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DYING TO ENTERTAIN
- Killer whales in captivity have an annual mortality rate that is 2.5 times higher than killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.
- Among some pods in the Pacific Northwest, males can live up to 60-70 years, with an average life expectancy of 30, and females can live to 90 or more, with an average life expectancy of 46.
- Most killer whales at SeaWorld die in their teens and twenties, sometimes under abnormal circumstances.
IN “HUMAN CARE”
- Trainers routinely stuff the gills of fish with antibiotics, antacids and vitamins, and inject them with fresh water, because freezing, storing, thawing and processing fish reduces its nutritional value and fresh water content and stress is a constant concern.
- Some orcas are given up to 80 pounds of gelatin per day in part to combat dehydration.
- Some killer whales break and wear down their teeth on metal gates and must have the pulp removed with a power drill. Teeth then must be flushed several times daily to prevent food from causing deadly bacterial infections.
- One whale was filmed lashing out aggressively in response to trainers trying to jam a wooden block in his mouth in order to control him while performing an endoscopy.
- There are no records at any time in history of wild orcas seriously injuring or killing a person.
- Around 15% of all orcas held in SeaWorld’s collection have been involved in acts of serious aggression against trainers, a dismal safety record that would never be tolerated in other industries.
- Orcas at SeaWorld have lunged at trainers, pulled them in the water, held them at the bottom of the pool, head-butted them, slammed them with tail flukes and breached on top of them.
- The 12,000 pound Tilikum – the world’s largest captive predator – killed Canadian trainer Keltie Byrne in 1991, surgically opened the scrotum of Daniel Dukes, a man who snuck into the tank in 1999 but did not make it out, and brutally killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.
- Brancheau’s death was more grisly than most realize: part of her arm was torn off, her scalp was ripped away, her sternum was crushed and her liver was lacerated. This was a purposeful killing.
- Two months before Brancheau died, trainer Alexis Martinez at Loro Parque in Spain was violently rammed and killed by Keto, an orca on loan from SeaWorld.
TILIKUM AND DAWN BRANCHEAU
- SeaWorld routinely allowed its most senior trainers to put themselves in extremely vulnerable positions with Tilikum, even though he had already been involved in the death of two people.
- Some SeaWorld defenders said the incident was Dawn’s fault and she should never have been in such a vulnerable position. But several SeaWorld witnesses at the hearing to overturn the OSHA violation testified that Dawn did not break protocol that day.
- Despite the clear danger of being in shallow water so close to Tilikum, SeaWorld to this day considers what Dawn was doing when she died to be “dry work” instead of “water work.”
- SeaWorld had been clearly warned of the risks in allowing water work. Following a serious incident at SeaWorld San Diego in 2006 in which a trainer nearly drowned, the California state OSHA wrote: “If someone hasn’t been killed already, it is only a matter of time before it does happen.”
- SeaWorld successfully exerted its considerable political influence to have the death warning redacted from the final report that was issued in 2007.
SEAWORLD’S DISREGARD FOR EMPLOYEES’ SAFETY
- Two former employees filed sworn affidavits alleging that SeaWorld hid or destroyed documents sought by federal agents in the investigation of Brancheau’s death, and tried to impede other parts of the investigation. (Both whistleblowers subsequently retracted their allegations within a short period of time of each other.)
- One of the whistleblowers alleged that senior male trainers at Shamu Stadium had sexually harassed female trainers, asking for sexual favors in exchange for more “water time” with the whales. When asked about the matter, SeaWorld spokesman Fred Jacobs did not deny the allegations.
- SeaWorld was the subject of a lengthy audit and investigation by the US Department of Labor over unfair hiring practices. Government inspectors asserted that more than 1000 qualified African-American and Hispanic applicants had been turned down for employment.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited SeaWorld for a “willful” violation of the law in the Brancheau incident and said the company had acted with plain indifference to employee safety.
- SeaWorld will likely challenge any negative ruling from its appeal to the OSHA violation, which would send the case to Washington, DC, where the ongoing process would pit SeaWorld’s owner, The Blackstone Group, against US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Blackstone’s CEO, Stephen Schwarzman, is an influential supporter of Mitt Romney and once compared Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.
ORCA CONSERVATION & SCIENCE
- Contrary to popular belief, SeaWorld conducts only limited scientific research on killer whales in its collection, and does very little to directly impact wild orca habitat.
- A careful review of the published, peer-reviewed literature shows that most studies done on SeaWorld’s orcas pertain to the husbandry of captive animals, with little benefit for those in the ocean.
- SeaWorld does not appear to be active in saving the threatened and endangered orcas of the Pacific Northwest or the wild salmon on which they depend.
BREEDING & INBREEDING
- SeaWorld’s vaunted orca breeding program has created a legacy of captive killer whales who are closely related to each other in a way that would not happen in the wild.
- Today many of Tilikum’s descendants are being bred with each other.
- In one case, a young male was allowed to impregnate his own mother, something that is as socially taboo in wild whales as it is in most human societies.
- Most captive-bred orcas at SeaWorld are unnatural hybrids – bizarre mixtures of blood from fish-eating resident whales and mammal eating transient whales from the Pacific, and Icelandic whales from the North Atlantic.
NO EARLY RETIREMENT
- Unlike most other animals that generate profit through entertaining humans, killer whales at SeaWorld and other venues are never allowed to retire. They work literally until they die.
- Six killer whales in US parks were captured from the wild, the last survivors of captures that ended in the 1980s, but their owners refuse to consider allowing them to retire to a sea pen or coastal marine sanctuary where they could be looked after and fed for their remaining years. | <urn:uuid:b3c6168d-914a-4145-b866-ca7b5f3b9671> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deathatseaworld.com/?page_id=28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959833 | 1,447 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Smilin' Jack is a scummy, sleazy hound, who'd sell his own mother for a credit, but sometimes he's the man to go to when you need a ship.
Smilin' Jack's used ship lot is in orbit around the nearest world, right near you. You see it all the time - the mile-high neon lights sort of draw your attention. Out in his back lot, he's got four spaceships of all sorts. Interested?... [click here for more]
This Guide replaces both the Engineer's Guide and the Starship Design Guide, but is different from either. If you have both the EG and the SDG, you will gain little except ease of reference in building ships. Please do not purchase this product without careful consideration.
The Starship Construction and Engineer's Guide integrates the Engineer's Guide with the Starship Desi... [click here for more]
The StarCluster 2 Vehicle Design Guide is a component-based system allowing you to design and modify StarCluster Vehicles. The Guide allows you to build a wide variety of wheeled, tracked, legged, winged, and A-Grav vehicles, along with crew positions and weapons. It also features a simple and fast vehicle combat system.
The StarCluster Engineer's Guide is an in-depth look at how spaceship systems work, looking at each system and subsystem in turn and examining them in much greater detail than the Starship Design Guide. In addition, systems which were part of packages before are broken out and discussed, as well as introducing new variants and totally new systems, such as the stealth system. Also discussed are... [click here for more]
The StarCluster Spaceship Design Guide provides a modular component-based system for designing and constructing StarCluster spaceships. The system allows you to construct space drives ranging from chemical rockets through fission and fusion to matter-antimatter annihilation drives. Options for living quarters range from rotational pseudo-gravity to artificial gravity, with possible sleep, working,... [click here for more] | <urn:uuid:cd9fcc44-2c83-47f8-8be8-e56611ff536c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?filters=0_2165_0_0_0&cPath=3956 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939887 | 421 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Tag: "underwater" at biology news
'Dead zone' summer killed billions of ocean state mussels
...he bay's surface, Brown University ecologists went underwater
and discovered a massive mussel die-off. In a survey of nine mussel reefs located in the central bay, researchers found one reef completely wiped out. Of the remaining eight, seven were severely depleted. The ecologists estimate that the number of mu...
In undersea habitat, aquanauts learn about teamwork and task performance for the moon and Mars
...Aquarius off the Florida coast. Aquarius, the only underwater
laboratory in the world, is owned and funded by th...ing, little glitches occur with devices used in an underwater
space. Part of our project asked crew members to communicate how well the procedures and technologi...
Whale bubble nets, saxophone sounds, ultrasonic laser
...n Norway and Iceland work cooperatively to perform underwater
tail slaps that stun herring prey. Icelandic kille...the size, location, and geographic extent of large underwater
earthquakes, and hence their potential to create tsunamis (2aAO2). Peter Gerstoft of Scripps ( gerst...
Exxon Valdez oil found in tidal feeding grounds of ducks, sea otters
... wildlife for decades." The Exxon Valdez stuck an underwater
rock formation on March 24, 1989, spilling 11 million gallons of heavy crude oil into the Sound over the next several days. Despite massive clean-up efforts, Short estimates about six miles of shoreline is still affected by the spill and as much as 1...
Dolphins at risk
...lenose dolphins may have been hurt by pollution or underwater
noise. Author, Dr. Jonathan David, MCIWEM, suggests that mitigation measures be put in place to help prevent any adverse impacts upon dolphin populations. Operations should be restricted to low tide and suspended during calving season, an exclusion ...
RIT students design deep-sea explorer to search for Lake Ontario shipwrecks
...m of RIT engineering majors built the explorer, an underwater
remote-operated vehicle, or ROV--and it has been d...water. A 100-minute battery life allows it to stay underwater
longer than human divers. Future enhancements may include the addition of a mechanical arm and exten...
... using advanced sonar technology and an autonomous underwater
vehicle (AUV). AUVs operate without a tether to the surface and are pre-programmed to independently perform tasks. These researchers believe this is the first time an AUV has been used for mapping deepwater coral reefs. AUVs have been frequently u...
Drug discovery team to explore newly discovered deep-sea reefs
... habitats off Miami and Bimini using an autonomous underwater
vehicle (AUV) equipped with advanced sonar technology. AUVs operate without a tether to the surface and are pre-programmed to independently perform tasks. AUVs have been frequently used in oil exploration and also in a variety of other research progr...
Study outlines eruption at undersea volcano
...ations ever of a volcano, thanks to the help of an underwater
robot. "We were forced to evacuate the remotely operated vehicle, 'Jason II,' several times to avoid getting it enveloped in volcanic clouds," said Bill Chadwick, an Oregon State University volcanologist and one of the authors of the study. "But at o...
Seafloor observatory opens portal to the Pacific
...st interactive, real time portal to the ocean. Its underwater
network of fibre optic cables and instruments, whi...rine mammal movements; seafloor community ecology; underwater
noise pollution; sediment and slope dynamics; and plankton behaviour....
Healthy coral reefs of Madagascar resisting damage from climate change
...ld R. Allen, a leading ichthyologist who conducted underwater
fish surveys on the expedition. Jean Maharavo of Madagascar's National Center for Environmental Research, who took part in both expeditions, noted that much of the island nation's marine biodiversity has yet to be studied. "During each of these two e...
French-German cooperation extended
...ast years, on deep sea research, remotely operated underwater
vehicles, and on marine technology. A new virtual ...greement. Operation of Ifremer's remotely operated underwater
vehicle 'Victor 6000' from the flagship of the Alfred Wegener Institute, the research icebreaker Pol...
Oceanic invasions across Darwin's impassable barrier
...as a major change in currents or the sinking of an underwater
platform that could have served as a stepping stone," Lessios points out. "If that were the case, several species would have shown coincident times of separation." Instead, the researchers consider that fish larvae cross the barrier often enough to...
Corals switch skeleton material as seawater changes
...etary Sciences at Johns Hopkins. Reefs are large underwater
structures of coral skeletons, made from calcium carbonate secreted by generation after generation of tiny coral polyps over sometimes millions of years of coral growth in the same location. The team showed that corals can switch from using aragonite...
Caulerpa Taxifolia Eradication
... because of its ability to devastate and overwhelm underwater
ecosystems, was popular in home aquariums and likely introduced accidentally into California's waters several years ago. Legislation in 2001 made it illegal to sell, possess, or transfer Caulerpa taxifolia and eight other similar looking Caulerpa sp...
Alternative approaches to marine management prove successful in reef conservation
...fit to the community. The researchers performed underwater
censuses of key reef features, and found that two--the average size and biomass of targeted fish species--were found to be different in managed areas compared to similar non-managed areas. A key finding was that three of the four sites that exhibited...
Marine 'dead zone' off Oregon is spreading
...sending data in near real-time. In addition, a new underwater
unmanned vehicle equipped with sensors to measure temperature, salinity, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen is routinely sampling across central Oregon waters. During normal years, cold water rich in nutrients but low in oxygen upwells from the deep oc...
Top researcher-educators receive Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
...sticated experiments for the control of biomorphic underwater
vehicles deployed in close proximity to one anothe...ically improve the collective energy efficiency of underwater
vehicles. The research will have a significant impact in several areas of science and engineering by...
Ocean microbe census discovers diverse world of rare bacteria
...pling locations included a hydrothermal vent on an underwater
Pacific volcano 480 km (300 miles) off the coast of Oregon, as well as several North Atlantic sites between Greenland and Ireland. The most unusual sequence tags come from organisms present in low abundance, and these bacteria make up the 'rare bio...
Study shows hope for ridding lakes of clawed invader
... thousands of lakes and streams, clear cutting the underwater
forests that are critical fish habitat, evicting the native crayfish from one body of water after another and scooping up fish eggs like so much caviar. But the clawed invader, the early results of a long-term University of Wisconsin-Madison study ...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | <urn:uuid:8189d698-0f54-42b0-ad49-78be93b10ad8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bio-medicine.org/tag-2/underwater/4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935625 | 1,535 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Shark pedicures ‘not without risk’ warns HSE
The beauty industry was rocked by fresh controversy yesterday, when health experts warned consumers against the latest trend for shark pedicures.
‘We have already made consumers aware of the health risks from fish pedicures’, said Professor of Health Dr. Steve Gough, ‘but we are frankly surprised that we have to also highlight the dangers of dangling your feet in a frothing vat of hungry sharks.’
Shallow people the length of the UK are taking ever-greater risks in the name of beauty, from injecting their faces with cow diseases, to taking heroin to lose weight. But the shark pedicures have already claimed their first victim. A 25-year old model in Birmingham took her own life, when she realised her reduced height following the treatment had pushed her theoretical body-mass index above 5%.
A spokesman for the leading shark pedicure firm, Footloose, was unrepentant. ‘Show me someone who critises our radical treatment, and I will show you someone with ugly, ugly feet’, said Ms Jane DiMare, from her hospital bed.
WaylandsmithyClick to send this story to a friend
Posted: May 2nd, 2011 by Guest
Click for more stories about: News In Brief | <urn:uuid:ea68b610-b40b-4fea-aaf3-a706f12be54f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2011/05/02/shark-pedicures-not-without-risk-warns-hse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963262 | 279 | 1.984375 | 2 |
One of the most practical usages of this network connection is the file transfer. As a basic Netcat function, this feature may be used to great effect in the hands of an experienced user. For a freshly installed computer, setting up a ftp server or, worse, meddling with rcp or scp protocols may be nauseating. Those commands may not be available for one, and multiple layers of control mechanisms may interfere with their functionality. You can still transfer files with just one nc command.
At the server console:
$ nc -v -w 30 -p 5600 l- > filename.back
and on the client side:
$ nc -v -w 2 10.0.1.1 5600 < filename
Magically, the file named filename is transfered from the client to the server. You can check that they are identical.
The command line uses the new argument -w to cause Netcat to wait for a few seconds. We made that longer in the server side because it is most affected by a pause. Another important point is the > and < redirection commands, with which Unix users are very familiar.
In the server we said > filename.back. Any output will be directed to this file. As it happens, the output is the file filename which is send by the client. Think of this as a pipeline. We take a bucket (file), pour the contents to the pipeline (Netcat's port), and, at the other end we fill another bucket from the pipeline. | <urn:uuid:456f32bf-9665-42ad-87ce-ee6e162385cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oreilly.com/pub/h/1058 | 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 | 0.918175 | 314 | 3.25 | 3 |
ANTIOCH -- The human propensity for turning profound loss into blessed opportunity can be found in the life and work of Antioch's Guy Combes.
Eight years after the shocking death of his father, the well-respected British painter Simon Combes, the 42-year old wildlife artist and environmental activist has pulled a renewed spirit and career from the ashes of his grief.
Born in Kenya, Combes' childhood was filled with wildlife and art. His father was instrumental in saving the black rhinoceros from extinction. From his parents, Combes gained a healthy respect and avid appreciation for the natural world.
"I loved the hidden narratives of a species of animals, the settings -- I learned why it's important to keep something that is so visually magnificent alive," Combes says.
He also learned intimidation: not only from animals like the buffalo bull that became enraged, gored and ended his father's life, but from the long shadow of his father's international reputation as an artist.
"When my ability was recognized early on by an art teacher, I was herded into an art program," Combes recalls. "I wanted to paint, but having a father who paints, I had a crisis of identity. If I aimed at it for a career, I'd never be as good as he was, and I would be compared to him."
To distance himself, he pursued sculpture and conceptual art. Exploring three-dimensional forms provided separation, but it wasn't enough. Combes "jumped ship" completely
Along the lopsided journey for self-identity, he advocated for conservancy, leading safaris and conducting seminars on Africa's biodiversity. Soysambu Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving cattle ranch land in the Great Rift Valley through reinvestment of tourism revenues, became his primary cause.
A 2006 retrospective of his father's work at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in New Jersey jolted him out of his comfort zone.
"Really, I was given a hefty kick up the backside," Combes admits. "There were lights that went on upstairs, if you see what I mean."
The "light bulb moment" rejuvenated his long-repressed urge to paint full time. He accepted a one-year artist-in-residence position in New Jersey. The "visit" turned into five portfolio-building years, and when he met fellow Antioch artist and partner Andrew Denman, he found himself with ties to two very separate countries.
Today, Combes is seeking his green card and recently participated as one of the artists in "Captured: Specimens in Contemporary Art" at Walnut Creek's Bedford Gallery. He has warmed to the embrace of America.
"In Kenya, people are more critical of my work because there isn't the reverence for me as the wildlife artist," he says, revealing his father's lingering effect. "Here in America, there's more unquestioning enthusiasm."
Combes' style is couched in realism, with exquisitely detailed landscapes and tight, forceful compositions. A collection of black and white sketches demonstrate masterful rendering and an innate understanding of his subjects. Especially in his drawings, each line, shadow and highlight reveals the animals' raw mix of beauty and danger.
Although steeped in traditional painting, Combes shows equal enthusiasm for his newest tools: an iPad and software program FiftyThree. The immediacy of the technology -- images go from hand to pen to screen in a flash -- is a reality he predicts will be thrilling to a young generation accustomed to speed.
"It's incredibly exciting in terms of field drawing and spontaneous image capture," he says, rapidly refining a cheetah's profile as he adjusts the stylus, spins a color wheel, or rewinds an icon to erase.
As fond as he is of his "second" home, Combes says he will always remain focused on environmental conditions in Africa. Stimulated by the success he had in 2010, when a proposal to build a highway transecting the wildebeest migration route across the Serengeti inflamed his indignation and moved him to action, he is his father's son.
"I started a Facebook page about it; contacting influential people in the U.S. who I thought might try to stop it," he says. "The project was canceled, the Facebook page has 50,000 followers, and I'll always support any causes of the people in this country who were involved."
To see his work and learn more about the Soysambu Conservancy and the expeditions he continues to lead, visit www.guycombes.com/Home_Page.html | <urn:uuid:33fe7fed-614c-406d-ac7a-8f6acd1ba78e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.contracostatimes.com/east-county-times/ci_22298574/antioch-artist-turns-grief-into-inspiration?source=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981177 | 959 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Irish Examiner, August 2007
by Conor Kane
Meanwhile, a 27-foot minke whale, spotted floating a few miles off the West Cork coastline yesterday, may have drowned after becoming trapped in pot lines for prawn creels or lobster.
The dead animal, believed to be a young male with fresh wounds to the underside of its tail, was discovered a few miles off Union Hall harbour by Dr Nic Slocum of Whale Watch West Cork
The wounds may indicate that it has been caught up in ropes such as pot lines - however we don't know for sure. What I do believe is that this is symptomatic of the dangers faced by large marine mammals in the waters of West Cork, dangers posed by increased boat traffic, increased coastal pollution and fishing practices
" said Dr Slocum.
Sunday Business Post, April 2007
by Ruth O'Connor
Whale Watch West Cork is committed to marine conservation and research and to ensuring its impact on the environment is minimal. It endeavours to educate all visitors about marine conservation and the dangers to whales and dolphins posed by human behaviour. It also runs a subsidised research programme for university students
Whale Watch West Cork has an 84 per cent success rate of spotting dolphins and whales. The waters are also home to the Atlantic grey seal and the common seal as well as harbour porpoises. Chance sightings of Orcas (killer whales), long finned pilot whales, sharks and turtles also occur. A humpback whale named Boomerang appears occasionally
Motor Caravan, March 2007
by Sally Coffey
This is a popular fishing area but it was other sea creatures we came in search of - whales and dolphins. Nic Slocum runs Whale Watch West Cork, catamaran whale and dolphin tours that leave from Reen Pier on the outskirts of Union Hall. Tours take place from May to December.
The minke whales are the first to arrive in April/May and stay until the end of the year, big fin whales arrive towards the end of June and humpbacks begin arriving towards the end of August and build in numbers by late October. There are also regular sightings of bottlenose and Risso's dolphins and even the occasional killer whale has been known.
On this occasion we did not see any whales or dolphins but there was a sighting of four blows above the water a few miles from where we were. We were lucky enough to see lots of seabirds and seals up close. The boat trip was an exhilarating experience and a great opportunity to view the untouched south coast of Ireland
Irish Mail on Sunday, December 2007
by Valerie Hanley
A leading conservationist has warned that a proposal to tag whales sighted off the southwest coast of Ireland could lead to their demise.
Zoologist Dr Nic Slocum claims that the scheme which the Marine Institute - the government agency responsible for monitoring ocean waters - has agreed to finance could also damage the fledgling whale watching industry, which is worth 7 million euro annually.
Breach of the outer layer (of blubber on whales) would allow infection to penetrate the lower blubber layers which is soft - and may cause septicaemia in advanced cases of infection
" said Dr Slocum, who has been whale watching in West Cork for the past four years
Woman's Own, September 2007
Moby Dick, Gregory Peck's 1956 movie, was filmed in county Cork, but did you know it really is one of Europe's top whale watching destinations?
Whale Watch West Cork has three to four hour trips daily from the fishing village of Union Hall. The boat's owner is a marine zoologist who knows some whales by name
The Scotsman Magazine, May 2007
by Pete Clark
At Reen Pier, three miles outside Union Hall, we met Nic Slocum, who runs Whale Watch West Cork, and he explained to us how it was that the boat could not go out, even though the sea looked in benevolent mood. Six to ten miles out, where the whales are, the water would not be so welcoming, and the chances of spotting even animals as large as these would be tiny
Instead we went up to Nic's cliff top house, which commands a wonderful view of the coastline, including the unspoilt miniature paradise of Rabbit Island, and sipped a large Irish whiskey while watching the sun slowly going down in the west
Daily Mail, November 2006
by Lynne Kelleher
Zoologist Nic Slocum expressed concern for the mammals after an upsurge in the amount of leisure craft in Ireland over the last five years. Dr Slocum, who runs Whale Watch West Cork, sees many dolphins with cuts and bruises from scrapes with boats in the water. He said: "
There has been a huge increase in the amount of recreational boats between Cork and Baltimore in the last few years
There are fast boats and jet skis going around at very high speed, especially in the summer
Guardian, January 2007
by Stephen Moss
They represent timelessness, space, improbability; they are the largest creatures ever to evolve, demonstrate great intelligence, live in complex societies, use tools, cooperate with each other, can recognize themselves, have a lifespan at least as long as ours and can speak to each other, communicating through what zoologist Dr Nicholas Slocum, who runs Whale Watch West Cork, calls "low frequency grunts and whines" over vast distances, even across oceans.
"There is an air of mystique about whales," says Slocum. "They live in an environment very alien to us." He takes groups out on his boat in search of minke, fin and humpback whales
"you only see them on their own terms" he says "That always strikes me as rather attractive." He describes this communing with whales as "mystical."
Star Sunday, December 2005
by Lynne Kelleher
Nic Slocum from Whale Watch West Cork said, "
they could be following food close inshore but there is not a huge amount showing on the (boats) echo sounder
" A new report recently published by the Royal Irish Academy has revealed that more than 177,000 people go whale and dolphin watching in Ireland every year spending more than 7.1 million euro
Irish Examiner November 2006 by Áilín Quinlan
Classed as an endangered species, the (fin) whales, which grow to 75 feet in length as adults and can weigh up to 65 tons have been spotted less than a mile from the shore, according to zoologist Nic Slocum, director of Whale Watch West Cork, which monitors the movement of whales. "
some people are watching from the headlands and we're going out on the boat to look at them
" said Mr Slocum who, along with interested whale watchers, has been monitoring the whale's movements since they appeared some days ago
Irish Daily Mail, November 2006
by Lynne Kelleher
Reckless drivers of speedboats and jet skis are injuring and frightening whales and dolphins in Irish waters, according to a marine expert. Zoologist Nic Slocum expressed concern for the mammals after an upsurge in the amount of fast leisure craft in Ireland over the past five years. Dr Slocum, who runs Whale Watch West Cork, sees many dolphins with cuts and bruises from scrapes with boats in the water. He said "
there has been a huge increase in the amount of recreational boats between Cork and Baltimore in the last few years
" Dr Slocum also believes the mammals don't like the noise of the powerful boats
noise travels much quicker through water. "
In my experience the whales don't like the sound of engines. If I turn my engines off we have much better sightings of whales..." He said he believes most boat owners would slow down if they realized the risk to the marine life
Southern Star, July 2005
by Aingeal Ni Mhurchu
Nic Slocum left the daily commute and rat race in London to live in West Cork. Nic resides with his wife Wendy and their three children in a beautiful house in Carrigillihy with stunning views over rabbit Island. "
My father had a great love of the sea, Joshua had a great love of the sea and I have a great love of the sea. I live in a place that I adore, I do something that I adore and I have great family and friends
by John Hearne
Whale watching is associated with more exotic locations than Cork or Clare but operators claim Ireland has the potential to become a world-class whale-watching destination. Nic Slocum of Whale Watch West Cork has been organizing whale and dolphin watching trips in West Cork for the past three years. "
Two years ago this coming November the whale watching, without a shadow of a doubt, was world class
" he says "
I would say as good as anywhere in the world
Irish Examiner, November 2006
by Lynne Kelleher
Reckless speedboat and Jet Ski users are injuring and frightening whales and dolphins, according to a leading marine expert. Zoologist Dr Nic Slocum has expressed concern for the mammals after a huge upsurge in the number of fast leisure craft in Ireland. He said, he has witnessed a minke whale narrowly avoiding a fatal injury after nearly colliding with a speedboat already this year. The marine expert, who runs Whale Watch West Cork, said he has spotted many dolphins with cuts caused by boats
News of the World, December 2005
by Lynne Kelleher
Delighted onlookers have flocked to Castletownshend, West Cork, to watch the graceful giants. The 75ft long 65 ton Finbacks are the second largest whales in the world - smaller only than the mighty Blue. Nic Slocum of Whale Watch West Cork, said, "
it's incredible. They have never been this close to land before. They have been coming within 200 metres of the shore both in Rosscarbery Bay and Scullane Bay
Sunday Mirror, December 2005
by Lynne Kelleher
Nic Slocum from Whale Watch West Cork said he has been amazed by the behaviour of the animals. It's incredible. They've never been in this close to land before. They have been coming in within 200 or 300 metres of the shore both in Rosscarbery Bay and Scullane Bay
The whales have been displaying some strange behaviour this year
They could be following food but everything seems to be happening later in the year
A number of fin whales have been spotted in Rosscarbery Bay just south of Rabbit Island this week. Nic Slocum of Whale Watch West Cork reports that amongst the group are a mother about 75 feet long and weighing upward of 60 tons and her adolescent calf
Marine Times, August 2005
by Carol Gilbert | <urn:uuid:a9baaa68-f757-4a5b-9057-1abb2477bec2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whalewatchwestcork.com/press.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967516 | 2,226 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Automobile Repair/Jeep/Jeep Wrangler
History The YJ Wrangler gave way to the TJ for the 1997 model year (note that there was no 1996 model year; the 1997 TJ was released in Spring 1996). Some updated features include: Coil-spring suspension (based on that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee) providing better ride and handling, and a return to the CJ's iconic round headlamps. The engine is the same 4.0L AMC Straight-6 used in the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. A 2.5L AMC 150 Inline-4 motor was available on entry-level models until 2003 when the 2.4L DOHC Neon 4-cylinder engine replaced it. This model of the Jeep was the first Wrangler to have airbags. The TJ's coil-springs were questioned upon its introduction.
Other changes included; 1999: Additions of a (larger, standard) 19 gallon fuel tank, and rotary climate controls (replacing sliding levers). 2000: Child seat tethers added to the rear seat, and the 6-cylinder engine earned modifications aimed at smoother operation. The Sport's standard AM/FM radio added a cassette player, and the Sahara exchanged a cassette player for a CD player. The optional tilt steering wheel in SE and Sport was now the same leather-covered unit that was standard in Sahara. 2001: Got standard intermittent windshield wipers, a revised center console, an optional subwoofer, and a plastic instead of metal Add-a-Trunk storage compartment. 2002: The new X model joined the lineup for 2004. Sport, Rubicon, and X also get a standard CD player this year. 2003: The AMC 2.5 engine is replaced with a dual-overhead-cam 2.4 liter shared with Jeep's Liberty SUV. This new engine makes 147 hp. The 6-cylinder is unchanged, but optional on both engines is a new 4-speed automatic transmission. Also redesigned front seats, LATCH-type rear child-seat anchors, and an available rearview mirror with temperature and compass display. 2004: Tilt steering wheel became standard on the Wrangler. 2005: The availability of a 6-speed manual transmission.
Last modified on 4 March 2011, at 17:20
Please see Jeep WIki for more information. | <urn:uuid:bcebe4aa-52c4-4fc4-9f77-26292a498ba4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/Automobile_Repair/Jeep/Jeep_Wrangler | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919511 | 474 | 1.78125 | 2 |
While Orange County as a whole remains strongly Republican, voters 25 and younger effectively are tripartisan -- almost evenly divided in registration among Democrats, Republicans and undeclared.
These color-coded maps show, by Zip code, how young voters' partisan leanings compare with the county average.
In each Zip code, we calculated how much registration varied from the county averages: 46 percent Republican, 33 percent Democratic, 18 percent decline to state (undeclared). We then color-coded each Zip to show which group was farthest above the county average. "Average" Zips are similar to the countywide average partisan breakdown.
The analysis makes it clear that registration by young Democrats is surging across a broad swath of central Orange County. | <urn:uuid:7857f7a0-87d4-42aa-9dad-07f43e169083> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ocregister.com/articles/county-average-zip-2295186-percent-registration?orderby=TimeStampDescending&oncommentsPage=1&showRecommendedOnly=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93346 | 150 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image
Civil-rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking into mic after being released from prison for leading boycott.
DreamWorks plans the first big-screen portrayal of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, the studio announced Tuesday, but two of King's children immediately threatened legal action because the film deal was brokered without their blessing.
DreamWorks touted the project in a press release as the first theatrical motion picture authorized by the estate using King's intellectual property, including copyrighted speeches and other works, as the basis for the film. Steven Spielberg was listed as a co-producer. The only other film about King that made it to theaters was a documentary that was shown for one day in 1970.
Dexter King, one of the late civil rights leader's sons, said in a press release that he hoped the movie would "be the definitive film" on his father's legacy. Two other King siblings — Bernice King and Martin Luther King III — said they had no input in the deal.
Dexter is the chairman and chief executive officer of King, Inc.
"This is a deal that Mr. Spielberg and his people ... have entered into believing that they have the blessing of The King Estate. They don't have the blessings of Bernice and Martin King," Bernice King told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Tuesday after finding out about the deal in an e-mail from Dexter King.
A spokesman for Dexter King did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday afternoon.
The three siblings have been involved in several legal disputes regarding their parents' intellectual property in the past year. Bernice King and Martin Luther King III have accused their brother of tarnishing their parents' legacy with his business decisions, and say he has been operating The King Estate for years without their input.
Martin Luther King III said the matter was typical of an ongoing pattern of exclusion.
"It's not that we are against a film," he said. "It's very interesting to me that a company would engage in a business arrangement knowing that there's severe controversy around many issues pertaining to the estate of Martin Luther King Jr."
DreamWorks spokeswoman Kristin Stark declined to say how much the deal is worth. It is not clear when the movie might be made. Stark said she did not believe the siblings' legal differences would affect the project.
Although several movies about King's life have been televised, the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner has only been on the silver screen once. The documentary "King: A Filmed Record ... Montgomery to Memphis" was shown once in theaters on March 24, 1970, and featured commentary from Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Ruby Dee, among others.
Madison Jones, a longtime friend of Dexter King who has handled intellectual property issues for the estate for several years, is also listed as a producer.
Bernice King said Jones, who is also known as "Phil," does not represent her and Martin.
"He has always represented Dexter," she said. "This is about Dexter and Phil and their empire."
In March, Dexter King brokered a deal with EMI Music Publishing for his father's words and image. Last month, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III took issue with an $800,000 licensing deal their brother struck with the foundation tasked with building a memorial to their father on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The siblings still haven't settled three lawsuits involving their parents' estates, including one attempting to force Dexter King to open the books of their father's estate. Another would determine who should control Coretta Scott King's personal items — some of which were at the center of a $1.4 million book deal about their mother's life that fell apart last year. | <urn:uuid:a1b1b98d-e922-48d0-ac4b-d24199889a10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/celebrity/I-Have-a-DreamWorks-Spielberg-to-Produce-MLK-Movie.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977934 | 781 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The term bolt action refers to a type of firearm action in which the weapon's bolt is operated manually by the opening and closing of the breech with a small handle, most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon. As the handle is operated, the bolt is unlocked, the breech is opened, the spent shell casing is withdrawn and ejected, and finally a new round/shell (if available) is placed into the breech and the bolt closed. Bolt action firearms are most often rifles, but there are some bolt-action shotguns as well. Examples of this system date back to the 19th century, and except for most sniper rifles and civilian use, have been largely replaced with semi-automatic weapons around the world.
The first bolt-action rifle was produced in 1824 by Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse, following work on breechloading rifles that dated to at least the Ferguson of 1776. Von Dreyse would perfect his Nadelgewehr (Needle Rifle) by 1836, and it would be adopted by the Prussian Army in 1841. It became the first bolt-action weapon to see combat in 1864. The United States purchased 900 Greene rifles in 1857, which was ultimately considered too complicated for issue to soldiers, and was supplanted by the Springfield rifle, a conventional muzzle loading rifle. During the American Civil War, the bolt-action Palmer carbine was patented in 1863, and by 1865, 1000 were purchased for use as cavalry weapons.
European armies continued to develop bolt-action rifles through the latter half of the Nineteenth Century, adopting tubular magazines pioneered by the likes of Spencer, and ultimately creating a bolt-action using a box magazine; the first of its kind was the Mauser G93. The Mauser was considered the epitome of this type of action, and its descendants became the standard against which all such rifles are measured. World War I marked the height of the bolt-action rifle's use, with all of the nations in that war fielding troops armed with various bolt-action designs. Limited use of automatic loading designs were introduced during the war.
During the build up prior to World War II, the military bolt-action rifle began to be superseded by the semi-automatic rifle and later assault rifles, though bolt-action rifles remained the primary weapon of the Australian, British, Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian infantry for the duration of the war. The American army first introduced the semi-automatic rifle for regular infantry use, followed by the Germans and the Russians. The bolt-action is still common today among sniper rifles, as the design has potential for superior accuracy, reliability, lesser weight, and the ability to control loading over the faster rate of fire that alternatives allow. There are however, many semi-automatic sniper rifle designs, especially in the designated marksman role.
Today, bolt-action rifles are chiefly used as hunting rifles. These rifles can be used to hunt anything from vermin, to deer, to large game, especially big game caught on a safari, as they are adequate to deliver a single lethal shot from a safe distance.
Bolt-action shotguns are considered a rarity among modern firearms, but were formerly a commonly used action for .410 entry-level shotguns, as well as for low-cost 12 gauge shotguns. The XM26 Lightweight Shotgun System (LSS) is the most advanced and recent example of a bolt-action shotgun, albeit one designed to be attached to an M16 rifle or M4 carbine using an underbarrel mount (although with the standalone kit, the LSS can become a standalone weapon). Mossberg 12 gauge bolt-action shotguns were briefly popular in Australia after the 1997 firearms law changes, but the shotguns themselves were awkward to operate and only had a three-round magazine, thus offering no practical and real advantages over a conventional double-barrel shotgun.
Some pistols are bolt action, although this is uncommon, and such examples are typically specialised target handguns.
There are three major bolt action system designs: the Mauser system, the Lee-Enfield system, and the Mosin-Nagant system. All differ in the way the bolt fits into the receiver, how the bolt rotates as it is being operated, the number of locking lugs holding the bolt in place as the gun is fired, and whether the action is cocked on the opening of the bolt (as in the Mauser system) or the closing of the bolt (as in the Lee-Enfield system). The vast majority of bolt-action rifles utilize one of these three systems, with other designs seeing only limited use.
The Mauser bolt system was introduced in the Mauser Gewehr 98 and is the most common bolt action system in the world, being in use in nearly all modern hunting rifles and the majority of military bolt-action rifles until the middle of the 20th century (besides the Mauser K98, the Mauser bolt system was also used in the American M1903 Springfield rifle, the Japanese Arisaka Type 38 and Type 99 rifles, and the Anglo-American M1917 Enfield). The Mauser system is stronger than that of the Lee-Enfield because of the third locking lug present at the rear of the bolt, and is able to handle higher pressure cartridges (ie "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges), unlike the Lee-Enfield or Mosin-Nagant actions. The Mauser system, due to its "cock on opening" operation (the upward rotation of the bolt when the rifle is opened cocks the action) has a slower rate of fire than the "cock on closing" systems used in the Lee-Enfield.
Versions of the Mauser action designed prior to the Gewehr 98's introduction, such as that of the Swedish Mauser rifles and carbines, lack the third locking lug and have "cock on closing" operation.
The Lee-Enfield bolt action system was introduced in 1889 with the Lee-Metford and later Lee-Enfield rifles (the bolt system is named after the designer and the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield), and is a "cock on closing" action in which the forward thrust of the bolt cocks the action. This allows for a much faster rate of fire, but the system is unsuitable for use with modern "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges. Interestingly, the Lee-Enfield bolt system features a removable bolthead, which allows the rifle's headspace to be adjusted by simply removing the bolthead and replacing it with one of a different length as required. In the years leading up to WWII, the Lee-Enfield bolt system was used in numerous commercial sporting and hunting rifles manufactured by such firms in the UK as BSA, LSA, and Parker-Hale, as well as by SAF Lithgow in Australia. Vast numbers of ex-military SMLE Mk III rifles were sporterised post-WWII to create cheap, effective hunting rifles, and the Lee-Enfield bolt system is used in the M10 and No 4 Mk IV rifles manufactured by Australian International Arms.
The Mosin-Nagant action, created in 1891, differs significantly from the Mauser and Lee-Enfield bolt action designs. The Mosin-Nagant design has a separate bolthead which rotates with the bolt and the bearing lugs, in contrast to the Mauser system where the bolthead is a non-removable part of the bolt. The Mosin-Nagant is also unlike the Lee-Enfield system where the bolthead remains stationary and the bolt body itself rotates. The Mosin-Nagant bolt is a somewhat complicated affair, but is extremely rugged and durable. Like the Lee-Enfield bolt system, the Mosin-Nagant system is not suitable for use with modern "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges, although it is worth noting that its standard Russian 180-grain 7.62x54R ammunition is comparable to some loadings of the 7 mm Remington Magnum. Although the bolt system is not employed in any commercial sporting rifles, large numbers of them have been sporterized for use as hunting rifles in the years since WWII.
One interesting aspect of the Mosin-Nagant rifle's long and varied history comes from the wars for independence between Finland and the Soviet Union. Large numbers of these Mosin-Nagant rifles, some Russian, and some made by foreign coutries such as France and even America for Czarist Russia, were inherited and then re-worked by Finland into various models prior to WW2, all of them made vastly superior to more common examples of the M-N system. The Finnish M39 is widely considered to be one of the finest and most accurate military rifles ever produced.
The Model 96 and Model 38 Swedish Mausers, for example, use a Mauser bolt which is of a "cock on closing" closing design (giving it a faster rate of fire than the Mauser K98 or the M1903 Springfield, but still not quite as fast as the Lee-Enfield), whereas the Pattern 1914 Enfield uses a system whereby the action is half-cocked as the bolt is opened, with the forward thrust of the bolt on reloading fully cocking the rifle. The Pattern 1914 Enfield also uses safety of the Lee-Enfield, while the bolt itself is largely derived from the Mauser 98.
Another notable design is the Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen, which was used by Norway, Denmark, and briefly the United States. It is unusual among bolt action rifles in that is loaded through a gate on right side of the receiver, and thus can be reloaded without opening the bolt. The Norwegian and Danish versions of the Krag have two locking lugs, while the American version has only one. In all versions, the bolt handle itself serves as an emergency locking lug. The Krag's major disadvantage compared to other bolt-action designs is that it must be loaded by hand, one round at a time. This made it slower to reload than other designs which used stripper or en-bloc clips. Another historically important bolt action rifle is the French Mle 1886 Lebel rifle which was first to introduce ammunition loaded with nitrocellulose-based smokeless powder.
Some disadvantages of the bolt action include being the slowest of all the major manual repeating mechanisms, as it requires four distinct movements (as opposed to two for lever and pump action, though straight-pull bolt actions likewise require only two movements) and requires the trigger hand leave the gun and regrip the weapon after each shot, usually resulting in the shooter having to realign his sight and reacquire the target for every shot. It is also not ambidextrous. | <urn:uuid:40f89ce2-1615-4c4e-8232-7bfea48776ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reference.com/browse/bolthead | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961522 | 2,236 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Let your guardian Autorun Angel find bad startup progams
When you think your PC has been infected by malware or spyware, then checking your Windows startup programs may seem like a good place to start looking for the source. But there’s a problem. Many of these will be cryptically-named executables which you won’t recognize at all, so how are you supposed to decide which ones are safe, and which require further research?
You could spend an age checking out each program manually, but life will probably be easier if you get a little help from Autorun Angel, which quickly compares your startup list against “known safe” applications and highlights whatever might be left.
On our test PC, for instance, Autorun Angel first displayed no less than 278 files of interest: startup programs, drivers, some processes running in memory, and more. Not really a list we’d want to have to trim down ourselves.
Just click the “Scan” button, though, and the program will connect with its cloud-based whitelist of applications, stripping out all the safe files until only those unrecognized are left. And this had a dramatic effect for us, cutting the original list of 278 files down to only 8 -- a much more manageable research task.
Of course the problem with whitelisting is that, well, there are a lot of legitimate files out there to whitelist. And so there will always be plenty of entirely safe items which Autorun Angel didn’t recognize. On our system, for instance, it left a VMware Workstation component and our Cloudmark spam filter on the final list. (Although you can submit similar files on your system for inclusion in the database at some later date.)
And Autorun Angel doesn’t include any active file removal component, either, so if you do find something nasty then you’ll need to figure out for yourself how to get rid of it.
The program is simple, free, and potentially very useful when you’re first investigating a PC for a possible infection, though, and on balance we think it merits a place in your security toolkit. | <urn:uuid:51e7f8e2-916f-4bd3-8152-dbb33f3d24f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://betanews.com/2012/11/26/let-your-guardian-autorun-angel-find-bad-startup-progams/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922057 | 448 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Impacts of Lack of Disposal Access to Beneficial uses of Radioactive Materials
On April 17, 2009 the Commission held a briefing on various aspects of Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) management. Stakeholders raised a number of concerns regarding the impact that the lack of disposal options was having on the scientific and research communities. On May 1, 2009, the Commission issued a Staff Requirements Memorandum (M090417) directing the staff to work with stakeholders in order to identify specific examples of medical and academic research involving the use of radioactive sources that have been adversely impacted by the lack of LLW disposal access.
During the process of information gathering, other impacts of lack of LLRW disposal access on beneficial uses of radioactive material were identified and this was a continually evolving topic area on which a broader spectrum of stakeholders may have interest and input. For this reason, NRC staff has established this website in order to facilitate access to information collected as a result of the information gathering effort to respond to the Commission requirement. Results of the information gathering to date can be found in SECY-09-0188.
The site also provides links to relevant external sites that may be accessed to further inform the topic. NRC also invites continued input by stakeholders that may be shared between and among stakeholders in a public forum. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide additional information related to adverse impacts of lack of LLRW disposal access on medical and academic research using radioactive material as well as the broader topic of adverse impacts on the beneficial use of radioactive material in general. Please submit relevant information or comments by emailing NRC at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Public Interest Information
- August 7, 2009 Federal Register Notice
- October 7, 2009 Public Meeting Package
- Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW)/Disused Sources Toolbox for Materials Users
- Opportunities for Public Input
- Provide Input Via Email email@example.com
- Contact the NRC
- Subscribe to E-mail Notices
- Docket ID NRC-2009-0346 (Public Input Repository)
- Currently Provided Public Input | <urn:uuid:0bd0cdb4-d5f4-46c9-9a44-d47e7fedb60a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nrc.gov/waste/llw-disposal/public-outreach/llw-disposal-access.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922104 | 440 | 2.453125 | 2 |
In an effort to safeguard the food supply and prevent foodborne illness, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that six additional serogroups of pathogenic E. coli will be declared adulterants in non-intact raw beef.
Current regulations ban the sale of ground beef containing E. coli O157:H7, a virulent strain of bacteria that has caused death, illnesses and the recall of millions of pounds of ground beef and other products.
But, as a result this new action, the USDA will also ban the sale of ground beef containing any of a half-dozen additional E. coli strains –which are known as the “Big Six non-057s” and which can also cause severe illness and death.
“The impact of foodborne illness on a family can be devastating,” said Under Secretary Elisabeth Hagen. “Consumers deserve a modernized food safety system that focuses on prevention and protects them and their families from emerging threats. As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply.”
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will begin testing for these six serogroups of STEC and enforcing the new policy on March 5, 2012.
Not everyone supports these new regulations. | <urn:uuid:aefdd2da-c56a-4fd7-8e1b-0ae73b0e294d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://atrisk.net/tag/usda/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934644 | 288 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Student Faces Expulsion over Facebook Study Group
- By Dian Schaffhauser
A chemical engineering student in Toronto faces expulsion from his school for running an online study group through Facebook
. Chris Avenir, a first-year student at Ryerson University
in Toronto, Ontario, said he joined the social networking group in fall 2007 to get help with the homework in one of his chemistry classes. Eventually, he became the administrator for the network, which grew to include 146 students.
The homework questions counted for 10 percent of the grade in the class. When an administrator discovered the group and informed the professor, Avenir received an F and was charged with academic misconduct, punishable by expulsion. An appeal filed last week was to be settled this week by the campus.
According to the Ryerson school newspaper, The EyeOpener
, Avenir was singled out even though he said he never posted any answers on the discussion pages. He is quoted as saying, "What we did wasn't any different than tutoring, than tri-mentoring, than having a library study group."
The school has proposed changes to the campus senate to extend its non-academic student code of conduct to incidents that happen online. It would also create a "Student Conduct Officer" to enforce the code.
The case has received international blog and media coverage. On campus, some students and staff have organized to protest the suggested change to the policy. Others said they believe that Avenir deserves punishment for organizing a group in which students exchange notes and answers. A follow-up article in The EyeOpener
quoted the president of Ryerson's Engineering Students' Society, Griffith d'Souza, as saying, "It seems unfair to everyone who would have worked on that assignment on their own."
Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business for a number of publications. Contact her at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:74f5bee7-fced-49c0-9410-b0dd39f9239d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://campustechnology.com/articles/2008/03/student-faces-expulsion-over-facebook-study-group.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978861 | 397 | 1.75 | 2 |
Click thumbnail for a full view. See also the bottom of this post.
... sixty-seven years ago this day.
At this point in the year 1941, the Disney Strike was half over. It started on May 29, and ended on July 29 (assuming my sources are right ... and I'm aware the link says "five weeks," but anyway ...)
TAG Prez Emeritus Tom Sito points out some of the ramifications of the two months Disney employees were out picketing on Buena Vista Street in Burbank:
No single incident had a greater impact upon the history of Hollywood animation than the Great Walt Disney Cartoonists Strike of 1941. The Disney Strike spawned new studios, new creative styles, new characters and changed animation forever. To the people who were there, it was a defining moment in their careers. New friendships were cemented and old ones broken. Many carried their anger for the rest of their lives ...
Consider this, if the strike had never happened, the UPA studio and its influence upon world animation would not have occurred, since the company was formed primarily by ex-Disney unionists. Chuck Jones' Roadrunner, Coyote and What's Opera Doc shorts would not have had their unique design style, because their art director, Maurice Noble, was a Disney art director who quit because of the strike. John Hubley never would have gone to New York, met Faith Elliot and did his award-winning independent films. Bill Melendez, the director of A Charlie Brown Christmas, was then a Disney assistant [who left the studios and never returned]. Frank Tashlin, the Looney Tunes director and future creator of the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis live-action comedies, was in the Disney story department. A union vp, he joined the Mouse House to help unionize the cartoonists there.
Kind of like It's a Wonderful Life. If X hadn't happened, then Y wouldn't have happened. And so forth and so on.
Economically, the Disney strike changed the landscape. After unionization, Disney employees who had been at the bottom of the ladder, wage wise, saw their weekly paychecks double. Slowly, steadily, the 'toon industry became one where everyone, not just the top tier, could make enough to build homes and support families.
And Disney, despite the wage hikes, survived and prospered. Within a year of the strike the studio was jammed to the rafters with government contracts (the kind we know so well from contractors in Iraq: "cost plus") helping to win the war against Hitler and Hirohito. A decade after that there was the first of a string of highly successful amusement parks, and today there is a multi-national conglomerate that spans the globe.
The union thing worked out okay. Not perfectly, but okay. | <urn:uuid:ff698bb7-7944-4820-9b44-dda9f341d0eb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/middle-of-disney-strike.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970548 | 574 | 2.46875 | 2 |
Finland just held the third annual Winter Grand Prix of one of the most bizarre competition in the world: lawn mower racing on ice.
Normally a British sport, lawn mower racing has sprouted up in other countries, but the Finns take it in a direction not originally intended, since lawnmowers aren’t typically used in the snow.
“It’s really bumpy. I’m really tired out. Brilliant,” Huskinson told Reuters reporter Ellie Park.
Since the mowers reach speeds of 30 mph, fellow racer Mark Botts says the secret to succeeding is giving up any claims to sanity.
“You have to be crazy to do this,” he told Park.
The competition was heated, but the Estonian team rolled away with the top prize by completing 136 laps.
Read full story here. | <urn:uuid:4aeda494-ff01-415e-aa93-bb860c4157db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://socialchaos.net/2012/02/29/finlands-lawn-mower-racing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939247 | 179 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Jacaranda Square, “The Everyday Stadium” is the first new public space in Sydney Olympic Park to sit within the framework of the Sydney Olympic Park 2030 Master Plan. The master plan sets a new urban framework that is intended to refocus the Olympic legacy of event and spectacle into a finely grained, sustainable town centre.
The Jacaranda Square project began in 2004, as an invited design competition, which was won by a group of like-minded professionals ASPECT Studios, McGregor Westlake Architecture, and Deuce Design representing the fields of landscape architecture, architecture and graphic design respectively.
The winning concept, titled “The Everyday Stadium”, was both an ironic nod to the 2,000 Olympics legacy and a precise description of the design concept. The morphology of a typical stadium gave the scheme it’s enduring diagram, ie. An orthogonal edge of seats and walls (the stands), framing a large informal open space (the field), and protected by long perimeters of shade – one built and the other trees (the canopies).
In contrast to the stadium buildings and left over spaces of Olympic Park, Jacaranda Square is a mid scaled rectangular space of 50 x 80metres, defined by the orthogonal street grid that is setout around the finest Olympic building, the train station (designed by Hassell). The Square is situated on the station axis and is being framed on it’s long sides by new commercial buildings which define it as the pivotal public space of the new town centre.
After winning the competition, the design team was engaged to develop the construction documentation. The design concept of “The Everyday Stadium” with it’s 3 elements of edge, centre and canopy, was the guiding framework throughout.
The edge is defined by a low masonry wall set out orthogonally to the surrounding street grid giving the space a strong rectangular form. From the street the wall appears as a rich and dramatic frame, laid out in a finely grained ‘brixel pattern’ of green glazed and face bricks that define the edges and entries to the park. The project likes to think it has introduced a new word to the English lexicon ‘Brixel’ meaning a pixellated pattern made up of bricks.
On the inside of the wall are concrete seats made up of a series of modular precast-concrete lounge suite sections, which provide a resting place for “every-body”. The seats are made up of 2 moulds and are designed to telescope and step along the 155 lineal metres of perimeter wall. They have a playful and personable scale and make an active and occupied edge to the inside lining of the square. The concrete seat sections create small nooks and larger lengths of seating that provide an articulated elevation to and from to the central space of the square.
The central open space is well defined by the finely calibrated and constructed edge and sits as free form and dynamic element within it. In part a response to the iconic vault of the station building, a radial geometry was chosen to set out all the major elements within the orthogonal geometry of the walls. The grass ovoid centre, the curved path around it, the radial brick pattern which makes up the path, the inside sweep of the canopy above and the circular cafe that holds up the cantilever of the café, are all unified by the curving geometry. In section the field of grass rises as a slight mound giving the central space greater prominence and creates outlooks over the square from it. The mound and the radial geometry of the central space give a broad scale and generous sweep to the space.
The canopy, 5 metres high and 50 metres long, with it’s sweeping interior curve, acts as a unifying element to the whole space. Set out at the height of the springing point of the station vault, the horizontality of the canopy, acts as a foil to the grander scale of the station building.
The shade canopy, like a stadium structure was designed with a minimum of columns therefore necessitating large cantilevers. It’s soffit of polychrome green mesh modules echoes the modularity of the “brixellated” walls below and compliments the grove of native trees, which frame the north side of the park. Under the shade canopy, adjacent to the main entry and circulation path, the small circular plan of the café, with it’s red soffit, offers a condensed warm spot to the square.
Brick was used extensively in the project, for it’s fine grained tactile quality and for it’s cultural, place making associations to the adjacent Homebush Brickpit. As well as the polychrome glazed bricks, the majority of the interior hardscape is made up of recycled bricks. Recycled bricks were sourced from a neighbouring suburb – many of which would have originated from the adjacent brick pit.
ESD + Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
Several sustainable initiatives are embedded in the design; the minimising of runoff with the large area of grass and the laying of the brick paving on a porous sand cement bed, the use recycled water for irrigation, the use of large areas of recycled bricks, the site retention of low level contaminated soil within the sculpted landscape mound and minimal use of imported top soil by ameliorating the existing site soil. The site compost is a blend of ‘post consumer waste’ rather than using a peat or other non-renewable materials. The new trees are all Eucalyptus, which require low levels of irrigation.
The project was important for the collaborative design approach, which started as a conversation toward a concept and which has ended as a richly calibrated spatial whole.
+ Project credits / data
Project: Jacaranda Square, “The Everyday Stadium”
Location: Sydney Olympic Park, Australia
Competition (year): 2004
Cost: 2.2 million AUS Dollars
Area Size: 4000 square metres
Typology: Landscape design
Client: Sydney Olympic Park Authority
Landscape Architects / Lead Consultants: ASPECT Studios Pty Ltd
Architects: McGregor Westlake Architecture
Graphic Design: Deuce Design
Builders: Kane Constructions
Masonry Contractors: Conrina Constructions Pty Ltd
Concrete Suppliers: Able Metromix
Brick Manufacturer: Euroa, Bowral Bricks
Photographers: Simon Wood, Kyal Sheehan | <urn:uuid:e976fee2-ee37-4973-ad8d-1dead11e13a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://plusmood.com/2011/04/jacaranda-square-the-everyday-stadium-aspect-studios/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928911 | 1,345 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Lil' Miss Priss’s Fairy-Tale
Once upon a time there was a World Class Story Weaver named Lil' Miss Priss with the most beautiful eyebrow in the whole world. Unfortunately, she was very sad because her one heart’s desire was to have a Peppermint Ice Cream.
An old witch in her town named Angel the Magnificent told her that she could find a Peppermint Ice Cream at the top of Mount Eric Boy. Our hero was filled with hope so she went home and got Nunu, her pet elephant, and together they headed off into the forest below the mountain. The forest was dark and creepy and gave Lil' Miss Priss and Nunu the heebie-jeebies, and it wasn’t long before they both started hearing rustling noises. They were coming from a nearby holly bush. Before they could run away, a gruesome monster jumped out of the holly bush, nearly scaring them to death!
“I am the mighty Ichthiopius! If you wish to pass you must answer three questions,” it said.
“But we don’t have time,” Lil' Miss Priss cried. “We’re trying to get to the top of Mount Eric Boy.”
“Tough noogies to you,” Ichthiopius cried. “Answer my questions or go back home. First, could you fit a foil crown in your nose?”
“That’s a silly question!” Lil' Miss Priss said. “I guess I could if I had to!”
“Ha!” Ichthiopius laughed. “You’re right! You have a huge nose. Now, answer me this. How many cream filled long johns could you eat in one sitting?”
“Well, I don’t care much for cream filled long johns but if I had to I could probably eat 22.”
The monster laughed even harder. “What does your pet’s pinkie toe smell like.”
“I don’t know why you would care but it smells like anchovies.”
The monster realized our hero was honest and true and allowed her to pass. So, Lil' Miss Priss and Nunu went farther into the woods until they came to a clearing. There, on a pedestal sat a foil crown.
“Well, that’s weird,” Lil' Miss Priss said. “That monster was just talking about one of these. I suppose I should take it. It might be helpful later on, though I don’t know how.”
So Lil' Miss Priss and her trusty pet, Nunu, set off again and found themselves at the base of Mount Eric Boy. There they found a monkey bars and used it to scale the mountain. They struggled for 22 days and 19 nights. All the time they were attacked by giant wolves and enormous flying frosted sugar cookies with passionate purple tentacles and chartreuse earlobe. But, finally, they got to the top of the mountain. It was a good thing, too, because they were both ready to give up and go back home!
At the top of Mount Eric Boy was a huge lime green castle with a drawbridge. On the drawbridge was a big basket filled to the top with cream filled long johns. “Well, this is peculiar,” Lil' Miss Priss said. “I remember that lunatic monster in the woods was asking about these, just like he did about my nose and the foil crown. I guess I could take these with us in case they come in handy, but to be honest, I have no idea how they could be useful.” So she hoisted the basket onto Nunu’s back and together they went into the castle.
Once inside they found an ugly Gremlin, even more gruesome and smelly than the first monster. In fact, he smelled like cream filled long johns that had fallen under the seat of a hot car.
“I am the mighty Karen the Baker, King of the Goobers! I rule this castle and everything in it. I suppose you’ve come here because I have tons of Peppermint Ice Creams.”
Lil' Miss Priss nodded. “It’s my greatest wish to have a Peppermint Ice Cream.”
“Then you must show me something remarkable!” King Karen the Baker said.
Lil' Miss Priss was so angry she jiggled, but getting mad wasn’t going to solve her problems. She had to do something remarkable and the only thing she could think of was to stick her foil crown up her nose. So she did! It was totally disgusting, and Lil' Miss Priss looked like an idiot with the foil crown sticking out of her nostril, but the King of the Goobers applauded. “That is remarkable.”
“I’m glad you’re impressed,” our hero said. “Now may I have a Peppermint Ice Cream?”
“No!” the king roared. “To get that you must beat me in an eating contest! I hope you like cream filled long johns.” The king hurried Lil' Miss Priss into a dining room where a huge plate of piping hot cream filled long johns was waiting on a table.
“No one has ever eaten more of these than I have but if you can I’ll give you your heart’s desire.”
So, seeing that she had no choice, and being a bit hungry from climbing the mountain, our hero removed the basket from her pet’s back and dumped all the cream filled long johns onto the table. Together, she and the King ate and ate. They ate for 357 days and 19 nights. They even ate on Christmas, until the buttons popped off their pants. But, when it was all over, Lil' Miss Priss had eaten one more cream filled long johns than the King of the Goobers.
“I ate more than you,” our hero cried. “Now give me what I came for!”
“Absolutely not,” the king bellowed. “You cheated somehow. I won’t give it to you.”
Our hero was so angry she picked up her pet and shoved Nunu’s pinkie toe into the King’s face. The King screeched in horror.
“NO! I can’t stand the smell of elephant pinkie toe. It’s my only weakness!” And a moment later the King of the Goobers melted into pickle juice all over the floor. Lil' Miss Priss and Nunu were glad to be rid of him and searched the castle, finally finding the Peppermint Ice Cream! And since the castle was now abandoned they decided to live there, where they would never have to stick a foil crown up their nose or eat nasty old cream filled long johns again. And besides, they had no idea how to get back down the mountain.
And they lived happily ever after! | <urn:uuid:75e94416-342b-4dd2-a44a-ecfda04fb6d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://projectinga.blogspot.com/2007/12/lil-miss-prisss-fairy-tale.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971388 | 1,540 | 1.578125 | 2 |
It’s a small world, chemically speaking. On a molecular level, our students and faculty in the UW Department of Chemical Engineering are inventing the processes to make the raw materials that become our medicines, fuel, surfboards and cosmetics.
From the ongoing investigation of emerging nanotechnologies to the manufacturing of consumer goods, our faculty members advance knowledge in a way that changes lives. And we do so in an innovative way: teaching through experience.
As a relatively small department, our students develop strong working relationships with their professors and gain the opportunity to do meaningful research, both with professors within the department as well as with other departments and industry partners. | <urn:uuid:10d3ec50-3a31-491e-aaa2-c37856865f15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cheme.washington.edu/about/index.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 | 0.948921 | 133 | 1.945313 | 2 |
|The Web Newsletter||Front Page||Hanford||Livingston||Caltech|
LIGO MIT NewsToo Much
ThinkingWorrying Can Get You In Trouble!
During the course of the LIGO Beam Tube installation, in fact rather late in the process, I woke up once in the middle of the night wondering why we had all been so stupid. None of us had ever thought simply to look down the Beam Tube directly and determine in the crudest possible way--with our eyes!--whether or not the tube was at least grossly aligned, and whether the baffles really worked to eliminate the reflection rings.
At the time we were doing all sorts of elegant and fancy stuff to determine the alignment to fractions of a centimeter over several kilometers with the Global Positioning System (GPS). All manner of gadgets were employed to aid in this alignment. In particular, Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) had designed a precision GPS antenna translator, much like the table on a milling machine, intended to help in carrying out systematic error tests. Meanwhile we LIGOnians had contributed techniques to reduce the sensitivity to antenna back lobes as well as algorithms and techniques to improve the confidence of the alignment. With all this effort and depth of understanding in this high class technology, it should have been evident that things were in good hands. But when I awoke that night at 4am, there was a stark clarity in the anxiety that we could be pulling a blunder similar to the mensuration of the Hubble Space Telescope mirror, and that an overall baby-simple check would clearly be a good thing to do.
I called Larry Jones as soon as he got in (which was usually around 7am Pacific, after a pedal to the metal drive across the mountains from the desert). We decided that at worst it would be a small increment in the contract with CB&I to ask them to hold the equivalent of an automobile head lamp at the center of one end of a 2km module, while Larry and I looked down the tube from the other end. By the middle of that California morning it had been established that CB&I was willing to carry out the test free of charge and it was all arranged for the June 1998 CB&I/LIGO monthly meeting at Livingston.
So shortly before 8am, just before the monthly meeting, Larry and I, dressed in the protective "bunny suits," gazed intently into the blackness of the Beam Tube for Dennis Dickenson and Steve Hand of CB&I to turn on the light. We both saw it at once. The light was centered horizontally but was about a foot low in the vertical direction in the tube. The thought that the Beam Tube could have been this much out of alignment was clearly unacceptable, but then this kind of "discovery" was the basis for performing the test in the first place.
When an issue really matters, one's mind can shift into high gear real fast, even without the fuel of coffee. One immediately begins to sift through the various phenomena that one should have thought of but had neglected, or forgotten about. In less than a minute, we decided it was a pretty good bet that what we were experiencing was either vertical thermal gradients (meaning that hot air rises and is thinner), or the nonuniform atmosphere, which cause a change in pressure with height.
It turns out that it was both effects which had been at work, and had the thermal gradients been even larger, we would not have been able to see the light at all. Instead of exiting the tube a foot low after 2km, it could have been a bigger effect and the light beam would never have been seen at the exit! I don't really want to contemplate the drama of that eventuality, but our first thought would probably have been that CB&I had left a purge dam in the finished Beam Tube. And in our high state of dismay, we might have acted on that premise. The night time worrying would then have really caused some mischief.
Just recently at the end of December, after the bakeout of the Y1 module in Hanford, Mark Lubinski, Mark Guenther, Larry Garrelts and I tried this observation all over again. This time the module was pumped out and we used some glass observation ports that had been installed at the ends of the module at Mike Zucker's instruction for the serious business of interferometer alignment. Larry held a light at one end and Mark L. and I had a look from the other end. The light was clearly centered on the tube, and better still, we saw no reflection rings or diffracted light from the source. It was just as we would have predicted in the absence of air, and obviously most satisfying.
The physics of what had happened in Livingston that morning is really quite straightforward. The difference in pressure at the top of the tube from the bottom is due to the weight of the air in the tube, the pressure being slightly higher at the bottom. The density of the air varies smoothly from the top of the tube to the bottom, and causes the index of refraction of the air to be slightly smaller at the top of the tube than at the bottom. Light travels more quickly at the top of the tube than at the bottom and the normal to the planes of constant phase, the light propagation direction, gets bent downward. The atmosphere obeys a pressure dependence that is exponential with altitude. The scale height, h0 , is about 8km. Similarly, if there is a vertical temperature gradient with the tube being hotter at the top than at the bottom, one gets a downward bending as well. The vertical light deflection after a distance L is given by
where T0 is room temperature, nominally 300K, and (n-1)0 = 3 x 10-4 is the part of the index of refraction due to the gas at room temperature and standard pressure of 760 torr. In a distance L = 2km = 2 x 105 cm, the deflection downward is about 7.5 cm from the standard atmosphere and an additional 20 cm for a vertical thermal gradient of 10-3 K/cm = 0.1 K/m, a value we have by now observed frequently. | <urn:uuid:8302f6d6-36f0-4bc8-909c-b5a0fac4d45c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/9901news/9901mit.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97178 | 1,273 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Even though you gave money out of the good of your heart, you might not be able to deduct the donation from your taxes if the organization is not recognized by the IRS.
The tax filing deadline is approaching. Here are three important things to know.
You don't have to live frugally your whole life. Take a break from saving diligently and see if you feel comfortable spending a little money on yourself.
Figuring out how much to save for retirement can be tricky. But using tools like online calculators can help.
Putting your money in index funds or ETFs can help lower the amount of taxes you'll have to pay on returns.
Though it seems daunting, here's how to save up to $1 million ? just don't forget to account for inflation.
Even if your parents don't trust your judgment, you can still steer them in the right financial direction.
Knowing the difference between active and passive investing can help you choose the best method to build your nest egg.
Sticking with a low-risk portfolio of Treasury bills and CDs will insulate you from market swings, but your returns will disappoint. | <urn:uuid:9c8b818a-3bff-4bac-8dd8-bedfcc6058ae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://money.cnn.com/video/pf/2011/12/20/pf_ate_investing_in_college.cnnmoney/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957276 | 231 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Presented by The Macauliffe Institute of Sikh studies and TheCentennial Foundation
Duration: 12 minutes Produced by T. Sher Singh. Narrated by Monika Deol and Photography by Naresh Singh.
Canada’s Sikhs number approximately 300,000. Another quarter of a million lives in the United States. Globally Sikhs constitute the fifth largest world-religion. They come from a Diaspora that has two things in common: a shared, five centuries old monotheistic faith; and a common descent from an area called the Indus Valley, the cradle of a 6,000-year-old civilization. Sikh Canadians recently celebrated the centenary of the first Sikh settlement in Canada (1897). The re-publication of this video by The Centennial Foundation is part of its commemoration of another landmark anniversary: The Bisakhi Tercentenary (1699-1999), which marks the formation of the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur, Punjab 300 years ago. This video provides a brief overview of their first century in Canada and the vibrant faith they continue to cherish and practice into the new millennium.
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Your payment for orders placed here is considered as a charitable contribution to the Sikh Foundation.
We will send you a receipt along with your order as proof of your tax-deductible donation. | <urn:uuid:0fb0039f-ca0a-4389-a12e-9ef1cc8f8d20> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sikhfoundation-store.org/catalog/sikh-canadians-the-promise-challenge-p-145.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940209 | 282 | 3.015625 | 3 |
DSGN AGNC can be found at:
DSGN AGNC (design agency) is a research and design studio that works with civil society groups to comprehensively address issues that negatively affect marginal and immigrant communities. We initiate community engagement processes, research efforts, and propose actions, architectures and designs at various scales — from pamphlets to buildings to landscapes.
Our work is rooted in critical activism — a methodology that uses activism and critical discourse to open up possibilities for change in the processes by which architecture and cities are made. Critical activism also postulates that no product is ever final — designs, buildings, ecologies and urban systems demand broad and holistic community-based processes that can change over time with both constants and variables. | <urn:uuid:f88da034-749c-49e7-9470-c4411cf911b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dsgnagnc.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941465 | 145 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Here's a puzzler: How can a website sell a $10 Walmart gift card for 26 cents and still make money? Or sell an Apple iPod worth $100 for $3.30 and make an enormous profit?
Welcome to the wild world of penny auctions, where nothing is quite what it seems and everything costs money -- even the bids themselves.
Penny auctions have taken the Internet by storm. Ads for electronics products promising seemingly impossible 95 percent discounts appear on hundreds of popular websites. There are dozens of penny auction sites, with more popping up daily. One site, SkoreIt.com, recently engaged in an aggressive national radio campaign, bringing even more attention to this "new kind of auction."
Penny auctions aren't like eBay or any other real-world auction. Instead, their apparent deep discounts rely on a simple mathematical trick. Instead of one person paying $500 for an Apple iPad, a penny auctions can entice 1,000 people to pay $1 for that iPad. The catch: Only one of them wins it. The final price -- let's say $35 for the iPad -- is nearly irrelevant.
The concept is not unlike a 50/50 fundraiser, where 100 people might pay $1 for a raffle ticket; one of them wins $50, while the other $50 goes to charity.
Here's one example of how a penny auction works: Participants pay 60 cents for each bid they place, with each bid adding only one penny to the "sale" price. So an item worth $100 that begins at 1 cent and sells for $3.31 had 330 bids placed on it -- meaning the auction house collected $198 in bid fees. The auctions continue until bidding stops, so theoretically, the price could continue indefinitely.
Penny auctions are run by for-profit companies that believe they've hit on a new formula that is entertaining and offers a real chance at deeply discounted merchandise. Of course, paying a little money for a chance at a big prize sounds like gambling, but supporters of the concept say that additional elements they've added differentiate the format from what might otherwise be called an illegal lottery. Some observers aren't so sure.
Meanwhile, a class-action lawsuit filed late last year against one of the bigger sites, Quibids.com, has shed an unfavorable light on the industry.
An iPod for $2.82?
Facebook pages and advertisements all around the Internet sing the praises of auction sites. Quibids, for example, hawks itself as "shopping redefined" and places ads promising "up to 91 percent off."
"QuiBids is great!" says one review of Quibids' site, posted on a Web page called "Taj's blog." "My grandsons wanted iPods for Christmas, but I am out of work. Through QuiBids, I was able to get them, one for as little as $2.82; plus I won $475 in gift cards, one for as little as $0.60!"
But it's not hard to find criticism either. Some participants say they got carried away and spent more than they should have to win.
"The first auction I won was for an iPod Touch," a user calling himself Puzofan wrote about his experiences using Skoreit. "My kids want one for Christmas. I paid about $40 more for it than I could have gotten it for at Walmart, but once I got so deep I had to keep going. Something to show for my ignorance and money was better than nothing."
But others claim more nefarious things are going on at some auction sites. Carter Jaynes says he won a Walmart gift card at a penny auction site but it was never delivered.
"Too, too fishy," he told msnbc.com. He also believes the site he used employed shill bidders -- fake users who place bids simply to drive up the price -- a common complaint among users.
In fact, software packages used by some of the smaller auction sites even brag about offering shill bidding as an option. According to the Web site PennyAuctionWatch, one software maker brags about the power of such "scripts."
"You decide when your auctions finish. Price too low? Use the auto-extend feature. Not enough bidders? Use the auto-bidding feature. Making a profit has never been so easy," the auction site quotes from a virtual brochure selling the software.
Quibids was hit by a class-action lawsuit in its home state of Oklahoma late last year, alleging that the site has frequently engaged in fraudulent and deceptive business practices. The lawsuit doesn't allege fake bidders or failure to deliver, but instead maintains that Quibids doesn't disclose essential information to consumers.
"QuiBids.com does not tell its customers that they have virtually no chance to come out ahead financially," the lawsuit claims. "While QuiBids.com passes itself off as a legitimate auction house, its business operation is more akin to a casino or a lottery."
In one example, cited in the lawsuit, plaintiffs claim Quibids profits exceeded $12,000 from bidding on a $1,500 HDTV. The winner paid $228.59, but 22,859 bids were purchased by all bidders with a potential value of $13,700.
"The website is deceptive in that it lures people in thinking it's an auction site," said Roger Mandel, lead attorney on the lawsuit. "... In casinos, they have to post the odds. If they want to operate their business like a lottery, then they need to tell people the truth about their chances of winning. ... There should be more disclosure."
Officials at Quibids say the firm takes great pains to inform consumers about the real costs of using the site and the best strategy for winning, and firmly deny its auctions are akin to gambling.
"We call this entertainment retail," said Jeff Geurts, chief financial officer of Quibids. He says the site runs 15,000 auctions per day, and will soon ship its 2 millionth product to a winner. "We look at shipping products as a measure of our success."
Quibids includes an eBay-like "Buy It Now," feature that gives auction bidders a chance to simply buy items they are bidding on once the auction cost gets too high. The money spent during the bidding process isn't lost -- it goes into an account which can be used to make Buy It Now purchases.
People who want to buy an item like a new television can join an auction with the hope of getting deep discount on the item, and if they don't win it, they simply buy the item anyway, he said.
"In our setup, there is no way to lose," he said.
Geurts did concede that the penny auction industry suffered several black eyes during the past year, as dozens of new sites entered the category. Shill bidders, undelivered products and software glitches have all marred other sites, he said.
"Any time you can collect money potentially for nothing, you will attract those kinds of people," he said. "Folks came into the space thinking they could make a quick buck. Those have gone out of business now. Most didn't understand how hard it is to acquire new customers."
BUT IS IT GAMBLING?
Taking people's money and not delivering products is one thing -- fraud. But taking people's money for a chance to save a whole lot of money is another thing -- probably gambling, said gaming law expert Joseph J. Lewczak, a lawyer who consults with marketing firms about sweepstakes and lottery laws at Davis & Gilbert LLP.
"Doing something truly as a penny auction ... there's no doubt in my mind that's an illegal lottery," he said. "But I believe they could be conducted correctly. ... Are there some operators doing things in addition to bidding that means they (satisfy) sweepstakes and lottery laws? It's possible. Those things would have to be analyzed more deeply."
There are three elements to an illegal lottery -- prize, chance and consideration. In a basic penny auction, all three elements are satisfied, Lewczak said. The discount is the prize. There is chance involved, as the auction bidder does not know when an auction will end. And finally, there's consideration: The bid fees.
Generally, companies that promote their products with sweepstakes -- think McDonald's and its Monopoly game -- get around these rules by offering an alternate, free chance to enter, and by giving something of value to the participant (like a hamburger).
Penny auctions, however, don't offer free entry, meaning they can't use that defense.
But Geurts argues that his auctions are games of skill, not chance, eliminating the possibility that they would be called gambling.
"There is obviously a lot of skill in these auctions," he said. "We could prove it statistically because some customers do better than other customers by employing strategy."
More important, he says the "Buy It Now" feature means users gain something of value -- credit toward buying the item they are bidding on -- in exchange for their entry fee.
"There is no gambling whatsoever," Geurts said. "It's definitely not gambling or a lottery."
For the "Buy It Now" feature to exonerate penny auctions from a charge of gambling, the value proposition must be real, however, and commensurate with the cost. Most "Buy It Now" prices at Quibids are higher than retail. Apple products, which sell for the same price at most retail outlets, make for an easy demonstration. An iPad 3G with 64 Gigabytes of memory sells for $829 at most places. At Qbids, using "Buy It Now," it's $899 plus $16 shipping.
In other words, a contestant is risking either the loss of all their bids, or paying $70 above retail, for a chance to buy the item at a deep discount.
Geurts says a large number of auction participants -- perhaps more than 1,000 per day -- exercise the "Buy It Now" option, bolstering his argument.
The amount of the discounts advertised on penny auction sites also raises questions. In a recently closed auction, for example, Quibids sold an iPod Nano for $3. The site claims the retail value was $155, and that the buyer enjoyed a 98 percent discount. That discount doesn't include the price the buyer paid for the bids, however, which can often exceed the purchase price. In this case, the winner -- a player named milopicante -- placed four of the final 10 bids, which had a value of $2.40. It's possible that milopicante placed 20, 50, or even 100 bids in his or her quest for the item. Including the cost of the bids in the total cost of the item would severely reduce the real discount to the buyer.
But the math used to calculate discounts is complicated by the fact that users can bid on packages of bids -- a Quibids fan can sometimes purchase 50 bids at an auction for $1 or $2 -- dramatically reducing the cost of bids from their standard 60 cents each. These "won" bids are called voucher bids.
"We count voucher bids as if they are free bids for the calculation (of the discount)," Geurts said. "Sometimes the voucher bids are free bids. ... For example, you get seven free bids on your birthday."
Mandel, the class action lawyer who has become the voice of opposition against penny auction formats, said he says he isn't arguing that Quibids or other auctions should be shut down, but rather that they need to be regulated like lotteries or other games of chance.
"I'm not paternalistic guy," he said. "To the extent that casinos are allowed, maybe this should be allowed. But they ought to be upfront about what it is." | <urn:uuid:2a446173-d1a2-466a-8a88-6d6ef9496556> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/02/18/6345481-an-ipad-for-282-or-illegal-gambling | 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 | 0.968399 | 2,479 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Click the lime to help YourHermione
"But you can't treat religion as a sort of buffet can you?"
"You can't say 'Yes please, I'll have some celestial paradise and a helping of the divine plan, but go easy on the kneeling' "
Terry Pratchett ~ Going Postal
"Do you need an excuse to have a war?" said Nobby.
"I mean, who for? Can't you just say, 'You've got lots of cash and land, but I've got a big sword, so divvy up right now, chop chop?' That's what I'd do" said Corporal Nobbs, military strategist.
"And I wouldn't even say that until after I'd attacked."
Terry Pratchett ~ Jingo
Spider venom comes in many forms. It can often take a long time to discover the full effects of the bite. There are spiders whose bite can cause the place bitten to rot and die, sometimes more than a year after it was bitten. As to why spiders do this, the answer is simple. It's because spiders think this is funny, and they don't want you ever to forget them.
Neil Gaiman ~ Anansi Boys | <urn:uuid:1238e376-1521-478e-9f9f-250c1bd44672> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://moblog.co.uk/Izadora/?page=7 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967999 | 251 | 1.898438 | 2 |
The Latest in ...
ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING
Tests Don’t Prevent Drug Risks
Although animal testing is required by law for all new drugs, it does not make them safe. An April 15, 1998, JAMA study shows how frighteningly common unexpected drug reactions are. In 1994, 2.2 million hospitalized patients had serious adverse reactions, including 106,000 fatalities, making pharmaceuticals one of the top causes of hospital deaths. These were not prescribing errors but rather were due to side effects of the drugs themselves.
More Drugs Pulled from the Market
Roche Laboratories pulled its drug Posicor off the market in June. The drug had been found to harm the liver’s ability to eliminate other drugs, allowing them to accumulate to dangerous levels in the body. Posicor was in use by 400,000 people for high blood pressure or angina. Given the plethora of antihypertensives already available, it is unclear why Posicor was approved at all. Exercise and vegetarian diets are also effective for both hypertension and angina.
The popular new painkiller Duract was also discontinued in June after four users died and eight more needed liver transplants. This was bad news for drugmaker Wyeth-Ayerst, which also pulled weight-loss drugs Redux and Pondimin off the market in September 1997.
New Drug Testing Software Replaces Some Animal Tests
It is now possible to predict the results of some animal tests, based on past results with similar compounds. A combined effort of Multicase, Inc., the University of Pittsburgh, and the Food and Drug Administration has produced software that puts this new technology to work so that manufacturers can forego many such tests. The first programs predict which compounds cause birth defects and fertility problems.
The new software entails a one-time cost of $56,000 to $100,000 but is far cheaper than the cost of even a single animal test, not to mention the benefits to animals and efficiency for manufacturers. Multicase, Inc., is a spin-off of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. JAMA. 1990;279:1200-1205.
Risk Begins in Childhood
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in autopsy studies of 204 children and young adults, aged 2 to 39, virtually all had fatty streaks in their aortas, a sign of early atherosclerotic changes. Half of those below age 15 and 85 percent of those 21 to 39 years had fatty streaks in their coronary arteries. The study found that the same risk factors that encourage heart disease in older folks—high cholesterol levels, overweight, high blood pressure, and smoking—do the same in the young.
Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W, et al. Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1650-1656.
More on Milk’s Cancer Link
Premenopausal women with even small increases in blood levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have up to seven times the breast cancer risk of women with lower levels, according to a report in The Lancet. IGF-I is a potent stimulus for cancer cell growth. It is produced in the body and is also found in dairy products. It is especially concentrated in milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone. IGF-I has also been linked to prostate cancer.
Exercise Helps Recovery
About 70 percent of people undergoing cancer treatment experience a debilitating loss of energy that can persist long after surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Reports in Cancer, May 1, 1997, and the Quarterly Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, January-March 1998, show that both aerobic exercise and weight training can improve their energy levels and hemoglobin concentrations. Exercise also significantly reduces pain.
When Tests Give False Results
Women who have regular mammograms and breast exams are surprisingly likely to be told they have a test result suspicious of cancer when in fact they do not have cancer at all, according to a new report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Such false positive findings occur in about one-third of women during any given ten-year period.
Hankinson SE, Willett WC, Colditz GA, et al. Circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and risk of breast cancer. Lancet. 1998;351:1393-1396.
Elmore JG, Barton MB, Moceri VM, Polk S, Arena PJ, Fletcher SW. Ten-year risk of false positive screening mammograms and clinical breast examinations. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1089-1098.
Thank Your Meat-Eating Friends
Salmonella bacteria are getting harder and harder to treat. A strain resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline infects between 68,000 and 340,000 people annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and some strains are gaining resistance to the remaining antibiotics. Dr. M. Kathleen Glynn pointed out that resistance emerges on farms, where nearly half of the 50 million pounds of antibiotics produced each year in the U.S. are used, mainly as growth-promoters. Once resistance is developed it can be passed on to other bacteria. Salmonella bacteria are found in the feces of chickens and other animals and contaminate their flesh and any other products they touch.
Food Poisonings Continue
A two-year-old child died this summer from complications of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning, apparently contracted from another child who passed the illness along to over two dozen others who shared a chlorinated wading pool at Atlanta’s White Water Park. Several children became seriously ill, including the three-year-old son of Atlanta Braves shortstop Walt Weiss. The child who eventually died was a vegetarian, leading investigators to suspect the swimming pool rather than food sources. The pool hurriedly required all children to wear plastic sealed pants. Later investigation found that the pool bacteria genetically matched samples from beef recalled by Bauer Meat, a Florida meat processor which distributed hamburger in Georgia. The tragedy continued when the owner of the processing company committed suicide after the Department of Agriculture shut down his plant.
This summer was a bad one for foodborne illness. A Maine woman died and at least 21 people became ill after eating E. coli O157:H7-contaminated hamburger later recalled by 124 New England stores. E.coli in cheese curds sickened 28 people—hospitalizing a dozen—in Wisconsin. A milder form of E. coli afflicted 4,500 people who ate tainted potato salad from a Chicago deli. And the Malt-O-Meal Company recalled more than 2 million pounds of toasted oat cereal after several consumers became ill from salmonella.
E. coli and salmonella reside in the intestinal tracts of animals and are transmitted to meat-eaters, who may pass them to others through personal contact or contamination of foods, utensils, or kitchen surfaces.
Silver Bullet Tarnished
A spray designed to stop the spread of salmonella is no silver bullet, according to industry officials. PREEMPT was gushingly unveiled in March by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, but Travis Cigainero, D.V.M., the corporate veterinarian for Pilgrim’s Pride, said, “There’s a media blitz, but there’s nothing behind it.” Similar products have been used since the 1950s with little success. “[They] have a bad track record over a 40-year period,” said Lester Crawford, former head of the Department of Agriculture’s food safety division. “It isn’t going to work long.”
USDA Puts Sunny Side Up on Egg-Related Deaths
The U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that salmonella-tainted eggs sicken 661,000 people each year and kill 390. Believe it or not, that’s good news, says USDA. The Department had originally put the figure at 883,000 before taking another look at their count. Salmonella contamination is believed to occur in 2.3 million of 46.8 billion eggs produced each year.
Glynn MK, Bopp C, Dewitt W, Dabney P, Mokhtar M, Angulo FJ. Emergence of multidrug-resistant salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium DT104 infections in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1333-1338.
NEW RESEARCH METHODS
Researchers Probe Brain Abnormalities
Human brain studies are helping to clarify the causes of autism and dementia. Using magnetic resonance imaging, Dr. Wendy Kates and her colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore compared a seven-year-old autistic boy with his twin brother. Certain parts of the brain were smaller in the autistic boy than in his twin, while other brain areas were smaller in both boys compared to children from other families. The results not only indicate the neurological basis for autism but also suggest that milder abnormalities may be found in the families of autistic children. A follow-up study is planned with ten twin pairs.
In a second report, researchers at the University of Washington found a mutation in the tau gene on chromosome 17 in two families with a hereditary form of dementia. The mutation appears to lead to microscopic abnormalities, called neurofibrillary tangles, in the brain tissue. The same tangles are found in Alzheimer’s disease, leading the researchers to suggest a hunt for the same genetic factors in Alzheimer’s disease.
Both reports were published in the June 1998 issue of the Annals of Neurology. | <urn:uuid:8d3c1767-d0da-4a49-893f-f341e894ebfc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pcrm.org/good-medicine/1998/autumn/the-latest-in | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948449 | 2,071 | 2.421875 | 2 |
If you owe taxes, the federal government will file an IRS tax lien against you. Do you know what an IRS tax lien means? First and foremost, it means you are in tax debt and owe the IRS money. A tax lien filed against you also means that this is on the public record and it shows up on your credit report. A tax lien can tie up your personal property and real estate and can make it difficult, or even impossible, to get financing for a home or car. Why not just pay your taxes and not worry about a tax lien? Everyone has different reasons for not paying taxes. Actor Nicholas Cage blames it on his business manager. You can’t shift the blame when dealing with the IRS. If you owe taxes, the IRS will come after you, no matter who you try to point the finger at!
Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage owes the IRS more than $6.6 million in income taxes.
According to a tax lien filed against him, Cage owes $70,190 for the tax year 2002, $179,738 for 2003, $110,617 for 2004 and more than $6.2 million for 2007.
Cage blames his financial and tax problems on his business manager, Samuel Levin, according to a lawsuit the actor filed against the man in California.
The nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, Cage has long been among Hollywood’s royalty and highest-paid actors. He won the Academy Award for Best Acting for his lead role in Leaving Las Vegas and has earned box-office successes in various summer action films as well as the National Treasure series.
The federal government has not filed criminal charges related to the actor’s $6.6 million tax debt.
If an IRS tax lien has been filed against you, it is wise to seek professional tax help. Tax Resolution Services has a team of tax attorneys and IRS specialists who can help you resolve your tax debt and help you find tax relief. Call for a free tax consultation – 1-866-IRS-PROBLEMS.
More Tax Help, IRS News and Tax Relief Tips:
- Furniture Retailer Guilty of Tax Evasion and What to Do if You are in an IRS Audit
- Classic Case of Tax Evasion: Under Reporting Income Gets Florida Man 51 Months in Prison
- Two Tax Rules: Avoid Tax Scams and If You Need Tax Relief Consult a Tax Professional
- Tax Lien Filed Against Backstreet Boy, Aaron Carter Owes $1M to IRS
- IRS Files Tax Lien Against Accused Baby Killer Who Owes IRS $68,000
Tags: finding tax relief, Free Tax Consultation, irs problems, IRS specialist, IRS tax liens, Nicholas cage owes taxes, nicholas cage tax debt, owing taxes, resolve a tax lien, resolve your tax debt, seek professional tax help, tax attorneys, tax help, tax lien help, tax liens, tax professional services, tax relief, tax resolution services, what to do if a tax lien is filed against you | <urn:uuid:9d9ebc42-54d8-47ce-b127-5a283f3a5143> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.taxresolution.com/blog/tax-lien-filed-against-actor-nicholas-cage-for-6-million-tax-debt-owed-to-the-irs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937597 | 659 | 1.71875 | 2 |
When To Worry Or Not
You’ve received your positive pregnancy test results, and you’re more excited than you’ve ever been. But then you experience bleeding, which can be the scariest thing imaginable when you’re carrying a little life inside of you. The good news is some bleeding in a pregnancy can be normal. But in some cases, you and baby could be in distress.
So how do you know when the bleeding is normal and when you need to worry? From implantation bleeding to changes in your cervix, we'll sort it out for you.
WHAT BLEEDING IS NORMAL?
If you have some bleeding or spotting in the beginning of your pregnancy, it may not be cause for panic (up to 25% of women experience it). It could be implantation bleeding. Anywhere from six to 12 days after you conceive, the fertilized embryo will attach itself to your uterine wall. This can cause some light spotting lasting from a few hours to a few days.
Early bleeding in your pregnancy can also be caused by the changes in your cervix. When you're pregnant, an increased amount of blood flow goes to your cervix. As a result, having sex or receiving a pelvic exam by your doctor can cause bleeding.
Infections (such as a yeast infection) or sexually-transmitted diseases (such as herpes) can also cause bleeding early in pregnancy.
Be sure to always check with your OB-GYN to make sure you and baby are healthy.
WHAT BLEEDING IS NOT NORMAL?
If the bleeding is accompanied by strong cramps and pain in your abdomen (tissue might also pass through your vagina), you could be at risk for a miscarriage and should contact your doctor immediately.
If you're bleeding and having strong cramps in your abdomen (you may also feel light headed), you could be having an ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants outside of the uterus), and should contact your doctor immediately.
Bleeding could also mean that you're having a molar pregnancy. This is very rare and happens when a benign tumor or an abnormal mass of tissue forms instead of a baby.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU EXPERIENCE BLEEDING?
No matter what type of bleeding you're experiencing, you should contact your doctor immediately.
With so many changes going on inside your body during pregnancy, it can definitely be an emotional and anxious time. You should never feel embarrassed or hesitant to call your OB-GYN about anything that concerns you. That's what they are there for!
More on pregnancy: | <urn:uuid:38955d04-b1c7-4318-9ba4-2a92bc05aa1a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/841551/early-pregnancy-bleeding-whats-normal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946695 | 540 | 2.390625 | 2 |
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Words are what I do
October 2, 2010 - Brad Siddons
As I work my way into the fourth decade of earning a living with the printed — and, more and more these days, digital — word, there are still a few of them that give me the old forearm shiver every once in a while.
Now I'm not making excuses for myself, but I'm going to blame the two examples I'm about to name on where I grew up, and on the way we all talked down in Southeastern Pennsylvania back in the middle of the 20th century. The words in question are caramel, and crayon. OK, what's so tough about them, you might well ask. It's not their definitions that throw me. One is a delicious candy that pulls your fillings out, and the other is a drawing instrument popular with children. It's how you spell them that I find tricky.
The candy almost tripped me up Friday night, as I was adding a note to The Sentinel Calendar. I typed in “carmel,” without the second “a” because that's they way I learned to say the silly thing, way back when. You know, “Ma, may I please have a carmel?” Oh, the shame of it … The other word is even worse. Crayons, I am eternally embarrassed to admit, will, deep in my psyche, be pronounced “crowns,” thanks again to my peers who all asked for them that way. “Hey Bradley (yeah, yeah, yeah), are you gonna hog all of those crowns?”
I know I will always struggle with those two — and a few others, I'll admit — until I'm through with this life. Maybe in the life I'm preparing for, the one that really counts, my English will be perfect, too.
OK, let's get something straight. The Mifflin County School Board has embarked on a feasibility study to help determine future needs. Almost before word of this study became public knowledge, there has been talk of a move to a “one-county high school.” AAAARRRGGGHHH! Please think about that quoted phrase for a minute. It just doesn't make sense. Oh, if we currently had a single high school that covered two counties – a two-county high school -- then moving toward a school for only one county would result in a one-county high school. But that's not what we're talking about, is it? IF the move should ever occur – and I'm not weighing in for either side here, merely talking about the words being used to describe possible outcomes – it would involve shifting from the two high schools to one for the whole district. In other words, the Mifflin County School District would become a one-high-school district. Or, Mifflin County would become a one-high-school county. That's all I have to say about that.
This year I want to head into the woods wearing a Stormy Kromer. It's just a hat, made of wool, with these kind of dorky-looking ear flaps that you untie and pull down when the weather really gets nasty. Yeah, there are other hats that would no doubt work as well as the Stormy, and it's not that I really want to wander around looking like Elmer Fudd. I just flat love the name, which the hat shares with its inventor, who began manufacturing them in Milwaukee back in 1919. That's why this entry wound up in a blog about words. The name sings to me. Besides, anything that's been around that long must have something going for it.
America is being attacked by the lowly apostrophe, and the little bugger appears to be winning!
I see it everywhere, most commonly on signs — sometimes very permanent, expensive-looking signs — in letters to the editor, on advertisements, and yes, occasionally within articles in The Sentinel.
No, I'm (see, there's one — I mean two — now) not talking about the correct use of the apostrophe. It is all too commonly used incorrectly, and lately in a way that I seldom noticed before: to pluralize nouns. See, that noun doesn't need one, does it? Yet I see this error everywhere — most often proper nouns such as family names (The Smith's), so I'll try to explain: Use an apostrophe to make a contraction (like that "doesn't" in the previous sentence. The bit of punctuation replaces the missing letter); or to denote possession (such as "my daughter's daughters.") Sure, there are rare exceptions — English is full of those — but generally you will be safe if you stick to those basic rules. The family mentioned above would be safe to merely put "The Smiths" on their house sign.
A year or so ago I noticed a sign on the gymnasium wall of a distant high school our basketball team was visiting. The sign read "Senior's Night" and was posted by the cheerleading squad, the faculty adviser of which was, I was told, the high school English teacher. Oh, say it isn't so.
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Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is currently the Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to this appointment, she was the Managing Director of the World Bank, a position which includes special oversight for the Bank’s operations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South Asia and Africa. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was at the forefront of the Bank’s efforts to help countries hard hit by the food, fuel and financial crisis.
From 2003 to 2006, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Finance Minister of Nigeria and later Foreign Affairs Minister. As Minister of Finance, she spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club of Creditors in 2005 that led to the wiping out of US$30 billion of Nigeria’s external debt, including outright cancellation of US$18 billion. After leaving the government, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala joined Brookings Institution as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow from 2006 to 2007.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has received numerous awards, including Time Magazine’s European Hero of the Year Award in 2004 and Euromoney Magazine Global Finance Minister of the year in 2005. In 2006, she was named by Forbes as one of 100 most powerful women in the world. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was educated at Harvard University and has a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. | <urn:uuid:09afbe31-a927-4685-8076-f9c60fb18780> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.one.org/us/person/dr-ngozi-okonjo-iweala/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96065 | 293 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Published March 1, 2005.
A sautéed fish fillet needs a pan sauce to turn it into a satisfying main course. The problem is coordinating the cooking so that both are done perfectly.
Sautéed dish fillets can be boring without a pan sauce, but getting both a hot pan sauce and the hot fish on the table at the same time isn't easy. The fillets (especially if they're thin) cool down quickly, often before even the quickest sauce can be made. And before cooking, there's always the problem of choosing the right fish.
We wanted to come up with a way to produce both fish and sauce that were ready to serve at the same time.
First, don't be afraid to ask for exactly what you want at the fish counter. Specify fresh fillets of uniform size, between 1/4 and 1 inch thick (we found that fillets more than an inch thick usually require both stovetop and oven cooking), and small enough so that four fillets can fit in a skillet. If the only attractive option available is paper-thin fillets (often flounder or sole), fold them over to achieve a double thickness.
Second, reverse the normal cooking process: Make the sauce first and keep it warm in a separate saucepan, then cook the fish. When the fish is cooked, place the fillets on plates and simply spoon the warm sauce over them.list of recipes | <urn:uuid:b4a8dfa6-e5a2-4155-9338-a9564413c8ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/article.asp?docid=708 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940114 | 294 | 1.90625 | 2 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hiram A. Boaz papers
A Guide to the Collection
Hiram Abiff Boaz played a crucial role in the establishment and early years of Southern Methodist University. He was a major driving force behind the idea of erecting a Methodist university in the North Texas region. Serving as the president of Polytechnic College (currently Texas Wesleyan University) in Fort Worth in 1911, Boaz voted in favor of building a new university in Dallas. He became the first vice-president of SMU, and was later elected as the school’s second president in 1920.
The future president and Methodist bishop was born in Murray, Kentucky, on December 18, 1866. The family moved to Texas in March, 1873. Boaz attended Sam Houston Normal School in Huntsville, Texas; after graduation in 1887, he worked as a schoolteacher in Fort Worth. At only 23 years old in 1889, Boaz was licensed to preach, and two years later he was ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Also in 1891, Boaz enrolled in Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. At Southwestern, Boaz became a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1893, and a Master of Arts degree two years later. He also received honorary degrees from Columbia, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Centenary College, and later SMU.
Boaz served as pastor at three churches in Texas from 1884 until 1902: Mulkey Memorial Church in Forth Worth, the First Methodist Church in Abilene, and the First Methodist Church in Dublin. In 1894, he married Carrie Browne, daughter of a Methodist preacher. They met while both were attending Sam Houston Normal School; the couple later had three daughters.
Boaz was still a young man (36 years old) in 1902 when he was elected President of Polytechnic College in Forth Worth (currently Texas Wesleyan University). During his nine-year tenure as president, the college experienced growth in student body, faculty size, and in the number of buildings on campus. Boaz worked to pay off the debt that Polytechnic held at the time he became president.
It was during his time at Polytechnic College that Boaz (and many other Methodists) first began thinking of establishing a major Methodist institution of higher learning. Several smaller Methodist colleges could be found in Texas and in the southern half of the United States, but Boaz thought in terms of building a school that would become the foremost Methodist university located west of the Mississippi. Such a vision led to the establishment of SMU, but it also brought him into direct conflict with his alma mater, Southwestern University.
Southwestern, the oldest Methodist university in Texas, had established itself in Georgetown in the 1870s. As the United States became a more urbanized and industrialized society by the end of the century, some thought a school would have to be located in a larger city. Doing so would go a long way toward ensuring the future well-being of the university, for a larger city would give it more visibility, a larger pool of potential students, and a larger network of potential donors.
At Polytechnic, Boaz proposed that Southwestern be moved to Fort Worth, and that the relocated institution could then become the renowned Methodist university he believed was necessary for the region. Writing to SU President Robert S. Hyer (who later became the first president of SMU) in March 1910, Boaz offered to procure land in Fort Worth for the university if Southwestern chose to move. A first-class college would still be located in Georgetown, but SU and Polytechnic would be merged into a new Methodist university.
In later years, Boaz recalled, "I graduated from Southwestern University in 1894. I saw then that there couldn’t be a great school in a small town and without the help of men of great wealth." However well-intentioned his efforts to relocate SU might have been, the idea did not sit well with Georgetown residents, some members of the SU faculty and administration, and other alumni of the school.
Boaz ultimately failed to convince either Southwestern University or the city of Georgetown that removal of the school north was the right thing to do, but his idea did lead to a proposal by the city of Dallas for a new institution to be located there. That proposal led to the chartering of Southern Methodist University in 1911, and the opening of the school’s first academic year in the fall of 1915, with former SU President Robert Hyer as SMU’s first president.
Despite the fact that some argued that Boaz should have been appointed as the first president of SMU, he himself argued that Hyer was entitled to that honor. Boaz served admirably as vice-president, working especially to attract funding for the new university. In the years between the chartering and opening of SMU, Boaz was placed in charge of raising $500,000. His committee succeeded, instead, in raising over $750,000 by the end of the campaign in 1913.
In 1913, Boaz returned to Fort Worth as president of Texas Woman’s College (formerly Polytechnic College), and worked to improve its financial situation. His second tenure as president at the school ended in 1918 when Boaz became secretary of the Church Extension Board of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
In 1920, Boaz was unanimously elected to succeed President Hyer as the second president of SMU. During his brief two-year presidency, Boaz completed the same task he had undertaken at Polytechnic/Texas Woman’s: digging the school out of debt and improving its endowment. Boaz had already been crucial to initial efforts by SMU to raise money, and he continued working to attract donations to the school during and after his time as president. Boaz raised over $1,000,000 during his two-year presidency.
Boaz left the SMU presidency upon his election as a Methodist bishop in 1922, and was succeeded as president by Charles C. Selecman. During his years as a bishop, Boaz served in Asia overseeing church work, but returned to the United States in 1926 to take charge of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, until 1930. For the next eight years he worked in several other conferences within Texas and New Mexico until his retirement in 1938.
The former president of SMU did not intend to remain aloof from university affairs in retirement, and again worked to raise money. SMU elected him as financial commissioner of the university, and during his years of retirement, Boaz helped raise several million dollars. He also organized the SMU Sustentation Fund, another yearly fundraising venue.
Boaz was recognized for all his work on behalf of SMU. In 1956, the university dedicated Boaz Hall, a men’s dormitory, in honor of him and his wife, Carrie. On that occasion, SMU Board of Trustees chairman Eugene McElvaney asserted, "If one university is ever the lengthening shadow of one man—the university would be this one and the man—Bishop Hiram A. Boaz." Boaz, a sports fan, continued to enjoy hunting, fishing, and golf during his retirement, and was a devoted follower of the SMU football team, and faithfully attended their home games into his nineties.
Bishop Hiram A. Boaz died at age 95 in early January, 1962.
Hiram A. Boaz "Biographical Information," Box 2, Folder 2 in this collection.
Jones, William B. "To Survive and Excel: The Story of Southwestern University, 1840-2000." Georgetown: Southwestern University, 2006.
The Hiram A. Boaz papers contain mostly personal correspondence, mementos, and biographical information on Boaz, who served as the second president of SMU before being elected a bishop in the Methodist church. The collection is divided into three series. Series 1 holds memorabilia belonging to Bishop Boaz: Bibles, a hymnal, awards and certificates, religious medals, and other such effects.
Series 2 contains biographical information on Boaz, as well as some career-related records and correspondence. This includes brief summaries of and reports on his life, newspaper clippings, information on his fundraising activities for SMU, and materials (including manuscript pages) for his 1951 autobiography "84 Golden Years."
Series 3 includes correspondence, most of which consists of letters from him to his wife and children over a roughly 40-year time period. Some correspondence related to the very early years of SMU is also contained in this series.
Users should note that the papers from Boaz contained in this collection are mostly personal. The majority of the material does not pertain to his tenure as president of SMU, or his service as a Methodist minister and bishop. Users should contact Bridwell Library at SMU Perkins School of Theology for a more complete collection of Boaz papers.
Access to Collection:
Collection is open for research use.
Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the DeGolyer Library.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.
Hiram A. Boaz papers, Southern Methodist University Archives, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.
Paul H. Santa Cruz, 2008.
Lara Corazalla, 2008. | <urn:uuid:3c3f4da7-db79-4626-8fad-172f26040c95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00068/smu-00068.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983932 | 1,957 | 2.859375 | 3 |
- An expedition in the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia turns up evidence of a 90-million-year-old graveyard, including the remains of more than a dozen fossilized ostrichlike dinosaurs.
- Evidence at the site points to a unique and rare conclusion: the dinosaur fossils were not deposited at the site over millennia. Instead the dinosaurs all met their fate at the same time.
- By studying this mass grave, researchers have learned about the structure of dinosaur society, the ways in which these creatures interacted, and the division of labor among adults and juveniles.
"Another skeleton with a perfect skull!” I shouted to the team, all of whom were face down on the quarry floor exposing other skeletons. In the years I had spent as a paleontologist, never had I seen anything like this. Our team of fossil hunters had been prospecting for only 15 days in the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia, but already we had uncovered a veritable graveyard of intact fossils.
Over the next few weeks we would apply chisel, pickax and bulldozer to the site, digging up more than a dozen examples of an ostrichlike dinosaur that was to become one of the most well known in the dinosaur world. But the story would soon grow far richer than a simple body count of fossil bones, as intact and well preserved as they might be. This group of individuals would reveal how these dinosaurs interacted with one another, how their society was built, as well as the circumstances surrounding their gruesome and untimely deaths. We were just beginning to uncover the first clues of this 90-million-year-old murder mystery. Little did I know that what we were about to learn would end up making this the richest site for a single dinosaur species I had ever encountered. | <urn:uuid:2e4dd9ef-5b05-49f2-bc59-5b733591c76e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=dinosaur-death-trap | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979238 | 360 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Welcome to Tyndrum
Tyndrum lies about 55 miles north of Glasgow and 5 miles north of Crianlarich on the Oban - Glencoe road. The setting for this small village is the Stirlingshire Highlands, an area known for the splendours of nature: broken and forbidding terrain, towering mountains and picturesque glens.
The Tyndrum Hills
Tyndrum has long been a major junction in the Highlands: initially as a stopping off point on the drovers road from the northern and western Highlands to the southern markets; in the 18th century because of the road building projects initiated by General Wade to aid the transport of troops around the Highlands in an effort to contain the Jacobites; later the arrival of not just one but two railway lines connected both Oban and Mallaig to the south through two different railway stations (Tyndrum Lower Station and Tyndrum Upper Station respectively). Today both road and rail links make Tyndrum, quite literally, an unmissable part of many a journey through the Highlands. It is also a significant resting place on two of Scotlandís most important long distance walking routes: The West Highland Way and The Coast to Coast Walk.
The importance of Tyndrum as a junction has undoubtedly led to the areaís association with a number of historical figures over the centuries, starting with the mythical Celtic giant and warrior Fingal. Fingal, who is said to have lived in Glencoe, would have likely passed through Tyndrum on route to Eilean Lubhair an island on Loch Dochart, south of Tyndrum just beyond Crianlarich, in order to confront his rival, Taileachd, for the hand of a woman. Fingal challenged Taileachd to backwards leaps from the island to the shore but on one such attempt Fingal fell into the water. Seizing the opportunity to rid himself of his rival, Taileachd chopped off Fingalís head. Fingalís followers found his body downstream at the Falls of Dochart and buried him, marking the grave with a stone. The stone still marks the spot at Killin (Cill Fhinn in Gaelic). Taileachd vanished into the north carrying the severed head.
Another figure of some note to have had dealings in the Tyndrum area was St Fillan. St Fillan arrived at Kirkton, on the river a stoneís throw south of Tyndrum, from St Columbaís priory on the island of Iona, bringing Christianity to this part of the Highlands. Using Kirkton as a base he set about evangelising the area. At Kirkton are St Fillanís Holy Pool and the remains of St Fillanís Priory.
One of the most significant of the historical characters associated with the area is probably Robert the Bruce. After suffering defeat against English forces at the battle of Methven, Bruce received sanctuary in St Fillanís Priory. Alistair MacDougall, seeking revenge for his father-in-law John Comynís death at Bruceís hand, tracked down Bruce and his men to the priory. A battle ensued in a nearby field, now known as Dal righ (the Kingís Field) in which Bruce and his men fought bravely against vastly superior numbers before being forced into retreat. Bruce himself killed 3 men but lost a highly decorated brooch in the skirmish, which survives to this day in the care of the MacDougalls in Taymouth Castle in Kenmore. In retreat Bruceís men threw their heavy arms into Lochan nan Arm, where they are believed to remain undiscovered.
Tyndrum and its surrounds are also associated with Rob Roy MacGregor. After being outlawed in 1693 at the behest of the Duke of Montrose over monies the Duke alleged he had stolen, Rob Roy moved to Corrychaoroch in Glen Dochart, where the remains of his house can still be seen. From here he carried out a number of raids into the Dukeís lands stealing cattle and rent money. Rob Roy had many adventures pursued by government soldiers and Montroseís men, even being captured several times only to make daring escapes. At the Old Village Inn in Tyndrum he narrowly escaped his pursuers by sneaking out a back window while they were coming in the front door.
The story of Tyndrum took an unexpected turn in the 19th century. The discovery of gold in the surrounding hills led to a gold rush. People came from far and wide to try their hand and mining and panning. The town as it stands today was largely constructed to deal with this influx of people. Alas, the gold rush was short lived; as the price of gold fell mining became economically unviable. At Cononish, just over a hill to the south of Tyndrum, there lies a gold mine which, while the price of gold remains low, remains non operational. All the same, should conditions change miners may return. While large scale mining is not currently viable, occasionally people can still be found panning in the rivers and streams. Not too long ago one man managed to pan sufficient gold, albeit over a significant period of time, to buy his wife to be a wedding ring. With tales of fallen Celtic giants, early Christian Saints, heroic medieval kings, beloved rogues struggling with the authorities and lovers panning for gold, who can deny that Tyndrum is a truly romantic place. | <urn:uuid:64427189-b7cc-4c06-9139-4225794fa7e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scottishaccommodationindex.com/tyndrumpics.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969362 | 1,117 | 2.203125 | 2 |
Published on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 in the Toronto Globe & Mail
Our Friend or Foe?
A Newly Militaristic U.S. Presents the Canadian Left with a Clear Challenge
by Judy Rebick
The shockwaves of Sept. 11 have made life more difficult for the left in Canada. Canada's increased militarization and the repression of civil rights have been disorienting. But our strategic problems remain the same. They're simply more intense.
For the first time in more than a generation, the public is showing strong public support for increased military spending and for Canada's participation in a shooting war under American leadership. For the left, which has generally supported more public financing for public and social services and less for military and security, this is a serious setback.
The left in Canada has been unable to question the political and media spin -- the assumption, for example, that few civilian lives have been lost in the massive bombings of Afghanistan, or that most of that region's people support the US intervention. Since Sept. 11, alternative media sources on the Internet have grown tremendously. But the message of worldwide opposition to the US war on terrorism has yet to reach the North American mainstream.
Only a broad antiwar movement can change public opinion. Europe's massive antiwar protests are growing; Canada and the US have yet to see significant mobilization. Hopefully, a major antiwar protest planned for Washington on April 20 will kick-start a broader North American movement.
On the other hand, the New Democratic Party has been able to distinguish itself as the only party to oppose the war. Without the NDP's courageous intervention, there would have been no parliamentary voice raising questions about Canada's rush to follow the U.S.-led bombing of Afghanistan. Theirs might not be a popular position, but it brings much-needed respect to the NDP from social activists and the media.
Even before Sept. 11, the police, courts and government had been massively increasing security and state repression in the face of a growing antiglobalization movement. The criminalization of dissent so visible through the tear gas in Quebec City has now been codified in Canada's new security bills.
We've also seen more racism since Sept. 11: attacks on the streets against people who looked Middle Eastern; the hassling of brown-skinned men at border crossings; the savage media attack on University of British Columbia professor Sunera Thobani after she spoke out against the war. These bring a major challenge for the left into sharp relief: to reach out to this country's growing communities of color.
The Canadian left has traditionally relied on a certain element of anti-Americanism; Canadian identity has been formed in the last few generations by declaring the many ways in which we're unlike Americans. Over these past months, our identification with our neighbors was stronger than our desire to differentiate ourselves from them. Relying on these feelings, Ottawa moved to harmonize border security and immigration policies. But public reaction to our hockey gold revealed that such sympathy was temporary. "At least we can beat the Americans at something," said one delirious fan.
Before Sept. 11, a new generation of activists came out to challenge corporate control of practically everything. Contrary to the imagination of the chattering classes, the antiglobalization movement has not demobilized. But the attacks have had an impact. They certainly deepened divisions between the direct-action youth activists and the more traditional left, like those activists in the labor movement. Plans for a massive protest camp in Kananaskis for the G8 in June are receiving significant support from groups like the Council of Canadians and some unions -- but others are still sitting on their hands.
The debate about whether or not to accept violent tactics in demonstrations seems to have been settled, at least for the moment, by the danger of increased repression. As one protester said in New York City, "Just being on the streets is enough of a confrontation." Few of these youth activists have turned their attention to antiwar work.
On the international level, the aftermath of Sept. 11 has only strengthened the resolve of a growing global "movement of movements." Last February in Porto Alegre, Brazil, more than 60,000 people who met in the World Social Forum gave the lie to the notion that the global social-justice movement is in any way weakened.
In Canada, it is not so much Sept. 11 as the failures of the political left that dictate the need for new strategies. A new generation of activists is demanding a much more democratic, open and bottom-up organizing process, as well as more militant tactics. Globally, the politics of the new left are focusing on participatory democracy, environmental sustainability and global equity. And the major barriers to those goals are US military and foreign policy, and US economic policy as reflected in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The reasons to fight are as strong as they've ever been.
Judy Rebick is the publisher of rabble.ca and the author of Imagine.
© 2002 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc | <urn:uuid:c20c32ce-a27f-47ae-b986-0c55f6db1e95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views02/0313-01.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958907 | 1,034 | 1.757813 | 2 |
5-HT has a well-confirmed role in the regulation of eating behaviour. In animals and in humans, manipulations that increase 5-HT neurotransmission lead to reduced eating behaviour, whereas those that reduce 5-HT activity precipitate compulsive or binge eating.20
These tendencies lead to the expectation that anorexia nervosa, in its restrictive form, should coincide with increased 5-HT tone, whereas syndromes characterized by binge eating (such as anorexia nervosa binge–purge type or bulimia nervosa) should correspond with reduced 5-HT activity. Studies of the 5-HT system in patients with clinical EDs are only partly consistent with these expectations.
At first blush, findings in women with active anorexia nervosa appear to contradict the expectation articulated here, because they indicate reduced 5-HT tone: decreased platelet binding of serotonin uptake inhibitors,21
blunted prolactin (PRL) and cortisol responses to 5-HT agonists and partial agonists,22
reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-HT metabolite23
and decreased platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity.24
However, Kaye et al23
have documented that CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in forms of anorexia nervosa characterized by binge eating is lower than that in restrictive forms of the disorder, a finding that associates bulimic symptomatology with an expected reduction in 5-HT tone. Furthermore, findings in people who have recovered fully from anorexia nervosa reveal that data from actively ill individuals may be deceptive: following restoration of full weight, former patients with anorexia nervosa reportedly display normal PRL responses to the 5-HT-releasing agent, d-fenfluramine,25
as might indicate improvement of a state-related 5-HT abnormality. Furthermore, Kaye et al26
and Kaye and Frank27
have noted that fully recovered former patients with anorexia nervosa display elevated
CSF 5-HIAA and elevated 5-HT1A
receptor binding, measured by positron emission tomography (PET). These findings suggest that anorexia nervosa may actually correspond to a primary state of increased 5-HT tone, which is then masked during active illness by malnutrition-induced reductions
in 5-HT activity. Indeed, Kaye et al26,27
have proposed that findings in the active stages of illness distort the existence of an underlying hyperserotonergic trait in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa. The same group has recently reported findings from PET studies in fully weight-recovered women who formerly had anorexia nervosa that may also be compatible with a general “5-HT overactivity hypothesis.” These findings suggest reduced 5-HT2A
receptor binding in mesial temporal regions and cingulate and sensorimotor cortical regions28
and could reveal a compensation resulting from exposure to increased extracellular levels of 5-HT.
Findings in patients with active bulimia nervosa are compatible with a “low 5-HT tone hypothesis” in the sense that they associate the syndrome with abnormally low 5-HT turnover and neurotransmission and establish the 5-HT system as a potential site of action for the antecedent effects of dieting in binge episodes. Patients with active bulimia nervosa display decreased CSF 5-HIAA (at least when they binge at high frequency29
), reduced platelet binding of 5-HT uptake inhibitors,30,31
reduced central transporter availability32
and blunted neuroendocrine responses to 5-HT precursors and 5-HT agonists/partial agonists, such as meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP).33,34,35
Furthermore, tryptophan- depletion paradigms that use dietary manipulations to lower brain tryptophan and 5-HT synthesis have been shown to exacerbate bulimic symptoms in patients with active bulimia nervosa36
and to lead to the transient reappearance of such symptoms in fully recovered individuals.37
Findings in individuals who have recovered fully from bulimia nervosa, however, suggest a more complicated picture: in 2 studies, recovery from bulimia nervosa is reported to coincide with normal endocrine responses after 5-HT agonists.38,39
In a third study, based on PET techniques, findings suggest persistent reductions in postsynaptic 5-HT2A
receptor activity following recovery from bulimia nervosa.40
A fourth set of results, from 23 women who had recovered fully from bulimia nervosa, suggest abnormally high CSF 5-HIAA (i.e., increased 5-HT metabolism) compared with a group of women with normal eating habits.38
These last findings parallel those obtained in women who had recovered from anorexia nervosa and support the concept that, setting disorder sequelae aside, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa may both involve elevated 5-HT activity. This is possible, but we caution that the findings of Kaye et al38
indicating heightened 5-HT metabolism following recovery from bulimia nervosa may be confounded by weight discrepancies between a heavier clinical group and a lighter nonclinical group, which could partly explain the higher 5-HT metabolism observed in the group with bulimia nervosa.
At best, the available 5-HT findings lend themselves to ambiguous interpretation, with the results probably reflecting differences related to measurement, stages of illness, brain regions and other factors. Supportable generalizations, nonetheless, appear to include the following: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa implicate general alterations in brain 5-HT function; there is evidence of serotonergic dysregulation, with no sweeping unidirectional tendency (toward elevation or reduction) emerging in either disorder; and compared with findings in restrictive ED variants, which imply some propensity toward increased 5-HT tone, serotonergic tendencies in binge-eating syndromes appear to be inconsistently skewed toward reduction of 5-HT activity. | <urn:uuid:488768f2-07eb-4718-b9a5-1062d13260e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC305267/?lang=en-ca | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927256 | 1,285 | 1.640625 | 2 |
In the wake of the colossal tornado that rampaged through 17 miles of central Oklahoma, plans for storm-chasing UAVs are taking on new significance.
Students at Oklahoma State University have been working on "storm-penetrating air vehicles" that could help cope with deadly tornadoes.
The aircraft are "designed to penetrate thunderstorms, including the supercells that spawn tornadoes" to gather data used to predict storms and warn people about them, the university said in a release. … Read more
The first draft of the World Wide Web has gone missing, with perhaps one of the only copies of the very first Web site floating around the world's drawers or attics on a floppy disk somewhere.
Tim Berners-Lee wrote the first version of the very first Web page back in 1990 as a way for scientists to share information at CERN -- the European nuclear physics lab and particle accelerator site on the border of Switzerland and France. But it wasn't until 1992 that he actually saved a copy of that early CERN page.… Read more
Mia's dad posted a video of his daughter tossing off answers like "Loki" and "vibranium" as if they were answers to questions about her favorite color or what she likes to eat. The young comic book fan has managed to build up quite a store of superhero knowledge, no doubt thanks to some quality geek parenting.… Read more
Microsoft will finally deliver a Kinect sensor for Windows sometime next year.
The company announced Thursday that the Kinect for Windows sensor will use the same set of technologies key to the new Kinect sensor for the Xbox One, both of which will allow people to issue commands using voice and gestures.
The sensor will include a high-definition color camera and a noise-isolating multi-microphone array. Also part of the system will be a technology called Time-of-Flight, which measures how long it takes for photons to bounce off a person or object. Combined, these features promise greater accuracy and precision in … Read more
A 3D printer saved the life of a baby boy with a rare disease that kept him from breathing properly, doctors are reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The boy, Kaiba Gionfriddo of Ohio, had been diagnosed with severe tracheobronchomalacia, a rare respiratory condition that caused his airways to collapse, blocking the flow of air to his lungs daily.
About 1 in 2,200 babies are born with the condition, but only 10 percent of them have cases as severe as Kaiba's, according to his doctors. The boy's parents, April and Brian, learned something was wrong when he was 6 weeks old and the infant turned blue while the family was out to eat.
By the age of 2 months, Kaiba had to be intubated to breathe. Despite the breathing tube and a ventilator he also required, his breathing could not be maintained sufficiently. He needed to be resuscitated on a daily basis. … Read more
A picture depicting a girl's reunion with her father returning from war has won the top award in a Google Doodle contest.
On display Thursday at Google's home page, "Coming Home" is a simple but powerful piece of art that portrays a young girl holding an American flag and running to reunite with her father. The returning soldier appears. They exchange a glance. And finally they fall into a deep embrace as they treasure their moment together again.
Created by 12th grader Sabrina Brady of Sparta, Wisc., "Coming Home" faced great competition in being crowned the 2013 U.S. Doodle 4 Google national winner. Google received more than 130,000 submissions for the contest, which garnered millions of votes. But in the end, Sabrina's drawing clearly moved the voters.… Read more
Modders and ROMmers rejoice, almost as soon as it reached the hands of consumers, Verizon's Galaxy S4 has been rooted.
Instructions for rooting Big Red's S4 were posted on the xdadevelopers forum this week, allowing folks who want to take full control of all that sweet new hardware to do so and get the thrill of voiding their warranty at the same time.
Just a few short years ago, it seemed like a major milestone when each of these new Android devices were rooted for the first time. Now, directions for gaining root access comes almost automatically thanks … Read more
When Sony has a secret up its sleeve, the company loves to tease. If you missed last week's video enigma, Sony revealed very brief pictures of the mysterious PlayStation 4 hardware, leaving gamers in the dark about what the highly anticipated gaming console will look like.
Luckily, graphics guru Andy Gilleand has the imagination (and skills) to piece together Sony's puzzle, and created a general conceptual rendering of the PlayStation 4.
While Gilleand's interpretation will have most Sony purists crying foul, the render does align with the general shape and accents seen in the official teaser videos. It's widely expected that Sony will finally show off the PlayStation 4 during a company press event at E3 2013 on June 10.… Read more
Microsoft isn't bothering to merely flex its muscles these days.
It's opening fire in all directions, because what is there to lose? Oh, perhaps money. But apart from that. | <urn:uuid:0983dcaf-f3ec-4f9c-beb1-2cb7caf502e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.cnet.com/8300-17938_105-1-2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960868 | 1,095 | 1.914063 | 2 |
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At PUC, learn by doing! Go beyond the classroom and enter the real world. This is hands-on learning with opportunities to travel, volunteer, work or create. Test your professional choices with a head start on your career. Experiential learning builds your resume and your confidence. After completing two required experiential programs, you are better prepared to face the world challenges.
Purdue’s Experiential Learning is far more than your typical internship or foreign exchange program. Each course is carefully designed to guarantee a real and meaningful experience. You are always testing your ideas, weighing the results and developing new strategies to apply to these real situations. Professors are with you all the way -- planning, guiding, reflecting and assessing your progress to assure continuous improvement.
Purdue University Calumet is one of a select few institutions in the country to adopt this approach as a graduation requirement that is designed to comply with the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) standards. These standards set specific criteria that each program is held to in order to gain the most impact from each experience. Your experiential experience ends with an evaluation including a celebration of learning.
Experiential Learning prepares you to understand and meet today’s challenges through cultural immersion, service learning, professional or clinical practicum, internship, cooperative education, research and design project. Discover your passion and secure your future. Be ready for the life you choose.
Cultural Immersion -- Live classroom lessons through global experiences
Become a full-time Parisian or Spaniard not only speaking their language but sharing their lifestyle -- shopping, socializing and learning. While our language may the same, visitors to England discover cultural differences by studying at Oxford, attending Parliament, reading newspapers and, even, gathering at pubs. Unique to our program, the professor is a fellow traveler who provides ongoing insights on your experience. Upon return, you review the trip’s impact. After living in a different environment, you can succeed anywhere in the world.
Service Learning -- Place a face on your studies
By volunteering in the community, build your skills and social awareness with the added benefit of impressing future employers with your civic responsibility. You spend most of the course in the community building a Habitat for Humanity, providing diverse learning experiences or creating a company to works with nonprofits. Your professor goes beyond designing the course by providing insights and assistance for continuous improvement. Ongoing reflection enriches your experience.
This is a unique opportunity to test your values and skills. Both you and your neighborhood benefit.
Practicum -- Connect theories to practices
From kindergarten to high school, in either a rural or urban setting, you and your students learn invaluable lessons. Nursing concepts take on new meaning when you provide prenatal care, immunize patients, triage emergency cases or scrub in for surgery. As a cruise ship employee become intimately involved with the daily operations of the travel industry with the extra benefit of exploring new places. Professors provide ongoing mentoring so that you continuously improve. Together, you measure and analyze the impact of your actions. Through a supervised practicum, gain the credentials, self-fulfillment and confidence necessary for a rewarding career.
Internship --Turn concepts into meaningful experiences
Enter the fast-paced broadcast world by providing behind-the-scenes support to WGN or, for a multicultural experience, at Telemundo. In the Lake Michigan wetlands, learn and become part of the ecological process as you preserve plant and animal species. Combine equestrian knowledge with business savvy for an equine management position at a farm or race track. Through internships, face actual deadlines, budgets and problems that test and, ultimately, improve your abilities. You have the opportunity to try out your skills in the real world. From start to finish, advisors assure that these experiences facilitate your professional and personal growth. Together you assess your actions and make necessary changes to guarantee continuous improvement.
Cooperative Education -- Combine course work with professional employment
Pursue a part-time career at a local industry or business. Textbook knowledge comes to life as you face budgets, employee concerns, safety rules and customers. This intensive on-the-job training develops your skills and increases your understanding of the marketplace. Progressively challenging assignments build your business savvy and self assurance. By alternating classes with employment, your education becomes real. Your professor and employer play an ongoing role in your professional development. They design the course, provide training and measure results with ongoing feedback to assure the best possible experience.
Research -- Apply classroom knowledge to the discovery process
At the prestigious FERMI labs, work with internationally renowned physicists from CERN labs in Switzerland conducting groundbreaking research. Address environmental concerns by providing energy efficiency audits or creating alternate fuel sources such as hydrogen produced from food. Develop your analytical abilities and teamwork skills in the real world. You have the opportunity to discover cutting-edge solutions. These thrilling opportunities build your character and your resume. Professors are subject-matter experts who offer compelling experiences to benefit the world and you. In addition to their knowledge, they provide ongoing feedback and support so you grow as a professional.
Design Project -- Sharpen your skills by solving problems
Apply computer technology to the reality of the workplace. Surrounded by flames, your graphic creation measures the efficiency of a blast furnace. Soar under water with a radio-charged submarine. Complete 3D models, web sites and videos for clients. These real results mean far more than a transcript to future employers. You receive coaching throughout the process from inception to formal presentation. Professors assure that projects keep pace with the industry’s technological needs to assure a real and meaningful project.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING -- Leverage classroom education into challenging experiences
Test your choices and gain a head start on your career. Learn more about yourself and the world. Purdue University Calumet’s Experiential Learning Program is REAL EDUCATION.
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Weapons of Mass Destruction Found In Iraq!
By illegally using thousands of tons of nuclear waste in the form of armor piercing rounds, referred to as "depleted uranium" or "DU", in the invasion of Iraq, the United States and Britain have gravely endangered not only the Iraqis and their own troops, but the entire world. In the first invasion, at least 320 tons of DU were exploded into Iraq, at least 1500 tons were blasted in the second illegal invasion.
Professor Malcolm Hopper of the University of Sunderland in the U.K., who has extensively studied health effects of British and U.S. soldiers who served in the Gulf War, has indicated that as many as 21,000 U.S. Gulf War veterans have died, due not just to DU exposure but to the astounding amounts of organophosphate (OP) poisoning from various toxins (or supposedly anti-toxins) given to the troops as "preventive" medicine.
73,000+ Gulf War Vets are already dead. - Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sorry folks, we were not reading between the lines, the official report shows that more than three and a half million U.S. soldiers who partook in the Gulf war are dead or disabled! Read more... CORRECTION the official report reveals more horrifying numbers more than a million dead and disabled US troops...
"I'm horrified. The people out there - the Iraqis, the media and the troops - risk the most appalling ill health. And the radiation from depleted uranium can travel literally anywhere. It's going to destroy the lives of thousands of children, all over the world. We all know how far radiation can travel. Radiation from Chernobyl reached Wales and in Britain you sometimes get red dust from the Sahara on your car." - Dr. Chris Busby, the British radiation expert, Fellow of the University of Liverpool in the Faculty of Medicine and UK representative on the European Committee on Radiation Risk, talking about the best-kept secret of this war:
Birth defects in Iraq are up 600% (See DU Exposed Veterans Daughter for a personal perspective). A global diabetes epidemic is also being linked to DU.
American Use Of Depleted Uranium is "A crime against humanity which may, in the eyes of historians, rank with the worst atrocities of all time." US Iraq Military Vets "are on DU death row, waiting to die." - James Denver, International Reporter.
Dr. Doug Rokke talks about depleted uranium:
225,000 U.S. troops have received VA acknowledgement of service-connected sickness due to Gulf War Syndrome. 1,620,906 U.S. soldiers have filed for disability. Around 35% of U.S. troops serving in the invasion of Iraq have been injured.
"Military Men Are Just Dumb, Stupid, Animals To Be Used As Pawns In Foreign Policy" — Henry Kissinger
In 1990, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) wrote a report warning about the potential health and environmental catastrophe from the use of depleted uranium weapons. The health effects had been known for a long time. The report sent to the UK government warned "in their estimation, if 50 tonnes of residual DU dust remained ‘in the region’ there could be half a million extra cancers by the end of the century.". 50 ton of DU estimated to cause half a million deaths in ten years. The U.S. has shot more than 1,820 ton of DU into Iraq alone.
Considering the extraordinarily high exposure rate to U.S. troops, Iraqi's have little chance of avoiding exposure to the thousands of tons of nuclear waste the U.S. blasted into their country. Winds will spread the nuclear waste around the world. Millions will die. Wind Carries DU to UK
In 1997, while citing experiments, by others, in which 84 percent of dogs exposed to inhaled uranium died of cancer of the lungs, Dr. Asaf Durakovic, then Professor of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Georgetown University in Washington was quoted as saying, 'The [US government's] Veterans Administration asked me to lie about the risks of incorporating depleted uranium in the human body.' He concluded, 'uranium does cause cancer, uranium does cause mutation, and uranium does kill. If we continue with the irresponsible contamination of the biosphere, and denial of the fact that human life is endangered by the deadly isotope uranium, then we are doing disservice to ourselves, disservice to the truth, disservice to God and to all generations who follow.'
Ironically, the UN Resolution 661 calling for sanctions against Iraq, was signed on Hiroshima Day, August 6, 1990.
These DU weapons have released deadly, carcinogenic and mutagenic, radioactive particles in such abundance that whipped up by sandstorms and carried on trade winds, there is no corner of the globe they cannot penetrate, including Britain and the U.S. Wind has no boundaries and time is on its side. The radioactivity from the DU exploded in Iraq will last for over 4,500,000,000 years and will cause cancer, leukemia, brain damage, kidney failure, and extreme birth defects - killing millions of every age for centuries to come. A crime against humanity which may, in the eyes of historians, rank with the worst atrocities of all time.
The 30mm Avenger Cannon, a seven-barrel Gatling gun manufactured by General Electric in Burlington, Vermont, mounted for example on the nose of an A-10 Warthog aircraft, can fire as many as 3900 depleted uranium rounds per minute. Radioactive particles vaporized in the barrel when these weapons are fired will be effectively distributed over wide areas by the aircraft, including to the U.S. military base where these aircraft land and all the areas they fly.
" The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people" - Revelations Chapter 9
Yet, 'officially' in the U.S. and UK, no crime has been committed. For this story is a dirty story in which the facts have been concealed from those who needed them most, in particular the veterans and people of Iraq. Mainstream media, which is largely owned by the people behind the war, is almost silent on this extraordinarily serious issue.
Nuclear waste / DU stockpiles are estimated at over 500,000 tons. Storage of the DU is extremely expensive so governments decided that it was more economical to use depleted uranium than store it. From the late 1970s, the U.S., the Soviet Union, Britain and France, began converting their stockpiles of depleted uranium into armor piercing rounds and armor. DU was used during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the 1991 Gulf War, the Bosnia War, the bombing of Serbia and in the Iraq War. Depleted uranium ammunition from the 1960s has been found on the Stryker firing range in Hawaii.
Depleted Uranium gets its name from the manufacturing process used to extract the isotope uranium-235 which is know as enriched uranium. Depleted Uranium is primarily composed of the isotope uranium-238. DU is used as the nuclear fuel in hydrogen bombs. Only about 10% of the nuclear power plants are designed to use DU in their reactors the other 90% must use the enriched 235 isotope. Following use in a reactor, enriched uranium is converted to DU and made into weapons because of it's extreme density. DU emits 60% of the radiation of enriched uranium and behaves in the body the same way as other uranium.
"Little Boy" the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima used 64 kg of uranium and killed approximately 140,000 people, half from the blast and half from the nuclear fallout and cancer. Unborn babies died or were born with severe deformities. From a blast perspective Little Boy was equivalent to somewhere between 13,000 tons to 16,000 tons of TNT, however, the radioactive fallout is what caused an equal or greater amount of damage. This radioactive fallout is the same as that produced from kinetic DU armor piercing rounds.
Uranium has what is known as "pyrophoric properties", that is it ignites and burns with intensive heat on impact also releasing radioactive alpha particles. The troops refer to the victims who's vehicles have been hit with DU rounds as "crispies" because the intensive heat "frys" their bodies. The uranium also combines with oxygen atoms forming clouds of toxic uranium-oxide dust, it the blast and dust does not kill, the victim is enveloped in a cloud of poisonous gas which usual kills instantly but will certainly kill over time.
When a DU armor piercing round hits its target, around half of the uranium is vaporized into smaller than five micron particles. In other words in the invasion of Iraq the United States vaporized 910 tons of radio active uranium which is equivalent to 14,218, fourteen thousand Hiroshima bombs from a radioactive fallout perspective. Calculations below:
|Nuclear Waste Vaporized in Iraq by United States of America:|
|DU in 1st Invasion of Iraq||320||ton|
|DU in 2nd Invasion of Iraq||1,500||ton|
|1,000 kg per ton (TOTAL in kg)||1,820,000||kg|
|Half uranium vaporized (1/2 TOTAL)||910,000||kg|
|Uranium used in Hiroshima's Little Boy||64||kg|
|Equivalent # of Hiroshima's in Iraq||14,218||bombs|
The vaporization of the uranium in an atomic bomb results in smaller uranium particles than in the kinetic vaporization of armor piercing rounds, however, the particles from the rounds is still smaller than five microns. In other words the uranium particles will become airborne, they will float in air.
The effects of uranium on humans illustrated below
Bush, Cheney, Rumsveld and their fellow war criminals have caused the worlds worst disaster ever.
If you are a citizen of the U.S. you too are liable - you pay taxes, you funded the war crime, just as the Germans were held liable for the countries they invaded.
The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons consisting of 85 organizations in 22 countries have demanded an immediate ban on the production and military use of depleted uranium weapons. The European Parliament has repeatedly passed resolutions ordering an immediate moratorium on the further use of depleted uranium ammunition.
The NATO nations and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, of France, the United Kingdom and the United States have consistently rejected calls for a ban on the use of depleted uranium in 'kinetic' weapons.
Lawsuits filed against the US and Nuclear
Regulatory bodies in Federal courts in the U.S. are unlawfully dismissed
(Liberty For Life Founder was present at one such hearing - read side
More than $100 Million spent in U.S. to clean up a 0.385kg/month leak of
Depleted Uranium - Far Worse Than 9/11
Depleted Uranium Dust - Public Health Disaster For The People Of Iraq and Afghanistan
By Douglas Westerman http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12903.htm 05/01/06
"Vital Truths" -- - In 1979, depleted uranium (DU) particles escaped from the National Lead Industries factory near Albany, N.Y. which was manufacturing DU weapons for the U.S. military. The particles traveled 26 miles and were discovered in a laboratory filter by Dr. Leonard Dietz, a nuclear physicist. This discovery led to a shut down of the factory in 1980, for releasing more than 0.85 pounds of DU dust into the atmosphere every month, and involved a cleanup of contaminated properties costing over 100 million dollars.
One Million Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Kilograms of Depleted Uranium
were blasted into Iraq by the U.S.
|Additional Articles on the U.S. Nuclear & Bio Holocaust:s
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Women of Our Nation DVD Set
SKU ID #255694
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Founding Mothers With Cokie DVD
Cokie Roberts, author of Founding Mothers, sheds light on female contributions to the American Revolution, revealing stirring stories about those who helped raise our nation.
As Abigail Adams told husband John: ''All history and every age exhibit instances of patriotic virtue in the female sex; which considering our situation equals the most heroic of yours.'' With the men away, women defended homes, raised children, managed businesses, and provided political advice.
But not all were patriotic--like Margaret (Peggy) Shippen Arnold, Benedict's wife. Promised freedom, many slaves fought for the British, though in 1781, a slave called Mumbett sued for freedom and won! This founding mother, who took the name Elizabeth Freeman, set a precedent that led to Massachusetts' abolition of slavery. And we examine the role of camp followers and the few women that actually fought, like Deborah Sampson who enlisted in the Continental Army under her dead brother's name.
Women in the White House DVD SetLearn the remarkable true stories of the women behind the most important men in history in this warm and insightful pair of programs from A&E and HISTORY™
ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ WIVES takes an in-depth look at America's First Ladies, the women who have held one of the most enigmatic, yet high-profile, jobs in the country.
FIRST MOTHERS, a feature-length special, based on the book "First Mother" by "Time Magazine" correspondent Bonnie Angelo, chronicles the life stories Sara Delano Roosevelt, Rose Kennedy, Hannah Milhous Nixon, Nelle Reagan, Virginia Clinton, and Dorothy and Barbara Bush – the women whose guidance and wisdom shaped the most powerful men in the world. | <urn:uuid:275887c4-1566-41bb-8ce2-17ded62a39d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shop.history.com/women-of-our-nation-dvd-set/detail.php?p=255694&v=history-education_subjects_social-studies_american-history_womens-studies | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912813 | 424 | 1.867188 | 2 |
I use both depending upon the poetic task.
Third. First person is too close for comfort.
I'm a first person guy. I read once that it was somewhat arrogant to put yourself in the story but it's so much easier to put myself in a situation and think how I would react, I know me best and it's really hard to look at myself in a third person.
Depends on the character and the genre that I am writing. If it is fantasy or adventure, I write in third person.
if I am writing a horror or mystery novel, I write in first person most of the time.
Personally, I am most comfortable with third person. Actually, I need third person to show all aspects of a story, action taking place where the prime character may not be present.
Depends on the story I'm trying to tell. First person creates a greater sense of intimacy and is easier in drawing the reader in -- tho much more limiting in terms of storytelling.
My preference is in the third person - especially for a novel, although I used the first person in my nonfiction book, primarily because I was telling my own personal story. I believe that the first person in fiction is too limiting, especially if you want to create tension from a character or event distant from your protagonist (which he or she would not know about).
Third person, I like the omnipresent perspective.
Although I wrote Truth Disguised in third person, I like both voices. It depends on what type of connection you (as the writer) want your readers to have with your story.
Zahra's Books n Things, Inglewood, CA
(OF Course Google.com)
Again, it depends on the voice the work takes on its own. I've done both, but I think its much easier to write third person than first. There's an urgency of action in first, but there's a strong tendency to become too self-involved, if one's not careful. Or to quote my son, upon reading a particularly bad, mental rant, "Is the entire world inside this woman's head? I mean didn't a fly fart in Alaska or something?" And, he was right.
I use both from time to time.
The first person.
Third person gives more scope. In my novel To Venice With Love I've told the story from different viewpoints which enabled me to rummage around inside the heads of various characters and communicate what they were feeling/thinking. I hope it wasn't too confusing for the reader.
I can't do first person convincingly. I think it's hard to do and admire anyone who can.
I write entirely third person, although I try hard to get into the heads of my characters. | <urn:uuid:5c437258-1e91-4181-8ceb-342120ef3bad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whohub.com/en490/what-voice-find-most-your-820 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971846 | 565 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Lack of trust is the primary reason cybervulnerability and threat data are not shared within and between the public and private sectors, a panel of government and industry representatives told a homeland security conference today.
WASHINGTON--Lack of trust is the primary reason cybervulnerability and threat data is not shared within and between the public and private sectors, a panel of government and industry representatives told a homeland security conference today.
"Situational awareness is driven by interpersonal communications, so people find other people that they trust," said Marcus Sachs, vice president for national security policy for Verizon Communications. "If something bad is happening the alert goes out amongst the trusted group. It doesn't necessarily go out through official channels."
The admission came during a panel discussion at the AFCEA Homeland Security Conference held at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. The session focused on creating cybersituational awareness, or the ability of stakeholders to share enough information in real time to protect both their networks and the common Internet infrastructure that undergirds society.
There isn’t an easy way to establish that trust, panelists said.
Such relationships aren't perpetuated from the top down, rather they blossom organically, according to private sector panelists.
Moderator Matthew Stern, a senior advisor to the Department of Homeland Security’s US-CERT at General Dynamics, said the cybersecurity community is a small, tightly knit one.
“A lot of us have grown up together,” he said, adding “You trust people you know.”
This often leads to a knowledge imbalance within an organization, where decision makers know less than their subordinates, Sachs said. The problem is exacerbated by the hyperconnectivity provided by social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook. It leads to great situational awareness for a particular group, “but it doesn’t translate up to senior officials who need to make real-time decisions, because they’re just not seeing what everyone else is talking about.”
Stern asked the panelists how can the public and private cybersecurity communities institutionalize trust.
“I don’t think we can ever institutionalize the trust necessary to make situational awareness,” said Aaron Walters, vice president of research and development for Terremark Worldwide.
Walters pointed to the open-source software-development community as a model. Everyone who joins the community must be willing to share something to foster trust. If they don’t, they get “voted off the island,” Walters said, referencing the TV show "Survivor."
Another model is the National Security Information Exchange (NSIE), said Sachs, which was created two decades ago by the federal government as a way for the private sector to share sensitive information. By exposing confidential information within the NSIE, incoming participants show long-time members that they can be trusted.
“You’re allowed to come to one meeting and not bring anything,” Sachs said. “The next time you come if you don’t have something to lay on the table to share with others, you’re not invited back.”
An information-sharing arrangement can only work if all parties share."It's not a voyeuristic mindset," according to Sachs. "That's not how we get to this common picture or this situational awareness that we want. Part of that trust breakdown may be each of us being able to open up a little more or show a little offering of what we're doing so that others may then develop their trust in us."
Brigadier General John Davis, director of current operations for U.S. Cyber Command, admitted he didn’t know how to build the trust necessary to achieve cybersecurity situational awareness, but he predicted the evolving nature of the threat could help facilitate more partnerships.
“I think urgency is one of the things that’s going to get us through this,” he said.
Originally organizations had to primarily worry about information theft. Then, in 2007 and 2008, massive cyberattacks on Estonia and Georgia showed that the threat could be tied to traditional military actions. “Now what we’re seeing is destructive capabilities that are being built and cause us great concern,” Daivis said without specifying an example.
This means government and the private sector must join together to alert each other before a massive cyberattack hits U.S. critical infrastructure.
“I’m very hopeful that we can do that by working together in advance,” Davis said. “But I do think that if we don’t, that situation’s coming, and it’s coming probably faster than we think.”
♦ Photo by opensourceway/Flickr | <urn:uuid:49e21b20-c925-4218-b313-cd55a3d3886e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.securitymanagement.com/print/8227 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946811 | 983 | 1.875 | 2 |
Washington Post on D.C. Group Home Case
An exasperated federal judge warned the District government yesterday that it is running out of time to demonstrate that it can make meaningful progress in improving care for physically and mentally disabled residents in its long-troubled group homes.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle expressed frustration on being told that the city had failed to meet a 90-day deadline on a court order to move a designated number of group home residents into better, safer housing; help others find assisted employment opportunities; improve health care for at-risk clients; and recruit new group home operators to provide higher-quality care.
"The fact that you can't do the things that you promised to do is a terrible indictment," Huvelle told a packed courtroom. "It's a pretty devastating admission."
Huvelle's comments came during the latest hearing in a 30-year-old class-action lawsuit that centers on the quality of care for people who are mentally disabled wards of the District, many of whom also have severe physical disabilities. The lawsuit was filed in 1976 on behalf of hundreds of residents of Forest Haven, the city's former institution for people with mental retardation.
The judge listened as various parties in the lawsuit, including those representing the District, recounted their disappointment at the city's inability to complete several initiatives aimed at showing that it could improve services for its most vulnerable citizens.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they plan to return to court in the next few weeks to seek additional legal remedies for their clients. Among the options, they said, is filing a request to have the judge place the city's Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration in receivership -- a move that could result in an outsider overseeing responsibilities.
"The time has come for a new approach," plaintiffs' counsel Cathy Costanzo of the Center for Public Representation told the judge. "Something more and something different must happen. . . . Our class members suffer daily." | <urn:uuid:c1aacb86-5bd7-42b3-ab24-0804005b52c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://disabilitylaw.blogspot.com/2006/03/washington-post-on-dc-group-home-case.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972652 | 408 | 1.59375 | 2 |
This has been a WEIRD and disappointing gardening season. Here in Zone 9 we had winter, then 3 weeks of spring, followed by the most pathetic summer ever. The Central Valley of California is known for blazing hot, 100° F August days followed by muggy, miserable evenings. In fact, local businesses use the theme “Hot August Nights” to advertise car shows and concerts.
This year, daytime temps haven’t passed 95 F and at night the temperature has even dipped into the high 50′s! And yes, although it may sound strange, I actually do miss 100 degree weather and muggy nights. And I’m not the only one. Tomato plants NEED warm temperatures both at night and during the day.
In the garden, I’ve harvested handfuls of ‘Sweet 100′s and ‘Black Cherry’ for the past three weeks. For the larger varieties, ‘Early Girl’ and ‘Cherokee Purple’ have yielded a miserly 10 tomatoes. By now I should be knee deep in tomatoes and absolutely sick of them. After all, I put in 9 plants! I even planned a salsa party.
So why aren’t tomatoes turning red? It has to do with the combination of Maturity+ Mother Nature + Variety. In a “normal” year, the equation equals perfectly ripe, yummy tomatoes. But in this far from normal year, many gardeners are frustrated.
Seeing tomatoes hang green on the vine week after week, day after day is unprecedented. Many gardeners are in shock, while others chose to deny the facts. A few have cursed and pulled out plants, prepping their soil for broccoli and Brussels sprouts. And there may even be some (but no, I hate to write this!) eyeing their neighbor’s reddish, almost ripe ‘maters with a gleam in their eye and “Oh no, PLEASE don’t do it!!” Don’t stoop to stealing a ‘Stupice’ or shoplift a ‘Mortgage Lifter!’
Back to the “how” end of things. First, tomatoes must reach a “mature” green stage before they can turn red. This tomato will be a good size for its variety, be light green, and have a pink to reddish color on the blossom end (bottom).
In this stage, the tomato produces an odorless, colorless gas called ethylene (same gas bananas emit). Ethylene is a growth hormone that causes green cells to turn red. Windy weather thwarts the ethylene gas by blowing it away from the fruit. This interrupts and slows down the ripening process. Another weather factor is temperature. If weather is below 50 or above 85, the tomato will not produce the pigment cells that turn the tomato red (lycopene and carotene).
Variety is the third number in the equation. Small fruited varieties (like cherry and grape tomatoes) normally turn red faster than large fruited varieties. Not all large varieties ripen at the same time, check for “days-to-harvest” before choosing a variety. This number can be as low as 62 and as high as 100. Order seed catalogs or check online for this information. (Make sure the varieties do well in your area also ). And of course, characteristics like flavor and texture are important!
You can store mature-green tomatoes at 55-68 degrees F and they will eventually ripen. (this works for tomatoes that have fallen off the vine to early IF they are mature). For faster ripening, keep a small amount of fruit enclosed and add a ripe banana or apple. Temperatures over 77 degrees result in less red color and softer fruit. (Never store tomatoes in the refrigerator, the fruit will be tasteless).
If you are just DONE with tomatoes in your garden, you can dig up the plant (loosen it gently to keep roots intact). Shake off loose dirt, and hang the plant upside down in a protected area that meets the temperature requirements mentioned.
Here’s hoping next year is a better year for tomatoes! | <urn:uuid:36e50de3-1b2a-40ea-bb60-d972afcdffe8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.anneofgreengardens.com/2011/08/why-arent-my-tomatoes-turning-red/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923487 | 869 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
So we return to the discussion of the "Bible in History and Literature" class to be possibly included into Steamboat Springs High School curriculum. While other world nations surge past the United States in science and math, we will now use a book that was written in the first century by a variety of writers and translated (poorly) from an ancient language to teach our students history. As the people submitting this proposal to the School Board say to themselves, "It's basically a history course using the Bible as its main text."
Let's start with that. If this book will be used as a textbook, then it must be held to the same scrutiny as a textbook used to teach math, chemistry or English. Many of our textbooks are flawed, and there are continued changes to them. Has the Bible been edited recently? Are the many contradictions between authors validated, or proved inaccurate? And a very important question: Whom do we tell the students is the author of this textbook?
And will the teacher of this class pick and choose the parts to teach the students? Do we gloss over the parts were God says "if your brother, the son of your father, or your mother, or son or daughter ... tries to say to you 'let us go and serve other gods' unknown to you ... you must not listen, show him no pity ... No, you must kill him, your hand must strike the first blow in putting him to death ... " Deuteronomy 13:7-11.
It's not just the Old Testament; you find these statements throughout the old and new.
Only by ignoring such passages can the Bible mix with modern life. And this is another issue, either you accept it all, or you can accept nothing. This is where it is easier for the literal, Bible-believing Christians than the "moderate" Christians. They can believe it is all literally true, where the moderate says "that's symbolic, or metaphysical." But how will scripture be interpreted by students? How has it been interpreted in world history? That would not be a very flattering subject for this history course -- how scripture has influenced men of God to torture and kill, and still does.
There are historical events in the Bible, but between them, there are many more issues revolving around "Yahweh, your God." Do we think that this class would boost students' morals and ethics? It is a fact that the more "godly" states and nations have lower morals and more violence and teen pregnancies. The secular nations such as Sweden and other European nations are much better than us on these issues. Not to mention they beat us on test scores.
Let's give our students the right of a good education. If they want to study the Bible, there are plenty of Bible study classes in town. My tax dollars are better spent on classes that will help them progress in the world. The people in India and China would like us to teach religious dogma to our young rather than science.
If a book written in the first century, with all its translation and other flaws, which has never been updated or questioned, is the best book we can teach our students with, there is a problem.
I hope the School Board will make a decision based on reason, and not from outside pressure, that this class would not be in any way beneficial to students.
Editor's note: Two parents have requested that the School Board consider allowing an elective high school class that uses the Bible as its main text. | <urn:uuid:5e3e2da1-3fee-4e86-b56f-783fc61bbe4a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2006/jan/17/stephanie_dye_bible/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967449 | 720 | 2.328125 | 2 |
Wikileaks’ publication of 400,000 pages of previously secret documents on the Iraq War is roiling Western capitals and Baghdad. Julian Assange maintains that some 15,000 civilian deaths beyond the official US estimates are detailed in these documents. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the massive leak on grounds that it will endanger US troops. Assange maintains that the documents have been scrubbed so that no individual would come to harm from their publication.
The Iraqi government has been embarrassed by the allegations of prisoner abuse, and has vowed to investigate all such charges. The low-level US military reports repeatedly described instances of mistreatment of detainees that were seldom investigated by high US officers or officials. Many of the charges, however, pertain to the period before the summer, 2005, revelation of secret torture prisons for Sunni Arabs run by Ministry of Interior special police commandos, many of them from the Badr Corps or Mahdi Army Shiite militias.
The (Sunni) Arab nationalist London daily, al-Quds al-Arabi (Arab Jerusalem) slammed the US and its Iraqi allies. It says that the documents indicate that caretaker Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki may be implicated in the running of Shiite death squads. Likewise, they show that the US military covered up torture in Iraqi prisons and the involvement of Iraqi troops in widespread killings and torture. It says that the leaks show that the death toll consequent on the US invasion is much larger than had earlier been announced.
The documents, the daily says, accuse Iran of arming Shiite death squads and contain new information about the victims of US security company Blackwater (now Xe). Al-Quds al-Arabi says, “It is expected that the publication of the documents will have direct effects on the security and political condition in Iraq, as well as constituting a new blow to the reputation of the United States around the world, and especially in the Middle East.” It adds that although Iraq has fallen off the radar in American political debastes recently, the revelations could bring it back, as well as reviving painful memories of torture at Abu Ghraib, etc. (The paper is wrong about this; the US public has firmly put Iraq behind it and that debate is unlikely to revive because of these leaks; now new photographs, that might provoke some interest). | <urn:uuid:8fd06e83-ff58-4a8f-9067-2499f279058b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.juancole.com/2010/10/arab-press-iraq-wikileaks-will-damage-us-reputation.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957262 | 472 | 1.765625 | 2 |
The Big Question
I asked it at one of the Lambeth press briefings but, just for the record, let's get it down here. (It has been reported elsewhere -- thanks Jim and Katie -- but may as well get it on my site, as well.)
The bishops were calling for moratoria on: 1) Blessing of same-sex unions; 2) consecration of lesbian or gay bishops; 3) incursions into each others' dioceses. They continually spoke of the need for concessions and sacrifice for the good of the whole.
Finally, I was called on for a question:
"Bishops, you continue to speak of sacrifice and that is understandable as Christianity is built upon the realization of the potential holiness of sacrifice. My question for you is -- do you see a difference between sacrificing oneself on behalf of others and forcing others to sacrifice themselves for you? And, if you do see a difference, what are the implications, then, for requiring the lesbian and gay faithful to sacrifice our lives, loves, and vocations as these moratoria do?"
Really, it just repeats a theme that has surfaced for years in my reproductive justice/abortion rights speeches: Sacrifice can be a noble and even holy thing but no one -- not politician, partner, or priest -- no one gets to tell someone else what sacrifice she must make.
Seems that, whatever the venue, that's a hard concept for some to grasp. Go figure. | <urn:uuid:a6085bc0-4e34-45dc-99c6-9b4519cc75df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ragsdalesermons.blogspot.com/2008/08/big-question.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960614 | 300 | 1.5 | 2 |
The Support Services Division provides all Fire Department personnel with quality emergency fire and medical training in the following areas:
- Wildland urban interface
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- Technical rescue for airport crash and fire response
- Classification and officer development trainings and certifications
Support Services ensures that personnel meet the certification and licensing requirements mandated by State regulations. The division provides safe and adequate facilities and emergency response apparatus so City of Santa Fe Fire Department personnel can effectively meet the needs of the citizens and visitors.
Support Services Also oversees the fire prevention bureau which is supervised by the Fire Marshal.
Support Services is responsible to oversee reporting and data collection which is critical to fire department operations and planning. | <urn:uuid:c06fb8cb-8404-4d66-b796-b27b4c253f8a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.santafenm.gov/index.aspx?NID=133 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92645 | 138 | 1.507813 | 2 |
LIBYA COVERS FUEL COST TO MAINTAIN WFP AIRLIFT OF FOOD AID TO DARFUR
KHARTOUM- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed Libya's agreement to help cover the costs of its airlift of food aid to western Sudan's Darfur region, where up to 3.25 million people will require its assistance.
"We thank the Libyan people and its government for this generous gesture which will allow for the continuation of WFP's humanitarian airlift of food from El Kufra in Libya to Darfur," said John Powell, WFP's Deputy Executive Director.
The Government of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has agreed to waive tariff increases on jet fuel for this humanitarian cargo. Without this help, the UN agency would have been forced to suspend the airlift this month because jet fuel was set to rise from 13 to 33 US cents per liter, costing WFP an additional US$1.5 million a month to maintain the airlift operation.
"It was money we don't have and we are extremely grateful to the Libyan government for their assistance," said Amir Abdulla, WFP's Regional Director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, based in Cairo.
The news comes just in time for WFP. Airlifts are important during the rainy season, when roads in Darfur become impassable and the need for food aid peaks.
Unfortunately, the agency's special logistics operation to move food from Libya across the Sahara Desert to Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad has received just US$248,000 of the US$4.5 million needed until February 2006. WFP's emergency food relief effort inside Darfur requires an additional US$562 million, two thirds of which has been contributed.
"The Libyan corridor has been a vital link to the refugees and internally displaced population by allowing us to dramatically increase the amount of food aid we can deliver," said WFP's Sudan Country Director Ramiro Lopes da Silva in Khartoum.
Since August, Libya has a provided a crucial transportation corridor which allows for substantial deliveries of WFP food aid to be moved by truck and air from the Libyan port of Benghazi into eastern Chad and the three Darfur states in western Sudan. The airlift began on 7 May with an Ilyushin-76 aircraft carrying the first 38 metric tons of food from Al Kufra to Darfur. There are currently two daily flights to the North Darfur capital of El-Fasher and the South Darfur capital of Nyala. To date, the airlift has delivered a total of 5,623 tons of food - enough to feed almost 150,000 people for two months.
"It is a relief not to have to suspend this airlift. We are already using all possible means to get food into Darfur. The loss of this route would have made it more difficult for WFP to provide for up to 3.25 million people we plan to assist from August through to October ," added Abdulla, who is based in Cairo.
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: each year, we give food to an average of 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 56 million hungry children, in at least 80 of the world's poorest countries. WFP -- We Feed People.
WFP -- We Feed People. WFP Global School Feeding Campaign - For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school - a gift of hope for a brighter future.
Visit our website: www.wfp.org
For more information please contact (email: email@example.com):
Tel: +249 91 230 5974
Tel. +20 12 234 8671
Mob. +41 797 743821 | <urn:uuid:29e69e57-2eb4-4e22-a64b-55bd87cb67ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/libya-covers-fuel-cost-maintain-wfp-airlift-food-aid-darfur | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941806 | 794 | 1.90625 | 2 |
If you are thinking about renewable energy, whether solar or wind, you are on the right track. Given the variability of natural resources with the seasons, wind and solar energy can be used as complementary technologies to generate on-site clean energy and reduce our carbon footprint.
The UrWind O2 is the greener alternative! Wind turbines have a high Energy Return on Investment (EROI) in comparison to other renewable energy sources. The UrWind O2 is innovatively manufactured with recycled materials that can be reused after its estimated 20-years lifespan. Alternatively, during the manufacturing of solar panels chemicals and toxic materials that can harm our environment are currently used.
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Please feel free to contact us for more information. | <urn:uuid:c72cf4b6-8247-448c-a4c2-7fd140211d92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.urwind.com/en/wind-or-solar-energy.html | 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 | 0.909881 | 203 | 2.421875 | 2 |
Sometimes, I get stuck in the design process.
That’s when I need to give myself nudges that break up the mental and emotional constriction that is keeping me from moving forward in a project.
And, so, I reach for some of my favorite tools that help me to see things differently.
My chalkboards and chalk.
Eh? as we say in Canada
Really! A chalkboard is a fabulous tool for knocking the design blechs sideways!
I have wondered about why they work so well for me and I think that there are a couple of reasons.
The first is that white chalk on a black surface reverses the way I normally see things when I am drawing.
This is invaluable, because it clears the deck of any pre-conceived notions that I had about sketching.
It’s like working with negatives instead of photographs. You really do see things differently.
And, if you are stuck, then that is really helpful!
The second reason why I love chalkboards so much is that drawing on a chalkboard is so playful.
There’s a real feeling of ‘little kid’-ness to them that is definitely very freeing.
You know that it’s not permanent… it’s just a bit of dust on black paint … so wheee…… draw, draw, draw!
If you don’t like it…. whoosh whoosh, wipe it off and it’s gone.
If only the rest of life were so easy!
AND… if you do like it, then grab a piece of paper and a pencil and copy the sketch onto the somewhat more permanent surface.
How did I get such a neat shape chalkboard?
I drew the shape on masonite, cut it out and painted it with several coats of chalkboard paint from the hardware store.
I even like the scritchy sound the chalk makes when I am drawing.
Low tech is often a wonderful way of opening the doorways to creativity and imagination.
Try it…. you might like it
PS: Anne, who is one of my online friends in the Mirrix facebook group suggested that you take pics of your favorite sketches and load them into your paint or bead making programs. I don’t use those programs, so it didn’t occur to me.
Anne’s suggestion also reminded me that I do take ‘archival’ photos of some of the sketches that I really like… sorry… I completely forgot to mention that! Thanks for the reminder, Anne! | <urn:uuid:7487b1c2-562d-487c-860d-c4e384190f73> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tottietalkscrafts.com/tag/drawing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949855 | 535 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Eusociality is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification. The term "eusocial" was introduced in 1966 by Suzanne Batra and given a more definitive meaning by E. O. Wilson. It was originally defined to include those organisms (originally, only invertebrates) that had certain features:
- reproductive division of labor (with or without sterile castes)
- overlapping generations
- cooperative care of young
The lower levels of social organization, subsociality, were classified using different terms, including presocial, subsocial, semisocial, parasocial and quasisocial.
The most familiar examples are insects such as ants, bees, and wasps (the order Hymenoptera), as well as termites (order Isoptera), all with reproductive queens and more or less sterile workers and/or soldiers. The only mammalian examples are the naked mole rat and the damaraland mole rat.
The phenomenon of reproductive specialization is found in various organisms. It generally involves the production of sterile members of the species, which carry out specialized tasks, effectively caring for the reproductive members. It most commonly manifests in the appearance of individuals within a group whose behavior (and sometimes anatomy) is modified for group defense, including self-sacrifice ("altruism").
Subsequent to Wilson's original definition, other authors have sought to expand or narrow the definition of eusociality, focusing on the nature and degree of the division of labor, which was not originally specified. A narrower definition specifies the requirement for irreversibly distinct behavioral groups or castes (with respect to sterility and/or other features), and such a definition excludes all social vertebrates (including mole rats), none of which have irreversible castes. A broader definition allows for any temporary division of labor or non-random distribution of reproductive success to constitute eusociality, and some have accordingly argued that even humans may be considered eusocial. Others believe that the hierarchical classification may not serve much purpose.
Early ideas on eusociality included suggestions that trophallaxis or food sharing was a basis for sociality. Other theories include superorganism theory and parental manipulation theory. The most widely accepted model to explain eusociality is based on the idea of inclusive fitness.
According to inclusive fitness theory, eusociality may be easier for species like ants to evolve, due to their haplodiploidy, which facilitates the operation of kin selection. Sisters are more related to each other than to their offspring. This mechanism of sex determination gives rise to what W. D. Hamilton first termed "supersisters" who share 75 per cent of their genes on average. Sterile workers are more closely related to their supersisters than to any offspring they might have, if they were to breed themselves. From the "selfish gene's" point-of-view, it is advantageous to raise more sisters, assuming that roughly equal numbers are being produced. Even though workers often do not reproduce, they are potentially passing on more of their genes by caring for their sisters than they would by having their own offspring (each of which would only have 50% of their genes). This unusual situation where females may have greater fitness when they help rear siblings rather than producing offspring is often invoked to explain the multiple independent evolutions of eusociality (occurring some 11 separate times) within the haplodiploid group Hymenoptera — ants, bees and wasps. However, Hymenoptera is a large group and the majority of hymenopterans are not social. Furthermore, highly developed eusociality also exists in non-hymenopterans, perhaps most prominently in termites. Certain vertebrates (such as the naked mole rat) have also been described as eusocial. Most such cases involve organisms that display high levels of inbreeding, such that colony members share more than 50% of their genes, and therefore the same model is considered to apply to these species.
Superorganism theory, in contrast, explains the evolutionary stability of eusociality by focusing on competition among groups of organisms, such that selection upon features of the behavior of the group as a whole outweighs selection on the individuals within each group; that is, there is a higher payoff for an individual to invest in between-group competition than to invest in within-group competition. Support for this is based on the observation that multicellular life essentially started out as colonies of one-celled creatures, in which most of the one-celled creatures became specialized to other roles in the colony, losing the ability to reproduce. Thus came the transition from hordes of cooperating one-celled animals (algae are an example) to colonies of one-celled organisms acting as single, permanent units (slime moulds), to the simplest multicellular life (sponges), from which all higher animals evolved.
Theories of parental manipulation point out that the transition from solitary to eusocial appears to involve intermediate stages where dominance interactions are required to suppress the reproductive tendencies of group members; that is, females are manipulated into acting as workers, even if it is against their own self-interest. This model does not require that individuals be highly related, though high relatedness will reduce expected levels of resistance to manipulation.
In spite of the obvious advantages of common foraging and defense, eusocial animals had appeared paradoxical even to Darwin: if adaptive evolution unfolds by differential survival of successful species, how can a species succeed in which most individuals don't breed at all? How can individuals incapable of passing on their genes possibly evolve and persist? Since they do not breed, their fitness should be zero and any alleles causing this condition should be eliminated from the population immediately. In Origin of Species (first edition, Ch. 7), Darwin called this behavior the "one special difficulty, which at first appeared to me insuperable, and actually fatal to my theory." Darwin anticipated that the resolution to the paradox would lie in the close family relationship, but specific theories to offer such resolution (e.g., kin selection or inclusive fitness) had to wait for the discovery of the mechanisms for genetic inheritance.
Some hypotheses about how eusociality evolved in naked mole rats include: inbreeding, ecological factors such as the dependence on large tubers which are hard to locate and reach underground, heat loss prevention, and high dispersal costs. In the mammalian cases, eusociality is believed to arise from 'reproductive suppression', where infertility in working females is only temporary, and not genetic.[How to reference and link to summary or text]
Another widespread insect group exhibiting eusociality is the termites (order Isoptera), which in contrast to the Hymenoptera exhibit diploidy, like most organisms. Termites are a lineage of cockroaches, and are not closely related to the Hymenoptera. Eusociality arose once in an ancestral termite, whilst it arose several times in the Hymenoptera.
Recently, some species of gall-making aphids (Order Hemiptera) and thrips (Order Thysanoptera) were found to be eusocial, with many separate origins of the state. These species have extremely high relatedness among individuals due to their partially asexual mode of reproduction (sterile soldier castes being of the same clone as the reproducing female), but the gall-inhabiting behavior gives these species a defensible resource that sets them apart from related species with similar genetics. In these groups, therefore, high relatedness alone does not lead to the evolution of social behavior, but requires that groups occur in a restricted, shared area.
Similarly, eusociality has arisen among some crustaceans and other arthropods. On some tropical reefs, several species of minute Synalpheus pistol shrimp that depend on certain sponges for the survival of their colony, live eusocially, with a single breeding female and a preponderance of male defenders, armed with enlarged snapping claws. Again, there is a single shared domicile for the colony members, and the non-breeding members act to defend it.[How to reference and link to summary or text]
- ↑ Batra, S. W. T. 1966: Nests and social behavior of halictine bees of India (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). — Indian J. Entomol 28 375-393.
- ↑ Wilson, E. O. 1971: The insect societies. — Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cambridge. Massachusetts.
- ↑ Michener, C. D., Annu. Rev. Entomol, 1969, 14, 299-342.
- ↑ Gadagkar, Raghavendra (1993) And now... eusocial thrips!. Current Science 64(4):pp. 215-216 PDF
- ↑ Burda, H. Honeycutt, R. L, Begall, S., Locker-Grutjen, O & Scharff A. (2000) Are naked and common mole-rats eusocial and if so, why? Behavioral ecology and sociobiology 47(5):293-303 Abstract
- ↑ Crespi, B.J. and Yanega, D. (1995) The definition of eusociality. Behav. Ecol. 6, 109–115
- ↑ Kevin R. Foster & Francis L.W. Ratnieks 2005 A new eusocial vertebrate? TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution 20(7):363-364 PDF
- ↑ James T. Costa & Terrence D. Fitzgerald 2005 Social terminology revisited: Where are we ten years later? Ann. Zool. Fennici 42:559-564 PDF
- ↑ Wheeler, W. M. 1918. A study of some ant larvae with a consideration of the origin and meaning of social habits among insects. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., 57, 293-343.
- ↑ Reeve, H.K. and Hölldobler, B. 2007. The emergence of a superorganism through intergroup competition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 9736-9740
- ↑ Michener, C.D., Brothers, D.J. 1974. Were workers of eusocial Hymenoptera initially altruistic or oppressed? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 68: 1242-1245
- ↑ Brian, M.V. 1983. Social Insects: ecology and behavioural biology Chapman & Hall, New York.
- ↑ Crespi. B. J. 1992 Eusociality in Australian gall thrips. Nature 359: 724-726. | <urn:uuid:18570e50-257c-4ccd-9fbb-42a75c219dad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Social_insect?direction=prev&oldid=79255 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932086 | 2,219 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Prather’s Pick: ‘Magical Mazes’ captivates young children
I'm thoroughly enjoying "Tales of the Old West Retold" by C.A. Stoddard. I'll review it in next week's column.
In the meantime, I'm noticing that during this hot weather our grandchildren seem content to find a cool place where they can pore over books, too. One book that has seemed to captivate them lately is an activity book that encourages the reader to observe carefully. Perhaps it even sharpens problem-solving skills.
"Magical Mazes," written and illustrated by Juliet and Charles Snape, is intended for younger children, but, as with so many other pictures books, older readers will enjoy it, too. Our 12-year-old granddaughter had fun with it, and the detailed maze illustrations grabbed my attention. I tried some of the mazes and had to check out the "Solutions" section at the book's end, where the correct pathways are marked.
The subjects of the mazes are fantasy characters such as gnomes, leprechauns, mermaids, trolls, fairies, genies and a famous monkey that's well-known to readers of the classics.
According to Chinese mythology, Monkey "hatched" from a stone egg. He came to be known for his magical powers quick temper, and impulsive, mischievous behavior, sometimes resulting in chaos.
In the maze, Monkey is sitting on a rock with his "hands" over his eyes. He's playing hide and seek with the animal spirits, and he has to find a tortoise, unicorn, phoenix and, last of all, a dragon. Can the reader help him?
What a maze it is, with an elaborate fence, bridges over waterways, a castle (that looks more like a lighthouse) and pathways into a hillside, some of them leading to caves.
There are stairways in the castle, as well, that lead to several levels.
Monkey and a portion of the maze are featured on the cover of the book.
In "The Tea Kettle Fairy," Little Winnie Wink has to find her way to Firbog's birthday party. So she leaves her tea kettle house, with laundry hanging on the handle, and starts out through a village of colorful homes. Most are mushroom houses.
What makes this maze, and others, so interesting is the stairways and ladders lead up and over some of the houses and other structures, sometimes connecting houses in this manner.
It's an interesting twist to finding ones way in a maze.
In other mazes, a leprechaun has to find a pair of shoes and leave them at a cottage, Tog Troll has to retrieve his mug from deep down in the mines, and a prince has to find a genie that's hidden in a cave full of pots. And there's a lot more - ten mazes in all.
Each maze is featured as a two-page spread. One has a fold-out section on each page, making it even larger. And besides the mazes, there's information about different kinds of "fairy folk and magical structures", plus the answer key.
It's lots of fun for hot summer days or anytime. Other books by Juliet and Charles Snape include: "The Classic Tales Maze Book" and "The Great Creepy Maze Book."
"Magical Mazes" is published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc.; Publishers, 1999. The cost for this rather large (tall) paperback book is $12.95. ISBN 0-8109-2926-0
Copyright Diane Prather/ 2007. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:22003754-50c9-4bfe-8842-286391207356> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2007/jul/04/prathers_pick_magical_mazes_captivates_young_child/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964346 | 767 | 2.5 | 2 |
After thirty years of people thinking about it, a famous open problem about the Rubik’s Cube has finally been resolved: God’s number is 20. In other words, every Rubik’s Cube, no matter how mixed up, can be solved in 20 moves or less. A nice summary of the work can be found at:
This enormous calculation was completed by a team of Morley Davidson, John Dethridge, Herbert Kociemba, and Tomas Rokicki, and oh yes, 35 CPU-years of idle computer time donated by Google. The preprint should be available by early September sometime.
It should be noted that for quite a while “God’s algorithm” has been known — in other words computers could quickly solve any given position with a minimal number of moves. But even with the algorithm in hand, to get God’s number by brute force would take too long, since there are possible positions and one would have to check that they can all be solved in 20 moves or less. To get around checking this humongous number of positions required a lot of ingenuity and not only computing muscle, and the team should be warmly congratulated.
For the rest of this note, I’d like to briefly discuss a tiny bit of the mathematics involved, and an open problem or two.
First of all we should be clear about what we mean by “20 moves” — this is in the half-turn metric (HTM), where a move consists of turning any side, by either a quarter turn or a half turn. So to mathematicians, “God’s number” is the diameter of the Cayley graph for the generating set . This is the metric of choice for cubers, and probably has been for thirty years. To cubers turning a side is turning a side.
Of course a half turn is just two quarter turns, and this leads us to consider the quarter-turn metric (QTM), where we only allow turning any side a quarter turn. Of course you can still give it a half turn, but now this counts as two moves. What is the diameter of the Cayley graph for the generating set ? This is probably a more natural generating set to mathematicians, who might resist including both and in the list of generators for a group.
It is now known (due to a calculation by Rokicki) that 29 moves are always sufficient, and he suspects that the methods used to show that 20 suffice for HTM could probably easily bring this down to 28.
On the other hand, there is essentially only one position known that requires 26 moves in the QTM, and only two in that require 25 moves. This is a very different situation than HTM, where there are roughly 300 million positions distance 20 from solved. Extensive searches by Rokicki have failed to find any more positions requiring 25 or 26 moves. So the conjecture is that the diameter of the Cayley graph with the QTM generators is 26, but it might be a while before we know that for sure. In particular the methods applied to solve HTM apparently don’t work quite as cleanly as they do for QTM.
So this is one problem: show that God’s number for quarter-turn metric is 26.
What might be nice to see, for either metric, is a description of the geometry or topology of the Rubik’s cube. One could imagine, for example, adding higher dimensional cells to extend the Cayley graph to a polyhedral complex, and studying the topology of this complex.
Finally, the following also seems to be wide open: if one makes random moves on the cube (i.e. takes a random walk on one of the Cayley graphs), what can be said about the Markov chain mixing time? A famous result of Bayer and Diaconis is that it takes “seven shuffles” to mix up a deck of 52 cards, and it would be mathematically nice to have such an answer for the Cube. (The diameter of the Cayley graph being 20 puts an upper bound on the mixing time, but the bound obtained in this naive way is much too large to be close to the truth.)
But unlike the card shuffling, which actually has some practical application, at least for (say) casinos who want to make sure their decks are randomized, this would be purely for knowledge and enjoyment. Apparently this kind of mixing time question was once an issue for speed-solving tournaments, as they would make a sequence of random moves to mix up the cube, and one might want to know how many random moves to make. But this is no longer an issue — instead of choosing a sequence of random moves, now they have the computer choose a random position uniformly from all positions, and then use God’s algorithm to put the cube into that position.
(Special thanks to Tom Rokicki for very helpful conversations in writing this note.) | <urn:uuid:23a24ace-2af0-40de-b1da-54cea2ce867a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://matthewkahle.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/gods-number-is-20/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=9233933e84 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959023 | 1,033 | 2.328125 | 2 |
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India Confronts AIDS
New Delhi, India — The new government in India, led by a center-left formation called the United Progressive Alliance, says it is serious about health.
It has recently announced plans that include:
But critics say much more than promises are needed if decent health care is to be delivered to all Indians, some 80 percent of whom live on two dollars or less a day.
The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA, or People’s Health Movement), a campaign led by a group of health professionals, says that healthy living conditions and access to quality health care for all citizens are not only basic human rights but also essential prerequisites for social and economic development.
At present, the government’s health statistics make for dismal reading.
Infant and child mortality claims the lives of 2.2 million lives every year (a 1983 target to reduce the infant mortality rate to less than 60 per 1,000 live births remains unrealized). The rate of decline in infant mortality, which was significant in the 1970s and 1980s, slowed down in the 1990s.
Maternal mortality has jumped from 424 deaths per 100,000 live births in the 1990s to 540 per 100,000. Nearly half a million Indians die of tuberculosis every year as the nation witnesses a disturbing resurgence of communicable diseases such as Kala Azar, dengue, encephalitis and malaria.
Environmental and social dislocations combined with weakening public health systems have contributed to this resurgence, the JSA says.
The public health infrastructure has been unable to keep up with this situation. While healthcare facilities have grown substantially since the 1990s, they are mostly in the private sector — often beyond the reach of the poor. According to the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the private sector accounted for 57 percent of the 11,174 hospitals that existed in 1991. In 2000, however, the proportion of privately run hospitals grew to 75 percent of a total of 13,218 hospitals.
Only 17 percent of all health expenditure is borne by the government, which makes India’s health sector one of the most privatized in the world. The World Health Organization standard for expenditure on public health is 5 percent of GDP. India’s 0.9 percent expenditure of GDP is less than the average for poor countries — 2.8 percent.
Some critics say India’s health took a knock in the 1990s — the era of economic liberalization, when stagnant public health budgets and decreasing government expenditure in public health facilities were worsened by the introduction of user fees at various levels of public health facilities.
Now, a new initiative by the WHO and UNAIDS — the United Nations agency on HIV/AIDS — to increase access to ARV drugs to three million HIV/AIDS patients around the world by 2005 has galvanized the government and public opinion.
The so-called Three by Five initiative, launched in September 2003, has led to what the government’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) calls a “paradigm shift.” Until 2003, India’s AIDS policy did not support the provision of ARV treatment through the public health delivery system.
After the Three by Five initiative, then-Health Minister Sushma Swaraj declared a strong policy commitment to provide free ARV treatment to 100,000 AIDS patients. This began in April 2004. Government hospitals were to provide treatment in six high-prevalence states, and within them to three vulnerable groups: HIV-positive mothers; HIV-positive children below the age of 15 years; and AIDS patients who seek treatment in government hospitals.
The number of patients who had received ARV treatment prior to June 10 was 874.
NACO project director Meenakshi Datta Ghosh says: “A first line regimen of fixed-dose combinations of three ARV drugs is being promoted with a lot of effort by NACO. The pharmaceutical industries have reduced the cost of ARV drugs which on an average cost approximately Rs.10,000 [$222] per patient per year.”
Datta Ghosh says the government acknowledges that scaling up ARV treatment should not be at the expense of prevention activities: “We have to mobilize additional resources for the expansion of the treatment program without slowing down our efforts towards the prevention of the spread of HIV infection.”
Current official estimates are that there are 5.09 million HIV-infected people in India — up from 3.58 million in 1998, 3.72 million in 1999, 3.86 million in 2000, 3.97 million in 2001 and 4.58 million in 2002.
“These figures are a cause of increasing concern to the government because people infected with HIV during the 1980s and 1990s will progress to AIDS, resulting in a steep increase in the number of AIDS patients,” admits Datta Ghosh.
Today, access to treatment has become the subject of a major debate in India, fueled by a public interest litigation filed in India’s highest court last August demanding treatment for HIV/AIDS patients and provision of infrastructure.
Shruti Pandey, a lawyer working for the human rights group that filed the petition, says the group’s main request was that “the government should provide ARVs within the public health system and create an infrastructure, as sticking to the regimen is important.”
But the government’s position, Pandey says, is ambiguous: Among other problems, the government has not been “clear on how they plan to raise the resources.”
“Where are the attempts to build a conducive atmosphere for AIDS patients?” asks Pandey. “Every day, we hear of some instance of discrimination against HIV-positive people. They are being treated like untouchables. Their right to employment is being denied and the orphaned children are not given any support.”
These are urgent questions in India, which, along with China, is expected to emerge as the biggest Asian AIDS hotspot in the coming years.
“Ninety-five per cent of people with AIDS are poor, and most of them do not even know about the first line regimen,” says Ricki Tombing from the state of Manipur — one of the six focus states in the government’s AIDS strategy. “Either the government should get fully involved or it should get NGO counselors to assist the patients as they are more sensitive. Government counselors at testing centers only fill up forms.”
Tombing, a former drug user, was diagnosed with HIV three years ago. “In 2002, when I went for a second test, the counselor who filled up the form asked me how many sexual partners I have had. I told him and he ticked the column saying ‘sex workers.’ He assumed — wrongly — that I had visited sex workers,” he said, pointing to only one of many common biases in India.
Amit Sen Gupta of the JSA says the government cannot go on using the plea of lack of infrastructure when it comes to treatment issues. “This is a pernicious argument. If there are no treatment facilities, even detection will become difficult,” Sen Gupta, a critic of privatization, says. The new government, he adds, should spell out exactly how much it plans to spend each year on health.
Most of all, argues the JSA, there needs to be a “pro-poor bias” in India’s health policy, including access to AIDS treatment.
“Entering into a system of targets where people are just numbers and healthcare a convenient jargon is not going to do anyone any good,” says Sen Gupta. “Health programs need to be integrated within the primary healthcare system with decentralized planning, decision-making and implementation with the active participation of the community. The top-down approach has to go.”
It’s one “paradigm shift” that the majority of Indians have yet to see.
— T.K. RajalakshmiT.K. Rajalakshmi is a correspondent for the Indian newsmagazine, Frontline. Panos Features/Third World Network Features | <urn:uuid:f69bf84f-aa4e-42b2-b0b4-8560a65550ab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/122004/front.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955336 | 1,742 | 2.625 | 3 |
Associations & Organizations
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Associations (AFCEA) is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, IT, intelligence, and global security.
BITS is a not-for-profit, CEO-driven financial service industry consortium made up of 100 of the largest financial institutions in the US. BITS provides intellectual capital and fosters collaboration to address emerging issues where financial services, technology, and commerce intersect as well as security standards and best practices such as the Shared Assessments program.
Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) is a private nonprofit organization with the sole public mission of accelerating the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology by creating a credible, efficient certification process.
Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (CISSE) was created in 1997 to provide a forum for dialogue among leading figures in government, industry, and academia. CISSE’s goal is to work together to define current and emerging requirements for information assurance education and to influence and encourage the development and expansion of information assurance curricula, especially at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Federal Enterprise Architecture Institute (FEAC) the premier Certification Institution for Enterprise Architects, FEAC features the thought leaders and instructors in the field, including John Zachman, the Creator of the Zachman Framework.
Federal Information Systems Security Educators' Association (FISSEA) is an organization run by and for federal information systems security professionals. FISSEA assists federal agencies in meeting their computer security training responsibilities. Its purpose is to elevate the general level of information systems security knowledge for the federal government and federally-related workforce; serve as a professional forum for the exchange of information and improvement of information systems security awareness, training and education programs throughout the federal government; and provide for the professional development of its members.
Financial Services - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) The only industry forum for collaboration on critical security threats facing the financial services sector. When attacks occur, early warning and expert advice can mean the difference between business continuity and widespread business catastrophe. Members of the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) receive timely notification and authoritative information specifically designed to help protect critical systems and assets from physical and cyber security threats.
Forum for Incident Response Security Teams (FIRST) brings together a variety of computer security incident response teams from government, commercial, and educational organizations. FIRST aims to foster cooperation and coordination in incident prevention, to stimulate rapid reaction to incidents, and to promote information sharing among members and the community at large.
Healthcare and Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.
Information Systems Audit and Control Association and Foundation (ISACA) is a global organization for information governance, control, security and audit professionals. Its IS auditing and IS control standards are followed by practitioners worldwide. Its Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certifications uniquely targets information security management professionals.
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) ® is a not-for-profit, international organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums, publications and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill and professional growth of its members.
Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection (I3P) is a consortium of leading universities, national laboratories and nonprofit institutions dedicated to strengthening the cyber infrastructure of the United States.
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an international professional association of more than 150,000 members. The IIA is recognized as the internal audit profession's leader in certification, education, research, and technical guidance.
(ISC)² is the global leader in educating and certifying information security professionals throughout their careers.
IT Governance Institute (ITGI) exists to assist enterprise leaders in their responsibility to ensure that IT is aligned with the business and delivers value, its performance is measured, its resources properly allocated and its risks mitigated.
Multi-State Information Sharing Center (MS-ISAC) is a collaborative organization with participation from all 50 States, the District of Columbia, local governments, and U.S. Territories. The mission of the MS-ISAC is to provide a common mechanism for raising the level of cyber security readiness and response in each state and with local governments and the Territories.
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a 501c3 not-for-profit worldwide charitable organization focused on improving the security of application software.
Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading not-for-profit association for the project management profession. PMI is recognized for the advocacy programs we conduct with governments, organizations and industries around the world as they recognize and embrace project management to achieve business results.
SANS is the largest source for information security training and security certification in the world.
Unified Compliance Framework (UCF) reduces the regulatory tornado to a much smaller set of harmonized controls, giving you a single point of control over hundreds of complex compliance requirements from around the world.
Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is mission is to improve the quality of healthcare through effective and efficient information exchange and management. | <urn:uuid:3d3e3780-5da1-47eb-a29a-32cef7ef2e64> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.namtek.com/resource-library/associations-organizations/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.909184 | 1,133 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Pancreatitis - discharge
Chronic pancreatitis - discharge; Pancreatitis - chronic - discharge; Pancreatic insufficiency - discharge
When You Were in the Hospital
You were in the hospital because you have pancreatitis, or swelling of the pancreas
You may have had blood tests and imaging exams, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. You may have been given drugs to help your pain or fight and prevent infections. You likely were given fluids through an intravenous (IV) tube in your vein and nutrition through a feeding tube or IV. You may have had a tube inserted through your nose that helped remove the contents of your stomach.
If your pancreatitis was caused by gallstones or a blocked duct, you may have had surgery. Your doctor may also have drained a cyst (collection of fluid) in your pancreas.
After an episode of pain from pancreatitis, you should start off with drinking only clear liquids, such as soup broth or gelatin. Your doctor will ask you to follow this diet until your symptoms get better. Slowly add other foods back to your diet when you are better.
Talk with your doctor about:
- Eating a healthy diet that is low in fat -- no more than 30 grams of fat per day
- Eating foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates, but low in fat. Eat smaller meals, and eat more often. Your doctor or nurse will help make sure you are getting enough calories to not lose weight.
- Quitting smoking, if you smoke (or chewing tobacco)
- Losing weight, if you need to
Always talk to your doctor before taking any medicines or herbs.
Do NOT drink any alcohol.
If your body can no longer absorb fats that you eat, your doctor may ask you to take extra capsules, called pancreatic enzymes. These will help your body absorb fats in your food better.
- You will need to take these pills with every meal. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how many.
- When you take these enzymes, you may also need to take another medicine to decrease the acid in your stomach.
If your pancreas has a lot of damage, you may also develop diabetes. Your doctor will check for this problem.
Managing Your Pain
Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and foods that make your symptoms worse is the first step to controlling pain.
Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), at first to try and control your pain.
Your doctor will also give you a prescription for pain medicines. Get it filled when you go home so you have it available. If the pain is getting worse, take your pain medicine to help before the pain becomes very bad.
When to Call the Doctor
Call your doctor or nurse if you have:
- Very bad pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter drugs
- Problems eating, drinking, or taking your drugs because of nausea or vomiting
- Problems breathing or a very fast heartbeat
- Pain with fever, chills, frequent vomiting, or with feeling faint, weak, or tired
- Weight loss or problems digesting your food
- Yellow color to your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
Banks PA, Freeman ML; Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. Practice guidelines in acute pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Oct;101(10):2379-400.
Frossard JL, Steer ML, Pastor CM. Acute pancreatitis. Lancet. 2008;371:143-152
Tenner S. Steinberg WM. Acute pancreatitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 58.
Reviewed By: George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang. | <urn:uuid:5c76d4c6-8e7f-40fd-a8fb-24159b894c9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sw.org/health-education?productId=117&pid=60&gid=000201 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906589 | 900 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Five People Born on February 18
Today is February 18, 2010 and the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 316 days left in the year 2010. According the Mayan calendar, there are 1037 days till the end of the current cycle. On this date, in 1881, America’s first Senatorial filibuster began – lasting till March 11. Here are five people that share a birthday on this day:
Toni Morrison (Born 1931)
Born Chloe Anthony Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, she is considered one of the best contemporary novelists of our time. She graduated from Howard University in 1953 and continued her education at Cornell University where she received a master of fine arts degree in 1955. After graduating from Cornell, she taught English at Texas Southern University and at Howard University. Morrison left academia in 1965, taking a job as a senior editor for Random House in New York City. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970 and told the story of a young African-American girl who believes her incredibly difficult life would be better if only she had blue eyes. She continued to explore the African-American experience in its many forms and time periods in such works as Sula (1973), Song of Solomon (1977), and Beloved (1987), which won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Morrison developed a strong following among both readers and critics whom fell for her lyrical style, sharp observations, and vibrant storytelling. Morrison became a professor at Princeton University in 1989 and continued to produce great works. In recognition of her contributions to her field, she received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, making her the first African American to be selected for the award. The next year, her novel Jazz was published, and she established a special workshop for writers and performers known as the Princeton Atelier. Along with her novels Paradise (1998) and Love (2003), Morrison wrote several children's books, including The Big Box (1999), The Book of Mean People (2002), and The Ant or the Grasshopper? (2003), with her son Slade.
John Travolta (Born 1954)
U.S. actor born in Englewood, NJ, Travolta dropped out of high school to pursue acting at the age of 16. Soon, he was in off-Broadway hits, including a role in the play, Grease. In 1975, Travolta shot to stardom for his role as Vinnie Barbarino in the hit TV series Welcome Back Kotter. The following year, he won the lead in the critically acclaimed TV movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. International fame came with two successive box-office hits, Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). He earned an Oscar nod for his role in the former, becoming an icon for disco nightlife and ‘70s culture. His career slumped in the 1980s and early 90s, but then, in 1994, Travolta made a career comeback when he starred in Quentin Tarantino’s crime smash Pulp Fiction. He earned his second Academy Award nomination and went on to win a Golden Globe for his performance in the critically acclaimed film Get Shorty. Other notable films include Broken Arrow, Phenomenon, Primary Colors, The General’s Daughter, and Ladder 49. Travolta married actress Kelly Preston in 1991. The couple had two children: son Jett, born on April 13, 1992, and daughter Ella Bleu, born in 2000. Jett died on January 2, 2009, during a family vacation at their home in the Bahamas. A coroner's report determined the cause of death to be a seizure.
Yoko Ono (Born 1933)
Japanese singer and actress born in Tokyo, Japan. In 1940, the family moved to New York, then back to Japan in 1941 when her father was transferred to Hanoi on the eve of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Ono remained in Tokyo through World War II, including the great-fire bombing of 1945. At age 18, Ono moved with her parents to Scarsdale, New York. Settling in Greenwich Village, she developed her interest in art and also began writing poetry. Considered too radical by many, her work was not well received but she gained recognition after working with American jazz musician/film producer Anthony Cox, who later became her husband. Ono first met John Lennon of the English rock band The Beatles on November 9, 1966, when he visited a preview of her exhibition at the Indica Gallery in London. He was taken with the positive, interactive nature of her work. He especially cited a ladder leading up to a black canvas with a spyglass on a chain, which revealed the word “yes’ written on the ceiling. They began an affair approximately 18 months later. Lennon divorced his first wife, Cynthia (they had a son, Julian, born in 1963), and married Ono on March 20, 1969. They collaborated on art, film, and musical projects, and became famous for their series of ‘conceptual events’ to promote world peace, including the ‘bed-in’ held in an Amsterdam hotel room during their honeymoon in 1969. Following the death of John Lennon in 1980, Ono continued her career and has recorded albums, performed concert tours, and composed two off-Broadway musicals. She exhibited her art internationally, and in 2002 the first U.S. retrospective of her work opened in New York City. On 9 October that year, to commemorate what would have been Lennon' 62nd birthday, she inaugurated the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace prize.
Jack Palance (1920-2006)
Palance is an American actor born Vladimir Palahnuik (later changed to Walter Jack) in the coal-mining town of Lattimer, Pennsylvania. While attending Stanford University on the GI Bill, Palance developed an interest in the dramatic arts. He moved to New York and was cast in a number of bit parts, including his first stage role in the Broadway production The Big Two (1947). Later that year, he understudied Anthony Quinn in the Chicago production of A Streetcar Named Desire. In 1950, director Elia Kazan cast Palance in his first studio film, Panic in the Streets, in which he appeared opposite Richard Widmark as the vicious street boss Blackie. The immediate success of Panic in the Streets influenced 20th Century Fox to offer Palance a long-term contract. Often cast in sinister, villainous roles, he earned praise for his Oscar-nominated performance opposite Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear (1952). Playing a vicious gunslinger, his next project, Shane, left an indelible impression and earned him a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He achieved success with parts in the films The Professionals (1966), The Desperados, and Che! (both 1969), as well as in the TV versions of classic thrillers like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968) and Dracula (1974). Despite continued critical acclaim for his performances, fewer and fewer roles came his way. During the late 1970s, his credits included a handful of embarrassing foreign films like Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster (1974), The Sensuous Nurse (1976), Welcome to Blood City (1977), and Cocaine Cowboys (1979). In 1982, Palance’s career received an improbable resurgence when Columbia Studios contracted him as the TV host of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Over the next few years, he appeared in a variety of high profile films, including the blockbuster Batman (1989) and the rollicking comedy-adventure City Slickers (1991), for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Palance reprised his award-winning role in the 1994 sequel City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold. Palance died on November 10, 2006, at the age of 87.
Vanna White (Born 1957)
U.S. born television game show hostess from North Carolina, White attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and worked as a model. She headed to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue an acting career, but returned briefly to South Carolina during the summer of 1980, when her mother was dying of ovarian cancer. White returned to Hollywood with renewed resolve and earned a series of minor acting jobs in largely forgettable films, including a bit part in Looker and the 1981 thriller, Graduation Day. In 1982, however, White got the job that would make her career. She was chosen out of 200 applicants to join new host and former weatherman, Pat Sajak, on the NBC game show, Wheel of Fortune, created by entertainment giant, Merv Griffin. The show met with tremendous success over the next several years, and by 1986 a syndicated evening version attracted 30 million viewers, twice as many as the No. 2 syndicated program, M*A*S*H, and grossed $100 million a year. In 1999, its 16th year in syndication, Wheel of Fortune was seen by approximately 40 million people. In 1992, White was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as TV's most frequent clapper, with an average of 720 claps per show and over 28,000 per season. A ghostwritten autobiography, Vanna Speaks, was published in 1987.
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Five People Who Possibly Never Lived | <urn:uuid:242a490c-0c58-4fe1-9bca-3b1ce3042a3e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://myfivebest.com/five-people-born-on-february-18/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971017 | 1,996 | 2.25 | 2 |
One of the show’s main attractions was the Airider vacuum from Glasgow, Scotland-based Air Rider Systems Ltd. The vacuum literally hovers above the floor and easily moves around the room with the user, eliminating the floor scratches often left behind from wheels and easing the physical exertion of the user. According to Michael J. Rooney, inventor and CEO, the key to the “floating” appliance is the patented footprint on the bottom of the vacuum through which the air passes. “Air moves through the footprint at a very high speed and lifts the machine. It’s similar to a hovercraft, but without the skirt,” he tells APPLIANCE.
According to the company, air is directed from an inlet on the vacuum’s upper casing on an angle, passing through an electrified conduit, where the air is then delivered to the exhaust port. The air chambers receive pressurized air from the exhaust port and stabilize the underside surface to maintain a horizontal relationship with a floor surface, creating air floatation lift.
Using a 1,400-W motor, Mr. Rooney says that the air flowing through the system moves at more than 200 mph. A thermal cut-off protects the motor from overheating. One of the design challenges, he says, was balancing the necessary sucking pressure with the airflow. The solution, he notes, is one of the 28 claims protected under his patent, which he received in April 2001. “If we can pick up a 10.5-lb vacuum cleaner, we can pick up a speck of dirt,” Mr. Rooney notes.
The unit was also designed with stairs in mind. According to Mr. Rooney, the machine will not fall off edges, as it requires floor space to hover upon. “If it is not on a surface, it stops,” he explains.
The vacuum is constructed out of engineering polymers to keep the unit durable, but lightweight. Other features include HEPA-standard filtration and washable filters, as well as a button-release, extendable hose from supplier Flexible Ducting (Glasgow, Scotland) that stretches up to 1.5 m. The canister is bagless and can be emptied via a font-release clip. Mr. Rooney expects the units to be available for purchase by April, initially through TV “infomercial” sales. The vacuum will be available in several color combinations, which have yet to be determined. | <urn:uuid:46871f4c-8c2b-4c14-8f46-b6609583a58a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.appliancemagazine.com/new_products.php?article=5494&zone=204&first=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95134 | 512 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Muhammad Mehrban; Muhammad Asif MCS-2010:10, pp. 66. COM/School of Computing, 2010.
Mostly technological innovation depends on user interface design to enhance the technical complexity of products that match the end user requirements. The acceptance key of any technological product is user experience that how the user understands the end product. In design process a systematic approach is required to optimize user interface design to ensure optimal performance and usability testing.
The main objective of this study is to identify the challenges and issues related to mobile phone software interface design in context of elderly people. The result of this study will support to mobile phone software interface designers and developers. During the investigation authors are trying to discover the usability problems faced by the elderly people using the current mobile phone software interface. The questionnaire technique was selected to collect the requirements from elderly about the mobile phone software interface. The finding of questionnaires was used to develop design guidelines for low fidelity prototype of mobile phone software interface. Moreover, usability testing was conducting to validate the design of low fidelity prototype.
This thesis presents how we design mobile phone software interface for elderly with declining eyesight. Our system enables elderly declining eyesight to use their mobile phone by selecting different display modes. | <urn:uuid:78afc7b6-63e0-4d43-97bc-96194328409f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bth.se/fou/cuppsats.nsf/bbb56322b274389dc1256608004f052b/d5dc37149f464156c12576be0058ecaa!OpenDocument | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.904453 | 249 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Psychology
Hunter College, Room 512
695 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Tel: (212) 772-5618
Current Areas of Research:
Parsing, the process of assigning a structural description to an input, is believed to be an important component in human language comprehension. The goal of my research is to learn about the nature of the human language parser and the comprehension process, by studying how syntactic ambiguity affects comprehension. Another study focuses on the relationship between the listener's dialect and the perception of speech sounds. This project is designed to unravel the mystery of how phonological rules, normally associated with production, can affect speech perception.
Current studies focus on implicit memory for repeated auditory and visual stimuli, the nature of implicit versus explicit perceptual learning, and the differences between males and females in math problem solving and mental rotation. Implicit memory. We present spoken and handwritten words to our experimental participants, whose task is to identify the stimuli under degraded listening or viewing conditions. Participants' accuracy on repeated stimuli is an indicator of their implicit memory.
Implicit and explicit learning. Perceptual categories can be learned explicitly, through hypothesis generation and testing, or implicitly, as a byproduct of performing another task. We ask students to engage in these two forms of learning and then measure the differences and similarities in what is learned.
Gender differences. High school and college students solve arithmetic, algebra, and geometry problems on a computer. Participants also make judgments about stationary and rotating objects displayed on a monitor. Past studies have shown that males and females perform differently on these tasks. | <urn:uuid:05ff06cc-416e-43b3-8a79-553a6861fe3b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/psychology/faculty/cognitive-psychology/chodorow | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906393 | 333 | 2.0625 | 2 |
The Fields Medal is awarded every four years on the occasion of the International Congress of Mathematicians to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and for the promise of future achievement.
The Fields Medal Committee is chosen by the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union and is normally chaired by the IMU President. It is asked to choose at least two, with a strong preference for four, Fields Medallists, and to have regard in its choice to representing a diversity of mathematical fields. A candidate's 40th birthday must not occur before January 1st of the year of the Congress at which the Fields Medals are awarded.
The name of the Chair of the Committee is made public, but the names of other members of the Committee remain anonymous until the award of the prize at the Congress. If a former student (Ph.D. thesis only) of a Committee member is seriously considered, such a member shall not continue to serve on the Committee for its final decision.
- List of Fields Medallists
- Former Prize Committees
- Call for Nominations for 2014 Awards
- Prize Committee Chair for 2014 Awards
- Nomination Guidelines
- Physical Medals and Cash Values
Nominations for this award have to be submitted to the Prize Committee Chair. IMU requests that the Nomination Guidelines are observed.
History of the Fields Medal
At the 1924 International Congress of Mathematicians in Toronto, a resolution was adopted that at each ICM, two gold medals should be awarded to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement. Professor J. C. Fields, a Canadian mathematician who was Secretary of the 1924 Congress, later donated funds establishing the medals, which were named in his honor. In 1966 it was agreed that, in light of the great expansion of mathematical research, up to four medals could be awarded at each Congress.
The following text by Eberhard Knobloch describes the design of the medal.
The Fields Medal
The head represents Archimedes facing right.
(1) In the field is the word in Greek capitals and
(2) the artist's monogram and date RTM, MCNXXXIII.
(3) The inscription reads: TRANSIRE SUUM PECTUS MUNDOQUE POTIRI.
The inscriptions mean:
(1) "of Archimedes", namely the face of Archimedes.
(2) R(obert) T(ait) M(cKenzie), that is the name of the Canadian sculptor who designed the medal. The correct date would read: "MCMXXXIII" or 1933. The second letter M has to be substituted for the false N.
(3) "To transcend one's spirit and to take hold of (to master) the world".
The inscription on the tablet reads:
EX TOTO ORBE
OB SCRIPTA INSIGNIA
It means: "The mathematicians having congregated from the whole world awarded (this medal) because of outstanding writings". The verb form "tribuere" (the first "e" is a long vowel) is a short form of "tribuerunt". In the background there is a representation of Archimedes' sphere being inscribed in a cylinder.
Eberhard Knobloch, August 5, 1998
To obtain further details on the Fields Medal or on J. C. Fields, please refer to:
- The Fields Institute website at:
www.fields.utoronto.ca/aboutus/jcfields/ and/or www.fields.utoronto.ca/aboutus/jcfields/fields_medal.html
- The book:
Elaine McKinnon Riehm and Frances Hoffman, "Turbulent Times in Mathematics: The Life of J.C. Fields and the History of the Fields Medal", American Mathematical Society, The Fields Institute, 2011
- The master thesis:
Marcus Emmanuel Barnes, "John Charles Fields: A Sketch of His Life and Mathematical Work", Simon Fraser University, 2007
- The article:
Carl Riehm, "The Early History of the Fields Medal", Notices of the AMS, Vol. 49, No. 7, pp. 778-782, 2002
- The article:
Michael Monastyrsky, "Modern Mathematics in the Light of the Fields Medal", originally published in CMS Notes, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp.3-5, and Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 11-13, 2001
- The article:
Henry S. Tropp, "The Origins and History of the Fields Medal", Historia Mathematica Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 167-181, 1976, DOI | <urn:uuid:b9c5b0eb-6642-46e4-9c74-a0bd5eabe8e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mathunion.org/general/prizes/fields/details | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913483 | 971 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Related BLS programs | Related articles
January 2010, Vol. 133, No. 1
Union Membership Attrition
Gary Chaison is a professor of Industrial Relations in the Graduate School of Management at Clark University. E-mail: GChaison@Clarku.edu
In studies of the state of the labor unions, researchers often estimate union membership attrition—that is, the annual loss in union members caused by employment shifts. For unions to have net growth in the number of members, the losses must be offset by new union members, which are gotten through organizing.1 This research summary examines the validity of common assumptions about membership attrition by measuring union membership changes in expanding and declining industries as well as the number of new members needed by the unions each year for either no change or an increase in union density of 1 percentage point. Union density, a widely used measure of union organization and influence, is calculated as the annual percentage of employed wage and salary workers who are union members.2
This excerpt is from an article published in the January 2010 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. The full text of the article is available in Adobe Acrobat's Portable Document Format (PDF). See How to view a PDF file for more information.
Download full article in PDF
1 Gary N. Chaison and Joseph B. Rose, “The Macrodeterminants of Unions Growth and Decline,” in George Strauss, Daniel G. Gallagher, and Jack Fiorito, eds., The State of the Unions (Madison, WI, Industrial Relations Research Association, 1991), pp. 3–45.
2 Gary N. Chaison and Joseph B. Rose, “Linking Union Density and Union Effectiveness,” Industrial Relations, January 1996, pp. 78–105.
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Pupils 'being let down by schools'
Tens of thousands of teenagers are being let down by schools which are failing to ensure pupils leave with decent GCSE results, new league tables have suggested.
And around one in four schools and colleges are not producing any students with top grades in subjects that will help them win a place at a leading university, according to an analysis of the latest statistics.
In total, 195 schools in England, collectively teaching around 167,000 children, are falling below the Government's new floor target for secondaries, the figures show. This means that less than 40% of their pupils are gaining at least five GCSEs at grade C or higher, including English and maths, and students are not making good enough progress in these two core subjects.
Ministers have raised the floor target since last year (2011), but if this year's measure was applied to last year's results, 251 schools would have dropped below it. The new tables are based on data provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and show how every school and college in England performed at GCSE and A-level in 2012.
For the first time this year, the Government has also published figures on the numbers of pupils at each school or college that are scoring at least two A grades and a B at A-level in "facilitating" subjects. These are subjects that are preferred, or required more often, by Russell Group universities, which are considered among the top institutions in the UK.
An initial analysis of the latest statistics suggests that at around 600 schools and colleges - just over one in four - no A-level student scored AAB in facilitating subjects. Selective schools dominated the tables again this year.
The top school for GCSE results was Colyton Grammar School in Devon. The co-educational school entered 117 pupils for GCSEs and equivalent exams this year, and all got at least five qualifications at grade C or higher.
The most improved school was Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire. Its GCSE results have risen from 32% getting five A*-C including English and maths in 2009 to 80% this year. Headteacher Marian Barton said she was "delighted", adding: "Our results were quite stupendous last year and we're expecting to maintain that improvement this year. We've come on a journey of continuous improvement over the past four years."
2012's bottom school for GCSEs was Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham. It had no pupils getting five A*-C including English and maths, according to the data. This was because the school, which saw all pupils achieve this standard last year, had used a new English exam which was not included in this measure, said the DfE.
Pate's headmaster Russel Ellicott said: "We decided to move our English curriculum to an IGCSE, not currently counted in the league tables, because we decided that particular curriculum included a greater depth of learning, having fewer texts but students look at them in greater detail. We are secure in the knowledge that we have chosen the right curriculum." | <urn:uuid:03ebfc79-511c-48a3-82b2-cddda790b2a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/uk_national_news/10182425.Pupils__being_let_down_by_schools_/?ref=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977855 | 680 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Aldo Leopold was a conservationist who made important natural surveys of the Colorado River region in the early 20th century. His observations, and the stark warnings he made about the wanton misuse of resources and interference in its well-established eco-systems are a relevant prophecy today:
“Do we not already sing our love for and obligation to the land of the free and the home of the brave?,” he asked. “Yes, but just what and whom do we love? Certainly not the soil, which we are sending helter-skelter down river. Certainly not the waters, which we assume have no function except to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. Certainly not the plants, of which we exterminate whole communities without batting an eye. Certainly not the animals, of which we have already extirpated many of the largest and most beautiful species. A land ethic of course cannot prevent the alteration, management, and use of these ‘resources,’ but it does affirm their right to continued existence, and, at least in spots, their continued existence in a natural state. In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it.”
What would he say to the fact that the Colorado is now so vastly overdepleted from supplying some of the world’s fastest growing metropolitan & agricultural centers in regions that could never support such populations?
Wherever natural crisis occurs, human disaster is not far behind. That’s the cycle that Leopold recognized. His investigations, and the development of engineering works on the Colorado, are detailed in a new book from anthropologist/ethnobotanist Wade Davis. It reminds me of Timothy Eagan’s excellent work on the Dust Bowl, “The Worst Hard Time,” in its bleak forecast of needlessly repetitive history.
Wade Davis is an author & National Geographic resident explorer, better known to many of us through his tv documetaries delving into the daily lives & traditional philosophies of indigenous peoples.
So, in case you haven’t seen the amazing photo reblog from earlier this week – or noticed the newest addition to my blogroll – I just had to to mention my new favorite blog. It’s a hub for the camera magic of Canadian programmer, part-time photographer and mountain hiker Patrick Latter. Canadian Hiking Photography (as its obscure and enigmatic name might suggest) is devoted mostly to the vistas of Canada’s mountains, lakes, and woods as seen from a trekker’s point of view (though it’s not limited to gorgeous northern scenery).
It’s always great to stumble on a site that can grab your attention over and over because its content stands head and shoulders above the rest; let’s face it, the blogosphere is grossly over-blogged and seriously bogged-down with information overload. But these photos are consistently and refreshingly stunning – every time WordPress sends the latest post to my Inbox, I know it’s going to be good!
For anyone who’s interested, photographic prints of the artwork on the site are available from Smug Mug.
Check it out:
Patrick Latter – Canadian Hiking Photography
Here’s an interesting site with a good compilation of stories & biography on influential American Indian women (and I’m not talking about Pocahontas and Sacajawea). Lots of great resources and multimedia, courtesy of the University of Nebraska.
I have to tell you about one of my favorite websites – this one is bound to interest the Rebecca’s Wild Farm fans among my readers.
Hotel Posada del Valle is a guesthouse with organic farm & gardens, located in the Picos of Spain’s northern coast. While I haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Asturias, it’s been fascinating to read about the development of this project by British couple Nigel & Joanne Burch, who bought and restored the property a number of years ago.
Using practical, sustainable methods of land management they have made their hardscrabble lot into an oasis of wildflower meadows, orchards, and vegetable gardens where they host travelers and tourists from all over the world. As a grower myself I can appreciate the incredible effort they make promoting renewable farm management, heritage seed & livestock varieties, and traditional practices of husbandry that have fallen by the wayside in favor of more convenient and “commercially viable” technology.
With a “work-in-progress” attitude, they’ve combined a lot of elbow grease with experienced local knowledge and a nature-first approach that respects the land and encourages renewable efforts in the community. A quick look at the results of their work give a fine example of just how rewarding and bountiful these methods are.
Their website offers some very excellent information about permaculture and sustainable farming, loaded with pictures and descriptions of their grounds and the practical concerns of maintaining them (and glimpses of the stunning coasts and mountains of Asturias). They also keep a great Blog which is updated often. Whether you’re a full-time farmer, a part-time gardener, or just a nature lover, please take a moment to look at their pages and share them with a friend.
I finally received a response from the BBC production team on the matter on whether a dvd edition of the documentary Rebecca’s Wild Farm (also A Farm for the Future) will be commercially available. They replied that at present there are no plans in motion for producing the dvd’s – but they will refer it for consideration.
I strongly encourage anyone interested to contact the BBC directly at email@example.com and petition for a commercial release. If they know just how much of a following this excellent resource has, it might promote a positive response.
“Whether the noble Indian is shedding a tear for a 1960s’ environmental public service commercial or being saved by the great white hope Captain John Smith in the recent Disney movie Pocahontas, hints of self-pity and romanticism continue to haunt American Indians in film. While Hollywood no longer portrays American Indians as painted and uncivilized savages, waving tomahawks and scalping the innocent European settlers, contemporary movies maintain the stoic `Indian’ image smothered with sentimentality…”
This installment of video-photo essays by Syracuse Post-Standard photographer John Barry explores the winter traditions of the Onondaga nation.
Iroquois people are no strangers to winter weather – their upstate New York homeland gets more than its share of frigid temperatures and snowfall.
Below: Throwing snow snakes and mud cats is a favorite traditional winter sport for Iroquois guys.
Schoolkids make visits to senior citizens to help with chores and errands and share stories, bonding the two pillars of Iroquois society: the children and the elders. | <urn:uuid:d9da8b67-61bb-416b-90e1-615964af575b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jessicacrabtree.com/journal1/tag/recommendations | 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 | 0.934257 | 1,476 | 2.65625 | 3 |
advanced text editing to go
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Vim can be configured to work in a very simple (Notepad-like) way, called evim or Easy Vim. | <urn:uuid:dbde95e6-4a74-4655-956e-d8a96cfb6953> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://portableapps.com/apps/development/gvim_portable | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935424 | 150 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Twinkle, twinkle little streetlightIs artificial lighting drowning the night sky? Residents in Douglas County have noticed something missing – stars in the nighttime sky. The city of Alexandria has grown substantially in the past decade. With growth comes development; with development comes those bright city lights, which without proper regulations can result in light pollution.
By: Crystal Dey, Alexandria Echo Press
Starlight, star bright, where’s that star I saw last night? Residents in Douglas County have noticed something missing – stars in the nighttime sky.
The city of Alexandria has grown substantially in the past decade. With growth comes development; with development comes those bright city lights, which without proper regulations can result in light pollution.
Light pollution is unwanted or excessive artificial light and wasted energy. Electromagnetic waves transmit light produced by electricity and since electricity can be generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, a link between light and air pollution is formed.
While air pollution can be measured by air quality and particulates in the atmosphere, light pollution is less corporeal. However, light pollution can be reduced through regulations.
Alexandria City Planner Mike Weber said light pollution is like climate change; it’s everywhere you look.
Larger cities like New York City have less access to the night sky, obviously, and towns of 20,000 or more can have difficulty seeing some constellations.
“You won’t see what you see here,” Weber said.
The Alexandria city zoning ordinance calls for outdoor lighting to be hooded and directed away from residential areas and streets to prevent diminished ability to see the night sky.
However, streetlights are not the only contributors to light pollution in a community. Headlights from cars and bicycle lights shine outward. Weber said parking lots are required to be screened to prevent this light from being obtrusive into people’s homes. Display lights in businesses also add to the complex issue of light pollution.
POLLUTION GETS PERSONAL
Barbara Benson has lived on Lake Cowdry for 42 years where her family has reveled in observing the night sky.
“From our boat, our pajama-clad family used our wondering eyes and sometimes our simple binoculars to scour the sky for its mystery,” Benson said.
Since the 1980s Benson has noticed less and less of the sky she had grown to know and love.
Instead of seeing the dancing aura of the northern lights, she now sees the glowing halo from street lamps and fears for the day when her country home is annexed into the city and a blaring light shines obtrusively over her home and outward into the night.
Alexandria Light and Power lights the city. Runestone Electric Association handles county lighting.
Weber said if there were enough people in an area opposed to installation of a street light there is a chance it may not be erected. However, lighting is necessary for safety in areas such as intersections.
Benson understands the safety and security reasoning behind installing lights and also knows that something can be done to reach compromises.
“You’ll notice that the parking lot of Tastefully Simple has all down-lights,” Benson said. “I was told the choice of lighting was in response to my concern.”
Benson had informed a friend who worked at the company that the upward lighting on the Tastefully Simple building on Highway 45 had a big impact on night sky viewing. The newest addition to the company is more light-conscious.
There are a variety of terms used to describe types of light pollution: light trespass, glare, clutter, energy waste, urban sky glow – it all means light is not being used as efficiently as possible. To help harness the potential of light, use the correct light fixture in regard to wattage and height.
For more information on light pollution, to see how you can help decrease its effect on the night sky and to view images, visit www.darksky.org.
LIGHT POLLUTION PREVENTION
Here are some tips on how to avoid light pollution:
Use only the amount of light you need.
Shield lights pointing down.
Use light timers.
Use low pressure sodium (LPS) fixtures.
Shield globe lights.
Share tips with neighbors. | <urn:uuid:ec7bc540-76e3-44e0-8f6a-9f09c9fa986a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/99524/publisher_ID/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943938 | 890 | 2.953125 | 3 |
ClientARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum www.aros.dk
In February 2009, Aarhus Kunstmuseum ARoS opened an exhibition of digital art with the title Enter Action - Digital Art now. Our task was to design and implement a website that could provide information about the exhibition and its installations. We developed a concept in which the content is placed on an image or map, which in principle allows for arbitrarily large websites without deep hierarchies. The implementation is generic and allows you to quickly change the graphical presentation and content.
The background is a 3D collage visualising urban spaces and networks. Content is positioned by means of pictograms representing the various installations and pieces of the exhibition. These pictograms are repeated in the exhibition catalogue and also at the exhibition where each installation is presented with a short text and a red/white pictogram. By clicking on the pictograms on the website the user is presented with a number of content objects presenting text, images and video.
TOUCH SCREEN INSTALLATION
The website was also available at the exhibition as an interactive installation based on a 46" touchscreen. The content could be navigated by dragging the entire background map or by using a mini map or through a series of text links in the page bottom to increase the usability for users not accustomed to alternative ways of navigation. | <urn:uuid:7320c404-c988-4390-9ce7-26a25edc81c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kollision.dk/en/arosWeb | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930163 | 275 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Israeli, Palestinian share breakfast, sympathies in S.F.by dan pine, staff writer
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One morning earlier this month, Uri Fishelson and Malaka Samara met for breakfast in the restaurant of a San Francisco hotel. They were total strangers.
He being an Israeli Jew and she a Palestinian Muslim from the West Bank, it could have been a frosty conversation over coffee. Instead, the two chatted for hours, discussing each other's families and expressing a mutual longing for peace back home.
"We talk openly about issues on the conflict," said Fishelson, "and you find out we're exactly the same, with slightly different languages. We're similar people with similar opinions, and you feel these people might as well be our neighbors."
Fishelson and Samara represent OneVoice, a six-year-old grassroots movement of Israelis and Palestinians who want to end the conflict between their two peoples. The two were in the Bay Area for a whirlwind speaking tour at local college campuses, including Stanford, U.C. Berkeley and San Francisco State University.
Both found a warm reception everywhere they spoke, though they admit some audience members were surprised to see an Israeli and Palestinian on the same page for once. Skeptics wondered whether Fishelson, 25, and Malaka, 29, really believed OneVoice could make a difference after so much strife and bloodshed.
"They believed us," said Fishelson. "They see that it's possible. They know it will be hard work, but it can be done."
"We are here," added Samara, "an Israeli person and a Palestinian person. We want to tell people here in the states that we came from the region of conflict to say you must do something to support us and stop the polarization."
Launched in 2002 by Jewish entrepreneur Daniel Lubetsky, OneVoice sought to circumvent the glacial pace of Middle East peace talks. Israeli and Palestinian organizers gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures for peace petitions. The group attended the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, two years ago.
It also had setbacks. A plan for simultaneous million-person peace concerts in Tel Aviv and Jericho in 2006 had to be scrapped due to security concerns. But the grassroots efforts go on, thanks to volunteers like Fishelson and Malaka.
A native of Tulkaram, an Arab town in the north of the Palestinian Territories, Samara earned a B.A. in English at Al-Najah University. She has taught English in Palestinian schools and worked as a translator. Though she admits she had been suspicious of Israelis most of her life, and doubted Israel's commitment to peace, she says joining OneVoice a year ago turned her around. Now she wants to devote her life to
"Before OneVoice I didn't trust Israeli people that they wanted to end the conflict or want peace with two states side by side," she said. "When I met Uri, I told him I cannot see him as an enemy or feel this in my heart. So why can't we be friends and neighbors?"
Similarly, Fishelson had limited contact with Palestinians, other than during his military service. He grew up in Tel Aviv, majoring in biology at Tel Aviv University. After signing up with OneVoice, he went through several levels of leadership training. Now he wants to drop biology and pursue a career in international relations.
For both, the hardest step is developing genuine empathy for the other side. It doesn't mean Malaka has to like checkpoints and occupation; nor does Fishelson have to make friends with Hamas. But both had to stretch their emotional limits.
"We understand the issues they live with," said Fishelson. "We empathize. At the same time, we try to explain our point of view, why having checkpoints is important for our security. Maybe they don't understand us but they see where we're coming from. Then we can have a better way to end the conflict."
Added Malaka: "Sometimes I want to move between places and we are asked to wait for many hours at a checkpoint. I feel upset and anger, but we must solve our problem. We can't kill them and they can't kill us. So let us find solutions to live in peace."
Now back in the Middle East, Fishelson and Malaka are in their communities working to convince their neighbors that peace is possible, even if it seems unlikely some days.
"We actually go out to the people, encourage them to act and voice their opinions, so that the leaders will know they have someone behind them," said Fishelson. "We're a movement that doesn't go around yelling, but we do things on the ground."
Be the first to comment! | <urn:uuid:a92b62d0-6759-44ca-9738-2dcf6b27b39b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/36275/israeli-palestinian-share-breakfast-sympathies-in-s-f/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974297 | 995 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The combination of different types of support, each tailored to the person and the situation is preferable to offering one type of support or a standard care package.
2. Healthcare professionals should be aware that many people with dementia can understand their diagnosis, receive information and be involved in decision making.
Psychosocial interventions for comorbid depression and/or anxiety
3. A care plan for people with dementia, including those with comorbid depression should be drawn up on the basis of the life history, social and family circumstances, and preferences (such as diet, sexuality and religion) of the person with dementia. Activities should be adjusted to ensure that they are achievable with the limitations the patient has.
4. Assess and monitor people with dementia for depressions and/or anxiety.
5. Non pharmacological interventions should be considered in decreasing comorbid agitation, depression and/or anxiety and should be tailored to the person’s preferences, skills and abilities. Monitor response and adapt the care plan as needed.
Behaviour that challenges
6. People with dementia who develop non-cognitive symptoms that cause them significant distress or who develop challenging behaviour should be offered an assessment at an early opportunity to establish the factors likely to generate, aggravate or improve such behaviour. The assessment should include the person’s physical health and behavioural and functional analysis conducted by professionals with specific skills, in conjunction with carers and care workers. The assessment should lead to an individually tailored care plan and the coordination of care should be documented and reviewed regularly. The frequency of the review should be agreed by the carers and staff involved and documented.
7. People with dementia and challenging behaviour should be treated with acceptance and respect during a psychiatric crisis involving delusions, panic attacks, hallucinations and aggressive behaviour. The feelings that cause the behaviour and distract the patient should be identified. Confirmation of delusions should be avoided. De-escalation strategies should be used in the handling of aggressive behaviour. Restraint should be avoided and only used as a last resort.
8. If there are unexplained changes in behaviour or signs of distress, assess for undetected pain, using an observational pain assessment tool if helpful.
9. In severe dementia, treat pain both pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically. Consider the person’s history and preferences when choosing non-pharmacological therapies.
Support for carers
10. Respite or short-break services should be available and include, for example, day-care, day and night sitting, adult placement and short-term and/or overnight residential care.
11. Assess and monitor carers of people with dementia for anxiety and/or depression, especially in cases of problematic behaviour. Social workers/nurses should anticipate and intervene, especially when caregivers experience symptoms of depression, to prevent overburdening.
12. Care plans for carers should include tailored interventions such as individual or group psycho-education and training courses about dementia, services and benefits, and dementia-care problem solving. The general practitioner and/or other professionals should inform the family and caregivers of the local situation.
Management and coordination of care
13. Care managers/coordinators should ensure that there is coordinated delivery of health and social care services, including a combined care plan, agreed by health and social services, that takes into account the changing needs of the person with dementia and the carers. A case manager, one or two assigned people who would maintain regular contact with the patient and the main caregiver should be involved in aiding patients with dementia and their caregivers.
15. Health and social care managers should ensure that all staff working with older people in the health, social care and voluntary sectors have access to dementia-care training (skill development) that is consistent with their roles and responsibilities. This should include comprehensive training on interventions that are effective for people with dementia.
16. Staff should show a validating, respectful attitude in working and communicating with people with dementia.
Principles of care
17. Identify specific needs, including those arising from:
- sensory impairment
- communication difficulties
- ill health
Last Updated: Donnerstag, 08. Oktober 2009 | <urn:uuid:72b0af60-3df6-4ef6-85e8-462134a191ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/DE/Research/European-Collaboration-on-Dementia/Psychosocial-interventions/Key-recommendations | 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 | 0.923604 | 851 | 2.90625 | 3 |
We talked about the New Ofsted Framework in a recent blog, and now we’re delighted to announce the release of the latest Modern Governor module “Self-evaluation and the New Ofsted Framework”.
One of the biggest challenges that Schools and Governors face (and will continue to face) is the ever-changing landscape of education. Doing more for less is the new reality in these times of fiscal constraints – but School Governors will always need to be trained in the key areas. The traditional face-to-face workshop is still popular – but how do you get the right information to the right Governors at the right time if they can’t attend workshops at evenings and weekends?
“Self-evaluation and The New Ofsted Framework” is the latest module from Modern Governor – a product from the Learning Pool portfolio. The modules are designed for Governors by School Governance experts and are interactive, engaging and relevant. Almost half of all local authorities subscribe to Modern Governor, and every day more are realising that e-learning is the perfect way to ensure that busy Governors (who, after all, volunteer their own time) can receive quality training at a time, place and pace to suit them.
Elaine Walton, Product Manager for Modern Governor said: “It’s always a happy day when we release a new Modern Governor module. Our community grows stronger by the day because of the quality of our content, and the quality of our interactive content is strengthened by our community who engage with us about future modules. It’s a busy time for us as we will be releasing another 2 courses in the coming weeks – “Is Governor Mark for Us?” on 16th July and “Looked After Children” on 2nd August.” | <urn:uuid:8bbff68e-a431-461f-9ed4-fbe54e172aad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.moderngovernor.com/new-modern-governor-module-released/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943202 | 367 | 1.5625 | 2 |
There exist a great number of possible techniques for stimulating of muscular structure and softening tissues. New alternative medicine industry provides big choice of different massages, somatic therapy and bodywork techniques. The base of procedures presents different variants: stretching, pinching, compression, pressure, vibration, kneading, tapping, rocking, etc. The types of bodyworks are concentrated into two ways of performance: light passive pressuring or active energetic massage or movements.
Bodywork description shows that the final purposes of most variants of bodywork practice are concerned in energetic rise and power renovation that can result in physical health condition improvement and psychological recoveries. According to any bodywork description all massage procedures are extremely effective during the healing process.
Bodywork description shows that the history of massage practice has roots in ancient time and the oldest civilization when our early ancestors who used this medicine field both for relaxation and ideal combination for any medicine application. It was considered to be not reasonable to go through any kind of treatment without using massage. The benefits of massaging are incredible. One of the obvious advantages of the bodywork is its possibility to be performed both in hospital and home conditions.
The massage effect can be improved by the usage of additional means as lotions, creams, oils, powders and other kind of lubricants. It is not difficult to choose any individual kind of practice that will be preferable for certain personal health conditions and problems.
One of the most valuable practices in this field is considered to be touch therapy. The procedure was invented and developed by John Thie and was known for a long time as "Touch for health". The base of the practice stands on two platforms: acupuncture procedures and dietary guidelines. The distinguish feature of touch therapy is the necessity of the second person for a kind of muscle testing. This procedure provides possibility to determine the strength of certain muscle: if it is weak or strong. Finger acupuncture techniques are perfect for muscle strength renovation. Most massage techniques are based on acupuncture experience.
Acupressure methods are in big favor in different countries; they found huge spectrum of usage. Acupressure is considered to be one of the most unique techniques. Not all treatments have exactly explained mechanism of action. The result is obvious and presents a kind of tradition. Some recipes including pain killing and general health improving were passed from generation to generation. Acupressure uses secrets are pure samples from this range. The 20th century made many discovers. It also opened the door to the word of the acupressure treatment and explained most acupressure effects by the means of bio-chemicals actions.
Today it is easy to step the way of massage practice by yourself thanks to variety of bodywork description reviews that keep all necessary information about massage and bodywork techniques and warnings. | <urn:uuid:49c1f585-0ea1-4e16-b8c4-b89602078e9c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.syl.com/hb/bodyworkdescriptionreview.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939122 | 563 | 2.390625 | 2 |
After serving two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a machinery repairman onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Andrew Moore’s service to his country is complete.
Now, there’s a program that’s serving him and his family with the same commitment as he studies at Tennessee Tech University to be a mechanical engineer.
He’s taking advantage of the America’s Veterans to Tennessee Engineers Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiative for military members just completing their service but still on active duty who want to be nuclear, chemical, mechanical, electrical or civil engineers.
Some Tennessee Tech participants may directly enter their four-year program depending on their qualifications. Tennessee Tech also has the flexibility to accept students from the Roane State STEM curriculum at several points in their academic progress.
For more information, visit http://www.y12.doe.gov/jobs/stem/ or contact TTU’s College of Engineering at 931-372-3172. | <urn:uuid:88a0fa78-bfa6-445a-9c1b-099fae4e638b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tntech.edu/webreleases/americas-veterans-to-tennessee-engineers/print/?tmpl=component | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942449 | 205 | 1.742188 | 2 |
That this sub-subseries comprises the bulk of material only underscores Kimball's promotion to display period rooms from different countries and civilizations within an American museum of art. These files represent European interiors that the Museum purchased or that were offered to Kimball for his consideration. Non-European interiors are documented in other subseries.
This sub-subseries also contains files pertaining to George Grey Barnard. A collector of Medieval art, Barnard (and later his estate) made several sales of important architectural elements to PMA, including those from the Abbey of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines. Barnard was also a sculptor, and his work as such is briefly documented in this series, in the "Modern and contemporary art" subseries. | <urn:uuid:32f4857f-3e8a-46e9-8dc0-ae69ae06715b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.philamuseum.org/pma_archives/ead.php?c=FKR&s=sss136&s1=s77&s2=ss207 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9707 | 155 | 1.8125 | 2 |
The problem seemed to start after installing the app needed to watch the Olympics. That app was uninstalled. Uninstalling & reinstalling Reader does not seem to help. Any suggestions? I get no error. Reader simply does not respond at all.
We have Windows XP version 2002 sp3. The Reader version is 10.1.3. I think it was a new version of Flash Player that was needed to watch the Olympics. My husband had done that part, so I'm not sure what he did. Now I'm supposed to fix it ; ) Currently, the recorded video works, but the live stuff does not. It all works fine on my laptop, so it's not our access. He had the live video working, but then he realized he had lost access to pdf's. He uninstalled the new stuff he had installed. Tried reinstalling Reader and Flash Player. Flash Player is good now except for the live Olympics, which we can live without. However, we do need to be able to open pdf's.
I do not quite understand the connection between Flash Player and Adobe Reader; they are entirely different programs.
When the answer of any of these questions is no, then please explain what exactly happens instead?
P.S. if you have problems with online PDFs, what is the web browser you use?
No pdf opens. I cannot open Adobe Reader directly. I cannot open a pdf on my local disk. I cannot open a pdf in an oline doc. Both Adobe reader and a local pdf simply do nothing when I click on them. An online pdf gives me this error in IE:
But they open ok in Chrome.
After you try opening Adobe Reader, can you open Task Manager (tab Processes) and see if there are any AcroRd32.exe processes running?
If there are multiple, kill them all, then try to open Reader again.
Europe, Middle East and Africa | <urn:uuid:8542be8e-f35d-4236-95cd-45eb53b71a2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.adobe.com/message/4601089 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950627 | 400 | 1.523438 | 2 |
By Louis Mays, Professor/Librarian
Since 1975, Southern State Community College (SSCC) has been serving the higher education needs of citizens in Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette and Highland Counties in southern Ohio. The Learning Resources Center (LRC) has been an integral part of that mission.
Located at four separate campus sites, the LRC provides a variety of library and academic support, not only to the college’s faculty, staff and students, but also to the surrounding community. Led by librarian Louis Mays since 1978, the LRC has played a pivotal role in the use of technology, information and community service. Here are just a few examples:
Located in Washington Court House, the LRC also serves as the One Stop Center for Fayette County. This collaboration between the college library and Job & Family Services makes for a unique blend of community service, job training and re-employment, and traditional academic support in a college environment. Carissa Thatcher is the manager at Fayette Campus.
The collection emphasizes the health sciences, including nursing and allied health. However, there is a special collection in Hillsboro that is of interest to genealogists all over the country. The LRC houses the complete collection of the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society. Campus library manager Rebecca Griffith also coordinates services to students enrolled in human services and counseling at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.
A major supporter of the arts in Appalachian Ohio, the South Campus LRC near Sardinia provides a variety of events in the arts, including monthly exhibits of local artisans. The library also houses a special collection in Appalachia. It’s not unusual to hear live music being performed in the library at various times of the year, especially during National Library Week in April. Campus library manager Mary Ayres has been coordinating events in her library for many years, and is assisted by highly motivated and engaged library staff.
This campus in Wilmington is located next to the former DHL/ABX Air Park, where the local community experienced the single largest job loss at one location in U.S. history. The LRC provided direct services to displaced workers at the Air Park by providing access to LearningExpress Library, the Small Business Resource Center database, and other library resources that were in demand then at the Air Park site. Angel Mootispaw is the library manager at the campus in Wilmington.
For more information about the LRC at Southern State, call 937.695.0307 Ext. 3580 or visit their web site at http://lrc.sscc.edu. You can also find them on Facebook, or visit their Digital Resource Center for access to the Steve Newman World Walker site or other local digitization projects at SSCC. | <urn:uuid:c84ea02c-1cdb-40c7-b490-c8d0c2eb7094> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://library.ohio.gov/marketing/Newsletters/TheNews/2010/October/SouthernStateCC | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956878 | 561 | 1.734375 | 2 |
With only six legislative days remaining in the 2013 session of the General Assembly, last week’s activities in the House of Representatives took place primarily at the committee level, examining legislation that had been approved by the Senate earlier in the session. A handful of Senate bills made it to the House floor by the end of the week.
The same process was taking place with the Senate taking a look at House legislation. I am pleased to report that one of the House bills making it through the Senate was an amended version of HB 234, which I co-sponsored and would require advance notice to consumers of automatic renewals in service contracts. The bill now comes back to the House for consideration of Senate changes.
The most significant bill making it to the House floor for a successful vote last week was HB 106, the annual state budget for fiscal year 2014. The FY 14 state budget totals $19,864,261,481 in state funds, a number set by the Governor’s revenue estimate. This budget will direct spending for all state agencies, departments, and programs from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.
While the $19.8 billion state budget reflects an increase of $539 million in state revenues, this is only a slight 2.78 percent increase from the FY 2013 amended state budget. This increase allowed us to partially restore some important programs in the FY 2014 budget, but the budget remains austere because state revenue growth is increasing at a very modest rate. State agencies are still working to do more with less. In fact, when adjusted for inflation to 2012 dollar values, our state is spending 17 percent less per capita than it was a decade ago. And there are 9,000 fewer state employees than there were five years ago.
HB 106 gives the lion’s share of the additional $539 million to education, which will net an additional $268.8 million. That includes an increase of $236 million for K-12 education and another $13.5 million for Pre-Kindergarten, part of which will allow Georgia Pre-K to add 10 more days to its school year. The FY 14 state budget also fully funds Quality Basic Education (QBE) enrollment growth of 1.4 percent for 23,922 new students, as well as training and experience pay raises for teachers.
The House version of the budget also reflects the State Education Finance Study Commission’s recommendations for increased state support of school nurses and professional development for school administration. Additionally, the FY 14 state budget increases HOPE Scholarships and Grants by 3 percent for the more than 200,000 HOPE recipients, and restores $6 million to allow the Technical College System to maintain teaching faculty that will be needed for its anticipated 9,000 new students.
The second largest increase in state funding will go to Georgia’s health and human services agencies, which will net an additional $197.8 million. This will mean an added $174.5 million for the Department of Community Health and its attached agencies, including the Medicaid program, $17.7 million for Behavioral Health, and $4.6 million for Public Health. In addition to this funding from revenue growth, HB 106 restores $13.8 million of proposed cuts to community healthcare providers, like nursing homes, $528,871 for 17 Family Service Worker positions who provide direct Elder Living care, and $484,559 for Alzheimer’s and Respite Services.
The budget also includes funding for two new health centers that will provide hypertension treatment, in addition to providing existing healthcare services. Moreover, the FY 14 budget provides $4.8 million for the first payment increase in 10 years for foster care service providers who watch over the more than 2,200 special needs foster children in the state who have significant physical, emotional and behavioral needs.
The remaining $72.4 million in added state funding will be distributed throughout Georgia’s other state agencies, all of which have had to sustain major budget cuts over the last five years as a result of the economic recession. These funds, along with other parts of the state budget, will allow these agencies to better serve Georgians. For example, the House version of the FY 14 state budget would increase road project funding by $42.1 million. It would also provide $8.1 million for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to keep the Xpress buses running throughout the 13-county metro Atlanta area that draws riders from 40 counties. It further adds $4.3 million to help GBI and Natural Resources retain experienced, certified personnel by providing competitive salaries. Additionally, the Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission is fully funded with an increase to maintain database enhancements.
The House version of the budget also includes a bond package that totals $785.1 million. Of the total bond package, the House appropriated 72 percent for K-12 education, higher education and public libraries. This includes $244.1 million in funding for K-12 construction, vocational equipment and new school buses statewide. This figure also includes $7 million for technology infrastructure upgrades at local school systems. This funding is the first step in ensuring that our schools are prepared to deliver a 21st century education. The bond package also includes $321.9 million for both the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to maintain and repair existing facilities as well as to build and equip new classrooms and lab space to meet the needs of a growing student population.
The House also designated 20 percent of the bond package for economic development purposes. These state bonds will help fund reservoirs, local water and sewer construction, and deepening the Savannah Harbor - a project that is vital to both Georgia’s and the nation’s economy. Finally, the remaining 8 percent of the bond package will largely go to public safety agencies for renovations and improvements at Georgia National Guard armories, state prisons and juvenile facilities statewide. | <urn:uuid:b95b6ae3-1d4e-4568-913b-9db03cb6f88c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lagrangenews.com/view/full_story/22024206/article-2014-budget--Senate-legislation-on-House-members%E2%80%99-agenda | 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 | 0.95636 | 1,200 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
The Ethiopians have a veneration towards him based on the content of various Apocryphal works.
Actually the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church bases the veneration of St Pontius Pilate on his confession at the Trial of Christ in the Gospels. The Ethiopian Fathers' writings and commentaries elaborate based on the Gospels the deep significance in connection with the Prophets and the Psalms the witnessing and confession of St Pontius Pilate. We have had this discussion before on the forum, and folks mistakenly assume that the Sainthood of Pontius Pilate in the Tewahedo Church was based on as you mention, pseudo-canonical Scriptures about Pilate's guilt trip and post-Crucifixion repentance, however this is not why the Ethiopians have Sainted the man. I'm not even sure if the Ethiopians traditionally ever had any of these Epistles of Pontius Pilate [http://www.interfaith.org/christianity/apocrypha-epistles-of-pontius-pilate/] or the Confessions of Pontius Pilate which float around today as Apocryphal.
From the Ethiopian Synaxarium
Senne 25(July 02) On this day also died Pilate, the confessor. Salutation to Pilate who washed his hands of
the Blood of Jesus Christ.
The Fathers have then elaborated that it was in the insisting to release Our Lord and then ultimately washing his hands of the whole affair, then issuing the decree "King of the Jews" on the Cross, St. Pontius Pilate then both was not guilty of Our Lord and also confessed before the people that our Lord was indeed the King.
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Matthew 27 NIV
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate
Mark 15 NIV
So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [a]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
There are three specific aspects to Saint Pontius Pilate's confession according to the Tewahedo Church Fathers (hence why he is known as Saint Pontius Pilate the Confessor)
1) When he reiterated to the people the innocence of Jesus Christ, and specifically washed his hands publically of the whole affair, which is memorialized at each Divine Liturgy when the celebrating priest washes his hands of the blood guilt of any of those approaching the Altar to commune in a state of sin.
2) When he said to the people "Here is the Man" he was acknowledging the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ (Christology) and when he said "Here is the King of Israel" he was acknowledging Jesus Christ as the messiah. Now as to the perfect divinity of Jesus Christ, some Ethiopian Fathers attest that Pilate recognized Jesus indeed as God Incarnate which was why it is said in the Gospel of John that Pilate became afraid and also why he heeded the dreams and visions of his wife's warning.
3) When he refused to heed the requests to change the indictment on the Cross, indeed the indictment which read in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew (which is actually quite theological because the Jews then spoke Aramaic, Hebrew was a liturgical/theological language like Latin to the Catholics and Slavic to the Russians and Ge'ez to the Ethiopians) Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, is Pilate's Confession. In the Gospel of John it explains that Pilate himself personally arranged that indictment and what was written and said, "What I have written I have written!" | <urn:uuid:d3e2cc8c-0dca-46bc-862c-610fc2c99931> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=36031.msg567854 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979584 | 2,083 | 2 | 2 |
Perhaps you did not know that the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology had New Orleans in mind for its 2011 annual meeting in New Orleans. Perhaps you are not even familiar with the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Well, you've missed your chance. Although New Orleans "has been a popular venue of us in the past, " society president, Richard Satterlie, has advised Gov. Bobby Jindal that the 2011 meeting will go to Salt Lake City instead.
In his letter to Jindal, Satterlie says the society will be urging other scientific organizations to "reconsider any plans to host meetings in Louisiana."
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is already committed to New Orleans for this year, but that will be it. Its president Gregory Petsko has declared, "No future meeting of our society will take place in Louisiana as long as that law stands."
"That law" is the Louisiana Science Education Act, which is named for what it is designed to destroy. Jindal signed it last year, clearing the way for creationism to be taught in biology class.
Satterlie wants Jindal to work for a repeal of the act in this year's session, but parting the Red Sea would be child's play by comparison. The bill received only three nay votes in the House last year, and none at all in the Senate, so even if Jindal were prepared to heed the voice of reason, he could probably never twist enough arms in the corridors of the Capitol to engineer a repeal.
But the voice of reason cuts no ice with Jindal anyway, at least on this issue. He refused to veto the bill last year, ignoring the pleas not only of Satterlie's group, but the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a slew of other learned bodies and even his old genetics professor from Brown University.
The force behind the bill was the Louisiana Family Forum, a group of Christian soldiers that few politicians would wish to cross, given that polls suggest a startlingly high number of Americans refuse to accept that mountains of scientific evidence prove the truth of evolution.
While some politicians might kowtow to the forum out of expediency, Jindal does not appear to be one of them. He actually appears to believe this stuff. Darwin or Genesis? You pays your money and you takes your choice, so far as the Louisiana Science Education Act is concerned.
This legislation is straight out of the Dark Ages, but it will remain on the books even if every scientist in the land joins in the boycott.
The Family Forum has this administration in its clutches. Not only has Jindal, in his ostentatious Catholicism, voiced doubts about evolution, but his chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, is an old friend of Forum director, Gene Mills. Jindal's labor secretary, Tim Barfield, is a founding member of the Forum.
Satterlie's letter to Jindal included a somewhat heavy-handed and superfluous reminder that conventions "can contribute to the economic regime of any community." His society's convention held in Boston this year "brought over 1,850 scientists and graduate students to the city for five days, " Satterlie wrote.
Dependent though this city is on the extravagance of strangers, Forum zealots are not going to be deterred by such mundane considerations. If the intellectual, and therefore economic, health of the state were of any concern, they wouldn't be so eager to lumber us with generations of scientific ignoramuses.
Their own intellectual honesty may be measured through their repeated denials that the Louisiana Science Education Act had a religious purpose in allowing the introduction of "supplemental materials" in science class.
How they squawked when a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education task force called their bluff and included a ban on "the teaching of creationism or intelligent design" in rules it drew up to implement the act. The board licked Mills' hand and removed the ban.
So scientists are going to be thin on the ground around here. What economic effect the Louisiana Science Education Act will have, however, is hard to say, since maybe there will be an influx of fundamentalists to take up the slack.
The city economy might still suffer a net loss anyway, since, when it comes to cocktail time, one biologist is probably worth at least six Bible literalists.
. . . . . . .
James Gill is a staff writer. He can be reached at 504.826.3318 or at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:380616fc-d519-40d2-851f-e1b06d1f9991> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.nola.com/jamesgill/2009/02/mad_scientists.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963884 | 927 | 1.890625 | 2 |
|Publisher version (open access)||1 MB||Adobe Acrobat PDF||View/Open
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/29115
- Time to teach, time to learn : report on the evaluation of outcomes assessment and reporting in NSW government schools
Eltis, K. J.;
Crump, S. J.
- This Report presents the findings of our Evaluation and concludes with a set of Recommendations. It will be obvious from a reading of our findings that much excellent work is occurring in our schools and teachers and their principals are to be commended on the efforts they have made to manage the complex issues arising from new practices in relation to outcomes assessment and reporting. There are, however, problems needing to be addressed, not the least of which is the clear specification of just what is mandatory for teachers in relation to curriculum assessment and reporting outcomes, and where they have more freedom. A major conclusion from the Evaluation is that whatever approaches we adopt to improve the curriculum and reporting practices, ample time must still be there for teachers to show creativity and innovation in their teaching, and for students to explore in detail what it is they are being asked to learn so that they find excitement in the challenges presented to them. Hence the title of our Report is Time to Teach – Time to Learn. We must avoid the danger of over-prescription while ensuring that the curriculum remains rigorous. These considerations have been kept in mind when the Recommendations were being framed.
- State of NSW, Department of Education and Training
New South Wales;
- Resource Type
- © State of New South Wales through the Department of Education and Training
- Full Text | <urn:uuid:00ff6927-401b-4c25-bf9b-3fe21f6b0cc6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2401?expert=dateNormalized%3A2003*&f0=type%3A%22report%22&f1=subject%3A%22New+South+Wales%22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933633 | 354 | 2.578125 | 3 |
By R Jagannathan
The case for taxing the rich more – something that the finance minister and other policy-makers have been mumbling about for some time now – is falling apart in the light of closer scrutiny.
While no one disagrees with the apparently egalitarian proposition that if you are rich, you can pay more taxes, the economic case for it is quite debatable. In an interview to The Economic Times today, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia makes three telling points.
One, it is not that the rich don’t pay more taxes. They do. They are taxed at the highest rate of 33-and-odd percent. The problem is that not all the rich pay their taxes. He said: “There is no doubt that not enough rich people are paying the tax they should be paying.”
Evidence: there are only 400,000 people declaring incomes of over Rs 20 lakh, and only 1.4 million above Rs 10 lakh. Ahluwalia’s take is this: “The number of people declaring income over Rs 10 lakh is very low. A lot more people in professions and commerce are in that range. Whatever we can do to expand that net is absolutely vital and should be done.”
Translation: the real evasion is in income brackets above Rs 10 lakh, and many of them are non-salaried professionals.
Two, the rich seem to pay less taxes than they can because their incomes come from dividends and capital gains – which get taxed lower than salary or other income. Here, Ahluwalia’s argument is that it is not easy to track dividend and capital gains incomes at the individual level – hence the levy of dividend distribution tax at the corporate end at 15 percent, and short-term capital gains tax at the same rate.
So what does this mean for the budget? One can’t rule out a marginal hike in dividend and short-term capital gains taxes to get the rich to pay more. But both these moves will upset the market, which P Chidambaram cannot afford. So keep your fingers crossed.
Three, and this is the most telling point, the problem isn’t income tax, but indirect taxes. The fact is income taxes are growing robustly, and India’s rich, despite a large element of evasion, have been paying more as a class. As Ahluwalia observes, “the problem of tax shortfalls is not because of direct taxes but indirect taxes. As I recall, the ratio of direct taxes to GDP has been rising but the ratio of indirect taxes has fallen.”
Translation: The exchequer’s revenue problem is unrelated to taxing the rich, but the slowdown in the economy. Indirect taxes are directly correlated to economic activity, while direct taxes (corporate and individual) are related to incomes alone. Incomes rise with inflation, but indirect taxes may not rise if sales fall due to inflation and economic slowdown.
To get taxes up, India needs to get the economy moving again. Taxing the rich is not going to help much.
Parthasarathi Shome, professor with ICRIER and the man who called for putting off the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) for foreign investors, says that India’s tax-GDP ratio is not as low as it looks.
According to him, the most recently available tax-GDP ratio figure is around 18 percent (for 2009), but the real figure is much higher if one were to exclude the incomes of the very poor, who can’t be taxed.
He said in an article in Business Standard last month: “If we use only the poverty-based concept – that is, non-poverty GDP (NPGDP) – India’s effective tax-GDP ratio rises by more than three percent, to almost 20 percent from 16.5 percent in 2005. Extrapolation would result in an effective tax/GDP ratio of approximately 22 percent in 2007 and 21 percent in 2009.
He concludes: “India’s effective tax/GDP is not as low as is usually made out to be when one considers from whom tax revenue can be realistically collected. This, of course, does not imply that the taxpayer population cannot be expanded since many under-report and some do not file tax returns, thereby failing to contribute their due share to the exchequer.”
Shome is also saying the same as Ahluwalia. Get those who are not paying tax, or paying less than they should, to pay more.
Taxing the already taxpaying rich more is not much in favour. | <urn:uuid:f3854fcb-98a0-42c4-b49c-50842fc4b19a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.firstpost.com/economy/budget-2013-worry-about-those-not-paying-tax-not-rich-taxpayers-604535.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963946 | 967 | 2.078125 | 2 |
|"Standing Moroccan in Green," a 1912-1913 work painted by Henri Matisse during his first trip to North Africa. It is owned by The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.|
"I'm not painting pictures, I'm painting furniture. I found two beautiful wooden Moroccan tables in the souks, and I painted them in vivid colors à la Matisse."
So said Yves Saint Laurent more than two decades ago, when a reporter heard the fashion designer had taken up painting at his home in Marrakech.
What's stopping you from doing the same? | <urn:uuid:dd2ef891-fae9-4146-a41c-abe10b37d990> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://aestheteslament.blogspot.com/2011/02/get-inspired-yves-saint-laurent.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971854 | 122 | 1.5625 | 2 |
At Local Movers.com we present all moving options available to you: full service moving companies, international movers, packing tips and even self service moving companies. This type of service allows you to save money on your move as you must unload and load the truck yourself. This type of service has its advantages as it does allow significant savings over full service moving companies but you must be very careful when loading the truck to prevent any damage while all your household goods are in transit.
California is the most populous state in the nation; its largest cities are Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego. Formerly a colony of Mexico, it was ceded to the United Sates after the Mexican-American War of 1848. California officially became a state in 1850. It is the third largest state in the US and contains extreme variations in geography and climate. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living organisms on earth, the giant sequoia tree. Many of the tress located in the California White Mountains are the oldest living organisms anywhere; one of the Bristlecone pine trees is 4,700 years old.
California is home to over 37 million people making it more populated than all but 34 countries; Los Angeles County alone is more populated than 42 US states. Its annual GDP is roughly $1.7 trillion dollars ranking it number eight in the world; only seven countries have a higher GDP than the state of California. Even though the high tech industries of the Silicon Valley and the entertainment conglomerates of Hollywood contribute heavily to the economy, agriculture by far is still the leading industry.
California is also home to some of the most scenic natural places in the United States including the unequaled 17 mile drive around Monterrey, the beautiful drive along the Pacific from San Francisco to Santa Barbara and the haunting forests of the Sequoia National Park; there are many places like this which warrant an unhurried visit.
So use all of our resources here at LocalMovers.com to plan and implement a successful move and one that fits within your budget. | <urn:uuid:300eb62e-e312-46bb-9950-3a00b7c5475b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.localmovers.com/self-service-movers/California-self-service-move.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944519 | 445 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Scoliosis Systems™ is a complete chiropractic technique designed to manage idiopathic scoliosis without the use of a rigid brace. Dr. Gary Deutchman and Dr. Marc Lamantia have combined their thirty years of experience and training in the development of this system, which includes both spinal and vestibular rehabilitation procedures. “The key to the success of spinal remodeling is the use of dynamic movement and neuro-muscular retraining actively performed by the patient,” says Dr. Lamantia. The vestibular control of posture has been shown to be abnormal in scoliosis; but the good news is, these imbalances respond well to chiropractic care.
Scoliosis Systems™ teaches CE accredited courses co-sponsored by New York Chiropractic College in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. There are three modules. Module-1, Spinal Rehabilitation, is taught by Dr. Deutchman and is designed to introduce the concepts of the “Corrective Movement Principle,” as well as mobilization and manipulation techniques, to allow soft tissue changes necessary for correction. Module-2, Vestibular Rehabilitation, is taught by Dr. Lamantia, who holds a diplomate degree in neurology. This course teaches the doctor to identify and correct underlying vestibular deficits associated with scoliosis.
“Muscle recruitment patterns are abnormal in scoliosis and contribute to the progressive nature of the disorder. The vestibular system is an avenue for neuro-rehabilitation, and the chiropractor is the most qualified professional to evaluate and balance central nervous system dysfunction,” says Dr. Lamantia.
Scoliosis Systems™ Module-3 offers a certification in the use of the SpineCor™ brace. SpineCor™ is a flexible dynamic system of elastic straps, which allows for movement into a corrective posture. Drs. Lamantia and Deutchman have trained with some of the top researchers in non-surgical scoliosis treatment, including the developers of the SpineCor and the Rigo Chernaeu Braces. “The concept of bracing does not always sit well with chiropractors, but it is an integral part of the non-surgical management of scoliosis. The struggle is to find a brace that is consistent with the chiropractic paradigm of maintaining movement throughout normal growth,” says Dr. Gary Deutchman.
This case study follows the treatment of an adolescent female patient with idiopathic scoliosis whose initial presentation was at 9 ½ years of age, and Risser 0 was with a 36º right thoracic curve.
After evaluation of the patient’s radiological, clinical and postural data, she was classified as a Right Thoracic Type 1 according to the SpineCor classification.
Each SpineCor classification has a specific corrective movement strategy for progressive curve reduction. In the case of Right Thoracic Type I, the corrective movement is counter clockwise rotation of the thorax and clockwise rotation of the shoulder girdle.
Patient C’s postural correction and Cobb angle reduction have been maintained three years post bracing. SpineCor Brace wearing ceased 3 June 1999, after 15 months of wear.
For more information about seminar dates and locations, visit www.ScoliosisSystems.com, or call Dr. Gary Deutchman at 212-360-7760. | <urn:uuid:108bc722-1256-410d-b4ec-9d37b4f0547b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theamericanchiropractor.com/articles-rehabilitation/5679-idiopathic-scoliosis-treatment-with-scoliosis-systems.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926234 | 718 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Something is cooking, here me now and believe me later.
My friend owns a large tract of oil land in the OK panhandle. His plot of oil land is very small, but it appears to be located right over a major oil resource.
BP owned all the land around his small plot since the 1920s. Just prior to the oil spill, BP sold off all the land around his plot to Philips Petroleum.
BP has owned all the land around his plot for decades, then all of a sudden they decide to sell, then BOOM oil rig blows up.
BP owned the natural gas rights to the land, which they negotiated contract rights to before natural gas was used in power plants and homes. The contract was for a 100 year contract to have BP remove the gas on his land that amounts to pennies on the dollar for the current value of the natural gas.
Back when his great grandfather acquired the oil rights to the land, natural gas was a nuisance which was burned off so it didn’t cause problems with the oil extraction. Thus his grandfather figured he was making out like a bandit having BP take the gas off his hands for a small return.
Of course, that turned out to be a huge mistake in the long run as he would easily be a millionaire ten times over right now if he was getting paid market rates for the gas coming off his land. This also means they sold a massive cash cow to Philips, since Philips now holds the super cheap gas contract. Why would anyone give that up?
That aside, the government has designated his tiny plot of land as a “strategic reserve” which means he is unable to extract any of the oil beneath his plot. He doesn’t know exactly how much oil is beneath the land as BP hasn’t shared their GIS analysis of the land with him. – But based on the activity and previous offers, the amount must be epic.
The natural gas rights to the land are due to turn back over to him in the next 10 years so at that point, if nothing changes, he will instantly become wealthy since he can renegotiate for the prevailing market price on a shorter contract.
Now I don’t know what this all means, but I do know something absolutely stinks about the timing of all this. BP at one point was in negotiations with his family to install a new well on his land – they wouldn’t do that if they didn’t think there was some major oil beneath it.
Further, we have Goldman Sachs as a company, and the Goldman CEO, involved a massive sell off of BP stock just prior to this oil spill.
Further, they have banned all photography of the affected shorelines and have basically instituted marshal law down there for reasons yet unknown.
All of this has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up on end.
Now I shall provide my abject speculation:
I think BP intentionally destroyed the well in order to bring about massive resentment of the oil industry.
I think this entire thing is a coordinated stunt to demonize oil.
Because I think BP is involved with Swiss bankers in a move to take over the free energy market.
Specifically, I think they are going to take over the energy market using Blacklight Power’s technology. And they are going to use the oil spill to get carbon taxes put in place to shut down ALL fossil fuel energies, including oil, so they can corner the free energy market in power generation.
I know for a fact that Blacklight Power (BP initials, coincidence?) is bankrolled by Swiss bankers and other heavy hitters in the energy industry.
Mills is a Harvard grad, which means he automatically has globalist connections.
I think this whole thing is a setup.
Of course, BP might have just sold the land because they need cash to pay off the cost of the oil clean up, but I don’t think that’s why they sold it considering the insane wealth of the corporation.
They could easily cover the 75 million without having liquidate that land.
I think the economic implosion and the debt crisis has the globalists running scared.
They know the only way to control the coming collapse of the dollar is if they unleash the free energy technology.
If they don’t unleash the free energy technology, they will have riots in the streets as energy costs skyrocket beyond the reach of the soon to be impoverished American consumers.
If they can corner the energy market with Blacklight’s technology, they will still make epic tons of cash even though the return per Kilowatt hour will be far lower. They will really make out like bandits if they can get the government to put a tax on fossil fuel energy.
Because the dollar is going to collapse, it is utter insanity for BP to divest themselves of US domestic oil holdings. Domestic oil, which is priced and produced in dollars, will be worth its weight in gold because it will be the only oil American consumers will be able to afford.
Top Houston attorney Tony Buzbee says he has new evidence which indicates that Deepwater Horizon’s managers knew that the BP oil rig had major problems before its explosion on April 20, citing the eyewitness account of a crew member who rescued burning workers on the rig of a conversation between Deepwater Horizon installation manager Jimmy Harrell and someone in Houston. According to the witness, Harrell was screaming, “Are you fucking happy? Are you fucking happy? The rig’s on fire! I told you this was gonna happen.”
Harrell was talking via satellite phone and whoever was on the other end of the line was apparently trying to calm him down as the rig burned.
“I am fucking calm,” said Harrell, according to Buzbee. “You realize the rig is burning?”
As we highlighted yesterday, on page 37 of British Petroleum’s own investigative report into the oil spill, it is stated that the Hydraulic Control System on equipment designed to automatically seal the well in an emergency was modified without BP’s knowledge sometime before the explosion.
Highly suspicious stock and share trades by people connected to BP before the explosion indicate some extent of foreknowledge.
Goldman Sachs dumped 44% of its shares in BP Oil during the first quarter of 2010 – shares that subsequently lost 36 percent of their value, equating to $96 million. The current chairman of Goldman Sachs is Bilderberg luminary Peter Sutherland, who is also the former chairman of British Petroleum.
Furthermore, as reported by the London Telegraph on June 5th, Tony Hayward, the current BP CEO sold £1.4 million of his shares in the fuel giant weeks before the spill.
On April 12th, just over one week before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, Halliburton, the world’s second largest oilfield services corporation, surprised some by acquiring Boots & Coots, a relatively small but vastly experienced oil well control company.
Halliburton is named in the majority of some two dozen lawsuits filed since the explosion by Gulf Coast people and businesses who claim that the company is to blame for the disaster.
Halliburton was forced to admit in testimony at a congressional hearing last month that it carried out a cementing operation 20 hours before the Gulf of Mexico rig went up in flames. The lawsuits claim that four Halliburton workers stationed on the rig improperly capped the well.
Some more facts:
BlackLight’s board of directors reads like a Who’s Who of finance and energy leaders, including Michael Jordan, former CEO of both Electronic Data Systems (EDS, Fortune 500) and Westinghouse; Neil Moskowitz, CFO of Credit Suisse First Boston; and Shelby Brewer, former CEO of ABB (ABB) Combustion Engineering Nuclear Power.
To the way-back machine.
I found this article interesting because here we have Goldman Sachs, First Boston (which was acquired by Credit Suisse in 1990), Westinghouse, and British Petroleum, all acting together in a business transaction over acquiring Standard Oil back in 1987.
Two of the major investors bankrolling Blacklight are from Westinghouse and Credit Suisse. I just find this so odd that I was able to find all of these corporations working together in a mega-merger.
Neil Moskowitz Retired CFO Credit Suisse First Boston
“After obtaining his MBA in 1984 from Harvard, he began his career with Goldman Sachs in London and in New York City as a manger of U. S. and European equity operations, rising to the title of vice president of Global Operations at the company. He was with Goldman Sachs for 10 years prior to joining Credit Suisse First Boston.”
In 1987 at the time of the merger, Moskowitz must have been in on the deal.
So here we have ties between Goldman, Credit Suisse, BP, and Blacklight in Moskowitz.
WTF are the odds of that.
Moskowitz is also a Harvard grad of 84, Mills received a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College in 1982, and an MD from Harvard Medical School in 1986.
Chances are good they would have known each other, possibly in a frat or other society together.
If that wasn’t a freak coincidence, check out the links between BP and Mr. Shelby Brewer. On AAB which Brewer was the CEO of:
Often called the General Electric of Europe, ABB Ltd. has two core business segments: power technologies and automation technologies.
The Wallenberg family dynasty of Sweden holds about a 10 percent stake in the company. ABB (formerly known as ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.) was formed in 1988 from the merger of Sweden’s ASEA AB and Switzerland’s BBC Brown Boveri Ltd.–two companies founded in the late 19th century.
Oh well look at this, the Chairman of BP is a Swede and former Ericsson CEO
British oil giant BP’s chairman, Swedish businessman Carl-Henric Svanberg, has been heavily criticized for his hiding and low profile during the Deepwater leak in the Gulf of Mexico.
Carl-Henric Svanberg, former CEO of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson, told the Financial Times last month that he accepted the company’s reputation had been damaged by the oil spill. But he has also made it clear that chief executive officer Tony Hayward is the main voice of the company. | <urn:uuid:31f3b794-75da-46ce-8515-d6d84803265f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.libertariannews.org/2010/06/08/there-is-a-broader-conspiracy-over-the-bp-oil-spill/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971408 | 2,170 | 1.78125 | 2 |
It seems when the many descendents of families from Upson County follow their roads back home, a multitude lead back to the Collier Cemetery on Old Alabama Road. Researchers, in abundance, frequently seek evidence from the Thomaston Upson Archives; in regards to those that rest in their eternal peace at the now hallowed ground. The General John B. Gordon Camp #1449 Sons of Confederate Veterans maintains the grounds today, however; family members for the last century have performed their inherited duty in preserving this cemetery.
One such descendant, Glenn Collier of Texas, has made his journey back to the roots of his family tree and recently placed a marker commemorating the Collier cemetery and Isaac Collier, the ancestor from who so many derive. The Cemetery Chairman of the Upson Historical Society, Grady Kelley, was delighted with the placement Mr. Collier made this past June, as Grady looks over many cemeteries in Upson County and desires for the families of the lost to take part in the care of their ancestors earthly eternal resting place.
The marker states:
“Isaac Collier, June 6, 1769 – Sept. 4, 1848. Pioneer settler of Upson County. Born in Brunswick CO, VA, removed from VA to Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) CO, GA with his father CA 1780. Served as Clerk of Court for Oglethorpe Co. Elected to Georgia Legislature 1830-1833. Brought his family to Upson County, GA about 1835. The large mound of stones marks his grave. Isaac was one of the thirteen children of Vines Collier, a veteran of the French & Indian War and a Patriot of the American Revolution, and Elizabeth Williamson Collier. The children of Vines & Elizabeth were pioneers and prominent citizens throughout Georgia. Collier Heritage Foundation, 2012.” | <urn:uuid:4e4bb833-8f0a-4967-bd53-d3d626a9dfec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thomastontimes.com/pages/home/push?per_page=5&x_page=82&class=next_page&rel=next | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966944 | 385 | 2.421875 | 2 |
I met a person recently who stopped learning web page design in 1999 and still considers himself still an expert. You know the type. Dangerous with just a little bit of experience. He knows nothing of web standards, tableless web page design, or any modern techniques or technologies. He knows 1999 HTML and CSS 101 and that’s it. That doesn’t stop him from spouting expertise.
Listening to him rattled on how the best way to get a high page rank in search engines was to hide keywords in your page code, trying not to roll my eyes at his antiquated techniques, he still got me thinking. Thinking about the relationship of the old “keyword spamming” search engine technique versus the use of tags.
“Keyword spamming” was a technique involving adding keywords – related or unrelated, didn’t matter, you just had to get the attention of the search engines – hidden into your code instead of content. Oh, you could have content, but this method ensured search engines grabbing up all these extra keywords would help you gain search engine page rank. Thus your site would move to the top of search results by using a variety and the most popular keywords. The additional keywords were hidden with CSS or comments so they wouldn’t be visible on the page but they would be visible to the search engines. An example might be the following, buried in the code of an article on buying ring tones for your cell phone:
<!-- britney spears, britney, spears, rock, roll, music, ring, tones, ringtones, cell, cellular, sounds, bells, mp3, download, files, janet jackson, mariah carey, pop, elvis, nora jones, valentines day, valentine, holiday, christmas, event, special, dance, sing, singer -->
I thought this was odd at the time. It takes time to come up with a list of keywords to attract a search engine. You have to research which words are the most popular, and they change over time so if you want to keep using these keywords to continue to end up in popular search results, you have to update the keywords all the time. You have to make sure that you don’t repeat too many of these hidden keywords as to trigger a red flag, but that doesn’t stop you from using many variations on the same word or phrase since they are, technically different. You need to think about the keywords to use, come up with a strategy to hide the keywords from search engines, and get them on every page to maximize exposure and increase your chances of at least one page coming up in the search results.
This is a lot of work. So why not put that energy into writing articles with those keywords instead? Ah, but that might take creative effort, something much more challenging, right?
Now, move ahead to “modern” web design and development techniques where such keyword spamming is recognized and punished by search engines, knowing a trick when they see one. The same pages are now filled with tags. The same type of article on buying ring tones for your cell phone might include a list of tags like this:
Tags: britney+spears, rock, roll, music, ring, tones, ringtones, cell, cellular, sounds, bells, mp3, download, files, janet+jackson, mariah+carey, pop, elvis, nora jones, valentines day, valentine, holiday, christmas, event, special, dance, sing, singer
What makes this list different from the first one? Sure, the tags are links, and the links could lead to more pages on this site or to Technorati, or even another ring tone cell phone service site. They are still keywords added to the content to “help” your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and search engine page rank.
Does just the addition of the
rel="tag" change the meaning of this potential blatant attempt at increasing keyword coverage for search engines? Do search engines spot the relationship attribute and ignore them as search engine spam? Or not? And if not, can your site be punished for this in some way?
Like anything else everywhere, there is always room for abuse. Part of the success of tagging, and its sister “social bookmarking”, is the reliance upon the users to maintain some form of standardization.
In other words, trust and self policing. The tag services and social bookmarking services are relying upon you, the user, to add tags that “make sense”, relate to the content, help the visitor, and don’t abuse the system. They also work hard to promote the myth that in order to be effective, the tags must link back to their services. Eventually, like everything else, there may be rules, but right now, it’s a free-for-all when it comes to tags.
We know it’s being abused. Everything gets abused. What worries me is what kind of kick back that abuse will take.
When email spammers started flooding our inboxes, filters and services were developed to sort through the content, evaluate it for spamminess, and then block or release the email into our inboxes. This meant legitimate email also got caught. Many people had to relearn how to write emails in order to get through comment spam protection and still communicate.
Comment spamming prevention came into play when spammers learned they could move their nasty marketing techniques to blog comments. This was also abused by every idiot gambling, drug, mortgage, music, and sex website that learned that it’s the number of links to your site that helps page ranking. Search engines got this trick fast, too, and now penalize websites for too many incoming links, plus they evaluate the incoming links to judge them on quality not just quantity.
Blogging, Content Management Systems (CMS), and other blog and website management tools developed comment spam fighting resources to block or stop comment spam. Now, if you include more than two or three links, or any words that meet the comment spam filter requirements, your comment gets eaten by the comment spam prevention tools. You like leaving comments on blogs? You’ve had to learn how to comment without triggering comment spam catchers. And if you are intimidated by the threat of comment spam, and you don’t have blogging software with strong comment spam catching and filtering utilities, then you are also more likely to turn off comments, taking away one of the great joys of blogging: Communication.
So what is being done to check for abusive use of tags? Is there anything? Sure, if splogs, spamming websites or blogs get into tag service databases, tag services say they are working to remove them, when they find them. But what about abusive tag use?
What do these look like? How do you tell? Is it a measurement of how many tags are listed, or how the tags may, or may not, relate to the site or post content? Is there a way to check? Should they be checked like search engines are doing with keywords, content, and links? What kind of tag usage will trigger a meltdown with search engines, penalizing your site? Is this happening? Have you seen tag spam? Would you report it? How?
I’m not saying tags should be controlled. I’m not saying they shouldn’t. I’m asking you what you think about abusive use of tags, and what you think should, or shouldn’t, be done about it. And is there anything that can be done?
- What Are Keywords?
- Website Development – Keywords Help You Write Your Blog
- Website Development – Listing The Keywords Inside
- Secret Out – How Google Ranks Websites
- How People Search the Web and How They Can Find Your Blog
- Testing Search Engine Page Ranking Techniques
- Hook, Line and Sinker: Luring Blog Traffic to Stay
- DYI Search Engine Optimization
- The Problems With Tags and Tagging
- Categories versus Tags: Defining the Limitations
- The Ultimate Tag Warrior WordPress Plugin
- Adding Technorati Tags to WordPressMU Sites
- Make Your Technorati Tags Invisible
- Putting Some Thought Into Blog Categories and Tags
- Tagging With Emotions Not Common Sense
- Tags Are Not Categories – Got It?
- Playing Tag With WordPress
- A Tagging Bookmarklet for WordPress and WordPress.com Users | <urn:uuid:67566346-66ac-45a0-897d-dd80173072bb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/05/08/abuse-keyword-spamming-versus-tag-spamming/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=671450efa2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93218 | 1,778 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Planned giving often provides an opportunity for significant charitable donations, even for individuals with a limited capacity to make traditional monetary gifts.
Types of planned giving include:
Bequest- A bequest is a gift to the University upon death. This is the simplest type of planned gift to make and one of the easiest to implement. Bequests are most often handled within a donor’s will.
Charitable Gift Annuity - A charitable gift annuity enables you to transfer cash, physical property, or marketable securities directly to the University in exchange for a current income tax deduction and a promise from the University to make fixed periodic payments to you for life.
Charitable Remainder Trust - A charitable remainder trust is very similar to the charitable gift annuity. In a remainder trust, however, the property is held in trust for the life of the donor and is transferred to the University at death.
Life Estate - A life estate agreement is an arrangement whereby a donor transfers ownership of a personal residence, farm, etc. to the University while retaining the right to occupy and enjoy the full use of the property for a term of years or the lifetime of the donor(s).
Bargain Sale - In a bargain sale, the University purchases property for less than fair market value or accepts a gift of mortgaged property. The donor (seller) typically qualifies for a tax deduction for the difference between sale price and fair market value.
IRA Charitable Rollover - Individuals over the age of 70½ are required to take “required minimum distributions” each year from most retirement plans, including traditional IRAs. In 2013, qualified individuals can make transfers up to $100,000 directly to the University and satisfy that portion of the required minimum distribution. In addition, donors can avoid the income tax that would normally be due on a traditional IRA distribution. (Note: this option can vary from year to year - please consult your tax professional)
If you would like additional information about how any of these gift options can help you accomplish your financial, estate, and charitable objectives, please contact the Office of the President at 336-714-7995 or firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:191f13e2-c0ae-40ec-9e3c-3307973b9ba4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pbc.edu/page.aspx?pid=333 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918842 | 446 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Land Rover will build a small Range Rover based on the LRX concept car. The new model will be designed and engineered in England at the Gaydon facility and built at the Halewood plant.
“(The new vehicle) will be true to the concept and have many recognizable Range Rover design cues, including the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid ‘wheel-at-each-corner’ stance,” Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director said.
The new model will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover the company has produced.
More information will be released next year.
EcoBoost engine award
Popular Mechanics gave the Ford EcoBoost engine a “Breakthrough Award” as a product that is poised to change the world. Ford was the only automaker among 10 products honored for the 2009 awards, now in their fifth year. Details at | <urn:uuid:108a1193-cfda-4e0e-82a1-091191fde772> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/oct/17/notes-oct-17/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934684 | 192 | 1.820313 | 2 |
News at CIRM
Taking Control of Cell Fate
Between a dish of stem cells and hope for a cure stands the pesky problem of turning those stem cells into a therapeutic cell type—a retina for eye disease, or a pancreatic cell for diabetes. Research this past year has shown that adult cells may change their identities, cell transplants can be made safer and someday the blind may see, thanks to advances CIRM scientists throughout California have made in controlling stem cell fate.
Dogma once held that if a cell was a doctor it would need to go back to kindergarten before it could grow up to become a lawyer: An adult cell needed to be reprogrammed back to an embryonic-like state, and from there, these so-called iPS cells would then be shepherded to a new adult fate.
That changed in 2009 when Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers successfully converted one type of mouse pancreatic cell directly into insulin-pumping pancreatic beta cells. Cellular doctors, it turned out, could become lawyers after all.
2010 brought several additional cellular career switches, including one by Stanford scientist Marius Wernig, a CIRM grantee, who turned skin cells into nerve cells.
Later in the year, CIRM grantee Deepak Srivastava, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease at the University of California, San Francisco, coaxed mouse cardiac fibroblasts, the heart’s support cells, to turn directly into primitive heart muscle cells. The research appeared in the August issue of Cell.
Srivastava’s heart cell research could have important implications for the treatment of heart failure.
“Half of the cells in the heart are fibroblasts, so the ability to call upon this reservoir of cells already in the organ to become beating heart cells has tremendous promise for cardiac regeneration,” Srivastava said. Nearly 6 million Americans suffer from heart failure because the heart is unable to repair itself after a heart attack, but only 2,000 hearts become available for transplanting each year.
In May 2009, CIRM held a workshop in which leading scientists discussed ways in which stem cell research could benefit people with autism. A key recommendation came to pass this year when CIRM grantees at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies were able to study neurons predisposed to autism spectrum disorders.
The team took skin cells from people with a genetic form of autism called Rett’s syndrome, reprogrammed those back to iPS cells, and matured those embryonic-like cells into neurons. The unusual neurons that resulted provided scientists with a first glimpse of what makes an autistic neuron different. They had smaller cell bodies and fewer connections between neurons.
"Being able to study Rett neurons in a dish allows us to identify subtle alterations in the functionality of the neuronal circuitry that we never had access to before," said lead author Fred Gage, a professor in the Salk's Laboratory of Genetics.
The team took the work an additional step, exposing those scrappy neurons to an experimental drug and thereby reversing some abnormalities. Now they hope to study neurons developed from people with other forms of autism to start understanding the full spectrum of symptoms.
Scene of the Crime
Adult neural stem cells take advantage of the body’s 911 system when they rush to the scene of damage in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Once in place, the cells take on a mature fate.
Thomas Lane, an investigator at the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, discovered the interactions that help stem cells home in on damage in research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Lane, a CIRM grantee, earlier showed that adult neural stem cells improved motor function in mice with multiple sclerosis.
MS destroys myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerves. Intact, myelin allows signals to propagate along the nerve; when damaged, signaling is interrupted.
When myelin corrodes, Lane discovered, inflammatory cells activate receptors on neural stem cells. Those stem cell receptors recruit protein guides called chemokines, which lead them to the accident and guide the stem cell’s eventual fate. As the stem cells travel through the central nervous system, they begin to differentiate.
They reach the repair site in the form of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and finish maturing onsite. Three weeks after a stem cell treatment initiates, the cells are mature.
“In this study, we’ve taken an important step by showing the navigational cues in an inflammatory environment like MS that guide stem cells,” said Lane. “Hopefully, these cues can be incorporated into stem cell–based treatments to enhance their ability to repair injury.” | <urn:uuid:483354a9-ed14-4e2a-8548-9ec2f8c15898> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cirm.ca.gov/print/3603 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936719 | 983 | 2.828125 | 3 |
A series of artworks by Ofunne Obiamiwe
Ofunne Obiamiwe is a mixed-media artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. An Associate Professor at Santa Monica College, where she teaches digital art, Ofunne holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Public Practice (Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles), a Bachelor of Art in English/Drama (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) and a Certificate in New Media (Academy of Entertainment and Technology, Santa Monica). She is also the founder of Republic of Peace, an internet-based arts and culture initiative (see www.republicofpeace.com).
Ofunne Obiamiwe’s art work engages issues of social justice and activism, with a recurrent emphasis on how corporations, social institutions and popular culture impact people’s everyday lives. Through multimedia installations intended to inspire change by heightening public awareness and provoking personal responses, her participatory projects embrace themes encompassing human interactivity as well as myth and ritual, utilizing methods such as repurposing, recontextualizing and détournement to explore the complex relationship of art, technology and global culture. Inviting viewers to reflect on their own stories, Ofunne’s work not only seeks to initiate dialogue, it also strives to open paths of greater self-awareness and personal transformation. As an educator for over a decade, Ofunne experientially grounds her work in the interactive process of teaching and learning, which she considers a consummate form of creative practice. | <urn:uuid:969a0263-9426-4e29-8fd4-fb87688e894f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://akrockefeller.com/art/war-is-pleasure/ | 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 | 0.918722 | 322 | 1.640625 | 2 |
On Marh 26, General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), laid the keel for USNS William McLean, the twelfth ship of the Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo-ammunition ships (T-AKE). The ship is named in honor of the U.S. Navy physicist who in the 1950s pioneered the technology behind the Sidewinder missile, the first effective U.S. air-to-air missile. Construction of the William McLean began in September 2009. NASSCO is scheduled to deliver the ship to the Navy in the third quarter of 2011. When it joins the fleet, the William McLean will be used primarily to stage U.S. Marine Corps equipment abroad by the Navy's Military Sealift Command. \ www.nassco.com
USNS William McLean, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, slid into the water for the first time April 16 during a nighttime launch and christening ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. With a blast from the ship’s horn, McLean’s sponsor, Margaret Taylor, niece of the ship’s namesake, broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the bow as a colorful fireworks display lit up the night sky.
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has joined with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army to launch the USNS Soderman (T-AKR 317), the eighth and final Strategic Sealift ship to be built for the Navy by NASSCO. At a length of 950 ft. and with a beam of 105 ft., the strategic sealift ships are the largest ships ever launched down a sliding ways in the United States and the largest ships that can fit through the Panama Canal
DynCorp has received a five-year, $35 million subcontract to provide operational support to the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Hayes and USNS Waters, Naval Special Mission ships that support test and range operations in Florida. The USNS Hayes, one of the acoustically quietest surface ships in the world, operates from Port Canaveral, Fla., and supports the U.S. Navy's underwater sound range at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC)
The leadership of Military Sealift Command’s 6th Fleet-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One, or MPS Squadron One, changed hands May 22 in Corfu, Greece, with the outgoing commander Capt. Clay Saunders being relieved by Capt. William Sheehan during a ceremony held aboard the squadron’s flagship USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo. The ships of MPS Squadron One – MSC ships Bobo and USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat – are forward deployed year-round in the European and
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), delivered USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is the third T-AKE-class ship delivered by the San Diego shipyard in 2007, the fourth overall. USNS Richard E. Byrd is the fourth in an expected class of 14 dry cargo-ammunition ships for the Navy. Construction of the 689-foot-long ship began in February 2006. NASSCO has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial
USNS Matthew Perry, which will be the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was christened and launched Aug.16, during a late afternoon ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The ship, designated T-AKE 9, is expected to be delivered to the Navy's Military Sealift Command in early 2010 following a series of tests and sea trials. The 689-ft ship slid into the water for the first time as Hester G
High-speed ferry ships MV Huakai and MV Alakai are preparing to sail to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to provide disaster relief following the Jan. 12 earthquake there. Huakai and Alakai were originally built to serve as passenger and vehicle ferries in Hawaii but were turned over to the Maritime Administration's custody when the ferry service went bankrupt. The ships will be under operational control of the Military Sealift Command during Operation Unified Response
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), delivered USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), the U.S. Navy officer who established American trade with Japan in the mid-19th Century. NASSCO began construction of USNS Matthew Perry in April 2008. The 689-ft-long supply ship will serve under the Navy’s Military Sealift Command
General Dynamics NASSCO completed the complex float out operation for the first Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship, USNS Montford Point. Construction of the USNS Montford Point is progressing ahead of schedule, with the ship currently at 91% complete. The ship will now undergo final outfitting and testing pier side before completing sea trials. USNS Montford Point is scheduled to be christened in March 2013 and delivered to the U.S. Navy in May 2013
Austal held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth Joint High Speed Vessel Fall River (JHSV 4), one of ten Austal-designed 103-meter U.S. Navy Joint High Speed Vessels under contract with the U.S. Navy. The ship’s sponsor, Diane Bemus Patrick
Joint High Speed Vessel 'USNS Choctaw County' (JHSV 2) has successfully completed Acceptance Trials in the Gulf of Mexico. This milestone achievement involved the performance of intense comprehensive tests by the Navy while underway, which demonstrated the successful operation of the ship’s
Seaward Services provides bridge officers, including the master and chief engineer, for Builder and Acceptance Trials of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). USNS Choctaw County, the Navy's second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2)
General Dynamics NASSCO recently delivered USNS Montford Point (MLP-1), the lead ship of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class, to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of Camp Montford Point, the Jacksonville, N.C., site where the first African-American Marines were trained.
The first Mobile Landing Platform ship, 'USNS Montford Point' (MLP 1), built by General Dynamics-NASSCO, accepted in San Diego, Calif. The Mobile Landing Platform is a new class of ship and highly flexible platform that will provide capability for large-scale logistics movements such
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today announced that Gen. William M. Fraser III, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), has been chosen as this year's commencement speaker to be held at USMMA on Monday, June 17, 2013.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. christened and launched the M/V Bravante V for Boldini S.A. of Brazil. The event was held on March 21, 2013 at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests. Attending were Renato and Regina Nascimento
Austal announce the christening of 'USNS Millinocket; at its Mobile, Alabama shipyard. USNS Millinocket is the third of ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) Austal has under contract with the U.S. Navy as part of an overall 10-ship contract worth over $1.6 billion.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announces the names of 7 new ships. “As secretary of the Navy, I have the great privilege of naming ships that will represent America with distinction as part of the fleet for many decades to come,” Mabus said
America's Navy League to honor prominent industry, navy, city and financial leaders at their 111th New York City annual dinner. The following individuals are to be honored by the Navy League formed 111 years ago in New York City with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt).
Accompanied by azure blue skies and a stiff breeze, the Navy christened and launched its newest oceanographic survey ship, USNS Maury (T-AGS 66), the last of its class at VT Halter Marine’s shipyard in Moss Point, Miss., in a traditional Navy ceremony on March 27.
VT Halter Marine’s Halter Moss Point facility was the scene of the christening of T-AGS 66’, USNS Maury’. Construction began in September 2010, the keel laying ceremony was held in February 2011, and delivery is expected in January 2014.
The Navy's first Mobile Landing Platform, 'USNS Montford Point' (MLP 1), successfully completes builder's sea trials in San Diego. USNS Montford Point was constructed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) and these builder's trials test the vessel's propulsion
Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) 2, the future 'USNS Choctaw County', successfully comes through Austal USA's sea trials. Builder's trials are a significant step in the construction and delivery of a ship to the fleet and are the first opportunity to operate the ship underway and test overall
The US Navy has exercised contract options with Austal USA for the construction of LCS 14 & LCS 16. Austal USA’s order backlog has grown by approximately $681.7 million dollars as a result of two additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract options being exercised by the | <urn:uuid:40ead478-1215-479e-a931-f3578fcc4ef2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marinelink.com/maritime/usns-william | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942754 | 2,093 | 1.835938 | 2 |
U.S. Drought Monitor
The national drought footprint shrank slightly this week, as heavy rains fell across the South, Southeast, Midwest and parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, and major snowfall blanketed parts of the Rocky Mountains and Northern Cascades, bringing relief to those regions. However, the hardest-hit drought region — the Great Plains — continued to experience drier-than-average conditions, with the drought continuing to hold on.
A new federal drought outlook issued on Thursday projects that the drought conditions are likely to remain entrenched through April, and that the drought may even worsen from the Plains to the Rockies and into the Southwest, along with another area of persistent and expanding drought in the Southeast, including southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
14-Day Observed Precipitation
Rainfall during the past two weeks, showing the rains that fell from Texas through the Lower Mississippi River Valley, but lack of precipitation across the Plains. Credit: NOAA.
“Unfortunately it looks like most of the central and southern Plains . . . is going to continue to have significant drought problems,” said Anthony Artusa, a seasonal forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The economic impacts of this drought have been staggering. The drought of 2011-12, which is still ongoing, is comparable in size to severe droughts that occurred in the 1950s, and is already being blamed for more than $35 billion in crop losses alone, according to the reinsurance company Aon Benfield. Others estimate that the total cost could exceed $100 billion, making this event rival Hurricane Sandy for the most expensive natural disaster of 2012.
In Texas, which has been struggling with severe drought conditions since 2011, the areas of the state that recently emerged from drought are expected to slip right back into it during the latter half of the winter season and into spring, NOAA said.
As of Jan. 15, 58.87 percent of the land area in the lower 48 states was experiencing some form of drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That marks a slight improvement from last week, when the number was 60.26 percent. More than half of the continental U.S. has been under at least moderate drought conditions since June. The drought peaked in July, when nearly 62 percent of the lower 48 states were classified as being in moderate drought or worse conditions.
According to climate scientists, the drought was most likely initially set into motion by the pattern of water temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which can alter weather patterns, but manmade global warming may then have amplified the drought event by leading to multiple extreme heat events during the spring and summer of 2012. These heat events accelerated the development and intensification of the drought.
A recently released draft federal climate assessment shows that as the climate continues to warm in the next few decades, drought events are likely to become more frequent and severe, with more significant water supply and agricultural impacts in parts of the U.S.
U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook
NOAA's Seasonal Drought Outlook for Jan. 17 through April 30, 2013. Credit: NOAA.
Kentucky saw the greatest turnaround this week, as the percentage of the state under no drought grew to 91.55 percent — up from 73.29 percent — returning the state to drought levels last seen in March 2012. Improvements were also pronounced in the South, where rain fell in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
Areas of the High Plains, though, saw conditions deteriorate yet again, as soil moisture remains extremely low heading into the second half of the winter and then the spring growing season. This could result in below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures across the Plains during the spring as the atmosphere responds to the dry surface conditions, a self-perpetuating drought feedback, Artusa said.
The percentage of land area under severe drought or worse in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and the Dakotas grew slightly this week, from 86.20 percent to 87.25 percent. A similar expansion was observed in Georgia, where the area of the state under moderate drought conditions or worse expanded from 87.21 percent to 91.24 percent.
A long period of below-average precipitation has led to exceptionally low water levels on the Mississippi River, which may force authorities to close the river to shipping traffic, something that would have major economic consequences. On Thursday morning, the water level on the river near St. Louis was 1.95 feet below average, and is forecasted to come within striking distance of the record low — 6.2 feet below average — set in 1940. The Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging sediment and removing large rocks from the riverbed to ensure that the commercial waterway stays open to barge traffic, but it’s not clear if that will succeed if precipitation remains below average in areas upstream.
NOAA’s drought outlook does offer some hope that beneficial precipitation will fall in the Upper Mississippi River Valley and the Upper Midwest, areas that are currently along the outskirts of the drought region, including states such as Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. In the Southeast, some drought improvement is projected for northeastern Georgia through Southern Virginia.
(More on weather.com: Drought Disaster of 2012) | <urn:uuid:56a67344-868e-4396-98e2-a3d372b0d0f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wunderground.com/news/drought-update-outlook-20130117 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958117 | 1,089 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Although the SEC recently asked Congress to pursue legislation that toughen laws and to raise financial penalties for fraud violations, a new report suggests that the Commission is avoiding tough sanctions already at its disposal.
Analysis shows that the Securities and Exchange Commission has been giving waivers to the biggest Wall Street firms in the last decade, letting them off on punishments meant to apply to fraud cases. The New York Times found nearly 350 instances in the last 10 years where the SEC has allowed financial giants like JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America to have advantages reserved for only the most dependable of companies and avoiding punishments when their financial forecasts turn out to be wrong.
According to the report, JPMorgan Chase has settled six fraud cases in the last 13 years, but was granted at least 22 waivers. Bank of America has settled 15 fraud cases and received at least 39 waivers.
By granting exemptions to laws and regulations that act as a deterrent to securities fraud, the S.E.C. has let financial giants like JPMorganChase, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America continue to have advantages reserved for the most dependable companies, making it easier for them to raise money from investors, for example, and to avoid liability from lawsuits if their financial forecasts turn out to be wrong.
An analysis by The New York Times of S.E.C. investigations over the last decade found nearly 350 instances where the agency has given big Wall Street institutions and other financial companies a pass on those or other sanctions. Those instances also include waivers permitting firms to underwrite certain stock and bond sales and manage mutual fund portfolios.
JPMorganChase, for example, has settled six fraud cases in the last 13 years, including one with a $228 million settlement last summer, but it has obtained at least 22 waivers, in part by arguing that it has “a strong record of compliance with securities laws.” Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, which merged in 2009, have settled 15 fraud cases and received at least 39 waivers.
Only about a dozen companies — Dell, General Electric and United Rentals among them — have felt the full force of the law after issuing misleading information about their businesses. Citigroup was the only major Wall Street bank among them. In 11 years, it settled six fraud cases and received 25 waivers before it lost most of its privileges in 2010.
That $228 million fraud settlement by JPMorgan Chase last summer? It was to settle civil and criminal charges that it "cheated cities and towns by rigging bids with other Wall Street firms to invest the money raised by several municipalities for capital projects." Yet the S.E.C. granted three waivers related to that case for privileges that it otherwise would have lost.
The S.E.C. said waivers were granted because "the company’s fraudulent actions didn’t involve misleading investors about JPMorgan’s business."
Screw cities, towns and the people in them, but heaven forfend not the investors. | <urn:uuid:49eca993-0065-45ed-9e2d-41c26465d904> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/sec-hands-out-waivers-big-banks-candy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9675 | 602 | 1.945313 | 2 |
If you’ve ever thought that the graceful play of chains, gears, tubing and cables that make up a fine bicycle could – if arranged differently – be the basis of a contemporary art work, you are not alone: 84 artists – among them, Alex Bogusky, Jan Chenoweth, John Kowalczyk, Clare Murray Adams, Rebeca Trevino and Dan Price – have contributed pieces built of bicycle parts to the SRAM pART Project, an annual exhibition and auction that raises money to provide bicycles and build bicycle factories in developing countries.
The project is sponsored by Sram, a bicycle manufacturer, for the benefit of World Bicycle Relief, which has distributed 116,000 bicycles in 12 African countries since 2005. The fund has also built five assembly sites and trained 800 mechanics in those countries, with the goal of improving access to health care, education and jobs.
The show and sale are on Nov. 29 at the Cedar Lake Theater, 547 West 26th Street, in Manhattan. Tickets are $268 – the cost of two bicycles – and are available here. | <urn:uuid:0b7391b8-c901-463b-830d-31a9ec730b0a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/pedaling-art-to-help-others/?src=twrhp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956775 | 222 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Theodora of Thessalonica
Nothing is known of Theodora’s birthplace and date, youth, and early life. From her youth she loved Christ. Desiring to leave worldly pursuits behind, she entered a woman’s monastery. There she kept a virtuous and ascetic life, being obedient to the abbess and all the other sisters. Her obedient nature even showed after her death.
The abbess fell asleep in the Lord many years after the sainted Theodora. When the grave for the abbess was dug, the relics of Theodora were uncovered. Her relics appeared to have moved in order to make room for the abbess’ body. This caused a reaction among those who witnessed the remarkable event who cry out, “Lord have mercy!”
Many who came to venerate her were healed of all manner of diseases or freed of the power of demons. Many miracles occurred through the holy relics of St Theodora. | <urn:uuid:06957c9d-5df2-4c8b-a812-0fc50f92eeda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://orthodoxwiki.org/Theodora_of_Thessalonica | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973629 | 204 | 2.25 | 2 |
The Mesh Viewer is an easy-to-use, lightweight application for displaying three dimensional models (triangular meshes) from a variety of file formats. It uses OpenGL to render the models. Triangular meshes can be displayed texture mapped (with optional bilinear filtering), solid, or as a wire frame (all lines or just the front lines). Loaded models can be rotated, translated, and scaled (all done with the mouse). The model is lighted by multiple light sources. Viewpoints can be saved.
CADauno is a 3D modeling tool based on the NURBS surfaces. It aims to exploit the power of NURBS at representing free forms. It provides an interpolation facility ("skinning" technique), which enables the designer to create a closed surface passing through different section curves. This makes it possible, as an example, to build a human body 3D model starting from sections provided by a Computed Axial Tomography scanner.
Zaz is an arcade action puzzle game where the objective is to get rid of all incoming balls by rearranging their order. Currently it includes 20 different levels and two modes of gameplay. The engine allows for easy custom level creation with unlimited number of paths, different speeds, ball-sizes, and rules. A 3D accelerator is needed for decent gameplay.
Humm and Strumm is a 3D adventure game in which two players must collaboratively solve puzzles and fight enemies in order to stop the evil Dr. Geoff from taking over the world. Humm and Strumm is set in a psychedelic fairytale world, with lands such as a giant cupcake and a musical forest. The main characters, Humm and Strumm, are armed with yo-yos for weapons. Humm and Strumm has two modes of play: Adventure Mode, in which two players fight Dr. Geoff, and Tag Mode, in which up to eight players play a game of tag using their characters' weapons. | <urn:uuid:c7e7e969-4a5a-4c5e-bd6a-4433bfd195d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://freecode.com/tags/windows?page=1&with=4178&without=16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939435 | 400 | 1.5 | 2 |
Amish Newspaper Stays Strong
In a world where news still travels at a mail carrier's pace, the farmers, preachers and mechanics responsible for filling The Budget threatened to go on strike if the 119-year-old Amish weekly went ahead with its plan to go online.
The writers, known as scribes, feared their plainspoken dispatches would become fodder for entertainment in the "English," or non-Amish, world. The editors hastily rescinded the plan shortly after proposing it in 2006, and today, only local news briefs appear on The Budget's bare-bones Web site.
My gosh, they spoke in volume," said Keith Rathbun, publisher of The Budget, a newspaper mailed to nearly 20,000 subscribers across the U.S. and Canada. "I'd be a fool to not pay attention to it."
Far from impeding the newspaper's success, shunning the Internet actually solidified its steadfast fan base.
As other newspapers increasingly shed staff and reduce the frequency of their print editions in the face of growing competition from the Internet, The Budget is plodding along comfortably in the recession.
Subscriptions, which cost $42 a year and account for most of the newspaper's revenue, have dropped by just a few hundred in the past year. Advertisers -- who are mostly Amish -- are not fleeing to the Internet. And plans are in the works to add a couple of reporters to The Budget's editorial staff of about a dozen people.
Rathbun's most pressing concern isn't the threat of the Internet, but ensuring that his readers, scattered across
remote stretches of farmland, get their newspapers on time.
"People call The Budget the Amish Internet," Rathbun says. "It's non-electric, it's on paper, but it's the same thing."
The Budget is the dominant means of communication among the Amish, a Christian denomination with about 227,000 members nationwide who shun cars for horse-drawn buggies and avoid hooking up to the electrical grid.
The local edition, mailed to about 10,000 Ohio subscribers, is a typical community newspaper produced by The Budget's own employees, and their local stories are all that appear online. There's a page dedicated to church news and another to farming -- there you get the going price for alfalfa and hay.
Unlike most of its counterparts, The Budget has a staff that is not Amish (The unpaid scribes, on the other hand, are typically Amish). As such, the self-described newspaper of "good news" takes pains not to offend its pious readers, who are quick to revolt at any whiff of impropriety in its pages.
The newspaper rejects advertisements for products considered taboo, such as beer, tobacco and drugs that treat sexual dysfunction. A public outcry ensued when the newspaper ran an illustration of a woman clad in a bra and underwear.
Sports coverage, some readers claim, "doesn't belong in a Christian newspaper."
But the most common grievance hearkens back to the heyday of newspapers.
Arlene Horst, a 67-year-old reader from Geneva, N.Y., calls The Budget's office often to complain about delivery problems. She likes to read her newspaper on Sundays, before the news grows "stale," she says.
"I've learned to know a lot of people and their interesting letters and never even met them," Horst says.
At a livestock auction in Mount Hope, Ohio, where farmers were placing bids on a fat black and white cow wandering around a pen, 76-year-old Ervin Schrock was hurrying home to read the newspaper.
"Oh, I like The Budget," he said. "We've been getting it for years. I've got to read it before my wife gets it." | <urn:uuid:541e701d-cb00-4337-ae88-fa6e1ae6a050> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/entertainment-news_60/87_amish-newspaper-staying-strong.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969423 | 790 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Why is it that despite the fact that the Self presents us with a gift and a destiny, of a potential waiting to be expressed, that we often neglect to attend to all that is needed to bring this aspect of the Transcendent to fruition? To turn away from one's gift and destiny is also a turning away from Self and soul, and especially for this reason, we need a richer understanding of this issue.|
An essential mandate in life requires that we come to know the nature of our gifts and destiny. So too, it is essential to develop a profound spiritual and courageous commitment to this aspect of the transcendent, and in turn, create a life which allows us to bring this destiny to fruition in both the internal and external world. Jung's Red Book is such a story of living out his own gift and an acceptance of the Self's mandates to live a creative life.
In this Thursday evening lecture, we will discuss ancient and modern wisdom stories, and examples from clinical practice to help us understand the personal and archetypal mandates that come with a creative and spiritual approach to life.
1. To help participants understand the issue of career and spiritual callings in their life.
2. Learning to identify the literal and symbolic expressions of destiny within an individual life.
3. Helping participants to understand the relationship between a calling and the mandates and responsibilities attendant with that calling.
4. Learning to recognize the specific mandates required to live out one's calling.
Michael Conforti, Ph.D. is a Jungian Analyst, and is the founder and director of the Assisi Institute. Dr. Conforti's work has resulted not only in a training institute based on his discoveries, but also the development of a new discipline, Archetypal Pattern Analysis. He has been a faculty member at the C.G. Jung Institute - Boston, the C.G. Jung Foundation of New York, and for many years served as a Senior Associate faculty member in the Doctoral and Master's Programs in Clinical Psychology at Antioch New England. A pioneer in the field of matter-psyche studies, Dr. Conforti is actively investigating the workings of archetypal fields and the relationship between Jungian psychology and the New Sciences. He has presented his work to a wide range of national and international audiences, including the C.G. Jung Institute - Zurich and Jungian organizations in Venezuela, Denmark, Italy and Canada. He is the author of Threshold Experiences: The Archetype of Beginnings (2007) and Field, Form and Fate: Patterns in Mind, Nature and Psyche. His articles have appeared in Psychological Perspectives, San Francisco Jung Library Journal, Roundtable Press, World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, and Spring.
This program has been approved for CEUs by the Washington Chapter National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Provider number is #1975-157. The cost to receive a certificate is as follows: 2 units on Thursday: $10.
|Thursday Sep 27, 2012 7:00 PM - Thursday Sep 27, 2012 9:00 PM | $15.00 - $25.00
Good Shepard Center (Downstairs Senior Center) (View)
4649 Sunnyside Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
|Kid Friendly: No|
|Dog Friendly: No|
|Wheelchair Accessible: Yes!| | <urn:uuid:d2f0076c-d357-4773-81ed-49cea2b00f4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/272619 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928498 | 711 | 1.875 | 2 |