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Columbia County commissioners on Thursday began seeking citizen feedback on a proposal to raise property taxes to pay for $40 million in new projects.
As noted at that session and in the letter today by Angela Mathews (below), conspicuously lacking in the county's proposal is a plan to let growth pay for itself.
Specifically, there is no provision to levy impact fees on new construction. Until there is, it will be a hard sell to ask existing, and especially long-time, homeowners to raise their own taxes to pay for infrastructure needs created largely by newcomers.
There's little argument that the needs are real. How to pay for them is the question.
The list, which the county began to compile as part of its sales pitch for the now-stalled consolidation proposal, includes such worthy projects as the widening of the Industrial Park Drive bottleneck at Washington Road, installing badly needed sidewalks near Evans Elementary and High schools, and paving more dirt roads.
Add a handful of other transportation and stormwater projects, and the total wish list tops out at $40 million.
That $40 million would come from a bond that would take 12 years to repay with a 1-mill tax increase on property owners. In contrast, by some estimates an impact fee could generate nearly $5 million per year - yielding perhaps as much as $60 million over the same 12 years.
Sounds a lot better, doesn't it? Well, other than the source of the money, here's a key distinction between the two:
• County officials are putting in the time and effort to set up the list of projects, present them in a series of meetings and set up a tax-funded bond issue, all in preparation for a November referendum;
• A citizen committee will soon present its report on impact fees, mostly describing them as too complicated.
Put simply, one plan is getting all the attention. The other is all but ignored.
Commissioners are perhaps attracted to the bond-referendum route, seeing it as taking the easy way out. After all, it's the way they've always done business: put together a shopping list and ask taxpayers to come up with the money. Again.
But like an overgrown teenager who's mooched off mom and dad for too long, commissioners might find that pocketbook zipped up - and taxpayers demanding that the officials get a job finding a way for growth to pay for itself.
The Columbia County News-Times ©2013. All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:84eeb56b-622d-4934-816b-11c279311c0c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newstimes.augusta.com/stories/2006/04/16/opi_77734.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968074 | 507 | 1.5625 | 2 |
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2001 - Today
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000
Gore's concession speech
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2000 (UPI) - Following are Vice President Al Gore remarks Wednesday night on concession of the 2000 White House race to Texas Gov. George W. Bush:
Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd President of the United States. And, I promised I wouldn't call him back this time.
I offered to meet with him as soon as possible, so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign, and the contest through which we have just passed.
Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I am with you, Mr. President, and God bless you."
In that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside. And may God bless his stewardship of this country.
Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly, neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came. And now it has ended, resolved as it must be resolved -- through the honored institutions of our democracy.
Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto: "not under man but under God and law." It is the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties; I have tried to make it my guide throughout this contest, as it has guided America's deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks.
Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt: while I strongly disagree with the Court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome, which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.
I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally -- to honor the new President-elect, and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines, and that our Constitution affirms and defends.
Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me - and supported the cause for which we have fought.
Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman, who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership - and opened new doors not just for our campaign, but for our country.
This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this belatedly-broken impasse can point us all to a new common ground. For its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people, with a shared history and a shared destiny.
Indeed, that history gives us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their own challenges to the popular will. Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully, and in a spirit of reconciliation.
So let it be with us.
I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am, too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.
And I say to our fellow members of the world community: let no one see this contest as a sign of American weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome.
Some have expressed concern that the unusual nature of this election might hamper the next President in the conduct of his office. I do not believe it need be so.
President-elect Bush inherits a nation whose citizens will be ready to assist him in the conduct of his large responsibilities. I personally will be at his disposal.
And I call on all Americans - I particularly urge all who stood with us - to unite behind our next president.
This is America. Just as we fight hard when the stakes are high, we close ranks and come together when the contest is done.
And while there will be time enough to debate our continuing differences, now is the time to recognize that that which unites us is greater than that which divides us.
While we yet hold and do not yield our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party.
This is America - and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new president.
As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and old friends.
I know I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences - literally and figuratively.
Some have asked whether I have any regrets, and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people for the next four years. Especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed. Especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard.
I heard you -- and I will not forget.
I've seen America in this campaign. And I like what I see. It's worth fighting for. And that's a fight I'll never stop.
As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe, as my father once said, that no matter how hard the loss, defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out.
So for me, this campaign ends as it began -- With the love of Tipper and our family; With faith in God and in the country I have been so proud to serve -- from Vietnam to the Vice Presidency;
And with gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers, including all those who worked so hard in Florida for the last 36 days.
Now the political struggle is over. And we turn again to the unending struggle for the common good of all Americans, and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom.
In the words of our great hymn, "America, America, -- let us -- crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."
And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others -- it is time for me to go. Thank you, and good night. And God bless America.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International. | <urn:uuid:56205c83-8af7-4983-b2c2-315b4ff0ae60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://100years.upi.com/sta_2000-12-13.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965092 | 1,381 | 2.234375 | 2 |
Seeds of Sustainability: Football Team Spends May Term Break Springing Into Service
April 22, 2009 -
Bulldog football players are springing into service during the May Term break, helping to spread seeds of sustainability.
Twenty-five team members from the University of Redlands are joining the U.S. Forest Service, the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) and L.A.-based TreePeople in the Forest Aid partnership for three days of planting and clearing.
Beginning Wednesday (Earth day), the football team is working on conditioning and team building while planting hundreds of seedlings in fire damaged areas in the San Bernardino National Forest. The athletes will have three days of hiking on rough terrain while carrying trees and tools into areas that inaccessible to nonathletic volunteers.
*The team is meeting Forest Service representatives off Golden Rule Lane at about 10 a.m. then will go back into the forest to work until about 5 p.m. Their involvement with the Forest Aid partnership will continue through Friday, April 24.
Forest Aid – from ashes to action – is a volunteer-led effort following the aftermath of the 2003 and 2007 tragic Southern California wildfires where 185,000 acres burned in the San Bernardino National Forest. Forest Aid intends to plant 20,000 seedlings in the 2009 planting season extending from March 7 – May 9, 2009. Nearly 12,000 Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine seedlings have already been planted by volunteers. According to U.S. Forest Service officials, this is the largest volunteer restoration effort on national forest lands in Southern California.
*On Saturday, the team will continue their clean-up efforts during the Redlands community service day, helping in trail restoration at Sylvan Park.
The team started their week volunteering at Oak Glen’s Wildlands Conservancy.
It’s become a tradition for the team to engage in community service projects during this week-long break between terms at the university. For two years, the team journeyed to New Orleans, spending their break mucking out homes in the hurricane-ravaged area.
The idea for this year’s green-themed service projects came from the university’s Community Service Learning office. The volunteer work helps these Bulldogs in team building—and is meaningful. It’s work that needs to be done, the coaches said.
Said Coach Maynard in an article in the San Bernardino County Sun: "We've tried to find projects that require strong backs and strong hands," said Coach Mike Maynard, whom players said is a champion of community service. "If we're able to help, we're obligated to help."
Read the story about the team’s community service effort on Tuesday: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_12196401
Contact: Office of Public Relations at email@example.com
or at (909) 748- 8070 | <urn:uuid:dd3e8e36-70bc-467a-bef9-8341c9a9e401> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redlands.edu/news/4331.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946986 | 598 | 2 | 2 |
Flu outbreak prompts reminder from Senior Care experts
This flu season is shaping up to be one of the worst in decades – with the Centers for Disease Control already reporting widespread outbreaks in many states.
While anyone can get the flu, seniors are especially susceptible to the virus and are at greater risk for serious flu-related complications that can lead to hospitalization and even death. Ninety percent of flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and older.
"The flu can be very dangerous for seniors, so we are crncerned about this recent outbreak," said Jeff Huber, president of Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network. "We encourage seniors and their families to take extra precautions to protect themselves from the virus."
To fight the flu, senior care experts recommend the following:
Get a Flu Shot: Experts strongly encourage all seniors and those in frequent contact with seniors to get vaccinated if they haven't already done so. Medicare covers one vaccine per flu season.
Practice Good Hand Washing: Wash hands with soap frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Droplets from a sneeze or a cough can travel up to six feet. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and dispose of the tissue immediately. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the elbow, not the hands.
Stay In to Stay Well: If there's an outbreak in the area, avoid trips to crowded shopping centers or community events.
Avoid Contact: Those with flu-like symptoms, especially school-aged children, should avoid contact with senior loved ones. Enlist the help of friends, neighbors or professional Home Instead CAREGiversSM to take over caregiving responsibilities, if necessary.
Rest Well, Eat Well: Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy foods. Experts also recommend a diet rich in Vitamins C and D and plenty of exercise.
If senior loved ones begin to show symptoms of the flu, contact their health care provider immediately. Antiviral medications (like Tamiflu) are available to help make symptoms less severe.
For more information about senior and caregiver well-being, please visit www.caregiverstress.com.
+ Top Story
Our bodies naturally crave salt, a necessary nutrient, and research shows that we gravitate to the amount we need for our bodies to function properly. Salt deficiency has been linked to a host of health concerns, including insulin resistance, increased risk of heart attacks and reduced cognition.
A new report by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention shows that the teen birth rate for African Americans has declined by 60 percent between 1991 and 2011 – a rate 10 percent greater than the overall dip in teen birth rates.
American women spend more time taking care of their families, homes and jobs than themselves. With so much time invested in caring for others, women can overlook the importance of their own health. Yet, neglecting their own health needs can make it much harder for women to also take care of those they love.
With Spring finally upon us, now’s the time to evaluate those New Year’s Resolutions to get slim and trim or to make healthy lifestyle changes. Are you totally proud of yourselves for your progress, or trying to figure out what to do to get back on track in time for summer?
Many women know that getting a Pap test regularly from their health care provider is a good way to check for signs of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. What they might not know is that a “normal” Pap result does not necessarily mean they are cancer-free.
When you’re done with spring cleaning, you may assume you’ve eliminated any allergy triggers that were lurking in your home. But the truth is, if you don’t clean the right way, you might be making the problem worse.
Sixty Temple physicians have been named to Philadelphia magazine’s annual “Top Doctors” list. Nominated by their professional peers, the physicians on the list practice at Temple University Hospital, Fox Chase Cancer Center and Jeanes Hospital.
Managing diabetes just got a little bit easier. For the first time in history J.D. Power and Associates, the premier market research firm, has reviewed blood glucose meters based on feedback and insights from nearly 3,000 people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. | <urn:uuid:1ad81e42-26af-49c8-ae78-c51bb08da9e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.philasun.com/news/3824/20/Health-alert---picking-the-right-team-to-tackle-opioid-painkiller-dependence.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946502 | 947 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Isaiah Chapter 24 - New International Version
1. See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants--
2. it will be the same for priest as for people, for master as for servant, for mistress as for maid, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor.
3. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word.
4. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish.
5. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant.
6. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.
7. The new wine dries up and the vine withers; all the merrymakers groan.
8. The gaiety of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.
9. No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
10. The ruined city lies desolate; the entrance to every house is barred.
11. In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all gaiety is banished from the earth.
12. The city is left in ruins, its gate is battered to pieces.
13. So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
14. They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty.
15. Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.
16. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." But I said, "I waste away, I waste away! Woe to me! The treacherous betray! With treachery the treacherous betray!"
17. Terror and pit and snare await you, O people of the earth.
18. Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare. The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake.
19. The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is thoroughly shaken.
20. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls--never to rise again.
21. In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.
22. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.
23. The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed; for the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously.[read chapter]
Bible Main : Isaiah : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 | <urn:uuid:217fbefb-d859-42f0-9e31-bddecd4958a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bigchurch.com/p/bible/read.cgi?who=r,mi8UD3BXsc3OStAO2VLTrLsvczS/LPUtz4sBkdEqcUlxowGsYz_qljjlV5FV12QjCEero1baWa3/WQE/B0_tuZL53qhxILZtoi5ltcn1upVRw0lBEdUagCOvPUo9xHEE&cv=24&version=niv&book=Isaiah | 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 | 0.920476 | 767 | 1.945313 | 2 |
My college ride has been full of surprises and this week was no different. I attended the annual Honors Program information presentation on Tuesday night, and it ended with an unusual twist. Dr. George Pimentel went through the traditional formalities but closed with a special presentation from the students for Dr. Bob Ruff. As each of them shared comments about how much Dr. Ruff had changed their lives, I was impressed with what a difference one teacher can make.
Ruff has been teaching for almost fifty years, with the last thirty-nine of them here at Vol State. He is known for using a style of teaching made famous by Socrates in which the students engage in conversation exploring opposing viewpoints in search of truth.
Jessica Saunders is currently a student in Ruff’s American History/Literature combo class. This is an Honors class in which two disciplines are combined, creating a holistic experience for the learner. “He has been amazing. I have learned more from him and Professor Blomgren than I ever thought possible. He holds you accountable when you are doing something wrong without making you feel bad. The group discussions are wonderful, but when I try to take that method to other classrooms, it fails. He has taught me that even when you feel like giving up—don’t! Just keep on.”
Grady Eades is the department chair for social sciences. “Many people say they use the Socratic Method and claim they don’t lecture, but Dr. Ruff really does,” said Eades. “He doesn’t have a set schedule. The conversation directs where the lessons go, so it’s learning in the truest sense of the word.” Eades said that colleges often focus on things not directly pertaining to learning, such as meeting administrative requirements and bureaucracy that comes with the territory. “Dr. Ruff is deliberative. He takes his time and is thoughtful about things; he doesn’t rush just because the world around him wants him to. When it comes to making decisions and treating people appropriately, when people get caught up in thinking this has to be done right now, he continued on at his own pace.”
English Professor Nancy Blomgren has been the second half of the combo class for seventeen years. “He doesn’t assume students are all empty vessels that need to be filled,” said Blomgren. “They already have something there that can be worked with. Once they know that, then they can do just about anything. He knows his students can do it, even though they may not know it. His students end up doing far more than they thought they could. That’s a real gift to give to somebody. When he leaves, there will be a void, and things will be different, but, I think the impact he has made on the way his colleagues think about students will continue.”
Volunteer State Community College | <urn:uuid:4e04bea4-59d1-4f7c-b7fc-76f1b20c021c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://volunteerstatecommunitycollege.blogspot.jp/2012/04/dr-ruff-retires-after-investing-39.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982051 | 611 | 1.523438 | 2 |
|You are here: Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2010 / International Art Exhibition At Honolulu Hale|
International Art Exhibition at
(Thursday, June 17, 2010) ---
The exhibition will be on display June 22-30, on the third floor of Honolulu Hale, as it begins its travels across the
Similar to the passing of the Olympic Torch, each of the selected Mayors for Peace cities will host the exhibit for several days until it reaches the United Nations headquarters, where it will be on display in the Visitors’ Lobby. The UN International Day of Peace observance is on September 21.
“Art Beyond Borders” is a traveling exhibit that was assembled by The International Museum Of Twenty-first Century Arts. The goal was to create a collection of art that officially represents every country in the world in pursuit of cultural tolerance and appreciation. To date, more than 65 countries have agreed to participate. The banners in the exhibit will showcase works from 24 countries, including the
“The City is delighted to have Art Beyond Borders in
In addition to Honolulu, the cities invited to participate are: Sacramento, Olympia, Carson City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Santa Fe, St. Paul, Austin, Des Moines, Little Rock, Madison, Atlanta, Concord, Providence, Montpelier, Boston, Washington, D.C.; Harrisburg, and Hartford.
The exhibit is coordinated by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts.
Exhibit hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Exhibit viewing is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts at 768-6622. | <urn:uuid:cd6b6ac6-a01f-4730-99a6-6edad819e0ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www1.honolulu.gov/refs/csd/publiccom/honnews10/ArtBeyondBordersExhibit.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927244 | 354 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Current as of: 2009
The court has the following powers which may be exercised directly or through a conservator in respect to the estate and affairs of protected persons:
(1) While a petition for appointment of a conservator or other protective order is pending and after preliminary hearing upon such notice by the court as is reasonable under the circumstances, and if the petition requests temporary relief, the court has the power to preserve and apply the property of the person to be protected as may be required for his benefit or the benefit of his dependents; however, notice of such actions of the court shall be given to interested parties as soon thereafter as practicable.
(2) After hearing and upon determining that a basis for an appointment or other protective order exists with respect to a minor without other disability, the court has all those powers over the estate and affairs of the minor which are or might be necessary for the best interests of the minor, his family, and members of his household.
(3)(a) After hearing and upon determining that a basis for an appointment or other protective order exists with respect to a person for reasons other than minority, the court has, for the benefit of the person and of his estate and fulfillment of his legal obligations of support of dependents, all the powers over his estate and affairs which he could exercise if present and not under disability, except the power to make a will. These powers include, but are not limited to, the power to:
(i) make gifts as the court, in its discretion, believes would be made by the person if he were competent;
(ii) convey or release the person's contingent and expectant interests in property including material property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy;
(iii) exercise or release the person's powers as trustee, personal representative, custodian for minors, conservator, or donee of a power of appointment;
(iv) enter into contracts;
(v) create or amend revocable trusts or create irrevocable trusts of property of the estate which may extend beyond the person's disability or life;
(vi) fund trusts;
(vii) exercise options of the disabled person to purchase securities or other property;
(viii) exercise the person's right to elect options and change beneficiaries under insurance and annuity policies and to surrender the policies for their cash value;
(ix) exercise the person's right to an elective share in the estate of the person's deceased spouse;
(x) renounce any interest by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transfer; and
(xi) ratify any such actions taken on the person's behalf.
(b) In order to exercise, or direct the exercise of the court's authority in any powers set forth in item (a), the court must entertain a petition in which the specific relief sought is set forth, the incapacitated person, his known heirs, devisees, donees, and beneficiaries are made parties to the action, and which contains a statement that the person either is incapable of consenting or has consented to the proposed exercise of power.
(c) In exercising the powers set forth in item (b), the court also must inquire into and consider any known lifetime gifts or the estate plan of the person, the terms of any revocable trust of which he is grantor, and any contract, transfer, or joint ownership arrangements with provisions for payment or transfer of benefits or interests at his death to another which he may have originated. In exercising the court's authority set forth in item (b), the court must set forth in the record specific findings upon which it has based its ruling.
(4) An order made pursuant to this section determining that a basis for appointment of a conservator or other protective order exists, has no effect on the capacity of the protected person, except to the extent the order affects his estate or affairs.
Questions & Answers: Guardianships
| We have a child that is deaf and has some developmental delays and we need to file paperwork for guardianship for health ,financial and education decisions. What do I need to fill ...|
| Does a power of attorney have to have the words medical and dental for doctors or dentists to see the minor child. This question come up as Clovis Schools requires a power of atto...|
| Do I have to petition the court before my grandson, who I have guardianship of, has out patient surgery tonsilectomy/adnoidectomy?
If yes, where do I find the forms, because I have...|
| Is a copy of the annual accounting to the probate court, made by my guardian, available to me. Also wondering if SSA Annual report as Rep. Payee is available to me?
| In the state of South Carolina, in what order can (relatives) make decisions for an incapacitated person? Who comes first, the mother or the adult child of the incapacitated?...|
If you are asking about health care decisions, under section 44-66-30 of the South Carolina Code, parents and adult children have equal priority:
South Carolina Laws: Guardianships | <urn:uuid:9df38763-86e3-4eb8-b5ce-3755f6a3dd9c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lawserver.com/law/state/south-carolina/sc-code/south_carolina_code_62-5-408 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952242 | 1,065 | 1.546875 | 2 |
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, sent President Obama a letter Tuesday afternoon warning him that the operation in Libya will be violating the War Powers Resolution by this Sunday, which marks the 90th day of U.S. military involvement in the country.
Boehner wants “a clear explanation of the legal standing under the War Powers Resolution,” that Obama is using to justify continuing the operations behind Sunday.
The letter is below.
June 14, 2011
Dear Mr. President:
Five days from now, our country will reach the 90-day mark from the notification to Congress regarding the commencement of the military operation in Libya, which began on March 18, 2011. On June 3, 2011, the House passed a resolution which, among other provisions, made clear that the Administration has not asked for, nor received, Congressional authorization of the mission in Libya. Therefore, it would appear that in five days, the Administration will be in violation of the War Powers Resolution unless it asks for and receives authorization from Congress or withdraws all U.S. troops and resources from the mission.
Since the mission began, the Administration has provided tactical operational briefings to the House of Representatives, but the White House has systematically avoided requesting a formal authorization for its action. It has simultaneously sought, however, to portray that its actions are consistent with the War Powers Resolution. The combination of these actions has left many Members of Congress, as well as the American people, frustrated by the lack of clarity over the Administration’s strategic policies, by a refusal to acknowledge and respect the role of the Congress, and by a refusal to comply with the basic tenets of the War Powers Resolution.
You took an oath before the American people on January 20, 2009 in which you swore to “faithfully execute the Office of President” and to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The Constitution requires the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,” and one of those laws is the War Powers Resolution, which requires an approving action by Congress or withdrawal within 90 days from the notification of a military operation. Given the mission you have ordered to the U.S. Armed Forces with respect to Libya and the text of the War Powers Resolution, the House is left to conclude that you have made one of two determinations: either you have concluded the War Powers Resolution does not apply to the mission in Libya, or you have determined the War Powers Resolution is contrary to the Constitution. The House, and the American people whom we represent, deserve to know the determination you have made.
Therefore, on behalf of the institution and the American people, I must ask you the following questions: Have you or your Administration conducted the legal analysis to justify your position as to whether your Administration views itself to be in compliance with the War Powers Resolution so that it may continue current operations, absent formal Congressional support or authorization, once the 90-day mark is reached? Assuming you conducted that analysis, was it with the consensus view of all stakeholders of the relevant Departments in the Executive branch? In addition, has there been an introduction of a new set of facts or circumstances which would have changed the legal analysis the Office of Legal Counsel released on April 1, 2011? Given the gravity of the constitutional and statutory questions involved, I request your answer by Friday, June 17, 2011.
From the beginning, the House of Representatives has sought to balance two equal imperatives regarding Libya which have been in direct contradiction: the House of Representatives takes seriously America’s leadership role in the world; our country’s interests in the region; and the commitments to and from its steadfast allies. At the same time, strong concern and opposition exists to the use of military force when the military mission, by design, cannot secure a U.S. strategic policy objective. The ongoing, deeply divisive debate originated with a lack of genuine consultation prior to commencement of operations and has been further exacerbated by the lack of visibility and leadership from you and your Administration.
I respect your authority as Commander-in-Chief, though I remain deeply concerned the Congress has not been provided answers from the Executive branch to fundamental questions regarding the Libya mission necessary for us to fulfill our equally important Constitutional responsibilities. I believe in the moral leadership our country can and should exhibit, especially during such a transformational time in the Middle East. I sincerely hope the Administration will faithfully comply with the War Powers Resolution and the requests made by the House of Representatives, and that you will use your unique authority as our President to engage the American people regarding our mission in Libya.
John A. Boehner | <urn:uuid:2ce4477a-fa6e-4b62-a308-63bb07a9efc5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thedaleygator.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/boehner-warns-obama-that-libya-will-violate-war-powers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961513 | 944 | 1.5 | 2 |
A student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has received a national scholarship to study in Morocco this summer.
Paul Fleischmann of Crestwood has received the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. The NSLI-Y, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers scholarships to high-achieving high school students to learn critical languages in overseas immersion programs. Scholarships include all program fees, travel to and from the program site, housing and activity fees for six weeks during the summer.
Fleischmann, the son of Maria and Randall Fleischmann, is a second-year student at the Gatton Academy. He has studied Arabic for three semesters with Khaldoun Almousily, instructor of Arabic in WKU’s Department of Modern Languages. Through the NSLI-Y award, he expects to gain an additional year’s worth of language proficiency this summer.
“I am so grateful to have been awarded this scholarship,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity, and will give me both knowledge and experience to help with my future.”
Fleischmann aspires to become a research scientist in chemistry and to use his Arabic skills to study environmental issues concerning fossil fuels in a region that has some of the largest oil reserves in the world.
“Paul is a bright student and overall genuine individual,” Almousily said. “The NSLI-Y scholarship will assist him in achieving his ambitious professional goals and learning the Arabic language and culture. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”
Fleischmann spent several weeks working on his application for the NSLI-Y scholarship with Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, Coordinator of International Scholarships in the Office of Scholar Development.
“Many meetings to revise my essays with Dr. Grimsley-Smith both strengthened my application and made the process a great experience,” Fleischmann said.
“It is a real pleasure to work with students like Paul. There’s a good amount of ambition hiding under his laid-back exterior,” Dr. Grimsley-Smith said. “He brings all of his academic and personal interests together in a compelling way, and clearly conveys a strong sense of purpose in his writing. In short, he demonstrates the recipe for success in competitions like NSLI-Y.”
This will be the second international experience for Fleischmann. Over the 2012 winter term, he traveled to Costa Rica to conduct research at the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve with WKU Biology Professor Keith Philips, as well as another Gatton Academy student and a Gatton Academy alumnus to investigate the Gunnera-Nostoc Symbiosis. Students identified populations of Gunnera on the reserve, harvested samples and dissected portions to determine if bacterial symbionts were present. He has also been involved with research under the direction of Dr. Ouida Meier of the Department of Biology investigating local wastewater as a source for cave and karst and groundwater pollution.
About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in the National Security Language Institute for Youth or other similar opportunities. Contact: Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.
About the Gatton Academy: The Gatton Academy offers a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing advanced careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Approximately 60 students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive selection process. Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated residence hall. The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students earn at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.
Contact: Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043. | <urn:uuid:25c57dce-40e2-442a-aa0e-37a0e2b0a37c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wkunews.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/gatton-morocco/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946882 | 926 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Posts filed under ‘Literacy’
by Rory and Peyton
In third and fourth grade, we learn lots of different kinds of writing. One of the things we have been writing about is a small moment. The way of remembering easily is that they are a seed of a watermelon. A watermelon is a big story. For example, the time you went on a vacation. A seed is a small story like the first plane you went on for that vacation.
Small moments aren’t just something random or untrue. A small moment is a true story that you love or don’t feel good about. But, it has to be something that happened to you.
When you hear the word small it means not a huge amount of time, but the writing can still be long. One part of small moments is you have to extend and expand your writing. How you do that is adding power words. Power words are long or important words.
You have to include every single detail for a small moment to be true. Lastly, we are going to give you two examples small moments. We hope you learned a lot about small moments! We hope you enjoy reading them, too!
Here are the examples:
“Good luck,” said Peyton. Every Friday I have a spelling assessment, except our words are so hard it seems as if rocks are getting shoved into your back.
I am a very great speller, but I have never scored 100%. I have wished to for so long that it would be a huge accomplishment. I always get a high score but suddenly out of nowhere I saw my test and it said 100%. This is the first awesome moment that this has ever happened! What I did was this. I only had one word left and had all the other words correct. I was almost positive I knew all of the words. Then, I heard it. The word was xylophone and I spelled it correctly just like this
X-Y-L-O-P-H-O-N-E. It felt so good!
Finally, I can prove I’m not a bad speller!
Getting A kitten
One fall day, in the afternoon, my brother went to the store with my dad. Then, when my brother left with my dad, my mom told me that a kitten that my aunt found was coming over so we could find it a home. When I heard that I was super excited! My mom also told me that my friend was coming over. So I had a super busy day!
My aunt did not arrive as quickly as I thought she would. But then a couple of minutes later she finally arrived. I was super excited!! I couldn’t wait until I got to see the kitten! But when I got to see it, it was so adorable I knew right away that I did not want to give it away! The kitten had dark orange stripes and an orange body. I asked my mom if I could take the kitten upstairs so I could play with it. She said, “yes.” I quickly ran up the stairs with the kitten in my hands and I tried not to drop it and I didn’t drop it at all. When I got to the top of the stairs I gently put the kitten down and ran to grab a pompom. When I came back from getting the pompom I threw it and the kitten ran after it and the kitten looked faster than my brother. Then, I ran downstairs and asked my mom,”Can we keep the kitten?” Then my mom said, “Maybe.” I hoped that I could keep the kitten!
My friend, Sydney, finally arrived but before she stepped into the door I grabbed the kitten and ran down the stairs but I only got halfway when she stepped in the door. When she saw the kitten she thought it looked so cute! Then we both ran up the stairs and we both started to play with it right away! We never wanted to stop playing with it. Then we finally decided to go downstairs and make a list of names for the kitten. We ended up with a whole list of names. We had to choose one of our very favorite names and it was a hard choice to make. But then we finally made a choice and it was Stripes. My mom really liked the name too. Sydney did not stay for long. When her dad came she did not want to leave at all so we just ran outside and started playing. When Sydney left my brother and I came back inside. When we back in, the kitten was fast asleep and it was so cute!
Synergy students Alexa, Bridget, Chase, Mary, Myleigh and Nick participated in an Enrichment Mystery Writing Class. The emphasis was on vocabulary development and descriptive writing. Here we have the final project where each student chose an animal to describe. Art teacher, Sara Beeken, worked with these students to create a painting of each mystery animal in its habitat. The students hope you will enjoy their Photostory.
Your comments below are appreciated.
I was ridiculously excited. But intermixed with that excitement was a bit of nervousness. Okay, a lot of nervousness. I had only contacted these people through e-mail. I had never met them, nor had they met me. What if I did not live up to what they expected of me? What if they thought I was just a child? Or worse— what if there were other children there and I was taking this too seriously?
These were all the thoughts I had while walking into Flynn Space on Monday, the second of April. I had been invited to judge the plays for Young Playwrights, a program in which I was a participant last year.
I had contacted Cristina Weakland, the director of education, and she had come up with opportunities to help me in my 8th grade challenge, but also in my passion for writing and theatre. She then directed me to Joan Robinson, the Associate Director for School Programs. They invited me to come help judge the plays submitted by the schools around Vermont, and then to attend the Festival in May. I was awestruck by this honor.
That very same day as the judging, I had come back from a weekend trip to Boston for a final showing of Les Misérables on tour (Yes, this is what we playwrights do in our spare time) and I was so tired that all my negative thoughts ate at me. What if? What if? It was not helped by the fact that when I got there, the inside door was locked. Just in front of it was a sign that read: Young Playwrights Judging meets down here, with a nice and big arrow pointing to the stairs. The elevator would not go down. What if I had come to the wrong place? Or the wrong time? What if it was the wrong day? My father and I stood there for a few moments, awkwardly shifting in the thick silence. But soon a woman with short hair wearing a white Irish cable knit sweater went to unlock the door. I opened my mouth to speak, but she didn’t seem to notice me or my 6-foot-something father. But just as she turned the key, she also turned to me, and said welcomingly—
“Are you Madeleine Barrett?” and extended her hand as I said yes. She brought me down to the basement stage room and explained to me what would be happening. I was still a tad jumpy, but seeing that stage down there and feeling the atmosphere made me feel much more secure; and as the others filed in, I knew I was with my own ‘kind’ and I felt completely at ease. Some people as they walked in looked confused at my presence and my tiny briefcase. Some looked just plain surprised. Others rushed toward me and introduced themselves, asking about what brought me here. I met my e-mail buddies, along with seeing people I already knew. When we began, we sat and introduced ourselves. We were to state our name and what force had brought us here, or our occupation. The line slowly progressed toward me. Each person had fantastic feats under their belts— like being in medical school or producing a show professionally, and I wasn’t sure what to say to make me sound in the least bit impressive. Finally they all glanced toward me. And the words were coming out before I knew it.
“Madeleine Barrett; avid student playwright.” I said certainly. They all smiled— some seemed as if it was because I was ‘cute’, but most others looked almost proud at how well I was blending in. I was the only younger-than-adult person there. When they divided into groups of four and divvied up the plays, the real fun began. We’d go through a play, making it come to life as best we could, and then comment and rate it. Between plays, I’d glance at the treat bowl in the center of the table, which none had yet taken from. I must not give into my childish urge for sweets! I did not want to be the first to break, but I was. Oh, well.
Each play was unique. Some did need some clear editing work, but they all shined in their own light. One of the things I found was that the group much preferred the plays of the middle-school pupils than that of the high school students. We had some real fun with characters, and it is not because we’re all undiscovered stars that an agent was never lucky enough to pick up. Well, that too. But it was because each person really made their characters, and story, shine in one way or another.
I must admit, I was much impressed by the work of the students. Now, the last thing I wish to be sounding like is superior. I am most certainly not, or I at least do not think of myself as being this way. I make mistakes; have stiff dialogue in some places; and sometimes many too-dramatic-storylines, among other things. When my school selected Young Playwrights participants this Fall, I was not selected since I had already had the chance to participate last year. I felt an unbelievable sadness about this. I was jealous of those who were lucky enough to have their name plucked by fate. For a long time I was bitter. But now I know without my misfortune, I would have never have looked for another way to be involved and have this awe-inspiring experience. By reading the work of others, I gained insight into my own writing.
I grabbed my briefcase and the last bits of chocolate from the treat bowl, looking around the near-empty room. Our group was the last one there. My father came in, right on time, 7:00 pm, and waved. They greeted him as Madeleine’s father. “You can call me Bob,” he said with a wry smile, “but my name’s David.” We all laughed. “Now we know where she gets it from.” Joan said with a wink.
Kindergarten students wrote about activities for a snowy day after reading the story by Ezra Jack Keats. Enjoy hearing their ideas. Please comment below.
By Jared, Ellie, Hailey and Lauren
All students in Harmony House went to the Flynn to see the play Henry and Mudge. Henry and Mudge are characters in many stories by Cynthia Rylant. Henry is a young boy and Mudge is dog who likes crackers and popcorn, likes to drool and likes to sleep.
We have been reading many Henry and Mudge stories in our classes. Hailey thought the play was funny and delightful to watch and it showed her how to be a better friend. Lauren thought they added a ton of feelings. Jared thought the acting was great and Ellie learned that you shouldn’t run away because you might get lost and your parents would be really scared and mad.
There was lots of talking, singing and dancing. This story was about not getting mad when a friend is better at something than you are. In the beginning of the story Henry moved away from his good friend and cousin, Annie. He didn’t want to move. Annie mailed him notes and he put them together to make a sentence and found out that Annie was coming. That meant they had to clean!
Annie is a better dog trainer than Henry. It seems like Mudge likes her more. Henry runs into the forest because he is mad and he doesn’t want Mudge to listen to Annie. He wants Mudge to listen to him. The whole point of getting Mudge was to have someone to play with since there were no children near where he lived.
Mudge found Henry in the woods because he smelled Henry’s shoe that smelled like gopher and smelled treats had fallen out of his backpack.
Henry’s Mom told him that Annie had a rough time in the woods and that he should be nice to her. Her fancy ‘dry-cleaning’ dress with sequins got ruined when she was looking for Henry. She wanted to go home.
In the end, Annie gave Henry a hug and she gave a hug to Mudge, too. Henry and Annie were best friends again.
We felt excited to go to the Flynn and everyone clapped at the end.
Alexis’s dad, Sam Mathiowetz, was the guest reader in Mrs. McCormack’s class. BUT, he is in Kuwait, all the way around the world. How did he do this? He used a special camera, read the book Clifford and His Pals and make a DVD for the class. We all watched it.
Alexis was really surprised. “I was bouncing and clapping.” Tarik thought it was amazing that her Dad could talk to them from Kuwait. Jake thought it was cool because he doesn’t usually see soldiers.
Last year, the class used technology to skype with author, David Martin. We could talk to him. He read a scroll to us. It had pictures of animals on it and they were asking which animal was making the noise. The class had lots of questions.
What is a guest reader? We all try to guess who the reader will be. We ask questions like, “Is it a boy or a girl? Does s/he like to cook? paint? swim?
Mrs. McCormack gives us clues such as, “S/he wears glasses.” We write guesses on our whiteboard and keep adding or taking away names. Some of our guest readers have been Mrs. Wentz, Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Blaine.
When trying to guess we think who it might be. We wonder if s/he will be using technology to read to us or if the person will just come in and read!
By Kathy Joseph
Thursday, October 4thwas an exciting day for the Williston Spellers. The Spelling Bee District Competition was held last Thursday, and took place in the Williston Central School auditorium. Both the Williston 5/6 and 7/8 teams had been practicing and working hard for the Bee, and they’re glad to announce that it all paid
off. The 7/8 team won by a landslide, earning 92 points out of a perfect score of 96. They only misspelled one bonus word during the whole competition- emphysema! The Williston 7/8 team competed against the two other 7/8 teams in the district, Hinesburg and Shelburne. Shelburne came in second with 68, and Hinesburg finished last with 54 points.
The 5/6 team had quite a different story. There were three other schools to compete against, and they were racing neck and neck against them until the end. The Williston team started strong, but until the final round (there are 8 total rounds), they were always either tied or a little behind another team. Charlotte was fully expecting to win, having been in the lead since the beginning, but the Williston team had an exciting finish and made no mistakes for the final two rounds. They won by just two points. The final score was Williston in first place with 82 points, Charlotte with 80, Shelburne with 76, and Hinesburg with 56 points.
For the first time in several years, both the Williston Spelling Bee teams are excitedly preparing for the regional meet that will take place on Saturday, November 5th. We wish them both the best of luck!
Loser! Donald Zinkoff thinks he is a loser because feels he never does anything right. Mr. Kellogg’s class is reading a book called Loser by Jerry Spinelli. Mr. K chose this book because he really likes Jerry Spinelli’s work.
We’re only in third and fourth grade but we do SO much work talking about a book, asking questions and writing about it. If someone raises his/her hand while Mr. K is reading, either he or one of the students answers the question. We don’t have to wait until until he finished reading.
We have a motto in our school that is Good Person, Good Citizen and Good Learner and we all try to follow it. We are writing about how Donald Zinkoff, the main character in Loser, is a good person, good citizen and a good learner. He is a good person because he earned a gold star from his mom. He is a good citizen because he pays attention in school. He is a good learner because he went to school on Saturday and he tried to spell his name when he was six years old.
We are also writing about Donald Zinkoff’s character on a map of his body. We know he was flexible because he did not do anything when his teacher, Ms. Meeks, took his hat away from him. He is brave because he doesn’t care what others think about him. He’s a good sport because he doesn’t care if he wins or loses. Donald has an upside-down valve in his stomach and it causes him to vomit a lot. He thinks it’s normal to vomit five to seven times a week!
Even though Donald Zinkoff is younger than us he sets a good example for people reading the book because he doesn’t get mad when someone takes something from him and he listens really well.
It’s a good idea that Mr. Kellogg reads to us everyday so that even if we are not reading the book we all still get to know what’s really happening. It’s a good chance for everybody to share their thoughts. | <urn:uuid:736e31b5-280f-4d65-a1fe-7f4d5c462afe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wsdblueandgold.wordpress.com/category/literacy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987631 | 3,907 | 2.75 | 3 |
Wavyleaf Thistle (Cirsium undulatum)
A native plant of Utah's foothills and rangeland, wavyleaf thistle should not be confused with the noxious Canada thistle that invades our farmland, gardens and disturbed areas. This thistle is usually found growing on dry open soil from British Columbia to Texas and as high as 9,500 ft in elevation.
This member of the Asteraceae family bears rose-purple flower heads that can be well over two inches wide and contrast nicely with the whitish-gray stems and leaves.
The generic name comes from the Greek cirsos, meaning "a swollen vein" for which early herbalists thought the thistle was a remedy. The specific name, undulatum refers to the wavy leaf margins. This species was named by the German botanist Curt Sprengel (1766 - 1833).
Look for this native beauty growing throughout the natural area at Red Butte and on your next trip to Utah's public lands. | <urn:uuid:cca8458b-0af5-4ad3-a5df-dd3572ab9350> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redbuttegarden.org/node/276?mini=calendar%2F2013-02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953693 | 213 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Early last year, a panel of the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Adar v. Smith that Louisiana was required to issue a new birth certificate naming two men as the parents of a child born in Louisiana, after the couple adopted the child together in New York. The Louisiana registrar of vital records refused to issue the birth certificate with both fathers' names because unmarried couples are not permitted to adopt in Louisiana.
Well, the court granted the state's motion for rehearing en banc, and tomorrow all the judges on the 5th Circuit will hear oral argument in the case. The state is making an insidious argument that threatens the validity of all second-parent adoptions across state lines. While conceding that the adoptions are valid in the states where they were issued and bind the parties who litigated in all states, Louisiana is arguing that the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution does not require it to enforce an adoption decree that is against its public policy.
The Full Faith and Credit Clause requires states to enforce judgments from the courts of other states, without regard to their own public policies. A state is not required, however, to give Full Faith and Credit to another state's laws. An adoption decree is a judgment, but Louisiana is saying that the law that allowed a gay male couple to adopt in New York is what is really at issue and it is not required to give Full Faith and Credit to that, at least when it comes to enforcement through issuing a birth certificate that could not be issued under Louisiana's laws.
It's an argument that should lose. The 10th Circuit ruled four years ago in Finstuen v. Crutcher that an Oklahoma statute refusing to recognize adoptions from other states by same-sex couples and provide new birth certificates was unconstitutional. In the pending case, Louisiana tries to distinguish that opinion, but also argues that it was just plain wrong. If the 5th Circuit sides with the state, that will set up a Circuit split that could only be resolved by the US Supreme Court.
The state's argument also reminds me of the permutations argued by Lisa Miller in the longstanding litigation over Virginia's obligation to recognize Vermont's determination that Janet Jenkins is a parent of the child they planned together and entitled to visitation or custody. While that case turned on a specific federal statute requiring recognition of custody rulings from other states, rather than on the Full Faith and Credit Clause, after Miller lost on Virginia's obligation to recognize the Vermont order she argued that the statute did not require Virginia to enforce the Vermont order. It's a distinction with no legal difference, and Miller keeps losing.
While this case involves two men, Oren Adar and Mickey Rae Smith, Lousiana claims it would not issue an amended birth certificate for any unmarried couple who adopted a child born in Louisiana, because Lousiana prohibits such adoptions. A friend of the court brief filed on behalf of two law professors, Joan Hollinger and Barbara Bennett Woodhouse, and one of the most distinguished family law practitioner in Texas, Harry Tindall, who was chair of the committee that wrote changes to the Uniform Parentage Act, argues that this is unconstitutional discrimination against children of unmarried parents. I find it no accident that the first US Supreme Court case declaring discrimination against nonmarital children unconstitutional also came from Louisiana.
Lousiana's response to this? Essentially they say that while it is unconstitutional to discriminate against a child born to an unmarried couple, it is not unconstitutional to discriminate against a child adopted by an unmarried couple. Really.
The court will release a recording of the oral argument (here), but probably not until next week. | <urn:uuid:c36326a3-b07d-4dda-9205-30f65da09bd7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beyondstraightandgaymarriage.blogspot.com/2011/01/fifth-circuit-hears-argument-en-banc.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956712 | 739 | 1.546875 | 2 |
News release: "On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama signed an executive order and two presidential memoranda heralding what he called a "new era of openness." Announcing a Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act to reestablish a presumption of disclosure for information requested under FOIA, President Obama said that "every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known."
President Obama also issued an executive order reversing changes made by President George W. Bush to the Presidential Records Act (PRA), stating he would hold himself and his own records "to a new standard of openness." The PRA order permits only the incumbent president (and not former presidents' heirs or designees or former vice presidents) to assert constitutional privileges to withhold information, and would provide for review by the Attorney General and the White House Counsel before a president could claim privilege over his or her records.
Finally, President Obama also today issued a Presidential Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government which recognizes that "[o]penness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government." It directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chief Technology Officer, and the Administrator of the General Services Administration to develop an Open Government Directive within 120 days to implement the memo." | <urn:uuid:cce24406-9d34-4ad4-aa59-b586764d9c67> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/020370.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962891 | 274 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Illegality issue doesn't deter women from seeking abortions, says IFPA chief
Family planning:Ireland is the only country in Europe which forces doctors to distinguish between allowing abortion to save a woman’s life and not allowing it to preserve her health, according to the Irish Family Planning Association.
Chief executive Niall Behan said there was “no bright line between life and health”. He said “no other country in Europe forces doctors to make the distinction that is made in Irish law, permitting abortion to save a woman’s life but not to preserve her health”.
Speaking on the first day of the Oireachtas health committee abortion hearings, he said criminalisation of abortion did not deter women from seeking terminations or lead to lower rates of abortion. It was the association’s experience that for their clients “the choice of a termination is a rational response of a person” making a long-term decision.
He told the committee: “Once a woman has made this rational decision, she is extremely unlikely to change her mind, regardless of the legalities. Her focus is on the practicalities of organising and financing the procedure in another country.”
Respect for the law
Questioned by Fine Gael Senator Paul Bradford about the association’s respect for and adherence to the law given its support for abortion, Mr Behan said it was fully compliant with Irish law. The organisation “has always respected the laws of the State. It doesn’t stop us advocating for our clients . . . and highlighting circumstances where the law is a barrier to good care.”
Fianna Fáil Senator Jim Walsh asked if the association believed the current “two-patient model is something we would try to preserve and if there would be a duty of care to the baby in any legislation brought in”.
Mr Behan said they had tried to equate the life of the unborn with the life of the woman and “what that has in effect done is, it has given the unborn more rights than a woman”.
Obstetrician Richard Greene, a member of the Maternal Mortality Working Group in Ireland, said there had been two suicides in the State between 2009 and 2011, one during pregnancy and one after the woman had delivered her baby.
Prof Greene said in the three years, when there were 222,136 pregnancies, there were 25 maternal deaths, six of them classified as direct, five indirect and six attributed to coincidental causes. Ireland had a maternal mortality rate of 8.6 per 100,000, compared to 11.3 per 100,000 in the UK over a similar period.
Low mortality figures
He said Ireland had figures “that are very good in comparison to the rest of the western world”. However in response to questioning, he said he did not have evidence to support “in any way” claims that Ireland’s low maternal mortality rate “may be because we don’t have termination”. | <urn:uuid:a4112a3e-bdff-454c-9e7e-8cbcdc9767e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.irishtimes.com/news/illegality-issue-doesn-t-deter-women-from-seeking-abortions-says-ifpa-chief-1.955932 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971613 | 626 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Fluoride is one such injurious element which isessential for our teeth and bones, provided it is not less than 1mg/l and more than 1.5mg/l in our drinking water. Prof. Gerald Judy Cox of Mellon Institute of US had established in 1939 the relationship between the dental health and fluoride. He found that a fluoride content of less than 1 mg/l in water caused dental caries and more than 1.5 mg/l led to mottled teeth and disfiguration and crippling of bones. Since then the US Government has been on the alert and the quality of drinking water is carefully monitored all over. If required, fluoridation of water is carried out periodically.
The scourge of fluoride has spread all over the world. The countries where fluorosis is endemic due to excess fluoride in drinking water are, Mexico, Argentina, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Senegal, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.
In densely populated and developing country like India, where the quality of water is of least concern to the authorities the risk of fluorosis has become very high. Given below are some scary images from the Village of Kachhariadih, located 210 kms south of Bihar state capital Patna (May 12, 2003) where 90 percent of the village population was affected with bent backs and twisted limbs, due to 'excessive' fluoride content in the drinking water.
1. An elderly Indian woman suffering fluoride chemical poisoning lies on her bed.
2. Santosh Kumar Rajvanshi, 30, suffering from fluoride chemical poisoning being fed by her sister-in- law.
3. Eight-year-old Indian boy Ram Balak (C), tries to keep his balance as he attempts to stand on his feet .
A recent research work published by D. Muralidharanand his two colleagues from National Geographic Research Institute, Hyderabad says that in the semi-arid Tropical India 16 states are adversely affected by the scourge of fluoride.
The study has revealed that in the rocky terrains of South India where tank irrigation system has been in vogue since centuries, the quantity of fluoride in ground water has increased. In order to find out the root cause of the problem Muralidharan and his team selected Andhra Pradesh as their research area. In this area rain water is stored in tanks. It is also known that the rock types of the area are rich in fluoride. Water is one of the best solvent. Over a period of time the material eroded from fluoride rich rocks reaches the tanks with rain water. Quoting a CGWB study Murlidharan et al state that number of tanks account for 1.2 million, irrigating 1.8 m. ha area. Further quoting from the CGWB records, they state that nearly 60 million people in India drink water containing more than 1.5 mg/l fluoride. In Andhra Pradesh 1.27 million people drink such water each day.
Researches of Muralidharan show that these irrigation tanks act as sinks of fluoride brought by rainwater due to weathering of country rocks. The silt accumulated in the tanks is periodically removed and spread in the fields, as it is supposed to be rich in soil nutrients too. The fluoride laden silt is thus inadvertently exposed to rain or irrigation water in the fields. With water the fluoride content travels to depths and enriches the fluoride content of groundwater and reaches the humans via drinking water. Similarly fluoride rich silt supports good crops including vegetables and fruits.
Thus fluoride in excess of requirement reaches the food chain too. Consequently a larger proportion of rural population is suffering from dental and skeletal fluorosis.
The leachable fluoride content of the tank silt was found to be several folds more than the normal soil silt ofthe area. Quoting a sample survey of the tanks of South India carried out by A.Vadiyanathan, Muralidharan et al state that out of 125 irrigation tanks, 16 tanks had silted more than 50%, 51 tanks between 25% and 50%, 50 tanks between 10% and 25% and only 8 tanks had silted less than 10%. The farmers know the nutrient value of the tank silt and periodically de-silt the tanks and spread it in their fields. The practice has been continuing since ages. But now with this latest find of irrigation tanks acting as sinks of fluoride and further spread of fluoride via the tank silt on the fields has compelled the researchers to think of alternatives.
The values of fluoride via above channel are pretty alarming. Studies were conducted on the silt/soil accumulated in the tanks, percolation tanks, irrigation tank feeder channels and agriculture fields on which tank silt was spread and also the pasture land near the irrigation tanks in Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts of Andhra Pradesh. Muralidharan and colleagues found irrigation tank silt was rich in fluoride and leachable fluoride varied between 40 to 60 ppm. On the other hand silt form new tanks and pasture lands yielded more than 10 ppm fluoride. The soil of the tank feeder channel in the post monsoon period showed 12-28 ppm fluoride. This channel transports water containing the weathered material washed down from the hill slopes in to the channel. Major part of the silt/sediment these channels carry is deposited in the main tanks. From where it is periodically removed and spread on the fields. Crops like paddy and maize grown in these fields pick up fluoride content along with other nutrients form the soil. Their research further revealed that maximum quantity of fluoride is absorbed by red chilies (15.7ppm), followed by sorghum (3.6), wheat and rice (2.4 ppm each). Red chilies and sorghum are the crops which are mainly consumed by the poor people, for whom medical facilities are a far-fetched dream. It was also fund that fluoride content goes on increasing in depth. At surface it was 2 ppm but at depths of 140-160 cm it rose to 10 ppm. This explains how fluoride travels to depths with water. As it travels further down to the water table the enrichment of fluoride is more.
In order to combat the situation Muralidharan et el suggest rain water harvesting at much higher reaches, thus allowing lesser time to water to dissolve and carry the weathered product from the slopes. This water can be allowed to travel via ‘pukka’ channels and stored in cemented tanks as a source of drinking water.
For irrigation they recommend construction of tanks at spots closest to the catchment area and again transport water from there to fields via ‘pukka’ channels. On experimental basis this method showed drastic reduction of fluoride content in irrigation water.
Instead of spreading the fluoride laden silt in the fields, the same could be used for making bricks, suggest Muralidharan and his colleagues. This would have the added advantage of saving the local soil/clay from plunder. It may be noted that soil once removed from a spot takes 1000 years to regenerate.
The scourge of fluoride should not be taken lightly. It can cripple large masses of humanity due to skeletal fluorosis and turn them toothless too. Providing clean and safe drinking water is the state’s responsibility. It is also the responsibility of the state to enlighten the masses regarding the perils of poisons like fluoride and arsenic in drinking water. Constant monitoring of water and soils of the affected areas for fluoride content is the need of the day.
Images (c) Gettyimages.com | <urn:uuid:da620825-8b2c-484d-b355-2c7a552785bb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11355 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959605 | 1,586 | 3.375 | 3 |
November 16th, 2012 (InsideCostaRica.com) The President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, has faced an average of at least one protest or strike every day since the beginning of her administration, according to the latest State of the Nation Report.
In 2010, there were 340 different civil protests and strikes. By 2012, the amount grew to 632.
Chinchilla, who on many occasions has stated that she is governing “in difficult times,” has seen the largest number of protests and strikes in the last 17 years under her administration.
Researchers, however, say there isn’t a common link between the myriad of protests that have been occurring. The protests seem instead to be related to a wide array of issues.
Francisco Barahona, an analyst, said that the discontent with all three branches of the government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) is very clear.
Among many others, Chinchilla was faced with a 2-week strike by anesthesiologists working for the Costa Rican Social Security System. | <urn:uuid:0eee67b0-24b7-49a9-8a35-76e7b9dcb3ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://insidecostarica.com/2012/11/16/chinchilla-has-faced-one-strike-or-protest-per-day-since-beginning-of-administration/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971508 | 219 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Our community's fall school term has commenced. So, fellow student-readers, put on thinking caps for another pop quiz. Try to compare the Serengeti plains of Africa to the Southern California coastline. Not so easy, you say? Well, perhaps some little-known local facts will help.
Wild dolphins numbering in the thousands and giant whales in some of the largest concentrations in the world are not far from our coastline. See the similarity? Our coast is alive. Yet, we need to realize that time, pollution, overfishing and man's skewed priorities have changed the ocean population. Do we realize how close we are to losing some of these aquatic treasures?
One sure-fire way to learn about and appreciate these beautiful and magnificent creatures is to venture forth to visit them. Another is to seize the upcoming family event offered Sunday by the Friends of the San Juan Capistrano Library at a special lecture presentation called "Saving the Whales – One Captain's Tale," including a book signing by Dave Anderson, skipper of Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari of Dana Point. What we will learn will raise our community consciousness to what may seem to be a regional problem but one with worldwide ramifications.
You can come join your neighbors for dessert, coffee, music and learning from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Old Fire House Recreation Complex/Nydegger Building, 31421 La Mantanga, San Juan Capistrano. (It's next to the Women's Club and close to the library parking lot on El Horno Street.)
With his entire family, Captain Dave selflessly devotes his time and efforts to bring awareness to the plight of water mammals. His DVD "Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California" is awe-inspiring. This writer has enjoyed prescreening this fascinating award-winning documentary. The photographic splendor and intriguing story continue to linger and amaze.
During Captain Dave's five-year dedication to producing this educational window to dolphin and whale life off our coast, his lens chronicles unexplored wonders not far from our shore – join in the fun, social antics, sorrow and what can only be described as charmed visual events. The viewer is mesmerized by unbelievable privileged sights, apropos musical accompaniment and learning by seeing, listening and feeling.
His book, "Lily – A Gray Whale's Odyssey," for children and adults alike, allows a touching, revealing narrative to Captain Dave's daughter Arielle by a fish-net-entangled gray whale entering a Southern California harbor. Based on actual 2010 events, Lily tells us about her life and perilous migration, opening the reader's eyes on multiple levels, including spiritual. The misnomer devil fish should never enter our vocabulary again. Spectacular photos and educational references abound.
Those attending the family-oriented Friends of the Library presentation will have the chance to purchase the author's work of love about ocean royalty yearning to socialize and actually seeking physical contact with us.
In addition, Captain Dave's latest innovative educational curriculum will be showcased. This one-of-a-kind course aims to educate children early about our environment and the far-reaching effects on water inhabitants. Good news is that it's free and available for download for traditional and home-schooled children, their teachers and parents. Students in second to sixth grade will become mini maritime experts, keenly aware of the potentially devastating state of our marine life. Yes, the ocean's future lies in all our hands.
Tickets for the event are $20 for adults and $5 for children younger than 10. For tickets or more information, call 949-218-4512. | <urn:uuid:32bb6c84-6543-4dbe-9f43-f6026e9edacd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ocregister.com/news/captain-372594-dave-whale.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936754 | 750 | 2.265625 | 2 |
What is Employment or Workplace Harassment?
As an employee in Wisconsin, you are protected from harassment in the workplace by both Wisconsin state law, Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), and federal laws, such as Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Generally, harassment is comments or conduct in the workplace that is directly or indirectly about an individual based on a protected category, such as the individual’s race, sex, or disability. The comments or conduct must be offensive to the individual and must be unwelcome, meaning that the comments or conduct were not invited or also engaged in by the individual. It is generally also required that the comments or conduct happen repeatedly.
Who Can Be A Harasser?
Under both Wisconsin state and federal laws, an employer can be liable for harassment for the actions of the following:
- A supervisor or any individual that is higher up in the chain of command over an individual, as that person’s purpose is to represent the employer and the employer’s interests in the workplace
- A coworker, if a supervisor, a Human Resources representative, or any other individual higher up in the chain of command is aware of the harassment and fails to take steps to stop the harassment
- A client, customer, or vendor, who spends time at your workplace
How to Prove Employment or Workplace Harassment
Harassment under the law covers comments and conduct that are far more severe and significant than simple teasing, off-hand comments, or isolated incidents that are not in and of themselves severe enough to pass muster.
To prove your employer is liable for employment or workplace harassment, you must generally establish a “hostile work environment” exists in the workplace. To do so, you must establish each of the following:
- You are a member of a protected class (such as race, gender, religion, etc.)
- Harassing comments or conduct were unwelcome
- Harassing comments or conduct was “severe or pervasive” enough to create a hostile or abusive work environment
- There is a basis for employer liability
If a harassed employee cannot satisfy all of these prongs, then they cannot establish harassment. For this reasons, proving employment or workplace harassment can be far more difficult that it sounds.
If you believe that you have been subjected to any of the following types of employment or workplace harassment, Walcheske & Luzi, LLC can help.
- Age (Over 40)
- Creed or Religion
- Genetic Information
- Hostile Work Environment
- National Origin or Ethnicity
- Race or Color
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexual Orientation
The Walcheske & Luzi, LLC Difference
At Walcheske & Luzi, LLC it is our pledge to provide open and honest advice, taking the time to listen, counsel, and advise. We will work closely with you to determine if you are the victim of workplace harassment. Tell us about your workplace harassment situation, we’re ready to help.
Check out our testimonials section, where former clients have described their past experiences with us. | <urn:uuid:ced2d7af-b67f-4f0e-b3a5-a15aa31dd330> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.walcheskeluzi.com/employment-practice-areas/workplace-harassment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952172 | 638 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Aug. 20, 2010 The most beautiful thing about humans, says Indiana University researcher S. Lee Hong, is that they are both ever-changing and sometimes prone to error. Yet humans are still extremely flexible and adaptable, managing the transition from one context to another almost seamlessly. His new study demonstrates how this adaptability boils down to a zero-sum game.
"There's a famous Einstein quote: 'God does not play dice.' Unfortunately, we all have to do so every day," said Hong, assistant professor in IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "Humans are unpredictably variable organisms living in fundamentally unpredictable and uncertain environments. Humans are capable of adapting to different levels of uncertainty, which is quite well documented, but 'how' has been unknown up to this time."
Hong's study, published in PLoS ONE, involves information processing and found that human behavior is systematic, not random, demonstrating a trade-off between input and out. The study also points to limitations to information processing, Hong said.
Hong and his co-author, Melissa R. Beck, cognitive psychology professor at Louisiana State University, studied eye movement and response times to stimuli sequences that included varying levels of uncertainty or unpredictability. When the researchers increased the uncertainty in the environment by having images on a computer monitor appear in different locations in irregular intervals, the uncertainty of study participants' scanning patterns decreased. When the "input," or the objects' appearances became more regular or predictable, the level of uncertainty of the study participants' "output," or scanning behavior increased.
Hong uses a desk as an example. If someone needs to find a note on a desk with little clutter, his search need not be thorough. He can effectively glance around the desk to find what he wants. If the desk is messy or contains many papers and other objects, his search will need to be more systematic to find what he is looking for to make sure he hasn't missed anything. If he ransacked the desk in a random fashion, it likely would take longer to find the note.
"These exchanges are pretty much equal and opposite, much like the laws of the conservation of momentum and energy," Hong said. "More importantly, it seems that the human organism is fundamentally in tune with patterns of uncertainty, evolved, maybe. It's definitely a question for the future."
The study involved 29 college students. They generated repeated responses to a continuous series of visual stimuli presented on a computer monitor. As soon as a target was detected, they pressed a keypad. The researchers manipulated where and when the targets would appear. The more uncertain the time and place of the stimulus, the more systematic the visual search strategy was. On the other hand, their response times became much more unpredictable. The most interesting finding, said Hong, was that the changes in uncertainty of the eye movements were a virtual mirror image of the changes in uncertainty in the response times.
"The results show that the subjects adapted their visual search behavior to adjust to the different levels of stimulus uncertainty," the authors wrote in their paper.
Hong also is an associate member of IU's Cognitive Science Program and a full member of the Neuroscience Program, both in the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on patterns of change in movement behavior.
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- S. Lee Hong, Melissa R. Beck, Ehsan Arabzadeh. Uncertainty Compensation in Human Attention: Evidence from Response Times and Fixation Durations. PLoS ONE, 2010; 5 (7): e11461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011461
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead. | <urn:uuid:0918befc-9722-410a-9688-3d7e5f1d5045> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816142112.htm | 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 | 0.954089 | 776 | 3.21875 | 3 |
We’ve known for some time that longer life spans and a lack of savings will greatly affect the quality of life for baby boomers in retirement. But when it begins to affect officiating in professional football—well, it’s time to do something about it.
The real sticking point between referees and league officials was the National Football League’s desire to begin transferring the officiating personal from defined benefit to defined contribution plans.
Referees objected, and pointed to the amount of revenue generated each year by the gridiron industry in their fight to keep the defined benefit plans. Team owners countered that a very small percentage of part-time employees in the United States are offered any employer–sponsored plans at all—whether a pension or 401(k). The NFL also noted that its office workers had already been moved to the 401(k) model. The debacle with poor officiating by replacement refs ensued.
The New York Times reported late Wednesday night that the NFL reached agreement on an eight-year labor deal with its game officials.
According to the paper, under the terms of the deal, “pensions will remain in place for current officials through the 2016 season. New officials will get a 401(k) instead. The average official’s salary will rise to $173,000 in 2013 from 149,000 in 2011.”
Beginning in 2013, the NFL will have the option of hiring a number of full-time officials.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds only about one in three part-time employees gets offered a 401(k)-type plan, and less than one in 10 still get a pension like those currently given referees.
Commissioner Roger Goodell came under intense pressure to settle the contract dispute in the wake of a blown call in Monday night’s match-up between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers which handed the Seahawks the win. | <urn:uuid:b66764b9-bb4c-456a-94e6-f5f1906892ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.advisorone.com/2012/09/27/nfl-refs-get-what-most-workers-want-pensions-untou | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955501 | 390 | 1.5 | 2 |
(The), in running. All animals soon after the start get out of breath, but as the body becomes heated, breathing becomes more easy, and endures till fatigue produces exhaustion; this is called the second wind.
“That mysterious physical readjustment, known in animals as `second breath,' came to the rescue of his fainting frame.” —The Barton Experiment, chap. x.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
More on Second Wind from Fact Monster: | <urn:uuid:fb486597-fea7-481f-ac81-9da20b44c632> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.factmonster.com/dictionary/brewers/second-wind.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937785 | 112 | 2.421875 | 2 |
So in the process of doing research for a paper, I kept coming across early Christian paintings of Jonah and the Great Fish. The first thing I thought was that these paintings look nothing like the Jonah inscription on ossuary 6 from Talpiot Tomb B. I also noticed that this was a popular story. It is reproduced throughout the vast catacomb networks in Rome and also on sarcophagi. For the most part, the images looked the same. And many of these images told the story of Jonah being eaten by the fish, Jonah being spit out by the fish, and Jonah resting on dry land, usually under a plant/tree or a vine. The theme of this story is the deliverance of God; apropos as it is painted in tombs and inscribed on sarcophagi. There was one particular painting of the story of Jonah, though, that caught my eye. Like the others, the the depiction of Jonah and the Great Fish in the Catacomb of Peter and Marcellinus is told in three scenes, but with one big difference. While Jonah (as an orant) is eaten by the fish in the first scene and Jonah is resting in the third scene, this fourth century artist has replaced the the middle scene with a depiction of Helios riding through the heavens on his horse drawn chariot! This isn’t actually a depiction of Helios, though. This is simply how Helios is depicted in pagan art; he rides his chariot across the heavens during the daily cycle. The nimbus behind the figure on the chariot in the Jonah story suggests there is some type of divine status to be applied to him (although I’m curious why its blue and not yellow/gold). Perhaps this is a painting of Jesus riding the chariot through the heavens. Perhaps the symbolism behind this painting is the hope of apotheosis of the deceased. The Helios symbolism is also found in a tomb under St. Peter’s Basillica. This third-century painting has been dubbed the Christ-Helios.
The use of Helios imagery was also used in Jewish synagogues (Hammat Tiberias [4th/5th c.], Sepphoris [5th c.], Beth Alpha [6th c.]). In the synagogue, though, Helios is inside the zodiac and the personified seasons occupy the corners. The central figure riding the chariot has been interpreted many ways. Some take it to represent God himself (Goodenough), Elijah (Waden), or Metatron (Magness) Christians also followed suit (or vise versa), though. At the Monastery of the Lady Mary in Beth Shean the 6th century zodiac appears on a floor mosaic, where a personified Helios and Selene are at the center. I would be interested to read the interpretations on that mosaic! In light of all of this, a couple things are striking to me. First, the Jonah and the Great Fish depictions in 3rd and 4th century Christian art look nothing like that which is proposed to be on ossuary 6 at the Talpiot tomb. Second, it is interesting that pagan symbols were borrowed so readily by both Jews and Christians. I say, “readily” because there is a host of other pagan symbols used throughout the Christian catacombs and in synagogues. This has certainly caused me to reconsider the weight of the authority behind written material:
“All images are forbidden because they are worshiped [at least] once a year. So says R. Meir. But the sages say: ‘Only that is forbidden which holds a staff or a bird or a sphere in its hand.’ R. Simeon b. Gameliel says: ‘Anything holding an object is forbidden.’ (m. Abod. Zar. 3.1) | <urn:uuid:46723d5c-0067-4eae-8cc2-4086b8464c6f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dburnett.com/?tag=catacombs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969122 | 796 | 3.234375 | 3 |
MTO Forestry is committed to sustainable forestry for the health of the environment and the economy.
MTO Forestry owns 14 pine plantations between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. This represents a total area of 118 476 hectares and yields a harvest of some 480 000 cubic metres of timber per annum. MTO also owns three sawmills in Tsitsikamma, Wemmershoek and George.
The trees are harvested at an age of 30-40 years and are used to produce high quality saw logs and veneer logs for construction furniture, panelling, doors and laminates. Other products from our plantations and processing plants include poles for agriculture, electricity and telephone lines, and biomass for electricity generation.
Investing in people
MTO Forestry supports a range of programmes that benefit local communities. For example, the Grabouw Food Garden is sponsored by MTO in partnership with the Grabouw Municipality. The vegetables produced by this training and job creation project are then used by the Grabouw Food Kitchen to feed unemployed people in Grabouw. MTO also supports environmental and conservation programmes that protect the natural environment and create opportunities for people to learn about the importance of trees and forests. For example, MTO partnered with the Wilderness Foundation to establish the Khula Nam environmental education programme and the programme has proved so successful that the Department of Water Affairs is planning to launch it nationally.
Forestry Corporate Services
Corporate services conduct forestry research and annual plantation audits to ensure MTO maintains international standards in silviculture, conservation and fire protection practices.
The planning division manages the growing resource to ensure sustainability and optimum utilisation for the group.
Concordia Training Centre in Knysna provides SAQA accredited training in all forestry-related disciplines.
Karatara Nursery is certified by the Seedling Growers’ Association of South Africa and supplies all of MTO’s seedling requirements.
MTO is also a member of FABI (a forestry tree health institute) and Camcore (a global tree breeding programme).
MTO Forestry is the proud custodian of the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail and our ecotourism division actively promotes the recreational use of its land on a sustainable and environmentally responsible basis. | <urn:uuid:4f72aeeb-3ba6-49e3-90d2-0bc82e0c032e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mtoecotourism.co.za/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912674 | 463 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Fishing report for southeastern Utah
Ice conditions at many of the southeastern reservoirs and lakes are changing rapidly with the onset of spring. The risks associated with ice fishing increase considerably from one week until the next. Don't ice fish alone. Take along rescue equipment, including a strong rope, floatation device, ice picks, and a cell phone.
Abajo and Blue Mountains. Ice fishing is over in San Juan County.
Cleveland Reservoir. Please avoid this reservoir until ice-off. The ice is dangerous and unpredictable.
Duck Fork Reservoir. This body of water is fishless, but will be stocked with small tiger trout and Colorado River cutthroat in summer. The tiger trout are expected to be large enough to catch in 2004.
Electric Lake. No report on fishing success or ice conditions. Tributaries will be closed until July 12.
Ferron Reservoir. Recent snowstorms have blocked access. The trout limit is four. However, anglers may take a bonus limit of four brook trout in addition to the normal trout limit. All tributaries are closed until July 12.
Gigliotti Pond. Anglers should probably wait until May, when restocking will occur. In 2003, the trout limit will be four fish. All largemouth bass and bluegill must be immediately released.
Gooseberry Reservoir. Little or no ice fishing has been taking place. No information on fishing success. All tributaries are closed until July 12.
Grassy Trail Reservoir. The reservoir is closed to fishing in 2003.
Green River Golf Course Ponds. No report on angling success. The limit is four fish in the aggregate for all species.
Huntington Creek. Flows are low. A lot of stretches have open water. Fly fisherman, Tom Ogden, recommends a Hare's Ear nymph or size 12 to 14 Montana nymph. Most fish are in the 10 to 12 inch range. On the right fork (from Flood and Engineer's Canyon upstream to Electric Lake) only artificial flies may be used. The trout limit is two. On the left fork, only artificial flies and lures may be used. The harvest of brown trout is encouraged. Crandall Creek, which empties into Huntington Creek, is closed to fishing for 2003 to protect a population of pure Colorado River cutthroat trout.
Huntington Game Farm Pond. Anglers are encouraged to wait until the pond is restocked in May. In 2003, the limit will be four fish in the aggregate for all species.
Huntington North Reservoir. The ice pack is receding and extremely dangerous. There is open water along the shoreline. Anglers are urged to wait until ice-off.
Huntington Reservoir (near the top of Huntington Canyon) This reservoir is extremely dangerous, due to the potential for buckling and subsidence of the ice pack. Please stay off!
Joes Valley Reservoir. Ice anglers are encouraged to be very cautious, due to destabilizing ice conditions as a result of water being drawn.
Ken's Lake. According to conservation officer, Ed Meyers, Ken's Lake is rising and ice-free. After being nearly drained last fall, the lake is now quite full. Meyers expects that a number of trout survived the draw down and winter. Stocking will occur in April or May.
LaSal Mountains. Access roads remain closed to Warner and Oowah lakes, reports Ed Meyers, DWR conservation officer. Recent storms have probably made access to other lakes impossible.
Scofield Reservoir. Conservation officer Stacey Taggart reports windy, frigid conditions at Scofield and slow fishing success with all types of tackle. | <urn:uuid:15ff9df3-7a88-45ba-aada-35779b743682> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sunadvocate.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=2550&poll=269&vote=results | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946491 | 766 | 2.234375 | 2 |
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Delnice the central and largest city and the entire village of Gorski Kotar. Situated on the field and surrounded Delnička tops Drgomalj, Petehovac Japlenški and top with a height of 730m, "the highest" in Croatia During the city.
Photo: Croq / Source: wikipedia.com
City Delnice covers the central area of Gorski plateau. The backbone of the populated areas, with the Delnice make Brod na Kupi located in the canyon of the river Kupa, Crni Lug, which is located on the slopes dragomaljskog assembly and risnjačkog massif. Places to imbue their differences and cultural and geographical connections making it a unique balance between the Kupa valley and more crnoluške - Risnjak zone, figuratively called Delnički trefoil. According to the 2001 census., In the city inhabited by 6262 residents.
Spend a few days in an idyllic winter setting in Gorski Kotar. Heat picturesque places and their inhabitants will stimulate your soul, and the hospitality you will find the way to your heart. Taste the richness of traditional cuisine in restaurants highland!
Explore opportunities for recreation in the winter: you can skate in Sports Delnice, skiing on the mountain Petehovac center, swim in the pool under the torches and sledge.
Powered by Google Translate | <urn:uuid:4084b8a9-1f43-490a-a381-5d5aa651dc17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.croatiameetings.com/destinations/delnice/29/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918316 | 325 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Sponsored by The Barnard Center for Research on Women.
Most feminist studies of post-1979 Iran focus on the legal setbacks that women encountered and their collective strategies for regaining the formal grounds they lost with the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran. Iranian women’s studies should not, however, only examine social movements and elite political action in its effort to decipher the post-revolutionary state. Researchers must also account for nonelite and individual political action in different spheres of daily life. This conversation examines conceptualizations and enactments of citizenship and nation-building in Iran from the 1980s to the present, highlighting the interplay between popular political interventions in local sites and the Islamic Republic’s state-building agendas since 1979 and engendering debates regarding the urgency in continually reconsidering and reinventing methodological approaches used in Iranian studies.
This event is part of BCRW’s Transnational Feminisms Initiative.
Shirin Saeidi’s research concentrates on gender, sexuality, and political violence in the Middle East, with a particular focus on post-1979 Iran. She completed her BA at the University of Maryland, College Park in government and politics and her MA at George Mason University in political science. Her doctoral thesis is entitled, “Hero of Her Own Story: Gender and State Formation in Contemporary Iran,” and has recently been submitted to the Board of Graduate Studies at Cambridge University, UK. She is the recipient of several research awards at Cambridge, and her 2010 paper in the journal Citizenship Studies was selected as the editor’s choice article of the edition. She is currently completing her forthcoming article “Reconsidering Categories of Analysis: Possibilities for Feminist Studies of Conflict.”
K. Soraya Batmanghelichi is a women’s activist and feminist scholar. She is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies at Columbia University in New York. Her research focuses on embodied politics, especially concerning how the body becomes a “taboo” construct in the Islamic Republic of Iran. At Columbia, she earned a Master of Arts in Human Rights, as well as a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies and a M.Phil in the same area. She is a Whiting Foundation Fellow for 2011-2012. Currently traveling between London and Tehran, she is writing her PhD thesis, entitled “Revolutions and Rough Cuts: Conceptualizing Women’s Bodies in Modern Iran.” | <urn:uuid:3c69b81f-bd79-433d-abd0-d1ba47fbf490> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://barnard.edu/events/question-methodology-feminist-studies-gender-and-state-contemporary-iran | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949808 | 513 | 1.84375 | 2 |
River Person or Goal Person
Chuck Frey of InnovationTools sent me this little piece he has written for the InnovationNetwork "Wake Up Brain" e-newsletter, with permission to share it.
River People vs. Goal People
The late self-help expert, Earl Nightingale, once explained that there are two types of people: river people and goal people. Both types of people can experience personal fulfillment and success in life, although in different ways.
Most of us are undoubtedly familiar with goal people. They are the individuals who write down their objectives and timetables for reaching them, and then focus on attaining them, one by one. By laying out a roadmap of future achievements in front of them, goal people give their creative minds a clear set of stimuli to work on. Their subconscious minds can then get to work incubating ideas and insights that will help them to reach their goals.
River people, on the other hand, don't like to follow such a structured route to success. They are called river people because they are happiest and most fulfilled when they are wading in a rich "river" of interest -- a subject or profession about which they are very passionate. While they may not have a concrete plan with measurable goals, river people are often successful because they are so passionate about their area of interest.
River people are explorers, continually seeking out learning opportunities and new experiences. For river people, joy comes from the journey, not from reaching the destination -- exactly the opposite of goal people.
Recognizing both qualities in yourself -- Most people are a combination of these two personality types. I know I am. In my full-time job, I am expected to be goal oriented. I have specific personal and departmental objectives for which I'm responsible. At the same time, however, I get the most "juice" out of being an explorer, learning new skills, collecting information and writing about innovation and technology.
The important point is to recognize and nurture both aspects of your personality. Joyce Wycoff, in her new book, "A Year of Waking Up," tells a story that illustrates this in a memorable way. When she reached the age of 50, she felt curiously unfulfilled. At the same time, a little, persistent voice inside her was urging her on to explore new activities and experiences. She answered that call, taking art classes, keeping a personal journal, writing poetry and pursuing other artistic endeavors. It has been a marvelous, exciting, enlightening journey ever since.
"This journey has made me wonder anew how much there is to ourselves that remains undiscovered," she reflects. "Are we like a fractal (image) that, as we zoom in, reveals ever more patterns, each wonderful and beautiful?"
Indeed, there is so much to explore and so much to know that we ought to make time in our lives for both our goal and river personas. Both bring richness and fullness to our lives, like yin and yang sides of our personality.
If you're predominantly a goal person, why not slow down and smell the roses, as our friend Joyce Wycoff did? Take an art class, just for the fun of it. Try reading different magazines. Talk to different people, or go to different seminars or classes outside of your core competencies.
If you're predominantly a river person, you may want to try brainstorming a handful of goals for yourself, to give yourself a bit more focus and direction. For example, you may want to jot down lists of books you'd like to read, knowledge or skills you'd like to acquire or places you'd like to visit.
Finally, be on the lookout for new experiences and learning opportunities on a daily basis. You never know when they're going to appear -- the key is to recognize them when they do!
Nice thought for the weekend - thanks Chuck. I've always thought of myself as more of a goal person - and only in the last 6-8 months have i allowed the river person in me emerge - and i am just learning to swim upstream - and so so enjoying the journey.
Yet often there is chaos and conflict - as the goal persona in me tries to stifle and frustrate the emerging river persona in me - at the same time my river persona almost disrupts the logic and rational reasoning of my goal persona. I guess the trick is learning to balance the polarities - as with yin and yang.
I had put down some of my conflicts in this post a while ago, in the context of an emerging river persona that i'm getting addicted to.
So which is you ? River person or goal person ? A tip - try The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron if you want to prod your river persona to emerge !
Update : Chuck just tells me that the full version of the article is here. | <urn:uuid:8fdd027f-9664-4a14-b910-3f71cd28dfc6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://radio-weblogs.com/0121664/categories/creativity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967033 | 994 | 2.03125 | 2 |
Play the role of detective while completing challenges in a range of fun science games and activities for kids.
A thief is on the loose, stop them from committing more burglaries by using your knowledge of magnets. Drag and drop different magnets into position to help stop the crime, remembering that opposite poles of a magnet attract, while like poles repel. How many priceless items can you save using principles of magnetism? Give it a try and find out! | <urn:uuid:4b674722-89ab-4958-82c0-8f69b250a912> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/detectivescience/magnets.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.909549 | 91 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Here are the women being honored in the inaugural “Makers: Women Who Make Southwest Florida.”
■ Carla Brooks Johnston (1940-2011), Sanibel Island
Mayor and Vice Mayor, Sanibel Island
The late 71-year-old mother was mayor of Sanibel. Brooks Johnston led the effort to stop the overflow from Lake Okeechobee lessening pollution of the area’s estuaries. She was instrumental in the adoption of the build-back ordinance, the regulation of fertilizerapplication on Sanibel, and the adoption of the Revised Sanibel Comprehensive Plan.
■ Trudi K. Williams, Fort Myers
CEO of TKW Consulting Engineers Inc.; Florida House of Repre- sentatives, District 75 (2005-12)
In 1999, she was appointed to the board of the South Florida Water Management District. In 2004, Williams was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. She served as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Water Policy. Williams says she is most proud of the Babcock Ranch acquisition as state property.
■ Ellie Boyd, Fort Myers
Life member, Responsible Growth Management Coalition
In 1952, Ellie Boyd became a college professor teaching medical and nursing students. Some 20 years later, she became a founding member of the Responsible Growth Management Coalition. She has worked continuously to help create the Density Reduction Groundwater Resource area, the Conservation 20/20 program, the Pine Island Community Plan, and the Estero Bay Agency on Bay Management.
■ Ellen Peterson (1923-2011), Estero
Donor, Happehatchee Estate; founder, Calusa Group of the Sierra Club
She dedicated herself to grass roots conservation efforts, serving on several boards and advisory committees including the Agency on Bay Management, the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Save Our Creeks, the Responsible Growth Management Coalition, the Everglades Committee, the Environmental and Peace Education Center.
■ Hilary Swain, Ph.D, Venus
Executive director, Archbold Biological Station
Since 1995, Swain has overseen the activities of Archbold, in the northern headwaters of the Everglades near Lake Placid, Fla. She directs the activities of 50 scientists and staff and manages 20,000 acres including pristine scrub habitat and a 3,000-head cattle ranch.
■ Ellin Goetz, Naples
Environmental leader; president, Goetz+Stopes Landscape Architects Inc.
Growing up in New York in the 1960s, Goetz saw a rural landscape with miles of open fields become a concrete jungle of development.
Since then she has been at the forefront of creating open spaces in Collier Country. She is past chairperson of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. She chaired the 2002 Conservation Collier campaign which convinced voters to approve an ad valorem tax to be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands.
■ Rae Ann Wessel, North Fort Myers
Director, Natural Resource Policy, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
Wessel managed her own environmental consultant business, Ecosystem Specialists. As natural resource policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, she has led the charge against harmful and sometimes unlawful holding back of water in the Caloosahatchee River during drought and releases of too much polluted water post tropical storms.
■ Susan A. Bridges, Bonita Springs
President, Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs
For the past 13 years Bridges has been the creative force behind the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, including spearheading a significant capital campaign, the design of new programs, the opening of new buildings (debt-free) on a 10-acre campus and a skyrocketing growth in membership from 300 to nearly 1,700.
■ Reiko Niiya, Fort Myers
Concertmaster, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra
For the past 30 years, she has enriched the cultural life of Southwest Florida as the concertmaster for the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. As a freelance musician, she has been concertmaster of six different orchestras and also serves as one of the concertmasters at Wolf Trap.
■ Andrea Clark Brown, Naples
Principal/owner, Andrea Clark Brown Architects, P.A.
Brown has held onto her creative spirit as architect for major civic downtown Naples landmark buildings, They include the Sugden Community Theater, Fifth Avenue Plaza and two municipal parking facilities serving the Naples downtown area. Her recent design of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples resulted in the church being named one of Florida’s Best 100 Buildings in 100 Years by the State American Institute of Architects.
■ Marty Valiant, M.D., Labelle
Public Health Officer (ret.) Hendry/Glades
Valiant became the county public health officer for Hendry and Glades counties. In her 30 years there, she handled contaminated water supplies; confined an active case of tuberculosis; immunized patients at child care centers, labor camps and farmworker packing houses; educated two counties about HIV/AIDS; provided OB-GYN care for women and teenage girls with no hospital or clinical resources; and more.
■ Sharon MacDonald, Bonita Springs
Chief Foundation Officer, Lee Memorial Health System Foundation vice president, cancer services, Lee Memorial Regional Cancer Center
MacDonald oversaw the funding and building of a state-of-art regional cancer center and now spearheads the $100 million capital campaign to build the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. MacDonald was appointed Chief Foundation officer in 2001.
■ Samira K. Beckwith, Fort Myers
President/CEO, Hope HealthCare Services
For more than 20 years, Beckwith has served as president and CEO of Hope HealthCare Services managing its growth from 100 patients a day to now serving more the 2,000 a day. Under her leadership, Hope has won four national awards for innovative and high-quality patient care.
■ Lalai Hamric, Fort Myers
President/CEO, Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida (retired)
In the late 1960s Lalai Hamric, originally the clerk at what was then known as the Migrant Health Services, retired in 2009 as president and CEO of Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, with a lifetime career of providing medical care for low-income families. Under her leadership the organization grew from three small outreach clinics to 16 medical offices and six dental offices, including OB/GYN, pediatric and adult/ family medicine in five counties.
■ Gail Markham, Fort Myers
Founding partner, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
She is the founding partner of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. Recognized for her business acumen, she has received the Uncommon Friends Foundation Business Ethics Award, Florida Accountant Advocate of the Year, Lee Career Woman of the Year, Collier EDC Best Places to Work and Florida Trend’s Best Companies to Work For. Markham used her energy and passion to co-found the Lee County PACE Center for Girls.
■ Carmen Rey-Gomez, Cape Coral
Director, Hispanic Institute at Hodges University
Rey-Gomez holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. Before moving to Southwest Florida 10 years ago, she was a community health interviewer, family educator and an HIV/AIDS mental health provider.
■ Barbara Mainster, Fort Myers
Executive director, Redlands Christian Migrant Association
For the past 40 years, Mainster has been a part of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. When she came on board, the association whose mission is to serve children of migrant and low-income farm families throughout Florida, had three centers. Today, RCMA has 75 child care centers, in 21 counties, plus two charter schools.
■ Karen Clawson, Naples
Founder and executive director of K is for Kids Foundation
Ten years ago, Clawson volunteered to help in the school library. There she realized a tremendous need for additional books. That’s when her K is for Kids Foundation was born. Ten years later the K is for Kids Foundation has raised enough money to buy thousands of books for schools and libraries, often more than 14,000 books in one six-month period.
■ Veronica Shoemaker, Fort Myers
Civil rights advocate; owner, Shoemaker Florist
The second oldest of 11 children, Shoemaker attended Dunbar High School during the day and organized Parent Teacher Association meetings in the Dunbar schools at night. She fought to desegregate Lee County Schools, In 1982, she won a seat on Fort Myers city council, the first African-American to serve. She has been active in the Dunbar Improvement Association, the Lee County NAACP, the Lee County Food Bank, the Lee County AIDS Task Force, the Lee County Leadership Council and more.
■ Nely Rodriguez, Immokalee
Member, Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Rodriguez has made her life’s work fighting for a fair wage and decent working conditions for farmworkers in Florida. She has been instrumental in bringing higher pay and improved rights to tens of thousands of tomato pickers in Florida. She is a leader of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers Women’s Group which encourages farmworker women to stand up for their rights.
■ Ann Reisner Jacobson, Naples
Chairwoman, Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Collier County
Since arriving in Naples 20 years ago, Jacobson has founded the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida and served as president of the Jewish Federation of Collier County. She also established the Center for Judaic Holocaust and Human Rights Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. In the past 10 years, the museum has educated 27,000 schoolchildren and countless more adult visitors. | <urn:uuid:7ffc0b7d-4cdc-48c8-bc5d-fadbb42321f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gonaples.com/news/2013/feb/20/southwest-florida-makers-being-honored-wgcu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939527 | 2,010 | 1.71875 | 2 |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Today marks the 150th anniversary of a critical moment in U.S. history. September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, announcing his intention to free the slaves in the states rebelling against the Union.
An exhibit honoring the anniversary opens in Harlem this weekend. And from New York, NPR's Joel Rose reports.
JOEL ROSE, BYLINE: Abraham Lincoln didn't officially free the slaves in the Confederacy until the formal Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863. But he announced his intention to do it 100 days earlier, in what historians call the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This, and Lincoln's hand-written manuscript are both on display in Harlem.
JOHN KING: There's a simple way to remember it, as this moral moment of freedom. But as always with politics, there's actually a complicated history behind it.
ROSE: John King is New York State's commissioner of education. He says Lincoln was trying to strike a delicate balance. He wanted to free the slaves partly to give the Union a military advantage over the Confederacy. But Lincoln wanted to do it without actually abolishing slavery. That would have offended the border states that sided with the Union and where slavery was still legal. If you look at Lincoln's manuscript closely enough, you can see the effort he put into it.
KHALIL GIBRAN MUHAMMAD: Even his own struggle - the newspaper clippings cut out here, the scratched-out sentences and trying to figure out which precise language - shows us just how hard it is to do the work of making freedom and democracy real for people. This is one of those transformative moments.
ROSE: Khalil Gibran Muhammad directs the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, where the manuscript is on display this weekend. Muhammad notes that Lincoln didn't create this transformative moment all by himself. Throughout the war, he was hearing from generals in the field about slaves who ran away by the thousands, hoping to join the Union army.
MUHAMMAD: To say, you know, we are here to demand our freedom. And we know you are here for other reasons, but you can't ignore us. We won't be ignored.
ROSE: Lincoln's handwritten manuscript didn't stay in his possession for long. It was auctioned off in 1864 - before the Civil War was even over - to raise money for relief efforts. Then the manuscript was sold to the state of New York, which helped to organize the current traveling exhibition. It opened yesterday with a special showing for high school students in Harlem. I asked senior Kamal Grant what the manuscript means for him.
KAMAL GRANT: I think it means like opportunity. Because, I mean, it's basically the reason why we're even looking at it right now. Because it gave, like, people like me a chance to even be relevant in the world.
ROSE: Lincoln's manuscript is on display in Harlem through Monday before traveling to seven other cities around the state.
Joel Rose, NPR News, New York.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
SIMON: This is NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. | <urn:uuid:fd95b0a3-b0cb-4063-8164-20274a50affe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2012/09/22/108209/harlem_hosts_first_strokes_of_emancipation?category=u.s | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964452 | 679 | 3.953125 | 4 |
Thomas Greco is the most radical writer on money today. The very title of the book suggests that the future of civilization depends on abandoning money-as-we-know-it. What could be more radical and revolutionary than that? Yet on reading this book Tom Greco does not come across as some wild revolutionary wanting to turn the world upside down. His style is calm, thorough and systematic. He talks us through the historical record and shows how the current financial system has shaped and governs our world. The entire argument of the book is that if we are to tackle the gigantic issues of our time we have to understand how money works and adopt a new way of doing money. We do not have to re-invent it entirely for it has evolved over the centuries and we are now entering a new era where modern technologies allow us to move away from the existing centralised, globalised, monopolised and privatised money system that is a tragic relic of history to a truly modern, democratic money system that belongs to the commons.
Greco is brilliant at exposing the workings of our current money system and explaining how this can evolve into a new system. But all the time there is this feeling that he is holding back, that he is not following his own arguments to their logical conclusion. “Prognostication is a hazardous business - something that is best avoided”, he tells us. He does hint at where new monetary trends might take us but leaves most of it to our imaginations. So if you are hoping to find out what lies in store for civilization or what the future of civilization will look like you will be disappointed. It is only in the epilogue that he touches on the prospects for civilization, and then in only two pages.
This review is neither a critique nor a summary of the book; it is about what it says between the lines and what would result if we were to follow the logic of Greco’s arguments. In the same way as he wants to ‘liberate the exchange process’, this is an attempt to ‘liberate’ some of his ideas to ensure that their full potential is realised. This will be achieved by looking at some of the monetary concepts used by Greco and by following through what might ensue if his proposals were adopted. | <urn:uuid:872ea7ae-50a7-409e-abfc-151f12e73dac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/where-do-we-go-from-here-drawing-conclusions-from-the-end-of-money/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968782 | 469 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Most Active Stories
KRWG.ORG-The Region's Home Page
Thu May 31, 2012
'Pink Ribbons,' Tied Up With More Than Hope
Provocative yet far from definitive, Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a critique of "breast-cancer culture." It could even be called a blitz on pink-ribbon charities and their corporate partners — though to use that term would be to emulate the war and sports metaphors the documentary rejects.
As one woman observes, describing the treatment of cancer as a "fight" or a "battle" suggests that the disease is always beatable if patients make a heroic effort. The implication is that people who die "weren't trying very hard."
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer that afflicts mostly women. (A few men also get it.) That prevalence partially explains the rise of the pink-ribbon movement. But critics of the fund-raising campaigns argue that companies like Avon and Yoplait also are drawn to the breast-cancer cause by its, well, pinkness. Heart disease and lung cancer just don't seem as feminine.
Canadian director Lea Pool, who's best known for such fiction features as Set Me Free, takes a scattershot approach. In addition to the interviews, she includes animated sequences, vintage clips from news programs and public-service announcements, and coverage of pink-ribbon events: walks "for the cure" in D.C. and San Francisco, a pink-lighted Niagara Falls and Empire State Building, a jump by "Aerial Pink Force" skydivers.
Objections to such stunts are partially a matter of taste; although the movie devotes much of its attention to more substantive issues, it takes a few minutes to protest pink-ribbon kitsch and "the tyranny of cheerfulness."
Pool and her two co-writers began with Samantha King's book, Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, and King is one of the movie's main voices. Also featured are Nickled and Dimed author Barbara Ehrenreich, a breast cancer survivor; former surgeon Dr. Susan Love, a skeptic of "slash, burn and poison" treatments; and former Breast Cancer Action leader Barbara Brenner.
The principal witness for the defense is Nancy Brinker of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, who was interviewed before that group's controversial (and quickly canceled) break with Planned Parenthood. Brinker's group has channeled $1.9 billion to breast-cancer research. While that's an extraordinary number, the results are less impressive: Some 59,000 people die of the affliction in the United States annually, and the number of cases has dramatically increased, here and worldwide.
The disconnect between research and results is one of Pink Ribbons, Inc.'s keenest points. On-screen commentators contend that breast-cancer research is poorly coordinated and badly focused. Fewer than 30 percent of patients have a genetic proclivity for the illness, which indicates that most cases stem from environmental causes — yet relatively little attention is paid to prevention, or to chemicals that mimic estrogen and disrupt the human endocrine system.
Some of the pink-ribbon sponsors may even be implicated in rising cancer rates. Avon is a major supporter of the cause, yet certain cosmetics contain suspected cancer-causing agents. While encouraging customers to send in Yoplait lids in exchange for donations to breast-cancer research, the yogurt's manufacturer used milk that contained bovine growth hormone. (The substance, which is banned in many countries, was later eliminated.) The goal of such companies, allege their critics, is to "pinkwash" possibly carcinogenic products.
Such scientific arguments remain unresolved, and this unapologetically polemical documentary doesn't offer equal time for corporate viewpoints. But the movie's indignation seems justified on at least one point: that the pink-ribbon movement thus far has done more for marketing than for medicine. | <urn:uuid:d2646012-f686-4d91-9d44-e34d5dcba8aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.krwg.org/post/pink-ribbons-tied-more-hope | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953122 | 826 | 1.851563 | 2 |
Wired for Speed
Cables might seem like a boring part of your computer or home entertainment equipment. You plug them in, they work. End of story, right? Again, the nuance may surprise you. To better understand how your cables work, we’ll have to look at the physics and science of how the signals are sent, and the engineering feats that had to be accomplished to create images and sounds. Even if you think common sense or a little geek knowledge is all you need to get the right cable for your home entertainment system—think again. Here’s some of the most helpful (and coolest) information we’ve found about cables and digital signals. | <urn:uuid:f14780ff-dbde-4140-9a54-60a3085bc594> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thedigitaldentist.blogspot.com/2012/05/wired-for-speed.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953609 | 139 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Having a baby is a life changing event and the first few weeks can be a bit of an upheaval as both you and your baby try to adapt to your new life.
The first few weeks can be a bit daunting and tiring, even if your baby does spend most of their time sleeping. Getting a routine in place will be on a lot of mothers' minds and undoubtedly one of the hot topics at any get togethers for new mothers.
In the first few weeks you shouldn’t worry about trying to get your baby into a firm routine. A newborn baby needs to feed frequently, every 3 hours on average, and it takes a while to get your baby used to day and night. At this early stage focus on getting to know your little one, establishing breastfeeding, helping them settle to sleep and making sure you rest and look after yourself.
Establishing a routine will help you to feel more in control of your life and will also help your baby feel more secure. Most babies will feel more comfortable knowing when it’s time to play, eat or sleep. And for mothers, it’s great to know that you can have a bit of ‘me’ time now and again.
All babies are different
There is no right or wrong when it comes to establishing a routine. All babies are different. Introducing a sleep-time routine is a good starting point though. In the early evening, by the time your baby is around 2 or 3 months old, try a bath, a quick massage, a feeding and a soothing song or lullaby. When they reach six months, you may want to introduce a story and a sleep-time teddy. You can encourage your baby to sleep more at night by feeding them regularly during the day, and at night, keep lights low, avoid too much stimulation and only change their diaper if necessary. Good sleep habits will benefit both parents and child for many years to come.
A pacifier may also help them to settle. Babies have a strong instinct to suck and that simple sucking action may naturally relax them. Try and choose an orthodontic pacifier that is better for developing teeth. Remember to sterilize your Pacifiers regularly and always if they have been dropped on the floor.
While it’s recommended that your baby sleeps in your room for the first 6 months, in a separate crib, there will be times when you’re not in the same room. That’s when a good baby monitor can help. It’s a great way to keep an eye (or rather an ear) on your baby without rushing in whenever they make a sound and that way you can let them try to settle themselves first, which will help them to establish good sleeping habits in the long run. Some of the new baby monitors are digitally enhanced, which means there is no interference and crystal-clear reception. For extra peace of mind, some carry additional features such as real-time digital humidity and temperature sensors which allow you to monitor your baby’s room conditions.
There are no hard and fast rules
Just remember there are no textbook rules when it comes to baby routines. Your baby is an individual and it can take time to learn what routine works for them. You have a big influence of course, but not all parents want a firm routine, others don’t know how they would manage without one. This is your baby, your time as a mom or dad, follow your instincts and don’t be afraid to seek support and guidance if you need it. A good routine is one everyone is happy with.
Please be aware that the information given in these articles is only intended as general advice and should in no way be taken as a substitute for professional medical
advice. If you or your family or your child is suffering from symptoms or conditions which are severe or persistent or you need specific medical advice, please seek professional medical assistance.
Philips AVENT cannot be held responsible for any damages that result from the use of the information provided on this website. | <urn:uuid:087ad4e2-04c2-47d3-b9e9-d4a0c482d553> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.usa.philips.com/c/routine/178090/cat/en/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954127 | 829 | 2.28125 | 2 |
In Munchhausen’s syndrome, patients either invent or cause illness in themselves. In Munchhausen’s syndrome by proxy (MBP), a caretaker produces or fakes illness in someone else.
In MBP, the perpetrator is usually a mother and the victim a small child. It is a form of child abuse. Consequences can range from minor to fatal.
In both illnesses, a person may demand intrusive procedures or surgery. Further complications can happen. Caretakers may tamper with lab tests. They may injure themselves or a child, or interfere with healing.
Münchhausen was an 18th-century German baron. He was known for telling wild stories. His stories were further exaggerated by other writers after his death.
The diagnostic manual in psychiatry calls Munchhausen’s syndrome a factitious disorder. The motivation is “to assume the sick role.”
People with factitious disorders deceive on purpose. They seem to want to appear ill and interact with the medical system. But the reasons are not clear. Patients seldom talk about their motivation.
The fakery is so good that MBP is nearly impossible to diagnosis. The child’s caregiver may object if a doctor calls for an evaluation. The caregiver may even express outrage. Child abuse and neglect laws may allow an inquiry. But it’s easy to be wrong. And investigations are always intrusive.
The doctor may only be able to make the diagnosis if the perpetrator slips up. During my training, I saw a person with a strange skin condition. Dermatologists could not explain it.
It turns out he had been burning himself repeatedly with cigarettes. Then he was scratching at the wounds to keep them open. A diagnosis of Munchhausen’s syndrome was made when a member of his family caught him doing it. | <urn:uuid:41f3959e-c009-414c-8ee9-27efa952f948> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSAZR000/331/4581/1460244.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969122 | 387 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Losing weight is one thing, but keeping it off is the true challenge. That's why researchers from Brown Medical School and the University of Colorado started a database called the National Weight Control Registry, which tracks more than 5,000 people who have lost an average of 66 lbs and kept it off for more than five years— without gastric bypass surgery. Through communicating with this group of successful weight-loss losers, they've identified four things people who keep the weight off have in common:
Seventy eight percent fit it in daily. Other research has shown that people who regularly skip breakfast are statistically 4.5 times more likely to be overweight, and people who eat breakfast tend to eat fewer calories all day. And it just makes sense with how our bodies work: We tend to be more active during the day and meals and snack are meant to fuel the hours after the meal. In other words, when you eat the bulk of your food in the evening when your activity level is low, you don't need all that fuel, and you can't retroactively burn it, which means the surplus gets sent straight to your fat cells. My favorite breakfast lately? I mince a fresh apple or pear (skin on), place it in a bowl and top with a dash of apple pie spice, a quarter cup of toasted rolled oats and 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds. It's delicious with my soy latte, which I spruce up with a pinch of ground vanilla bean.
Seventy five percent of this group weigh themselves at least once a week. Some research shows that daily weighing can be beneficial for long-term weight control, but it's important to know that it's normal for your body weight to fluctuate from day to day or hour to hour. For example, if you have a meal that's saltier than usual, you'll retain more water, which can cause your weight to creep up until your body can flush out the excess sodium and fluid (16 ounces of water weighs one pound). But weekly weigh-ins can give you a sense of your body's usual pattern, and that's important because if you see a change from what's typical, you can make the connection about what's happening and address it right away. You may realize you're eating out more often, or not paying as much attention to portion sizes. That kind of detection system may be an important key to keeping the weight off. If you don't like weighing yourself because you get too caught up in the numbers, choose a pair of pants or jeans to serve as your "measuring stick." If they start to feel too tight, take a closer look at your habits.
Turning off the TV:
Sixty two percent watch less than 10 hours of TV per week. This is a big one. We tend to burn fewer calories while watching TV than we do reading or even sleeping. I call it the "TV trance." And of course there are numerous ads for food, which is probably why studies show that people eat between 30 and 70 percent more while watching TV. I have friends who don't own TVs, but to me certain shows serve as stress relievers that make me laugh, or feel like a mini-escape from deadlines and bills. But I do watch far less than 10 hours a week, and I try to do something active while I'm enjoying The Walking Dead or Psych, even if it's just folding laundry or ironing.
Ninety percent of this group exercises on average about one hour per day. That sounds like a lot, especially because according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 60 percent of American adults are not regularly active, and 25 percent aren't active at all. But that 60 minutes doesn't have to be all at once. It can be 15 minutes before work, 15 minutes carved out of your lunch break, and 30 minutes in the evening after dinner. And it doesn't have to involve going to the gym. It can be walking (my preference), riding a bike, or even dancing. | <urn:uuid:53b1f5f6-7767-447f-970f-5a655e8a9958> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.extragum.com/articles/four-secrets-of-weight-loss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96508 | 818 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Record numbers flock to take China's civil service exam
Hundreds of thousands packed out schools and universities across China on Sunday to take the national civil service exam, with record numbers registering in search of a stable government job.
More than 1.5 million people registered to take the exam, the Beijing Times reported, a record and more than 30 times the number sitting the exam a decade ago.
This year test-takers are vying for about 20,000 government vacancies, state television said.
The rapid expansion in recent years has been boosted by the perception that government jobs offer added stability and status, test-takers said.
Outside the Hujiaolou middle school in Beijing, one of dozens of test sites in the capital, Liu Ting, a 24-year-old student, stood clutching a red revision book containing lists of “hot” political jargon to be used during the test.
“I’m taking the exam because government jobs are more stable,” Liu said. “There’s basically no chance of losing a government job once you have one.”
Most candidates are university graduates, part of a massive expansion of higher education in China with almost seven million new graduates set to hit the job-market this year, the state-run China News Service said.
A 31-year-old woman surnamed Liu who worked as a quality inspector said she hoped to swap her private-sector job for a government post because “the benefits are better, and you don’t need to worry about pensions or health insurance”.
Those who pass the exam will also have to pass a tough interview process before they can gain a government job. “It helps if you have family relations in the government, especially for getting central government jobs,” Liu said.
China’s current civil service exam is a descendant of the ancient imperial examination system known as the Keju, introduced in the 7th century and often regarded as the precursor of China’s so-called meritocracy, or system of government based on merit.
This year authorities are on the lookout for cheaters, with anyone caught breaking exam rules barred from sitting again for five years, the Beijing Times reported. | <urn:uuid:e1c474cc-5417-49c2-b603-c758aee8f866> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1090562/record-numbers-flock-take-chinas-civil-service-exam | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948488 | 460 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Saving the environment has become a full time job for the human population. Each day it feels like every action results in harming the planet in some way and what do we get in return for trying to save it? Beautiful sunsets, snowcapped mountains and an atmosphere that can sustain life – ok that’s not a bad deal, but the pain of having to endure the relentless bombardment of public service announcements about doing our bit to save mother Earth is annoying. ‘Dr Seuss’s The Lorax’ is a strange mix of kiddie entertainment and a call to save the environment, something we’ve dubbed enviro-tainment.
Ted (Zac Efron) is a 12-year-old boy who lives in Thneed-ville, a walled city where everything is artificial. Ted is in love with his neighbour Audrey (Taylor Swift) who wishes to see a real tree. In order to fulfil her wish Ted must track down the mysterious Once-ler and discover the legend of The Lorax (Danny DeVito).
From the opening song and dance number of the film it’s pretty obvious that ‘Dr Seuss’ The Lorax’ contains enough environmental messages to fill a hippie’s fully recyclable pamphlets for a lifetime. It never lets up for the entire film, and despite becoming repetitive, the message of making a difference in the world is nice and in tune with the intentions of Dr Seuss’ original book published in the 70s.
Digital animation studio, Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me) does a fantastic job of bringing the world of Dr Seuss to life. It’s crazy, cute and colourful, and the addition of 3D helps you feel fully immersed into the world.
Little kids are sure to enjoy the physical humour and the silly situations but the film doesn’t fully make the leap into the adult conciseness as successfully as other computer animated films such as the ‘Toy Story’ series or ‘Shrek’.
The voice talents of Ed Helms, Danny DeVito, Betty White and Rob Riggle are great, particularly Helms, who gets to show off his musical talents.
Despite being blatant enviro-tainment, it’s a win for the world if the stories of Dr Seuss are still being told. ‘The Lorax’ has its heart in the right place and might get children into the garden for some manual labour.
‘Dr Seuss’ The Lorax’ is released:
2 March 2012 US
29 March 2012 Australia
27 July 2012 UK
The Popcorn Junkie | <urn:uuid:5666d441-a295-484b-bcbe-26c98f2357f4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thepopcornjunkie.com/2012/04/02/review-dr-seuss-the-lorax/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934589 | 552 | 1.765625 | 2 |
A digest of important news from sources selected by our local editors. Delivered weekday mornings.
The other complaint heard from bankers like Marranca -- and in some ways it is their major grievance -- is that the regulations apply to all banks equally regardless of size. This means, they contend, that Cattaraugus County Bank or Alden State Bank must abide by the same rules as HSBC Bank USA and Bank of America, institutions that are thousands of times larger.
"The same regulations that land on the Bank of America's desk land on my desk," Marranca says. "(The requirements) need to be tiered and they aren't."
The Independent Community Bankers of America, of which Marranca is a director and a past secretary, has filed a letter urging federal banking agencies to take steps to reduce the regulatory burden imposed by regulations on consumer lending. The organization represents 5,000 community banks -- commercial banks -- in the United States.
On another front, the American Bankers Association told the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in June that although regulatory burden is significant for banks of all sizes, small banks carry the heaviest load and are in danger of being regulated out of business.
"Eight thousand of the nation's 9,000 banks have less than $500 million assets, and 3,350 of those banks have fewer than 25 employees," Brad Rock, the CEO of Bank of Smithtown in Smithtown, N.Y., testified on behalf of the ABA.
"These are the banks that are providing credit and deposit services to people in small towns across America, yet these small community banks do not have the human resources to run the bank AND to read, understand and implement the thousands of pages of new and revised regulations they receive every year," he said.
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The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals. | <urn:uuid:a2596d81-1a37-418b-a7e8-fa6b439ef07a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2004/08/16/focus1.html?page=3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946723 | 450 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Enter Goneril and [Edmund the] Bastard.
- Goneril. Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way. [Enter Oswald the Steward.]
Now, where's your master?
- Oswald. Madam, within, but never man so chang'd.
I told him of the army that was landed:
He smil'd at it. I told him you were coming:
His answer was, 'The worse.' Of Gloucester's treachery
And of the loyal service of his son
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot
And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
- Goneril. [to Edmund] Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake. He'll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his pow'rs.
I must change arms at home and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear
(If you dare venture in your own behalf)
A mistress's command. Wear this. [Gives a favour.]
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
Conceive, and fare thee well.
- Edmund. Yours in the ranks of death! Exit.
- Goneril. My most dear Gloucester!
O, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman's services are due;
My fool usurps my body.
- Oswald. Madam, here comes my lord. Exit.
- Goneril. I have been worth the whistle.
- Duke of Albany. O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face! I fear your disposition.
That nature which contemns it origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap, perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.
- Goneril. No more! The text is foolish.
- Duke of Albany. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile;
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
A father, and a gracious aged man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited!
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
It will come,
Humanity must perforce prey on itself,
Like monsters of the deep.
- Goneril. Milk-liver'd man!
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st
Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and criest
'Alack, why does he so?'
- Duke of Albany. See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.
- Duke of Albany. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature! Were't my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman's shape doth shield thee.
- Goneril. Marry, your manhood mew!
Enter a Gentleman.
- Gentleman. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall 's dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.
- Gentleman. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,
Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,
Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead;
But not without that harmful stroke which since
Hath pluck'd him after.
- Duke of Albany. This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But O poor Gloucester!
Lose he his other eye?
- Gentleman. Both, both, my lord.
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.
- Goneril. [aside] One way I like this well;
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.- I'll read, and answer. Exit.
- Gentleman. No, my good lord; I met him back again.
- Gentleman. Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he inform'd against him,
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
- Duke of Albany. Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the King,
And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know'st. | <urn:uuid:95dd130a-b3a5-4cde-a5d7-f56c29b8245c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=kinglear&Act=4&Scene=2&Scope=scene&LineHighlight=2372 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924868 | 1,272 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Conservation Recycling Show
This show educates young children on the importance of conservation and recycling. Information about the importance of our national resources and how using the recycling boxes in the home can help save and maintain our planet.
"Your performance was entertaining and informative and certainly kept the interest of or young audience. The use of magic and music is always a hit and helped to further engage our audience, educating them about the important subjects of recycling, natural resources and conservation."(Principal David Nihill from Pine Hill Elementary School Sherborn, MA)
"It was a pleasure to have Peter O'Malley perform for us. His presentation was dynamic and he involved all the students into the program. Not only was the performance entertaining, but as well, it was informative. The students left with a deeper understanding of why recycling is important and whit benefits all of us."(Principal Angelo Giacalone from Roger Clap School, Boston Public Schools)
Just Say No Drug and Alcohol Prevention Show
This show instructs and educate the children on perils of drug and alcohol abuse. Using magic and music as some of the teaching tools, he captivates their attention and instills information that is important and vital.
Through the use of magic, music, movement and lots of audience participation and the usual dose of Peter Magic he has fostered the concept of "Edutainment" drawing kids in by gearing the performance to the age group and presenting the material in a fun and different way.
"I've never seen anyone blend entertainment and learning quite the way you do.", said one teacher after his school age children watched with amazement and glee one of Peter's school presentations.
For the last 4 years Peter has presented his conservation and recycling show to the entire Boston school system (K-3) He Edutainment shows have received numerous awards including Boston Parents Paper Entertainer of the year and special awards from the Boston Fire Safety Council. He holds a Masters Degree in Education, Attended Laugh Makers Variety Arts College at Ithaca, NY. | <urn:uuid:4188c793-4bd5-4acd-b878-b3aea8854962> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.petermagicomalley.com/educational.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954205 | 420 | 2.078125 | 2 |
The tradition of diver’s watches
Two models in particular were to become legends. The first was the Memovox Deep Sea, launched in 1959, equipped with Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 815 and the world’s first diver’s watch to feature an alarm. Six years later came the Memovox Polaris driven by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 825, a model that would leave an indelible imprint on brand history. Even at this early stage, the Manufacture already equipped its diver’s watches with cases featuring innovative devices – such as the Compressor system or the triple back – and with movements combining durability, precision and performance.
The history of diver’s watches is inextricably bound up with the quest for watertightness, a demand that arose in the early 20th century and stemmed from the parallel spread of sports and of wristwatches. Having shifted from the pocket to the wrist, watches were subjected to more stresses and strains than pocket-watches. In parallel with shock-absorbing solutions, the need for watertightness became increasingly acute – especially in aquatic sports such as swimming and water polo. The main watch brands began to take a close interest in this issue from the 1930s and 40s onwards, duly enriching their product ranges with a certain number of water-resistant models. Collectors can immediately recognise vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre watches by the “E” (standing for ‘étanche’, the French word for water-resistant) included in their series numbers.
The birth of leisure scuba diving
In the mid-1930s, diving specialists developed new techniques based on aqualungs, but they were never reliable enough to be widely used for sports diving. The crucial invention dates back to 1943, when Jacques-Yves Cousteau met up in Paris with Emile Gagnan of the “Air Liquide” company specialising in industrial gases. Gagnan had just miniaturised a regulator serving to fuel truck engines with town gas in order to compensate for the lack of petrol during the war years. He adapted the system to provide divers with an air supply lasting several minutes. The invention of the regulator and of compressed-air bottles marked the start of scuba diving as a leisure activity.
Scuba diving became increasingly popular around the world, particularly in the United States, which meant that Americans soon became the greatest devotees of diver’s watches. It was within this context that M. Lowe, President of Lecoultre Watch Inc in New York, suggested to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Executive Board in February 1959 that the brand should create a watch specifically intended for divers. He advised them to use Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 815, the movement that had served to power the first ever automatic alarm watch and had admirably demonstrated its functional and timekeeping performances.
World premiere: the Memovox Deep Sea
The Memovox Deep Sea, model E857, was a milestone accomplishment heralding Jaeger-LeCoultre’s grand entry into the field of diver’s watches.
This model was all the more sensational in that it represented a world-premiere innovation as the first diver’s watch in history equipped with an alarm function serving to remind the diver that it was time to return to the surface. This function was also handled by an external rotating bezel carrying a triangular- shaped marker, the symbol of Memovox watches.
Its case protected the precious mechanism from water, from magnetic fields and from impacts. On the back, a dedicated logo depicted a diver surrounded by bubbles. Powered by the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 815 with a cadence of 18,800 vibrations per hour, and fitted with a “tropical” natural rubber strap, the Memovox Deep Sea was produced in a limited edition of 1061. Like all other watches by the Manufacture, it was marketed in the United States under the name LeCoultre which appeared on the rotating alarm disc, and Jaeger-LeCoultre for other markets, displayed on the fixed part of the dial.
The Memovox Polaris I
The Memovox Polaris project emerged in the wake of the Memovox Deep Sea. Driven by a perpetual quest for innovation, the Manufacture equipped its new diver’s watch with a 42 mm case that was exceptionally large for that period! This generous size enhanced the underwater readability of the watch and resulted in a watch with a highly distinctive style. A system was developed to make the watch alarm ring louder under water.
To avoid the sound being muffled by contact with the neoprene diving suit or by direct contact with the watch movement itself, a triple-backed case was invented. To ensure water resistance to a depth of 200 metres, it was equipped with the patented Piquerez Compressor system. To guarantee enhanced security, the bezel was placed under the dial and activated by a third super-watertight crown positioned between the two characteristic Memovox crowns.
The Memovox Polaris was equipped with the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 825, featuring an alarm, date window and a cadence of 18,000 vibrations per hour. Like the case itself, the movement was exceptionally large for a wristwatch, corresponding to 14 lignes, meaning 31.6 mm in diameter and 7.5 mm thick. These spacious dimensions made it possible to endow the mechanism with all the attributes required of a sports watch: durability, precision, reliability and useful functions.
The name Polaris was suggested by the American market as being entirely in tune with the adventurous spirit typical of this period where people were fascinated by polar exploration, oceanographic discoveries and the space race.
Jaeger-LeCoultre began preliminary studies on the Memovox Polaris E859 in 1962 and a pre- series of 50 was launched in 1963. Made and marketed in a total production run of 1,714 watches issued between 1965 and 1970, the Memovox Polaris was delivered on a rubber and steel band. It is still one of the most highly sought-after diver’s watches among collectors. More than ever today, its distinctive design and its penchant for daring accomplishments continue to inspire the creative talents within the Manufacture.
In 1971, a second version was created and named Memovox Polaris II. Enriched with the latest technological breakthrough developments, it took the conquest of precision to a new level. Its Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 916 belongs to the generation of high-frequency automatic movements that the Manufacture began creating from the 1970s onwards. Its balance oscillates at a cadence of 28,800 vibrations per hour, enabling it to reach new heights of accuracy. The oscillating weight replacing the former winding system spins freely on its axis and was hence dubbed the ‘rotor’. Whichever way it turns, the device equipped with an eccentric and with two spring-clicks winds the barrel. The fact that this movement is still used today in the Master Compressor Memovox is eloquent proof of its incredible performances.
The Memovox Polaris II was housed within a revolutionary design. The extremely large egg- shaped case framed a dial in blue – the last colour still visible below water.
1,120 Memovox Polaris II watches were made between 1970 and 1972. The dials of the American models carried the initials “HPG” (High Precision Guarantee) indicating they were equipped with a high-frequency movement, while some of those for the French market featured “GT” letters shaped to form a triangle and standing for Grande Taille (large size).
Another era, another philosophy
In 2007, the Master Compressor Diving collection is writing a new chapter in the history of diver’s watches. Like its illustrious predecessors, it embodies a perfect blend of style and technical performance. Its high-tech sporty cases guarantee unprecedented water resistance as well as unique functions. They house fine watch calibres featuring precision, reliability and durability. They are intended for deep-sea diving professionals as well as the keenest amateur scuba divers.
Its strength lies in its impeccable conception and its innovative spirit. The Master Compressor Diving encapsulates the high standards, the dynamic attitude, the determination and the winning
spirit of a team of watchmaking professionals, combined with a concern for details, aesthetic elegance and authenticity | <urn:uuid:54299f01-431d-46bd-9bd6-e60f01a695a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thewatchquote.com/Jaeger-LeCoultre-Master-Compressor-Diving-No_6233.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952667 | 1,767 | 2.53125 | 3 |
where Newton took his first communion as a believer
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father:
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
The Apostle while addressing the churches he was commanded to exhort, having wished them grace and peace from Jesus Christ, at the mention of the Redeemer’s name breaks forth suddenly into this ascription of praise. It shows the fullness of his heart, q.d. How can I speak of him without reminding you and myself of our immense obligations. There is a marvellous sweetness in the name of Jesus, it is as ointment poured forth to them that love him, at least when the Holy Spirit is pleased to impress it upon the heart. He is always precious in their esteem, and those are the happiest moments of their lives, when they feel their affections most sensibly engaged. May the Lord make this season and this subject a blessing to us, that our souls may join with the words of my text and say Unto him _ etc.
1. His narrative, Love
2. His work, He washed us
3. The happy effects – Kings and priests
1. Unto him who loved us
If his name was not in the context he would be sufficiently marked out by this description. None but God such love could show. Not men (Rom. 5). Not angels, they love whom the Lord loves, but they are willing ministers of his vengeance upon sinners, as in the case of Herod. It was free, love to the unworthy and miserable (Rom 5:8), undeserved and undesired. It was distinguishing – he loved not the fallen angels, but fallen man. It was expensive (as under the next head). It was victorious and effectual love – not like that helpless pity and compassion which we often express to each other, a love that would not be wearied or disappointed by any hindrances or sufferings.
2. He washed etc.
Expresses the complete accomplishment of his design, entirely cleansed, as Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18.
2.2 From our sins
Any thing short of this would have left us miserable. perhaps some of you do not know this, but think the world can make you happy, but where sin is, there is guilt exposing to wrath and dominion which renders peace impossible (as Isa. 57:21).
2.3 In his own blood
This is the point upon which the whole turns. Could men or angels have suggested or hoped for such an expedient as this. May it teach us:
(i) The evil of sin
Wisdom does nothing in vain. Had there been any other way to expiate sin, Jesus would not have spilt his blood, nor would the Father have said, Awake O sword, against his only beloved Son. Surely you who have little thoughts of sin – know but little of this subject. May the Lord awaken you, for if Christ was not spared, shall you escape?
(ii) To admire his love
Had he saved, as he created with a word, it had been great love – but to bleed and die, and such a death. May we not take up a lamentation and say, Alas my heart of stone. We talk of gratitude to our fellow creatures, but, was Paul crucified? Would your parent or child or the wife of your bosom do anything like this?
(iii) The value of this blood.
Poor trembling soul, let not guilt or unbelief or Satan tempt you to dishonour it, by refusing the comfort provided. The blood of Jesus – cleanseth from all sin.
3. The happy effects
Kings, because heirs of a kingdom, children of the great king – not a pardon, but to reign with God in glory.
Priests implying that nearness and liberty with God, access by blood – grace to offer sacrifices of prayer and praises, and acceptance in the beloved.
Shall we not then join in saying – To him that loved us – Worthy is the Lamb. If you can begin to sing this song now, you shall sing it in heaven. And shall not our lives praise him. Surely you will no longer halt between two opinions or think any easy besetting [sin] too dear to be sanctified to him. | <urn:uuid:3305e0b1-827e-41e4-abce-84eda5c2f1db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.johnnewton.org/Groups/52187/The_John_Newton/The_Complete_Works/Sermons/Revelation_1_5/Revelation_1_5.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9746 | 913 | 1.75 | 2 |
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FOOTBALL: Radical youth football overhaul approved
9:20pm Monday 28th May 2012 in Wiltshire Sport
REVOLUTIONARY changes to youth football proposed by the Football Association have received overwhelming backing by the organisation's shareholders.
Some 87 per cent of the 778 votes cast were in favour of the plans which will see youngsters playing in smaller-sided games, with smaller pitches and goals, and more emphasis on learning skills rather than winning.
FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has called the vote "as important as anything that will happen this summer. The Euros are about the here and now - this vote is about the future."
A meeting of county FAs, clubs and other bodies at Wembley today saw 679 votes cast in favour of the proposals and 99 against.
The changes will be phased in for the 2014-15 season and see 5 v 5 for seven and eight-year-olds, and 9 v 9 for 11 and 12-year-olds.
Nick Levett, national development manager for the FA, said the changes were part of a long-term plan that should lead to benefits all the way up to England level.
Levett said: "This is about grassroots football but also a 15 to 20-year programme for long-term player development, ultimately to help produce players to support the professional game and England team.
"It will mean more touches, more shots and more dribbles for young players and therefore improving the kids' technique."
Levett admitted there would need to be an education process to stop parents and coaches enforcing a win at all costs attitude for youth football.
"We want there to be less pressure on kids," he added.
"There needs to be a climate change - this is kids football not the World Cup final."
Gareth Southgate, the FA's head of elite development, made a speech before the vote urging delegates to back the proposals.
The new proposals passed by the FA AGM will see young players not play 11-a-side football until they are 13.
It will be mandatory for under-sevens and eights to play five-a-side games.
U11s and 12s will play nine a side.
The pitch size and size of goals will be appropriate to their age group.
The ideal is youngsters will have more time on the ball and so develop better technical skills.
Competitions will become more child-friendly, breaking up the eight-month-long, adult-based season into smaller periods of competition.
Parents and coaches will be encouraged to drop a win-at-all-costs approach to children's football.
MORE ON THIS STORY IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES | <urn:uuid:d1b32517-f636-4668-b6ae-26ced64158df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport/generalsport/9731102.FOOTBALL__Radical_youth_football_overhaul_approved/?ref=nt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957785 | 608 | 1.578125 | 2 |
iPad: IPS screen technology explained
- — 30 January, 2010 08:20
During Wednesday's unveiling of the long-awaited iPad, Apple CEO Steve Jobs detailed that the new 9.7-inch tablet will make use of In-Plane Switching display technology. So, what excatly is In-Plane Swicthing, what does it do and why is Apple choosing to make use of this display technology for their new device?
In-Plane Switching (IPS) is an LCD technology first introduced in 1996 by Hitachi. It was initially developed to correct the poor viewing angles and color problems that LCDs had at the time.
Due to initial high-costs, IPS adoption was low at first, and mainly found only in high-end monitors, aimed primiarliy at the professional sector. Of course, over time, IPS was improved and refined, and as is the case with most new technologies, costs eventually came down to an acceptable level for mass-production. For example, Apple's newest iMacs use IPS displays..
The IPS display used int he iPad is a 9.7-inch 1024-by-768 resolution LED-backlit LCD screen. IPS gives the iPad an impressive wide viewing-angle of up to 178 degrees. Other LCD technologies tend to have narrower viewing angles, especially in the vertical direction.
Ensuring that the device can be held in a variety of ways without major viewing angle issues was clearly of great importance to Apple, especially considering that you'll rotate the iPad depending on what you're viewing, and Apple positions the iPad as a casual use 'living-room' device, perfect for consuming an assortment of multimedia.
Typical casual-use devices, namely netbooks, use a twisted nematic (TN) display technology. TN although cheaper, offers inferior color reproduction (only 6-bit color, while IPS supports richer 8-bit color), and lower viewing angles, so Apple's use of a higher quality display techology (IPS) for such a casual device is welcomed.
You can find out more about how IPS technology works at PCTechGuide, and for a full run-down of iPad specs, see Jason Cross' story on the topic. | <urn:uuid:f3e0a5cf-6703-4475-912f-fa5489844d1d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/334518/ipad_ips_screen_technology_explained/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929104 | 457 | 2.25 | 2 |
Ramesses III, Egypt's last great pharaoh, had his throat slashed
in a royal coup led by his son and one of his wives, according to new forensic analysis.
Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed a serious wound in the throat of pharaoh's mummy, just beneath the larynx.
Possibly caused by a sharp knife or a blade, the injury was about 2.75 inches wide and extended almost to the spine, cutting all the soft tissue on the front of the neck.
"Accordingly, all organs in this region, such as the trachea, oesophagus, and large blood vessels, were severed," a team of Egyptian and European researchers led by Albert Zink, a paleopathologist at the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman of the European Academy of Bolzano in Italy, wrote in the current issue of the British Medical Journal.
"The extent and depth of the wound indicated that it could have caused the immediate death of Ramesses III," they added.
The second Pharaoh of the 20th dynasty, Ramesses III ruled from about 1188 to 1155 B.C. He was the last significant king of the New Kingdom.
Ancient documents describe him as the "Great God" and a military leader who defended Egypt from repeated invasion of an ethnic group that the Egyptians called the Sea Peoples.
He was about 65 when he died, but the cause of his death has never been clear.
Ancient documents including the Judicial Papyrus of Turin clearly state that in 1155 B.C. members of Ramesses III's harem attempted to murder him as part of a palace coup to change the line of succession.
According to the documents, the coup failed, but it is less clear whether the assassination was successful.
Some some texts says it was, while other accounts imply that the king survived the attack, at least for a short while.
The Judicial Papyrus tells of four separate trials and lists the punishments reserved to those involved in the conspiracy, which included queen Tiye, one of the king's two known wives, and her son Prince Pentawere.
To resolve the 3,000-year-old puzzle, Zink and colleagues carried anthropological and forensic cold case analysis on the mummy of Ramesses III and the unidentified remains of a younger man buried nearby in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
Called man E, or Screaming Mummy for its open mouth and contorted face, the mummy was believed to be the pharaoh's son Pentawere.
CT scans and DNA tests on the mummies, which are now kept at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, produced important results.
The researchers could see a Horus eye amulet embedded in Ramesses III's wound. The charm symbolized royal power, protection, and good health.
"Most probably, the ancient Egyptian embalmers tried to restore the wound during mummification by inserting the amulet, generally used for healing purposes, and by covering the neck with a collar of thick linen layers," the researchers said.
Although it is possible that the throat was cut after his death, the Zink and colleagues believe this is highly unlikely.
"A treatment in which the throat was cut by the embalmers has not been described in any other Egyptian mummy," they said.
DNA analysis showed that Ramesses III and unknown man E shared the same Y chromosome and 50 percent of their genetic material, strongly suggesting that they were father and son.
According to the Judicial Papyrus of Turin, Pentawere was found guilty at trial, and then took his own life.
About 18-20 years old, the mummy of man E had a very strange, reddish color and was covered by a goat skin, a material regarded as ritually impure.
"He was badly treated for a mummy," Zink said.
Moreover, the young man had unusual compressed skin folds and wrinkles around his neck as well as an inflated chest.
According to the researchers, this may suggest he was strangled to death.
"However, the lack of further evidence for strangulation, such as fractures in the laryngeal skeleton, and the gas formation in the body caused by decomposition processes does not allow any clear conclusions regarding the cause of death," the researchers said.
They added that the unusual mummification and the use of the impure goat skin to cover the body might have been a some sort of a punishment. Indeed, the mummy underwent a non-royal burial procedure.
"Together with the genetically proven family relationship with Ramesses III, we therefore believe that unknown man E is a good candidate for Pentawere," the researchers concluded.
Egyptologist Susan Redford from Pennsylvania State University, author of The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III, agreed with the identification of Pentawere.
"One thing does give me pause," she told the daily USA Today. "In the ancient texts of the trial transcripts it states clearly that Pentawere was allowed to commit suicide. As far as I know — one cannot strangle oneself to death — so we have a problem here."
Photo: Mummy of Ramesses III, Cairo Museum Credit: G. Elliot Smith/Wikimedia Commons. | <urn:uuid:e40b109a-55c1-42b1-a0f7-2279fa12a76c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-egypt/ancient-pharaoh-was-slashed-121218.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975582 | 1,081 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Each autumn, the Library of Virginia hosts the Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration. This gala event, sponsored by Dominion, attracts authors, publishers, and those who enjoy the written word. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet and engage promising new authors, as well as literary legends. Seven different awards are presented at the celebration.
Strong Men & Women in Virginia History (formally known as African American Trailblazers)
The Library of Virginia has joined forces with Dominion Virginia Power to form a new program. Dominion’s Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership series and the Library of Virginia’s African American Trailblazers in Virginia History are now one program — Strong Men & Women in Virginia History. This new program, which will operate in Virginia only, was inaugurated in January 2013 when eight honorees were announced.
Archives Month celebrates those institutions and individuals that help preserve and make accessible the important records of our actions as citizens, businesses, religious groups, government and society. The work of these institutions and individuals gives us a sense of being part of a larger picture and helps us begin to see ourselves connected to others: family, community, nation, or a group defined by ethnicity, religion, work or play.
Since 2002, the Library of Virginia, in conjunction with the Virginia Caucus of the Mid–Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) and the Library of Virginia Foundation, has produced a poster commemorating the commonwealth's archival and special collections repositories and the rich, cultural record they protect. Cultural heritage repositories from across the state have contributed to the Archives Month celebration by hosting events and sharing images for inclusion on the poster and related Web site.
The Library of Virginia hosts an ongoing Book Talk Series, sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, featuring authors of works on Virginia subjects and Virginia authors (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) discussing their research and writing. These near-weekly offerings cover topics ranging from Virginia’s role in the founding of the United States to the legacy of the Civil War to the many facets of the civil rights struggle in Virginia and nearly everything in between. The series allows the audience the opportunity to listen to and interact with a variety of scholars and literary artists, as well as to purchase their latest publications and have them autographed by the authors. As an added bonus, one attendee at each of our book events wins a free copy of the featured book.
Recent featured authors include 2008 National Book Award winner Annette Gordon-Reed and 2007 National Book Award finalist Woody Holton, New York Times best-selling authors David Baldacci and Adriana Trigiani, former CBS news anchor Roger Mudd and former Virginia governor Linwood Holton, Pulitzer Prize–winners Tony Horwitz and Geraldine Brooks, and award-winning poet and current poet laureate of Virginia Claudia Emerson.
Mining the Treasure House Lecture Series
The Library’s Virginia Heritage Resource Center offers this series of lectures by researchers and subject specialists showcasing the contents of the Library’s many collections, projects, and materials and their potential for research. Since 1997 speakers have included some fifty Library staff members; academic lecturers such as Peter Onuf, Warren Billings, Philip Schwarz, and J. Jefferson Looney; and many independent researchers including archaeologist Lyle Browning, genealogist Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis, and map specialist Richard Stephenson.
Our quarterly magazine describes and illustrates the holdings and happenings at the Library of Virginia. Discover fascinating items from the collections as well as events, exhibitions, educational programs, and opportunities to become more involved. Sign up to receive Broadside and browse past issues.
Dictionary of Virginia Biography
The Library's ongoing Dictionary of Virginia Biography project is the first scholarly, comprehensive biographical reference work covering all centuries, regions, and categories of Virginia's history and culture. From Ashuaquid to Arthur Ashe, many of the entries offer the first reliable biography ever printed about their subjects. This dynamic, authoritative project is rewriting Virginia history, one life at a time. Through a partnership with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, entries from the DVB are being adapted and digitally published on Encyclopedia Virginia, an online platform in which biographies will be enhanced with digital media and primary source material, often from Library of Virginia collections.
Virginia Memory is your portal to the Library's rich and varied digital collections. We have been providing digital access to select collections since the mid-1990's. Many researchers, including genealogists, legal experts, title researchers, historians and students have benefited greatly from online access to collections such as Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, photograph collections, military service records, and chancery court records.
While continuing to offer these traditional digital collections, Virginia Memory also offers a whole host of new, ever-evolving digital resources, including articles written by staff, lesson plans, a chronology of Virginia history, and This Day in Virginia History, all using the Library's collections of photographs, archival and manuscript items, and print materials. Online versions of our exhibitions are also available here. You can also sign up for RSS feeds so you'll know when we add new collections and features.
Virginia Women in History
The Library of Virginia's Virginia Women in History program celebrates women's accomplishments in all walks of life. The Library sponsors statewide activities that include a traveling exhibition, educational resources tied to the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs), and an evening event in March to recognize our current honorees. Virginia Women in History is supported by the Virginia Business and Professional Women's Fund.
The Library of Virginia offers exhibitions that explore a wide variety of the commonwealth’s political, social, and cultural history. The exhibition program promotes interest in and use of the collections and services of the Library of Virginia. In addition to using materials from the Library's collections, the exhibitions also incorporate materials from the larger library and museum community. Children’s activity booklets provide age-appropriate interpretation of each exhibition for our youngest visitors. For information on our current exhibitions, please see our News & Events calendar.
Online versions available on Virginia Memory include key themes and artifacts from the current, as well as past exhibitions. | <urn:uuid:1bad9d87-ac1b-46d3-984b-2f18778828e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/prog_exhib.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939378 | 1,268 | 1.632813 | 2 |
This is a must-read about a police department in the small Canadian town of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, pop. 35,000, that was dealing with 35,000 calls a year, which was double the number in 2001. The calls were on track to double again in eight years, until the department instituted what they call Community Mobilization, a concept they borrowed from police in Glasgow, Scotland.
Here’s an excerpt from the excellent story by Winnipeg Free Press reporter Randy Turner.
Seated around the table are representatives from every policing and social-services agency in the city: addictions, municipal police and RCMP, mental health, child services, probation, education. The works.
The analyst cites the first “case” — a 13-year-old girl recently reported missing by a guardian and found intoxicated by patrol officers. The girl was returned to her home. She had been truant and recently adopted a “poor attitude.” An investigation revealed the teenager had been a victim of abuse at the hands of a stepfather who had recently moved into the home. | <urn:uuid:998a1042-f020-48fb-b92e-83b312047e06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://acestoohigh.com/category/child-abuse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981635 | 222 | 2.1875 | 2 |
"Patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched." ~ Guy de Maupassant
Check Your Premises
Column by tzo.
Exclusive to STR
Apologists for government, along with uncritical government participants (most citizens), claim that just governments exist by way of a social contract. The idea is that the people voluntarily cede a portion of their freedom to government in exchange for social order secured by the government’s rule of law. The members of government, who are designated as representatives, are entrusted by the governed to secure society in exchange for the powers granted them.
One might venture to say that the social contract is just another way of expressing the granting of the power of attorney. The principal (citizen) entrusts and empowers the agent (representative) to make decisions for him that are in the principal's best interest, in exchange for compensation. Let's consider what should be expected of the social contract if it indeed is analogous to granting power of attorney.
Let's say you give power of attorney to Agent A, and he is now in charge of your finances. You instruct him to do his best to maximize the return on your money, and in return you will compensate him based on his performance.
Upon entering into this voluntary agreement, you both have an understanding that you are acting in each other's best interests. You are placing your trust in the agent by transferring the control of your money over to him, and he is to perform his duties to the best of his abilities in return for compensation based on his performance.
Now quick—check your premises. You have entered into a voluntary agreement with another individual, and as is the case in all voluntary human interactions, you both do so because each perceives that he will benefit from the transaction. If at any time either one of the parties feels that he is no longer benefiting, the agreement can be ended. There is a measure of mutual control in this arrangement.
So what should you expect from this set of premises? You should expect fair treatment because of the voluntary nature of the arrangement that was made for mutual benefit. The participants are free to part ways at any time if dissatisfied.
Now let’s consider how parallel the social contract may be to this type of interaction. Imagine giving power of attorney to Agent B, wherein this agent has the legal right to keep the relationship intact ad infinitum, and that furthermore, you have no choice but to live with the actions undertaken by the agent. You cannot revoke the power of attorney that you grant him, you must pay him regardless of if he earns money for you or not, and since he controls your money he can do what he wants with it, including keep it for himself.
I'll bet you would really want to find an agent who you could trust, no?
But imagine further that Agent B is legally able to pass along his power over you to other agents, and this transfer process takes place every four years or so. Your agent, no matter how sweet a guy he is, quickly becomes some stranger who has complete control over your finances. Would you be surprised to find that this agent just might view the situation as something that he might take advantage of? He does not know you. He does not care about you. What he has is control over your money and the freedom to use it in any way he sees fit.
This is the social contract in terms of power of attorney. Not so attractive now, is it?
Again—stop here and check your premises. Is the nature of your agreement voluntary? Do you expect to benefit under these conditions wherein the agent possesses all the power and you none? Conditions wherein you cannot withdraw from an “agreement” with a total stranger no matter what happens?
No one should have to explain to you what you should expect.
If you complain that the agent should use common sense in how he treats your relationship, that he should take care of your interests because that is the reason why you vested him with that power—that he should restrain himself from abusing the privilege because it is best for everyone to be treated fairly, well... Really?
After all, the agent has the law on his side. Whatever he does is legal. You cannot opt out of the relationship. Explain to me why he should care about you when he has all the power to do whatever he feels is best for him? How naive must you be to complain or be shocked and outraged by whatever behavior you witness this empowered individual make?
Human beings respond to incentives. This explains the inevitability of someone taking advantage of the situation. It doesn't matter how many good people there are, if there is an opportunity for taking advantage of people, the good people will generally shun such an opportunity and the bad people will trample each other trying to get it.
Government is a way to take advantage of others. Some individuals get to spend other people's money to impose their ideas on everyone with force. This will attract the worst elements of society, who will crowd out and make these positions unavailable to the good folks. They will make the process so disgusting (because they make the rules, remember?) that good people will not be able to endure the odious path required to reach the seats of power.
Again, please check your premises when you consider government action. If you view it as a contract entered into in good faith between principal and agent, where both are working honestly each toward their own mutual benefit, you have premised incorrectly. Very badly so, in fact.
Since government is a monopoly on force and whatever "services" it decides to provide, you are forced to "give agency" to this organization that has the law on its side and can do whatever it wants with whatever it decides to take from you. This is the correct premise from which to begin an analysis. You should expect abuse, as you cannot legally defend yourself against such treatment that will inevitably be dished out by the all-powerful agents.
Interacting with government is not a voluntarily-transacted contract entered into between two consenting parties designed for mutual benefit. It is the imposition of force from "agent" to "principal," and since the principal has no legal recourse against the agent, then abuse of the relationship by the agent is the only reasonable expectation.
Thuggery with fancy lipstick smeared on it.
The evidence of this is abundant in the world around you. Don't give power of attorney to strangers. Authority is yours to delegate or to keep, and no one can take it from you. Revoke your delegation of authority where it is not warranted. Notice this will not stop those on the "service" end of the "social contract" from demanding your submission to their force.
But at least now, you're awake. Eventually, that will count for something. | <urn:uuid:308fd1a9-cdd0-4e68-a56f-4bfb9e310d49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://strike-the-root.com/check-your-premises | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973286 | 1,404 | 2.375 | 2 |
Volunteers Needed to Help With the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Surveys
Vermont has been invaded by an insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). This tiny insect is recognized by the white, fuzzy covering it hides under. This covering is rarely more than 1/16 of an inch in diameter and looks something like the end of a cotton swab attached to the underside of hemlock twigs. The covering, or ovisac, protects the adelgid and its eggs from predation and drying out. Hidden from view, adelgids feed on starch from the twigs, leading to decline and perhaps tree mortality. Hemlock trees are their only food and are threatened by this invasive insect.
Since the mild winter of 2011-2012, the infested area has expanded greatly. Hemlock woolly adelgid is known to be in Windham and Bennington County, but threatens hemlock throughout the state. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is trying to better delineate the infestation. Volunteers are needed to help look for HWA. Training is available. .
Of special importance, 5 surveys need to be done in each of the towns adjoining infested towns. As of November 2012 these include: Bennington,Stamford, Woodford, Whitingham, Wilmington, Dover, Stratton, Winhall, Londonderry, Windham, Chester, Rockingham, Westminster, Athens and Brookline. It would be wonderful if a people would volunteer, one for each town to coordinate the work. Assistance and support for a town coordinator is available. A Blitz of Dover is planned to do all 5 sites on March 9. Home-made chili lunch will be supplied. See Events below for details.
If you do look for HWA while you are out in the woods, whether you found it or not, please let us know where you looked and when by filling in the site tracking form. See links below.
SPRING TIME WARNING -
We still have another month or so of optimal viewing conditions. Once we get into April the ovisacs are still apparent, but we try to have most of our surveying done, because during that portion of the spring, the conditions for unintentionally spreading the adelgid intensify. The winter and spring generations overlap and all life stages are likely to be present, especially the eggs and crawlers, which have the best chance of spreading. We ask surveyors to be aware of this situation and to check your jackets and clothing and brush them off. I actually treat my outer clothing with a product that contains permetherin to kill any hitchhiking adelgids. It also protects from ticks and mosquitos. There are several brands available; they are designed to treat clothing, are safe to humans and last for several washings.
In addition to the needed survey work, volunteers can assist in several other important projects. Increasing public awareness is very important, especially in newly infested areas. Volunteers are needed to arrange presentations, set up public displays and educate groups that use the forest. Workshops for homeowners with infested trees can be offered to show people how to respond to HWA.
The Vermont Division of Forestry is starting a project to monitor the impact of HWA. Five study plots for this project need to be established this winter. Each plot would be a good one day project for one or two interested people.
Hemlock trees are an important part of Vermont’s forest ecosystem, providing ecological, economic and aesthetic values. Citizen monitors play a key role in the effort to protect the hemlock resource.
If you’re interested in being out in the woods and helping to keep the forest healthy, please contact Jim Esden for more information.
For more informationcontact:
Dept. of Forests, Parks & Rec.
100 Mineral Street, Suite 304
Springfield, VT 05156-3168
Work Phone: 802-885-8822 | <urn:uuid:950630f0-125c-445a-b4f9-2d274b10a912> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vtinvasives.org/group/take-stand-hemlock | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941487 | 828 | 2.65625 | 3 |
In March, after months and months of wrangling on Capitol Hill, President Obama signed the landmark Health Care Act of 2010 that expands subsidized health care to millions of uninsured Americans and requires all legal residents to have health insurance or pay a fine. A number of state attorneys general -- all Republicans -- are challenging the law, saying the mandate is unconstitutional.
Many of those polled say Obama’s health care bill should only be a first step with more changes needed. This view is strongest among Latinos, blacks, Korean Americans and Chinese Americans.
Statewide, 52 percent of California voters generally support the new law and 30 percent strongly support it. While non-Hispanics whites in the state are evenly split about the new law, majorities of voters across five of the state’s other major ethnic populations are in favor of it.
Among California voters, the new law is supported by 59 percent of Latinos, 72 percent of African Americans, 59 percent of Chinese Americans, 63 percent of Korean Americans.
Even Vietnamese Americans, who vote heavily Republican, give the law 68 percent support.
Hy Lam, a board member of the Oakland-based Huong Viet Community Center, isn’t surprised by that finding.
“The community’s views are greatly influenced by family, friends and the church and temple,” he says.
“Ethnic voters have significantly greater insecurities about having and maintaining their health coverage than white-non-Hispanics,” adds the Field Poll’s director, Mark DiCamillo.
“This appears to trump party loyalties with regard to the Vietnamese-American voters,” he says.
DiCamillo notes the same poll also shows 39 percent of Vietnamese-American voters identified themselves as registered Republicans while just 24 percent are registered as Democrats.
According to the poll, just 34 percent of Californians feel the law is taking the country on the wrong path and should be reversed. A much larger number view the law as improving both the United States’ and California’s health care systems. Even so, only 25 percent of those surveyed believe that the law will benefit themselves or their families.
“When asked about their concerns about the health care system, non-Hispanic whites say they are most concerned about ’having to pay more out of pocket for their health care costs’ and this is something that was not directly addressed by the health care law,” says DiCamillo, noting: “It was mainly a law that sought to expand coverage. This is why many more non-Hispanics feel that the law that was passed is taking the country in the wrong direction and needs to be reversed.”
The health care bill is opposed by 37 percent of non-Hispanic whites, a higher rate than any other group opposed it.
Whites more than any other group, doubt the law will help control the rising costs of health care. Vietnamese Americans, Korean Americans and blacks overwhelmingly believe otherwise.
Majorities of Californians see the law as mainly benefiting low-income residents, the uninsured, children and young adults. They feel that more affluent residents, insurance companies, doctors and large and small businesses will be negatively impacted by the law.
Fifty percent of Asians, more than any other ethnic group, think a provision in the health care bill requiring all legal residents to have health insurance or be subject to a fine, is important. Overall, only 32 percent of voters feel that way.
At 33 percent, Latinos were the smallest proportion of minority voters who believe that the undocumented would fare better because of the law.
While a relatively large proportion of voters (40 percent) say they are not very knowledgeable of the specifics of the law, when read a number of its provisions voters consider many to be highly important.
For instance, more than seven in 10 rate the provisions below as extremely or very important:
* Prohibiting insurers from canceling a person’s coverage if they become sick or disabled, except in cases of fraud.
* Prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Blacks (90 percent) and Asians (87 percent) more than the other ethnic groups view this provision as very important.
* Providing workers with greater flexibility to change jobs and maintain their coverage.
Ethnic minorities were much more likely than whites to be concerned about not having, or losing their health coverage. That percentage was especially high among Vietnamese Americans, 94 percent of whom said they worried about losing their health coverage.
More than 80 percent of blacks, Latinos, and Chinese Americans worried about losing their health coverage. Sixty-nine percent of non-Hispanic whites and 67 percent of Korean Americans expressed similar concern.
Did they think that as a result of the new law health care conditions in California would get better, worse or not change?
Overall, 42 percent of voters say it will get better and 36 percent feels otherwise. A majority of Latinos (52 percent), blacks (64 percent) and Vietnamese Americans (60 percent) also feel optimistic, while only 41 percent of Chinese Americans, 36 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 31 percent of Korean-Americans think it will get better.
But among non-Hispanic whites, a greater proportion, 43 percent, are pessimistic about the future of California’s health care system than optimistic, 36 percent.
The poll also revealed a greater proportion of Latinos (26 percent) and Korean Americans (23 percent) have no health insurance than any other ethnic group. Overall, only 13 percent of voters are in a similar situation.
The survey, conducted between April 7 and April 27, interviewed 1,522 registered voters statewide in six languages – English, Mandarin, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese. It was funded by The California Wellness Foundation.
The Field Poll also updated a number of trend measures about how Californians view the state’s health care system and compared the results with previous TCWF-Field Health Poll Surveys. For instance, more Californians now say they are satisfied (50 percent) than dissatisfied (42 percent) with California’s health care system. Last year, slightly more said they were dissatisfied (49 percent) than satisfied (45 percent).
SACRAMENTO – Health care advocates warn that time is running out on drawing down federal…
Photo: Aurelia Ventura/La OpiniónTraducción al españolHealth care reform is already helping people struggling to get…
Traducción al Español한국어 번역 中文翻譯BALTIMORE -- As one of America's top 10 wealthiest states and one…
Born on September 21, 1926, Shepard Lowman had a long and fulfilling career as a…
English TranslationMIAMI - Las figuras son deplorables.Uno de cada 13 niños estadounidenses sin seguro médico…
The chaos set to be unleashed over the next month through the implementation of sequestration… | <urn:uuid:ac457590-a62c-4cdd-a313-66fb74c072ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newamericamedia.org/2010/06/poll-ethnic-voters-support-obamacare.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945506 | 1,456 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Women who undergo routine mammograms at Anson Community Hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them, digital mammography. Anson Community Hospital is now among the top healthcare providers in the region featuring the state-of-the-art system, Selenia™ digital mammography from Hologic™.
Anson Community Hospital is very excited to be able to offer the newest technology for breast cancer detection. Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed. The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow the radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern.
By offering women the latest technology in mammography, the hospital hopes to increase the number of women in Anson county who follow recommendations for regular screenings. | <urn:uuid:417bbe3a-d514-4c76-bcc9-e5a174b97ebf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ansonrecord.com/view/full_story/20987712/article-Anson-Community-Hospital-now-provides-the-latest-in-mammography | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912221 | 194 | 1.882813 | 2 |
credit NASA/Lockheed Martin / caption: Will this be seen in 2020?
Acting NASA administrator Christopher Scolese made some interesting remarks on 29 April at the Congressional appropriations hearing that Hyperbola thinks could see another human spaceflight gap for the USA at the end of the next decade
The situation is this, Scolese indicated a scaling back of lunar plans that is probably due to the flat line budget for the next five years that the Congress men referred too at the hearing
Scolese also said that the goal is now a low Earth orbit crew and cargo transportation system with some beyond LEO capability but not necessarily an outpost capability (multiple EELV launches and LEO docking based architecture?)
The Hyperbola theory is that with an International Space Station only-capable Orion crew exploration vehicle launched in 2015, due to a flat budget, NASA will still not have a lunar mission capablity by 2020 with no substantial funding having been committed to an Ares V cargo launch vehicle or similar capability before 2015
The extension of ISS operations, now unavoidable because of the long delay in getting Orion up and running and minimising the Space Shuttle, Orion-Ares gap, will see a drain on NASA resources until 2020
Retiring Shuttle in 2010 and station in 2015 or 2016 would have made it easier, with some budget luck, to deliver a Moon capability come 2020 but now ISS is very likely to continue with the additional costs of Russian transportation and the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, Commercial Resupply Services contracts that, if they deliver, will extend out to 2020
NASA has a situation where budget limitations will see a LEO capable Orion become operational in 2015 but its destination will disappear in 2020 and there will be no significant beyond LEO system in place to reach the Moon. Perhaps at some point in the 2020s but not before 2020 Hyperbola would wager
In 2020 Orion could have no place to go
Scolese mentioned L1 point missions for deep-space space telescope servicing but how often will that be done? Can that justify whatever extra expense is required?
What does a capsule with no human tended microgravity experiment capability do for the years between ISS deorbit in 2020 and a lunar return in, say 2025? Visit the Chinese space station? | <urn:uuid:7136eea4-4311-4f74-a794-f94dbacdb899> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/04/the-orion-gap-no-not-that-one.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931966 | 459 | 2.78125 | 3 |
About 《8848-1.86 》
"Climbed the Himalaya. Sawed off the top of Mount Everest (-1.86m), and moved it downhill for exhibition. Placed this icy stone in specially made glass refrigerator for preservation. A video documentary shows a group of people sawing off the top of Mt Everest." (Xu Zhen)
Meterials: small snow hill, refrigerator (to keep temperture for snow), video 1pcs, photo 22pcs
The exhibition includes the top 1.86m of Mt. Everest, a video documentary of the team sawing off the peak, along with photographic works, textual and archival materials, as well as the mountain climbing tools and tools for sawing mountains.
Xu Zhen, born in 1977, graduated from the Shanghai School of Arts and Crafts in 1996. In the last few year he has developed to one of the main creative forces in China. His works are clear cut smart, hurt, surprise and liberate. Xu Zhen has shown in many exhibitions in China and overseas including twice at the Venice Biennale (in 2001, and in the Chinese Pavilion 2005), Shanghai Biennale, Guangzhou Triennale etc. An exhibition at the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Holland is planed this year.
further information on this work onwww.designboom.com/contemporary/yokohama05_2.htmlwww.longmarchspace.com/images/yokohama/e-newsletter.htm
Xu Zhen "8848 - 1.86" installation, video, 2005
8848 is the publicly recognized height of the world’s tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. Artist Xu Zhen has sawed off 1.86 meters (his height) from the peak of Mt. Everest, and transported the piece to participate in this exhibition. Audiences may not believe that this is real, which is similar to how people rarely question whether the height of Everest truly is 8848 meters. This relationship between belief and doubt has to deal with questions of standard, height, reality, and borders, that the Long March - Chinatown is interested in examining. The work points to the ridiculousness of people’s belief in "facts" and "universal truths". The work "ridicules" humankind’s quest for "height" to overturn and disrupt the preconceived social and historical values.
We are unable to determine the relationship between Xu Zhen and his team’s arduous expedition to climb Everest, to cut off 1.86 meters for the sake of art, and the recent team who used the newest technical equipment to re-measure the altitude of Everest. Xu Zhen believes that it may be because news of his work leaked out to the media.
The artist produces a "mobile public fact" fiction to correspond to Chinatown’s mobile "fact of space". From the cultural perspective, questioning of "Chinatown" has been revealed through the real face of "fact" that arises from various discourses. Also questioned is the "Chinatown" this effective public essence that uses different symbols to conduct nationalist egoistic symbolism and egoistic understanding. This work is a "spoiler of others", it satirizes the blind and imaginary pursuits of humankind towards some type of common "height", including the current mess and chaos in world politics, economy, culture, and historical discourse that arises from people’s ambitions, power, and personal desires.
Aside from a 1.86 meter tall peak from Mt. Everest, the video documentary of his team sawing off the peak, will be shown, along with photographic works, textual and archival materials, as well as the mountain climbing tools and the tools for sawing mountains. http://www.longmarchspace.com/images/yokohama/e-newsletter.htm | <urn:uuid:224583a3-b177-4e57-88cf-f8bb04e79811> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shanghartgallery.com/galleryarchive/feeds/detail/62 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932708 | 810 | 1.992188 | 2 |
An Englishman's Necktie: Thereby Hangs a Tale
By SANDRA SALMANS ();
January 24, 1979,
, Section The Living Section, Page C14, Column , words
LONDON You can't tell a book by its cover, but you can tell an Englishman by his tie. Of course, a few cads and bounders and boorish colonials have been known to bedeck themselves in false colors, but for the most part Englishmen are frequently identifiable--from just-beyond-cradle age to brink-of-grave dotage--by what they wear around their neck. | <urn:uuid:bca4a7b9-6de8-4369-995a-4b0c93d0f3f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E16FF395511728DDDAD0A94D9405B898BF1D3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953412 | 131 | 1.578125 | 2 |
RECENT CHP PUBLICATIONS
A list of recent articles from international scientific and technical journals authored by WHO experts on chronic disease and health promotion. These articles have been selected to show how the work of WHO is reflected in the international scientific press.
Virtual Health Libraries
Virtual Health Libraries (VHLs) give online access to scientific and technical health information and serve as a database on noncommunicable diseases. They contain journal articles, books, technical and scientific reports, as well as bibliographic references. | <urn:uuid:25898475-b34f-44dd-b77d-17dc47e4567c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.who.int/chp/knowledge/en/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901643 | 102 | 1.625 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is the YWCA of Calgary the same organization as the YMCA in Calgary?
The YWCA of Calgary is not the same organization as the YMCA in Calgary and the two organizations are not affiliated in any way. Both the YMCA and the YWCA were started in Calgary about the same time, but we offer very different services. The YMCA is predominantly a recreation-based organization with facilities all over the city. In contrast, the YWCA's work is clearly focused on domestic violence prevention, homelessness and poverty reduction, community-based supports to children and families, and health and wellness programs.
2) Why does Alberta have the highest rates of domestic violence?
It’s a complicated answer. Part of it reflects how we value family, what we teach children when they are young, and the socialization of boys and girls and their roles in society. It hinges on respect.
In Alberta we have high rates of family break-down and high rates of alcohol abuse; we therefore suffer from high stress in a market that is either a boom or bust economy. Within both economic situations we see peak demands for services. According to the most recent numbers by Statistics Canada, Alberta continues to be the third highest province when it comes to reporting domestic violence.
3) Does domestic violence increase during a recession?
Yes. The severity of cases in Calgary is greater than we have ever seen in 16 years. We have seen children who are being burned. We have women who are losing their babies because their partners punched them in their stomachs. There are other women who need reconstructive surgery and whose faces need to be rebuilt. You cannot imagine the kind of desperate situations we are seeing and the severity of those situations. There are waiting lists at both our emergency shelter and transitional housing facility. Other agencies that do similar work to ours are in a similar situation.
4) How can I help?
Donate! Support the families in desperate need and help break the cycle. Talk about it first, and then ask others to help.
5) Does YWCA of Calgary collaborate with other organizations?
Yes! The YWCA of Calgary is partnered with well over 20 other not-for-profit organizations in Alberta. Ongoing collaborations include relationships with Calgary Homeless Foundation, HomeFront, the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and the Calgary Board of Education to name a few. We also work collaboratively with other local emergency shelters on research, advocacy and the delivery of services.
6) How does the “Christian” aspect fit into the YWCA?
It’s part of our acronym; it’s part of our history. There is no longer any religious connotation or requirement to our work and/or services. We are a multicultural, multi-denominational organization for both our clients and staff and we value our diversity.
7) What is the average length of stay at the YWCA of Calgary's sheltering facility? Is it long enough to realistically enact the necessary life changes?
The maximum length of stay is 21 days at our emergency shelter, YWCA Sheriff King Home, due to Alberta provincial funding regulations. Twenty-one days at the shelter facility is not long enough. Ideally, we would like to be in a position where our counsellors decide the appropriate time to move clients out. However, there just are not enough shelter beds and we are bound by the government's restrictions.
8) How many clients return to the shelter and why?
In 2009, 77 per cent of the women who called the YWCA Sheriff King Home requesting space were turned away (1,050 out of 1,361 women). The number one reason a woman returns to the YWCA Sheriff King Home is because of a lack of affordable housing. If we had sufficient financial support, it would be easier to break the cycle. An investment in YWCA of Calgary programs and facilities can result in cost savings to other services such as the police or EMS by avoiding the call to the police, or by not using a hospital bed or ambulance in extreme times of need etc.
9) How do we educate the public about the need and the work of the YWCA of Calgary?
To help educate the public about the need for and the work of the YWCA of Calgary, we hold and participate in many community events which respond to the issues in the community, as well as participate in and respond to current news articles. YWCA of Calgary staff, board, corporate and community partners participate in media inquiries, speak at events and United Way functions, as well as connect and collaborate with other charitable service organizations. Through media and events like, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and Keep A Roof Over Their Heads, we bring awareness to Calgarians and continually update and educate them in the reality and necessity of the work we do.
10) Do schools in Calgary currently educate children about healthy family lifestyles in areas of risk?
The YWCA of Calgary operates an early intervention group counselling program for children in five elementary schools in the Calgary area. In addition, the YWCA Home & School Support programs offer in-home, school and community-based support, and early intervention services to school-aged children and their families. The focus of these programs is to provide support, education and interventions that assist families in coping and managing with issues of poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, family functioning problems and child mental health issues.
11) Why does the YWCA of Calgary no longer accept donations of used clothing and household items for women starting over?
Most donated materials are not appropriate for our clients and difficult to administer. It is actually better to provide a monetary donation to the YWCA of Calgary as we know the exact needs of our clients at any given time and we can purchase what they require. The YWCA of Calgary also works with other service organizations to assist women and their families as needed.
12) Who is affected by domestic violence?
Domestic violence is not exclusive to one socio-economic class. It crosses all ethnic, religious and economic boundaries. We know up to 80% of aboriginal women have been victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes. In 2009, 41 per cent of the women who came to the YWCA Sheriff King Home were of aboriginal background and 29% of women were from a visible minority background.
13) Where does your funding go? How much government funding does the YWCA of Calgary receive? What are the annual needs for fund development?
The bulk of our $16-17 million annual budget is salary-related, because it takes people to help people. We have 330 dedicated staff across the organization, many of whom work for less than for-profit market rates. It is not a well-paid industry.
14) How many employees work at the YWCA of Calgary? How many volunteers?
There are currently 330 employees working at the YWCA of Calgary and nearly 376 volunteers who contributed 376 hours in 2009.
15) What events can I attend to support the YWCA of Calgary?
YWCA of Calgary's signature fundraising events are RBC Keep a Roof Over Their Heads and Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
However, many individuals, corporations and organizations have partnered with the YWCA of Calgary as a charity of choice and hold special events in support of our facilities and programs. If you know of a group of people or an organization interested in participating or if you are participating at events which have not picked a charity, you can say, “We would love this initiative to support the YWCA of Calgary and women and children in need.” You can also ask them to call Katharine Ray, Donor Relations Coordinator at 403. 292.7343 or e-mail her at email@example.com
16) How closely is the YWCA of Calgary linked to other YWCAs in Canada and across the globe?
The YWCA operates in 130 countries worldwide, so we are part of a much larger family. Twenty-five million women and children around the world benefit from the work we do. The YWCA of Calgary is also one of the 33 member organizations that are affiliated with YWCA Canada.
17) What is the YWCA of Calgary's position on affordable, accessible, universal child care?
Child care is a national platform for YWCA; we are committed to the fact it needs to be affordable and accessible, and that quality child care is available for every woman who needs it, regardless of her income. This is a significant barrier to the independence of women, to women participating as contributing members in our community, and for them finding and keeping a job. Quality child care should not be restricted to only those who can afford it.
18) Does the YWCA of Calgary only serve women? Why?
No. Our primary audience is women and children, but we also serve men, so we are not exclusive to one gender. We serve all family members but we start with the woman. We serve men in various areas of the organization, including in our skills training program, in men's domestic violence counselling programs, and of course boys, across the whole organization. We do not provide housing for men, but we do provide counselling and training for them.
19) What is the Vermilion Energy/YWCA Skills Training Centre?
The Vermilion Energy/YWCA Skills Training Centre has a goal to provide our students with jobs that are careers, not simply minimum wage positions. We are always looking for partners who can provide career opportunities, and training and skills development that will move women out of poverty. A primary objective of the program is to get women beyond the living wage or poverty line which the Province of Alberta classifies as between $12,000-$13,000 a year. One of our goals for the program is to grow the number of trainees accepted into the program and to ensure its future sustainability.
20) What programs are currently offered by the YWCA of Calgary?
The YWCA of Calgary provides services in four key areas: domestic violence prevention, homelessness and poverty reduction, child and family services, and health and wellness. Services include, but are not limited to, the following: emergency shelters; transitional housing; child and family intervention; individual and group domestic violence counselling for children and adults; parenting programs; outreach programs; community-based youth support programs; English as a Second Language (ESL) programs; skills training and career development opportunities; health, wellness and fitness instruction, and subsidy programs to name just a few.
Forty-six per cent of our funding comes from the government. However, it is highly restrictive and unavailable for other priority needs if a situation arises. We also have to apply for funding on an annual basis and never know if we will receive what we ask for and require. This makes long-term planning extremely difficult. | <urn:uuid:9087e8e4-71a3-461d-a9f2-406318306b78> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fitnesson5th.com/page.aspx?pid=310 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00056-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965109 | 2,261 | 1.609375 | 2 |
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Let's Rethink It: Maybe a Palestinian State Isn't Such a Good Idea, After All
Our article a few weeks ago about the three-state solution generated more agitated reader feedback than any in recent memory. In that Hotline, we published Khalid Abu Toameh's bold article in which he argued that the Palestinians were too disorganized to negotiate a state responsibly, let alone run one. Therefore, Toameh said, forget a one-state solution (all the Arabs and Israelis living together) and forget a two-state solution (Israel and Palestine): We're better off, at least in the short term, with things the way they are: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza---three "states," so to speak.
Readers wrote back telling us Toameh is misguided for a range of reasons: On one extreme, a few said the single-state approach is the only viable solution; others said the Arab Palestinians already have a state---in Jordan---and they should move or be transported there.
Toameh's piece was written in the wake of a recent conference at Harvard that promoted the one-state solution, which we noted is fundamentally an anti-Semitic notion that seeks the destruction of Israel by demographic tsunami---the swamping of Israel's Jewish population with Arabs.
In response to the one-state conference, pro-Zionist Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz argued for the right of the organizers to hold such a conference, but only if Harvard were willing to allow a conference on the question, "Are the Palestinians Really a People?"
The real question, however, is whether it makes sense at all for Israel to negotiate with the Arabs to create a state in the West Bank and/or Gaza. Do the Palestinians really want peace with Israel? Forget for a moment that the Palestinians have relentlessly insisted on the so-called "right of return"---a complete non-starter in which millions of relatives of Arab refugees would flood Israel as part of a "peace" agreement. The real question is, would the Arabs accept a state that gave Israel the security it absolutely needs: Israeli domination of Palestinian air space and troop presence along the border with Jordan? I doubt it.
This week's FLAME Hotline pushes this consideration even further: Commentator Martin Sherman argues that it's untenable for Israel even to discuss a Palestinian state. The very idea of a Palestinian state, Sherman asserts, is based on nothing more than negation of the Jewish state, and therefore is a patently self-destructive idea.
I guarantee you: Sherman's logic will make you rethink your position on peace with the Palestinians. If you agree it's time to get realistic about the time-wasting charade that is the "peace talks," I urge you to pass this outspoken and erudite article to friends, family and colleagues using the "send to a friend" button at the bottom of this email, or using the buttons above to share it via social media.
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As you know, we at FLAME are not afraid of speaking out---publishing views that hit hard against anti-Israel bias in the New York Times and other media. We're also not shy about advocating "contrarian" wisdom, such as the idea that a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza may not be a good idea. For this reason, we published an outspoken position paper on that very subject some months ago: "The Two-State Illusion: Would it solve the Middle East problem?" If you agree that Israel needs a strong voice in the media and that FLAME's efforts on Israel's behalf are critical, I urge you to support us. Remember: FLAME's powerful ability to influence public opinion comes from individuals like you, one by one. I hope you'll consider giving a donation now, as you're able---with $500, $250, $100, or even $18. (Remember, your donation to FLAME is tax deductible.) To donate online, just go to http://www.factsandlogic.org/make_a_donation.html. Now more than ever we need your support to ensure that Israel gets the support it needs---from the U.S. Congress, from President Obama, and from the American people.
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Calls for a Palestinian State Are Just One More Attempt to Deligitimize Israel
Disputing Dershowitz: Support for a two-state solution is a politically correct smokescreen that ignores the facts and promotes deadly consequences
By Martin Sherman, Jerusalem Post, March 3, 2012
It would be obnoxious for there to be a conference here [Harvard] on the subject of whether the Palestinians are a real people. They are, and so are the Israelis. The quest for a Palestinian state is a legitimate one, as is the need to preserve Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. – Alan Dershowitz, "Should Harvard Sponsor a One- Sided Conference Seeking the End of Israel?" (February 28)
Prof. Alan Dershowitz is a committed, articulate supporter of Israel. He has defended the Jewish state with eloquence and passion on numerous occasions, displaying commendable resolve and poise despite torrents of hostile reaction. The courageous, principled stance he has taken – regrettably rare among academics of his standing – should be greatly appreciated by Israelis across the political spectrum.
Ensnared by political correctness
However, in embracing several central precepts of politically correct but factually impaired conventional wisdom, Dershowitz has, along with many other well-meaning pro-Israeli figures, severely undermined the efficacy of his "Case for Israel."
This is particularly true regarding his unquestioning endorsement of Palestinian claims for statehood within the two-state paradigm, which for Dershowitz has seemingly become the litmus test for admission to civilized debate.
Thus in February 2010, when Palestinian hecklers prevented Ambassador Michael Oren from addressing students at the University of California, Irvine, Dershowitz rightly denounced this as anti- Israel censorship. However, what appeared to make this action particularly egregious in Dershowitz's eyes was the fact that Oren was "a moderate supporter of the two-state solution," thus hinting – perhaps without meaning to – that had Oren opposed this policy, silencing him might have been more understandable.
Indeed, as the citation above demonstrates, Dershowitz would consider any challenge to the authenticity of Palestinian national claims "obnoxious."
Conundrum for the future
Future historians will be baffled as to why such a manifestly disastrous, unworkable concept came to be embraced by so many prominent, allegedly well-informed pundits, politicians, and policy-makers. They will be particularly perplexed why the two-state solution was so enthusiastically endorsed not only by those who had a vested interest in feigning support for it, but by those who had a vested interest in exposing it as the duplicitous subterfuge it is. They will be mystified why – despite the fact that it proved devastating for both Arabs and Jews – it became the hallmark of enlightenment.
Recent events have brought home dramatically not only how futile it is for Israel and Israel-supporters to adhere to the two-state paradigm, but also how counterproductive it is.
For by pursuing the "vision" (read "fantasy") of two states, they will not only fail to reap the intended benefits this policy is purported to yield, but will precipitate outcomes highly deleterious to Israel – indeed the very outcomes the two-state policy was supposed to prevent.
The latest round of rocket fire from Gaza underscored just how ill-considered it would be to relinquish more land to the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. The recent Harvard one-state conference demonstrated how clinging to an unfeasible formula has merely generated the opportunity to promote even more menacing alternatives.
Demonstrating the obvious
The 300 rockets that rained down on southern Israel since last Friday, forcing a million civilians to huddle in shelters, proved for the umpteenth time what by now should be seared into the cognizance of all Israelis and all Israel supporters abroad: Ceding territory – any territory – to the Palestinians – any Palestinians – is unacceptably risky. For while one might fervently hope that events in the "West Bank" would turn out significantly better than in Gaza, there is little basis for such optimism. Hoping – however fervently – that tangible dangers will fail to materialize is hardly a formula for responsible risk management.
The consensus among security experts – strongly corroborated by the precedent in Gaza – is that without the presence of the IDF, the Abbas administration would be swiftly dispatched and replaced by an Islamist successor.
What is the significance of such a prospect? Clearly, the repercussions would be far more severe than in the case of Gaza.
For whatever the final contours of a putative Palestinian state, it would entail a frontier of at least 300 kilometers – approximately six times longer than the Gaza front – much of which would be adjacent to Israel's most populous urban centers, from the environs of Haifa in the north to Beersheba and beyond in the south. (Significantly, Beersheba is much closer to the pre-1967 border of the "West Bank" than it is to the Gaza Strip).
Moreover, unlike in Gaza, a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria would reduce Israel's width in its most populous areas to a minuscule 11-25 km. – roughly the distance from Beverly Hills to Malibu along Sunset Boulevard.
Even more important than geographic expanse – or the lack thereof – is topographical structure. Unlike the flat Gaza Strip, the limestone hills that comprise the "West Bank" dominate the urbanized Coastal Plain, together with much of Israel's vital infrastructure, its only international airport, vital centers of civilian government and military command – and 80 percent of its population and commercial activity.
All of this would be in range of the weapons that forced a million Israelis into bomb shelters last weekend, now deployed along a much longer front and in far superior topographical positions.
Even given the impressive performance of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system, this would make any semblance of economic or social routine untenable.
'One does not have to a military expert'
Ever since Abba Eban characterized the pre-1967 Green Line as the "Auschwitz Borders," it has been widely accepted that such frontiers cannot, except under wildly optimistic and unrealistic assumptions, afford Israel acceptable levels of security.
Even iconic Labor Party moderate Yigal Allon declared: "One does not have to be a military expert to easily identify the critical defects of the armistice lines that existed until June 4, 1967," warning that they risk "the physical extinction of a large part of [Israel's] population and the political elimination of the Jewish state."
Numerous military experts have endorsed this position. In one recent study, a host of senior military and diplomatic figures, including a former IDF chief of staff, a former head of Military Intelligence and the National Security Council, and ambassadors to the UN, US and France, concluded that to meet minimum security requirements, Israel must retain control of the high ground in Judea and Samaria, as well as the Jordan Valley and the air space up to the Jordan River.
What do these minimum requirements, necessitating Israeli control of wide swathes of territory in the "West Bank," entail for the viability of Palestinian statehood?
The myth of defensible borders
The answer is provided by an article, "The Myth of Defensible Borders" by Omar Dajani and Ezzedine Fishere in the January 2011 edition of Foreign Affairs.
The authors – an adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team and an adviser to the Egyptian foreign minister, respectively – point out: "A policy of defensible borders would... perpetuate the current sources of Palestinian insecurity, further delegitimizing an agreement in the public's eyes. Israel would retain the discretion to impose arbitrary and crippling constraints on the movement of people and goods.... For these reasons, Palestinians are likely to regard defensible borders as little more than occupation by another name."
Recent events in the Mideast – a triumphant Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the ever-ascendant Islamist influence in Jordan – are hardly likely to reduce Israeli threat perception, thus only increasing the incompatibility between a viable Palestinian state and minimal requirements for a secure Israel.
Dershowitz's call that "Israel should recognize the right of Palestinians to establish an independent, democratic Palestinian state with politically and economically viable boundaries" appears increasing like a hapless attempt to "square the circle."
'Moderation' begets delegitimization
The point many well-intentioned friends of Israel seem be to missing is that it is precisely "moderate supporters of the two-state solution" who have, in large measure, sown the seeds for the delegitimization of Israel.
While this contention may appear counterintuitive, the logic behind it is unassailable. Once the legitimacy of a Palestinian state is conceded, the delegitimization of Israel is inevitable.
The chain of reasoning is clear: If the legitimacy of a Palestinian state is accepted, then any measures incompatible with its viability are illegitimate. But, Israel's minimum security requirements necessarily obviate the viability of Palestinian state. Thus, by accepting the admissibility of a Palestinian state, one necessarily admits the inadmissibility of measures required to ensure Israeli security.
Conversely, measures required to ensure Israeli security necessarily negate the viability of a Palestinian state.
For the notion of a secure Israel to regain legitimacy, the notion of a Palestinian state must be discredited and removed from the discourse as a possible means of resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Indeed an invented people
This, of course, is easier said than done.
Rolling back the decades of distortion, deception and delusion that have become entrenched in the collective international consciousness will be a Herculean task.
But the immense scale of the task cannot diminish the imperative of its implementation.
The first – and most crucial – step along this arduous road is to expose the Palestinian claim to nationhood for the hoax it is.
For the Palestinians are indeed an "invented people." Not because Newt Gingrich deems them to be, but because they themselves declare this to be so.
The historical record is replete with proclamations from Arab and Palestinian leaders, echoing the frank admission by the late Zuheir Mohsen, former PLO Executive Council member, that a "separate Palestinian identity exists only for tactical reasons," and that the "the establishment of a Palestinian state is a new tool to continue the fight against Israel."
Indeed, the Palestinian National Charter (Article 12) concedes that the endeavor to "safeguard... Palestinian identity" in merely a temporary ruse.
Moreover, not only was the territory, now claimed as the age-old Palestinian homeland, under Jordanian rule for two decades prior to 1967, without even a feeble effort to establish a Palestinian state in it being made; but the Palestinians eschewed any sovereign claim to it, explicitly conceding (Article 24 of the 1964 National Charter) that it belonged to another sovereign entity – Jordan – which only in 1988 relinquished its claim to it.
It was only after these territories came under Jewish control that Palestinians began to see them as a location for their state.
A spiteful echo
Nothing could underscore more dramatically the fundamental truth about the Palestinian claim to nationhood.
It is a claim devoid of any substantive positive content. It is no more than the negation of Jewish claims to nationhood, merely a contrary – and spiteful – echo of Zionist achievement, without which it would have neither the conceptual rationale nor the practical capacity to exist.
As the late King Hussein – not Newt Gingrich – stated: "The appearance of the Palestinian national personality comes as an answer to Israel's claim that Palestine is Jewish."
What could be clearer? No claim that Israel is not Jewish, no Palestinian national personality.
It thus astounding that Dershowitz would suggest there is any semblance of equivalency between Jewish and Palestinians claims to nationhood. Indeed, by any accepted criteria for political selfdetermination, the two are antipodal opposites. The Jews have a unique language – the Palestinians do not; the Jews have unique script – the Palestinians do not; the Jews have a unique religion – the Palestinians do not. The Jews have a unique heritage and documented history dating back thousands of years; the Palestinians – at best – have a contrived history dating back a few decades and supported largely by archeological vandalism and "creative" chronicling of the past.
Imperative not 'obnoxious'
Dershowitz is gravely mistaken in dismissing debate on the authenticity of Palestinian claims to statehood as "obnoxious." It is difficult to conceive of any more proper and pressing imperative.
Refraining from such discussion has inflicted devastating damage on Israel and its international legitimacy.
By desperately adhering to a paradigm that is unworkable – because it would make Israel untenable geographically – the two-state advocates have not only made Israel appear insincere and conniving.
By shunning discussion on other Zionist-compliant alternatives, they have – unintentionally – catalyzed debate on far more ominous proposals that threaten to make Israel untenable demographically.
The recent Harvard conference is the harbinger of things to come.
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Evaluating the “Caiaphas Ethic” of Charles Krauthammer
“But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘you know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.’” John 11:49-50
Ethics 101: A terrorist has planted a nuclear bomb in New York City. It will go off in one hour. A million people will die. You capture the terrorist. He knows where it is. He’s not talking. Question: If you have the slightest belief that hanging this man by his thumbs will get you the information to save a million people, are you permitted to do it?” With this case study Charles Krauthammer seeks to engage his reader in a debate about the ethics of torture. (Charles Krauthammer, “The Truth about Torture,” The Weekly Standard, Vol. 011, Issue 12 (December 5, 2005)
An analysis of Krauthammer’s argument reveals that he believes the following:
1. A terrorist is not “entitled” to any form of protection.
2. By assumption of his argument, the potential targets of terrorism are “entitled” to be left alone—not harmed.
3. In the event of terrorism, proportionality is the key principle that ought to be used to settle any apparent moral dilemma. According to Krauthammer, proportional action is necessary not only to stop unjust violence already happening but to prevent a predicted tragedy from taking place.
4. “Any rational moral calculus” should not only tolerate torture in certain cases but demand it as a “moral duty.” Krauthammer’s depiction of a “rational moral calculus” tracks along the following flow of ideas:
a. Terrorism is evil.
b.. Torture is evil.
c. Terrorism will hurt (or has the strong potential to hurt) many innocent people while torturing the terrorist will harm only one or a few who are not innocent.
d. Viewed proportionally, torture is the lesser of two evils.
e. Torture will prove an effective means to gather information to stop terrorist plots.
f. Therefore, it is better that one “miscreant” be “hung by his thumbs” or “spend the rest of his life roasting on a spit over an open fire” than for the nation to suffer harm. Or to put it more simply, Krauthammer claims that on “any rational moral calculus” there are times when two wrongs will make a right.
What remains for the thoughtful and critical reader is to evaluate whether or not Krauthammer’s claim that “any rational moral calculus” should lead one to his conclusion that sometimes the “monstrous evil” of torture is not only justifiable but a “moral duty.” What follows, then, is a two-part response to Krauthammer’s article and the larger issue of torture. The first part seeks to set forth and explain appropriate basic principles of a Just War theory as they apply to conduct in war (jus in Bello) in order to establish the meta-ethical grounds upon which to debate the larger issue. The second part then provides a more direct response to Krauthammer’s argument.
Guiding Just War Principles
Neighbor Love as Motivation
Whether or not any particular Christian stands for a state-sanctioned use of force or military engagement usually depends on how he or she negotiates the tension involved in the application of neighbor love. On one side of the coin the Christian is called to express a strong moral compulsion to love all others as neighbors including a criminal or enemy. On the other side of the coin there is likewise a strong moral compunction to love all others with an emphasis on the protection of the innocent (or victim). In any debate about issues such as war, capital punishment, or in this case, torture, the moral inclinations that revolve around the application of neighbor love often serves as the motivation for the debate.
With this in mind it is imperative to recognize that in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) Jesus clearly indicates that victims of injustice are worthy of neighbor love. Likewise it seems appropriate to understand that as the Jew and Samaritan were “cultural enemies,” Jesus also taught that our treatment of the “enemy” should also be shaped by the principle of “neighbor love.” While I am not suggesting a direct analogy of circumstances, there is nonetheless an important principle at work that applies. Jesus shifts the focus away from what qualifies the other person as the recipient of love to how one can and ought to demonstrate neighbor love regardless of who the other is. Paul Ramsey comments to this end when he argues that the good Samaritan parable “actually shows the nature and meaning of Christian love which alone of all ethical standpoints discovers the neighbor because it alone begins with neighborly love and not with discriminating between worthy and unworthy people according to the qualities they possess.”
Therefore, because the Christian must treat both parties (victim and attacker) with love, if a given situation calls for use of force as the most appropriate way to express neighbor love, then that use of force must be employed with a heart to protect one neighbor (the victim) from harm while limiting the way force is used on the other neighbor (the attacker). There is no room for the Christian to argue that this person is somehow less worthy of love or care. Concern to properly demonstrate neighbor love to all should simultaneously motivate one to just action and limit one from unjust response.
The larger question for the believer, then, is not whether or not he or she would personally support torture, but whether the state is given the right to use this kind of force in its God-given role to protect its citizens.
The Principles That Guide Neighbor Love
The question then becomes how to determine the appropriate expression of neighbor love when one is engaged in a just conflict. Just behavior in war depends much on the principles justifying going to war in the first place. For example, if peaceful resolution is the intended goal, and “peace” is defined simply as the absence of conflict, then any behavior—such as torture—that expedites the goal would not only be a justifiable means to the end, but arguably the best choice for it could be accomplished the quickest. Obviously the intended goal would have been met, but at what moral cost? If, however, the correct aim of war is “a just peace,” as John Rawls argues, then “the means employed must not destroy the possibility of peace or encourage a contempt for human life that puts the safety of ourselves and of mankind in jeopardy.”
For Christians, then, utilitarian ideas like “all is fair in love and war” or “war is hell, therefore fight like a hellion” are not acceptable. While neighbor love provides the impetus for engaging in a just war, this proper motive does not legitimate any kind of behavior. As Jesus himself commented, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). True love is guided by commandments. Thus, while neighbor love serves as a motivating virtue it remains only a formal category until other principles guide it, order it, and give it proper shape in a real life context. Three such principles are crucial to this discussion.
First, the behavior of the just warriors must be subject to the deontological limits established by a legitimate authority. The establishment of a legitimate grounding authority forms the logical foundation upon which the entire discussion must rest and the boundaries within which appropriate discussion must fall. For the believer, the highest authority must be God and His Word. Just behavior in war requires acting in light of the legitimate authority that rests on scriptural principles to guide such questions as: “Who may be attacked?” “How may they be attacked?” and “What force is legitimate when one is attacking?” While I do not agree with Norm Geisler’s overall moral calculus, he is right to point out that “No individual member of the armed forces of any country should be excused for engaging in a war crime simply because he has been ordered to commit the act by a superior officer. Evil is evil whether a government commands it or not.”
Second, precisely because neighbor love does not rank the value or worthiness of neighbor and because individuals matter to God, it is imperative that the principle of discrimination be applied next. Jesus clearly taught that “as you do to the least of these so you have done unto me” (Matthew 25:40, 45). The just warrior, therefore, must be careful to be discriminate about not only who falls under the category of legitimate target, but how those targets are treated. Scriptural passages prohibiting murder (Exodus 20:13) as well as those encouraging virtuous behavior (Micah 6:8—justice and mercy) transcend circumstances. In the treatment of prisoners, including terrorists, it is important to be shaped by the potent words of Christ. Therefore, both the targets of violence and the form of violence are subject to the category of discrimination. Arguing that terrorists are legitimate war targets does not therefore mean that it is morally appropriate to “string them up by their thumbs” or “put them on a spit and roast them over a fire.” In fact, the exact opposite would be true.
The fact that napalm has been outlawed as a legitimate form of weapon against persons in warfare is an indication that certain types of force are simply beyond the boundaries of what is right or permissible. Neighbor love and the golden rule, in cases like this, not only serve as controlling elements of personal conduct, but shape what ought to be seen as permissible and impermissible for the state. Napalm may be effective, but the slow burning death of legitimate targets is simply wrong.
Third, once the legitimating authority of Scripture shapes the deontological limits of what type of force may be applied and to whom, the question of proportionality becomes appropriate. The Scriptural principle of lex Talionis lies behind the idea of a proportional relationship between the projected gain from any particular act and its projected cost. The Exodus 21:24 instruction of “an eye for an eye” is meant to be a limiting factor in the expression of retaliatory force. Only what is necessary and appropriate to a given scenario.
While the just warrior may be tempted to engage in an ethic of utility where “the ends justify the means,” a biblical ethics do not allow such reasoning to rule the day. What results from the application of these criteria is an ethic of proportionality violence within deontological limits. That is, weighing the potential positive effect versus the probable negative effect must be done only after one has first determined whether a particular form of engagement or use of force falls within predetermined deontological limits. The justifying claim that “it works, therefore its right” is based more on pragmatism than on a principled biblical morality of neighbor love. For this reason proportionality must be rejected as the chief determining mechanism for jus in Bello and only employed once the deontological limits of discrimination are firmly in place.
A Response to Krauthammer
Returning to Krauthammer’s argument, it is now appropriate to evaluate the claim that “any rational moral calculus” would lead to the conclusion that in certain scenarios the “monstrous evil” of torture is “a moral duty.” The following is a point-by-point response to Krauthammer’s argument as delineated above.
1. Krauthammer is right. Because the terrorist operates on a level of perfidy and subterfuge, terrorists are not entitled to the same forms of protection as a “non-combatant.” However, as a human being they remain “neighbor.”
2. While theologically speaking there is some question about any human’s “innocence” before God, as far as the context of terror goes the potential targets of terrorism are indeed entitled to be left alone and remain unharmed.
3. In the event of terrorism, both discrimination and proportionality are principles that must be engaged to settle the apparent moral dilemma. Thus, proportional violence can be used, but not any type. The State is given the sword (Romans 13:1-7), but to use the sword to slowly carve the enemy apart is unjust. Even the State’s behavior must fall within deontological limits. Torture, then, once it is clearly defined, would be off limits.
4. Contra Krauthammer’s claims, it is simply wrong to claim that “any” rational moral calculus should tolerate torture and even further demand it as a “moral duty.” Further evaluation of Krauthammer’s moral calculus indicates why:
5. There is no doubt that terrorism is evil.
I am in full agreement with Krauthammer that torture is also evil. It is most probably true that the act of terrorism will physically harm many “innocent” persons while torture would inflict harm on relatively few guilty persons. But it is important to note that the assumption of Krauthammer is that the terror act will happen, not just that it might happen. Such certainly is reliant upon a predictive claim that would require omniscience in order for the torturer to act with certainty. While a comparison of potential lives lost may indicate that torture is the lesser of two evils, potential life lost is not the only morally relevant means of moral evaluation. What about the cost to the moral soul of a nation? How can we know for certain the net evil of torture would be less? On what basis is it possible to accurately measure the cost of disobeying a divine command in doing the admittedly “monstrous evil” of torture versus avoiding torture based on an allegiance to obedience and trusting in the Lord to work out circumstances while a third option is employed. After all, there is no guarantee that torture will provide an effective means of gathering information, or more importantly, accurate information given in a timely enough manner to make any difference.
While the so called “moral realist” or “conflicting absolutist” may argue that in certain “borderline cases” evil must be done to stop evil, the Christian places command above circumstances and allows love to guide proper expression of love. If the argument stands that torture is contrary to commandment, then even in the so-called “borderline case” or “moral dilemma” the Christian is not at liberty to break the command. Two wrongs do not make a right.
While admittedly, the anti-torture stance argued for here may not satisfy the pragmatist, the Christian must remember that life on a fallen planet does not guarantee the kind of safety, security, and consequences Krauthammer is trying to use as motivation to justify torture. Nor does it become justifiable to break a command based on circumstances or an uncertain prediction of future events—even when the event appears likely. One does not always have to like the boundaries that commands give us to know they are best to be obeyed. Thus, the just warrior engages the enemy within principled boundaries if for no other reason than it is wrong to do so and breaking the boundaries makes him no different than the one he is combating. We worship God, not safety.
In making his case Krauthammer makes reference to George Bernard Shaw’s joke about the man who asks a woman if she’d sleep with him for a million dollars. When she says yes, he asks if she’d sleep with him for five dollars. Indignantly the woman then responds, “What do you think I am?” The answer given is: “We’re already established what you are, ma’am, now we’re just haggling over the price.” What strikes me as amazing about Krauthammer’s argument is that he so readily admits his is an ethic of prostituted principle. In his citation of Shaw, not only does he cavalierly toss aside the foundations of just-war principles at the price of speculative safety, like a profligate schoolboy he has the audacity to claim this is the only path to the moral manliness of his “rational moral calculus.”
One can’t help in the final analysis recall the words of Caiaphas as he argued that crucifying Jesus was the only way to save the way of life the Pharisees had come to love and cherish: “It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” Caiaphas was right in the sense that his prediction did prove to be of great value for the many, but this does not justify the ethic under which he functioned. One would need to be perfectly omniscient in order to have proportionalism or utilitarianism be the guiding moral principle. For those of us who are not omniscient, commands and principles must lead the way and shape how a utilitarian calculus is employed. Certainly one could foresee that if employed Krauthammer’s Caiaphas ethic may indeed provide the results he argues for—but at what price? The argument may sound good, but we must be careful lest we forget that this “Caiaphas ethic” is far more dangerous than it appears. Indeed, it can even be used to justify the murder of God.
Dr. Mark D. Liederbach is an Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC). | <urn:uuid:bf20fed0-b2a2-4313-9b20-98d657d37edd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/mark-liederbach-on-torture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943703 | 3,770 | 2.328125 | 2 |
On Model-Based Analysis of Ear Biometrics
Ears are a new biometric with major advantage in that they appear to maintain their structure with increasing age. Most current approaches are holistic and describe the ear by its general properties. The authors propose a new model-based approach, capitalizing on explicit structure and with the advantages of being robust in noise and occlusion. The model is a constellation of generalized ear parts, which is learned off-line using an unsupervised learning algorithm over an enrolled training set of 63 ear images. The Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), is used to detect the features within the ear images. In recognition, given a profile image of the human head, the ear is enrolled and recognized from the parts selected via the model. | <urn:uuid:39fd53e1-7c3b-4292-bc7b-a0186ded621a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techrepublic.com/whitepapers/on-model-based-analysis-of-ear-biometrics/2840399?cname=authentication-encryption | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923901 | 157 | 1.882813 | 2 |
October in Asheville: A Grab Bag of Activities →
Picnic at Max Patch
October 7, 2012 by Susan Murray
As I write this my computer monitor is framed by a dreary, cold, rainy view out the window behind it in our office at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast, our Asheville, NC Bed & Breakfast. So it is a pleasant task to review the pictures from our glorious Autumn outing on Thursday to Max Patch and remember the golden sunshine and bright display of foliage we enjoyed there.
Usually James and I choose to hike in the mountains on our day off but this time we decided to try a drive through the country to one of the better known “balds” in the Appalachian mountains. A bald is a large grassy area at the top of the ridges and mountains in southern Appalachia. Balds are below the timberline so are not related to
climate and it is a bit of a mystery how they came into being. The mostly commonly accepted explanation seems to be that the early settlers grazed their livestock on the tops of the mountains and ridges thus leaving the valleys free for farming. The trampling of the undergrowth along with the consumption of plants rendered these areas “bald”. The resurgence of the forest on many of these balds in the past 50 years or so seems to bear this out.
Max Patch is one such bald. Located at 4600 feet it consists of a 350 acre clearing which affords 360 degree views of the surrounding Great Smokey Mountains. It seems that perhaps the name “Max Patch” comes from Mac’s Patch as the land was originally farmed by Scottish immigrants. There are only a few published reports about Mac’s Patch, one of which is about a Mrs. McMahon, an early Western North Carolina settler famous for her flower garden called “Granny Mac’s Patch”. Not definitive by any means but as close as we are probably going to get! In any case, we do know that the land on top of Max Patch Mountain was used as grazing land in the 1800′s. Shortly after WWI, there was a landing strip there and the area was even home to a few airshows. It is now a part of Pisgah National Forest and the forestry department mows the grass in order to maintain the “bald”. One tragic event took place on Max Patch in June of 2010. A young woman was hiking with her boyfriend who was taking her there to propose to her when she was struck by lightening. It is a cautionary reminder that our mountains can be cruel as well as beautiful.
On this particular October day, James and I decided to forgo our long hike in order to drive out into the mountains and enjoy some of the fall color. Here in Asheville things are just beginning to turn but guests had told us that the color was good up in the higher elevations. There are two ways to get to Max Patch: the quick way by the highway and the longer route on back roads. Since the point was to enjoy the valleys and mountains of our area James and I chose the slow route and drove on NC 63, also known as the Leicester Highway, past farms and small villages until we came to the gravel road which took us to the top of the mountain. Multiple switchbacks as we drove over Doggett
Mountain gave us breathtaking views of Asheville and Weaverville in the valley below and Grandfather Mountain behind them. This drive alone was worth trip. The gravel road up Max Patch Mountain is fairly well maintained but we met no one going up or down so we were surprised when we arrived at the parking lot to find a number of cars there. But as I mentioned, Max Patch consists of 350 acres so in spite of the cars we found ourselves alone for most of the afternoon.
There are two basic trails on Max Patch, a short mile long hike which takes you to the summit and a 2.4 mile hike which takes you around the perimeter. We began by hiking to the summit where we ran into just about the only people we saw the whole day. After enjoying the Sound-Of- Music-like view we walked a short distance away. The people disappeared and we talked about life and ideas while munching on Greenlife sandwiches in the warm sunlight. Afterwards we took the gentle hike around the perimeter before returning to our car and the drive home.
What’s lovely about this drive and hike is that it is relatively unused by the tourists who come to see the foliage in the Asheville area in October. Even those who decide to drive to Max Patch will generally take I-40 and will arrive at the mountain without crossing Doggett Mountain. Max Patch and the drive to get there will certainly be one that we will recommend to our guests.
(n.b. For more pictures, visit our Facebook page)Autumn, Carolina Bed and Breakfast, Hiking, History, Nature. Bookmark the permalink. | <urn:uuid:3478277f-43ae-4c53-8611-621cbd025061> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.carolinabb.com/2012/10/picnic-at-max-patch/?wpmp_switcher=desktop | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976984 | 1,019 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Many gay rights supporters are celebrating the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court to legalize gay marriage in the state. I'm not, even though I am a strong supporter of legalizing gay marriage. Having courts create imaginary rights out of thin air, and alter existing legislation based on nothing more than their own opinion, is exactly the wrong way to go about legalizing gay marriage. It was the route taken by California, and it produced a major backlash.
The court's arbitrary change in Iowa law rests on nothing but its opinion, an opinion that could change should the court's composition change. It could be affected by rewritten legislation, and of course be overruled by a constitutional amendment -- as in California. Judges are not on courts to make up new laws, or suddenly change existing laws based on their personal political viewpoints. Their action makes gay marriage in Iowa illegitimate to everyone who disagrees with their decision, undercuts the political process, and probably will produce hostility toward gays. As in California it could cause a backlash which makes it more difficult to eventually legalize gay marriage through the normal political process, and it may also damage gay marriage efforts in other states.
Vermont, which already passed a gay marriage bill in its state senate, has sent it to the house, where they are attempting to muster enough votes to override an expected veto. Whether it passes or fails, this is the right way to attempt to legalize gay marriage.
I just read a post at The Victorious Opposition that pretty much destroys my argument about the court's action in this case. The author states,
This isn’t about judicial activism. It’s about interpreting the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution under Iowa precedents. It does not find a new right; it finds an exclusion from an already-guaranteed right, on the basis of a suspect classification.The post quotes extensively from the actual decision in support of these points, and it is convincing. I made incorrect assumptions and should have read the full decision before reacting to the court's action on the basis of initial news reports. I now believe that the court acted appropriately and did not just create an imaginary right out of thin air as I argued above. | <urn:uuid:2035806a-d036-4056-b835-c3cf1f7154d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://unreligiousright.blogspot.com/2009/04/gay-marriage-ruling-in-iowa.html | 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 | 0.960888 | 441 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Many Time-limited Tax Breaks Never Die
The only road to fiscal stimulus is through the tax code
December 2, 2011
They should, but only because the political system seems unwilling to consider better options.
The U.S. economy remains vulnerable, and with new spending off the table, the only road to fiscal stimulus is through the tax code.
But a $250 billion payroll tax holiday is a middling choice. Yes, rolling back a tax cut worth $1,000 to a typical family would be a terrible idea right now. And the expanded version would put an additional $500 in workers' pockets on average. Some Wall Street economists think economic growth would slow by a full percentage point if the tax break is allowed to expire.
Yet, because it is so badly targeted, many relatively high-income workers—who are more likely to save rather than spend some of this windfall—would benefit. And if the idea is to boost the economy by increasing demand for goods and services, giving more money to savers isn't helpful.
The Democrats' proposal also would cut Social Security taxes for employers, on the theory this will encourage more hiring. But this was tried in the Carter administration and only about 6 percent of firms that knew about the law said it prompted them to boost payrolls. And some businesses surely got a big tax windfall for hiring they would have done anyway.
Finally, keep in mind that a major cut in payroll taxes reduces funding for Social Security—a program already facing a significant long-term shortfall. Supporters of the payroll tax break insist the Social Security Trust fund would be made whole through transfers from the general fund.
But the government is running a $1.4 trillion deficit, so there are no general funds to fill this hole. In effect, Congress would still have to borrow more money to make up the shortfall—and do so in a way that will only further damage Social Security's credibility.
Finally, while the payroll tax holiday is supposed to be only temporary, many time-limited tax breaks never die. And this one will be especially tough to kill.
President Obama had a better idea early in his administration—the Making Work Pay Tax Credit. It was better targeted and probably generated a much bigger employment bang for the buck. But it was never very popular politically and thus was replaced with the higher-profile payroll tax cut.
Still, for all its flaws, extending the payroll tax cut is better than nothing. It is a sad commentary on the state of our politics that better than nothing is the best we can do. But it is. | <urn:uuid:6d610443-0c8f-48fd-910b-f99d14d68362> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-the-payroll-tax-cuts-be-extended/many-time-limited-tax-breaks-never-die | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970452 | 528 | 1.96875 | 2 |
One of Bush's New Neighbors is Scared, "The Whole Neighborhood is Going to be a Target”
President George W. Bush recently bought a news house in a wealthy part of Dallas. One resident is less than thrilled about her new neighbor.
Citing all the negative press leveled against our current president, the woman, who declined to give her name, told the Wall Street Journal, "I'm afraid the whole neighborhood is going to be a target."
Bush isn't the only one residents live in fear of. They're also scared of minorities. According to the Huffington Post, up until 2000, the neighborhood association's charter banned minorities from living in the community, unless they were "domestic servants."
Dallas Mavericks owner Marc Cuban and former presidential candidate Ross Perot also live in the ’hood. | <urn:uuid:c6d966d3-f854-4330-b38d-eff8449728de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://alibi.com/blog/26021/One-of-Bushs-New-Neighbors-is-Scared-The-Whole.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961927 | 167 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Project Fact Sheet
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to reduce the number and severity of accidents while maintaining traffic operations at the intersection of State Route 145 and Jensen Avenue.
Need: The proposed project is a safety project. The accident history within the project limits for the most recent three-year study period (July 2006-June 2009) shows that the actual total accident rates are higher than the statewide average for similarly designed roadways. The majority of accidents reported were broadside collisions.
Description: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to improve the intersection of State Route 145 and Jensen Avenue (post mile 32.8/33.4) one-half mile south of the Kerman city limits in Fresno County, California.
Two build alternatives and a no-build alternative are under consideration.
Alternative 1 (roundabout)
Alternative 1 would construct a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of State Route 145 and Jensen Avenue. The roundabout would have a design speed of fifteen miles per hour that would accommodate Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) truck movements.
Alternative 2 (four-way stop)
Alternative 2 would convert the existing two-way stop intersection into a four-way stop intersection. Additional warning signs would be installed on State Route 145 to warn traffic of the four-way stop.
Project Cost: Alternative 1 is estimated to cost $1.5 million. Alternative 2 is estimated to cost $165,000
Funding Source: The proposed project was amended into the 2008 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) with construction funded in the 2013/2014 fiscal year.
Project Timeline: The Draft Environmental Document is currently available for public review and comments from August 1, 2011 to August 30, 2011. The Final Environmental Document is scheduled to be completed November 2011. Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2014 and will be completed in September 2014.
Questions? For more information, please contact Suzie Holdridge, Project Manager, at 559-243-3432, or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org. For environmental questions, please contact G. William “Trais” Norris, III, Senior Environmental Planner, at 559-445-6447, or by email at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:2d3bac4f-3ef7-4e25-a3cc-7f3d945e164b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist6/environmental/projects/sr145jensen/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924001 | 477 | 1.726563 | 2 |
| || What's on where | Not in Our Name |
Fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq
what's happening in Aotearoa New Zealand
From 12 to 24 March 2007, there are protests, vigils and rallies taking place around the world to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Below are the details of what is happening in Aotearoa New Zealand, and below that a section with some links to information on the current situation in Iraq.
If you would like your event added to this page, please send the details to email with 'Iraq invasion anniversary event' in the subject line.
For a leaflet providing an overview of the 'war on terrorism' and alternatives to it, see 'Sept 11: the day the world changed?'
Fourth anniversary events
Saturday, 17 March: March against Iraq war – No attack on Iran – All US troops out now! 12 noon, Aotea Square, Queen Street, City. Organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland, for more information contact email or email.
Tuesday, 20 March: Our Future is Not in Empire, student strike against investment in war, repression and ecological destruction - rally and march to Superfund office to protest investments in US war machine, 12 noon, Auckland University Quad. Organised by Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine, for more information contact
Thursday, 15 March: End NZ support for the 'war on terrorism', peace vigil from 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street; the peace vigils are held on the first and third Thursday of each month. For more information contact Peace Movement Aotearoa, tel (04) 382 8129 or email.
Tuesday, 20 March: Stop the War! Rally and march to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, 12 noon outside Parliament. Organised by Peace Action Wellington, for more information contact email.
Saturday, 17 March: Peace and justice in the Middle East, commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Come with a group and bring their banner or write your individual message on a placard, sign a letter to the Labour Government which will call for the Super Fund to be disinvested from war profiteering corporations like Haliburton, enjoy some singing and a few short speeches; 12 noon in Cathedral Square. Organized by Peace Action Network Otautahi, for more information contact Heather tel (03) 981 2825. A poster for this event is available here.
Saturday, 17 March: Oppose Bush's bloody occupation for oil and empire - join the Global Day of Action Against Occupation of Iraq. "The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was opposed by millions of people around the world, people who saw through the lies being used by Bush and Blair to justify naked imperialism. Today we need to continue the struggle against the occupation of Iraq and the war mongering over Iran. Why we must oppose the occupation of Iraq: * At least 650,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the invasion * Survey after survey after survey shows that an overwhelming majority of Iraqis want the US-led forces out of their country. Most Iraqis see the occupying forces as the greatest cause of instability * The bulk of so-called 'insurgent violence' remains aimed at the occupation, not at fellow Iraqis. A recent US DIA survey stated at 90% of all insurgent attacks target US and other occupying forces. This resistance has widespread popular support. * Far from securing peace in Iraq, the occupation is the main cause of the violence. In fact the US and Britain have been caught red handed intentionally inciting sectarian violence. * Surveys conducted since the occupation began have consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of the Iraqi people - both Shite and Sunni- want US troops out. Why we must oppose attacks on Iran: * The current accusations being levelled against Tehran are as believable as those given prior to the invasion of Iraq. Even if they were true they cannot justify any more blood shed in this region. * Any attack on Iran could potentially escalate into open conflict throughout the Middle East. * We must build a global movement in opposition to this war mongering, and make it clear to the worlds leaders that we will not accept another bloody war for oil." Rally at 1pm, Museum entrance; for more information contact email.
Information on the situation in Iraq
"As many as 654,965 more Iraqis may have died since hostilities began in Iraq in March 2003 than would have been expected under pre-war conditions... the deaths from all causes — violent and non-violent — are over and above the estimated 143,000 deaths per year that occurred from all causes prior to the March 2003 invasion ... Majority of the additional deaths (91.8 percent) caused by violence ... The proportion of deaths attributed to coalition forces diminished in 2006 to 26 percent. Between March 2003 and July 2006, households attributed 31 percent of deaths to the coalition ... According to the researchers, the overall rate of mortality in Iraq since March 2003 is 13.3 deaths per 1,000 persons per year compared to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 persons per year prior to March 2003. This amounts to about 2.5 percent of Iraqi’s population having died as a consequence of the war. To put the 654,000 deaths in context with other conflicts, the authors note that during the Vietnam War an estimated 3 million civilians died overall; the Congo conflict was responsible for 3.8 million deaths; and recent estimates are that 200,000 have died in Darfur over the past 31 months." Updated Iraq Survey Affirms Earlier Mortality Estimates, 11 October 2006
"Citing grim daily indicators – 100 people killed, hundreds wounded and thousands displaced – an official with the United Nations refugee agency predicted that Iraq’s humanitarian crisis will last for years, with ramifications extending beyond the country’s borders ... Violence continues unabated in the country, and UNHCR estimates that there are 1.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of a total population of 26 million, with this number potentially swelling to 2.3 to 2.7 million by the end of the year." Iraq faces dire and long-term humanitarian crisis, UN official warns, 5 February 2007
Iraq: A humanitarian operation that will go on for years, 2 February 2007, excerpts from an interview with the senior operations manager for UNHCR's Iraq support unit
"The Iraqi Government reports that since February 2006 alone, more than 400,000 people have been displaced within the country. That brings the total number of internally displaced persons in the country to over 1.6 million. The mass displacement of Iraqis that was feared in 2003 is now occurring - but without the international concern that it deserves." UNHCR Global Appeal 2007: Focus on Iraq
"From a thriving middle income economy in the 1970's and 1980's, one third of today's Iraqi population lives in poverty with more than 5 per cent living in extreme poverty, a new United Nations-backed study says." One third of all Iraqis live in poverty, UN-backed study finds, 18 February 2007; executive summary of the study
US military casualties in Iraq, as at 14 March 2007 - 3197 dead, 23,000 to 100,000 wounded; more figures at Casualties in Iraq: The Human Cost of Occupation
"More than a quarter of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have filed injury claims with the government, according to an internal Department of Veterans Affairs report. Of the nearly 690,000 veterans who served in those combat zones, more than 180,000 had filed claims by the end of last year, the report showed." One-quarter of Iraq, Afghanistan veterans filing injury claims, 13 March 2007
"So into the graveyard of Iraq, George Bush, commander-in-chief, is to send another 21,000 of his soldiers. The march of folly is to continue..." Bush's new strategy - the march of folly, Robert Fisk, 11 January 2007
Resources and regular updates on the situation in Iraq
Not in Our Name | Peace Movement Aotearoa | <urn:uuid:9ba74f9b-d65f-422a-ab0b-96e40d08f8bc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apc.org.nz/pma/ianniv07.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944551 | 1,650 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Filed underDaily J PM, Health, Heard on Radio, Local, News, Radio.com - News, Syndicated Local, Syndication, Watch + Listen
For more trusted health
news and information,
visit CBS Detroit's
DETROIT (WWJ) – A new report says the Detroit area is the second-worst “hypertension hotspot” in America. And now, a group says they’re turning to an ancient tradition to get Detroit healthy.
WWJ’s City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas caught a free Tai Chi class along Detroit’s Riverwalk, just near the carousel. Instructor Ted Cash leads the class every Wednesday morning.
“Tai Chi is ancient. It’s been around for about 2000 years,” Cash said. “It will bring your blood pressure down to normal. It really helps you, especially with the diaphragm and breathing. The science of diaphragm and breathing is awesome.”.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Tai Chi is sometimes described as “meditation in motion” because it promotes serenity through gentle movements – connecting the mind and body. You perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
Cash said the exercise can help with a number of ailments.
“Arthritis, its good for diabetes, high blood pressure, back pain. And it’s good for stress on the job, you can de-stress yourself from your job,” he said.
Angela Gay takes part in the class. Aside from the waterfront view she gets to enjoy during class, she loves the way Tai Chi makes her feel rejuvenated.
“We do a lot of things in order to keep it together. And women as myself, I represent women 45 to 55, so therefore I’d like to let you know that we still have it goin’ on,” Gay said.
The class meets at 10:30 every Wednesday morning along Detroit’s Riverwalk. Everyone is welcome to join, no registration required. | <urn:uuid:a93b1891-edc3-4526-bad3-e86cad2c482b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/07/14/free-tai-chi-class-helps-detroiters-relieve-stress/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927116 | 458 | 1.609375 | 2 |
This sorting page was designed to help the first graders pay attention to the vowels. I printed them on card stock, laminated them, then cut the words apart. In partners the students had to place the words on top of the correct picture. The activity was quick, easy to assess and the students loved it.
Click on the picture to download | <urn:uuid:727d2173-67ac-4c44-8d1b-b6f4f2dd206e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zeekszoo.blogspot.jp/2012_03_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976501 | 72 | 2.296875 | 2 |
The term 'vintage comics' refers to comic books from the Golden Age of Comics. The comics that were published during the 1940s and 1950s are extremely hard to find and it is rare to find these books in good condition. When you want to collect vintage comic books, you don't have to limit yourself to the 40s and 50s, though because the 1960s was also a good decade. During this period, there were hundreds of new comic books published, but they were done on a cheaper grade paper, so high grade comics from this period are rare as well.
During the 1970's, many people started to collect comics, so these books are not quite as valuable as ones from earlier times. What makes comics graded as vintage comics is the fact that they are hard to get, especially in mint or good condition. Since the 1970s the value of the vintage comic books has steadily increased because they are in high demand by collectors and investors alike.
If you are wondering what makes the comic books from earlier decades so valuable, you only have to look at the popularity of some of the superheroes that grew out of the pages of these comics. Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Flash Gordon and the Green Lantern are only a few of the popular names in comic book history. Archie, Popeye and Little Lule are also favorites, but the funny comics never quite gained the prominence of the superheroes.
Comic book art is a major factor in determining whether or not a comic book has any monetary value. If you have copies of artwork done by an artist that later went on to make a name for himself in the comic book world, you just may be in possession of a comic that could bring you in thousands of dollars. | <urn:uuid:79a86673-ab8d-4e57-b70b-1c3780ae3ede> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.comicsetc.com/art.php?cont=Vintage%20Comics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983774 | 350 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Receiving God’s Image in Our Countenances Does Not Destroy Individuality
by Ray DeGraw
I saw a very profound, short statement on the wall of a high school I was visiting a while ago. It said:
You were (created) as an original. Don’t become a copy.
First, I absolutely love this quote in and of itself. While I understand and accept the need for communal conformity to certain, minimal standards, at the most fundamental level, I am a child of God, created as a unique mortal being – and that uniqueness is important to me.
What struck me about this quote is that too many people see Zion as total uniformity / unanimity / homogeneity. They see “being united” as being indistinguishable from each other in any important way. They see becoming “perfect” as becoming exactly alike in every way. At least, that is how they appear to believe, based on how they act toward those who are different than they are.
My favorite General Conference talk of all time (as my children will attest, while rolling their eyes and exclaiming, “I told you so!“) is Elder Joseph Wirthlin’s “Concern for the One” – and the part that resonates the most within me is the analogy of the multiple instruments and harmonies that are necessary to create a beautiful orchestral sound. Elder Wirthlin states that God didn’t create the grand orchestra of humanity to value only the piccolos -which, interestingly, are one of the most piercing instruments ever created.
Everyone playing the same instrument all the time or even different instruments but the exact same notes at the exact same time, all the time – even when technically mistake-free and precise – is not fully beautiful music. At best, it is a beautiful melody. As someone who loves music, I can say passionately that, at worst, it can be soul-less.
All kinds of very different instruments playing intricate harmonies, counter-melodies and even varying rhythms in synch with each other and with passion and expression . . . striving to follow the direction of the same conductor . . . .
THAT is beautiful music.
I am reminded of the description of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 – where each and every part is said to be as important and critical as any other, largely because each part is fundamentally and importantly different than any other part.
Truly, there is a need for some kind of uniformity and communal standardization here in mortal sociality, but we were created by God as originals.
Truly, we can’t allow ourselves to become copies.
- What is unique about you that can contribute to the orchestra of your own local congregation?
- What challenges do you face accepting your own and others’ unique “sounds”?
- How do you view Zion? | <urn:uuid:de426be0-e47a-4ebd-94da-98eedec1ec81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://realintent.org/receiving-gods-image-in-our-countenances-does-not-destroy-individuality/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962985 | 607 | 1.679688 | 2 |
SANTA MARIA, Calif. --
Authorities say it could take weeks before they can positively identify the body
found burned down in the cabin in Big Bear, believed to be that of ex-LAPD
officer Christopher Dorner.
If the body is burned beyond
recognition, officials says the body can be identified through dental records.
"Every tooth has a different size
and shape," says Santa Maria dentist Dr. David Ouellet. "The dental records such
as x-rays and photographs a dentist would have (can) easily identify a patient
very, very quickly."
You rarely think of your dentist
as a crime solver but in the case of positively identifying the charred remains
in Big Bear believed to be that of Christopher Dorner's, forensic dentists hold
"These are the dental x-rays and the white things on the
x-rays tell you whether they are crowns or fillings," says Ouellet. "The
position on those (are) like the digital or dental
Dr. Ouellet says no two sets of teeth are exactly alike.
Forensic dentists will first look at the shape or anatomy of a tooth, what types
of metal filings were used and whether or not some teeth were missing--from
there, he says it's nearly impossible to get a duplicate.
"There's a number of things they
can do to positively identify a body," says Santa Maria Police Department
Detective Sergeant Terry Flaa. "It can be obtaining a DNA sample, fingerprint
analysis or often times, we rely upon dental work."
An Ouellet says dental records
are the fastest and most sure fire ways to find a match.
"The remains of a body are
usually the teeth are easily identifiable with different types of filing whether
it be gold, silver or a composite and the size and shape, and which teeth are
missing," says Ouellet. "Those are some of the few things left when a body's
Fingerprint and DNA samples are
best used when the suspect has a prior criminal history in which their samples
were already submitted to police.
Saturday, May 18 2013 11:15 AM EDT2013-05-18 15:15:59 GMT
LOMPOC, Calif. - The Lompoc Fire Department held its lottery on Friday morning for local groups to sell "safe and sane" fireworks for its upcoming Fourth of July celebration. Fire officials held a blindMore >>
LOMPOC, Calif. - The Lompoc Fire Department held its lottery on Friday morning for local groups to sell "safe and sane" fireworks for its upcoming Fourth of July celebration.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 1:26 AM EDT2013-05-18 05:26:42 GMT
LOMPOC, Calif. - Lompoc City Fire Department is bringing on six new firefighters thanks to a $ 1.5 million grant that works out to about $500,000 a year. "So the six new firefighters that we are swearing-inMore >>
$1.5 million grant used to hire six new firefighters and promote from within.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 1:24 AM EDT2013-05-18 05:24:06 GMT
LOMPOC, Calif. - Jack Rodenhi has been a CPA and tax accountant in Lompoc for more than 30 years. He says 501(c )4 charitable organizations are required to be involved in social welfare activities onlyMore >>
Century-old non-profit tax exemption at heart of IRS debate and scandal in Washington D.C.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 1:18 AM EDT2013-05-18 05:18:33 GMT
PISMO BEACH, Calif. - Pismo Beach Police confirm that a missing at-risk man from Lompoc has been found after a good samaritan saw his photo in the news. Pismo Beach Police say 24-year-old Blake LewoltMore >>
PISMO BEACH, Calif. - Pismo Beach Police confirm that a missing at-risk man from Lompoc has been found after a good samaritan saw his photo in the news.More >> | <urn:uuid:6edb816a-62f9-495e-90f8-053a1e1713d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kcoy.com/story/21191796/how-dental-records-can-be-used-to-id-dorners-body | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932965 | 875 | 1.796875 | 2 |
News Without Borders
By J. Max Robins -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/15/2006 7:00:00 PM
Two lists just released give crucial insight into the news business. One is the survey that veteran media analyst and B&C contributing editor Andrew Tyndall took of the top 20 stories covered by the broadcast-network evening newscasts last year.
It was no surprise that coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath dominated broadcast news and that the Iraq War was right behind.
But what was a refreshing change from years past was that nowhere in the top 20 was there any of the trivial or sensational—Martha Stewart’s travails, the latest scandal involving a Jackson or the British royal family—which too often takes precedence over news that matters.
Still, while there is reason to applaud the return of these flagship newscasts to more substance, especially as their morning-show brethren and the so-called newsmagazines (with the exception of 60 Minutes) go deeper into infotainment, there remains room for improvement.
Let’s hope ABC World News Tonight, with new co-anchors Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas; CBS Evening News, in transition with Bob Schieffer and a new executive producer; and NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams (who has made coverage of Katrina’s aftermath a personal crusade) continue to eschew the silly for the serious this year, too.
While the network nightly newscasts deserve kudos, there still remains much of grave importance that gets scant coverage there, or anywhere else, for that matter. And that bring us to the second list: The Doctors Without Borders Top 10 Most Underreported Humanitarian Stories (see box below).
“American news organizations have been paying more attention to stories overseas than in the past, and not just the ones you would expect, like the war in Iraq or conflicts in other part of the Middle East—the earthquake in Pakistan, for example,” says Nicholas de Torrente, executive director of the group (which is also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres). “But there’s still so much that’s neglected.”
De Torrente’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization has released the list for eight years. I’ve been covering it for the last five, and, sadly, several of these tragic situations continue to show up on it, from the war- and diseased-ravaged Congo to the political and drug wars that have displaced millions of people in Colombia. There are also new tragedies on the list, including violence-ridden Haiti, where poverty is epidemic.
Still, de Torrente is not without hope. The migration of TV news organizations to the Web and beyond means more voices will be heard. International outfits like the BBC have increased their reach, and that makes a palpable difference.
“We saw what impact it had in 2005 when the BBC jumped on the story of the epidemic starvation in Niger, then aid started to pour in,” says de Torrente. “As late as the government response to Katrina was, how much worse would it have been if the media wasn’t there? People need to see what’s going on, then they know where help is needed.”
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No Top Articles | <urn:uuid:7fedfaf2-d839-44ff-a15a-3e9c5e4c3bee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102433-News_Without_Borders.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949298 | 704 | 1.5 | 2 |
I am designing a new board which uses the NXP LPC4330 (Cortex M4 microcontroller) with a XESS Xula2 FPGA development board. In this design, the Xula 2 has limited I/O pins since it is designed to fit ...
I am trying to establish SPI interface between FTDI FT2232H and Lattice MachX02-1200ZE. The following code for this purpose compiles successfully and the last SPI_ReadHiSpeedDevice() function returns ...
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I have an application where I have a microcontroller (NXP LPC1343) which is connected to an FPGA via 16-bit SPI. There is also an SD card using the same SPI port (MISO/MOSI) but with a different CS/SS ...
I am a newbie in digital logic design and I'm trying to get my head around syncing external signals to the global clock in an FPGA. For example, the SCK signal/clock fed to an FPGA by the SPI Master. ...
I have an application in mind in which I need to communicate via SPI with an FPGA. Both the FPGA and microcontroller are in our control, and so I have the flexibility to define the protocol as I see ...
I am trying to make an ARM LPC2132 chip and a Altera Cyclone FPGA communicate using the SPI protocol. Specifically, I have the Saxo-L board from KNJN, which has the signals pre-wired between the two ... | <urn:uuid:1a81553f-2e1c-4fb1-b85b-a6c0861801a6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/spi+fpga | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924194 | 344 | 1.695313 | 2 |
"I should say it means the acknowledgment in practical life of the truth that men are best governed who govern themselves; that the general sense of mankind, if left alone, will make for righteousness; that artificial privileges and restraints upon freedom, so far as they are not required in the interests of the community, are hurtful; and that the laws, while, of course, they cannot equalise conditions, can at least avoid aggravating inequalities, and ought to have for their object the securing to every man the best chance he can have of a good and useful life."Gordon Brown's decision, in his last budget, to scrap the 10p tax band is a prime example of a policy that fails the Campbell-Bannerman test. Never mind rolling out benchmarked programmes in more and more areas of national life: just stop taxing the poor.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Gordon Brown fails the Campbell-Bannerman test
In 1898 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who went on to become the first Liberal prime minister of the 20th century, gave his definition of Liberalism. Note in particular the phrase I have put in bold type: | <urn:uuid:b93a3375-f5de-4b9e-a9ab-ca731d91f238> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2008/04/gordon-brown-fails-campbell-bannerman.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954828 | 234 | 1.90625 | 2 |
Apple is involved in some curious patent cases filed this week in Texas federal district courts. One suit claims that Apple's iTunes Store (among many others) infringes on a patent for what is essentially an online store for music downloads. Another lawsuit claims that Safari, DVD Player, Front Row, and even Mac OS X itself infringe on a number of patents related to adjustable length displays of textual and other data.
The first lawsuit, filed in the patent-friendly Eastern District of Texas, comes from Sharing Sound LLC, which holds the rights to a patent for "distribution of musical products by a web site vendor over the internet." The patent in question describes what is functionally any website you've ever visited to buy a music download, including song previews, a shopping cart, and even an accompanying app to play legally purchased music. The patent targeting Apple has a provision that downloaded songs have a unique identifier included in the file to link the files to a particular purchaser.
Sony and its various subsidiaries, Rhapsody, Napster, Brilliant Digital Entertainment, and Microsoft are also named as codefendants. If anyone seems conspicuously absent from that list, namely Amazon (for its Amazon MP3 Store), don't be alarmed; Sharing Sound has filed a similar patent lawsuit against Amazon, Netflix, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and GameStop that cites a slightly different, but identically titled patent that doesn't specify including a unique key in the downloaded files. If either of these suits are decided in Sharing Sound's favor, it could have far-reaching effects on digital music distribution for the next decade. But the patent may be too broad to be enforced.
In another lawsuit, this time coming from the Western District of Texas, interaction design firm MONKEYmedia claims that certain features of Mac OS X and Safari infringe on the company's patents related to "non-salience deemphasis." This is a rather obtuse term for "cutting out the unimportant parts."
MONKEYmedia founder Eric Gould is named as the inventor on three similar patents, all titled "Computer user interface with non-salience deemphasis." The patents describe methods for displaying varying amounts of a particular piece of data based on a user control. As the user adjusts to show smaller amounts of data, the "non-salient" bits are "deemphasized"; in other words, only the most important parts of the data are shown.
MONKEYmedia claims that Safari's RSS feed reading features infringe these patents with its adjustable slider for controlling how much of an article is shown in the feed display. This control can show full articles, or variably shorter summaries, using an algorithm that can summarize an article's content. Similarly, the lawsuit targets Mac OS X's built-in "Summarize" service, which applies the same algorithm to any text in any Cocoa-based application.
The lawsuit suggests that DVD Player and Front Row, included in Mac OS X, also violate a particular claim (claim 6 of patent 6,335,730) related to showing objects which represent a "summary" of video data. It's not clear what parts of these apps infringe, though it may refer to either chapter markers or possibly frames used to scrub through a video stream. In either case, it seems this particular claim could also apply to nearly every DVD player, streaming video player, or nonlinear video editing software. | <urn:uuid:ba50e3cb-1179-4d09-809b-b8e8924cbb16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://arstechnica.com/apple/2010/05/apple-faces-patent-suits-over-itunes-store-safari-mac-os-x/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930231 | 692 | 1.507813 | 2 |
BRITISH film producer Jeremy Thomas was last in Melbourne in 1975 producing his first film. It was Mad Dog Morgan, directed by Philippe Mora and starring Dennis Hopper - one of the resurgent Australian film industry's more peculiar bits of casting - as the bushranger. It was a wild time, with stuntmen setting themselves on fire for real and every day's shoot ending in a tide of amber nectar. ''I came here from a country where apprenticeship was everything and you couldn't really get your break if you were over 20. Here, everything was up for grabs,'' he says. ''And it was exciting being parachuted into this culture of Melbourne, which was a very, very interesting place. It was good to be here at that beginning moment.''
Thomas now has 53 films behind him, a best-film Oscar (for The Last Emperor in 1988) and ongoing relationships as producer with such film-makers as Bernardo Bertolucci and David Cronenberg. Even so, he can't stop casting glances out of the hotel window at the changed skyline, trying to see if he can spot his old Acland Street stamping ground. He is here to talk about Kon-Tiki, the story of Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl's epic voyage across the Pacific on a balsa-wood raft in 1947. It is a film he spent 16 years trying to get made. Now it is not only complete, but one of five final contenders for this year's Oscar for best foreign film.
Thor Heyerdahl, who died 10 years ago, was a hero of Thomas' boyhood. He was probably a hero of every boy his age; his voyage across the Pacific from Peru to Polynesia, made in 1947 on a balsa-wood raft with no modern equipment, captured the public imagination across the world. Heyerdahl - a war hero, arrogant, single-minded and uniquely charismatic - set out to prove that voyagers from pre-Columbian South America had travelled the oceans and, as he then theorised, settled the Pacific islands. Subsequent research proved him wrong, but that doesn't matter. His big idea - that the currents were like roads - is still thrillingly convincing.
Many other filmmakers had wanted to make his story, Thomas says, but he would never give permission. Heyerdahl had made his own film from footage shot on the raft; the resulting Kon-Tiki won the Oscar for best documentary in 1951. Thomas went to meet him at his home in Tenerife; he was in his mid-70s then, married to a former Miss France. ''I persuaded him with The Last Emperor card,'' he says. ''I left him with a copy of that and The Sheltering Sky and finally he said 'all right, you can make the film.'''
At that point, says Thomas, he imagined the film as a Hollywood blockbuster with Leonardo DiCaprio. He couldn't raise enough money. This film was made by Norwegians, but shot largely in a water tank in Malta; digital technology, says Thomas, has transformed what is possible. ''The raft never went to Polynesia; it was all done with sleight of hand. The whale shark, which was so terrifying in the film, you would never know there were four frogmen pulling a wooden thing in a tank, linked to images of a real whale shark: it's seamless.'' But he still has his Scandinavian actors speaking English. ''I wanted more than 10 people to see the film,'' he says bluntly. ''Somehow, in movie houses, very few people know how to read subtitles.'' The Norwegian directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg shot a version in their own language for the local market.
Thomas thinks the film should have a particular resonance for Australians, most of whom live on the edge of an ocean. ''This journey makes the Sydney to Hobart race look like a puppy,'' he laughs. ''They were on a raft with nothing: no safety equipment, no clip-ons, no distress flares in these gigantic waves, a whirlpool over here - you could hear it - it was extraordinary.'' It certainly has resonance for him, which has been his guiding principle as a producer since he first hit the Riverina with Philippe Mora. ''I'm not just making films for the machine,'' he says. ''I'm principally making films I want to see. That's kept me in business for 40 years.'' | <urn:uuid:645656e8-d105-4061-b8a0-f803d3c96a35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/story/1255039/epic-voyage-in-search-of-truth/?cs=36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98411 | 915 | 1.804688 | 2 |
There has always been violence in art. There is violence in the Bible, violence in Homer, violence in Shakespeare, and many psychiatrists believe that it serves as a catharsis rather than a model. I think the question of whether there has been an increase in screen violence and, if so, what effect this has had, is to a very great extent a media-defined issue. I know there are well-intentioned people who sincerely believe that films and TV contribute to violence, but almost all of the official studies of this question have concluded that there is no evidence to support this view. At the same time, I think the media tend to exploit the issue because it allows them to display and discuss the so-called harmful things from a lofty position of moral superiority.
But the people who commit violent crime are not ordinary people who are transformed into vicious thugs by the wrong diet of films or TV. Rather, it is a fact that violent crime is invariably committed by people with a long record of anti-social behaviour, or by the unexpected blossoming of a psychopath who is described afterward as having been ‘…such a nice, quiet boy,’ but whose entire life, it is later realized, has been leading him inexorably to the terrible moment, and who would have found the final ostensible reason for his action if not in one thing then in another. In both instances immensely complicated social, economic and psychological forces are involved in the individual’s criminal behaviour.
The simplistic notion that films and TV can transform an otherwise innocent and good person into a criminal has strong overtones of the Salem witch trials. This notion is further encouraged by the criminals and their lawyers who hope for mitigation through this excuse. I am also surprised at the extremely illogical distinction that is so often drawn between harmful violence and the so-called harmless violence of, say, “Tom and Jerry” cartoons or James Bond movies, where often sadistic violence is presented as unadulterated fun. I hasten to say, I don’t think that they contribute to violence either. Films and TV are also convenient whipping boys for politicians because they allow them to look away from the social and economic causes of crime, about which they are either unwilling or unable to do anything." | <urn:uuid:5aa142c4-5163-4a5c-b179-545d811695e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://taffetapunk.tumblr.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972811 | 462 | 1.835938 | 2 |
INDIANAPOLIS – Officials studying the criminal justice system have learned that the criminal history of certain defendants being sent to prison matters more in sentencing than the charge for which they were convicted.
It was one major conclusion brought to the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission by two IUPUI professors who studied the cases of all convicted D felons – the least serious category – who came to the Indiana Department of Correction during a three-month period in 2011.
Reams of data about the offenders, cases and crimes were placed in a database and analyzed.
About 4,000 D felons are currently in state prisons out of a population of more than 28,000.
The study is part of an effort to overhaul Indianas criminal justice system – something started by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2010 based on troubling prison population trends.
It has stalled in the legislature.
The inference in the debate, at times, has been that prosecutors are sending low-level, nonviolent offenders to prison when their crimes and sentences could be handled more cheaply and more successfully with local programs.
But prosecutors have pointed out just because someone is sentenced for theft or another nonviolent crime doesnt mean a short-term prison sentence isnt appropriate. There has also been distrust between the state and local officials about the shifting of state obligations to local resources.
Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville, said the issue was never about state budget savings.
We want to put the money where it is most effective, quite candidly, he said.
The data released Thursday revealed a mix of the intriguing and obvious.
For instance, more than two-thirds of D felons in the Indiana DOC had three or more prior convictions.
And 74 percent of D-felony new commitments had failed on at least one type of community supervision, such as probation, work release, home detention or other community corrections program.
A large number of those felons also had previously been in the state prison system.
Several members of the panel seemed especially interested in the number of D felons in prison for violating probation.
In fact, 62 percent of those in prison for violating probation were related to technical program violations – not committing a new crime. This could include missing or failing a drug test, not paying fees, missing appointments, failing to show up for a court hearing or other missteps.
Sen. Lindel Hume, D-Princeton, thought this was an area the group could try to home in on for future changes.
Overall, Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, a former police officer, said she isnt sure whether the three-month snapshot of data was enough to spur significant legislative changes.
I dont know how much we can pull from that, she said.
Indeed, even the professors were stunned by one finding in the small sample – D felons who were black had shorter sentences than similar white offenders. | <urn:uuid:a80a28f1-bea2-45d2-b000-0ce525b6c59b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://journalgazette.net/article/20120908/LOCAL/309089969 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974226 | 592 | 1.976563 | 2 |
SEDGEFIELD, ENGLAND (Dec. 11, 12:10 p.m. ET) — The Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN) has helped the University of Birmingham to secure a number of projects with luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin, following attendance at one of the NanoKTN’s HiPerNano conferences.
An initial project through the advanced materials program, part of the Science City Research Alliance initiative, looked at the company’s paint processes and identified areas for improvement.
The project led to further work with the interactive multimedia systems group in the University’s school of electronic, electrical and computer engineering, which focused on instrument panel design.
Richard Simpson, business engagement manager at Birmingham University, said: “We attended the NanoKTN’s HiPerNano event in 2010 at Cranfield and met with Ian Minards, director of product development at Aston Martin.”
“We provide direct help to businesses in the region allowing them exclusive access to specialised state-of-the-art scientific equipment and to the university’s research expertise.
“This direct contact with the university and access to ground-breaking equipment will enable companies to take forward the research and translate it into commercial outputs or use it to optimise their manufacturing processes,” he added.
Aston Martin is now also a sponsor of the university’s entry in the Formula Student UK competition where a race car is produced by engineering students.
To support this work Aston Martin donated one of its cars to the school of mechanical engineering for the students to use in their research. | <urn:uuid:569e207c-d79c-42e9-a41e-4523b301e936> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20121211/NEWS/312119993?channel=100 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920924 | 335 | 1.945313 | 2 |
By Paul McGuire
March 11, 2013
The legendary ancient pre-Flood civilizations like Atlantis, Thule and Hyperborea were built on highly advanced science and technology, and there is a direct connection between these ancient cultures and what is happening now in America and around the world. Sir Francis Bacon, a key leader in the Rosicrucian’s, who later became known as the Illuminati, planned for America to become the “New Atlantis” and the center of the New World Order about a hundred years before America became a nation. In order to understand the connection between Atlantis, Thule and Hyberborea and America in prophecy, it is necessary to the accounts of the god men who came from the stars in order to establish these civilizations.
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent or Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the words, “You shall be like God knowing good and evil.” In the pre-Flood world of Noah there was interspecies breeding going on between the “sons of God,” or the B’nai Elohim and human women. The ancient rabbinic scholars believed that the term “sons of God” specifically referred to fallen angels and this was the teaching of the early church for several hundred years. The offspring of these fallen angels procreating with human women where called the Nephilim.
When God created man in His own image, mankind to whatever degree had the DNA of God. Lucifer deliberately corrupted that DNA when he assigned fallen angels to interbreed with human women. In addition, when the Fall of man occurred, the DNA of man was significantly altered.
The account of Noah’s Ark and the Flood can only be understood in terms of genetics, DNA and the Nephilim. When Jesus Christ said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the day of the coming of the Son of Man,” He was not only referring to wickedness and violence; He was referring to the interbreeding between fallen angels and human women that produced the Nephilim. In our time geneticists working in the field of Transhumanism, are attempting to breed a new race of supermen who are the product of Nephilim, animal, and human DNA. This is the story of the Tower of Babel all over again because it is the attempt of man to become God, which is what happened in Eden. Nimrod was the god-man who organized the people to build the Tower of Babel. Nimrod appears to have been a Nephilim and he possessed highly advanced science and technology.
In addition, the universal mythologies of pre-Flood civilizations speak of god men coming from the stars and seeding the human race. We are on the verge of a global revolution in science and technology where the traditional Theory of Evolution is about to be replaced by a new theory claiming that the human race on Earth was seeded by aliens from other galaxies.
Evidence of highly advanced pre-Flood civilizations includes the monolithic monuments that survived the Flood such as the pyramids and the Sphinx and the Incan and Mayan monuments. Many of these structures could only have been built with technology that is superior to today’s technology. One of the forces supposedly used in these pre-Flood times was a mysterious energy that the Nazis discovered, called the Vril force. The Vril force, the energy fields studied by Nicola Tesla, and what is now called scalar technology are based on similar theories deriving from of quantum mechanics.
Scalar Technology is based on the theory that there is a fourth dimension where powerful energies for destruction or healing on a planetary level can be transferred into our three dimensional reality and change that reality. The Nazi concept of a Vril force is based on the idea that a race of god men came from the stars in ships powered by this force and settled on the legendary island of Thule where they founded the civilization called Hyperborea. Plato believed in the Egyptian legend of Atlantis and Herodotus spoke of the another Egyptian legend of the continent of Hyperborea in the far north. When an ice age supposedly destroyed Hyperborea, this race of god men migrated south and it may be they who created the empire of Atlantis.
The secret occult societies that put Hitler into power were extremely interested in Antarctica beginning in the 1930s.The Vril and Thule societies searched the ancient Tibetan, Indian, and Greek texts. Mixing these legends with Nordic legends of blonde haired blue eyed gods, they came to the conclusion that the Earth is hollow and inhabited within. Ultima Thule is supposed to have been the name of the capital city of the continent of Hyperborea, which was older than Atlantis. According to occult teachings, the Hyperborean’s were the most highly technologically and socially advanced society that existed in the pre-Flood age. When the Flood came the Hyperborean’s dug large tunnels through the Earth’s crust using giant machines and settled under the Himalayas. According to their legends they named their new kingdom Agharta or Agharti and its capital city was Shamballah, which was the legendary paradise on Earth.
There are many scientists and researchers who believe that the founders of Hyberborea, Atlantis, Thule and other ancient civilizations were aliens from other planets. There are a growing number of Biblical scholars who believe that these aliens did not come from other planets, but other dimensions, and that they were actually the fallen angels who mated with human women who produced the Nephilim.
The Nazis believed that the race of god men who came from the stars were aliens from another galaxy. The Nazis supposedly were aided by a group of attractive females with clairvoyant powers called the Vril Maidens who could channel scientific and technological information including rocket design and even how to build UFO-type flying machines. The entire Nazi rocket science program went hand in hand with the science of genetics and the science of mind control. Nazi science relied on the occult Vril power, genetic science, and occult mind control technologies.
Werner von Braun, the founder of America’s NASA space program, was a Nazi scientist who had advanced technology on rocketry and mind control. During Operation Paperclip, when America, in competition with Russia over Nazi scientists after World War II, smuggled in over 4,000 scientists. These scientists brought with them their occult practices and beliefs, along with the science of mind control. The (largely self-taught) American rocket scientist Jack Parsons, who lived and worked in Pasadena, California, was called “the father of American rocketry” by Werner von Braun. Jack Parsons, a Satanist, was active in the Order of the Temple of the Orient (OTO), whose leader at that time was Aleister Crowley. Aleister Crowley was a famous Satanist who called himself “The Beast 666.” Allegedly, Crowley had deep connections to German, British and European secret occult scientists and had one of his agents influencing Adolph Hitler.
In 1871, British novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, in The Coming Race, described a superior race called the Vril-ya, who lived underground and planned to rule the Earth with the Vril force or psychokinetic energy. They may have been the descendants of the Hyperborean’s, inhabitants of the island of Thule. The Hyperborean’s supposedly harnessed the power of Vril, in order to become a race of supermen who will rule the world.
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) wrote of the Übermensch (superman) in his work, Der Antichrist (The Antichrist.) Nietzsche wrote “Let us see ourselves for what we are. We are Hyperborean’s. We know well enough how we are living off that track.” When Nietzsche published “The Will to Power” he was speaking of the Vril force and spoke of “the herd,” meaning the ordinary people who try to abide by the moral laws given to us by God. In contrast Nietzsche spoke of the supermen who tap into a supernatural force that raises them above the ordinary man Due to the elite nature of the supermen they are justified in lying to the herd in order to remain free and independent of the “herd mentality.”
Our current leaders, who are ultimately ruled by the Luciferian elite, have called for a reduction of the world’s population from seven billion to five hundred million and they specifically use the term “culling the herd.” They see themselves as the god men who will rule the world. They are above what they believe are archaic concepts such as right and wrong. Thus, it is perfectly acceptable for them to lie to us, the masses of the herd. Read what Zbiginiew Brzezinski, adviser to five U.S. Presidents and Executive Director of the Trilateral Commission wrote:
“The Technocratic era involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values.”
This secretive elite is now running the world and America. Read the words of John Davis, editor of Earth First Journal:
"Techniques such as Genetic engineering, Psychoactive drugs and electronic control of the brain make possible a transformation of the species into docile, fully-obedient, 'safe' organisms."
The current plans for global government are designed by a Luciferian elite who want to remove all true Christians from planet Earth. This is what the Russian occult teacher Madame Blavatsky called a great cleansing of the Earth. Blavatsky influenced Hitler and continues to have an enormous influence on the UN through her disciple Alice Bailey, who founded Lucifer Publishing on the grounds of the UN; its name was later changed to Lucis Publishing. At the very top this Luciferian elite is in direct communication with Lucifer and they are using supernatural power to control the Earth. I am currently working on a new book entitled, A Prophecy of the Future of America which will deal with this subjects in detail.
The Bible teaches that we are in the midst of a great conflict between the forces of Lucifer and his fallen angels and the Personal Living God of the Universe and His angels. Mankind is actively involved in this final spiritual battle. The Books of Daniel and Ezekiel, the Gospels, the letters of Paul, and the Book of Revelation give us a supernatural and prophetic roadmap into the future. In the Book of Revelation you see numerous accounts of the integration of science, technology,Transhumanism and the supernatural.
It is not an accident that the Book of Revelation and Bible prophecy is the central focus of attack by totalitarian regimes, secular humanism and the apostate church.
In this great spiritual war there are many battles. The battle of the mind is a key spiritual military theater. This battle encompasses thinking, ideas, theology, neurological pathways, enzyme activation of specific DNA to change the biochemistry of the brain and scientific cognitive enhancement. The mass culture embraces a virtual world through computers, psychotropic drugs, brain wave frequencies and the global media. A “brave new world,” of world of demons, vampires, occult powers, witchcraft, aliens, UFOs, and assorted supernatural entities has become the new reality. The military, science, technology, culture, psychology, and economics have become integrated with the occult and the supernatural. The U.S., Russian, Chinese, German and other militaries employ people who have advanced abilities in ESP, remote viewing, and telepathy. Many scientists have come to believe in aliens, UFOs, and a fourth dimension. Scientists are working on brain-computer interfacing, and also creating new DNA codes in an effort to create a race of supermen and Vril-type technologies.
Biblical prophecy warned us that these things would happen in the last days. In addition, the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Six outlines the fact that we are engaged in a multi-dimensional spiritual battle when he writes, “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and the dark unseen forces of wickedness in the heavenly realm.” By “heavenly realm” he means other dimensions.
Paul alluded to the great cosmic war between the forces of Lucifer and God, and this is a spiritual war which must be fought with spiritual weapons. The problem is that the average person today has no idea how powerful these spiritual weapons are. Conversely, the Luciferian Elite are fully aware of the nature and power of spiritual weapons.
Since God is outside of space and time, He knows the end from the beginning. Since He knew you before the foundation of the world and called you for such a time as this, He knew the exact nature of the world we would be living in. Biblical history is filled with examples of who the Personal Living God of the Universe reveals Himself supernaturally at the precise time precise time periods He is needed.
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For example, God instructed Noah to build an Ark before the Flood. The children of Israel were led out of slavery through Moses and the Red Sea parted at the exact moment in time the children of Israel needed it to because the armies of the god-king Pharaoh were almost upon them. David received the supernatural ability to destroy a Nephilim giant, Goliath before the Philistine army slaughtered Israel. Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead after being crucified. When Paul and Timothy were worshipping God in prison, there worship released a powerful earthquake the set them free from the prison.
When Philip was ministering to an Ethiopian eunuch, he was teleported by the Spirit of God to another location. Philip’s experience opens the door to Extra-Dimensional physics, Quantum Teleportation and Wormhole Teleportation. In the time period we are now entering, known as the “end of days,” the nature of reality as we know it is being radically changed. Our job is to learn how to navigate within it.
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© 2013 Paul McGuire - All Rights Reserved
Paul McGuire: radio talk show host, author, feature film producer and television commentator.
Paul McGuire is the author of 22 books, such as the best-selling, “The Day the Dollar Died” and “Are You Ready for the Microchip? Paul is the host of the syndicated television show, The Paul McGuire Report. Paul McGuire hosted the nationally syndicated talk radio show, "The Paul McGuire Show" for 10 years. Paul McGuire is a television commentator and has been a frequent guest on the Fox News Network and CNN.
Paul is the producer of two science fiction films in Hollywood. The History Channel did a 2-hour special with Paul McGuire entitled “Seven Signs of the Apocalypse.” Paul has interviewed numerous world leaders, Presidents and Prime Ministers. Paul lives in Los Angeles, California.
At fifteen years old, Paul was demonstrating with radical activist Abbie Hoffman and made an honorary member of the Black Panther Party. However, while studying “Altered States of Consciousness” at the University of Missouri, Paul had a miraculous experience hitchhiking in a remote area similar to the movie “Field of Dreams.” Paul re-thought his socialist and humanist world view and rejected it as completely false. Paul has devoted his life to communicating truth to people. | <urn:uuid:e3f50928-689b-4827-916b-2f1f5bde485b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newswithviews.com/McGuire/paul164.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959437 | 3,206 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Written by PETA
The following was written
by Joel Bartlett.
StarCraft players gearing up for the launch of
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be getting a new perspective on the game's
arthropodal extraterrestrials, the Zerg.
PETA—or, as we are renaming ourselves in honor
of the expansion pack's launch, "Terrans for the Ethical Treatment of
Zerglings"—will attend tonight's launch event in Irvine, California, and distribute copies of our
new "Zerglings Have Feelings, Too" leaflets as a reminder that gamers
and nongamers alike should have compassion for all beings—even those who are
very different from us.
Heart for the Swarm
We always root for the underdogs (and undermice
and underpigeons, etc.) at PETA. And when playing StarCraft, I had noticed how
the Zerg were treated more like animals than like other people. I couldn't help
but wonder if there would be an analog to PETA in the world of StarCraft.
Tonight, my dream will come true.
People often wonder what PETA has against
video games, especially after playing our Pokémon: Black and Blue or Super Tanooki Skin 2D parody
games, which have each gotten millions of people to think about PETA's issues
and, together, have led to more than 750,000 people watching PETA's hard-hitting
videos. The truth is that as a gamer and a PETA staffer, I get excited about
combining my passions.
So remember, while Zerglings are not real,
there are many equally "strange" and exotic animals we share this
planet with who deserve our empathy. Just because crocodiles and snakes look
alien to us, that doesn't make it OK to skin them alive for a handbag, shoes,
or a belt.
And if we had to share our world with the Zerg
in reality, I'd like to think that we'd make an effort to understand and
respect them rather than sending out the battlecruisers—because the alternative to having empathy for
other beings is about as grim as it gets, whether you're a Terran, a Zerg, or a
Protoss. OK, whoa, that got kind of serious there. What I am saying is look at
the cute Zergling! How could anyone ever want to hurt a Zergling?
all this talk of "Zerg rights" has you thinking, I recommend that you
check out Animal
Liberation, the groundbreaking book by Peter Singer, which is credited
with kick-starting the modern animal rights movement. What does "animal liberation"
even mean? See PETA's
summary of the book here to find out.
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:27c2b23b-18d7-43fb-8ff1-4627e4e3c5d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/tags/gaming/default.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948679 | 750 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Agency Alien Experts Wanted
Stephen G. Bassett is apparently spooking some people on Capitol Hill.
The Bethesda (Md.)-based lobbyist and self-proclaimed specialist in the "alien hypothesis" wants congressional hearings featuring former government employees willing to testify on the government's knowledge of alien life and visitations to Earth. He is beginning to get some attention for his clients--including a new one, the Schaumburg (Ill.)-based Operation Right to Know.
Members of Congress are already discussing the existence of extraterrestrial life, Bassett added, and some Washington think tanks are also beginning to study the matter. But he won't say which members or which think tanks are interested.
Meanwhile, LunaCorp Inc. is also lobbying on space issues. The Arlington (Va.)-based company wants to send space rovers armed with videocameras to the Moon, the better to let Americans enjoy the thrill of walking on the lunar surface, company president David Gump said.
But relying on existing rocket technology to get to the Moon would make the project extraordinarily expensive, he added. So Gump is lobbying on behalf of the Rotary Rocket Co., which is designing a cheaper, reusable rocket.
Gump has met a number of times with government space officials to push the issue. | <urn:uuid:7fde9a24-6a8f-4ac9-827e-05f13577f156> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.govexec.com/federal-news/1997/11/agency-alien-experts-wanted/4944/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945472 | 265 | 1.601563 | 2 |
"Sally Clarkson does a great job of reminding us that God is bigger than all of our concerns" -- The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
One Saturday last month, we had a rather regrettable morning. We were quickly packing six bikes, seven suitcases, seven people, and one dog into two cars. It was barely morning, and I am not a perky morning person. My husband is, however, and he was having difficulty motivating the rest of us. When the last item was shoved in place, and the cranky parents were separated into their two vehicles, we took off down the highway. I had decided to listen to Sally Clarkson’s WholeHearted Mother Conference tapes on the drive, but then I looked at the title. “PEACE AT HOME?” I moaned loudly. “What is THAT?” My daughter asked what I was grumbling about and I showed her the title of the tapes. What could she do but giggle? I was afraid the contrast between Peace At Home and Wheelers At Home might be too much for all of us, but I kept to my plan. Cynically pushing the cassette into the tape deck, I announced, “Okay, kids, it is time for peace at home!”
I am not sure what I expected, but was I surprised! Rather than getting slammed with “shoulds”, “oughts” and “if you would onlys,” I was met with support, encouragement, understanding, and the gentle prodding of God’s word. The opening story of the first tape is beyond hilarious. Instead of the tears of depression, comparing our lives to the mythical victorious homeschool life I thought would be proclaimed, we were laughing until we cried. Sally Clarkson understands the hassles, the temptations, and the realities of the homeschool life. She takes those experiences and gives messages filled with reality, humor, and the power of God’s word. When I finished the first two tapes, I felt like I had spent a few hours in a cafe with a dear friend, and Sally’s words of encouragement had
motivated me to love God and love others more deeply. Isn’t friendship and encouragement what we all need on this narrow road?
The titles for the five tapes are Finding Peace at Home, Giving Peace through Discipleship (The Model of Jesus in John), Centering on the Peace of God at Home, Lifegiving Is a Spiritual Choice (Phyllis Stanley) and A Peace Worth Keeping (Clay Clarkson). You can order these tapes by calling Whole Heart Ministries at 1-254-797-2142 or you can visit their website at www.wholeheart.org.
If you need some encouragement in your walk with the Lord, or if you need to be revived as a homeschooling mother, I recommend you listen to Keeping Peace at Home by Whole Heart Ministries. May you be encouraged as you focus your eyes on the Lord, the Source of true peace. Sally Clarkson does a great job of reminding us that God is bigger than all of our concerns and that He can be trusted with our hearts. Enjoy! | <urn:uuid:03a14698-fbb7-4885-9c7a-ba2f631e3a08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=42 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973447 | 657 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The Inverted Yield Curve and Other Economic Fads
For those who have better things to do with their time, an inverted yield curve refers to a situation in which short-term interest rates are higher than long-term interest rates. This reverses the normal course of events – typically investors expect to get a higher rate of return if they agree to lock up their money in a long-term bond or time-lock account rather than keeping it in a checking account where they can get immediate access. A few months back, as the Fed was raising short-term interest rates, without much increase in longer term rates, many market analysts raised the prospect that the yield curve would become inverted and that the economy would therefore sink into recession.
This discussion made for painful reading. There is no mysterious incantation that leads an inverted yield curve to do any special damage to the economy. The actual story here is rather simple. Inverted yield curves almost always (I say “almost” in case I missed one) come about because the Federal Reserve Board raises short-term interest rates in an effort to slow the economy and raise the unemployment rate. Sometimes the Fed goes too far and throws the economy into a recession. It is not the inverted yield curve that causes the recession; it is the fact that the Fed raised interest rates by too much. Whether the short-term rate stays 0.1 percentage point above or below the long-term interest rate cannot possibly make any difference when it comes to the probability of a recession.
With the 10-year Treasury bond rate hovering at 5.0 percent and the Federal funds rate at 5.25 percent, we might expect the inverted yield curve folks to be warning of impending disaster. However, this line is apparently no longer in fashion, or at least not in the business pages of the country’s major newspapers.
My other favorite recent fashion in economics dates back two years. In the summer of 2004, bond yields (interest rates) regularly fell on reports of higher oil prices. This was confusing to me since I’m an old-school type that tends to think that higher inflation is associated with higher interest rates, and higher oil prices mean higher inflation.
The economic fad of 2004 held out the opposite chain of causation. According to this story, rising oil prices pulled money out of consumers’ pockets, thereby slowing the economy. Since the economy was already slowing, the Fed would feel less need to raise interest rates.
This one never made much sense (don’t investors still care about the real return they get on their money?), but the story frequently appeared in the NYT and other papers. It also seemed to explain bond price movements at the time. Fortunately, this fad seems to have disappeared without a trace. Oil prices have shot through the roof in the last two years, and interest rates are …….. much higher. I am not surprised. | <urn:uuid:7ef929ca-6978-4dcd-ba49-8db0b547b492> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beatthepress.blogspot.com/2006/07/inverted-yield-curve-and-other.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968853 | 592 | 2.6875 | 3 |
WV silences massive opposition to quarry permit, we take action!
A permit was issued for a 100 acre quarry in Gerrardstown, WV, despite massive opposition--seen in 700 complaint letters and packed town hall meetings. Now, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls is appealing the permit because it could contaminate drinking water and permanently destroy the local landscape.
Brent says: "people here have said overwhelmingly that they do not want a quarry in their town. Their pleas were ignored despite the abundant environmental and human health hazards. This cannot stand."
West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says it received 787 letters against the permit—the largest response for or against any proposed permit in state history. A public hearing attracted a crowd of 500 people, based on estimates by DEP. Several people were denied the chance to speak so a second hearing had to be scheduled. The second hearing drew a crowd of 100 residents, which is still many times larger than the usual crowd of a dozen or so concerned citizens. The community response was spearheaded by C.A.R.E, a local group concerned with protecting the tranquility of North Mountain.
You can read more about our efforts to stop this hazardous permit in our press release, which was picked up by several news outlets! | <urn:uuid:10018d60-4831-4fa7-8ae7-e32414d40619> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shenandoahriverkeeper.org/updates/wv-silences-massive-opposition-quarry-permit-we-take-action | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975411 | 265 | 1.671875 | 2 |
When it comes to safely transporting an infant or toddler in a car there are hundreds of elaborately designed car seats to choose from. But when it comes to safely getting a trio of newborn growler bottles home from a brewery, you're expected to just toss them in you trunk and hope for the best. Well thanks to the Growler On Board, that's no longer the case.
Also referred to as the Beer Transport Unit—or BTU for short—the koozie-like foam support holds up to three bottles in a vertical orientation so there's less risk of them bouncing around, colliding with each other, or spilling. And while the $30 BTU is just as effective when placed on the floor or in the trunk of your car, for maximum safety you can even buckle it into the front seat so there's absolutely no risk of anything happening to your bottles. After all, you'd never think of throwing your kids in the trunk, would you? So why would you put your even more fragile microbrews at risk? | <urn:uuid:2ac998e4-23d1-43b5-af55-2bfd7bc581a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gizmodo.com/5944224/growler-car-seat-protects-your-most-important-passengers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971937 | 211 | 1.679688 | 2 |
REPORT: The State of Debt
Putting an end to 30 years of crisis
Thirty years of debt crisis have devastated livelihoods across the world. Debt cancellation finally released some countries from one debt trap, but the First World Debt Crisis shows yet again why reckless lending and borrowing need to be governed and controlled. The First World Debt Crisis has led to government debts in impoverished countries increasing, and unregulated opaque private lending also risks increasing inequality and crisis. We need a new system for monitoring and regulating the way money moves across the world, so that finance works for people.
READ THE REPORT (PDF, 449k) >> | <urn:uuid:464c02d7-0fce-41c3-8232-6b4d59da8580> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/stateofdebt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911916 | 125 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Working memory, language, and reading comprehension are strongly associated in children with severe and profound hearing impairment treated by cochlear implants (CI). In this study we explore this relationship in sixteen Swedish children with CI. We found that over 60% of the children with CI performed at the level of their hearing peers in a reading comprehension test. Demographic factors were not predictive of reading comprehension, but a complex working memory task was. Reading percentile was significantly correlated to the working memory test, but no other correlations between reading and cognitive/linguistic factors remained significant after age was factored out. Individual results from a comparison of the two best and the two poorest readers corroborate group results, confirming the important role of working memory for reading as measured by comprehension of words and sentences in this group of children. | <urn:uuid:77dabac6-ff9c-4651-a77e-9d00dc84c41a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.researchonline.mq.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:21729?exact=creator%3A%22Ibertsson%2C+Tina%22&f0=subject%3A%22Cognition%22&sort=metadata.fulltext%5C&highlights=false | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969927 | 160 | 2.40625 | 2 |
|Search ON THIS DAY by date|
The action, which has shocked the world, was ordered by President Ronald Reagan following a bloody coup by Cuban-trained military who executed Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, and at least 13 of his associates.
Backed by helicopter gunships, 1,900 US troops were airlifted to Pearls airport in the north of the island at dawn. They were followed a few hours later by 300 soldiers from six other Caribbean countries.
The invasion of this former British colony has angered British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who spoke with President Reagan last night to try to dissuade him from military action.
But the Pentagon has expressed a "sense of outrage" that she refused to participate in the invasion despite America's support during the Falklands conflict last year.
The US Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, said three US soldiers were killed as they fought members of a Cuban work force building a runway at Point Salinas Airport.
Other US officials said 30 Soviet advisers and 600 Cubans had been arrested. The Caribbean Broadcasting Corp owned by the Barbados government reported four Cubans dead.
President Reagan announced the attack at a news conference in the White House four hours after his troops had landed.
At his side was the prime minister of Dominica, Eugenia Charles, who is also chair of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The president said the US had taken military action after an appeal by the OECS, Jamaica and Barbados who were worried about the security of the region following last week's coup.
He also wanted to ensure the safety of a thousand Americans living in Grenada, including about 600 students and teachers at St George's University medical school.
Grenada gained its independence in 1974 and five years later there was a popular revolution led by the New Jewel Movement which brought the charismatic Marxist leader, Maurice Bishop, to power.
The coup leaders - Hudson Austin and Bernard Coard, Mr Bishop's former deputy - objected to the prime minister's policy of developing closer ties with the United States.
Hundreds more troops were sent in over the next few days. Heavy fighting continued but as the invasion force grew to more than 7,000 the defenders either surrendered or fled into the mountains.
The US Government puts the total death toll at 45 Grenadians, 24 Cubans and 19 Americans.
World leaders were outraged by America's action. On 28 October the United Nations failed to get a motion passed deploring the invasion - because it was vetoed by the United States.
Bernard Coard and 13 others were sentenced to death for Maurice Bishop's murder but these sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in 1991.
An Interim Advisory Council reinstated the 1974 constitution.
Elections were held in 1984 and the centre-left New National Party won and Herbert A Blaize became Grenada's new prime minister.
|Search ON THIS DAY by date| | <urn:uuid:3f9b9b52-2188-4fdc-9963-2b04017707af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/low/dates/stories/october/25/newsid_3207000/3207509.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982985 | 596 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Hello my name is Antuan Rene' Simmons and I am a poet from Texas. I have been writing poetry for 14 years, and I have just currently published my inspirational book “The Mustard Seed”. I wanted to tell you a little bit about my book, what it is, what you can expect from it, and the benefits of reading it. Here is a small summary of my book.
“The Mustard Seed” is a great book of inspiration. It has stories of wisdom and a love for life. You will read it and get a greater positive perspective on the world. It tells about prayer, meditation, spirituality, and how we should count our everyday blessings. Once you read the “The Mustard Seed” you will grow wiser, enlightened, and appreciative. The book speaks on how to handle failure, how life is a gift, the importance of prayer, and how we should cherish life. The book is good if you are depressed, and if your heart needs to be filled with hope. A great gift book to pass on to a friend who is seeking spiritual comfort. Read and learn what having the “Faith of a mustard seed” all is about. “The Mustard Seed” is your light in darkness.
The major benefit of the book is that it makes a great gift book. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter would be perfect to give to friends and families. The book is not very long. If you are an avid reader it can be read in about an hour to two hours. The non-avid reader will also like it, because they can finish it quickly, without taking to much time away from their regular duties. Although a small book, it hits those spiritual strings. You will feel inspired after you read it.
“The Mustard Seed” can be downloaded to your Kindle from Amazon, and the paperback version can be bought on Amazon as well.
Antuan Rene' Simmons - Southern Poet | <urn:uuid:abfa6448-90ec-4034-9fdd-fac1c84b6e4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=162373&id=65848 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964247 | 409 | 1.617188 | 2 |
"Once they were a byword for mindless docility. But cows have a secret mental life in which they bear grudges, nurture friendships and become excited over intellectual challenges, scientists have found.Anyone who has ever lived with animals can tell you how complex their emotional behavior is, and how similar to humans. Even scientists themselves are very close to us in this respect.
Cows are also capable of feeling strong emotions such as pain, fear and even anxiety — they worry about the future...
The findings have emerged from studies of farm animals that have found similar traits in pigs, goats, chickens and other livestock. They suggest that such animals may be so emotionally similar to humans that welfare laws need to be rethought."
"John Webster, professor of animal husbandry at Bristol, has just published a book on the topic, Animal Welfare: Limping Towards Eden. “People have assumed that intelligence is linked to the ability to suffer and that because animals have smaller brains they suffer less than humans. That is a pathetic piece of logic,” he said.I love the thought of little bovine cliques in the pasture, the girls just hanging out, doing each others' hair and dissing the bitches. Don't even get started about the sex.
Webster and his colleagues have documented how cows within a herd form smaller friendship groups of between two and four animals with whom they spend most of their time, often grooming and licking each other. They will also dislike other cows and can bear grudges for months or years."
"The assumption that farm animals cannot suffer from conditions that would be considered intolerable for humans is partly based on the idea that they are less intelligent than people and have no “sense of self”.I'm the same way, myself.
Increasingly, however, research reveals this to be untrue. Keith Kendrick, professor of neurobiology at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, has found that even sheep are far more complex than realised and can remember 50 ovine faces — even in profile. They can recognise another sheep after a year apart.
Kendrick has also described how sheep can form strong affections for particular humans, becoming depressed by long separations and greeting them enthusiastically even after three years." | <urn:uuid:c4f96d1a-c124-4f00-85f7-dda24b2e3741> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://country2.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_archive.html | 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 | 0.972663 | 459 | 2.890625 | 3 |
In March 2009, the Tibetan Buddhist monk and teacher Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan visited Colorado Springs and taught in a variety of settings. The turnout for and response to his talks, on the Colorado College campus and elsewhere, was so positive that Khen Rinpoche suggested to Natalie Morris and David Gardiner, who organized his visit, that they consider establishing a new, non-sectarian Buddhist center in Colorado Springs. A few months later, they founded BodhiMind Center.
BodhiMind Center is dedicated to exploring the Buddha’s teachings on liberation and compassion. While the Tibetan tradition is the root of our inspiration, our programs honor all paths of genuine spiritual transformation. We offer a year-roundschedule of opportunities for study and practice. Our Calendar shows our ongoing meditation sessions, lectures, seminars,reading groups and other activities. | <urn:uuid:eeabb2b6-0386-4860-be5a-ad9177c780b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.meetup.com/The-Colorado-Springs-BodhiMind-Meetup-Group/photos/1325160/22349750/?photo_offset=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935836 | 176 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Hi. I am new to this board and a novice when it comes to DC systems. I am building a small wood car. I have purchased a set of 24V wheelchair motors with the controller and throttle. This is a joystick system. I am planning to change this to a twist throttle and set this up as a pedal throttle. The controller is a Penny & Giles. The joystick has 4 wires.
I want to use reverse for the car. In the wheelchair, you would just go backwards on the joystick to get the unit to go backwards. I know I will need to add a switch to activate the reverse. In looking at schematics for the P&G. It shows the red wire as the reverse.
Can someone give me assistance in how to hook up the reverse so that I can run it off the hand throttle. The hand throttles come with three and 4 wires. | <urn:uuid:7ff3e4e8-5208-4892-9c5e-6aaa8d8e7e95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=12839.msg95870 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955262 | 181 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The Project in Bangalore India:
What has been achieved by the "Friends of Camphill India" so far?
A first family house for 12 mentally disabled adults, house parents and 3 co-workers has been built on a piece of land outside Bangalore. Next to this house a star-shaped workshop building was constructed, in which the disabled residents can carry out various activities according to their abilities. Around the buildings a garden has been laid out where vegetables are grown. The whole community has their own water supply through a bore well. By beginning of May 1999 the buildings were occupied and slowly the number of residents and co-workers is growing. The workshop building will have to be equipped with facilities for producing different crafts. The ongoing financing of day-to-day expenses still has to be ensured. The aim is to become self-sufficient through produce from the workshops and garden. Running Cost per month for a residential community with 12 mentally disabled adults and 5 co-workers.
Five Years Later…..
More than five years have passed since our community was inaugurated.
During this period we have grown into a well-established residential home for 24 men and women with special needs. One more family house, Santvana, was constructed and inaugurated in December 2002. More co-workers have joined us and some have left again. Over the years many young volunteers from other countries worked with us for limited periods. The garden was transformed from wilderness to lush greenery with plenty of fruit-bearing trees and a great variety of vegetables. The water shortage is more or less solved. We have two bore wells that provide sufficient water for the houses, and a sewage water treatment plant was added during the construction of Santvana, from which we now get plenty of water for the garden.
The community attracts many visitors: family members of our residents come regularly; student groups from other institutions are interested in our work, many friends from foreign Camphill communities spend time with us, and there is always a very warm welcome for all.
Over the years many special events have been observed, amongst them the baptism of little Uma, the marriage of Ladu and Anusuya (two of our Indian co-workers), the passing away of our dear resident Raju.
There were holidays for all in the community: one summer a bus took the whole group to Conoor, on invitation of Susan’s parents, Mrs. and Mr. Philip. Another time it was a train journey to Pune, to spend a week with the friends in Sadhana Village.
Religious festivals, anniversaries, birthdays and other special events are celebrated with plenty of enthusiasm. Often a play is performed, where all in the community join in and this always provides a colourful change from the daily routine.
As a new experience groups of residents were taken to several industries in the vicinity. This gave them a chance to come face-to-face with the working world and was an eye opener for many.
Our annual workshop in Social Therapy has become a regular activity. During an intensive week speakers from other Camphill communities share their experience and knowledge with our co-workers and other interested participants. Lectures, discussions, artistic activities, eurhythmy and singing give our co-workers an opportunity to learn more about the richness of life in a Camphill community.
Fundraising has been an ongoing activity. Souvenirs were published over three years and funds were collected through advertisements. The annual Christmas bazaars and sales at the Valley School are always a welcome outlet for the products from our workshops and proceeds from these sales flow back into the workshops for purchase of new material. This year greeting cards were printed and sold successfully and we also published a brochure that gives an all-round picture of life and people in the community.
The recently opened bakery will, in the long run, also be a source of income. But more important, a group of our residents can now gain new values by learning about discipline, continuity, punctuality, hygiene, and quality – all aspects of a regular job.
In our workshops the residents learn how to weave, make candles, do pottery or help in papermaking - always under the guidance of co-workers and volunteers. Using their hands to create something of value does not come easily to our residents and often takes months of patient perseverance. But sooner or later each one finds the work that suits him or her. Whether it is tearing up paper into tiny scraps, whether it is rolling minute clay beads, learning to embroider or experimenting with simple weaving, there is progress and the results are encouraging.
After five years, we can see that the further growth of our permanent Indian co-workers is dependant on a deeper education in Social Therapy. Through our contact with KPAMRC (Karnataka Parents Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens) we realized that others also share this particular need. Therefore we are happy to announce that in November 2004 “Friends of Camphill India” has started conducting a part time course in “Social Therapy” which will be spread over a period of 3 years. This is meant especially for those individuals who are interested in the field of “community building” with and for adults with mental disabilities and would also include parents, social workers, special educators and anybody interested in social renewal. | <urn:uuid:bf98a013-c4b9-4604-a3ed-53f2f7a7c931> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.friends-of-camphill-india.com/Englisch/project.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975367 | 1,086 | 1.570313 | 2 |
This striking (and haunting) image of an early twentieth-century resort foundation surfaced while I was searching for a photo of the San Andreas Fault. Apparently, the waters of the Salton Sea, a freshwater lake that had once been the tip of the Gulf of California, turned a hill into an island, Mullet Island. And, then I read this line from the caption:
“Scientists have discovered that human-created changes effecting the Salton Sea appear to be the reason why California’s massive Big One earthquake is more than 100 years overdue and building up for the greatest disaster ever to hit Los Angeles and Southern California. Researchers found that strands of the San Andreas Fault under the 45-mile long rift lake have have generated at least five 7.0 or larger quakes about every 180 years. This ended in the early 20th century when authorities stopped massive amounts of Colorado River water from periodically flooding the into this sub-sea level desert basin.
Such floods used to regularly trigger major quakes and relieve building seismic pressure, but the last big earthquake on the southern San Andreas was about 325 years ago. Dangerous new fault branches that could trigger a 7.8 quake have recently been discovered under the Salton Sea.
Do I stand in awe, or hold my hand over my heart and parrot Fred Sanford, “I’m coming, Elizabeth!”
~Trent Gilliss, senior editor
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Ascending Staircases of Sonoma Light
by Susan Leem, associate producer
“I think about that ‘empty’ space a lot. That emptiness is what allows for something to actually evolve in a natural way.”
—Meredith Monk, from Mountain Record
In the video above, the singer and composer Meredith Monk fills up a magical performance space that reaches 78 feet up from the ground to a ceiling that opens to the blue sky. The musicians, dancers, and singers all harmonize on different stories of the tower, almost calling to each other from level to level.
Designed by artist Ann Hamilton, the concrete tower is 24 feet in diameter with a pool of water at the base. The interior reflects some of the natural light that fills the double helix staircase and passes through rhythmically-placed metal handrails. Unlike a more traditional performance space where an audience might sit full-on facing a filled stage, there are pockets and openings in the tower to allow performers or even the audience to inhabit the walls. Light, song, and beauty naturally evolve into that empty space.
A Mormon Example on Sexuality and Religion
by Krista Tippett, host
Religion Dispatches offers a riveting report of a recent meeting in Oakland in which a leading Mormon authority offered an apology for the pain caused by the LDS Church’s activism on California’s Propisition 8. To an emotional gathering of “LGBT Mormons and their allies,” Elder Marlin K. Jensen reportedly said:
“To the full extent of my capacity, I say that I am sorry … I know that many very good people have been deeply hurt, and I know that the Lord expects better of us.”
I’m on record as saying that we should measure the public virtue of religious traditions not merely by the positions they take, but by the way they treat those with whom they agree and disagree along the way. It is, sadly, rare to witness religious authorities open up to this kind of human and seemingly searching encounter on an issue in which they have staked a theological and political claim. I say, “Bravo.”
So You’re Krista Tippett!?
Mitch Hanley, Senior Producer
Krista Tippett meets Maria Shriver. Krista is in Long Beach, California this week to participate in Shriver’s 2008 Women’s Conference. On Wednesday afternoon, Krista will be moderating a discussion called, “Got Faith? Your Life Has Meaning: Live it. Love it. Pass it On,” which includes Sister Joan Chittister, Ingrid Mattson, Timothy Shriver, and Sylvia Boorstein (in photo, far right).
Rick Warren and the Presidency
Krista Tippett, Host
I’ve been fuming a bit this week over the way the usual constellation of journalists, pundits, and commentators have analyzed this past Saturday’s Civil Forum on the Presidency, hosted by Rick Warren at his Saddleback Church in southern California. I watched the forum with great interest and found it a useful contribution to our evolving sense of who Barack Obama and John McCain are, what they believe in, how they explain and present themselves.
I won’t focus here on my personal impression of how the candidates performed. I will say that I found much to admire in the way the evening was laid out. Interviewing them separately and asking each of them roughly the same set of questions provided a remarkable display of how different they really are. While some of Warren’s questions were predictable, I thought that many of them were very good, and different enough from the usual network or public broadcasting fare that they elicited a few answers we hadn’t heard before.
For example, Warren asked each of them, in the context of tax reform, to “define rich.” At another point he noted that what is often called “flip flopping” may be a sign of wisdom — changing one’s mind can be a result of personal strength and growth. Such common sense questions and statements have been lamentably rare in all the debates hosted by professional journalists in this long campaign season up to now.
And yet the edition of the Sunday New York Times that landed on my doorstep the next morning did not even report on this first post-primary encounter of the two candidates on the same stage. I’ve heard and read one parody after the other online, in print, and on the air, at least in my home territory of public radio. When these news gatherers have seen fit to mention the Saddleback event, they’ve analyzed it in terms of what it says about the changing Evangelical scene. The same kinds of journalists who are happy to earnestly take the temperature of “the man on the street” have gleefully made fun of the demeanor and words of Saddleback members who attended the event Saturday night and church the next morning. It’s been a field day for pat generalizations about Evangelicals that nearly amount to caricature - sometimes verging on bigotry - that might be nixed by editors if it were about people of different ethnicity or race.
Obviously I have strong feelings about this. Did any of you watch the event? What do you think?
Rounding Out a Fine Month of Poetry
Alda Balthrop-Lewis, Production Intern
Kate posted a poem a while back that, she said, bonked her on the head. Robinson Jeffers, nature poet of the Central Coast in California, wrote this one that never fails to make me gasp. As the snows linger on in Minnesota, it also makes me a little homesick for the grandeur of the Pacific.
Editorial Note June 12, 2008: “The Great Explosion” is reprinted on many sites on the internet. In deference to copyright, the text has been removed from this post and a link to the text provided above. (Kate Moos, Managing Editor)
(photo: “Carmel Valley” by Mike Disharoon/flickr) | <urn:uuid:c4759832-a3a1-4bc9-8f1a-e71a0011bb80> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.onbeing.org/tagged/california | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948091 | 1,574 | 2.609375 | 3 |
A Day in the Life: Disney, February 1927
By Michael Barrier
Top row: Walker Harman, Ub Iwerks, Lois Hardwick, Walt Disney, Rudolph Ising; bottom row: Friz Freleng, Roy O. Disney, Hugh Harman.
Left to right: Friz Freleng, Walker Harman, Walt Disney, Lois Hardwick, Rudolph Ising, Ub Iwerks, Hugh Harman, Roy O. Disney
Left to right, Walker Harman, Friz Freleng, Rudolph Ising, Roy O. Disney, Lois Hardwick, Hugh Harman, Ub Iwerks, Norman Blackburn, Paul Smith, Walt Disney.
These photos of the Disney studio's staff, with the fourth and the last of the girls who played the title character in the Alice Comedies, were all were taken on the same day in 1927, probably sometime between February 5 and 10. Another photo from the same session is on page 84 of Walt in Wonderland: The Silent Films of Walt Disney, by Russell Merritt and J. B. Kaufman, and according to Dave Smith of the Walt Disney Archives, there was one more.
Friz Freleng had joined the staff on January 15, and Norm Blackburn on February 5; Paul Smith had been on the payroll since 1926, but he left the staff on February 10. By the time he returned, on April 2, Rudy Ising had been fired (as of March 26), and production of the Alice Comedies was ending, the series having been supplanted by the new Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series. So it was only on those few days in early February that everyone in the photos was on the Disney staff.
Walt and his staff had posed in knickers for a similar (and often reproduced) photo with the previous Alice, Margie Gay. Probably the photos from both sessions were intended for publicity purposes, although Rudy Ising, writing to me in 1979, wasn't sure: "No particular reason for the taking of these photos that I can think of. Walt did like to have photos taken of himself and his staff every so often. ... Maybe he might have thought that being dressed in suits instead of the now well known shot of us all in golf pants would be more dignified."
My copies of these photos originated with Rudy Ising and Paul Smith.
[Posted March 6, 2008] | <urn:uuid:3fa2f2a4-c299-4335-8b90-f0256a6c21f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Essays/Disney1927/Disney1927.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974458 | 490 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Some of us have been fortunate enough to be raised in an environment where we were taught that it was acceptable to speak our minds and feel our feelings. When we felt sad we cried, and when we felt upset we let others around us know. Some of you, however, were raised in environments where ‘being nice’ and ‘being good’ trumped ‘being yourself’. If you find yourself in the second category, then you might be a perpetrator of ‘shelving your emotions’.
Let’s compare a whole mess of feelings you experience to a mess in the middle of a room you have to clean up. You’ve got company coming over so you throw things on shelves and in closets as quickly as you can so no one sees your mess (which is really just the reality of your everyday life). In effect, you say “I can’t deal with this now – I’ll just put it away and deal with it later.” We try to ‘put away’ our emotions and show our good face to the world, hoping to deal with our reactions and feelings when it’s safer and easier.
Much of the time this strategy gets us by. We keep ourselves to ourselves. We put things high up on our shelves, way away from most other people. Maybe we’ll show the truth to someone close, a friend or spouse, but for the most part we censor and filter. And if we have a particularly messy day, week, or year we find out that the shelves aren’t as sturdy as we’d like them to be.
Shelved emotions leak out. What happens when you cram a book right in the middle of a completely full shelf? Of course, one (or two or three) fall off the end, right? Maybe one comes down and knocks you right in the head! As much as we want control in our lives, we can’t hold on to absolutely everything by ourselves. If you cram away those potent feelings, they’ll often come back in ways you’re not prepared for. We’ve all had that coworker who completely disagreed with everything his or her boss said but bit their tongue. Sooner or later it comes out whether it’s failed deadlines, coming in late, gossip, or chronic bad attitude. We like to chalk it up to other external circumstances, which might certainly be true – but it’s not the whole truth.
Even if you manage to keep the more noticeable and overt behaviors in check, your true feelings have a way of surfacing in subtle ways – a nervous laugh, a look in your face – Freud called this parapraxis, which refers to a slip of the tongue or small error that reveals a hidden desire or motive. It’s easy to think that we are putting on the face we want to put on. Often though it’s just like listening to your voice on the answering machine, “I never knew I sounded like that!”
Shelves can break. Put enough feelings away in your heart and sooner or later a shelf will break and one of two things could happen. Either it was triggered by another person who then gets trampled by my stored up emotional baggage and is bombarded by major upset in our relationship, or the person who takes the brunt of the emotional avalanche is me! Caution: hard hat area. No one likes a life full of seemingly uncontrollable upswings and downswings in relationships. On the flip side, internalizing your negative feelings is no way to live. Again, we like to think we can just contain ourselves. The truth of the matter, though, is that the more authentically we share ourselves the more authentically we can be ourselves.
Coming soon: “What do we do with feelings?” | <urn:uuid:2782459c-72f0-4b77-8241-3db94e2faa20> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://growinginfaith.net/shelve-your-emotions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962311 | 804 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Islam is based upon two principles - submission and duality. When you understand how these principles work, you'll understand the political doctrine of Islam.
Islam's first principle is submission---and that is part of the meaning of both the words Islam and Muslim. Islam means 'to submit' and Muslim means 'one who has submitted.'
Islam is a chain of submission. The ranking of authority is Allah, then Muhammad, the Muslim, the kafir, the dhimmi and the slave. In this country, we are beginning to see how submission works. We're not as far along as Europe, but Muslims have immigrated here and have started making their demands. The first thing they have demanded is this: everything in the textbooks of America must conform to their way of teaching about Islam. No kafir is allowed to write in the textbooks of America anything that is critical of Islam. It all has to be vetted by Islam. Our textbook system has already submitted.
But submission is not enough to explain the success of Islam. Its most powerful principle is duality. Duality is the second major principle of Islam. We see duality in how the Qur’an and Muhammad's life are divided. First comes Mecca: the preacher...the religion---'You have your religion, I have mine.' Then comes Medina. Medina is jihad. You must submit in this life, or Islam has the option of harming you. The two positions contradict each other, but both of them are equally true.
This duality explains Islam's overwhelming success. Islam has two faces that it presents to the world. The face of Mecca and the face of Medina. Medina is the violent phase---the political phase. Mecca is the nice phase. What we have is that the Qur’an of Mecca is used as a shield. It's the Teflon coating. It's the public face of Islam. Mecca is what Muslims always talk about when they talk about Islam to kafirs. This duality---this subtlety---is what makes Islam so powerful, because you can't just jump up and condemn Islam as being totally violent. Most Muslims are not violent at all, so therefore, this charge doesn't work.
Duality is when Muslims say that anything that is based upon the Qur’an of Medina is not the real Islam (i.e., Osama bin Laden, 9/11, al Quaeda)---"Oh, that's not the real Islam." The duality of Islam lies in the fact that two contradictory things are both true. The Muslim friend, the nice Muslim at work---they're only one-half of Islam. The real Islam actually includes both the Muslim friend and Osama bin Laden. The real Islam includes both the Qur’an of Mecca (religious) and the Qur’an of Medina (political)...hence, we have a duality.
In our courts of law, if you take an oath as a witness, you swear: "I will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth." The 'nothing but the truth' prohibits lies. But 'the whole truth' prohibits something that's equally a lie---a half-truth. The whole truth of Islam includes the half-truth of Mecca and the other half-truth of Medina.
So, the religious Qur’an of Mecca is the Teflon coating. It's the Medina version that's always denied in public, but inside of Islam, it is known that Medina outranks Mecca. This outranking of Medina over Mecca is what explains another phenomena in Islam. When something dreadful happens, such as the 9/11 destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center; the London bombings; the Muhammad cartoon riots---when those happen, Muslims say, "Oh, that is not the real Islam." And yet, it is the real Islam. But notice something: they do not protest against those dreadful incidents; they merely deny that Islam is to blame for them. Why don't they protest against the Medinan Muslims, the Jihadists? Because they are outranked. The Medinan Qur’an that celebrates war and political power is higher and more powerful than the Meccan Qur’an. In The Wizard of Oz, when they see the little man behind the curtain, and a voice says, "Oh, no, no, do not look at the man behind the curtain," that is the way the duality of Mecca and Medina works. Mecca says, "Oh, no, do not look at the Medinan Qur’an behind the curtain!" So we don't---and we're fooled.
We need to see the entire truth of Islam. The whole truth, not the half-truth. That is the reason that understanding the principle of duality is an absolute necessity. If you do not understand the principle of duality, you will always be fooled by the Qur’an of Mecca.
Let's see how duality can work in real life. Let's say there is a retired military man who is a devout Christian. He has some Muslim friends. They point out to him the verses in the Qur’an of Mecca that sound very good to him and they tell him, "This is Islam." He says, "This is very good. This is like Christianity. I like this. And besides, the Muslims are such moral people: they don't drink; their women are very modest; they don't gamble. This must be the real truth of Islam." And off he goes into the marketplace of ideas, proclaiming that Christianity and Islam are perfectly compatible. Indeed, they're like brothers. Because of duality, he does not understand that there is another truth---the truth of Medina. But his logic is a Western logic, and so he thinks, "Jihad is contrary to the peace of Islam, so jihad must be false, or else it must only mean 'inner struggle,' like an inner spiritual struggle against self. That must be it, because I believe in the truth of the peace of Mecca." Dualism has fooled him.
But dualism is used in all the words of Islam. They use the same words we do, but they have entirely different meanings. Let's take, for example, the word "peace"---'salaam.' Now, that sounds very nice, but when you understand what Islam means by peace, it's not nice at all.
Peace in Islam comes only after you have submitted to Islam. The submission can be brought about by jihad. So, here again, the Qur’an of Mecca covers over the Qur’an of Medina. That is, our common understanding of the word 'peace' hides the fact that jihad can be used to achieve Islamic peace.
Here's another example of dualism---women's rights. Muslims are very quick to use the term 'women's rights' and claim that Islam grants women rights. And this is true, but the rights they have are: the right to be beaten; the right to inherit half as much; and the right to have their testimony only be worth half of that of a man in court. This dualism allows a Muslim to look straight at a problem and not see the other half. After 9/11, Muslims protested, "We are the religion of peace." They were able to maintain that since they're so used to having a dualistic view. They can accept 'the religion of peace' as being absolutely true, while at the same time, they know that jihad is one of the teachings of Islam. Dualism allows a Muslim to have a totally compartmentalized mind, in which the Qur’an of Medina never interferes with the Qur’an of Mecca. But, deep within the political doctrine of Islam, we have duality and the kafir.
Jihad demands complete submission from the kafir and forces the kafir into a completely separate social and political class. Islam allows its women to be beaten. Once again, we see submission and duality. Islam has a separate set of rules for women. Both categories---kafirs and women---must submit.
Submission and duality are also part of Islamic slavery. Islamic slavery and its fundamental principles have already been discussed in a previous article. Submission and duality are demonstrated within the entire process of slavery. Who submits more than a slave? Who, within society, is as separated as a slave? Slaves fall under a separate moral code. We see that submission and duality completely explain slavery.
There is also the idea of the dhimmi and dhimmitude---again, we have the duality of a social and political class. The dhimmi exists within an Islamic political system, in which he is subjugated and not given full legal rights.
The grand duality in all Islam is Mecca and Medina. Mecca must submit to Medina, and the duality here is that you have two separate Qurans that contradict each other; yet both of them are completely true. We see submission and duality in Islam's ethics, where we have one set of rules for the believer, and another set of rules for the kafir. Islamic politics are dualistic. Muhammad, of course, is the chief dualist. His entire life is divided into the preacher, which did not work so well, and the successful jihadist/politician. Now, Islam says it worships one---and only one---God, but that God---Allah---is the God of duality, and the God of submission whom everyone is to fear. The Qur’an says, over 300 times, that we are to fear Allah.
All of Islam can be explained by the principles of duality and submission. That's the beauty of knowing the two principles. Once you understand duality, and once you understand submission, you really no longer have any need of the doctrine, because everything that happens in Islam can be explained by those two principles.
Every political system has fundamental principles that underlie it. Our political system of democracy has the Golden Rule as a foundation. The Golden Rule underlies everything that we do in government. It is our moral and political guide. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Some may jump up and say, "We don't always follow that principle, do we?" No, but we use the Golden Rule to criticize our own behavior, and if we can clearly point out that something is unfair and abuses others, then the Golden Rule is the principle we use to fix that. It is our guiding principle, even if it is not something that we always fulfill.
Islam denies the truth of the Golden Rule, because the Golden Rule is the same for every person, and Islam has two sets of behavior - one for the kafir and another for the believer. Islam divides humanity into Muslims and kafirs.
This is very important: We need to understand that there cannot be a compromise between submission and duality, and the Golden Rule. We would like to think that everyone can coexist peacefully, but Islam does not work like that. Islam demands submission. There is simply no compromise between a system that wants to use the Golden Rule and be democratic, and another system that says that everyone has to submit. When they say ‘everyone’ has to submit, Islam means everyone. Let's take some political examples.
What we now call Afghanistan used to be a Buddhist nation. It was a nation of peace and wealth. Then Islam invaded. Today, in Afghanistan, there is not a single Buddhist to be found. Not one. The only place you can find any Buddhism in Afghanistan is if you dig into the dirt like an archaeologist; and then you might be able to find the remnants of Buddhism.
Islam keeps working until 100% of a civilization gives way to it. Today, Turkey is 99.7% Islamic. Islam is working very hard to make sure that the other .3% disappears. This would mean that, over a period of time, every single Christian in Turkey would be gone. They will have emigrated elsewhere, or have been killed in a street riot. Islam does not cease until submission is 100%. Yet---and this is important---the entire time that Islam is making the kafir submit, it keeps proclaiming the truth of Mecca---it keeps claiming to be peaceful.
The principles of submission and duality contradict and deny the Golden Rule. So, how can it be, if they contradict, that they can both coexist? We're going to have to study the laws of duality and submission. Once you understand duality, you will not merely understand half a truth, and then proclaim that that is the entire truth. You will understand that Islam is grinding away, very slowly, at our own democratic rights.
Islam has an overwhelming advantage over the kafir. Islam has a thousand-year plan. Duality and submission are part of a thousand-year plan. Islam's duality and submission are like gravity. It never sleeps. It's always there. Always pressuring, always pushing. Submission must occur with the kafir---if not now, then tomorrow. Islam is very patient. Muhammad said that, in war, patience is a virtue. Muslims study Muhammad. They know that submission may take time, but Islam is very patient.
In Turkey, it's taken them 400 years to get to the 99.7% mark. They're not in a hurry. They can keep fooling the Europeans and say, ‘we're very democratic,’ but there you have another use of a word by Islam that does not mean the same thing that we mean. ‘Democratic’ in Turkey includes the elimination of all of the kafirs. True democracy is not what Islam practices. True democracy would mean that the kafir has an equal say along with the believer. The Qur’an of Medina says that cannot happen. The kafir must submit to the Qur’an of Medina. So, ‘democracy’ in Turkey is a sham and a fraud. It is a tool used as a way of submission, but in the public face of the political councils of Europe, the Qur’an of Mecca stands up and says ‘we are a modern state’---but this is merely a veil or Teflon coating. Meanwhile, the sword of the Qur’an of Medina is working. More Christians emigrate from Turkey all the time, just like they do in Iraq. In Iraq, they form 3% of the population and 30% of the emigrants, because they're unable to deal with submission inside of Iraq.
But in our country---which is, so far, free of duality and submission---we keep believing the Qur’an of Mecca. We are historically ignorant of the principle of duality. We only see one end of the stick---we don't see the other. We don't look at the man behind the curtain. We're fascinated by the cape, while we ignore the sword. The sweet words of the Qur’an of Mecca pour out of our media, our universities and our politicians' mouths, and we think this is good. We don't have to worry, because a peaceful Islam is here---a reformed Islam is here. So we can relax---we can go back to sleep.
The above text is taken from the website Political Islam. | <urn:uuid:bc40570d-3ee3-4c60-839d-0d7fa0b7e440> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jeffjenkinsocala.blogspot.com/2009/12/islam-submission-and-duality.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963517 | 3,161 | 2.875 | 3 |
Health & Wellness: Slim down for summer
It can be sobering to realize that beach and pool season is right around the corner. There are some right and wrong ways to shed a few pounds, and here are some guidelines to get you started.
Nutritionists have long noted that crash diets can be unhealthy and ineffective with regards to long-term weight loss. But a recent study from Tufts University found that done correctly with a healthy, calorie-cutting, food-based diet, fad diets can produce quick and lasting success. Clinical experience shows that somebody with a serious commitment to weight loss can lose up to 20 pounds -- and two to three dress sizes -- in two months.
Weight loss that results from such diets is more water weight than fat. Reducing portion sizes and caloric intake could provide a metabolism boost.
Being active is usually conducive to losing weight. But the right exercises are also key. Heavy manual labor may not be the best route to take, as building muscle could also increase overall weight and add bulk to the body. Cardiovascular and light toning exercises can help many people achieve their weight-loss goals more quickly than dieting alone.
Indulge in good foods
Filling up on foods that help your body realize it is full can help with weight loss. These include foods that are high in fiber and protein. Choose nonstarch vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, which are high in fiber. Chickpeas and other legumes will also fill you up fast. Snack on berries and apples, which are filling and also a good source of fiber. Look for whole-grain breads, which are more substantial than overly processed breads.
Set reasonable goals
Even a small amount of weight loss can result in marked improvement in how you look and feel, especially when sporting a swimsuit. Personal health should always take precedence over losing weight to improve your appearance.
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Barbara Lombardo is the managing editor of The Saratogian.
Updates on Spa City and Saratoga County business news and trends.
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Reporter Caitlin Morris offers insights into the issues affecting Saratoga County residents. | <urn:uuid:27791378-bfa1-4d20-a7a9-ecced05d3786> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2013/01/20/bspalife/doc50f851ccdc3b0253110046.txt?viewmode=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923536 | 742 | 2.09375 | 2 |