama insisted that medical marijuana was an issue best left to state and local governments. “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue,” he vowed, promising an end to the Bush administration’s high-profile raids on providers of medical pot, which is legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
But over the past year, the Obama administration has quietly unleashed a multiagency crackdown on medical cannabis that goes far beyond anything undertaken by George W. Bush. The feds are busting growers who operate in full compliance with state laws, vowing to seize the property of anyone who dares to even rent to legal pot dispensaries, and threatening to imprison state employees responsible for regulating medical marijuana. With more than 100 raids on pot dispensaries during his first three years, Obama is now on pace to exceed Bush’s record for medical-marijuana busts. “There’s no question that Obama’s the worst president on medical marijuana,” says Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. “He’s gone from first to worst.”
It’s not all that surprising, but is just another example of the untrustworthy nature of politicians, Barack Obama just being the latest among them.
There is no medical reason to keep marijuana out of the hands of the sick or dying.
What this is about is money.
There isn’t a national politician today who will man the line against moneyed interests on behalf of we the people. Neither Barack Obama or Mitt Romney would dare, both of whom are fueled by the same elite few who control the levers of financial power.
The same reason Pres. Obama did a back room deal with big Pharma, as well as private insurance companies, on health care. It comes down to the issue of no vision, no courage, no larger concept of health care beyond 20th century medicine that is stuck in antiquated means of treating symptoms, while never going beyond, which should include offering a better quality of living for the sick.
I talked about my own journey through an athletic injury recently for Zocalo Public Square, when I utilized a trio of alternative therapies to navigate stratospheric pain, with acupuncture finally showing me the way up and out. None of the alternative avenues were covered by health insurance.
“Sugar Blues” was written decades ago, yet it was some sort of scandal that “60 Minutes” recently did a report that sugar kills. This is not news. We’re stuck on stupid where our own health is concerned, because people won’t even accept that much of it depends on our own lifestyle, behavior and actions.
Doctors aren’t trained on nutrition and prevention, because there’s no money in it. Women face the same challenges with doctors at mid-life, with bio-identical hormones a mystery to most doctors, while being out of reach for many and not covered by insurance. But they offer a sparkling way through the toughest life gateway a girl faces, which threatens her very sexual nature. It’s not a coincidence that marriages falter when women are going through the thunder road hormone journey, while men are desperately clinging to their flagging machismo. Men face similar struggles, but as easy as it is for them to get Viagra, testosterone cremes are equally available.
However, these life chapters are separate from life threatening illnesses or terminal diagnoses.
The first step out of this hamster wheel is medical marijuana. But people actually still believe marijuana is a gateway drug, with infotainment cable shows parroting popular anecdotes made for people who are scared of their own shadows. Gateway drug hocus-pocus is the most preposterously ignorant assumption the uninformed weed trackers have today.
Remember when Rep. Ron Paul was made a laughing stock for his comment on heroin? He was on to something about personal liberties and drugs, with legalization and regulation the answer, even if heroin isn’t the most effective example, unless you’re recovering from invasive surgery and you’re in the hospital and need to mask the post-op pain. We need someone with the courage of Ron Paul, but who also has the integrity of a liberal to acknowledge libertarianism in the modern age also requires a government safety net, because of the corrupt nature of the global economy and concentrated wealth. Someone who is equally respectful that women’s individual liberties cannot be abridged by either ideology, religiosity or out of convenience.
Grob and his colleagues are part of a resurgence of scientific interest in the healing power of psychedelics. Michael Mithoefer, for instance, has shown that MDMA is an effective treatment for severe P.T.S.D. Halpern has examined case studies of people with cluster headaches who took LSD and reported their symptoms greatly diminished. And psychedelics have been recently examined as treatment for alcoholism and other addictions.
Despite the promise of these investigations, Grob and other end-of-life researchers are careful about the image they cultivate, distancing themselves as much as possible from the 1960s, when psychedelics were embraced by many and used in a host of controversial studies, most famously the psilocybin project run by Timothy Leary. Grob described the rampant drug use that characterized the ’60s as “out of control” and said of his and others’ current research, “We are trying to stay under the radar. We want to be anti-Leary.” Halpern agreed. “We are serious sober scientists,” he told me.
Being “anti-Leary” is always the first step, because if you aren’t take seriously the game is over. As an anti-Leary libertarian, though his philosophy is misogynistic, that’s one thing Ron Paul offered that scared so many zombie Republicans and Democrats, though he remains naive that a safety net in the modern era isn’t foundational to a humane society.
Time Magazine did a story on ecstasy back in 2000, with a section tucked into it that pointed to the same types of properties the Times article is pointing to today.
Sue Stevens, the woman who took it in 1997 with her husband Shane–he has since died of kidney cancer–learned about the drug from a mutual friend of hers and Doblin’s. She believes e helped Shane find the right attitude to fight his illness, and she helps Doblin advocate for limited legal use. Soon his association will help fund the first approved study of MDMA in psychotherapy, involving 30 victims of rape in Spain diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. In this country, the FDA has approved only one study. In 1995 Dr. Charles Grob, a ucla psychiatrist, used it as a pain reliever for end-stage cancer patients. In the first phase of the study, he concluded the drug is safe if used in controlled situations under careful monitoring.
Raves, dance clubs and the drinking crowd have taken the healing properties of drugs like ecstasy and MDMA, even marijuana, out of the health equation and put the marketing in the hands of establishment fogies, big Pharma, the government and politicians who don’t care about quality of life for people in the throes of dealing with their own mental crises, and even their very mortality. These same people hounded Dr. Kervorkian through the end of his life, even if all he was doing is helping adults manage their own passing, the most personal of decisions.
The story in the Times is important. It talks about alternative medicine and healing when dealing with the most humbling moments of our life.
When you look at our politics, however, whether it’s Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, as well as the people elected to Congress, there’s absolutely no evidence that an enlightenment epiphany is on the horizon. There is no one with the ethical fortitude to speak for people facing life-shattering illnesses or their own mortality, helping them get options beyond the conventional, which offer no relief in the process of healing or death, let alone a quality of life that allows a person to go out with dignity and grace, with a little laughter on the side. | <urn:uuid:74fc00e2-6c2b-4cf5-a54c-0d730f62e6a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.taylormarsh.com/blog/2012/04/beyond-timothy-leary-and-valley-of-the-dolls-psychedelic-drugs-and-healing-in-the-21st-century/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963282 | 2,065 | 1.859375 | 2 |
Creating state propositions in California.
To my friends in the occupy movement,
I was going to tell you your strategy is wrong except that I'm the one that's in the wrong because you're out protesting, getting to know each other and making your feelings known while I'm sitting behind my computer.
Our government is enormously and flagrantly corrupt. Our legal system is largely for sale. The banks, corporations and the wealthy have more resources to buy our political leaders than we will ever have and our corrupt political leaders in both the Republican and Democratic parties have every intention of keeping it that way.
The point is to at least to some extent reform our system. To take on the banks, corporations and the wealthy and even with their overwhelming resources still find a way to regulate or prevent some of their worst behaviors.
The only way I can see us in the occupy movement succeeding with the implementing of real reforms is through the use of state propositions. With five hundred and four thousand signatures we can get propositions on the state ballot. With 25 signatures and contact with the state attorney general's office we can legally begin collecting signatures with the payment of 200 dollars and the collection of 25 signatures.
If we word the propositions correctly and directly prohibit things that irritate the greatest number of people we have a chance of getting them passed by the majority of voters even when very expensive campaigns are run to discredit them.
For example a proposition to protect consumers from current banking practices.
Predatory lending law:
1) Fees for rejecting a bad check may not exceed five dollars or ten percent of the value of a check whichever is less. Bad check fees may not be assessed if they were caused by a hold on a deposit which subsequently clears.
2) Fees for accepting a bad check or overdraft may not exceed ten dollars or ten percent of the value of the check or overdraft whichever is less in addition to interest not to exceed eighteen percent compounded annually.
3) Fees for withdrawing money from an atm may not exceed two dollars per withdrawal.
4) All money received by a lender must be credited to the highest interest part of a loan first. If a depositor has a line of credit at the same institution as the depositor has a savings or checking account all deposits must be credited to the line of credit first.
5) A bank may not charge more than eighteen percent compounded annually for any loan.
6) All loans on real property must be fixed rate for the first seven years.
7) There may be no prepayment penalties for any loan.
8) A lender may not unilaterally change the terms of any deposit or credit agreement for the first two years of the agreement and after that only once a year and must give 90 days notice of any changes.
9) No loans may be made for a term of less than 90 days.
9) A lender may not cash a postdated check earlier than the date on the check.
10) A bank may not charge prepayment penalties for any loan.
11) A back may not charge any monthly or any other periodic fee for a checking or savings account. If the bank does not wish to keep the account it must be refunded in full.
11) Fees may be adjusted for inflation from the date the proposition is passed.
12) Any loans that violate the terms of this proposition after this proposition is passed will be rendered legally uncollectable. Any interest and fees charged after this proposition is passed in violation of this proposition shall be subject to triple damages and reasonable attorney's fees.
Here's a proposed state proposition to directly attack corruption of our elected officials.
Conflict of interest law:
1) The state legislature or any elected body in the state of California may not exempt itself from any law which applies to the general public.
2) Any member of the state legislature or any elected state body or their spouses who accepts campaign contributions, legal fees, consulting fees, commissions, privileged access to stock purchases, board memberships, money or any item of value in return for influencing any law or state or local contract shall be immediately dismissed from office. They shall be charged with a felony and sentenced to up to 8 years in a state prison.
3) Any lobbyist, lawyer, member of a corporation or private citizen who contributes campaign contributions, legal fees, consulting fees, commissions, privileged access to stock purchases, board memberships, money or any item of value in return for influencing any law or state or local contract of substantial value to the giver shall be charged with a felony and sentenced to up to 8 years in a state prison.
4) Any member of the state legislature or any elected state or local official or their spouses who has voted on or had major influence over any law or state or local contract which is of direct and substantial value to any individual or corporation may not accept legal fees, consulting fees, commissions, privileged access to stock purchases, board memberships, employment, money or any item of value during their term of office or at any time after they leave office from the party that benefits or their agents. The value of all improperly earned benefits shall be subject to triple damages and reasonable attorneys fees.
Here's the url on the California government website that gives the process on how to qualify for an initiative and the phone number of the office that needs to be contacted:
Here's a url that shows a sample petition to collect signatures on:
If you have time to help or wish to contact me I have an email at firstname.lastname@example.org and also an occupy_sc facebook account which I have almost nothing set up on. I live in Santa Clara. occup_sj and other more famous ones were taken. | <urn:uuid:7c9b30e1-c239-4038-baf2-49fcdb94b889> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://occupylosangeles.org/node/2779?page=33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940983 | 1,163 | 1.515625 | 2 |
A brief history of the anhedonia hypothesis
This chapter discusses the history of the so-called anhedonia hypothesis. The term anhedonia was first used in 1978 in connection with the assertion that pimozide blocks the reward quality of food. The anhedonia hypothesis was based largely on studies of psychomotor stimulant, brain stimulation, and food and water reinforcement. It also discusses brain stimulation reward, opiate reinforcement, and several other drugs of abuse that activate the dopamine system.
Oxford Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian. | <urn:uuid:e3d5d66f-f135-4db2-a30e-650060d99da4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/viewoxchap/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198547877.001.0001/acprof-9780198547877-chapter-10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91515 | 160 | 3.265625 | 3 |
My name has the perfect number of characters.
“Ask them if they’ve heard of New Urbanism or urban infilling, the wonkier, established versions of what they’re trying to do, and they shrug. Hsieh says there’s a benefit to their outsider perspective. “We don’t have some top-down idea of how this should be done,” he says. Ware adds that there’s a benefit to coming into something with no preexisting knowledge. “We ask the dumb questions.”
— Tony Hsieh, from Zappos, is building a downtown Las Vegas. Hopefully they succeed. Their guiding philosophy that a vibrant downtown is important to cultural and creative life is a good start.
Who is public space for? Streets and squares were designed for people, historically for gathering, for walking, for access, for assembly. Yes, they were meant for passage, but what societies proudly use them to demonstrate state control?
Has the world changed so much that authorities now believe the passage of vehicles is their only legitimate purpose?
To whom do the streets belong? Scores of drivers or thousands of protesters? Public citizens, or the public corporations that own surrounding buildings?
photo by Eduardo Munoz/Reuters via aberjona | <urn:uuid:656ee394-e8d9-44ef-a74b-e5c5f946a7f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://andrewgreene.tumblr.com/tagged/cities | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949757 | 271 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Water: Nonpoint Source Success Stories
Ohio: Section 319 Success Stories, Vol. III
1117 South Towne Court
Greenville, OH 45331
|Primary Sources of Pollution:|
|Primary NPS Pollutants:|
|agricultural BMPs (buffers, fencing, alternate water sources, conservation tillage, nutrient management)|
|education and outreach|
|increases in conservation tillage|
|establishment of stream buffers and constructed wetland|
To date, more than $2 million has been raised from external sources to help implement the watershed plan. The sources include the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's 319 Program, as well as several funding programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, the joint board entered into an agreement with Ohio EPA for a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Program that so far has provided $1.3 million in loans to 57 participants.
Education programs, including state fair displays, emphasize the benefits of BMPs to protect water quality and increase farm productivity.
Emphasis on agricultural practices
Much emphasis has been placed on the installation of best management practices (BMPs), identified in the project's management plan as key to success. Stream buffers of grass and trees were established. Where necessary, exclusion fencing was installed along with alternative water sources for cattle. Nutrient management, including soil sampling for precision farming, has been demonstrated. Additional cost-share incentives and Ohio EPA's linked deposit low-interest loan program have resulted in the purchase of equipment for conservation tillage and manure management.
Importance of outreach
Education programs in the watershed have included two canoe trips each year to acquaint landowners, local officials, students, and others with the river and its environment. In addition to quarterly newsletters, speaking engagements, and fair displays, two sites have been established for annual field days. These sites include demonstrations of BMPs to protect water quality and increase farm productivity. Additional annual field days have emphasized conservation tillage, and a marked increase in its use has been documented in the watershed (see figures). A wetland was also constructed at a county park to demonstrate its function and its importance to water quality and wildlife. Annual conservation tours also have exposed people to the BMPs installed as a result of the project.
The project emphasized establishing stream buffers of grass and trees to reduce sediment and nutrients entering streams.
Leveraging additional fundingAn additional benefit is that this project has stimulated many other sources of funding for use in the watershed. USDA committed Water Quality Incentives Project funds to three subwatersheds, one of which has a large number of livestock operations, to improve manure handling and nutrient management through effective nutrient management planning. Ohio's Department of Natural Resources has contributed grants for conservation easements (in cooperation with local park districts), a manure nutrient management technician, a wildlife technician, exclusion fencing for livestock, geographic information system (GIS) equipment and training, and a watershed coordinator. To help ensure continuation of the project, the joint board is pursuing incorporation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
419-241-9155 (ext. 126)
|Primary Sources of Pollution:|
|habitat alteration (stream channelization and removal of riparian vegetation)|
|Primary NPS Pollutants:|
|set-aside floodplain areas|
|conservation tillage practices|
|established 142,213 linear feet of buffers|
|conservation tillage farming methods on 1431.21 acres|
When the Great Black Swamp was drained in the late 1800s, northwest Ohio settlers discovered very fertile soils that were capable of high-yield agricultural production. Today, with an extensive system of artificial drainage in place, the region is a leader in grain and specialty crop agriculture. Ohio's western Lake Erie watersheds devote 65 to 87 percent of their land use to farming. Because of the geologic history of this area and the current land use, Lake Erie water quality suffers from large sediment and nutrient loadings from agricultural runoff.
Nationwide initiatives and funding programs to reduce nonpoint source pollution are meeting with success in Ohio. With the introduction of the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in 2000 and ongoing 319 and Conservation Reserve Programs, landowners have increased opportunities to receive incentives for implementing agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that improve or protect water quality. The Toussaint River Incentive Improvement Program is a watershed implementation project that has promoted buffer practices along nearly three-fourths of the river's main stem.
The Toussaint River, in northwest Ohio, flows directly into Lake Erie between Toledo and Port Clinton. A relatively small watershed, the Toussaint watershed covers about 90,000 acres and comprises portions of Wood, Sandusky, and Ottawa Counties. The main causes of water quality impairment are habitat alteration (stream channelization and removal of riparian vegetation), siltation, and nutrient enrichment due to the large agricultural land use in the watershed.
A grass filter strip, in combination with a riparian buffer, helps protect the water quality in this stream.
A 200-foot-wide floodplain is set aside along portions of the Toussaint River.
Providing financial incentives
The Toussaint River project offered landowners along the 36-mile main stem of the river economic assistance to implement a range of BMPs. Through a $275,000 subgrant from Ohio EPA's 319 Program, financial incentives were available to establish filter strips, set aside floodplain areas, and use conservation tillage practices along the river corridor. The landowners were required to make a 5-year commitment to maintain these conservation practices. Water quality assessments of the river were made both before practices were put into place and after they were established. The goal of the program was to reduce sediment and nutrient loadings into the Toussaint River and Lake Erie.
A 20-foot-wide filter strip maintained along a grass channel helps reduce sediment entering the Toussaint River.
Success in implementation
Landowners along the Toussaint River signed 57 contracts, more than 32.13 acres of filter strips were established, and 233.25 acres of floodplains were set aside and planted to grass. This means that a total of 142,213 linear feet of streamside land (nearly 27 miles of the 36-mile-long stream corridor) was converted to conservation buffer practices that will improve water quality. Along with these improvements, participating farmers switched to conservation tillage farming methods on 1,431.21 acres adjoining the new buffers.
Although the original grant objective was to install 100 acres of filter strips and to set aside 100 acres of floodplain, there was more landowner interest in the downstream reach of the river where there is a lower gradient and a broad, flat floodplain. The grant was modified to increase the maximum filter strip width to 200 feet in floodplain areas with alluvial soil types. It is believed that the wider filter strips in these more extensively flooded areas will further control erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and benefit water quality.
The Agricultural Runoff Action Group of the Maumee Remedial Action Plan (RAP) sponsored this 319 grant. The RAP's objective is to restore the Lower Maumee River, one of 42 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The Agricultural Runoff Action Group is a partnership of more than one dozen agencies and private organizations that have contributed some $208,000 in local and state matching funds to this project. Of particular note was the strong leadership and the cooperation between Soil and Water Conservation District staff in the three counties, as well as the donation of seed, equipment, and labor by local Pheasants Forever chapters to establish the filter strips. The Agricultural Runoff Action Group was recently awarded a second 319 grant for $300,000 to continue promoting these riparian conservation practices. The objectives of the second phase include providing incentive payments for similar buffer and tillage practices along the tributaries throughout the Toussaint River watershed.
With 22,500 miles of county ditches in Ohio and enough linear footage of drain tile in northwest Ohio to reach to the moon, there is plenty of opportunity for watershed protection groups to join the effort to establish riparian buffers, reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality. Neighboring watersheds can look to the Toussaint River project for a model of conservation partnership. | <urn:uuid:2041da04-f508-49c5-9f84-863993391919> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/Section319III_OH.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938824 | 1,740 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Tipping, Edward and Rey-Castro, Carlos and Bryan, Stephen E. and Hamilton-Taylor, John (2002) Al(III) and Fe(III) binding by humic substances in freshwaters, and implications for trace metal speciation. Geochimica and Cosmochimica Acta, 66 (18). pp. 3211-3224. ISSN 0016-7037
Published experimental data for Al(III) and Fe(III) binding by fulvic and humic acids can be explained approximately by the Humic Ion-Binding Model VI. The model is based on conventional equilibrium reactions involving protons, metal aquo ions and their first hydrolysis products, and binding sites ranging from abundant ones of low affinity, to rare ones of high affinity, common to all metals. The model can also account for laboratory competition data involving Al(III), Fe(III) and trace elements, supporting the assumption of common binding sites. Field speciation data (116 examples) for Al in acid-to-neutral waters can be accounted for, assuming that 60–70 % (depending upon competition by iron, and the chosen fulvic acid : humic acid ratio) of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is due to humic substances, the rest being considered inert with respect to ion binding. After adjustment of the model parameter characterizing binding affinity within acceptable limits, and with the assumption of equilibrium with a relatively soluble form of Fe(OH)3, the model can simulate the results of studies of two freshwater samples, in which concentrations of organically complexed Fe were estimated by kinetic analysis. The model was used to examine the pH dependence of Al and Fe binding by dissolved organic matter (DOM) in freshwaters, by simulating the titration with Ca(OH)2 of an initially acid solution, in equilibrium with solid-phase Al(OH)3 and Fe(OH)3. For the conditions considered, Al, which is present at higher free concentrations than Fe(III), competes significantly for the binding of Fe(III), whereas Fe(III) has little effect on Al binding. The principal form of Al simulated to be bound at low pH is Al3+, AlOH2+ being dominant at pH >6; the principal bound form of Fe(III) is FeOH2+ at all pH values in the range 4–9. Simulations suggest that, in freshwaters, both Al and Fe(III) compete significantly with trace metals (Cu, Zn) for binding by natural organic matter over a wide pH range (4–9). The competition effects are especially strong for a high-affinity trace metal such as Cu, present at low total concentrations (1 nM). As a result of these competition effects, high-affinity sites in humic matter may be less important for trace metal binding in the field than they are in laboratory systems involving humic matter that has been treated to remove associated metals.
Actions (login required) | <urn:uuid:b7dec7a0-54e0-45dd-8ea4-af9c9bf05b5c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/487/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927252 | 611 | 1.570313 | 2 |
On looking up license, I found: “A revocable permission to commit some act that would otherwise be unlawful.”
If you read the Constitution of the United States, you will find the Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The Alabama Constitution has the following: “That every citizen has the right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”
It is not unlawful to carry a gun, so we do not need a permit (license). The supreme law of the United States and of the state of Alabama guarantees our right to keep and bear arms.
Although I am glad to see some freedom-minded legislators in Alabama, we do not need these laws they are proposing. We already have those rights. They might go ahead and repeal some of the unconstitutional gun laws.
It is nice for the sheriffs to be able to make some extra money by issuing permits. It is nice for the Feds to have sheriffs who have lists of people in their counties who have these permits. That makes it easier for President Obama to confiscate our weapons.
The saying, “from my cold, dead hands,” is usually attributed to actor Charlton Heston, and many people today still voice that sentiment.
Sheriff Richard Mack, who fought and won against the Brady Bill, which tried to make sheriffs pawns of the federal government, has a web page, www.cspoa.org. He lists 283 sheriffs, only six from Alabama, and eight state sheriffs’ associations who are saying no to Obama gun control. | <urn:uuid:4a1d0b0b-9f7d-4288-8e68-88881006326c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/21783091/article-Sheriffs-worry-about-legislation?instance=home_special_sections | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964727 | 357 | 1.5625 | 2 |
The Correctional Services department has reported a total of 79.25% of prisoners who wrote national senior certificate examinations passed in 2012.
Matrics get their results, the world rages over the Delhi gang-rape victim, America avoids the fiscal cliff and SA's road death toll rises.
Matric results for 2012 are looking up but they have not told us enough about the deep social inequalities experienced by pupils across the country.
Education Minister Angie Motshekga has asked the country to believe that 73.9% of grade 12s are sufficiently literate and numerate to pass matric.
The Western Cape says matriculants will receive their results on time even though the department of basic education misreported the aggregate numbers.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has announced that 73.9% of grade 12 learners passed the National Senior Certificate exams.
A total of 98.2% of students who wrote the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations under the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) have passed.
Independent Examination Board (IEB) examination results announced on Friday were a slight improvement on last year's, it has been reported.
The matric examinations of 2012 have been declared fair, valid and credible by Umalusi, said chairperson Sizwe Mabizela.
Learners from Limpopo and the Northern Cape will not be given special treatment when it comes to matric results, says Umalusi.
Mamphela Ramphele lashed out at South Africa's education system.
The disappointment of matric results is not the end of the world -- kick-start your future by using this time wisely.
In the second of his two-part article, Max price explains why UCT uses race in deciding who to admit.
The dramatic rise in the pass rate over the past two years raises unrealistic expectations about entry into higher education.
There are other factors to consider before we celebrate the 'improved' quality of our schooling.
Education experts say that the 2011 matric results show a worrying trend of high attrition at school level and low performance in critical subjects.
After a drop in its 2011 matric pass rate, the KwaZulu-Natal education department says poverty is one of the largest stumbling blocks for its pupils.
The class of 2011 has achieved a 70.2% matric pass rate -- up from 67.8% in 2010, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced.
Umalusi has announced its approval of the release of the 2011 matric exam results after decreeing the exams 'valid, fair and credible'.
SA's focus on the matric exam results obscures the fact that pupils in earlier grades lack fundamental skills. | <urn:uuid:dce6b794-80fe-4d27-8ab8-8f4c7643cf54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mg.co.za/tag/matric-exam-results/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947188 | 568 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Fear or ignorance in the sky?
Was it ignorance of Muslim tradition or legitimate concern that resulted in the delay of a U.S. passenger plane last night? Federal officials are trying to answer that question today, and an Islamic group is calling for an investigation into why the actions of six Muslim clerics resulted in the delay of a US Airways flight yesterday.
Flight 300 from Minneapolis to Phoenix was held on the ground more than three hours last night, after a passenger expressed concerns about the actions of the men to a flight attendant who, in turn, notified the pilot. In the end, passengers were removed from the flight, re-screened, and allowed to board again. Scheduled to leave at 5:15 p.m., the plane instead took off at 8:29 p.m. -- without the Muslims on board.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today says the nervous passenger was apparently alarmed by the decision of three of the imams to say their regular evening prayers in the airport before boarding the plane. "This is a growing problem of singling out Muslims or people perceived to be Muslims at airports," says CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. The group says the incident resulted from "fear and prejudice."
A federal security official says a passenger did, indeed, express concern by passing a note to a flight attendant. But the official says the passenger reported hearing the men not only make references to "Allah" but also express pro-Saddam and anti-U.S. sentiments. The official says some of the imams did not sit in their assigned seats and moved to empty seats. US Airways also says the men refused to budge when asked to leave the plane by the pilot and airport security officers.
Read more from Pete Williams
Early Nightly is up
Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b0aa69e200d834ccbd7753ef | <urn:uuid:95f44090-8e7d-46f6-b8b5-9775f62ac22b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/11/fear_or_ignoran.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964234 | 436 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Keep little ghouls, goblins safe on Halloween night
October 23, 2012
City officials reminded Issaquah residents and motorists to remain on the lookout for little ghosts and goblins on Halloween, Oct. 31.
Most neighborhoods turn into haunting grounds for dozens of trick-or-treating children on Halloween night, and safety is a paramount concern for parents and police.
Motorists need to be extra careful to watch for children dressed in costumes. Many costumes can be difficult to see at night, or include visibility-limiting masks. Young trick-or-treaters — in the excitement of the evening — may also forget the rules of road.
Halloween safety essentials
Children heading out to trick-or-treat alone on Halloween should carry some essential items to stay safe on the hunt for candy.
Seattle Children’s recommends for trick-or-treaters to carry a cellphone and flashlight with new batteries.
Parents should also consider putting a name tag — with their phone number — on children’s costumes.
Issaquah Police Department officials offer safety tips for motorists on Halloween night:
- Watch your speed and stay below the posted limit.
- Avoid distractions, including cellphones and music players.
- Never text and drive.
- Watch for children, and pay attention to what is happening on sidewalks and the roadway.
- Be extra careful when pulling in and out of driveways.
- Do not assume that children can see you or are paying attention. Motorists need to take responsibility.
- Be cautious around vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. Do not pass; they could be dropping off children.
The initial key to trick-or-treat safety is a sturdy and easy-to-spot costume.
Parents should dress trick-or-treaters in costumes that fit well and have reflective tape on them, and avoid masks that distort or impede vision. Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight or glow sticks, and remind children to look both ways and cross only at corners or crosswalks.
Seattle Children’s recommends adults accompany children younger than 10 on trick-or-treat rounds. Parents should approve a route for older children heading out on their own and know when trick-or-treaters plan to return home.
Police and Seattle Children’s said parents should check all treats to make sure candy is safely sealed and does not show any signs of tampering, such as small pinholes, loose or torn packages, and packages that appear to have been taped or glued back together. | <urn:uuid:601ea053-2b53-47ae-ac86-ab0463fd1c7e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/10/23/keep-little-ghouls-goblins-safe-on-halloween-night/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927476 | 528 | 1.984375 | 2 |
The Case of Supported Employment. How can you tell when a system is transforming to recovery? One way is to look at the employment rate of people with serious mental illnesses. For the last half-century, this rate has hovered consistently around 15 percent. Consumer surveys conducted over the last 20 years, though, have suggested that 70 percent of people in recovery wish to work. Transforming systems are engaged in reducing this discrepancy between the number of people who want to work and those who are currently employed.
One objective measure of transforming systems’ success is how effectively they have done so. Since the advent of supported employment, we can now say that a major obstacle to increasing the employment rate among persons with mental illnesses is the lack of effective community-based supports.
To read this article in entirety and for more information on supported employment, and on how supported employment differs from conventional vocational rehabilitation, go to http://www.dsgonline.com/rtp/rtparticles.
Training. RTP provides quarterly training Webinars on implementing recovery-oriented practice. Webinars are geared primarily for professional providers but also are open to mental health consumers, people in recovery, and their families; program personnel; service systems and their administrators; other stakeholders; and the community at large.
The first Webinar of the 2010 series is “Implementing Recovery-Oriented Practices 1: Emerging Trends in Workforce and Program Development.” It will take place June 8, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. Participants will hear from the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce and the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services about their perspectives, current research and practice experiences, and forecasts for the future. The session will be moderated by Larry Davidson, Ph.D., RTP Project Director.
Technical Assistance. Looking for technical
The RTP resource database is growing, with an array of valuable resources related to recovery: articles, reports, stories, videos, research, clinical tools, case studies, and experiential information.
When the RTP Web site is launched, the database will be easily navigable across the three RTP categories:
For the resource database to continue growing and become an even richer repository for the community, we need your help! To assist us in building this invaluable collection, please submit recovery resources to RTP_Contribution@dsgonline.com.
SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center was developed for users of mental health services and their families, the general public, policymakers, providers, and the media: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/.
The SAMHSA Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity, and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (known as the ADS Center) works to counteract prejudice and discrimination and promote social inclusion of people with mental health problems: http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/.
Welcome to the first e-newsletter from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery to Practice (RTP) Initiative. This new initiative is the most recent of the Federal Government’s efforts to promote recovery for all Americans affected by mental illness. It is designed to help mental health providers adopt and use recovery-oriented practices. It involves 1) creating a Recovery Resource Center, complete with Web-based and print materials, training, and technical assistance for mental health professionals, and 2) developing and disseminating curricula and training materials on recovery-oriented practice for each of the major mental health professions.
Recovery from serious mental illness is not in itself a new concept. The recovery movement began nearly 35 years ago with the courageous efforts of persons who had experienced mental illness and fought to reclaim their citizenship within the broader community. What is relatively new, however, is taking what we have learned about the nature of recovery—particularly from people who have personal experience with it—and using this knowledge to transform mental health practice. By bringing together the major mental health professions with people in recovery, advocates, and other stakeholders (including experts in curriculum and workforce development), the RTP initiative begins to address how we can translate the vision, values, and principles of recovery into the concrete and everyday practice of mental health practitioners.
Our quarterly e-newsletter will keep you up to date on our progress in bringing recovery into the mainstream of clinical practice. It also provides one of several opportunities for you to enter into this ongoing dialog. To contribute to the newsletter, please email email@example.com. Other opportunities for involvement are spelled out in the remaining sections of this issue.
—Larry Davidson, Ph.D., RTP Project Director
SAMHSA approved awards to five national behavioral health care–provider associations to hasten awareness, acceptance, and adoption of recovery-oriented practices in the delivery of mental health services. The following organizations will receive funding for the next 5 years to develop recovery-oriented educational materials and train thousands of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and mental health peer specialists:
These recovery-oriented training materials will emphasize new ways in which mental health professionals can work collaboratively across professions and support individuals with mental illnesses who are entering into and pursuing recovery. The expectation is that each profession has a unique role to play and that the respective traditions and strengths of each discipline will contribute to the collective effort to learn about and adopt new and innovative recovery-oriented practices.
The recovery-oriented training materials will be based on the 10 components of SAMHSA’s National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery. The materials will, for example, be relationship based, emphasizing the healing context in which specific services should be delivered; person centered, embracing the whole person (not just the illness or pathology), and encouraging that individual to achieve his or her life goals; hopeful; and strengths based.
For more information about these awards, email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Elyn Saks’s profound and hopeful memoir about living with schizophrenia, The Center Cannot Hold, is an inspiring journey for people with the illness, and for their family members. This story describes both Saks’s own efforts and those of the mental health professionals who worked with her at various stages of her ongoing recovery. Saks is the Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). She is also Associate Dean of the USC Gould School of Law.
This quarter’s resource spotlight is a newly published book, Practical Guide to Recovery-Oriented Practice, by RTP Project Director Larry Davidson, and colleagues Michael Rowe, Janis Tondora, Maria J. O’Connell, and Martha Staeheli Lawless. This book takes the 2003 New Freedom Commission on Mental Health’s vision for recovery and life in the community for every adult with a serious mental illness, and shows what is entailed in making this vision a reality. Beginning with the historical context of the recovery movement and its recent emergence at the center of mental health policy worldwide, the authors clarify various definitions of mental health recovery and addresses the most common misconceptions of recovery. Davidson and colleagues suggest fundamental principles for recovery-oriented care, a set of concrete practice guidelines for the field, a recovery-guide model of practice as an alternative to clinical case management, and tools to assess the recovery orientation of practices and practitioners.
To stay informed of all the RTP Resource Center’s many activities and events, and to receive all Resource Center communications, join the ListServ.
For more information about RTP, contact us at email@example.com, or call 877.584.8535. | <urn:uuid:ecb66a50-75a0-4c22-9f93-50563c798a3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dsgonline.com/rtp/rtp_enewsletter/Enewsletter_Final_4_30_10.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929019 | 1,598 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Archive for April, 2012
Are you set cross the tests this school time? And also would you halt up while using testing?
Below are some good ideas that will assist you gain greater test ranks together with decrease the pressure related to using the tests simultaneously. Since a hypnotherapist, I possess tested out a large number of students in, junior high school, high school, also university. I discover these ideas assist just students get over panic due to examine using, also develop memory space also recall. The outcomes are greater assessment ratings.
1. Gain a great evening rest before the exam. You should never stay up throughout the night. Your mind works a lot much better after a great night’s rest. You may have a well rested beginning to feel into the examination class and address hallway.
2. Inhale on a deep inner level. For all those in the class, start inhaling and exhaling on a deep inner level or intentionally. Imagine to on your own, the check is going to be simple, therefore you really feel assured in the quality you may achieve after using the exam.
While the tutor stops away the exam which is in the palm, seize a few gradual strong breathes. At any moment you breathe in; experience power getting into your body and mind. Experience the power encourages your mind. Every time you breathe out, image, and also really feel every bit of the pressure leaving the chest.
3. By pass the hard questions. When you start using the exam, solution just the topics, you can be assured in, to start with. Every time you reject a tough question, get slow strong breaths later, enabling the body to calm as well as your mind to concentrate on the simple topics.
You will discover you may quickly desire to return to the hard query, responding to it. Go on and achieve this at the moment.
4. be aware of, you can be wiser compared to you first thought. Regardless of exactly what the mother and father stated or even exactly what the instructors believe , you can be a lot wiser compared to you first thought . When you unwind the body and also concentrate your mind, you will once more start to really feel additional in command of your own results of the tests. All you get actually found out, noticed, handled, tasted and smelled is actually kept in your mind. When you calm, you will discover it simpler to be aware of data.
5. By no means, cheat on an examination. By cheating on an examination, we know that these you position yourself an opportunity of expulsion from college, but in addition you can be transferring a note to your mind that you happen to be not clever enough to get an examination by yourself. What goes on then is you get rid of self-respect, for not just the examination you can be using presently, but additionally almost all assessments or just topics. The reduction in self-respect is a bit more not harmful is going to carry out you around for a longer time compared to expulsion from school.
The insufficient self-respect will discover impact own interactions, tasks, or making energy over forever. Calm or have confidence in on your own to keep in mind the data you require without cheating on tests.
When you go down the freeway in the 1 space education home on pulleys, possibilities for instructing are plentiful. Along with the normal every day training program, it is possible to include journey particular training into the everyday train. For instance, the mathematics training starts once you visit the area completing department to best off the tank. Check with the owners’ guide of the motor house or discover the power in gallons of the energy tank. In the event that grow older and also quality suitable possess the younger student transfer this dimension from gallons to litters. For younger kids, an exciting exercise would be to allow them to keep an eye on the send via the RV windowpane and also rely the gallons or maybe tenths of gallons that put into the motor houses energy tank. Obviously with the present cost of gasoline, this exercise is a lot more enjoyable on their behalf compared to suit your needs.
As soon as you’ve packed the tank, escape the guide and also take a seat with the college student to research the path. Check with the generator home’s guide once again and also discover the number of kilometres per gallon you will probably obtain. Assist the young kid write a system to discover how long down the organized path you’ll manage to take a trip before the motor house takes energy again. It is possible to assist your kid utilize the guide to assist get around when you take a trip along. Strategy a negative journey at the inspire of the time. Request your kid to let you know just how this part journey is going to impact the schedule or energy charge?
For everybody who is in the beginning stages in the profession or want to educate you on kids with physiological or psychological disabilities, consider signing up for on the internet unique education programs.
In recent times, the requirement for unique education is presented priority consideration, because it ought to. Or initial classification or involvement is the starting point in assisting those students discovers how to address their circumstances together with master existence.
In some nations such as the US along with the UK, it will be essential for unique training instructors to keep levels to show their capability, detail of working out or publicity in the area. Even though, due to the require, certain are instructing with crisis accreditation to instantly handle the requirements or preferences associated with these unique children. To focus on this problem, widely used worldwide universities make unique education programs available on the web to fascinated people no matter in which they perhaps residing. Hence, essentially, it rates up the strategy of getting levels or working out accreditation in case you wish to train kids with unique requirements.
Online unique education programs train mainly via a couple of components offered by facilitators to educators. All the components emphasizes classes or parts created for particular instructing targets and goals for example : to correctly bring in or acquaint the instructors to the character of unique training or their long term students, to orient or make these to the style of environment are going to employed in, development to professional concepts or investigation; methodical instructing methods or determining requirements, strategies or functions for profitable student-teacher understanding or others.
Educational techniques or functions will differ based on the school which are selected. You will discover people who provide focus on support or help, enhanced performance in managing unique students, working out functionality or use, etc. When you will find people who deal with footings or methodologies for greater education, appropriate power over students, guided student education or personalized educational techniques.
Online education and learning is dispersing around the world similar to a wildfire fuelled by books or regular desks. Hundreds of thousands who earlier believed that a level was tightly from their achieve have found that most it requires to think about university in today’s globe are the mixture of a couple of free of charge time every day or use of the Web. Maybe due to the easy using courses at one’s leisure, online training remains to be increasing craze all over the world.
An important part of the attract online training is the fact it will be actually great for everybody. Educators may insert a fresh mission industry in posting or applying an internet course which enables you to utilize these earnings to supplement the profit that get from class training. Young people of any age possess a substitute for conventional courses wherein they are able to understand without the disturbance of additional students’ behavioral disturbances. Grownups who happen to have overlooked away on their college diplomas are blessed with the chance , via online training , to total and more their tests without the talking to issues that could have created this difficult previously . The community advantages from rescued tax; each student that participates in an internet academic training program corresponds to a lower load on the taxpayer funded community training method. Lastly, online training provides companies the opportunity to teach their staff at smaller price along with the advantage of an era of PC literate or others greatly educated potential workers getting into the task industry.
Online training helps you to save period, dollars, and also provides chance to people who might have by no means needed it previously. This could really be the wave of the upcoming days. | <urn:uuid:9329f9af-eb9b-4f8f-b876-15d577eb383d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michaelgrattan.com/2012/04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948324 | 1,685 | 1.625 | 2 |
Fill The Void, a first feature film written and directed by Israeli Rama Burshstein, offers a view of a fictional Hasidic family and their community. The world may be an uncertain place but not in Rabbi Aheron’s well to do family. Everyone knows their place and rules are set down and tightly followed. Burshstein opens her film in a brightly lit supermarket, where Rivka Aheron (Irit Sheleg) and her daughter Shira (Hadas Yaorn) appear to be surreptitiously shopping for a husband. Eighteen year-old Shira is excited to get a peek at her equally young prospective husband Pinchas. Catching him wiping his glasses clean on his clothing, Shira practically squeals with delight. This is love at first sight.
In this Hasidic community marriage is arranged and the likely bride and groom usually do not know each other. An offer of marriage usually comes from the boy’s family. There are arranged marriages in many traditional cultures. What Burshstein wants us to see is that arranged marriage is not a cut and dry contract. Flesh and blood and, yes, sexual desire, beat inside these matches.
Tragedy turns the story. Shira’s older sister Esther (Renana Raz), nine months pregnant, falls into a coma and dies. The child, a boy, lives. There is a funeral and then a circumcision. The community is shown always by the family’s side. Burshstein shoots in small rooms filled with lots of caring people. Esther’s husband Yochay (Yiftag Klein) is now alone with a motherless child. Rivka is beside herself mourning her daughter. The community begins to worry about the baby and a potential new wife, a widow in Belgium, is found for Yochay. Rivka fears losing her grandchild and decides that young Shira should marry Yochay. Shira is shocked by this proposal.
We see Shira as strong in her resistance to her mother and father and at first she rejects Yochay. But whatever her objections, Shira and the audience understand that her options are limited by her sense of duty and devotion to her family. Shira wants to marry. The question is what are her choices. Burshstein softens Shira’s dilemma by making Yochay an attractive character. He is portrayed as a sensitive, tender man both with Shira, and in earlier scenes, with his now dead wife Esther. Open and honest with Shira, they slowly get to know each other. Shira and Yochay are eventually drawn to each other and there is as close to a sex scene as you can get in such a story. Shira finally concedes and Burshstein shoots her as a beatific bride. Alone together following the wedding, Shira and Yochay may or may not live happily ever after. If not, I am sure Burshstein will tell you that unarranged marriages do not do so well either.
All of the characters in the film are lovingly drawn. Rama Burshstein is a member of the community she portrays and she takes great pains not to offend. She makes no judgments and takes us cautiously inside a community that is usually secreted away. In a press screening via Skype she confesses that she only shows what is allowable. The fact that a mother might sacrifice the happiness of her daughter to keep a grandchild near is glossed over. The young women in her film are eager to become brides and there is shame connected to the single woman in the community. The film pays no attention to any aspirations these young women might have beyond their traditional roles. Yet, Burshstein appears to be ambitious for something more for herself and has shown some degree of courage making her film. She has made a good first film. I look forward to seeing her next effort.
Barbara Castro is a Family Mediator and is currently working on a film project to introduce divorcing families to the benefits of mediation rather than litigation. | <urn:uuid:a94cd489-0f7a-4814-a080-24300652fa3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thewip.net/profile/BarbaraCastro | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975759 | 833 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Written by PETA
PETA staffer Misty Collins and her dog, Bindi, are competing in the Bissell MVP (Most Valuable Pet) photo contest, and if Bindi wins, Misty gets to donate $10,000 to the animal charity of her choice. She would like to see the prize go to PETA, and if you would too, all you have to do is vote for Bindi.
Misty considers Bindi "most valuable" no matter what, but Bindi didn't always have it so easy. On Christmas Day five years ago, a homeless person rang Misty's doorbell with the then 5-week-old puppy wrapped in a trash bag. The woman told Misty that she could have the dog if she bought her a pack of cigarettes. Misty immediately took in the puppy and got her veterinary care and a "snip" at PETA's spay-and-neuter clinic.
Help Bindi go from trash to cash and help PETA snip many more dogs and cats by voting for Bindi. You can vote once a day through April 5, 2011.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to
an animal, please click
here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the
animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local
police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA
immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
Follow PETA on Twitter!
Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more. | <urn:uuid:915dedd1-c865-4d23-972d-5dc27459ee7b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/tags/Bissell+MVP/default.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958363 | 398 | 1.679688 | 2 |
U.S. economy shifted into reverse in late 2012
|In this Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, file photo, containers are unloaded from cargo ships at APM Terninals in the Port of Los Angeles. The U.S. economy unexpectedly shrank from October through December, the first quarterly drop since 2009 and a reminder of the economy's vulnerability as automatic cuts in government spending loom. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)|
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy shrank unexpectedly late last year, a reminder of the biggest threat it faces in 2013: sharp government spending cuts and prolonged political budget fights.
A plunge in defense spending helped push the economy into negative territory for the first time since mid-2009. The contraction in the October-December quarter came in at an annual rate of 0.1 percent, according to a government estimate released Wednesday.
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- Housing and jobs key to lifting S&P toward record
- Nation's liberal arts colleges forced to evolve with market
- Fuel cell plant signals dawn of new era in Bridgeport
- Partnership buys, fills downtown Waterbury office building
- Avis buying Zipcar in deal worth nearly $500M
- State investigating closing of R.I.-based business schools
- Malloy seeking ways to expand Small Business Express Program
- Google emerges from FTC probe relatively unscathed
- Boulier takes the helm of Naugatuck Savings Bank
- Deadline approaching for borrowers to get piece of foreclosure settlement | <urn:uuid:bf0c2435-39ba-4040-be7c-0e7eb4ffddb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2013/01/31/Business/700835.txt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910636 | 414 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Cuban President Raul Castro welcomed recent overtures from President Barack Obama and said he is ready to talk about all aspects of life on the Cold War flashpoint island, a statement hailed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE STATE OF PLAY ON STATE OF PLAY.
** RAPPROCHEMENT WITH CUBA? As the Summit of the Americas begins on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Cuban President Raul Castro is nowhere to be seen. As a non-democracy, Cuba is the only nation in the Hemisphere not taking part in the summit. But speaking at a summit in Caracas with his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Castro said he is willing to discuss all aspects of his country’s policies, including human rights and the remaining political prisoners, with the Obama Administration.
Obama took what he described yesterday in Mexico City as “the first step” by ending restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba by Cuban-Americans with relatives on the island nation. The next move, he says, is up to Cuba. And so far at least, that move is strictly rhetorical.
Still, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the move by Castro, who replaced ailing but still active brothel Fidel a couple of years ago.
The head of the Organization of American States said today he will push for Cuba’s reinstatement. Cuba was ousted 47 years ago from membership.
While I’ve never been caught up in the cha-cha-cha Marxist romance of Cuba, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a long time ago and the reality is that we have closer relations with countries that are at least as problematic in their practices.
** SCHMIDT LAYS OUT HIS VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WHY REPUBLICANS SHOULD EMBRACE GAY MARRIAGE. As mentioned in an item early this morning, Steve Schmidt, John McCain’s former presidential campaign director and manager of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s big re-election win as California’s governor, spoke today to the Log Cabin Republicans national convention in Washington.
Schmidt, who I profiled on the Huffington Post after he took over the McCain campaign last year, is a hardball political consultant but not a hardline conservative. He encouraged Schwarzenegger to champion the climate change issue and push for the state’s biggest infrastructure investments in two generations. Schmidt, former counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, is a moderate on social issues, and not merely because his sister is a lesbian.
Speaking publicly for one of the first times since the end of the presidential campaign, John McCain’s campaign manager Steve Schmidt painted a dire portrait of the state of the Republican Party, arguing that the GOP has largely been co-opted by its religious elements.
“If you put public policy issues to a religious test, you risk becoming a religious party,” Schmidt declared. “And in a free country, a political party cannot be viable in the long term if it is seen as a sectarian party.”
The remarks came in a passionate, roughly 20-minute speech before the Log Cabin Republican’s national convention, in which Schmidt laid out the case for a far more open party — one which did not consider gay marriage to be a “litmus test” issue. And while he made it a purpose not to offend social conservatives — they “remain an indispensable part of the Republican coalition,” he said — Schmidt did not hide his concerns that religion had become the predominant thread of the GOP. …
Looking beyond the issue of marriage, Schmidt’s diagnosis of the GOP’s ills was fairly ominous. “Our coalition,” he declared, “is shrinking and losing ground to segments of the population that is growing, whether it is with suburban voters, working class, college educated voters, Hispanics, or left handed Albania psychics, the percentage voting republican has declined precipitously.”
Schmidt warned, particularly, that losses among Hispanic voters threatened to “cost the Republicans the entire southwest,” a development that would make winning 270 electoral votes a near impossibility. “Had Sen. McCain not been the nominee in 2008,” he said, “I am convinced we would have lost the state of Arizona.”
The road back would be arduous, he added, even if politics are inherently cyclical. “I think Republicans ought to embrace this ‘Lord of the Flies’ period,” he said at one point, “when there is no clear leader in the party. And the problems of the party are not going to be corrected by any single big day event, you know, tea parties for instance. The problems of the party will be fixed over time and as we go through this period of time. There needs to be an opportunity for new leaders to emerge.”
And while the chance for an Obama-backlash was apparent — “should the recession grow deeper or longer” — and the likelihood of a “national disaster or any number of other contingencies” remained, Republicans, Schmidt added, should not “take comfort from knowing our party’s success could come at the expense of the country or rely on blunders of the administration.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, seen in this NWN video, sued the Environmental Protection Agency in 2007 for ignoring greenhouse gases.
** E.P.A. – GREENHOUSE GASES ENDANGER PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE. The US Environmental Protection Agency today issued a long-expected finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. EPA scientists mostly decided as long as two years that such was the case, but were blocked from issuing such a finding by Bush/Cheney political appointees.
This move clears the way for regulation by the EPA and/of legislation, after a 60-day public comment period. It also further clears the way for the EPA to grant the long-sought waiver under the Clean Air Act for California to implement its vehicle emissions law, enacted in 2002. The EPA noted in today’s finding that vehicles are a principal sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Obama Administration would like to do an omnibus bill on greenhouse gas reductions, but will be hard-pressed to do so in the next year. The California program, which will encompass many other states able to follow California’s lead under the Clean Air Act, is a backdoor way to set up greenhouse gas regulation over most of the country via state regulation.
Obama endorsed the California approach in 2007, while a seeming darkhorse candidate, in Iowa, as previously reported. He pledged during the campaign to make sure the EPA granted California its waiver, which had been automatic prior to the greenhouse gas issue, something the Bush/Cheney Administration denied was a problem.
President Barack Obama, yesterday in Mexico City, pledged help for Mexico in curbing the flow of guns and money to the drug cartels, but will not push for reinstatement of the US assault weapons ban.
** OBAMA AND MEXICO: MANAGING INCIPIENT CHAOS. Another country, another crisis. President Barack Obama summited yesterday in Mexico City with President Felipe Calderon, pledging to help Mexico’s elected government beat back the challenge of powerful drug cartels that increasingly out-gun Mexican security forces. But Obama’s measures will only manage the incipient chaos, not end it.
Which has actually long been typical of America’s policies with regard to Mexico.
In his 1981 book “The Nine Nations of North America,” author Joel Garreau referred to the Border Patrol as “a regulatory agency.” In the sense that it was not set up to halt illegal immigration from Mexico but to manage it. To make it difficult enough to prevent an open border scenario, but not so difficult as to prevent American businesses from benefiting from the efficiencies of an influx of cheap labor, even as American social institutions struggled to provide services. …
** SCHMIDT URGES LEGALIZATION OF GAY MARRIAGE IN WASHINGTON SPEECH. In a speech today to the Log Cabin Republicans national convention in Washington, former John McCain for President campaign director Steve Schmidt is urging the legalization of same-sex marriage. The Log Cabin Republicans are the principal organization for gays and lesbians in the Republican Party.
Schmidt, who is married to a former Navy nurse, managed the landslide re-election victory of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he continues to advise, and ran the war room in former President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign.
He’s previously urged the legalization of same-sex marriage, but today he is arguing that the Republicans need to get on the side of history and push aside old prejudices. I’ll have more about this.
President Barack Obama, speaking yesterday in Mexico City in advance of today’s Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago – from which Cuba is excluded – noted steps he’s just taken to liberalize relations with Cuba and said it’s time for Cuba to make some moves.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama travels this morning from Mexico City, where he held a summit meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, to the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where he will take part in the 34-nation Summit of the Americas.
The only nation not represented in this collection of democracies is Cuba. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has already announced that he will not sign the summit’s communique in protest of Cuba’s exclusion.
Vice President Joe Biden is today again in Missouri.
Biden attends a morning meeting at the University of Missouri in St. Louis on making college affordable to the middle class. In the afternoon, Biden makes an announcement, also in St. Louis, of a new program to prepare Missouri youth for future jobs.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks this morning at the California March for Water rally at San Luis Reservoir in Los Banos, a community near the Central Coast.
This is the final day of the water march organized by the Latino Water Coalition, a bipartisan group backed by growers and Latino community organizations.
** EARL GREY, ANYONE? A CALIFORNIA CAPITOL TEA PARTY. Before a crowd that organizers claimed was 15,000 to 20,000, but these experienced ex-advance man’s eyes saw as about 3,000, a parade of right-wing personalities used tax day to decry taxation, government, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and President Barack Obama with a rally outside California’s state Capitol in Sacramento.
The event, like other so-called tea parties around the country, was heavily promoted by the Fox News channel, right-wing talk radio hosts, and the right-wing blogosphere. …
If you are wondering what Fox News is doing organizing anti-administration rallies around the country, its obvious strategy is to aggregate all the already existing opponents of Obama into one audience. …
** OBAMA’S CRISIS MANAGEMENT: OF PIRATES AND MISSILES. Barack Obama’s management of two flashpoint crises — both relatively minor but caught up in the now typical hysteria of our media culture — gives us some good clues about his crisis management style.
The just concluded hostage crisis off the coast of Somalia and the launch early this month of a new North Korean missile showed Obama in “no drama” mode, determined to avoid distraction and continue with his core messaging strategy.
Obama actually took a lower profile public role with the more consequential of the two crises, the Somali pirate hostage crisis, than he did with the North Korean missile launch. But he seems to have spent more time behind the scenes on the crisis on which he spent the least amount of time before the cameras. …
** OBAMA’S NEW GEOPOLITICS: 10 KEY TAKEAWAYS. President Barack Obama’s just concluded big international tour is part of a major reshuffling in geopolitics. Here are 10 key takeaways from happenings in and around his trip. …
** TURKEY: NOT THE USUAL GEOPOLITICAL SANDWICH. In the wake of some desultory results over the weekend at the NATO and European Union summits, President Barack Obama is in Turkey Monday and Tuesday making a hard bid for what could be a huge new alliance for America.
The US has long had cordial relations with Turkey, the only Muslim nation in NATO. But after the end of the Cold War, things drifted between the two countries, only to turn downright frosty during the Bush/Cheney years.
The principal problem was the previous administration’s insistence on the Iraq War, with the overarching problem that of the administration’s dominant neoconservative ideology lending the distinct atmospherics of a “clash between civilizations.” … From April 6th column.
** RE-SETTING THE GEOPOLITICAL TABLE: HOW OBAMA’S BIG TRIP IS GOING. One down, three to go. At a time when the geopolitical table is being re-set, President Barack Obama is in the midst of a huge international tour. London’s G-20 summit – with several bilateral mini-summits having taken place on the side — has concluded. The NATO summit is underway in France and Germany. Waiting not far off in the wings are the European Union summit in Prague and an intriguing summit in Turkey.
With NATO’s future mission very unclear, I suspect the two most successful stops will be the first and the last. … From my April 3rd column.
** AFGHANISTAN: THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM? America has won two wars in Afghanistan in the past quarter-century. First against the late Soviet Union, then against the radical Islamist Taliban. But each time, eminently distractable America has taken its eye off the ball, and the victories have proved evanescent.
Now, under new President Barack Obama, the U.S. is hoping the third time’s the charm. But does the new strategy miss the reasons why America succeeded — to the extent it did — the first two times around in Afghanistan? Does it meet the announced mission, or lead to something else? And how is it faring so far, in the midst of international conferences and at the beginning of a tour by Obama that takes him to summits in Britain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Turkey? …
** PRIME TIME O: HOW THE OMNIPRESENT PRESIDENT IS DOING. … From my March 25th column.
** OBAMA’S RUGGED WEEK. … From my March 23rd column.
** OBAMA’S CALIFORNIA: THE ARNOLD ALLIANCE AND MORE. … From my March 20th column.
** CNBC CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM ITS HOUSE, AND OTHER FIN DE SIECLE FOLLIES. …From my March 16th column.
** OUR MAN IN KABUL: BACKBITING ON THE EVE OF THE NEW OBAMA STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN. … From my March 13th column.
** OBAMA’S DARING TOUR D’HORIZON: THE NEW PRESIDENT ENGAGES MULTIPLE CRISES AND PROBES FOR OPPORTUNITY. … From my March 11th column.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in two wars in the region, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. Based in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Al Jazeera is very influential and more than a bit controversial.
Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer. The NWN live link to AJ does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included.
Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, crude oil is trading around $51 per barrel.
This is up about $17 a barrel since enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, on anticipation of increased economic activity down the line, and on increased implementation of already agreed upon OPEC production cutbacks to support the price.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. | <urn:uuid:7ccc133a-16ff-4fa6-824c-4e7cfe90b4e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newwestnotes.com/2009/04/17/non-random-notes-75/ | 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 | 0.943857 | 3,862 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Future Reflections Fall 1989, Vol. 8 No. 3
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Sometime this past spring, Susan Christensen, Literary Braille Chairman of the National Braille Association, Inc. (N.B.A.), called the National Federation of the Blind. She needed ideas, information, and resources for a workshop she was going to be conducting for Braille transcribers on the topic, "Storybooks Format for Braille." I and several other Federationist talked with Ms. Christensen and contributed what thoughts and knowledge we had on the topic. Later, I received a letter from Ms. Christensen. She thanked us for our help, said that the workshop was very enthusiastically received, and included a resource list of Braille storybooks which she had compiled for the workshop. She hopes to add to the list as she finds out about other sources or as new sources open up. Here, then, is the list.
Before Brailling a storybook, check to see if it is available from another source. The following are grouped according to purchase or loan availability. Apparently there is no established listing available for resources of children's books. If you know of other resources please let me know, so a complete list will be available to those requesting one. N.B.A. does not make any claim to the quality of these books, only that these sources are available.
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115. (617) 266-6160
National Braille Press offers a Book-of-the-Month
Club. The grade level (preschool to third grade) and type
of book varies from month to month. There are two ways
to be a member.
1. The current month's selection description is sent each month, which allows the person to accept or decline the particular book. There is no fee for being a member and there is no obligation for purchasing a certain number of books.
2. For $100 a year, each month's current selection is automatically sent. It usually turns out that the club member receives twelve books for the price of eleven.
American Printing House
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085. (502) 895-2405
Available books are listed in their general catalog.
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02172. (617) 924- 3434
Limited titles (in print/Braille) are listed in their general catalog.
Seedlings: Braille Books for Children
8447 Marygrove Drive
Detroit, Ml 48221. (313) 862-7828
Print and Braille catalogs are available. Braille-only and print/Braille books are available.
Sense-Able Braille Books
5999 W. Meisenheimer Road, P.O. Box 333
Ludington, Ml 49431-0333. (616) 845-6464
Catalog is available. The books are for junior and senior high grades.
Braille Institute of America
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029. (213) 663-1111
EXPECTATIONS is an anthology of current children's literature published by the Braille Institute, published once a year. It is free of charge to all blind children in grades three through six.
Guild for the Blind
(formerly the Catholic Guild)
1800 North Michigan
Chicago, IL 60601. (312) 236-8569
Children's books at different reading levels are available. Catalog in print and Braille.
Naperville Area Transcribing
for the Blind (NATB)
670 North Eagle Street
Naperville, IL 60540. (312) 420-1863 Contact: Gloria Buntrock, Coordinator
NOTE: The Naperville Area Transcribing for the Blind started a General Interest Registry in 1983. There are currently 21 listing agencies for children's literature, cookbooks, fiction and nonfiction, knitting/crocheting patterns, computers and electronics, health, hobbies, music, religion, career, and miscellaneous. There are over 250 children's literature books listed at this time. Please use this service to avoid duplication of our efforts, and register your books too. They have printed their first catalog, and it's available in print only. The General Interest Catalog is $3.50. There is no fee for registering or using the service.
National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
The Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20542. 1-800-424-9100
Application is made with NLS, and materials are loaned through a national network of state and local libraries. Catalogs are available for choosing selections.
American Brotherhood for the Blind
18440 Oxnard Street
Tarzana, CA 91356. (213) 343-2022
Has a lending library of 30,000 books in Twin Vis Braille--only for preschool through junior high. The) sex, reading level, and interests of the child are re with the agency. There is no selection available by the ( but 3-4 books are chosen and sent. The loan period i months. Records are kept by the agency to avoid di tion of books being sent.
Christian Education for the Blind, Inc.
P.O. Box 6399
Fort Worth, TX 76115. (817) 923-0603
Religious and general literature books are a\ Limited to two books at a time for one month.
Christian Record Braille Foundation, Inc.
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln, NE 68516. (402) 488-0981
Basically set up for blind parents reading to sij children, but will consider loaning to blind children. Lii number of religious and general literature books are i able. Limited to two volumes for 30-60 days.
Braille Circulating Library, Inc.
2700 Stuart Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220. (804) 359-3743
Religious (some fiction) books are available. Generally limited to one title for six weeks. Catalog is available in print and Braille.
Whidbey Island Braillists
45 East Henni Road Oak
Harbor, WA 98277. (206) 675-9439 (Dottie Jordan)
This group originally started the library for blind parents reading to sighted children, but is open to anyone. The books are for one year olds to beginning grade school, and are print/Braille. The child's age and interests are registered and four books are sent every two weeks (there is no choice of selections). Records are kept to avoid duplication of books being sent.
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There is also a video on Holy Blossom Cemetery.
Nine are active, two are closed to burials:
• Pape Avenue Cemetery (Holy Blossom or Jews' Cemetery), 1849 (closed)
• Jones Avenue Cemetery, 1883 (partially active)
• Dawes Road Cemetery, 1903 (active)
• Roselawn Avenue Cemetery, 1905 (active)
• Lambton Mills Cemetery (Royal York Rd.), 1909 (active)
• Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 1920 (active)
• Bathurst Lawn Memorial Park / Woods Cemetery, 1929 (active)
• Holy Blossom Memorial Park, 1929 (active)
• Beth Tzedek Memorial Park, 1949 (active)
• Shaarei Shomayim Cemetery / Machzika B'nai Israel, 1933 (closed)
• Pardes Shalom / Toronto Hebrew Memorial Park, 1975 (active)
Over the next few weeks, volunteers from the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto will visit every grave in the area, armed with digital cameras to photograph the stones to record the inscriptions for posterity.
Holy Blossom was also known as Pape Avenue Cemetery or Jews' Cemetery, and in the area where the community's roots began some 160 years ago.
Jews settling a new area are charged with first organizing a consecrated cemetery before a synagogue is established.
In 1849, there were only about three dozen Jews in the city; two businessmen (jeweller Judah Joseph and piano maker Abraham Nordheimer)paid £20 to purchase land east of town for the cemetery. Joseph's son Samuel was ill this provided impetus to the plot purchase, as the closest Jewish cemeteries were in Montreal and Buffalo. The boy is believed to be the first person buried in the cemetery in 1850.
Ontario Jewish Archives director Ellen Scheinberg says Pape Cemetery was the resting place for all the city's first Jewish families and for others who came later.
Read more about the location, and the cemetery which closed some 70 years ago. Visitors still come to see relatives' graves.
While none of the earliest tombstones survives – all that is known of Samuel Joseph's grave is that it was near the gate – the history in the local Jewish community can nonetheless be read in those that remain.
There are names and dates, of course, but there are also subtle hints about the community's identity. Birthplaces listed on the oldest stones include villages in England while Germany and Eastern Europe are on later ones. Eventually, Toronto is listed.
As well, some of the original stones are inscribed entirely in Hebrew or German, while later ones contain a mix of Hebrew, German and English.
The city's first synagogue was built a decade after the cemetery on Pape. Today there are 118 synagogues and congregations in the Toronto area and some 80 Jewish schools, as well as many Jewish organizations and institutions. | <urn:uuid:c5457d7e-5436-4279-a55d-9fa0fe10bbd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/2008/04/toronto-founding-jewish-cemetery.html?showComment=1273169895686 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96448 | 590 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounces the UK government as "evil"
The UK has told an Iranian diplomat that Ayatollah Khamenei's description of the British government as "evil" is unacceptable.
UK officials had summoned Iran's ambassador, Rasul Movaheddian, to the Foreign Office to lodge a protest.
But they were told he was unavailable and Iran sent its charge d'affaires, a more junior official, in his place.
The row was sparked by Ayatollah Khamenei saying the UK was the "most evil" of Western governments.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We made clear to the Iranian charge that the supreme leader's comments were unacceptable and not based in fact. In the ambassador's absence, the charge was called in."
Shift of position
The meeting at the Foreign Office is understood to have lasted less than 20 minutes.
The BBC News website world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says the decision to summon senior Iranian diplomats represents a shift of position by the British government which up until now had wanted to avoid getting involved in public arguments with Iran.
By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent
Britain is traditionally regarded by the hardliners in Iran as an enemy of Iran. This goes back to 1953 when Britain and the US engineered a coup against the elected government of Mohammed Mossadeq to retain control of Iran's oil.
The US became the main Iranian target after the fall of the Shah but Britain appears to have been singled out now largely because of the recently launched TV channel BBC Persian, which the British Foreign Office has helped to fund. When the British ambassador in Tehran was called in earlier in the week, the main Iranian complaint was about BBC coverage.
Ayatollah Khamenei's attack has forced the British government to change its policy of keeping a low profile. Previously, in a policy also adopted by the United States, it wanted to avoid any public row with Iran.
It felt that any critical comment it might make about the election (which it believes was rigged) would give the Iranian government an excuse to accuse the UK and US especially of meddling. This has now happened anyway.
He added: "The line had been that it wanted to avoid giving the Iranians any reason to blame Britain for interfering. The US government has taken a similar view.
"However, Ayatollah Khamenei's description of Britain as the most 'evil' of foreign governments was a step too far."
British diplomats are thought to believe Britain is being used as "proxy" for the United States, because Iran does not want to endanger its improving relations with America.
In his first public remarks after days of demonstrations, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a stern warning that protests against the country's disputed presidential election results must end.
In his address to tens of thousands of worshippers at Tehran Friday prayers, which was broadcast live by Iranian state TV and radio, he said the outcome must be decided at the ballot box, not on the street. He voiced support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying the president's views on foreign affairs and social issues were close to his.
Demonstrators calling for a new election earlier vowed to stage fresh protests on Saturday.
Ayatollah Khamenei also lashed out at Western governments in his address.
He told worshippers: "I urge old friends and brothers to be patient and keep control of ourselves.
"Please see the hands of the enemy. Please see the hungry wolves in ambush, who are gradually even removing their mask of diplomacy and showing their true faces. Be aware of them.
"Today, senior diplomats of some Western countries, who addressed us diplomatically up until today, have now removed their masks. They are showing their true faces.
"They are showing their enmity against the Islamic Republic system and the most evil of them is the British government."
Speaking at the European summit in Brussels, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted that Britain and the EU wished to have good relations with Iran, but that human rights should be respected.
He said: "The whole world is looking at Iran, at the speech that has been made today but also what is happening in Iran has been happening over the last few weeks.
"It is for the Iranian people to decide their future in elections.
"We are with others, including the whole of the European Union, unanimous today, in condemning the use of violence, in condemning media suppression and in condemning attempts, of course, to make sure that there are people, who are political prisoners who are not free to express their views in Iran.
"What we want is to have a good relationship with Iran in the future but that depends on Iran being able to show to the world that its elections have been conducted fairly and that there is no unfair suppression of rights or of individuals in that country."
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The Yarra Valley Melbourne
The Yarra Valley is blessed with some of the most gorgeous countryside in Victoria. Distant blue ranges, rolling hills strung with vines, towering trees, pristine rivers and green valleys make up the spectacular backdrop around townships such as Marysville and Warburton.
Walk or drive along scenic routes to stunning waterfalls and lookouts. The region is colourful and brilliant offering a perfect escape from the city.
The Yarra Valley is all about producing excellent wines and delicious food, and enjoying them amongst beautiful sceneries.
At just half an hour’s drive from Melbourne, many of Victoria’s best small wineries lie on the road to Healesville, Warburton and Yarra Glen. Pick up a brochure from one of the local visitor information centres and follow their advised winery tour or create your own journey.
The Yarra Valley is acknowledged as one of the world’s great wine growing regions. It is also the place where the Victorian wine industry was born in 1838 when a vineyard was planted at what is now Yering Station.
Today the Yarra Valley is home to over 55 wineries, most of which offer cellar door tasting and sales. It is Australia’s finest region for pinot noir and sparkling wines.
Many wineries are as serious about cuisine as they are about their harvest, matching the wine they make with local produce in restaurants located in picturesque vineyards. In fact, winery restaurants have succeeded in making a name for themselves in serious gourmet circles.
Take the Eastern Freeway to the Springvale Road exit, turn right onto Springvale Road and then left at Maroondah Highway.
Wine country starts in outer suburbia north of the Maroondah highway just before Lilydale (turn-offs are signposted). North of Lilydale, you can check out wineries (again, all signposted) along or near three routes:
- The Warburton Highway to the east
- The Maroondah Highway to Healesville
- The melba Highway heading north past Yarra Glen.
- Winery tour self drive: experience local produce and wines of the Yarra Valley region
- Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife Park: meet the Aussie wildlife. The sanctuary also provides care for injured and orphaned animals
- Marysville: browse around the art and crafts shops for locally made products or sample traditional sweets at the old style Lolly Shop
- Warburton: browse around the work of local woodworkers and craftspeople at the Yarra Valley Showcase or Brittania Creek Glass
- Maroondah Reservoir Loukoot
- Lake Mountain (1400m) near Marysville: very popular area for cross-country skiing and tobogganing.
- Steavensons Falls: one of the highest waterfalls in Victoria at 82m
- Lady Talbot Forest Drive: unsealed road through magnificent eucalyptus forest. Stop for a picnic lunch, a short rainforest walk, and to see waterfalls and panoramic views along the way
- Cathedral Range State Park
- Cumberland Memorial Scenic Reserve: check out Cora Lynn Falls and The Big Tree – the tallest living tree known in Victoria
- Myrtle beech rainforest: stroll to the Ada Tree - at over 300 years old this mountain ash is thought to be one of the largest known flowering trees in the world | <urn:uuid:5bcad9f7-eca6-4dc4-8ed8-c2f9dbd49b5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.informationcentres.com.au/information/melbourne/places-to-go/the-yarra-valley-melbourne.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925157 | 715 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Queens Village, NY - Spring may have just begun, but rest assured, before long June and July will be here.
That means fun, vacations and beaches for most - and for some of our more ambitious young people, summer jobs. Participants can be placed in many different types of jobs, at employers ranging from nonprofit agencies to retail stores. Employers who participate get extra summer help for free - the city pays the minimum wage salaries - in exchange for hiring, supervising and helping to train the young people.
Applications for the 2012 Summer Youth Employment Program became available online today for those between the ages of 14 and 24. Those interested can also visit summer employment Facebook page. The candidates for employment are selected through a lottery system and applicants are urged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline to submit applications is May 18, 2012.
Participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs at government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, nonprofits, small businesses, law firms, museums, sports enterprises, and retail organizations. According to Assemblywoman Clark, "For many young people, the jobs allow them to help their families make ends meet, pay for groceries and bills. Others are able to save up for a car or college, or invest their money. The program also includes an educational component, including some job and financial literacy training".
The application deadline to submit is May 18; the jobs pay $7.25 an hour for up to 25 hours per week.
Research shows that work experience during the teenage years leads to positive labor market outcomes. SYEP also helps promote crucial soft skills including discipline, time management and working relationships with supervisors and peers. In addition, SYEP helps to stimulate the economy, with the City's SYEP participants earning $48.5 million in wages in the summer of 2009. SYEP employees are also critical for the nonprofit community, which depends on SYEP participants to staff their summer day camps. These summer camps, in turn, are a crucial resource for thousands of working parents.
In 2011, the Department of Youth & Community Development employed 30,628 participants and placed them at 5,732 worksites. According to Assemblywoman Clark, "SYEP is critical for young people and families at a time of unprecedented national teen unemployment and underemployment" According to the Department of Labor, unemployment among the state's youth is more than 25 percent, with minority youth facing unemployment rates of up to 40 percent. Ten community-based providers in Queens are assisting with recruitment, enrollment and support services (see below). | <urn:uuid:093a2217-e4f1-4a5a-ad47-935e984ca1f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/033/20120418/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954708 | 517 | 1.945313 | 2 |
team99parody writes "An 'Active Denial System' weapon that 'fires a 95GHz microwave beam at rioters to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds' is scheduled for service in Iraq in 2006 according to CNET and the print version of New Scientist. It was recently tested on people playing the part of rioters at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico where they asked the subjects to remove glass and contact lenses to protect their eyes. Hopefully real rioters will get the same courtesy. Police and the Marines are working on portable versions. Sandia Labs also has a nice writeup on this system with pictures of smaller versions of the weapon." | <urn:uuid:e5c6a0a9-c436-4fb7-a9f5-973b49d2e221> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tech.slashdot.org/story/05/07/21/0141214/riot-control-ray-gun-for-use-in-iraq?sbsrc=thisday | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954642 | 136 | 1.632813 | 2 |
How Custody X Change Helps With Mediation
If you and the other parent decide to use mediation to work out a custody agreement and parenting plan, Custody X Change is a powerful tool that helps you get ready.
In mediation, both parents sit down with a neutral third person and decide the terms and conditions of the agreement. Before you go, you should prepare and organize your thoughts so you can explain your ideas to everyone else.
Custody X Change can help you do several things:
- Create example parenting plans to show the other parent and the mediator
- Organize your ideas so that you don't leave out anything important
- Bring documents that clearly show what you want for the agreement
- Make suggested changes to your plan after mediation
- Work out an agreement that both you and the other parent are happy with
Custody X Change allows you to create sample parenting plans to show at mediation. This is useful because you want to have options as you and the other parent discuss what is best for your child. If you have several options that are acceptable to you, you can be more flexible in your negotiations.
Each sample parenting time schedule can include:
- Residential schedules
- Holiday schedules
- Set and floating vacation times
- School breaks
- Special events
With several different schedules to show the other parent, you can quickly determine which one is most appealing to you both. You can also show each parent's timeshare percentage from each parent schedule.
Along with showing sample schedules, you can prepare a list of parenting provisions you want in the agreement. Custody X Change includes a list of provisions to choose from. These will also prompt you to think of additional provisions that are unique to your case. Simply print off the list of provisions so you can discuss them during mediation.
Once you have a few parenting plans created and printed out, you'll be able to organize your thoughts and ideas before your meeting. This is essential when going to mediation so that you and the other parent talk about all of the important custody issues.
Here are some ideas for how to use the software to organize your plans for mediation:
- As you create sample schedules, write down what is important for you in the schedule. If you have a few notes about what the schedule must have, you'll be better prepared to know what aspects you can be flexible about and what is a necessity.
- As you look through the provisions, think about your unique circumstances and come up with some personal provisions you think will help make the parenting plan work. Think specifically about any problem areas so that you and the other parent can find some solutions.
- Use the documents from the program to present your information in an organized manner. You can organize the documents however you want. For example, you can show entire plans together, or you can show multiple examples of each part of the plan.
The documents from Custody X Change can also help you when you are sitting in mediation with the other parent.
The documents you can print from the program include:
- Calendar version of the parenting time schedule
- Written report of the parenting time schedule
- Written report of the custody provisions and the entire agreement
- Timeshare percentage report that shows the exact time each parent has the children
You can print copies of these documents so that the other parent and the mediator can actually see what you're explaining when you talk about your parenting plans. The other parent can even take some of your plans home to think about it and write down any questions. This allows you and the other parent to reach an agreement more quickly during mediation sessions.
All of these documents can be printed directly from the software or they can be exported to Word, Excel, and PDF. Exporting them to Word allows you to make some personal changes to your plans so you can present exactly what you want.
Many parents meet several times in mediation before they work out an agreement. After you meet for the first time and present your example plans, the other parent may want to make some changes.
When you're using Custody X Change, it's easy to sit at the computer and enter any changes to your plans. Then you can go back to mediation with some new ideas that the other parent will support.
Changing the parenting time schedule. The other parent may want to change some of the visitation times, the holiday schedule or vacation schedule. Once you have feedback from the other parent about what type of schedule he or she wants, you can go back to Custody X Change and make a new schedule that incorporates the changes.
Adding or changing provisions. After the first mediation meeting, you may think of additional provisions to put in the agreement, or you may want to make some wording changes. Just go back to the document in the software and add the provisions or you can export the information to Word and make whatever changes you want.
Present new plan options. When you and the other parent meet again for mediation, you will have some new plan options to present that have the changes from the other parent, plus any changes you want. This will help you reach an agreement more quickly because you don't have to spend hours rewriting plans. Instead, you make a few changes in the software and print out your new plans.
The goal of mediation is for you to come away with a custody agreement that both parents support. Using Custody X Change, you can facilitate this process because you will be prepared and organized for your meetings. This will allow you to focus on the issues surrounding parenting time and come up with an agreement you both like.
You can use the documents directly from the software as your agreement. Both parents can sign the plan, and you can have it recognized as official.
Once your agreement is in place, you can continue to use Custody X Change software because you can track the actual parenting time and keep notes about visitations. This will help you see if your plan is working and whether you need to make changes. | <urn:uuid:c97fe555-3577-44ec-a371-7e87e24c092a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.custodyxchange.com/tips-ideas/mediation.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94171 | 1,217 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Some Humarock residents are so frustrated by the events of July 3 that there’s talk of seceding from Scituate, the Patriot Ledger reported.
“That’s not our primary goal right now – secession – but it’s something that was brought up by a few residents. That’s how angry people are,” said Fred Hayden, president of the South Humarock Civic Association.
Hayden is among dozens of residents in Scituate’s Humarock neighborhood who are upset with police tactics used July 3, when officers arrested six residents, including two men 68 and 70 years old, while enforcing a town-mandated beach bonfire ban. Police also sent a front-end loader onto the beach to remove wooden pallets.
Witnesses say police arrested people without cause and scared young children in the process. Scituate officials have defended the police response, claiming the crowd at Humarock became rowdy in protest of the ban, hurling insults and rocks at officers.
Dozens of Humarock residents met Sunday – and will meet again this weekend – to discuss a letter they will send to state and local officials demanding more accountability from the town.
They claim the police were “heavy-handed” in their actions and violated their civil rights.
On July 10, several residents who wanted to discuss the Humarock incidents were turned away by selectmen. Chairman Joe Norton said the town’s legal counsel asked officials not to discuss the arrests publicly while the cases were still in court.
Scituate’s selectmen approved the ban June 19 in response to a windswept fire in March that destroyed four Humarock homes. The fire was started by a radio inside one of the homes, not a bonfire, but officials said that allowing any large blazes on the beach posed a threat to public safety.
Scituate Police Chief Brian Stewart said the police presence July 3 was similar to previous years at Humarock. He said a team of about 25 officers, including personnel from Scituate police, State Police and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, patrolled the July 3 celebrations in Scituate. Humarock Beach is a popular party destination on the night before July 4.
“Our job is to protect people and their property,” Stewart said of the arrests, adding that Humarock’s residents knew for at least two weeks they were not allowed to have large fires or stacks of pallets and burning materials.
On Sunday, some residents discussed the possibility of Humarock seceding from Scituate and becoming its own town. Hayden claimed that Humarock – a thin peninsula connected to Marshfield – is regularly ignored by Scituate officials, with the latest example coming at the July 10 selectmen’s meeting. | <urn:uuid:94cdd66a-39bb-4c4e-a53b-73552f14d4e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/boston-south/Bonfire-brouhaha-ignites-talk-of-secession-in-Scituate/-/9848842/15663644/-/7makug/-/index.html?absolute=true | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97381 | 592 | 1.625 | 2 |
Be careful if you are bringing new land into production.
High commodity prices again have given way to some land clearing for cropping purposes.
New land coming into production is subject to sodbust/swampbuster provisions which must be documented with FSA and reviewed by NRCS.
Wet areas that have wetland characteristics cannot be cleared and farmed -- pastures, woods or odd areas.
If it is not wetland, it may be classified as highly erodible land and must have a rotation and tillage documented that meets a minimum erosion criteria.
Once we review and say it is OK, then clearing can begin.
Now is the time to start thinking about fixing those waterways that washed last year.
Waterway assistance can be through CRP or EQIP.
If you apply through the CRP program, you will need a cropping history on the watercourse.
Check with FSA to see if the area will qualify for CRP. If it does not qualify for CRP, we can usually get the job done through EQIP.
We also need to justify that there is a need -- we cannot help if there is no erosion occurring.
Grazers, keep your livestock out of the mud.
This is easier said than done here in Ohio.
However, the idea is to save your grasses for spring and summer production.
You should have a healthy investment in the establishment and fertility of these grasses.
Don't ruin that by letting your livestock stomp it up on a rainy day or when the snow is melting.
Build some sacrifice lots that can be re-seeded in spring and feeding pads for feeding them high and dry.
Deadline for 2008 applications for Ohio Agriculture Easement Purchase Program soon will be announced.
This program began in 2003 and has since been successful in purchasing easements all over Ohio.
Ashland County has had several farms put into this program which protects farmland for future generations.
The applications are online at the ODA Web site -- Office of Farmland Preservation.
You also can look at all the farms that were accepted into the program since 2003 and see their purchase price, acres, etc.
Even though we are well into 2008, the 2007 Farm Bill has not been finalized. This week, members were announced from the Senate to serve on the conference committee of the bill.
I predict May 1 before they agree on a final bill.
The presidents' 2009 budget has been published and is all over the news. USDA or agriculture is typically funded at around 2 percent of the total budget.
Of the 2 percent USDA expends, food stamps and nutrition programs make up 63 percent, farm subsidies will make up 15 percent and conservation will get around 11 percent.
n Wendell Swartzentruber is local district conservationist for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. | <urn:uuid:76b7dfa8-1295-4c6b-96e1-be448b8a5ff0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.times-gazette.com/farm/2008/02/09/wetlands-waterways-and-mud | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954312 | 582 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Elsewhere on DAFF
Managing Australian Fisheries
Australian fisheries are defined as those fisheries falling within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends to 200 nautical miles from coastal baselines. To simplify jurisdiction, boundaries have been developed handing over management responsibility to the State, Northern Territory and/or Commonwealth Governments. Each State/ Northern Territory jurisdiction has responsibility for fisheries that lie within its internal waters (e.g. river, lake and estuarine fisheries) and, where applicable, adjacent fisheries within a three nautical mile boundary from the coastline. The Commonwealth has jurisdiction for fisheries that lie between 3 and 200 nautical miles of the coastline. When a particular fishery falls within two or more jurisdictions, an Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) arrangement is generally developed and responsibility is passed to one jurisdiction.
Fisheries in OCS arrangements are defined in terms of species, fishing method and area. They underpin the major fishery management plans implemented under Commonwealth, state or Northern Territory laws. The OCS also forms the basis for ongoing cooperation between governments who share the management responsibilities. Alternatively, a Joint Authority may be formed whereby a fishery is co-managed through the legislation of one jurisdiction. Similarly, where a fishery crosses national boundaries, bilateral or multilateral agreements can be entered into.
In the absence of an OCS arrangement, state/ Northern Territory laws apply to coastal waters (up to 3nm) and Commonwealth laws apply from those waters out to the limit of the Australian fishing zone (200nm).
Currently fisheries OCS arrangements are in place with all states and the Northern Territory. They have been negotiated on the broad concept that localised fisheries adjacent to a state should be managed by the state, and the Commonwealth should manage fisheries occurring off more than one state or where there is involvement of foreign fishing boats.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is responsible for the day-to-day management and compliance of Commonwealth fisheries. For further information regarding these fisheries visit the AFMA website.
The Commonwealth has generally limited its jurisdiction to commercial fishing, with the state/Northern Territory governments assuming responsibility for recreational fishing.
23 May 2011 | <urn:uuid:5bf54c7a-3154-46c5-84f7-e11f54c77ec2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.daff.gov.au/fisheries/domestic/state-fisheries | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932697 | 434 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Negotiators have previously suggested Iran export uranium and then import it back in once it's been enriched elsewhere, so that the process does not take place inside Iran.
Jalili said 20 percent enrichment serves "our peaceful needs," and "there are mechanisms to prove" it is for peaceful purposes. Tehran has said the enriched uranium is useful for medical purposes.
He indicated there may be room for negotiation on this issue, saying Iran currently has no way to get the enriched uranium "but to produce it."
Jalili spoke through a translator.
'The path of pressure was wrong'
The Obama administration has offered direct talks with Iran, but Tehran has said it won't do so under pressure. Asked Wednesday about the offer, Jalili said the United States is able to raise its "points and issues" through the P5+1.
And Jalili slammed the sanctions against his country imposed by the international community, led by the United States, over the past couple of years.
He insisted the pressure isn't working.
"They are witnessing our achievements in peaceful nuclear activities," he insisted. "They are asking and requesting us to talk about these achievements. Therefore it shows that the path of pressure was wrong."
Iranians have "resisted and defended their rights," he said. | <urn:uuid:31debfa9-69af-4278-b71d-4e9bfd58f8da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.koco.com/news/national/Iran-Nuclear-talks-taking-realistic-turn/-/9844074/19106326/-/item/1/-/3qld30z/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982185 | 265 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Farmer Campaigns for Nutrient Dense Food Production
That mindset, combined with a post-WWII explosion in chemical fertilizer use, made our farms larger and more productive than ever — but at a high price, with many small farmers vanishing and the introduction of new kinds of environmental challenges.
Today, growing numbers of Americans believe there is another casualty: The quality of food produced by modern farming methods. Perhaps the most dissatisfied are farmers who got neither big, nor out, and who turned to traditional methods of producing crops.
Among the more vocal critics of conventional (modern) agriculture is Dan Kittredge, an organic farmer and director of the Real Food Campaign (RFC).
John Todd- Ecology From 40,000 Feet
-By Bruce Boyer
“When we’re flying at 40,000 feet and we look down, we see a marvelous amount of innovation in agriculture, environmental restoration, green architecture, in systems design and in renewable energy development,” Dr. John Todd tells Organic Connections. “The news on the ground has never been richer, more diverse or in some respects more global. There probably isn’t a continent on which we don’t have something happening, and that just wasn’t the case 20 years ago.”
Transforming Barren Land Into Fertile Ground
-By Bruce Boyer
If you were to choose a place to plant your dream vegetable garden, it would probably not be in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains in Strathardle, Perthshire, Scotland. The upland site is infertile, acidic and exposed to severe weather. Around 85 percent of Scotland is classified by the European Union as a “less-favoured area” for farming, and this region, plagued by lifeless, silty soil and boulders, falls right into that category.
Yet it was exactly here that Cameron and Moira Thomson settled and decided to become self-sufficient by creating their own garden, growing their very own fruits and vegetables. “Our dream was to grow and use our own food, and to live as much from the local environment as possible and as little from the shops as possible,” Moira Thomson told Organic Connections. “So we dedicated our lives to that—but it was hard work with such poor soils.”
Maximizing Nutrition in Backyard Gardens
by Ben Grosscup
(forthcoming) Massachusetts Organic Food Guide, 2009-10
Is it possible to grow food with exquisite flavor, beautiful shine, extraordinary nutrition, and extended shelf-life? According to growers who have done it, not only can farm-sized growing operations do it, but with the right tools and knowledge, people can do it in their own backyards. Practitioners of this kind of growing say their goal is to maximize crop nutrient density - the amount of nutrition per volume of crop - and that this can be done in a manner entirely consistent with certified organic growing practices.
American Chestnut Revival
THURSDAY AUGUST 7, LOUIS MAY, an elder environmentalist in the upper Hudson Valley, drove me 70 miles to see a tree he has watched and measured for 35 years. Lou’s tree is in dense forest on a steep slope at the south end of Schoharie Valley. Its 18-inch dbh trunk isn’t impressive for that forest. Actually, it’s a midget compared to its mighty ancestors—but these days, any American Chestnut is rare. This one is a giant and an elder.
Page 6 of 31 | <urn:uuid:c71e2060-f126-41cc-a977-7b140d13a25d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://remineralize.org/magazine/Page-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95023 | 740 | 2.375 | 2 |
West african shrub, used as a stimulant and entheogen by the Bwiti cult.
This entheogen is sacred to the syncretic Christian Bwiti cult of the Fang people of Gabon. It is also used at lower doses as a stimulant and aphrodisiac. Adherents to the cult believe use of eboka allows them to contact their ancestors. Initiation into the cult involves consuming large quantities of the drug (which in a few cases has lead to death), for the purposes of "breaking open the head".
Outside Africa, iboga extracts as well as the purified alkaloid ibogaine are used in treating opiate addiction. The therapy may last several days and upon completion the subject is generally no longer physically dependent.
No idea how to give an example for iboga >_< | <urn:uuid:4bd9839c-d14d-45e1-a48a-085526bea2c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=iboga&defid=2045172 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941933 | 173 | 1.875 | 2 |
Published in Obesity and Diabetes Week, July 14th, 2003
According to recent research published in the journal Endocrinologist, "Obesity is a progressively increasing health problem worldwide. This study was planned to investigate the pulmonary function tests, respiratory muscle strength, and endurance of subjects suffering from obesity, and the effect of different categories of obesity on these parameters."
"Fifty-one subjects suffering from obesity (41 women, 10 men) aged 42.78±10.8 and 44 healthy subjects whose BMI were under 25kg/m2...
Want to see the full article?
Welcome to NewsRx!
Learn more about a six-week, no-risk free trial of Obesity and Diabetes Week | <urn:uuid:f06599c8-7afb-40c4-8a66-3f17551784b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsrx.com/newsletters/Obesity-and-Diabetes-Week/2003-07-14/0714200333321OD.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936603 | 144 | 1.945313 | 2 |
AWESOME SUMMER CAMP DRAMA PROGRAM!
Camp Lohikan's drama department is the place to be if you've caught the "acting bug"! A drama professional instructs the program and is assisted by a talented staff of college-enrolled theater majors.
Lohikan's Theater Program provides campers with instruction in acting techniques utilizing improvisation, monologues, pantomime, scenes and plays. The Musical Theater Program concentrates on developing the camper's skills in song delivery, movement, music, dancing and acting. Tech Theatre classes give campers hands-on experience working on costume design, make-up, set construction, lighting and sound engineering.
Drama classes are operated on a daily basis. In addition to the daily program, opportunities to perform are numerous. One major theatrical performance is produced every two weeks and everyone who wants to be part of the show is guaranteed to be in the show. Other opportunities to perform include the weekly Showcase Series, Talent Shows, and Skit Nights.
- Past Productions -- Annie Get Your Gun
- Alice in Wonderland
- You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
- Wizard of Oz
- School House Rock
- Music Man
- The Sound of Music
- Guys & Dolls
- Peter Pan
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Into the Woods
- A Midsummer’s Night Dream
- Little Red Riding Hood
- Jack in the Beanstalk
- Seussical The Musical
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Once Upon a Mattress
- Robin Hood
- Phantom Toll Booth
- 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
You'll have fun in our dance program! Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop, Choreography, and Aerobics classes are taught all day long, so you can dance to your heart's content!
And you’ll learn from the best instructors! The program is instructed by a dance professional who is assisted by specialty instructors trained in the area of their expertise. Beginner through advanced instruction is available in all dance styles on a daily basis. Campers are grouped into classes with campers of the same skill level and age range. Campers practice technique, movement, improvisation and choreography in group sizes ranging from 6 to 20 campers. Two fully-equipped dance studios accommodate the program. Opportunities for campers to perform on stage include dance performances every two weeks. Hip Hop shows are also scheduled every two weeks. In addition, dancers are often featured during our weekly Campfire Events.
Learn the latest Hip Hop moves!!! Step into the spotlight and “bustamove”… Groove on stage with your buddies… Or just perfect your favorite dance moves! You can do it all at the Hip Hop Clinics. And they’re scheduled every two weeks …with a performance at the end of each clinic! It’s FUN grooving on stage with your friends!
Each Hip Hop Clinic is staffed with hip hop dance specialists who work individually and in small groups with the campers. The Hip Hop Clinic is a week-long program which has everyone breaking, popping, locking, practicing capoeira, and even making up the latest street funk dance move! It’s guaranteed to be fun… and “E” (everyone) rated!
If you’re into electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, or singing, this is the program for YOU! Instruction in guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals is available on a daily basis. The program is directed by a professional music educator and staffed with a talented group of college-enrolled instructors. All instructors have experience teaching children and have advanced skills in the area of their expertise. Campers are organized into small groups of the same skill level for instruction. Beginners are taught the fundamentals and the more advanced are coached on technique and perfecting playing skills. Private lessons are also available.
Opportunities for campers to perform on stage range from our Weekly Showcase Series and the Campfire House Band to our July & August Talent Shows and the popular Camp-A-Palooza Concerts held every two weeks.
Talking about concerts, if you're a rocker or an aspiring rocker, you've got to check out the Rock Band Program!
big part of Lohikan's Music Department is the Rock Band Program. Whether you’re a beginner or accomplished musician, we’ve got a band for you!
Campers participating in the Rock Band Program are grouped with other campers based upon age, ability, and musical interest. Small group instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals is provided by specialty instructors.
New Rock Bands are formed every two weeks. Campers work with specialty instructors on original music as well as classic rock tunes. Each band is assigned a producer who prepares the band for its debut performance. After a week of instruction, rehearsals and teamwork (one to three periods a day), the band takes the stage and performs a set in one of Lohikan’s Camp-A-Palooza Concerts. The concerts are amazing! …and rock band participants receive a CD copy of their performances too!
The concerts are scheduled as an evening activity or an afternoon special event and hundreds of fans are in attendance! Awesome concert venues include the Skate Park Lounge, the Lohikan Bowl (amphitheater), and the Cavern (Rec Hall). As curtain time approaches the excitement builds and the camper audience can be heard yelling out encouraging cheers for their bunkmate rockers! Then the bands hit the stage, one by one playing their favorite tunes and rocking the camp! It's a lot of fun to watch, but it's even more fun to be on stage and perform in front of a live audience. The applause is unforgettable!
Click here for music from last summer's Camp-A-Palooza live concerts.
In addition to the Drama and Performing Arts Programs there’s a lot more arts goin’ on at Camp Lohikan… Check out the Circus Arts Program & Flying Trapeze, the Media Arts Program (Video Production, Radio Broadcasting, Computers, Daily Camp Newspaper) and the Creative Arts Program.
Circus is a huge program that’s extremely popular with our campers. Campers receive instruction from circus professionals in real live circus acts! Favorites include: Flying Trapeze, Rolling Globe, Lyra, Spanish Web, Acrobatics, Unicycle, Rolla Bolla, Devils Stick, Circus Bike, Hand-Balancing, Juggling, Clowning, Tight Wire, and Single/Double/Triple Trapeze. Two circus performances are scheduled on each of our Visiting Days to showcase the skills of our camper performers. The parents and kids love it!
Click here for our Circus Arts Program Flyer.
Media Arts includes Radio Broadcasting, Video Production, Computers, and the Camp Newspaper Activities.
Camper Dee Jays broadcast six hours a day over the FM band every summer at Camp Lohikan! It’s a real radio station! Campers and our Radio Activity Instructors write shows, conduct interviews, broadcast camp news… and even play music! “E” (everyone) rated music of course.
Campers into Radio Broadcasting are usually interested in joining Lohikan’s Dee Jay Clinic which is scheduled every two weeks. Campers participating in the Dee Jay Clinic learn everything there is to learn about being a Dee Jay! You’ll learn about the dee jay equipment, how to set it up and operate it… everything from the lights, mixers, amps, speakers… and lots of wires! You’ll learn how to put together a music set and add digital effects. And you’ll get to perform your talents LIVE! Yep, you’ll even headline a super evening dance extravaganza this summer!!!
The Dee Jay Clinic is a FREE CLINIC! Sign up here.
Video Production is a great activity for those who want to learn how to shoot video, be in front of the camera, edit video, or all of the above!
Campers receive instruction from specialists in the field using the latest digital equipment including camcorders, editing software and computers.
Campers write, shoot, edit and produce their own video shows in camp! And they’re really good!!! Campers have produced music videos, comedy acts, broadcast news shows, and lots more.
What’s great is that our dining hall is equipped with a high powered video projector which is used during meal times so everyone gets to screen the latest camper video work of art!
A star is born at every meal at Camp Lohikan!
COMPUTER ACTIVITY - EMAIL ACTIVITY
The computer room is where you’ll find Instructors conducting classes in desktop publishing, graphics, web design, digital art, digital photography software, digital video editing and more.
djacent to the computer room is the computer game room. This is the one activity in camp where campers are restricted in the amount of time they can schedule in the elective program… The computer games are popular and little instruction is needed. In fact, you might say the campers know more about the games than the adults!
The computer room also houses the area dedicated to the E-MAIL ACTIVITY. Campers who sign up for the e-mail activity can send e-mail messages home, and to friends and family all summer long!
A camp newspaper is published and distributed every day at Camp Lohikan. Campers write, type, proof, and publish their work with the help of specialty instructors. All camper contributions are accepted including jokes, cartoons, fictional articles, reporting, etc. It makes good reading at lunch!
The Creative Arts Department is one of our most popular departments in camp. Three professional artists instruct the program with the assistance of 14 specialty instructors. Workshops include:
CERAMICS & POTTERY – It’s all about sculpting, glazing, firing clay and throwing pots. Seven wheels, 2 kilns and more than 6,000 lbs of clay keep our campers busy!
PAPER-MAKING – Campers make their own special greeting cards, stationery, posters and amazing artwork!
LEATHER CRAFT - Punching, stamping, dyeing, stitching and leather design classes are featured in the leather craft activity. Belts, purses, and key chains are just a few of the projects campers create and personalize.
T-SHIRT FACTORY – This is one of the most popular workshops in the Creative Arts Department. Campers learn silk screening techniques and create special t-shirts for their bunkmates or special events. Tie dyeing is also popular and the t-shirts the campers produce would make Jerry Garcia proud! Batiking and fabric painting are also part of the T-Shirt Factory curriculum and campers produce everything from fancy covered pillows to designer headwear. It’s all good!
PAINTING & DRAWING – This is one of the most popular workshops in the Creative Arts Department. Staff artists teach campers a variety of painting techniques using acrylic paints and canvas. Classes in water color painting and charcoal and pencil drawing are also conducted. All artwork is displayed in the Creative Arts Center during our July and August Parent Visiting Days. It’s a great art show!
STAINED GLASS – In this workshop campers design and solder their own stained glass projects with the help of our specialty instructors.
ARTS & CRAFTS – The activities featured in the Arts and Crafts Workshop change every week. Classes include: Air Brush, Macrame, Fimo Jewelry, Basket Weaving, Lanyards, Braiding, Weaving, Papier Mache, Enameling, Nature Crafts, Block Printing, Puppetry, Needle Craft, Mask Making, Bead Craft, Plaster Projects, Decoupage, String Art, Nature Crafts, Cartooning, Calligraphy and lots more!
MODEL BUILDING ROCKETRY - Campers design, build and launch Estes brand and custom model rockets.
STAGE CRAFT – Campers can design and assist in the construction of sets for camp drama productions and evening activities in the Stage Craft Workshop.
WOODWORKING - Our Woodworking Studio is fully equipped and ready to undertake the wildest of projects! Campers have made everything from mail boxes and clocks to napkin holders and leather-seated chairs with the help of our instructors. No wonder woodworking is so popular!
PHOTOGRAPHY – Campers are provided digital cameras and taught the basics of photography by specialty instructors. Advanced students will receive instruction in the use of Photoshop and photo correction. Camper photos will be displayed daily in the dining hall during meals.
Click here for our Creative Arts Program Flyer.
We LOVE the ARTS!
When it comes to ART whether it be performing, media related or visual, we think you'll agree, you won't find a more comprehensive program than you'll find right here! | <urn:uuid:9a77dc09-1a94-45a4-af48-201e8ea6584b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lohikan.com/drama.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925714 | 2,739 | 1.765625 | 2 |
President Obama's "War on Coal" has made it so difficult for electricity producers to use that the percentage of our nation's electricity coming from coal has plunged from 44% last year to 36% this year.
This forced reduction in a critical source of electrical power has more than cancelled out the dramatic reduction in the price of natural gas, another major source of our electrical power. As a result, for the first time in over two decades, electricity rates around the country are rising this summer.
Back in January, 2008, when coal accounted for 49% of our electrical power generation, candidate Barack Obama was caught on audio tape making this statement:
What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.
I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.
It’s just that it will bankrupt them. [emphasis added]
The Associated Press's recent description of the "unexpected" rise in electricity rates accurately notes both the rise in retail electricity prices and the drop in natural gas prices.
This may reverse what has been a gradual decline in retail electricity prices. Adjusted for inflation, the average retail electricity price has been drifting mostly lower since 1984, when it was 16.7 cents per kilowatt-hour…
Natural gas has plummeted in price because of a dramatic increase in U.S. gas production over the past few years and a warm winter that allowed supplies to build up.
But reading the rest of the Associated Press article, you would be hard pressed to identify Obama's destructive coal policy as the real culprit:
The recent heat wave that gripped much of the country increased demand for power as families cranked up their air conditioners. And that may boost some June utility bills. But the nationwide rise in electricity prices is attributable to other factors, analysts say:
In many states, retail electricity rates are set by regulators every few years. As a result, lower power costs haven't yet made their way to customers.
Utilities often lock in their costs for natural gas and other fuels years in advance. That helps protect customers when fuel prices spike, but it prevents customers from reaping the benefits of a price drop.
The cost of actually delivering electricity, which accounts for 40 percent of a customer's bill on average, has been rising fast. That has eaten up any potential savings from the production of electricity.
Phil Kerpen, President of American Commitment, a conservative activist group designed to "fill the gap" between conservative think tanks and grassroots organizations, has been tracking President Obama's "War on Coal." Here's his much more lucid explanation for the current rise in retail electricity prices:
The lynchpin of the Obama’s War on Coal is the so-called Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (Utility MACT) rule, also known as “Mercury and Air Toxics Standards” or “MATS.” The rule requires expensive retrofits at coal-fired power plants, raising electricity prices nearly 20 percent with no environmental benefit.
The cost, according to EPA’s own estimate, is $10 billion per year. A more realistic analysis from the National Economic Research Associates found compliance costs of $21 billion per year, with 183,000 lost jobs per year.
Worse, if the rule stands it will combine with Obama's new greenhouse gas rules to shut down all coal-fired power plants in America, a genuine economic catastrophe that will make prices “necessarily skyrocket” and undermine the reliability of our electric grid.
In 2008, coal supplied 49% of our electrical power. Today, three and a half years into Obama's presidency, President Obama has succeeded in cutting coal's share of our electrical power production to 36%. With the assistance of a Democrat-controlled Senate and a few RINO Senators, he's well on his way to fulfilling one of his campaign promises--bankrupting the coal industry and skyrocketing the retail price of electricity.
We'll see in November if the voters want to continue these policies.
Michael Patrick Leahy is a Breitbart News contributor, Editor of Broadside Books’ Voices of the Tea Party e-book series, and author of Covenant of Liberty: The Ideological Origins of the Tea Party Movement. | <urn:uuid:53489a0d-def5-4ebc-8a41-aa1e6a72d275> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/07/13/Obama-s-War-on-Coal-Drives-Electricity-Prices-Up-As-Natural-Gas-Prices-Fall | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959633 | 1,035 | 2.265625 | 2 |
EarthCam Helps NJDOT Protect 87th PGA Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, May 8, 2006 -- Harold Neil is Executive Assistant of the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Office of Transportation Security. He is tasked with statewide transportation security and counterterrorism efforts to protect infrastructure and vulnerable facilities from attack. An important aspect of Mr. Neil's job is the ongoing evaluation and implementation of new techniques, strategies and technologies to effectively execute his division's security mandate.
Mr. Neil is a contributing author for the "Homeland Security Handbook" published by McGraw Hill. In his chapter "Transportation Information and Security" he writes, "...transportation information fusion is a significant part of achieving N.J. DOT's planned enhancement of transportation security. A fusion center would provide decision makers with a holistic overview of activity in all modes of transportation. Maps and video images would enable officials to detect, mitigate, and respond to threats and incidents having to do with both homeland security and general emergency management."
Mr. Neil first learned of EarthCam, Inc. at a formal presentation the company gave to the NJDOT's Chief of Staff that demonstrated EarthCam's advanced webcam technologies and managed services. Impressed with EarthCam's network camera expertise, long list of successfully completed projects and Fortune 500 clientele, Mr. Neil was anxious to utilize EarthCam for Homeland Security Applications.
The first test of EarthCam's webcam technology would be a special event that would have "a potentially major impact" on NJ's transportation network. This turned out to be the 87th PGA Championship.
When another vendor was unable to meet a tight deadline to deploy the required security camera systems for the international tournament event, NJDOT needed to hire a replacement vendor at the last minute. The task at hand was a daunting one: multiple cameras delivering real time video from widely dispersed locations all without bandwidth connections in a seemingly impossible timeframe. Mr. Neil called EarthCam for assistance, and the response was instant.
EarthCam deployed secure network IP webcams utilizing high-speed wireless data connections on the Sprint EVDO network with robotic pan/tilt/zoom capability, live streaming video output and provided archiving services for this project. One webcam was positioned at Giants Stadium in Rutherford, NJ to monitor the staging area for shuttle buses that transported spectators to the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ. Wireless security webcams monitoring traffic conditions along the bus routes were positioned on a major interstate highway.
Bruce: Why did NJDOT choose IP cameras?
BHS: Why did you choose EarthCam?
BHS: Regarding the recent PGA Championship: why did NJDOT decide to deploy
NJDOT has been involved in major event planning and operations since the 1994 World Cup Games at Giants Stadium. The use of cameras provided another tool in our toolbox to support the major events. In our experience people remember two items while attending a major special event, one, the event itself and second, how they arrived and departed and what they experienced. Our goal was to provide to all agencies the regional transportation situational awareness picture needed to identify and remove incidents as quickly as possible thus allowing uninterrupted access to the transportation network allowing those waiting to attend the event their access and those needing to avoid the areas the proper identification of potential disruption.
BHS: Was your project a success?
BHS: Do you have any comments or feedback about working with EarthCam?
BHS: How was your experience working with EarthCam's technology and
BHS: In the future, will the NJDOT be using more cameras for their projects,
To quote Mr. Neil's chapter, "The expectation is that better information flow and a holistic view of transportation information and incidents will improve decision making and facilitate joint action." | <urn:uuid:05d01cb5-7caa-4bd4-aaf2-0361ca317482> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.earthcam.com/press/press_details.php?lang=pt_br&id=283 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940545 | 772 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Ombre Pillow CaseJune 12, 2012 4:19 am Crafts, Green Crafting, Home Decor
By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.
It seems like the Ombre look is everywhere. It’s on the runways and fills the clothing departments. What is Ombre you ask? It is a French term that means to shade, in most cases it means to shade or gradate color in one tone, from light to dark. We thought that this year our outside fabric dying project would be this dip dye project instead of tie dying. This project is simple enough for the younger ones but still technical enough to challenge older kids. We chose pillow cases to decorate our rooms.
Are you ready to join the trend?
Start this project by preparing the package of dye in 2 cups of hot water, like on the directions on the package. Then fill a bucket or pan with hot water and soak the pillow case in the water, making sure the fabric is very wet.
Pour the 2 cups of dissolved dye into the bucket then dip the fabric up to the point where you want the white to end and the color begin. I clipped it to a drying rack and left it in the dye water at this point for 3-5 minutes. I checked the color and was told by my tiny helper that there was enough of a hint of pink to move it up a little bit. What I mean by moving up, is we are removing a bit of fabric that is lightly tinted pink, taking it out of the dye water. Then leaving the rest of the fabric to sit in the water for another 7 – 10 minutes. Then we removed a little more out of the dye water. Checking it again after 10 -15 minutes, taking a little more out. Then we left the bottom in for at least an additional 20 minutes. That was about as much attention I could hold of the tiny one, 4 different levels of color. But the possibilities are really endless, when it comes to color ribs.
After the dying process is done, rinse the fabric with water until the water that is squeezed out runs clear. Then I set the color by placing it in the dryer.
Impress your friends and family – Try this trendy technique on your summer dying projects. | <urn:uuid:5720f6e4-ee2e-4bb4-ae87-1f3e4e22a7f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2012/06/12/ombre-pillow-case/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949347 | 477 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Apple on Friday advised iPhone 3G users in many countries to replace the device's power adapter following reports that metal prongs broke off and stuck in power outlets, creating a risk of electric shock.
Apple said it will exchange the ultra-compact USB adapters for a redesigned model, without charge, in retail stores and online starting Oct. 10.
In the meantime, iPhone 3G users who received the tiny USB adapter with their phone or who bought it separately should immediately stop using it. Apple said iPhone 3G owners should use its standard USB power adapter, which has fold-up prongs, or charge the device by plugging it into a computer.
The recall affects ultra-compact USB power adapters sold in the U.S., Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
Adapters with a green dot on the bottom are safe and do not need to be replaced, Apple said.
For more information visit | <urn:uuid:60a0568f-e473-451c-9396-13d438c886d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Print.aspx?NewsId=24035 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915519 | 207 | 1.5625 | 2 |
From/Select and Select/From in LINQ
I'd been wondering about the FROM/WHERE/SELECT
syntax in DLINQ. I'm used to the SQL SELECT/FROM/WHERE approach. Turns out
that I'm late to this party - this was (of course) discussed at the PDC, and has
been under some discussion since then.
At first glance, I wanted my SELECT first. I've written more than my share of
SQL, so this "reverse polish SQL" syntax doesn't feel natural. Plus,
on the surface, it looks like Microsoft is ignoring decades of precedent and
standards by doing their own thing.
After some reading, FROM/WHERE/SELECT makes sense to me.
It will allow better Intellisense, it's based on standard XQuery FLWOR syntax
(with some modifications - I presume because return
is a reserved word in C#?), and it's honestly more intuitive to me.
There's a lot of discussion, so I'll just link to it:
Vick on why VB will support SELECT/FROM and C# will support
Cyrus' Blather on the
reasons for FROM/SELECT
Wesner Moise on From/Select
on the difference between XQuery and SQL syntax
from the C# Language Enhancements Chat (a bit long, but a worthwhile to
MSDN Technical Forums
powered by IMHO 1.2 | <urn:uuid:7ab8706a-9ceb-4483-bb3d-987f061c4e32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://weblogs.asp.net/jgalloway/archive/2005/09/25/425943.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916106 | 301 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Atlanta is one of the fastest growing high-tech urban centers in the nation.
Powered by the strength of more than 13,000 technology companies, the city is established for its strengths in telecom, Internet security, digital media and a thriving mobility ecosystem.
Within the next three to five years, projections show technology companies will invest more than $1 billion in Georgia – investments that will hone in on:
- Mobility technology
- Digital media and content
- The Internet
- Network security
- Financial transactions processing
- Software development and engineering
- Health information technology
- Smart grid technology
In addition, one of metro Atlanta’s greatest strengths in technology is its strong sense of community. The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), one of the largest tech organizations in the country, brings together the technology community through events, initiative programs and networking opportunities.
All of these factors lead to a strong workforce, diverse centers of intellectual innovation and a superior environment for technological advancements. If you are looking for a technological home that will help you advance in the 21st century, metro Atlanta has the foundation - and the future - to help your company soar. | <urn:uuid:783061d9-c3fe-45a9-927c-98f3cd258d02> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.metroatlantachamber.com/economic-development/technology | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912774 | 234 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Provided by the National Institute of Mental Health
Depression is a serious medical condition that
involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and
sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A
depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of
personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with
a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better.
Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate
treatment, however, can help most people who have depression.
Types of Depression
Depression comes in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. The three main depressive disorders are: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Major depression (or major depressive disorder) is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list below) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. A major depressive episode may occur only once, but more commonly, several episodes may occur in a lifetime. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely.
A less severe type of depression, dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder), involves long-lasting symptoms that do not seriously disable, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes during their lives.
Another type of depressive illness is bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive illness). Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression), often with periods of normal mood in between. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle, the person may be overactive, over-talkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, an individual in a manic phase may feel elated and full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees.
Symptoms of Depression
Not everyone with a depressive disorder experiences every symptom. The number and severity of symptoms may vary among individuals and also over time. In addition, men and women may experience depression differently. Symptoms of depression include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Trouble sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight changes
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain, which do not respond to routine treatment
Some Facts About Depression
Depressive disorders are common: they affect an estimated 9.5 percent of adult Americans in a given year, or about 19 million people.
Depressive disorders often begin between ages 15 and 30 but also can appear in children.
The World Health Organization's World Health Report, 2001 states that in the year 2000, depression (not including bipolar disorder) was the leading cause of years lived with a disability among men and women of all ages in the U.S. and worldwide.
More than 80 percent of people with depressive disorders improve when they receive appropriate treatment. The first step to getting treatment is a physical examination by a physician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms. Next, the physician should conduct a diagnostic evaluation for depression or refer the patient to a mental health professional for this evaluation.
Treatment choice will depend on the patient's diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and preference. A variety of treatments, including medications and short-term psychotherapies (i.e., "talking" therapies), have proven effective for depression. In general, severe depressive illnesses, particularly those that are recurrent, will require a combination of treatments for the best outcome. It usually takes a few weeks of treatment before the full therapeutic effect occurs. Once the person is feeling better, treatment may need to be continued for several months-and in some cases, indefinitely-to prevent a relapse into depression.
NIH Publication No. 03-5299
Printed March 2003
Department of Health & Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Mental Health
Back to Mental Health Articles | <urn:uuid:6baa19df-bf7c-4097-acf6-62bb9cba9951> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.enterthefreudianslip.com/article_depression_a_treatable_illness.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942275 | 964 | 3.875 | 4 |
7 February 2012
The unintended consequence of the Assange hearing
Say what you like about Julian Assange (and everybody does – with greater variety and certainty than of almost any other living being), he has scored an historic first in the British judicial system.
His case is the first to have been tweeted from the courtroom to the world at every stage, from lowly magistrates to the UK's new Supreme Court which two years ago replaced the House of Lords as the UK's final court of appeal. That decision by senior District Judge Howard Riddle back in December 2010 to allow tweeting at Julian Assange's first bail hearing now looks uncontroversial. Almost everything else about Assange v Swedish Judicial Authority remains as bitterly contested as ever.
But, in the tantalising way of long drawn-out cases, the debatable legal territory seems never to concern matters such as who did what and why.
So anyone attending Court One last week to hear why Sweden came to need to question Assange about sexual relations with two women in Stockholm would have been disappointed. As would anyone wanting to hear discussion of why this request came at just that moment in his chaotic life when his organisation WikiLeaks had done most to offend powerful US interests by sharing with other media hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
The short version of the Assange story (which I wrote about at length in Griffith REVIEW 32: Wicked Problems, Exquisite Dilemmas) being debated in the Supreme Court on February 1 and 2, 2012 was that Julian Assange believed the European Arrest Warrant for his extradition to Sweden had been invalidly issued and thus had breached his human rights. He was appealing against extradition.
The problem for the Supreme Court, which will make its decision in the coming weeks, is that if Assange is right it will throw into disarray the entire framework for extradition between European states, since Sweden's alleged errors in issuing the warrant turn out to be commonplace around Europe. The unintended consequence of an Assange victory would be to make cooperation between European states in bringing criminals to justice far more difficult. That makes it also the problem for Assange. This much-referred to Framework was, all agree, cobbled together in haste in the wake of the 9/11 attacks but its intention was to make it easier to cooperate efficiently in the face of a perceived terrorist threat. It may be a bad law, but it is the law.
In the café of the UK's Supreme Court - a white-tiled atrium with the antiseptic feel of a posh hotel lavatory – you can buy a postcard of the Supreme Court's nine Lords and one Lady. They look magnificent, if weighed down, in their gold brocade robes. A visitors' leaflet points out that the Justices wear these robes on ceremonial occasions only and that advocates appearing before the Court may by mutual agreement also dispense with traditional court dress.
Lawyers in the case of Assange v Swedish Judicial Authority chose to be modern so that, in contrast with the fusty Victorian formality of the earlier wigged and gowned hearings, Julian Assange's final attempt to resist extradition to Sweden took place in a business-like setting. The proceedings were televised, live-streamed, and relayed around the world. Microphones worked. It was a 21st century affair (reference to the sixth century Justinian Code notwithstanding).
The Assange trials have seen the emergence of another modernisation. Since his first attempt to resist deportation, argued at a magistrates' court sited in the grounds of a high-security prison, Assange's team has become more and more feminised. Mark Stephens, the bombastic media lawyer given to political proclamations outside the court, has been replaced by the quietly spoken human rights expert Gareth Peirce.
Peirce gives no interviews and makes few statements. She takes on and wins tough and unpopular cases, often ensuring that those with little public sympathy are nonetheless protected from faulty legal procedures. Assange's leading barrister in the Belmarsh hearings was the Australian-born high-profile human rights and media lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC (who continues to argue for Assange). But at the Supreme Court, the case against deportation was presented by Dinah Rose QC, described as a rising star. Named 'Silk of the Year' in the Human Rights and Public Law category in 2011 by Chambers Bar Awards, her fluent performance at the Supreme Court Assange hearing almost drew an inappropriate round of applause when she sat down after several hours of unfaltering argument.
Thanks to live-streaming, we may even see a sudden surge in women choosing law as a career. A number of young women watching Dinah Rose, calm, confident and even funny in her delivery, tweeted that she was their new role model. Another impressive woman on the Assange team is Jennifer Robinson, from Mark Stephens' firm. Australian-born, she has remained an adviser and friend of Assange despite his change of solicitors. Robinson flew in to London from the US for the hearing having earlier in the week accidentally bumped into the United States Attorney General Eric Holder in a cinema and challenged him over the US treatment of Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks. "When I realised he was behind me," she told me, "I couldn't not say something!"
The quiet, persuasive but technical argument of the new team is that the European framework on extraditions requires a 'judicial' authority to issue a warrant. In the British legal tradition, this means that it must be independent. It cannot be a prosecuting authority or a government authority or a police officer. Marianne Ny, the Swedish prosecutor seeking extradition is not, in this definition, an independent judicial authority. "Other countries do it like this" does not make it right, argued Rose.
Sweden has been represented in court from the outset by Clare Montgomery, another highly respected QC, who lists among her past triumphs saving former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet from extradition from the UK to Spain in 1998. Montgomery questioned the impartiality of one of the law Lords of that time on the grounds that he was married to a human rights activist.
A former world-class fencer (literally), Montgomery has represented Sweden's case somewhat aggressively (she once parried Geoffrey Robertson's argument about the allegation of rape with the aside that he clearly knew about rough consensual sex). Her argument in this court was simpler: that the Europe-wide framework for extradition allows Sweden to decide for itself what is a 'judicial authority'. There is, Montgomery has argued, therefore no debate to be had about whether the Swedish prosecutor is the appropriate authority. She is if Sweden declares she is.
Before the hearing, I asked more seasoned legal reporters what they thought of Assange's chances. Like most of the pre-hearing reports, and indeed outlined in the judgment given by the High Court itself in November, they pointed out that since to declare the EAW invalid in this case would overturn the whole 2003 European Framework Decision for cooperating over extradition, Assange had a huge mountain to climb.
Those same commentators might still put their money on the extradition going ahead, but they wouldn't, I am sure, still bet the farm on it.
Endnote: Two days after the hearing concluded, the Court joined Twitter under the user name @UKSupremeCourt. A court spokesman has said that it will be tweeting the Court's decision which is expected in two to four weeks.
Barbara Gunnell is a writer and editor based in London. Her essay on Julian Assange 'Rebel, public nuisance and dreamer' appeared in Griffith REVIEW 32: Wicked Problems, Exquisite Dilemmas. Barbara tweets @eastendlady. View her full profile here. | <urn:uuid:25b13078-7a75-420e-bdc2-54f404f39e1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3814812.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96784 | 1,553 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Europe Makes Effort to Shed a Light on Short Selling
The hedge fund manager David Einhorn does not seem to mind revealing his bets against a company, at least on his own terms.
Over the years, Mr. Einhorn, the founder of Greenlight Capital , has announced several major short positions, most notably in 2008 when he publicly derided Lehman Brothers just months before the investment bank collapsed.
But now Mr. Einhorn and other large investors do not have a choice in France, where regulators started requiring money managers to disclose on a daily basis the stocks they bet against in the country.
On Feb. 3, Greenlight Capital reported it was short more than 1 percent of the shares in Neopost, a French mailroom equipment supplier.
While hedge funds have long had to report their long positions on a quarterly basis, the decision by French authorities brings a new level of transparency to some of the most closely guarded investment moves in the hedge fund world.
In February, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, the French financial markets regulator, began requiring hedge funds and other investment managers to disclose their short positions when they reached 0.5 percent of a company’s outstanding stock.
The initiative mirrors a plan by European Union regulators who, in the wake of the financial crisis, want to monitor the potential risks of short-selling.
The European Commission is considering a proposal that would require all member countries to publish details on investors’ short holdings. Authorities are expected to vote on the measure this year.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction in terms of providing transparency,” said Andrew Lo, professor of finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has studied hedge funds for more than a decade.
“While it is good for the public, there is a potential for unintended consequences.”
The action in Europe goes well beyond the efforts of regulators and policy makers in the United States.
As part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act, the Securities and Exchange Commission is drafting rules that would require hedge funds to disclose greater detail about their positions, leverage and performance — although the information would not be public.
Investors short stocks for many reasons. They may think a company’s shares are overvalued and headed for a fall. Or they want to cut risk in their portfolio.
But the practice has long been contentious. The defenders say such bets provide liquidity to the market and improve price efficiency. Critics contend it accelerates stock losses, adding unnecessary volatility in times of market stress.
There is scant information on short-selling. Limited details are often published on a delayed schedule or in aggregate form, making it hard to know the size and scope of such positions.
Companies have long complained that short-selling can lead to stock manipulation.
In the financial crisis, managers at Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers accused large investors of spreading rumors that sent their prices plummeting and created liquidity problems for the investment banks.
At the time, several countries — including the United States, Britain, Germany and France — banned the practice for shares in certain companies. Since then, the bans have largely been lifted.
As lawmakers across Europe search for ways to prevent another crisis, countries in the region have adopted their own policies around the investment strategy, with the French rules sitting on the more stringent end of the regulatory continuum.
German officials voted on Jan. 31 to extend a rule requiring the disclosure of short positions in the stocks of 10 companies, including Deutsche Bank.
Unlike in France, the information is disclosed on an aggregated basis, showing the collective short positions of money managers on a single stock.
Since 2008, Britain’s Financial Services Authority has forced firms to report short positions for 30 financial companies, including the investment bank Barclays Capital.
The European Union is moving to create a uniform policy for its 27 member countries. The plan, issued last September, would require firms with short positions of 0.5 percent of an available stock to publicly disclose it.
The proposed legislation, which could change as it wends its way through the system, is expected to come up for a vote this year.
The patchwork of regulation — and the looming threat of comprehensive rules in the euro zone — have prompted hedge funds to beef up their lobbying efforts.
The industry’s main trade group in the United States, the Managed Funds Association, said it planned to open an office in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Commission.
The trade group has also sent letters asking European authorities to maintain the records privately, or post them anonymously or in aggregate.
The industry argues that such disclosures could spawn copycats, unsophisticated investors who see the moves of respected hedge funds like Greenlight and decide to follow suit.
Such piling on could lead to unfair downward pressure on a company’s stock.
A spokesman for Greenlight Capital declined to comment. Others say that if market participants stop shorting to avoid the regulatory disclosures, liquidity will dry up and the market will be less efficient.
A study by the British financial regulator in the aftermath of the crisis found that liquidity and pricing suffered for those stocks that investors were banned from shorting. But there isn’t a lot of research on how disclosing individual short positions will affect the market.
Two industry-financed studies suggest that investors will be at risk if the proposed legislation passes.
One study, commissioned by the Managed Funds Association, found that trade volume dropped 13 percent in those stocks subject to disclosure rules in Britain and the gap between the buy and sell offers on a stock increased 45 percent.
The research, however, is hardly definitive, experts say. Indeed, many feel the rules would be a good way to balance what is good for the markets with what is good for the public.
“It’s going to affect just large hedge funds who are putting on fundamental shorts,” said Charles Jones, a finance and economics professor at the Columbia Business School.
“It might discourage them from doing that, and it might mean that prices take longer to adjust to negative information. But it won’t destroy market quality in the same way the ban did.” | <urn:uuid:22700609-d621-4d8f-a0c2-5c421cebe14e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnbc.com/id/41469536 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953435 | 1,277 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Staff Picks: Books
Staff-recommended reading from the
While scanning the new books in the rotunda a couple of weeks ago, I came across The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old-Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It. Flipping through, I saw detailed diagrams of things I had done with my kids, things my parents did with me, and things I've seen other parents do with their kids. It seemed ridiculous and hilarious how it used four figures to show how to get your child up onto your shoulder. Why a book like this when we all know this stuff? Because we often forget to do it, or we did it with our first child and kind of petered out as others were born and we got older and everything got busier. As I was laughing at the book, I had this realization, which induced a little panic. My two youngest children are now 7 and 9. Was there still time?
Last week, we found ourselves on several occasions, piling the couch cushions and pillows in the middle of the living room floor, scanning through the book, and trying things out. Long live the human cannonball!
The Art of Roughhousing
When Georges moves to a new apartment building, the last thing he expects is that he will become a spy. Not only a spy, but friends with 12-year-old, coffee-drinking Safer, and his sister Candy, home-schooled kids whose parents allowed them to name themselves. Of course, the story involves spying and lying but you’ll need to read Liar and Spy yourself for details. (And don’t miss the interrupting chicken.)
Liar and Spy
It's time for Music and Make Believe again! This week the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra String Quartet and Kalamazoo Public Library will collaborate to bring you this special program. Preschoolers will enjoy hearing the story, The Maestro Plays, and completing a craft in the children's room. Then we all go upstairs, where the KSO String Quartet will be waiting to illustrate the story again with music. Kids will love the interaction with the orchestra members and the beautiful music.
We'd love for you to join us at one of the 5 Music and Make Believe sessions this week. Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:30 and 10:30 am at Central. And Thursday at 10:30 am at Eastwood.
Register on our website or call 553-7804 for more information.
The Maestro Plays
When I read the new picture book Sky Color, I was reminded of a fascinating piece from Radiolab called "Why Isn't the Sky Blue?". In different ways, Peter Reynolds' new picture book and the Radiolab program acknowledge that the color concept of a clear blue sky may be largely a social and linguistic construction.
In Sky Color, Marisol has the opportunity to share in painting a mural in her school library. When she can't find the color blue, which she thinks she needs for the sky, she thinks a bit more on how to represent the sky on her mural. That night, she has a dream and realizes she may not need the color blue to present the color of the sky after all.
Sky Color is the third in a series of picture books by Peter H. Reynolds about creativity. The first two titles are The Dot and Ish.
Peter McCarty is a Caldecott honoree illustrator; that is, he won an award for his artwork for his picture book: Hondo and Fabian. His most recent picture book is Chloe, featuring a little bunny who has a mother and a father and twenty brothers and sisters; Chloe is in the middle.
One day, Chloe’s dad surprises everyone and brings home a new television set for some family fun. After dinner the family watches a television program. However, watching television is definitely not fun for Chloe who decides that playing with the tv box and bubble wrap packaging is much more entertaining and imaginative. Soon, each of Chloe’s siblings dumps the tv show and joins their sister Chloe. Even mom and dad can’t resist Chloe’s bubble-wrap popping and bigbox playtime!
Peter McCarthy’s calm, ethereal, sometimes comical illustrations are adorable. He’s written several children’s books and the first book that got my attention is Honda and Fabian, a story about a dog and a cat. Baby Steps is based on a month by month chronicle of his daughter Suki’s first year of life with the most beautiful, delicate life-like drawings of a baby.
Charlie Collier: Snoop for Hire
Growing up I read every Encyclopedia Brown book. Recently Donald Sobol, the author of this series died and I was feeling nostalgic. Then I came across Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire by John Madormo. It's not nearly the caliber of the Encyclopedia Brown series (Sorry John) but it was good enough to scratch the itch. If you recall Encyclopedia Brown had a desk and charged to solve crimes and had a girl named Sally as his "enforcer" and a bully named Bugs Meanie. Charlie has a desk in his garage and his "enforcer" is named Henry. Encyclopedia Brown had the support of his parents (his father was the police chief). Charlie has to sneak his detective work and if his parents come home too soon Henry and Charlie have to hurriedly clean up the garage. But luckily Charlie's grandmother is supportive, in more ways than you would think, but you have to read the book to find out more. Some of the solutions Charlie comes up with are a bit of a stretch. For example, his father reads in the newspaper that a man was found on the beach in Miami, no foot prints, his bones were broken but they were broken after death, cause of death was hypothermia. Charlie has the one and only possible solution, The man was a stowaway on an airplane . He stowed away in the landing gear and when it got to thirty thousand feet he froze to death, when the landing gear came down, he fell out and on to the beach. Throughout the main story there are little brain teasers like this, mostly from his assistant Henry who wants to try and stump him. You can find this book in our Children section of the library.
Charlie Collie Snoop for Hire
Ooh la la, Fancy Nancy is growing up! The best friends Nancy and Bree that love all things glamorous, splendid and French now appear in their first chapter book: Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth(sleuth is a fancy word for detective). The book is a fabulous choice for transitioning readers that already are familiar with Fancy Nancy to chapter books. You must notice that Nancy is so mature now that she drops the Fancy from her title! The characters are likeable and felt like old friends to my daughter and me. We eagerly read chapter after chapter, hooked on the mystery and predicting what would happen next.
There isn’t a book two in the series yet, but there are no worries on what to read next at my house. At the end of the book, my daughter said, “Let’s read all the Nancy Drew books next.” I’d like to thank Nancy Clancy for recommending that wonderful series next!
Nancy Clancy Super Slueth
Zero and One… two books by Kathryn Otoshi. Kathryn Otoshi uses numbers and colors to explain self-worth to children in her two books titled: One and Zero. Otoshi’s writing is direct, simplistic and surprisingly complete. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can read this book over and over to remind children that each and every child has value.
One is the winner of 10 Awards including the E. B. White Read Aloud Honor book.
The colors in One are associated with personality characteristics, Blue is quiet, Yellow is sunny, Green is bright, Purple is regal, Orange is outgoing, Red is hot. In One the color Red bullies Blue who is liked by all the other colors, but those colors do not stand up for Blue or for themselves! Then, along comes the number One. One is funny and makes the colors laugh, except for Red, who demands that One quit laughing. But One stands up straight like an arrow and says “No,” and, “If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for One, stand up and say, No.” The story continues with coping skills for Blue to stop Red’s bullying.
Zero features the number zero who feels worthless and tries to gain worth by joining the other numbers and giving up her value, but it just doesn’t work! The other numbers convince Zero to count more and bring value to everyone!
If you can get past the title, you'll love the book. The story takes place in Oslo, Norway, days before the annual Norwegian Independence Day celebration. 11 year old Nilly has just moved to his new house where he meets his new neighbor, 11 year old Lisa. Nilly is very small - which is important to remember. Living next door to Lisa is the inventor, Doctor Proctor. Doctor Proctor has invented many things, including a powder that makes you glow green and the all important fart powder (regular strength) and fartonaut powder (extra strength). You'll also meet the not so nice twins Truls and Trym, and Anna Conda. You can decide what you think of Anna. There is intrigue, revenge, adventure, lots of laughter and of course - farts! The humor and magic has been compared to Roald Dahl. There are two more books in the series to enjoy, Bubble in the Bathtub and Who Cut the Cheese? My youngest son and I really liked the book and will be starting the next one tonight.
Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder
Moonlight by Helen Griffith is easily one of my favorite pictures books of 2012. I picked it up in the Children's Room because of the beautiful cover but was delighted by the words and story when reading it to my toddler. It's a perfect bedtime book--very soothing with simple, rhyming text. My daughter calls it the butter book because the "moonlight falls like butter" according to the poem in the book. The yellow brushstrokes of moonlight on each page are beautiful enough that she reaches out to touch them. And when we finally see rabbit's dreams, she loves to call out the things she sees (strawberries, radishes, cabbage). It's been our favorite for a month or so now!
Moonlight by Helen Griffith | <urn:uuid:d8fd0f45-d8ee-44a8-aaa8-41c49a3eec27> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kpl.gov/blog/?category=Kids&start=30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963096 | 2,193 | 1.882813 | 2 |
According to the CDC, in 2008, over 200,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer, and over 40,000 women in the U.S. died from it. What new weapons are drug companies adding to the arsenal against this disease? GEN has already given you the top 10 best-selling drugs of the 21st century; now, we present a list of drug candidates for which breast cancer is at least one proposed or approved indication, and for which one indication has reached Phase III or Registration phases.
Each entry includes the name of the drug candidate, the sponsor (and where applicable, collaboration partners), method of action, indication, and phase of trial. Some products are still in clinical trial phases for new indications or formulations after winning marketing approval for initial indications; these approvals, where applicable, are listed on the bottom of each entry. | <urn:uuid:a10fa1d5-071c-4836-9b0d-56ca9d4d4010> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/15-breast-cancer-drugs-in-the-pipeline-right-now/77899728/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970314 | 176 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in most water supplies. Fluoridation is the adjustment of the natural fluoride concentration to about one part of fluoride to one million parts of water. Although fluoridation is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay, the scare tactics of misguided poisonmongers have deprived many communities of its benefits.
How Poisonmongers Work
The antifluoridationists’ (“antis”) basic technique is the big lie. Made infamous by Hitler, it is simple to use, yet surprisingly effective. It consists of claiming that fluoridation causes cancer, heart and kidney disease, and other serious ailments that people fear. The fact that there is no supporting evidence for such claims does not matter. The trick is to keep repeating them—because if something is said often enough, people tend to think there must be some truth to it.
A variation of the big lie is the laundry list. List enough “evils,” and even if proponents can reply to some of them, they will never be able to cover the entire list. This technique is most effective in debates, letters to the editor, and television news reports. Another variation is the simple statement that fluoridation doesn’t work. Although recent studies show less difference than there used to be in decay rates between fluoridated and nonfluoridated communities, the benefit is still substantial. In fact, the Public Health Service estimates that every dollar spent for community fluoridation saves about fifty dollars in dental bills.
A key factor in any anti campaign is the use of printed matter. Because of this, antis are very eager to have their views printed. Scientific journals will rarely publish them, but most local newspapers are willing to express minority viewpoints regardless of whether facts support them. A few editors even welcome the controversy the antis generate—expecting that it will increase readership.
The aim of anti “documents” is to create the illusion of scientific controversy. Often they quote statements that are out of date or out of context. Quotes from obscure or hard-to-locate journals are often used. Another favored tactic is to misquote a profluoridation scientist, knowing that even if the scientist protests, the reply will not reach all those who read the original misquote.
Half-truths are commonly used. For example, saying that fluoride is a rat poison ignores the fact that poison is a matter of dose. Large amounts of many substances—even pure water—can poison people. But the trace amount of fluoride contained in fluoridated water will not harm anyone.
“Experts” are commonly quoted. It is possible to find someone with scientific credentials who is against just about anything. Most “experts” who speak out against fluoridation, however, are not experts on the subject. There are, of course, a few dentists and physicians who oppose fluoridation. Some of them object to fluoridation as a form of government intrusion, even though they know it is safe and effective.
Continue Reading: Why Fluoridation Is Important.
- Embarrassing Conspiracy Theories: Water Fluoridation (illuminutti.com)
- Portland City Council approves fluoride for water supply (kgw.com)
- CDC findings on fluoridated water (kansas.com)
- 3 Steps to Prevent Fluorosis (topdentists.com) | <urn:uuid:8e8f212c-82a6-4cd1-b44d-fee77eb96177> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://illuminutti.com/tag/poisonmongers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953731 | 696 | 3.109375 | 3 |
- Number 353 |
- January 2, 2012
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission launched Nov. 26 carrying the most advanced payload of scientific gear ever used on Mars' surface. Those instruments will get their lifeblood from a radioisotope power system assembled and tested at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is the latest "space battery" that can reliably power a deep space mission for many years.
The device provides a continuous source of heat and power for the rover's instruments. NASA has used nuclear generators to power 26 missions over the past 50 years. New generators like the one destined for Mars are painstakingly assembled and extensively tested at INL before heading to space.
As the percentage of wind energy contributing to the power grid continues to increase, the variable nature of wind can make it difficult to keep the generation and the load balanced.
But recent work by DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in conjunction with AWS Truepower, may help this balance through a project that alerts control room operators of wind conditions and energy forecasts so they can make well-informed scheduling decisions. This is especially important during extreme events, such as ramps, when there is a sharp increase or decrease in the wind speed over a short period of time, which leads to a large rise or fall in the amount of power generated.
Supercomputer simulations at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are giving scientists unprecedented access to a key class of proteins involved in drug detoxification.
Jerome Baudry and Yinglong Miao, who are jointly affiliated with ORNL and the University of Tennessee, have performed simulations to observe the motions of water molecules in a class of enzymes called P450s. Certain types of P450 are responsible for processing a large fraction of drugs taken by humans.
The idea that one can create a field of science out of thin air, just because of societal and policy need, is a bold concept. But for the emerging field of sustainability science, sorting among theoretical and applied scientific disciplines, making sense of potentiallydivergent theory, practice and policy, the gamble has paid off.
In a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Santa Fe Institute, and Indiana University analyzed the field’s temporal evolution, geographic distribution, disciplinarycomposition, and collaboration structure. | <urn:uuid:e3780970-4c5f-4c34-9d46-cd43b37dc5f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ornl.gov/info/news/pulse/no353/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91038 | 483 | 3.21875 | 3 |
How to Stay Caught Up with the CurriculumNovember 2, 2010 | Rebecca Alber
You mention to a fellow teacher during lunch or after a faculty meeting how far along you are in the curriculum and they respond, "Oh, I'm way past that." Gulp. Not what you were looking to hear, right?
First off, curriculum "races" among teachers are just as common as fishing stories. To compare is to despair, I say, and the key to avoiding such despair? Stay focused on the talents and strengths of your group of learners, as well as your talents and strengths as their guide and teacher.
Around this time of year, the truth is, I hear a lot of anguished statements from teachers who I support, like, "I'm already behind," "things are taking too long," and, "I've got to pick up the pace."
So why are so many teachers already feeling like this so early in the year?
One reason could be pacing plans that are sometimes used as mandates rather than guides, and are created by people outside of your school (down at the district, or maybe even in another state). And let's be honest, the authors are not always teachers. Possibly once they were in the classroom, but they've since forgotten that learning goes way beyond just covering an enormous amount of material. Real learning that sticks takes doing -- practicing, applying, and experiencing -- and reflecting.
So, consider quitting the covering curriculum contest, take a deep breath and enjoy teaching again. I promise your students will enjoy learning that much more. Hey, they may even do better on the state exam.
In the Classroom
Let's talk practical now. Yes, as teachers, the reality is we do have a lot to teach in one year and we want our students to transition effortlessly to the next grade and be thoroughly prepared. This means identifying exactly what students need to know and be able to do when they exit your classroom in June.
Setting Goals for Learning
Start by creating learning objectives for each unit (remember, learning objectives are measurable and include outcomes). Then, strategically plan and sequence your lessons. Rigor in the classroom is important, but you don't want to leave your students in the dust, so be sure to check for understanding along the way.
If an activity, class or homework assignment is not directly connected to your learning objectives, you probably need to eliminate it. Simply put, cut out all the fluff. To do this, you will have to take a close look at those activities you've possibly been doing for years and decide if they are really necessary (even if it's that character collage, or science inquiry poster the kids absolutely love making). Or, you can create an abridged version of the project, or make it extra credit to be done at home.
Also, keep this in mind when warding off that little demon called time: If it's important work but doesn't need teacher guidance or peer support, send it home to be completed independently.
Seek the Sages
If you frequently find yourself running out of time, your instruction might be more activity based than learning goals based. One suggestion: consider reaching out to the teachers you admire at your school site (or those master teachers you've heard about at other sites). Why re-invent the wheel when you can get your hands on finely tuned, engaging lessons and projects that they've been creating for years, and that address the learners in your community. (If you have these lessons, please share with your colleagues and especially those new teachers in your building. They need your help and your expertise!)
Modify, Accommodate, and Move On
When students are struggling to comprehend new ideas and material, and the content is crucial to achieving the learning goals for the unit, find reading material that is an easier reading level so they can access the important information. Also think of other ways the students can learn the content and concepts: a brief documentary clip and discussion, a simulation, a Q&A with an expert (possibly via Skype).
If a small group of kids are still having a hard time with that new concept or content, don't stop to re-teach the whole class or slow the instructional pace (this will lead to twenty or more restless, bored students). Instead, move on, but do re-teach and modify the assignment for that handful either after school or while the class is working independently (check out my post on differentiated instruction here).
Depth over Breadth
After you have decided on learning objectives and chosen material, dig in rather than gliding over. This will take a change in pace, but sometimes you have to slow down to go quickly. What does that mean? As we've established, there's a tendency and quite a bit of pressure these days to cover heaps of material, and quickly -- breadth over depth. That means teachers are being put in the situation to tell rather than show, and therefore students are forced to be passive rather than doers and creators.
Simply covering material is not teaching; it's checking off a list. If we focus more on getting through the curriculum than on creating meaningful and enriching educational experiences, we forget such vital parts of our job, such as checking for understanding, re-teaching, and reviewing.
If you find yourself telling and rushing much more than showing and creating opportunities for students to discover, check out a diagram of Dale's Cone of Experience here. It gives a strong argument for diving in and allowing kids to discover, experience, discuss, and reflect. This is the kind of learning that sticks.
Still feeling an incredible amount of pressure to race through that curriculum? Educational research shows that only about 10 to 15 percent of students learn best auditorily, but 80 percent of instructional delivery is auditory. Yikes.
What that means is to serve our learners in an authentic, meaningful way where the learning lasts, all that telling (direct-teaching) has to be toned down and replaced with lots more visual, hands-on, and experiential learning. And that, as we know, takes time.
What tips would you like to offer for staying focused and on track? We look forward to your suggestions. | <urn:uuid:b50e5111-a474-4095-be20-02ff473d0411> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.edutopia.org/blog/curriculum-how-to-stay-caught-up-rebecca-alber | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969968 | 1,278 | 2.328125 | 2 |
Many cost-conscious businesses lack only the education, not the expertise, to implement cloud computing technologies at their companies, an AMI-Partners report finds.
Worldwide small businesses (1-99 employees) represent a
"significant" opportunity for cloud services, particularly software as
a service, however, one in five small businesses currently not
using SAAS report their businesses are too small for such
applications, a study from midmarket IT research firm AMI-Partners
found. The report discovered significant subsets of these small
businesses believe that they do not have the appropriate expertise to
make the migration to hosted applications.
Although cloud computing has been available for years, it is only
recently that affordable solutions are being presented to small
businesses, and those midmarket companies are eager to employ
cloud-based solutions. According to AMI research, worldwide SBs have
allocated 18 percent of their total software spending for SAAS-related
software, a figure similar to that of MBs (medium businesses) with 100 to
999 employees. However, there are still hurdles for SMBs (small to
medium-size businesses) to overcome in order to reach this
critical market, the report found.
"Cloud-related information and communications technology spending
is projected to account for a sizeable portion of total worldwide SMB
ICT spending in 2010. Cloud providers are racing to deliver functional,
cost-effective solutions to small businesses worldwide," said AMI
senior associate Michael McDonald. "Small businesses have been laggards
in adopting new technologies that fall outside their comfort zone,
often looking to larger firms as test cases."
McDonald said cloud service providers targeting SBs should understand
that educating the decision-makers of these companies on the ease and
simplicity of migrating to SAAS applications is essential, and channel
partners should be armed with simple case studies demonstrating these
benefits. "The larger issue is the lack of knowledge regarding cloud,"
McDonald said. "Even though some budget has been allocated for SAAS
products, we see a gap between planned and actual spending. Small
businesses have the capital available to make significant advances in
the cloud; however, they are still uncertain as to how a cloud solution
will benefit firms of their size."
SMB preferences for cloud-based application bundles, their price
sensitivity and purchase channel preferences are further explored in
AMI's upcoming Worldwide SMB Cloud Services Study. The study provides
coverage of platforms and devices, IT infrastructure services, business
productivity applications, business management/line of business
applications and UC (unified communications). A company release said
the research would be available later in 2010.
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. | <urn:uuid:0c725158-16b2-435e-92d3-06ab2f31f6f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Midmarket/Small-Businesses-Lack-Cloud-Computing-Education-Report-Finds-426273/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955956 | 627 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The Postal Regulatory Commission's report on Universal Service dealt with the question of mailbox access in its report on Universal Service. However, it did not deal with the question of mailbox access if the Postal Service no longer used the mailbox on a particular day or at all.
Mailbox access is one of the most contentious issues in postal policy as it raises issues of privacy and the security of the mail. Mailbox access is generally not an issue at business addresses, as those addresses have doors that can accept delivery without violating the Postal monopoly on the mailbox. Mailbox access also creates a situation that UPS, FedEx, and newspapers have to either drop off their items on the stoop or set up their own box for their own items. Cluster boxes and post office boxes create a different issue as they are not attached to the residence of business and have more characteristics of a privately provided delivery point.
To date, the Postal Service has completed a significant amount of planning regarding operational changes and the impact on the workforce. It has just begun the process to understand how the change would affect senders of mail and total Postal revenue. The Postal Service is just now conducting the market research necessary to determine the impact of the change on senders of mail and their spending on Postal products. Once this research is complete, the Postal Service should know what is the market for Saturday delivery and more broadly what is the market for postal operations on Saturday.
In listening to the challenges that the Postal Service has in dealing with the proposed change to 5-day service, and mailer questions about how the change would affect them, three distinct groups of customers seem to be affected.
- Customers who use retail services on Saturday - Postal retail services like all other retail services serve customers on Saturday whose work or school schedule prevent using the service during business hours between Monday and Friday. This includes people who want to pick up parcels that could not be signed for during the regular delivery schedule, and those who need to tender mail and parcels. An important user of retail services on Saturday are larger billers who use caller service or Post Office boxes to receive remittances and losing a day of delivery slows down the process of depositing payments and increases the cost of using the mail for billing and payments.
- Customers who require Saturday delivery - As the question illustrated, Saturday delivery is important to senders of daily and weekly periodicals, and advertisements. Saturday delivery is a direct competitor with advertising placed in the Sunday paper. As newspaper circulation declines, many newspapers use mail deliveries to serve those addresses that do not receive the paper, the advertisement would have to be delivered either on Friday or Monday and it is not clear that the advertisement would be as effective on a day when customers have less time to look at what they receive. Loss of Saturday delivery will have the greatest impact on advertisers in those areas of the country where newspaper circulation has the least coverage of all households. Loss of Saturday delivery would also impact political campaigns that try to have the last critical mailing arrive on the Saturday before the election to coordinate with other media.
Saturday delivery is also important for senders of bills. Bill senders have a printing cycle set to a 6-day delivery time. When the bill arrives has an impact on when the bill is paid. Changing the delivery schedule will affect when the company receives the money they are due. Saturday delivery is also important for billers when they accept the payments. As most large billers pick up their mail at the Post Office, the Postal Service will continue this service.
- Customers who require Saturday Processing - Saturday processing affects mailers with strict delivery requirements on Monday or Tuesday of the following week. Saturday processing also affects billers as it affects the speed at which bills are processed and therefore received. While allowing billers to collect payments on Saturday allows them to quickly deposit payments that have arrived at the local office, it slows the arrival of bills that are elsewhere in the system.
Eliminating Saturday processing affects small business and individual mailers in two ways. For bills, it would require them to mail earlier to ensure that bills arrive on time. For parcel shippers, it eliminates the advantage that the Postal Service has over its private sector competitors for orders shipped late in the week and on Saturday.
Finally, eliminating Saturday processing affects the delivery of fresh produce, live plants and animals. Losing a processing day increases the chance that the produce, plant or animal will not arrive as the sender intended. Creating significant problems for the small group of senders whom the Postal Service serves in this market.
The massive free media on the switch to 5-day delivery will complicate the Postal Service's marketing challenges. The Postal Service will have to deal with increased marketing pressure from electronic and physical delivery alternatives as well as local newspapers. This marketing effort will highlight why their service is now a better deal than the Postal Service.
Banks and others sending bills and receiving payments will use the change to highlight the advantages of electronic bill presentment and payment. Some will introduce or increase fees for hard copy bills and increase incentives for electronic payment, knowing the free media will reduce the size of the fee change or incentive offered to cause a customer switch delivery mode. Weekly newsletters and periodicals with Friday or Saturday deadlines will also expand their effort to move their customers to electronic delivery, again using the free media to reinforce this effort.
Countering this effort will be expensive and difficult. The Postal Service's marketing effort will need to be as detailed as its operating plan and in addition to advertising would require that every available person with some sales or marketing responsibility contact customers in person in order to retain their business. With millions of customers, large and small affected by the change, the success of the transition requires that the high-touch business retention effort that is required succeeds. | <urn:uuid:bc22c51c-a5a2-443a-8fb0-f593036e6dc0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://courierexpressandpostal.blogspot.com/2009/08/opening-mailbox.html?showComment=1250339069803 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960211 | 1,162 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Wed November 21, 2012
UTSA's Cyber Security Center Has Shopping Advice For Cyber Monday Purchases
Black Friday is right after Thanksgiving - even starting Thursday night at some stores - and then soon after comes Cyber Monday, a multi-Billion dollar day of sales over the Internet; that one day is also a big opportunity for cyber thieves to take advantage of weak links in online security.
You may be focused on turkey and football games, but a quick lesson in cyber security will give you and the family something different to talk about over dinner other than politics.
Last year, Cyber Monday made the leap from a “large” shopping day to a frenzy that can be called “huge.”
"In 2010, there was a measure in the United States of $1 billion of commerce on Cyber Monday online. In 2011, it went up 25 percent to $1.25 billion in one 24-hour period," said Larry Thompson, associate director for UTSA’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security.
Thompson said the biggest mistakes shoppers make is believing an offer that is too good to be true, or giving out too much information. And, when sending credit card info over the Internet, there is a way to make sure the payment site is encrypted.
"You should see that little lock, and when you're on a website you want to see "https," warns Thompson.
Both are necessary; Thompson said that if a site says it has an https address but there is no icon of a padlock - to the left or the right of the address bar - the seller might not be legitimate.Thompson also warned against using debit cards to make online purchases.
"The little Mastercard symbol on my debit card doesn't do anything to protect me?" I asked him.
"No, it does not," replied Thompson. "Because if you do a transfer from your bank account, the moneys' gone. With a debit card, it's an actual transfer of funds from your money. If you do that and the money goes outside the U.S., it's gone."
If you are purchasing several items, check your accounts against a handwritten or other record of your purchases.
So I asked if he suggests that customers write down all purchases on a piece of paper.
"Absolutely," said Thompson. "And actually, easier than that, whenever you buy something, it will come up with a receipt. Print out the receipt. And if you're not near a printer when you're buying, take out a piece of paper and write the purchase down."
CIAS, which is a National Center of Academic Excellence designated by the Dept. of Homeland Security and the NSA, teaches computer security to governments, corporations, small businesses, NGOs, and individuals. Last week, educators taught a course to residents and small business owners in San Antonio.
CIAS has additional flyers on cyber safe shopping and cyber security hygiene on its website, then click on Resources.
- CIAS online at: cias.utsa.edu
- See a PDF of CIAS' Cyber Security for Cyber Monday | <urn:uuid:5d17ff30-43da-4a72-ac33-bbb12bd62c76> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tpr.org/post/utsas-cyber-security-center-has-shopping-advice-cyber-monday-purchases?ft=1&f=165473018,165644509,165682832,166024601,166068041,166111774,166225617,166513368,167002885,167446218,168807013,168948040,170242264,170255283,170836617 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949233 | 636 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Discussion: Vector And Turn Analysis Of Observed And Measured Flight Paths Of 9/11 WTC Aircraft
Video footage depicts United Airlines Flight 175 (UA 175) impacting World Trade Center tower 2 (WTC 2) on September 11, 2001 in New York City via a trajectory comprised of two separate banked turns. The second turn was apparently not required to generate impact. The first turn, which maintains a constant angle of bank (AoB), is evident at 1.2 miles before impact. Although human control of UA 175’s observed maneuvers cannot be ruled out, the precise coordination of variables such as the selections of a correct bank angle and turn start time for the first turn apparently pose challenges to the unaided human control hypothesis. The observed turn stability favors the use of autopilot operation, either functioning in a conventional course control mode or in Control Wheel Steering (CWS) mode. The probability that either of these two control systems were used is discussed. Flight deck images of United and American airlines 757s and 767s suggest that such CWS functions may have been disabled circa 2001. Constant radius turns utilizing plotted waypoints during commercial aviation operations are routinely supported by augmented GPS navigation service and related commercial Flight Management Systems (FMS) available circa 2001. As will be demonstrated, the implementation of UA 175’s observed 1.2 mile constant radius arc, seconds earlier or later than observed, would apparently result in UA 175 missing WTC 2. Estimates of the likely effect of crosswinds on the approach to WTC 2 are also provided. It is noted that a projected impact via the first observed banked turn would have occurred under crosswind conditions capable of generating between 122 and 134 approximate total feet of lateral displacement from the calculated final position of the aircraft if not affected by such crosswinds. Aircraft distances and other calculations are based on reported aircraft speed for UA 175 of 799 feet per second at impact and measured times to impact . The observed speeds of both attack aircraft were extreme by comparison to the typical speeds of similarly descending aircraft. While creating significantly less response time for possible human hijacker pilot course corrections during final target approaches that would demand superior control surface operation, a general vector analysis considering the final course and speed for each aircraft suggests that the unusually high speeds observed would generate greater accuracy of the aircraft while enroute to their targets, as a result of smaller course deflection angles and ground track displacements, created by existing and potential crosswinds. | <urn:uuid:5a7dd504-1fc8-463a-92ed-49cffb4cf3e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://911blogger.com/news/2010-03-27/discussion-vector-and-turn-analysis-observed-and-measured-flight-paths-911-wtc-aircraft | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939916 | 499 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Here’s a letter to the New York Times:
Describing “austerity economics” as “the insistence that governments should slash spending even in the face of high unemployment” in the hope that such spending cuts will restore business confidence, Paul Krugman remarks: “If this sounds to you like something Herbert Hoover might have said, you’re right: It does and he did” (“Pain Without Gain,” Feb. 20).
Easily accessed evidence proves Mr. Krugman wrong.
Here, for example, is economist Steven Horwitz: “the real size of government spending in 1933 was almost double that of 1929. The budget deficits of 1931 and 1932 represented 52.5 percent and 43.3 percent of total federal expenditures. No year between 1933 and 1941 under Roosevelt had a deficit that large.” Also contrary to Mr. Krugman’s claim, Hoover proudly trumpeted his administration’s high-spending and interventionist policies. On the campaign trail in 1932 Hoover bragged that “We might have done nothing. That would have been utter ruin. Instead, we met the situation with proposals to private business and the Congress of the most gigantic program of economic defense and counterattack ever evolved in the history of the Republic.”*
Mr. Krugman’s unfamiliarity with history is disturbing.
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
* Steven Horwitz, “Herbert Hoover: Father of the New Deal,” Cato Institute Briefing Paper, Sept. 29, 2011. The first quotation is on page 4; the second is on page 8.
Oh, and do keep in mind that allegations of European austerity shouldn’t be accepted at face value. | <urn:uuid:df7d6eea-408d-4cc8-bd0c-526cdfd394c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cafehayek.com/2012/02/its-what-we-know-that-aint-so.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920184 | 375 | 1.929688 | 2 |
- Language Tips
With the US Senate giving the green light to John Kerry's nomination in a lopsided vote on Tuesday, the Democratic Senator is set to replace Hillary Clinton as the country's top diplomat. How Kerry will make his mark on US foreign policy will be under close scrutiny.
Clinton's four-year term as the US Secretary of State had an inglorious ending last week when she gave testimony at a Senate hearing into the Sept 11 assault on the US mission in Benghazi, eastern Libya. The attack, which killed US Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, was perceived as a major diplomatic setback to the United States. It also aroused criticism at the US' Middle East policy.
In the past years, the Obama administration has resorted to intervention and sanctions as the world community sought to tackle major crises in the region, such as the ongoing Syria crisis, the Libya conflict and the Iranian nuclear standoff. It has taken an uncompromising stance toward other pivotal issues in the region too.
Kerry will be tested on how he will respond to calls for a readjustment of the country's policy in the Middle East. Last week, Kerry said at his Senate confirmation hearing that he looked to diplomatic means to solve the Iran issue and hoped for a revival of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
Kerry should be advised that the US needs to rethink its interventionist mindset approach to pave the way for a major policy change in the region. If the US intends to make a major diplomatic breakthrough in the region, it needs to opt for a more engaging and compromising approach, which would help assuage the anti-US sentiment in the region.
In the past two years, the US has also taken substantial steps to implement its strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific. Emboldened by this, some countries in the region have raised tensions over maritime territorial disputes with China in the East and South China seas.
At last week's hearing, Kerry said he supports deeper ties with China and is unconvinced the US needs to ramp up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. This stance has been interpreted as a positive signal. As a country that claims to have a stake in the region's peace and development, the US should be fully aware of the impact its rising military presence in the region has on regional peace and stability.
(China Daily 01/31/2013 page8) | <urn:uuid:9a43cd42-a6da-430a-84ba-849eaa0266d3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2013-01/31/content_16189234.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958116 | 487 | 1.765625 | 2 |
In Absence of Reasonable Republicans, Brewer’s Action Against DREAMers Defines GOP and Clarifies the Choice for Latino Voters
Yesterday’s official launch of the deferred action program for DREAMers offered a reminder about how public policy changes can directly improve people’s lives. Unfortunately, yesterday also brought home a reminder about the way politics courses through even the most celebratory of days, bringing into sharp relief the distinctions between the parties on immigration policy.
Speaking to an overflow crowd of thousands waiting to apply for deferred action at Chicago’s Navy Pier yesterday, longtime DREAM Act champion Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) described what happened to make the day possible, “This is a force of people who have grown up in this country and want to be part of its future. They are creating a moral force beyond a legal force.” Leading pro-immigrant Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) noted, “Navy Pier is today’s Ellis Island, and while they saw New York City, today they see Chicago…But the most important thing is they see America.” Scenes similar to that in Chicago played out throughout the nation, leading Univisión anchor Jorge Ramos to say, “The day of DREAMS has arrived. As of today DREAMers can present their application for deferred action to the United States Government. This is historic.”
Not surprising, but certainly disappointing, is the fact that anti-immigrant standard-bearers used the day to double down on their opposition instead of celebrating the fact that thousands of people can finally take a step forward in their lives. Leading the anti-immigrant charge was Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ), who used the backdrop to issue an executive order barring those eligible for DREAMer deferred action from accessing any state benefits or driver’s licenses in Arizona. Brewer’s actions on immigration are typically heartless, but to issue this executive order on a day of unabashed celebration is a special brand of cruelty that singles out young immigrants who came here as children and know no other home than Arizona.
Additionally, in absence of alternate Republican voices – most notably those on the Republican presidential ticket – Brewer’s voice is defining the Republican Party for millions of Latino voters, along with other anti-immigrant crusaders such as Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). As we have pointed out, Romney has refused to answer whether he would keep or repeal the DREAMer protection policy if he takes office. And on the day of the smartest immigration policy change in decades, neither Romney nor vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan (R-WI) saw fit to discuss the subject.
As a result, yesterday offered a reminder of the political distinctions between the parties on immigration policy – a fact not lost on Latino voters. Clearly, Brewer thought the action would excite her conservative base, but the impact of her action on the ballot box is far more likely to help Obama and the Democrats that Romney and the Republicans. As Ezra Klein of the Washington Post writes today, “Not too long ago, I sat down with a senior member of President Obama’s political team. Talk turned, as it often does, to the election, and the official said something that surprised me: If the president wins, this official thought that we would look back after the election and pinpoint the day the administration announced their new policy on deportations as the day the election was won… I didn’t think much of the Obama official’s comment at the time. But reading over some of the coverage of this policy change in local press, and looking at photos like this one, I’m starting to take it more seriously. Changing people’s lives is always more effective than another campaign ad. And this policy is looking like it’s going to change a lot of lives.”
America’s Voice — Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform. | <urn:uuid:083aed67-bec6-422e-8b00-353547a3a81c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://americasvoiceonline.org/press_releases/when-did-gov-jan-brewer-join-the-obama-campaign/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954391 | 832 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Annotations for Dracula
, by Bram Stoker
, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics
series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics
pulls together a constellation of influences?biographical, historical, and literary?to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
Count Dracula has inspired countless movies, books, and plays. But few, if any, have been fully faithful to Bram Stoker's original, best-selling novel of mystery and horror, love and death, sin and redemption. Dracula chronicles the vampire's journey from Transylvania to the nighttime streets of London. There, he searches for the blood of strong men and beautiful women while his enemies plot to rid the world of his frightful power.
Today's critics see Dracula as a virtual textbook on Victorian repression of the erotic and fear of female sexuality. In it, Stoker created a new word for terror, a new myth to feed our nightmares, and a character who will outlive us all.
Brooke Allen is a book critic whose work has appeared in numerous publications including The Atlantic Monthly, The New Criterion, The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hudson Review. A collection of her essays, Twentieth-Century Attitudes, will be published in 2003. | <urn:uuid:49365216-6e01-4ed5-a70a-7e62dda6dd95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sherloc.imcpl.org/enhancedContent.pl?contentType=AnnotationDetail&isbn=9781593081140 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923011 | 324 | 2.25 | 2 |
Attic fans can suck air down flues causing spillage. Spillage can cause CO poisoning. Attic fans can't always be easily accessed or controlled. Read on:
While doing a comprehensive quality control visit last week, our Pure Energy Final Inspector noted that both the atmospheric draft water heater and atmospheric draft boiler failed these safety tests:
In addition to failing those tests, the negative pressure in the combustion appliance zone (CAZ) with reference to the outdoors was greater than allowed (the CAZ exceeded the maximum CAZ depressurization limit allowed) during the baseline and under the worst case conditions set up.
Upon further investigation, the Final Inspector found that, not only were the typical mechanical ventilation appliances making the CAZ negative, but the attic fan was on as well.
The attic was being ventilated to the outdoors by a typical attic fan installed in the roof. The pressure caused by the operating fan is sucking air out of the attic... and the house, and the CAZ, causing the CAZ to be under too great a negative pressure. Since every CFM of air that the fan exhausts has to come from somewhere, this negative pressure causes some of the make-up air to come down the flues rather than from the passive attic vents. The water heater and the boiler could not vent the flue gasses properly, and the fumes actually were being vented to the inside of the house. This is dangerous and unhealthy.
The reason the fan could suck air from the CAZ is because the attic was not fully separated from the house and from the basement as is required by the program and also from BPI.
So, not only does a leaky pressure boundary allow heated air to leak into the attic; moist air to leak into the attic; hot summer air to leak into the house; polluted air to leak into the house... but it also can impact the CAZ and cause CO and other pollutant poisoning.
Recommendations for program administrators and technicians: | <urn:uuid:7623b3ad-0269-4bcc-b9f1-dd138d5dde97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/show?id=6069565%3ABlogPost%3A57219&commentId=6069565%3AComment%3A58304&xg_source=activity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959387 | 405 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Chemical weapons used on Homs
Syria's military police defector tells of nerve gas attack
The head of Syria's military police defected to the opposition, accusing the Assad regime of systematic "murder" and claiming that reports of chemical weapons being used against rebels in the restive city of Homs were true.
Maj-Gen Abdul-Aziz Jassim al-Shallal became one of the highest ranking Syrian military officers to throw their support behind the rebels, accusing forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of turning their weapons on innocent civilians in the now 22-month-long civil war.
|From The Independent, no less. Will this cause the progressives in the western world to pay attention to Syria now? Condemn Assad? Do anything other than the most mild 'tsk-tsk'?|
Oh, I already know the answer.
"I declare my defection from the army because of its deviation from its fundamental mission to protect the nation and [its] transformation into gangs of murder and destruction," he said in a video message posted online, reportedly from the Turkish border.
He accused the military of "destroying cities and villages and committing massacres against our innocent people who came out to demand freedom." General Shallal suggested in his message that he had been working with the opposition for some time before he formally defected to the rebel cause.
He becomes the latest in a string of leading military advisers to abandon the government and join the disparate rebels. But it is his claim that chemical weapons were used in Homs during a deadly attack on Christmas Eve that is likely to be of greater interest to the Syrian opposition and their foreign backers.
Reports from Homs had suggested that a type of nerve agent was used by the Syrian forces in the attack, a point that General Shallal appeared to verify yesterday. Al Jazeera reported at the time that at least seven people had died after inhaling a poisonous gas "sprayed by government forces in a rebel-held Homs neighbourhood".
It is not clear that the substance used in Homs was banned by international law, even the though the General yesterday specifically referred to a "chemical weapons" attack. Nonetheless, the use of non-conventional weapons is considered a "red line" by some in the international community who have been reluctant to intervene directly.
The issue of chemical weapons and their security is likely to form the basis of discussions when the UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi visits Moscow on Saturday.
|But not by our president, apparently, even though he said a month ago that it would be...|
|Only so the Rooskies can remove the 'Made in the Soviet Union' labels from the stash...|
Posted by: Steve White | <urn:uuid:a9b3017e-e62b-4458-b63a-d09d4bced058> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rantburg.com/Jmailer.php?ID=358885 | 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 | 0.973147 | 555 | 1.632813 | 2 |
|Uploaded:||September 2, 2012|
|Updated:||September 3, 2012|
I have two Adventure Time characters going up today, one of them is in chibi form, and the other is an animal. To start I will show you "how to draw Tree Trunks", step by step. This characters name is so weird because it's after the trunks of trees. Tree Trunks is actually a female elephant that is a lime green color, has a bunch of wrinkles on her skin, and she wears a red bow on her tail. For an elephant she is small, but she is friends with both Finn and Jake. One of the thinks that Trunks likes to do is pick apples and hang out with her friends. Supposedly she is in love with Mr. Pig, but I'm not too sure about that. Anyways, this is going to be a very easy lesson to tackle, which means you will enjoy yourself when you do. I shall return with more stuff to do so keep those pencils in hand. Adios mi amigos! | <urn:uuid:918c9c17-8025-44d0-94c3-5b7f209ab76c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/13288/4/1/how-to-draw-tree-trunks,-tree-trunks-from-adventure-time-drawing-sheet.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969537 | 221 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Yet more proof that government mandates are not apt at solving problems, be it creating jobs or cutting carbon emissions. A study published today by International Policy Network, titled Seven Myths about Green Jobs reveals the hidden-costs of “green investments”. Resources will be wasted and growth will be slowed, while there is no guarantee that the environment will benefit.
The coalition government has announced a whole range of green measures to both cut emissions and create jobs: from low-carbon business support programmes to a Green Investment Bank. We can expect the initiatives to be cemented in legislation by this autumn, and rolled out through the country by 2012. After all, the Prime Minister pledged to deliver “the greenest government ever”. And best of all, Clegg assures us that he’ll impress us by “quietly getting on with the job”.
Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is.
What we are likely to see are more bureaucratic jobs, more red tape. And yet more resources siphoned away from productive sectors of the economy.
In fact, many green job proposals actively push for resources to be taken away from highly-productive activities. A United Nations report even calls for fruit to be picked by hand, rather than by machine.
As for the cost? Today’s “green investments” will just add to our already colossal national debt. Even the United Nations admits that a full-fledged green transition - the type they dream about – could cost hundreds of billions, maybe trillions of dollars. | <urn:uuid:8504b2cb-f29f-466a-9850-6a40194a251e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.adamsmith.org/blog?f[0]=im_field_author%3A5775 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939493 | 321 | 2.609375 | 3 |
TRA Denies 'Decoupling' Natural Gas Rates
Tennessee regulators denied a rate structure change by Piedmont Natural Gas that would have allowed the utility to raise rates for residents when less gas is used.
The Tennessee Regulatory Agency voted 3-0 to deny the change that Piedmont had unsuccessfully asked the legislature to authorize last year during a meeting Monday, according to The Tennessean.
The plan, called "decoupling," intends to give an incentive to encourage energy conservation by compensating the utility for reductions in use. The Charlotte, N.C.-based utility says less usage will result in a cost saving for customers, even though rates would increase to make up for its profit loss.
TRA Director Mary W. Freeman said the program proposed by the utility lacks specificity and measurements that would show whether conservation would actually be achieved.
"With this petition it's abundantly clear to me that Piedmont circumvented the Authority last year when it filed legislation in the General Assembly," Freeman said. "And now after the General Assembly expressed a desire to study the decoupling issue, Piedmont is attempting to circumvent the General Assembly by filing its petition with the TRA."
Frank Yoho, a Piedmont spokesman, said the utility was disappointed, but they haven't given up on decoupling.
"The intent around it is to continue to cover our costs to operate our system safely and reliably, but the real goal is to help customers get their bills down," he said.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office submitted an analysis of the proposal that showed that rate hikes in the first year would result in $1.9 million more for Piedmont, while lost revenue from less gas use would amount to just $20,000. The analysis was based on 2003 data from the utility on things like gas usage and the number of customers served.
Another TRA director, Eddie Roberson, said Piedmont's decoupling measure fails to provide adequate safeguards for consumers. Roberson also wanted a new rate hearing, which require the utility to open its books and provide current information.
"To consider such a dramatic change in rate design as proposed by the company -- at a minimum -- the TRA needs to have current usage and financial data from the company, not data almost seven years old from a 2003 rate case where conservation was not considered," Roberson said.
Yoho said he didn't know what the company's next step would be, but he felt that the TRA was pointing them in the direction of a new rate hearing.
Mike Hassell, who lives in the Priest Lake area, said he was pleased with the agency's decision.
"How can you expect us to save, and then they're going to charge us more because they've got to keep their profits up?" he said. "No, you cut back in your business." | <urn:uuid:89ecb918-1bc9-45f6-a728-89477e87d521> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.knoxnews.com/humphrey/2010/01/tra-denies-decoupling-for-natu.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973785 | 586 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s voluminous literary estate has been entrusted to the Swiss Literary Archives in Berne, while the author’s private collection and works of art remain in Neuchatel’s Centre Dürrenmatt.
By contract of inheritance, Friedrich Dürrenmatt bequeathed his literary estate to the Swiss Confederation. In return, the latter set up the Swiss Literary Archives, under the auspices of the Swiss National Library in Berne, in 1991. Dürrenmatt’s art was entrusted to a foundation with the mission of providing public access to his artistic production. In time, this arbitrary separation of Dürrenmatt’s literary output from his visual art proved problematic. The creation of Neuchâtel’s Centre Dürrenmatt as a branch of the Swiss National Library now ensures that his visual art is available for viewing and research in a way that brings out its close ties with his literary oeuvre.
The over 400 archival storage units containing Dürrenmatt’s writings include the manuscripts for most of his written work, extensive correspondence (mostly letters addressed to the author), and a wealth of documentary material dealing mainly with his stage plays—all of which has been catalogued and is available for consultation in the Swiss Literary Archives.
In addition, indexes of Dürrenmatt’s art, of the photographs belonging to his estate, and of parts of his private book collection are now available online. | <urn:uuid:31c6992f-73ce-4dbe-9e09-f500552e8fe2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bundesmuseen.ch/cdn/00126/00167/index.html?lang=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947156 | 315 | 2.375 | 2 |
i was given a wonderful gift recently from Anton’s gran, who was cleaning out her book collection and came upon an old copy of The Art of Vogue Covers. it details the illustrated covers of British Vogue from 1909 through to 1940, including the entire collection of covers between 1920-1930. i was only familiar with a few of the illustrated Vogue covers (a handful of which were turned into posters and probably hang in many a college dorm room), so i thought i’d scan in some of my favourites and share them with you.
most of the work showcased in the book are by seasoned Vogue illustrators Helen Dryden, Georges Lepap, Harriett Maserol, George Plank and Eduardo Benito amongst others. if you’d like to see more please let me know and i’ll continue adding them to the flickr collection, this is literally just the tip of the iceberg.
see them all here. | <urn:uuid:381ee4f6-55dc-4629-b876-3348debbdd62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.missmoss.co.za/2012/07/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977072 | 200 | 1.59375 | 2 |
The Michael wiki last edited by jloneblackheart on 04/11/13 04:00PM
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An archangel of God and one of the original 7 of them.
The mightiest warrrior of heaven and protector of Jerusalem,Michael the ArcAngel is one of God's greatest creations.Before the fall, Michael would worship God along with the two morning stars. But then Lucifer began to hate God and his son Jesus.
Before God created man, Lucifer tempted Michael to turn against God but Michael endured, even when a third of God's holy angels turned their backs to Him. Michael stood with God when Lucifer made war in heaven and strived to usurp God's throne. Eventually, Lucifer was cast out of heaven unto the earth, which is where he set up his kingdom and deceived Eve and Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
Michael stood against Lucifer strongly even fought him after the death of Moses. Although Michael stayed loyal to God, he never understood why Lucifer was allowed into heaven and why he was allowed to afflict pain on Job.
Michael and Gabriel never stopped protecting Israel.
After the resurrection of Christ and the rebirth of Jerusalem, Michael would protect the fig tree until the Last Day.
Michael also was called by the Holy Spirit on an important mission to defeat Overlord Balera who obssessed over Justin's soul.
Eventually Michael defeated Lord Balera and later returned with Christ and his armies to Jerualem to rule the earth for a thousand years. | <urn:uuid:be461641-504a-499c-ab21-dcf48c5e022b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.comicvine.com/michael/4005-56004/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964181 | 312 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Wanderings through university and library image collections; etchings, leaflets, prints, lithographs, relics of yore. Items digitized from before the digital age. Let's remember what we forgot. Lest we forget.
ANTIQUE - collectible old item: a collectible decorative or household object that is valued because of its age, the style, traditions, and qualities of ancient times, old and often valuable, of interest to collectors
MEME - a cultural characteristic passed down through generations: any characteristic of a culture, e.g. its language, that can be transmitted from one generation to the next in a way analogous to the transmission of genetic information | <urn:uuid:c075ca5a-ff8c-4ad8-a7bd-1b55b2376ad6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://antiquememes.tumblr.com/post/31804936994/1947-wurlitzer-jukebox-from-leifpeng | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911122 | 138 | 2.078125 | 2 |
Definition of Mathematics disorder
Mathematics disorder: A condition characterized by math skills that are significantly below normal, given the person's age, intelligence, and education. A mathematics disorder can include problems writing or printing numbers, counting, adding and subtracting, interpreting simple mathematical signs such as +, -, x, and / and learning terms that include numbers.
Mathematics disorder often comes to attention in elementary (primary) school when math comes to the fore as a key part of the curriculum. Some experts believe about 1% of children in the U.S. have a mathematics disorder.
The diagnosis is confirmed by special psychoeducational tests. Treatment includes tutoring, placement in special math classrooms with expert math teachers, and other educational aids that focus on math skills.
Mathematics disorder can be seen as the counterpart to dyslexia or as a special form of dyslexia.
Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012
Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List
Need help identifying pills and medications?
Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE! | <urn:uuid:bd0508cc-e524-4f73-8c09-6a1bd852aa9c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10634 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924046 | 228 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Facebook Cyberbullying Radio Drama
From: Youth Media Project
As part of an Audio Revolution! show about bullying created by Santa Fe High School's Student Wellness Action Team (SWAT), this radio drama is meant to illuminate the dangers of cyberbullying. Created by a group of students from the Academy of Technology and the Classics, the radio drama focuses on the abusive language is commonly part of bullying over the internet. Because of its extreme popularity, Facebook is a main site for cyberbullying and is the site of interaction in this very informative, creative and palpable expose on the dangers of this new form of bullying. | <urn:uuid:0af2a4dd-4f8f-43c2-bf60-537d327af14f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prx.org/pieces/81476-facebook-cyberbullying-radio-drama | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940375 | 125 | 2.15625 | 2 |
The Soviet M1938 120mm mortar was the first modern 120mm mortar developed by any country entering production in 1939. The Red Army made significant use of its heavy calibre by treating it as an artillery piece in World War II against the German army. 6 120mm mortars were assigned to each Soviet Infantry Regiment.
Quite an effective and popular weapon, this weapon was captured, copied and deployed by the Germans as well as the the Finnish Army. The Finnish Model 1938 remained in service well after WWII had ended.
This weapon was also used in large numbers by Chinese Communist Forces during the Korean War. Lacking any substantial artillery support during the initial invasion across the Yalu River, the ChiCom forces relied heavily on the M-1938/43 Mortar for fire support. The Chinese also copied the M1943 as the Chicom Type 55.
2 mortars are included, supplied with Soviet crew
This product was added to our catalog on Monday 05 November, 2007. | <urn:uuid:17bf8030-02a6-47e4-a436-7e7c4640382c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://quickreactionforce.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5819 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979729 | 200 | 2.53125 | 3 |