text
stringlengths 213
24.6k
| id
stringlengths 47
47
| dump
stringclasses 1
value | url
stringlengths 14
499
| file_path
stringlengths 138
138
| language
stringclasses 1
value | language_score
float64 0.9
1
| token_count
int64 51
4.1k
| score
float64 1.5
5.06
| int_score
int64 2
5
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notice the one thing that is missing from this story?
Sitting cross-legged on the cushioned floor of a family friend’s house, Mohammed Jawad furrowed his brow and fidgeted nervously as he struggled to explain his extraordinary ordeal over the past seven years.
In December 2002, when he says he was only 12, he was arrested on suspicion of throwing a grenade into a Jeep carrying US special forces soldiers through Kabul, wounding two of them and an interpreter. He was taken first to an airbase north of Kabul, then to the US prison in Guantánamo Bay, where he remained until his release a few days ago after a ruling by a US judge that his confession had been obtained by force.
One of the youngest and most controversial prisoners in Guantánamo, Mr Jawad is now finally a free man after being flown back to Kabul on Monday and reunited with his family and friends.
But after seven years in custody — six of them in Guantánamo — he faces a long struggle to pick up the pieces of his lost childhood and teenage years, and to build a future for himself in a country still at war with the Taleban.
No where -- not in the excerpt or in the rest of the article -- is there a single denial of the reason he was picked up in the first place. There is no denial that he attempted to kill American soldiers. And frankly, I don't care if he was 12, 17, or 127 -- if you try to kill American soldiers in a combat zone, that should be the end of the discussion. You don't get a trial -- you stay locked up forever, assuming the troops don't kill you on the spot. After all, your ass is fair game if you engage in making war on the United States, as this scumbag clearly did.
|
<urn:uuid:79f0135a-50b8-41ab-a8b0-f1e905a7447f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://rhymeswithright.mu.nu/archives/291446.php
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980972
| 376
| 1.585938
| 2
|
While the global news agenda has moved on, UK-based development agency Christian Aid is asking people not to forget the ongoing victims of the tragic South Asia earthquake two years ago - and has pledged to continue its material support.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the North American development and peace agency, is working with local partners to provide a 10-day supply of food for 5,050 families caught up in the post-flood crisis in Bangladesh.
The UK-based international development agency Christian Aid is launching an appeal to help more than 20 million people in India and Bangladesh who have been affected by the worst flooding there in living memory.
The poorest people in India, Nepal and Bangladesh are the chief victims of major monsoon-driven floods across South Asia. And the situation is being made worse by lack of effective international action, local development planners are saying.
More than 150 people have died and 20 million have been displaced from heavy floods in south Asia. Reports estimate more than 12 million people in India, 5.5 million in Bangladesh and 750,000 in Nepal are affected.
|
<urn:uuid:59d637db-8d1a-49db-b6d0-d440bbc8779b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/tags/3423
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961282
| 221
| 2.046875
| 2
|
The first reason to watch this 4-minute video of a paralyzed woman using her brain signals to move a robot arm is that you will never take for granted again your ability to lift your morning cup of coffee to your mouth.
The second reason is that it’s the latest cool development to come out of the BrainGate project, which showed that it’s possible to “read out” brain signals in paralyzed people and convert them into actions, previously by moving a computer cursor and now a robotic arm. The journal Nature has just published the robotic-arm results, and posted the video above. Read the full press release from Brown University here. From Brown:
Researchers in the BrainGate collaboration of the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brown University and Massachusetts General Hospital describe experiments in which two participants with tetraplegia used the investigational* BrainGate BCI [Brain-Computer Interface] to precisely control robotic arms to reach and grasp for objects in three-dimensional space. They controlled the robots by thinking about moving their own arms and hands. This is the first demonstration of 3D control of robot arms by neural activity of people.
On a particularly poignant day in the research, one of the participants used a robot arm to pick up a bottle of coffee, bring it to her lips and tip it to take a drink through a straw. It was the first time she had served herself anything to drink for nearly 15 years. Her smile after she had taken a sip was especially inspiring because her success indicated that the BrainGate team’s research has moved substantially closer toward the goal of restoring independence for people who have lost functional control of their limbs.
Suggestion: The smile comes at about 3:30 in the video. Don’t miss it.
|
<urn:uuid:bd137b1b-f21a-48c5-a03b-ae016166bb89>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2012/05/paralyzed-brain-coffee
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958708
| 361
| 3.015625
| 3
|
"Believed to be" and "is" are not synonymous.
Example: The CO2 increase is generally believed to be due to the combination of increased burning of fossil fuels and (mostly before 1905) deforestation.
The CO2 increase is to be due to the combination of increased burning of fossil fuels and (mostly before 1905) deforestation.
Not the same statement. "Has been shown to be" would be much closer to being synonymous with is.
If we believe that the earth's climate is in some moral, stable state that is just because that's the way it's supposed to be -- and we see it change -- we are likely to believe that we had something to do with it. Not that it's a bad thing to suspect, but you might see then how this might cause us to go back and see what it was that we had done to upset the mythical balance. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to fit things we find to what it is we're looking for. So we find things we did that correlate to the time that the balance was disrupted, and we say "aha!" We've been burning fossil fuels which put off C02. CO2 levels have been rising in the atmosphere. Ipso fatco!
Wait, somebody says. That doesn't explain the increases in CO2 and temperature before 1905. Hmmm. Hmmm... it must have been something ELSE we did. We cut down TREES! Trees consume CO2 -- there were fewer of them to do it.... Ipso fatco!
I watched a show last night on National Geographic called "Seconds From Disaster". This one concerned a British Midland Flight 092 in 1989 in which somewhere during the flight the plane started shaking. Smoke started coming into the cabin. The pilots knew an engine was acting up. They believed that the air conditioning ran through the right engine -- therefore, if smoke were coming in it had to be the right engine that was acting up. What they didn't know was that on this newer 737, the air conditioning actually ran through both. They shut the right engine down. The vibrations stopped. The smoke stopped. They must have been right! Ipso facto!
Unfortunately, they weren't. It turns out that to shut one engine down, they had to disengage what would be the equivalent of the plane's cruise control -- a system that automatically delivered more fuel to an engine to keep the plane going the same speed if it sensed the plane was slowing down. Only it really wasn't sensing if the plane was slowing down, it was sensing the fan speed and assuming that if the fan speed slowed, the plane must be slowing -- so it was delivering more fuel to the left engine than it could handle in its crippled state.
When they disengaged the cruise (autothrottle), this stopped happening as the fuel rate was reduced to the manual throttle setting at that position.
See Things I Know #4. Correlation does not mean causation.
Of course, on final approach they manually increased the throttle, the vibration started again, the engine failed, and they were going too slow to start the other one up by airspeed alone this time, though they tried. Thanks to heroic efforts by the pilots, the plane didn't crash in a nearby neigborhood, but rather on a highway embankment right near the start of the runway. 47 people died. (Happily, 79 lived!)
Tragically, several passengers had noticed that after the pilot said everything was ok, there were still flames and sparks coming from the left engine. Nobody tried to inform the pilots. Why not?
Because they trusted the experts (this was confirmed in interviews with the survivors). They trusted the pilots' expertise dispite clear evidence that something about what the pilot had just told them wasn't right. The experts had spoken. The debate was over.
|
<urn:uuid:59114513-e0c1-4554-92a7-64feedf886a0>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://philmon.blogspot.com/2007/05/things-i-know-12-midland-092.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.985685
| 790
| 2.8125
| 3
|
The 2012 drought was obvious. It was hot and dry this summer. Crops and pastures burned up and the agricultural economy will feel it for years to come. Currently we are worried how livestock producers will fare. We are worried about the seed supply for 2013. And we are worried whether the subsoil will have enough water next spring to keep a crop growing. But what about the rest of the economy? How far down have the roots of the drought grown?
Every community will have a story about the drought. Mine is suffering from a 3-ft. drop in the level of the lake that supplies water for 85,000 people and major grain-processing plants. So water-use restrictions have been in place for weeks because the lake has more mudflats than waves.
Economists David Swenson and Liesel Eathington of Iowa State University have tallied the extent of the drought, but not the total impact, since that may not be seen for years. However, it is possible to determine what parts of the economy and day-to-day life that it has impacted to some degree. Their analysisis based in Iowa, but could be in any Corn Belt state. After all, 2,341 counties in the U.S. have either been designated by USDA as primarily or secondarily impacted from the drought. The economists say, “The initial impact of a drought is a sharp reduction in the state’s water supply, which in turn has immediate impacts on agricultural productivity, commercial activities that require water, and public goods that are water-based.”
The primary impact is on crop yields and reduced forage and pasture, which have resulted in higher prices due to shortages of production. They say the higher prices will offset portions of losses, and they calculated prices that were 20% above breakeven prices due to the drought, which they indicated would result in higher, gross revenue consequences. Additionally, they said with 90% of Iowa corn acres and 91% of soybean acres covered by crop insurance the policies covered nearly $14 billion in total liability and will boost farm income.
High grain and hay prices impact the livestock industry negatively, say the economists. With corn and beans being primary components of feed, livestock producer margins will decline as prices rise. But without adequate forage, many other livestock will suffer from herd liquidation where forage is unavailable. The economists say, “One can conclude that animal production in Iowa will decline, though the magnitude of that decline is still unknown, as will be the overall impacts of those reductions to the state’s gross domestic product.”
They also say yield reductions will be felt by orchards and horticultural crop production, but irrigated production may not suffer significantly provided water supplies are sufficient. The non-irrigated crops will realize yield reductions and affect the quality and quantity of those crops.
The most vulnerable non-farm industries include the ethanol refineries that have to pay higher costs for corn and the biodiesel plants that have to pay higher costs for soybeans. The seed industry may see increased costs and production disruptions and impacts on research plots.
Iowa’s insurance industry will also be affected because of the impact on crop insurance. They say the industry will not change markedly, the indemnity checks to be mailed out will deplete reserves and more adjustors will have to be hired to process claims.
Low water levels may also affect a state’s tourism and recreation industry, with reductions in sales. The same low water will stifle commercial barge traffic on the Mississippi River. They say that will reduce sales and gross revenue for operators and increase the operational costs for companies requiring shipping.
Businesses that sell trees, plants and flowers have suffered from the poor growing situation, and costs of production and maintenance have resulted in less business, as have landscapers. But power companies have seen increased business due to electricity sales for air conditioning. Their profits should increase.
Public water supplies have been stressed, and many others have had to cope with high use from customers wanting to maintain lawns and gardens. With public use of water facilities for recreation, the depletion of lakes and streams has resulted in lower use. The drought has affected fish and other wildlife dependent on the water.
Public infrastructure has been damaged because of the heat that has buckled many roadways and caused cracks that will result in highway deterioration.
Homeowners have increased home cooling costs due to the heat, along with increased water costs. But they will also be losing tangible assets such as trees, plants, shrubs and gardens that may die due to the heat and lack of water.
Other ripples through the economy will come with the reduction of livestock production, and the subsequent reduction of the demand for commercial feed. The economists report, “The widespread reduction in crop yields in Iowa will reduce harvest times, it will decrease grain hauling, and there will be less demand for grain storage. Farther on, reduced yields, especially in the eastern part of Iowa, will decrease the demand for barge transport. In the nearer term, warehousing and shipping might see the greatest impacts from reduced farm quantity production.”
As livestock producers reduce their herds, more animals will find their way to slaughter in the near term increasing the demand for meat industry employment, but after the high volume, there will be a downturn in volume and less demand for labor.
The economists also point to the grocery store, and say, “Initial reductions in animal herds will result in higher meat supplies and lower prices. However, over the long run, there will be constrained animal production, which will lead to higher meat prices. In addition, as high grain prices will work their way through the entire food processing industry, consumer food prices broadly are expected to rise.”
The economists also predict government help for those suffering from the drought, particularly in an election year. However, as we close in on the election, there seems to be less chance of any federal drought relief.
The impact of the drought is not only felt in crop and livestock production, but in water supplies and recreation, as well as in grocery stores and even family budgets. Some impacts will be felt immediately, but others not for some time to come.
|
<urn:uuid:ac81ff7d-fa4e-4946-adff-5d284c14fd07>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/print/issues/drought-impacts-beyond-crops-livestock
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967942
| 1,273
| 3.109375
| 3
|
Tornado cleanup in Alabama is one of many trips by more than 260 students on Alternative Breaks this week
The club was founded 11 years ago with its first three trips and has grown ever since
More than 260 students and 25 faculty and staff members are giving up fun in the sun during their spring break for a more meaningful experience doing service projects in distant U.S. cities and foreign locations. The groups left Friday, March 2, on 25 trips to such locations as Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Baltimore, Guatemala and El Salvador.
One group traveled to Decatur, Ala., to help with cleanup after the tornados that struck on Friday, March 2. They were featured in covereage about the storm's aftermath by The Decatur Daily.
"Xavier's Alternative Breaks program provides an opportunity for students to participate in direct service in a new area of the world, allowing them to learn first-hand about a social justice issue," says Julie Tritschler, chair of Xavier's Alternative Breaks Board.
The club is managed by a faculty advisor and a board of 13 students. The club allows students to put their Jesuit identity into action by doing such projects as Habitat for Humanity in Kentucky, turtle nesting site cleanup in Florida and working with children at orphanages in Russia. The club began planning trips 11 years ago, beginning with three service trips in the United States. Most trips occur during spring break, which this year is March 5-9, but three occur over summer break.
"The experiences provide leadership development and challenge those involved to be open-minded and learn about social justice from a different perspective," Tritschler says. "Many students feel their lives have been changed after participating in Alternative Breaks. We encourage students to continue learning about their issue after returning home and reinforce the value of being an active citizen in the community."
Learn more about the Alternative Breaks Club at the club's website.
|
<urn:uuid:58bdb7f0-0da5-4911-a938-3e99b9f463e4>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.xavier.edu/news/Tornado-cleanup-in-Alabama-is-one-of-many-trips-by-more-than-260-students-on-Alternative-Breaks-this-week.cfm?grp_id=1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.96748
| 397
| 1.664063
| 2
|
This activity is free and can be tailored for Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 3 pupils.
Pre-visit information and curriculum links for Key Stage 2 PDF (645.4 KB)
Pre-visit information and curriculum links for Key Stage 3 PDF (936.4 KB)
Excite and enthuse your students with the diversity, complexity and beauty of life in this fun, interactive science show.
Encounter the Museum’s largest, smallest and possibly most beautiful specimens in this show about species adaptations and how and why scientists classify life.
Students discover how humans fit into the classification system and get the chance to do the job of our enquiries service scientists, if they survive a close encounter with a giant squid.
Duration: 30 minutes
Capacity: 60 students
Booking: book in advance by calling the Museum booking team on +44 (0)20 7942 5555.
All school activities must be booked in advance. To book, please call our school bookings line between 08.30-16.00, Monday to Friday during term-time, or 10.00-13.00 during the school holidays.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5555
|
<urn:uuid:e4f7f828-0596-4b1d-8941-e233ce326ffd>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/education/school-activities/science-shows/variety-show/index.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.90103
| 250
| 3
| 3
|
The former king responded to the Pishin jirga in words that reflected Afghan nationalism. In a communiqué issued on the occasion, he stated that traditional jirgas were the last resort for free debates and the adoption of resolutions in a democratic fashion about national problems in times of emergencies such as the present one. In the former king’s view, the resolutions of such jirgas must take into account the viewpoints and tendencies of all national groups who are engaged in the struggle for the realization of common goals—in this case, “independence, territorial integrity, restoration of the status of traditional nonalignment, the national and Islamic identity of our homeland, and the maintenance of the right to self-determination for the institution of the future government through free elections.”
By the “state of emergency” the former king meant the lack of a legitimate government in the country and its occupation by the Soviet Union. The king responded to the situation by convening a loya jirga and pursuing a policy of waging armed jehad and holding political negotiations, depending on the circumstances. From the elaboration of these points, the features of Afghan nationalism as envisaged by the former king become clear.
In the king’s view, the jirga is a traditional institution in which all tribes and sectors of society (through their elders) take part on an equal basis to settle national problems. The jirga is convened in times of national emergency, especially when Afghanistan feels pressured by outside powers. King Amanullah even required participants of a jirga to “settle by consensus of votes all the vital problems and schemes for the uplift and progress of Afghanistan.” The agenda fixed for the jirga covered the entire range of foreign and domestic affairs. In general, an elderly statesman presides over the jirga until someone else is appointed for the whole session. Whatever the issue, the participants resolve it by consensus after they discuss it in a democratic way. This is a description of a national jirga (loya jirga) attended by influential people from throughout the country and by selected government officials. The national jirga is then open to influence by governments, which have frequently held them in modern times and particularly in the twentieth century. But in a particular locality everyone concerned with the issue attends the jirga, along with elders and other persons (jirgamawr, marakchiyan) who have special knowledge of its rules and procedures. The mullas are invited to attend the jirga not to administer it but to provide advice, if needed. The jirga is solemnly convened after the usual Muslim prayer is offered, and a Pashto verse is recited: “Events are with God, but deliberation is allowed to man.” The more democratic the tribe, the larger the jirga. Part of Pashtunwali (the social and legal codes of the Pashtuns), the jirga is a Pashtun institution by which the Pashtuns resolve not only ordinary disputes but also issues, particularly criminal issues, that defy solutions through the Shari’a or civil courts. The decisions are enforced and, among some tribes, the violators punished by a special militia (the arobaki).
As noted, Mohammad Zahir held that such an assembly was to deliberate over ways and means to restore Afghan sovereignty and lay down the basis for a future government. But since the prospect for holding jirgas were dim, the former king also viewed armed jehad as a means of realizing the national goal. In his view, “Presently the people of Afghanistan are engaged in an armed jehad for the restoration of their rights and national honor. Other than that no way has been left open to them, and if this goal can be attained by a peaceful means they would consider it.” For the success of jehad, in December 1981 he proposed the formation of a “united front.” He appealed to his compatriots to set aside—in accord with the injunctions of Islam and the approved national traditions—whatever personal and tribal differences they might have and choose their representatives “so that if God wills through the institution of a great national assembly with the participation of the representatives of all tribes, existing unions, organizations, and associations the foundation for such a united front may be laid down which can represent all the people of Afghanistan for the purpose of waging the armed struggle, and legally representing the people in international councils and states.” Realizing the difficulty of convening a loya jirga under the conditions of war, the former king proposed setting up a constituent assembly to pave the way for it. For this purpose a commission was set up.
Even opponents of “a united front” could not reject overnight the proposal for its formation. Afghans were disturbed by the disunity among the jehad organizations. That was why, according to the king, by October 1984 a number of “fronts and other groups from inside and outside Afghanistan as well as a large number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and the majority of Afghan associations in various parts of the world” supported the proposal. The three moderate groups, the Triple Alliance, also endorsed it, suggesting at the same time that the Muslim and other interested organizations and governments should be consulted about it.
Nevertheless, the proposal remained in abeyance. In particular, Pakistan was against it. As already described, although Pakistan supported the jehad, it preferred a divided leadership even among the Islamic organizations. It was even more in favor of division in the case of a national front, especially the one propounded by the former king, who was considered a symbol of Afghan nationalism. Also, the rift between the two countries on the issue of Pashtunistan might have influenced Pakistan to oppose a movement that would have helped Afghan nationalists rise to leadership. The king had favored improved relations with Pakistan, offering “his pledge to Pakistan during her wars with India that Afghanistan would not move her troops nor create any disturbance on the Pak-Afghan border”; even so, Pakistan did not trust him. For forty years he had been the sovereign of an independent land, and now, too, he stated, “I do not think I can become an instrument in the hands of anyone.”
This may have been why Pakistan discouraged those groups and persons who supported the former king as well as the cause of the Afghan nation. Among the known nationalist Afghans was Abdur Rahman Pazhwak, a diplomat and former president of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Social Democratic Party (Afghan Millat) is a case in point of a nationalist party that—although it had opposed the Khalqi government, and although the Parcham regime had imprisoned many of its leaders—was not allowed to work independently but only under the umbrella of the National Islamic Front. Azizulla Wasifi, an influential Alkozay elder from Kandahar and a former cabinet minister and president of the last loya jirga of the precommunist period, was the only one who was able to carry on his resistance activities in the spirit of nationalism. He could do so because as an elder of the Durrani tribal confederation he enjoyed the support of his refugee tribesmen in Quetta, where in 1980 he set up the Islamic National United Front (Islami Muttahida Mille Jabha). Apparently, this scheme also called for the elimination by terrorists of leaders of emerging self-reliant Afghan groups and for the discouragement of others—community elders in particular—who might otherwise undertake resistance activities beyond the aegis of the Islamic groups. Many such persons took refuge in the West. Pakistan refused politely or deferred to an indefinite date the requests that the former king had made to visit it. The Islamist organizations opposed both him and his proposals to set up a national front.
Under these circumstances it was not feasible for a united front to be formed through a jirga. It was so not because the jirga had become anachronistic, to be looked on as “a final attempt by an aristocracy in decline to oppose the rise of Islamists,” but because the neighboring governments opposed the emergence of a national leadership since each followed an agenda of its own to dominate Afghanistan. For this purpose they supported the Islamist groups in their bid to restrict to themselves the right not only to wage jehad but also to be part of the future political leadership. But in the sociopolitical structure of Afghan society at the time, there was no alternative to the jirga of influential groups and magnates to set up a political leadership in accord with the social norms and conventions—unless, of course, one believed in the use of violence and the setting up of an undemocratic or client leadership.
The opposition deterred the former king from moving from Rome, where he met with foreign emissaries. Since he had neither an organization nor a dynasty nor independent financial or military means, he had no other choice. Contrary to the rumors his opponents had spread, the former king, while a ruler, was among the poorest monarchs in the world. In Rome he lived in a villa with financial assistance from the king of Saudi Arabia. A realist and unambitious, he said he would not try to restore the monarchy. Like other Afghans, he was convinced that the Mohammadzay rule has become a part of history. But he was popular. In an opinion survey among the Afghan refugees in Peshawar in 1987, more than 72 percent favored him as their leader. He is, however, not the sort of person to accept risks as his father did in 1929. In his defense, he has been quoted as saying that if he became active, his followers might suffer at the hands of the opponents and he would not be able to help them.
Such a statement is believable from a person who, during forty years of rule, did not sign a writ for the execution of any person for political reasons. He also used his royal influence to commute capital punishment for persons convicted in criminal cases. This is unusual for a king of the Afghans, who have in their history appreciated a strong ruler. Mohammad Zahir Shah was instead a mild ruler. A decade of his reign constituted the constitutional democracy, which had no precedent in Afghan history. He has also played an important role in demonstrating a spirit of nonpartisanship, stating that “during my reign I did not relate myself to a particular tribe or clan, but looked on the entire people of Afghanistan from the same angle.” His unifying efforts in these turbulent times, when other contenders of power showed themselves willing to resort to any means available, reflect that view. In the period of divisiveness, violence, and anarchy the former king was steadfast in his stand for unity, accommodation, construction, and cooperation. Now, half a decade after the withdrawal of the Soviet Union, it is unclear whether he will be able to play a role. He can do so only when the Islamic fundamentalists and the governments of Iran and Pakistan leave the Afghans to themselves to set up a political leadership in accord with their social conventions.
|
<urn:uuid:6b7a0e7f-e24e-4dc7-9864-061b434e3f04>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft7b69p12h&doc.view=content&chunk.id=s1.5.3&toc.depth=1&anchor.id=d0e2982
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.976318
| 2,286
| 3
| 3
|
How to Help Your State and Local Crime Labs
It’s so easy to make a difference! Here are three simple and important steps you can take:
1) Make three phone calls or send three e-mails.
E-mail or call your two Senators and your Congressional representative in the House to tell them that it is important to you that Coverdell receives more funding. (Because of anti-anthrax measures, letters are delayed and do not always reach Congress.) If you don’t know who your representatives are, you can usually find their offices listed in the government section of your phone book, or visit www.house.gov for the House of Representatives and www.senate.gov for your two Senators.
Don’t be afraid to call or e-mail your Senators and Representative!
They work for you, they’re spending your taxes – let them know that crime labs are important to you!
Here’s a sample you can use for e-mailing or to help you with a call:
Dear [Title -- "Senator" or if a representative, "Mr." "Mrs." or "Ms."] [Last Name of the Member of Congress]
Please support funding of the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act at the full authorized level. Continued funding of the Coverdell Act is urgently needed by crime labs, which handle 90% of all criminal cases in the United States.
Funding Coverdell will make a critical difference in the forensic sciences in the U.S., and support the processing of every type of evidence. Medical examiners offices are closing down due to the lack of funds. Backlogs are slowing justice and putting the public at risk. The National Academy of Sciences 2009 study indicates that many public forensic science providers, such as lab and medical examiners/coroners offices, are severely understaffed, working in outdated or inadequate facilities, and lacking the equipment they need.
As a result, victims and their families wait months or years for lab results, cases are lost or not brought to trial, evidence is mishandled, and criminals remain at large. These problems ultimately affect the welfare and safety of the entire country, including homeland security. Funding of the Coverdell Act should be a high priority.
City, State, ZIP
Please note that it is not enough to just put your name and e-mail address on the message — the member of Congress will respond better to a message with a complete address, especially if you live in his or her district or state.
Please let us know whom you contacted and when by contact us by emailing crimelabproject @ gmail.com (delete the spaces in this address before you use it), so that we can follow up with your representatives.
2) Tell everyone else you know about this site, or pass along an e-mail message about the importance of funding Coverdell! A small logo for your own websites is now available. Click here for a PDF file describing CLP/Coverdell. It also works well as a handout at meetings. You need Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader to view the PDF; download it for free here.
3) Add your name to the Crime Lab Project mailing list.
4) You can read about other ways to help from our blog post, “What can I do to improve public forensic science?”
|
<urn:uuid:9ca750ed-0e96-46a9-8fbe-5fea8fbf074a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://crimelabproject.wordpress.com/how-to-help/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.932028
| 702
| 1.546875
| 2
|
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has decided to continue its five-year-old revenue sharing plan for U S WEST Communications, a local exchange telephone carrier, for one year. It...
Traditional utility regulation has been unable to prevent the electric rates of some utilities from rising far above those of neighboring companies. Two factors are responsible for this failure. First, regulators lack the means to keep seemingly reasonable but unnecessary costs from creeping into rates. Second, ratemaking considers a utility's costs in isolation and does not use peer benchmarks to true up rates.
Political pressure helped limit rate increases for nuclear plants during the 1980s. Yet, in the case of the Long Island Lighting Co. (LILCO), with the highest electric rates in the country, political pressure has proved ineffectual.
The 3.5 million people on Long Island who are served by LILCO paid an average electric rate of 15.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (›/Kwh) in 1994 (em 16.8 cents for residential customers and 14.3 cents for commercial and industrial customers. These rates were roughly 50 percent above those in the New Jersey and Connecticut suburbs of New York, and twice the national average. If these rates were cut to the national average, residents would stand to save $1.2 billion annually (em about $700 per residence and $6,000 for each of Long Island's 102,000 businesses.
The most significant factor driving rates is the 1989 settlement that allowed LILCO to recover and earn a return on its $4-billion investment in the Shoreham nuclear plant. Over the 40-year life of the settlement, LILCO will collect $14 billion for Shoreham (em $4 billion in recovery, and $10 billion as a return. LILCO's electric rates have risen 31 percent since 1989.
At the same time, employment has declined by 10 percent (100,000 jobs). Moreover, the replacement of jobs lost from declining defense spending has been compromised by high electric rates.
Neutralizing the Opposition
Discontent is obvious, but has not been mobilized effectively. Consider how the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) publicized its March decision approving LILCO's request to freeze base rates for 1995. All five commissioners came down to New York City from Albany to announce the decision to the financial community. They promised to honor the financial obligations of the Shoreham settlement, emphasizing the importance of LILCO's bond ratings and its "access to reasonably-priced capital."
But in the political equation, the ratepayers did not count. The elements that should have created political pressure in favor of lower rates had been silent or absent: the press, large customers, and coordinated interest groups.
First, the press on Long Island is almost monopolized by Newsday, a loyal supporter of LILCO. Newsday has attacked rate plans proposed by Nassau and Suffolk counties, the two counties LILCO serves. Nassau has petitioned the PSC to allow retail wheeling; Suffolk is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to permit a county agency to buy wholesale power for residential customers as a "muni-lite." The strained logic of Newsday's attack on these plans suggests that the paper is deeply committed to LILCO's cause at the expense of the community. Wisely or not, Newsday has abrogated the normal role of the press as a catalyst for change.
Second, cuts in defense spending have left Long Island bereft
|
<urn:uuid:78642169-0a52-4aea-9b45-fcf582140914>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/1995/09/financial-news
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960455
| 717
| 2.46875
| 2
|
The chief work of the CCBE is to develop policies within its democratic structure in response to current issues. Through a combination of the specialist committees, the Standing Committee, Plenary Session, the presidency and secretariat, the CCBE develops a wide range of policies on topics currently of concern to European lawyers. These policies might arise out of a consultation document from the European Commission, a draft directive, a case before the European Court of Justice or European Court of Human Rights, or a difficulty arising in the course of cross-border legal practice.
Below are some of the ways in which CCBE policies are developed and promoted.
The CCBE publishes position papers addressing EU legislation and initiatives which impact upon the legal profession or upon the users of legal services. These papers cover such disparate issues as competition, money-laundering, the core values of the profession, the rate of VAT on legal services, organised crime, and the ramifications of a European constitution. The position papers are freely available in English and French on this website.
A milestone in the CCBE's development was the adoption of the CCBE Code of Conduct in 1988, after six years of drafting and consultation. It was needed to help resolve cross-border conflicts between Europe's widely varying national codes. The Code governs professional contacts between lawyers within the European Community and the activities of lawyers working in member states other than their own.
The Code is binding only when adopted by a particular bar. CCBE members and observers have done this, making it the applicable code for EU cross-border activities. Moreover, the Code has been recognised by the European Commission and European courts and is beginning to be treated as authoritative by national courts.
The Code is a framework of principles covering professional independence, client confidentiality, advertising of services, and behaviour towards clients, courts and other lawyers. Since its debut, and through two subsequent revisions, it has been widely adopted across Europe, has helped resolve differences between national codes, and has greatly facilitated the cross-border movement of legal services.
The CCBE also has a Charter of Core Principles, which are a set of Europe-wide principles to be adopted by national bars in their own domestic setting.
For lawyers active outside their home jurisdiction, the CCBE card facilitates access to courts and institutions. It is recognised by the European Court of Justice and Court of First Instance.
In the official languages of the CCBE, the card identifies the cardholder as a lawyer in one of the Member States. Cards are issued in the CCBE's name by national bars and law societies to their authorised members, according to the conditions laid down in each member state.
The CCBE possesses an extensive and unique database. Some of this statistical information is published on this website. It includes annual breakdowns by country of its member numbers and by gender.
Several times throughout the year, at plenary sessions and international legal conferences, the CCBE President will speak on matters of major concern to the CCBE.
Some of these speeches can be read in English and/or French on this website.
|
<urn:uuid:41f295bb-7fbf-4208-b47d-41b240e6d47f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ccbe.eu/index.php?id=8&L=0%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C'%20and%20char(124)%20user%20char(124)%3D0%20and%20%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C'%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C'%3D%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C%5C'
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962353
| 619
| 1.804688
| 2
|
Addressing a crowd expected to total half the 1.8 million who made a pilgrimage to Washington for his swearing-in four years ago, Mr Obama will try to set a purposeful tone for his final four years in power.
"This country's gone through some very tough times before," he said in a video message released by the White House in advance of the ceremony. "But we always come out on the other side."
Amid dire unemployment, he said there was "nothing that can stop America" when its people had a "fair shot" to "get a great education, get a good job, look after their kids and get some basic security".
Mr Obama will speak on Martin Luther King Day, 50 years after the civil rights leader's rousing address at the end of his March on Washington.
As he is sworn in by John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he will place his left hand on two bibles used by Dr King and by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president.
Mr Obama said Dr King and Mr Lincoln – whose Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves has its 150th anniversary this year – were the "two figures I admire probably more than any in American history".
With millions of Americans still struggling to recover from a deep recession that officially ended in June 2009, the style and scale of the inauguration will be "mindful of the economic times," a spokesman said.
Four years after rolling into the capital on a train that passed weeping supporters all the way from Pennsylvania, Mr Obama will this time slip less than two miles down Pennsylvania Avenue from his home to steps of the US Capitol building.
Having prompted comparisons to the glamour of John F. Kennedy's "Camelot" by dancing with his wife, Michelle, into the early hours of his first day as President at 10 different inaugural balls, Mr Obama will this year attend just two before retiring for the night.
And despite winning re-election handily last November, he will speak to a nation scarcely less bitterly divided than when he promised "unity of purpose over conflict and discord" in January 2009.
He must then resume bad-tempered negotiations with Republicans, who control half of Congress and fiercely oppose his agenda – from raising the US debt, to regulating guns, to fighting climate change.
Mr Obama's failure to break the political stalemate in Washington – now a byword for corrupt incompetence among tired Americans – is reflected by a decline in interest in his second swearing-in.
A poll by Rasmussen this week found that 58 per cent of Americans planned to watch the inauguration, down from 75 per cent in 2009. Some 41 per cent would deliberately ignore the ceremony, they said – almost twice the number who did four years ago.
Before Monday's ceremonies, Mr Obama will first be sworn in on Sunday in a closed service, in order to satisfy the US Constitution's requirement that presidents be officially inaugurated on January 20.
Asked this to sum up Mr Obama's thoughts as he prepared to embark on his second term, Jay Carney, his press secretary, said: "More work needs to be done".
|
<urn:uuid:24f511ea-ef9e-418b-bf6a-597b3c042784>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9811996/Obama-inauguration-presidents-second-swearing-in-to-be-a-subdued-affair.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97182
| 639
| 1.796875
| 2
|
Read Damian Green's speech to the Conservative party conference in full on politics.co.uk.
There is some debate about what was the biggest disaster of the Labour years. The economy; the benefit system: John Prescott But unarguably one of their catastrophic failures, and therefore one of the biggest challenges for our Government is immigration.
It’s really easy to rant and rave about immigration. And it’s really important not to. Labour talked tough but acted weak. We talk calmly but act firmly.
This country needs a tough, practical immigration policy that pushes the numbers down.
Down to levels where people feel comfortable. Down to levels which ease the strains on housing, schools, and the health service. Down to levels which help all our communities live at ease with one another.
The facts speak for themselves.
NET MIGRATION LEVELS
In the eighties and nineties under Conservative Government net immigration never rose above 77,000 a year. It wasn’t one of the big difficult issues, so those who came here could just get on with their lives and contribute to our economy and our society.
Look what happened after the Labour victory in 1997. The numbers rose sharply and stayed sky high. It might have been conspiracy, it might have been cock-up. Who knew with that lot? The fact is that from the first day to the last of Labour’s years in power immigration was out of control—and the British people won’t forget that.
THE LAST TWO YEARS
Look at the last three years. That’s after they introduced the Points-Based System that was supposed to end the crisis.
In all net migration under Labour reached more than 2.2 million – that’s four times the population of the city of Manchester. We are determined to bring annual net migration back down to sustainable levels.
And we saw that, in terms of controlling immigration, a Points Based System on its own is pointless. You need radical action of the type we have been taking in the past 18 months to set us on a new course.
WHY DO PEOPLE COME HERE?
The first thing to do is to recognise what drives people to come here in the first place. Most people move for one of three reasons: labour, learning, or love.
Changing this to the more prosaic language we have to use in the Home Office, we see that – alongside a few other reasons - 35 per cent come here to work, 42 per cent as students, and 14 per cent through the family route, as a spouse, partner or close relative.
At least those are the reasons they tell us. Some are not telling the truth. For example we found a woman who we arrested on her way up the aisle for a sham marriage. In her wedding dress which was many sizes too big for her and looked ridiculous was her return air ticket from Holland. Here one day, back the next. We stopped her, and we are stopping more and more of these criminals.
So we need to be careful in separating the genuine applicants from the rest. This is particularly important for those seeking asylum. Too many people confuse general immigration with asylum. Over the past ten years the numbers trying to claim asylum have fallen dramatically. Last year’s figure, less than 18,000 was the lowest for twenty years.
I am not understating the need for big change here. In one of the most startling pieces of Labour’s incompetence on immigration, which is a competitive field, they discovered a backlog of over 450,000 asylum cases which had been stuck in a warehouse and forgotten about. We are finally mopping up the last vestiges of that appalling neglect, and I can tell you that I will not to let that sort of backlog build up again under this Government.
And what about immigration from other European countries? In 2005 Britain was the only big economy to open its doors completely to the eight new countries who joined the EU. Labour Ministers were shocked that they all came here. They predicted 13,000 would come. The actual number— around 750,000. That’s another mistake we will not repeat. I can tell you that every new country joining the EU will go through a transitional period before they have full access.
What’s interesting is that now that particular Labour disaster is in the past, the vast majority of net migration into the UK comes from outside the EU. Only around ten per cent comes from movements inside the EU.
The lesson from all of this is that you have to act on all the main routes at the same time if you are going to have any long-term effect on immigration. The system is like a balloon where if you squeeze only on one side the air finds somewhere else to go. Workers, students, and family immigrants have to be dealt with, and that is precisely what we have been doing since we came to power.
We started with a limit on those who come here to work, as we promised to do in the Coalition Agreement.
The limit on unskilled workers is straightforward: it’s zero. Our first responsibility is to help unemployed British workers.
The limit on skilled workers is 21,700, and they have to have an offer of a specific job. Too many people were claiming to be skilled, and coming here without a job. We discovered in our early days that a third of those who came here as highly-skilled workers were either taking unskilled jobs, or were unemployed. We have stopped that.
I saw, in our office in Delhi, a man being interviewed for his visa. He said he was coming for a skilled job working on a busy production line making machinery. He needed an interpreter for his visa interview. He would not be safe on a busy, dangerous production line.
We have the limit in place, and every month since it came in the quota has not been filled. So we are bringing the numbers down, and meeting the needs of British business. Many people told us that an immigration limit would damage our economy. They were wrong, and they have been proved wrong.
By far the biggest numbers come as students. Well over a third of these students are not studying at universities but at colleges which have what I might politely call varying levels of academic rigour. We found one college that had 940 students and two lecturers. The students were required to turn up one day a month. Another that was based in London, at which every single one of its students was working in West Wales.
So the bogus colleges have to go. We have already revoked the licenses of 69, suspended the licenses of another 76, and introduced a much more rigorous regime of inspection. We are also demanding that every student can show a decent command of English if they come to learn in this country.
We have set out new limits on the type of student who can bring in their dependants not undergraduates.
And we want former students to stay on only if they have a job offer—no more hanging around for years just looking for a job. We estimate that these measures, when they are fully in place, will cut net migration by more than 60,000.
The universities and colleges also need to play their part. We did a study in Delhi last June, and found that more than a third of student applications contained a forged document. We check them, but I am going to make sure that the colleges make their own checks. We will continue to welcome genuine students, coming to study at genuine institutions, some of which are the best in the world. But no longer will we tolerate the abuse of the student visa for people who really want to come here to work—that is going to stop.
Next, we move onto the family route. We are in the final days of consulting on our proposals. We have suggested:
Tough new powers to tackle sham marriages, and the terrible scourge of forced marriages. This too often means young women treated practically as slaves. That has no place in modern Britain in any community.
A language test so that everyone who wants to settle here as a spouse or partner has to show they have a basic command of English before they arrive.
Making people prove that they have a genuine relationship. They will need to stay together for five years, instead of two which is the current rule, before the new arrival gains the right to settle here, and the full right to claim benefits.
We know the behaviour that needs to be stopped. We have found hundreds of people who came here to get married, dumped their spouse once they were entitled to stay here, and within two years had brought another spouse in from overseas. That’s not romance, it’s fraud, and we are going to stop it.
And we will make sure that it’s not possible for someone to come here, get married, and live off benefits. The sponsor will have to show that they can support their new partner.
SETTLING IN THE UK
Moving on to those who come and stay, we need to make the rules much clearer.
In 1997 10,000 people who came here to work qualified for settlement. By 2010 the number was 84,000.
We propose a stricter system which puts an end to the assumption that settlement will automatically be available to those who come here as skilled workers.
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVALS
Part of the problem is, of course, getting rid of those who have been allowed in and have no right to stay.
Over the last 12 months we removed nearly 55,000 people.
Last week I was in Nigeria negotiating a deal which will allow us to remove Nigerian prisoners to serve their sentences in Nigerian jails.
By April next year we won’t only be counting everyone in at the border if they are travelling from outside the EU, we will be counting them all out as well. It was one of Labour’s early acts in 1998 to stop doing this. We think it’s necessary—we will bring back these checks.
And we are setting up at Border Police Command as part of the new National Crime Agency, giving us a unified dedicated force to fight immigration crime at our border and overseas. In opposition we promised a Border Police Force—it’s on its way.
INVESTORS ENTRPRENEURS AND THE HIGHLY TALENTED
Precisely because we are putting in place all these controls, we can work harder to attract those we really want—the best and the brightest who will spark our economy and bring cultural and scientific inspiration.
We have created a specific route for investors and entrepreneurs, who will create tomorrow’s jobs.
We also have a new route for those with exceptional talent in the arts, science and engineering. This is designed especially for young people. We want Britain to be the natural home for the next generation of great performers or Nobel Prize winners.
None of this is easy, and the results will not be immediate. Those who say that because the numbers were bad in 2010 they will be bad in 2015 are being short-sighted.
We worked for years in opposition to warn about the problem and to prepare solutions. We started the work to bring immigration back under control the day David Cameron led us into Government, and under his leadership, we have carried on that work every day since.
It is the absolutely the aim of these measures to bring net migration back to those sustainable levels, in the tens of thousands, that we saw before the last
Labour Government wrecked the system.
There are of course, think tanks, newspapers and vested interests who stand against us. But I will be driven, this Government will be driven, by the most important interest group of all—the British people.
Overwhelmingly, whatever their politics, whatever their background, whatever their race or religion, they want us to bring immigration back under control. It is one of the most important tasks of this Government and we will do it.
|
<urn:uuid:362eab3e-e629-4359-bc63-114838dc27ac>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2011/10/04/damian-green-speech-in-full
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.975096
| 2,461
| 1.617188
| 2
|
Phrase.it is a simple service that anyone can use to add speech bubbles and some basic Instagram-like effects to your pictures. To use the service just upload a picture and choose a speech bubble. Drag your speech bubble into place then type your text. You can change the font style in your speech bubbles. Click the "add more drama" button to add one of four image shading effects.
Applications for Education
Phrase.it does not require any kind of registration to use which means that students don't have to have email addresses to use it. Students can download their completed images and use them wherever they like. Students could create a short story by uploading and adding speech bubbles to five or six images then downloading them to use in slidedeck or in a document.
H/T to Larry Ferlazzo.
|
<urn:uuid:b7d15516-4dbe-4a49-aae4-2e0142534025>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/01/quickly-add-speech-bubbles-and-effects.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.933937
| 169
| 1.789063
| 2
|
His military triumphs awakened no pride nor vain glory, as they would have done had they been effected for selfish purposes.
Muhammad in Their Eyes
It was the genius of Muhammad, the spirit that he breathed into the Arabs through the soul of Islam that exalted them.
Never has a man set for himself, voluntarily or involuntarily, a more sublime aim, since this aim was superhuman; to subvert superstitions which had been imposed between man and his Creator, to render
Muhammad was, to use a striking expression, the man of the hour. In order to understand his wonderful success, one must study the conditions of his times. Five and half centuries and more had elapsed
If the object of religion be the inculcation of morals, the diminution of evil, the promotion of human happiness, the expansion of the human intellect, if the performance of good works will avail in t
During the centuries of the crusades, all sorts of slanders were invented against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). But with the birth of the modern age, marked with religious tolerance and freedom of thought,
"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today's undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind....I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those
Page 1 of 4
|
<urn:uuid:2eca4bff-b2b8-445a-b593-109b3235ed0a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.onislam.net/english/shariah/muhammad/muhammad-in-their-eyes.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
| 0.97643
| 272
| 2.375
| 2
|
By David Berman
Rising crude oil prices have a lot of people asking a lot of questions – like, how high is this going and what is the likely impact on the economy? There aren’t any clear answers, of course, but no one seems to be ruling out higher prices and bigger problems ahead.
The benchmark West Texas Intermediate touched a nine-month high on Friday, approaching $110 (U.S.) a barrel, and settled back just 85 cents on Monday. Brent crude, the European benchmark, surged above $125 a barrel on Friday, hitting its highest level since 2008.
These are not only high prices, but they also represent sharp gains. This year alone, West Texas crude has risen 10 per cent and Brent crude has risen 16 per cent, far outpacing most other commodities. For example, the Thomson/Reuters Jefferies CRB index of 19 commodities has risen just 6.6 per cent this year. From their lows in October, oil prices have surged about 30 per cent.
Oil had risen last year with concerns about the military conflict in Libya. That conflict had turned off the country’s export tap – a small amount of oil relative to the world’s daily consumption, but enough to send prices up sharply. Now, of course, the threat to exports comes from tensions with Iran – involving U.S. sanctions and the threat of military action to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
James Hamilton at Econbrowser rejects the notion that the Federal Reserve’s promise to maintain exceptionally low interest rates through 2014 is the biggest reason for the price gains. After all, you would think that low rates would affect all commodities – but crude oil seems to be in a world of its own.
Instead, he has an interesting chart showing the rise in the number of Google searches for “Iran war.” Curiously, they have spiked since October, coinciding almost perfectly with the rise in the price of oil. Meanwhile, he points to improving U.S. economic conditions, subsiding concerns about an oncoming European financial crisis and a rising outlook for Asian economic activity – all of which could be giving oil a lift.
Ed Yardeni at Yardeni Research trotted out the much-used observation that the best solution for high commodity prices is high commodity prices – in that rising prices tend to cut into consumption, driving prices down. Still, he is not quite ready to let up on his overweight recommendation on energy stocks just yet, largely because consumer confidence measures and the stock market have yet to reflect any pain.
The latest U.S., French and South Korean sentiment indexes rose slightly, and the S&P 500 has been rising with the price of oil, if at a slower pace.
“Higher oil prices aren’t necessarily bearish for the stock market, up to a point,” Mr. Yardeni said in a note. “There has been a very strong positive correlation between the two since the second half of 2008. That’s partly because the Energy sector accounts for 12.3 per cent of the market capitalization of the S&P 500. Moreover, the S&P 500 Energy sector tends to outperform the S&P 500 when the price of oil is rising.”
Meanwhile, the technical charts are also in favour of oil right now. According to Mary Ann Bartels, technical research analyst at Bank of America, the break above $103-$104 a barrel suggests that prices could rise to last year’s high near $115.
“A retest of the 2008 high near $147-$148 is not ruled out,” she said in a note. “In our view, a move of this magnitude could derail an equity market rally and trigger a pullback. But we remain buyers on dips in the U.S. equity market.”
|
<urn:uuid:554cd241-269c-4fb1-b2ea-bb4c9e4890a3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://seekingalpha.com/article/395541-crude-oil-up-and-away
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.9561
| 796
| 1.726563
| 2
|
# setup default to block all packets. block in all block out all # pass packets from host firewall to any destination pass in from firewall to any
onkeyword is used. Whilst not compulsory, it is recommended that each rule include it for clarity. Eg:
# drop all inbound packets from localhost coming from ethernet block in on le0 from localhost to any
# block in on le0 from mynet/26 to any # block in on le0 from mynet/255.255.255.192 to any # block in on le0 from mynet mask 255.255.255.192 to any # block in on le0 from mynet mask 0xffffffc0 to anyAre all valid and legal syntax with this package. However, when regenerating rules (ie using ipfstat), this package will prefer to use the shortest valid notation (top down).
The default netmask, when none is given is 255.255.255.255 or "/32".
To invert the match on a hostname or network, include an ! before the name or number with no space between them.
# block all incoming ICMP packets block in on le0 proto icmp allThe name of the protocol can be any valid name from /etc/protocols or a number.
# allow all IP packets in which are protocol 4 pass in on le0 proto 4 allThere is one exception to this rule, being "tcp/udp". If given in a ruleset, it will match either of the two protocols. This is useful when setting up port restrictions. Eg:
# prevent any packets destined for NFS from coming in block in on le0 proto tcp/udp from any to any port = 2049
To filter out these nasties, it is possible to select fragmented packets out as follows:
# # get rid of all IP fragments # block in all with fragThe problem arises that fragments can actually be a non-malicious. The really malicious ones can be grouped under the term "short fragments" and can be filtered out as follows:
# # get rid of all short IP fragments (too small for valid comparison) # block in proto tcp all with short
Filtering on IP options can be achieved two ways. The first is by naming them collectively and is done as follows:
# # drop and log any IP packets with options set in them. # block in log all with ipopts #The second way is to actually list the names of the options you wish to filter.
# # drop any source routing options # block in quick all with opt lsrr block in quick all with opt ssrrNOTE that options are matched explicitly, so if I had lsrr,ssrr it would only match packets with both options set.
It is also possible to select packets which DON'T have various options present in the packet header. For example, to allow telnet connections without any IP options present, the following would be done:
# # Allow anyone to telnet in so long as they don't use IP options. # pass in proto tcp from any to any port = 23 with no ipopts # # Allow packets with strict source routing and no loose source routing # pass in from any to any with opt ssrr not opt lsrr
The possible operands available for use with port numbers are:
Operand Alias Parameters Result < lt port# true if port is less than given value > gt port# true if port is greater than given value = eq port# true if port is equal to than given value != ne port# true if port is not equal to than given value <= le port# true if port is less than or equal to given value => ge port# true if port is greater than or equal to given valueEg:
# # allow any TCP packets from the same subnet as foo is on through to host # 10.1.1.2 if they are destined for port 6667. # pass in proto tcp from fubar/24 to 10.1.1.2/32 port = 6667 # # allow in UDP packets which are NOT from port 53 and are destined for # localhost # pass in proto udp from fubar port != 53 to localhostTwo range comparisons are also possible:
Expression Syntax: port1# <> port2# true if port is less than port1 or greater than port2 port1# >< port2# true if port is greater than port1 and less than port2NOTE that in neither case, when the port number is equal to one of those given, does it match. Eg:
# # block anything trying to get to X terminal ports, X:0 to X:9 # block in proto tcp from any to any port 5999 >< 6010 # # allow any connections to be made, except to BSD print/r-services # this will also protect syslog. # block in proto tcp/udp all pass in proto tcp/udp from any to any port 512 <> 515Note that the last one above could just as easily be done in the reverse fashion: allowing everything through and blocking only a small range. Note that the port numbers are different, however, due to the difference in the way they are compared.
# # allow any connections to be made, except to BSD print/r-services # this will also protect syslog. # pass in proto tcp/udp all block in proto tcp/udp from any to any port 511 >< 516
Some IP filtering/firewall packages allow you to filter out TCP packets which belong to an "established" connection. This is, simply put, filtering on packets which have the ACK bit set. The ACK bit is only set in packets transmitted during the lifecycle of a TCP connection. It is necessary for this flag to be present from either end for data to be transferred. If you were using a rule which as worded something like:
allow proto tcp 10.1.0.0 255.255.0.0 port = 23 10.2.0.0 255.255.0.0 establishedIt could be rewritten as:
pass in proto tcp 10.1.0.0/16 port = 23 10.2.0.0/16 flags A/A pass out proto tcp 10.1.0.0/16 port = 23 10.2.0.0/16 flags A/AA more useful flag to filter on, for TCP connections, I find, is the SYN flag. This is only set during the initial stages of connection negotiation, and for the very first packet of a new TCP connection, it is the only flag set. At all other times, an ACK or maybe even an URG/PUSH flag may be set. So, if I want to stop connections being made to my internal network (10.1.0.0) from the outside network, I might do something like:
# # block incoming connection requests to my internal network from the big bad # internet. # block in on le0 proto tcp from any to 10.1.0.0/16 flags S/SAIf you wanted to block the replies to this (the SYN-ACK's), then you might do:
block out on le0 proto tcp from 10.1.0.0 to any flags SA/SAwhere SA represents the SYN-ACK flags both being set.
The flags after the / represent the TCP flag mask, indicating which bits of the TCP flags you are interested in checking. When using the SYN bit in a check, you SHOULD specify a mask to ensure that your filter CANNOT be defeated by a packet with SYN and URG flags, for example, set (to Unix, this is the same as a plain SYN).
# block all ICMP packets. # block in proto icmp all # # allow in ICMP echos and echo-replies. # pass in on le1 proto icmp from any to any icmp-type echo pass in on le1 proto icmp from any to any icmp-type echorepTo specify an ICMP code, the numeric value must be used. So, if we wanted to block all port-unreachables, we would do:
# # block all ICMP destination unreachable packets which are port-unreachables # block in on le1 proto icmp from any to any icmp-type unreach code 3
What's the difference ? TCP/IP stacks take longer to pass the ICMP errors back, through to the application, as they can often be due to temporary problems (network was unplugged for a second) and it is `incorrect' to shut down a connection for this reason. Others go to the other extreme and will shut down all connections between the two hosts for which the ICMP error is received. The TCP RST, however, is for only *one* connection (cannot be used for more than one) and will cause the connection to immediately shut down. So, for example, if you're blocking port 113, and setup a rule to return a TCP RST rather than nothing or an ICMP packet, you won't experience any delay if the other end was attempting to make a connection to an identd service.
Some examples are as follows:
# # block all incoming TCP connections but send back a TCP-RST for ones to # the ident port # block in proto tcp from any to any flags S/SA block return-rst in quick proto tcp from any to any port = 113 flags S/SA # # block all inbound UDP packets and send back an ICMP error. # block return-icmp in proto udp from any to anyWhen returning ICMP packets, it is also possible to specify the type of ICMP error return. This was requested so that traceroute traces could be forced to end elegantly. To do this, the requested ICMP Unreachable code is placed in brackets following the "return-icmp" directive:
# # block all inbound UDP packets and send back an ICMP error. # block return-icmp (3) in proto udp from any to any port > 30000 block return-icmp (port-unr) in proto udp from any to any port > 30000Those two examples are equivalent, and return a ICMP port unreachable error packet to in response to any UDP packet received destined for a port greater than 30,000.
As with ipopts and other IP options, it is possible to say that the packet only matches if a certain class isn't present.
Some examples of filtering on IP security options:
# # drop all packets without IP security options # block in all with no opt sec # # only allow packets in and out on le0 which are top secret # block out on le1 all pass out on le1 all with opt sec-class topsecret block in on le1 all pass in on le1 all with opt sec-class topsecret
# # Keep state for all outgoing telnet connections # and disallow all other TCP traffic. # pass out on le1 proto tcp from any to any port = telnet keep state block out on le1 allFor UDP packets, packet exchanges are effectively stateless. However, if a packet is first sent out from a given port, a reply is usually expected in answer, in the `reverse' direction.
# # allow UDP replies back from name servers # pass out on le1 proto udp from any to any port = domain keep stateHeld UDP state is timed out, as is TCP state for entries added which do not have the SYN flag set. If an entry is created with the SYN flag set, any subsequent matching packet which doesn't have this flag set (ie a SYN-ACK) will cause it to be "timeless" (actually, the timeout defaults to 5 days), until either a FIN or RST is seen.
Packets coming back in the same interface are remapped, as a matter of course, to their original address information.
# map all tcp connections from 10.1.0.0/16 to 240.1.0.1, changing the source # port number to something between 10,000 and 20,000 inclusive. For all other # IP packets, allocate an IP # between 240.1.0.0 and 240.1.0.255, temporarily # for each new user. In this example, ed1 is the external interface. # Use ipnat, not ipf to load these rules. # map ed1 10.1.0.0/16 -> 240.1.0.1/32 portmap tcp 10000:20000 map ed1 10.1.0.0/16 -> 240.1.0.0/24
# Redirection is triggered for input packets. # For example, to redirect FTP connections through this box (in this case ed0 # is the interface on the "inside" where default routes point), to the local # ftp port, forcing them to connect through a proxy, you would use: # rdr ed0 0.0.0.0/0 port ftp -> 127.0.0.1 port ftp
# Route all UDP packets through transparently. # pass in quick fastroute proto udp all # # Route all ICMP packets to network 10 (on le0) out through le1, to "router" # pass in quick on le0 to le1:router proto icmp all
To log packets to the interface without requiring ARP to work, create a static arp cache for a meaningless IP# (say 10.0.0.1) and log packets to this IP#.
# Log all short TCP packets to qe3, with "packetlog" as the intended # destination for the packet. # block in quick to qe3:packetlog proto tcp all with short # # Log all connection attempts for TCP # pass in quick on ppp0 dup-to le1:packetlog proto tcp all flags S/SA
# Process all incoming ppp packets on ppp0 with group 100, with the default for # this interface to block all incoming. # block in quick on ppp0 all head 100If we then wanted to allow people to connect to our WWW server, via ppp0, we could then just add a rule about WWW. NOTE: only packets which match the above rule are processed by any group 100 rules.
# Allow connections to the WWW server via ppp0. # pass in quick proto tcp from any to any port = WWW keep state group 100
|
<urn:uuid:b97e3816-46ef-4937-9cc1-c69eb851ce53>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~avalon/examples.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.903298
| 3,064
| 2.109375
| 2
|
• The pay gap between agreeable and disagreeable males is significantly larger than the gap between agreeable and disagreeable females. That is, there is a“benefit” of being (moderately) disagreeable as a male, but this “benefit” is minimal for females.
• Employees are subject to gender stereotypes in the workplace. Males are expected to exhibit masculine qualities, including disagreeableness. Females are expected to exhibit feminine qualities, including agreeableness. When one gender defies such stereotypes, the employee can be perceived as deviant.
• Males who are agreeable are disadvantaged (vs. disagreeable males) for two reasons: first, agreeableness is negatively correlated with income; secondly, they defy the male stereotype of being assertive and disagreeable.
|
<urn:uuid:8bb21999-9f64-49ad-aefb-29bce5c8243a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cahrs_researchlink/20/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974777
| 159
| 3.21875
| 3
|
How do we get ideas?
How Do You Get Ideas?
by Marcia Yudkin
Perhaps Rodin didn't intend this, but his most famous sculpture reinforces a myth about what someone producing brilliant ideas looks like. Sitting in a far from restful posture, The Thinker seems to be concentrating massive effort on a silent, inner task. For many people, however, his frozen pose and mute struggle represent what would be least likely to bring on an "Aha!"
Laurie Schloff, a Boston speech consultant, always plans new workshops and speeches lying on her bed in a fetal position with her eyes closed. Being creative a the office is hard for her until she closes her door and puts her head down on the desk. For June LaPointe, an international business trainer in nearby Cambridge, trying to write while sitting still made her jaw, neck, shoulders, and eyes hurt all the time. The stress eased after she set herself up in a conference room where she could spread her materials out, think while walking around, and even lie down on the floor for a change in position. For others, running, digging, or speaking accelerate a flow of ideas.
The forms that inspirations take vary greatly, too. Besides the classic burst of light in the mind, plenty of people hear new ideas in words, while some, like Einstein, experience fresh conceptions in muscular gestures. Revelations may be gradual, like a persistent magnetism in an image or song winding through your day's thoughts. With an understanding of the idiosyncratic nature of thinking, you can begin noticing and honoring your unique inventive patterns.
Here's a four-step program to expand your self-awareness and creative ease.
1. What were you doing when your last three brainstorms struck? Think about activity versus inactivity, your environment, whether you were alone or with others, and the perceptual channel through which you received creative suggestions. Then try to recreate these conditions when you need a breakthrough. Recognize that you don't have to wait for the muse. Edison courted new ideas by napping with nuts and bolts in his hands and metal cans on the floor; as he slipped into sleep, the bolts would clank into the cans, awakening him from an inventive dream state. Swimming, riding the bike at your health club, washing dishes--any rhythmic activity--tends to nudge brainwaves into creative patterns, says Elizabeth Davis, author of Women's Intuition.
2. Harvest ideas implicit in what you're doing. Often people explore new directions first and later realize the distinctive value of what they've been doing. Some people even create a living body of work without acknowledging what's new and important about it. Although verbalizing ideas may come last for you, putting what you've done into words will help crystallize and preserve your unspoken flair. Video or audiotaping yourself in action, keeping notes of the steps you're taking, or asking others to describe what you do all provide new perspective on what you know but haven't yet articulated.
3. Solicit input from others. Who said creativity has to be a private challenge? Invite others--especially friends with interests and careers unlike yours--to brainstorm with you. Mull over your goals and obstacles with a sensitive listener. San Francisco psychologist Alan Siegel recommends the "tingle test" to separate what's relevant for you from what's not in the suggestions of others. "An interpretation that elicits a 'tingle' in your body is on target. It warrants further exploration," Siegel says.
4. Use an idea-saving system. Collect ideas in a notebook, in a box or folders, on a bulletin board, in a 3-D model, in computer files, on tape. Again, experiment to find the medium or method that fits and enhances the ways in which you naturally think. Consider the system of Mickey Hart, the Grateful Dead drummer, who recently published Drumming at the Edge of Magic. While researching the origins of percussion, he kept posting data on pegboards that multiplied until they snaked sixty feet around his barn. He installed special lights so that he could spotlight and ponder selected sections. Affectionately he dubbed his collection of facts "The Anaconda."
Excerpted from the bimonthly newsletter The Creative Glow: How to Be More Original, Inspired & Productive in Your Work, written and published by Marcia Yudkin, Creative Ways, P.O. Box 1310, Boston, MA 02117; 617/266-1613; firstname.lastname@example.org. Subscriptions $49 per year; sample issue $5.00.
|
<urn:uuid:ce6c5aee-c046-4444-9122-bcbd237a38b6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.manyhands.com/content/how-do-we-get-ideas
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.949295
| 952
| 2.40625
| 2
|
An analysis of U.S. crime data by a British newspaper has found there’s been a 25 percent increase in civilian justifiable homicides since the controversial “stand your ground” (SYG) laws started being introduced in 2005.
London’s Guardian newspaper analyzed data from FBI and state sources. It concludes that the spike in civilian justifiable homicides is related not only to SYG laws, but also weak gun control laws in certain states.
Florida was the first state to introduce an SYG law in 2005 and similar measures have now been adopted in some form by more than 20 states. Most were passed in 2006. Ohio doesn’t yet have such a law, but it’s believed that gun advocates might be planning a campaign for one here soon.
Florida’s SYG law is expected to be part of the defense made for George Zimmerman, if he is charged with a crime. Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed an unarmed African-American teenager, Trayvon Martin, Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. The incident has triggered widespread public outrage.
The Guardian’s analysis shows that SYG laws alone cannot be statistically linked with the rise in justifiable homicides. But in states with both SYG laws and the weakest gun control laws — as defined by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence — it found a statistical correlation with an increase in justifiable homicides.
Across the United States, such killings have risen sharply over the past five years, according to the data provided by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. From 2001-05, there were 1,225 homicides classified as justifiable, compared to 1,528 in the period 2006-10. By contrast, violent crime overall has been falling.
"The police are shooting more people and citizens are shooting more people. We're evolving into an increasingly coarse society with no obligation to diffuse a situation and rapidly turn to force,” said Professor Dennis Kenney, of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and an ex-police sergeant in Florida. "People are literally getting away with murder."
SYG laws allow a potential crime victim who is in fear of “grave harm” to use deadly force in public places, not just inside their own homes. They eliminate the legal requirement to retreat before a person may claim he or she acted in self-defense.
SYG laws have been pushed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which drafts model legislation for state lawmakers to use.
State Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Green Township) is among ALEC's leaders, as CityBeat has previously reported here and here. The group, which held its annual meeting in Cincinnati last spring, has a membership of nearly 2,000 state legislators and around 300 private-sector members.
Funded by the Koch brothers, the National Rifle Association, oil companies and others, ALEC’s model bills have served as the template for "voter ID" laws that swept the nation in 2011, for the voucher programs that privatize public education, for anti-immigrant legislation, and for the wave of anti-labor union legislation pushed during the past two years in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona, New Hampshire and elsewhere.
This week Coca-Cola and PepsiCo dropped their memberships in ALEC, amid the threat of boycotts.
In 2010 National Public Radio reported that Corrections Corp. of America (CCA), a private-sector ALEC board member, participated in the drafting of Arizona Senate Bill No. 1070. The report documented the behind-the-scenes effort to draft and pass the law and how the CCA stood to benefit from people incarcerated under it.
Marvin Meadors, a Huffington Post contributor, has described ALEC as “a bill-churning mill which uses corporate money to draft model legislation that advances the agenda of the Far Right and encourages crony capitalism.”
UPDATE: Some courthouse officials are saying CityBeat's sources are wrong, and that no decision has been made on who will fill Clancy's former job. The officials say applications were being accepted until Jan. 5, and the judges will decide later. One option would be to keep the position vacant, at least temporarily, to save money. Other sources, however, are saying the selection of Jodie Leis-George and Casey DeNoma to share the job is a "done deal" and courthouse officials are seeking political cover for the choice. We shall see in the weeks to come.
The push to privatize services traditionally provided by government is the focus of a community forum slated for next week.
Since the Reagan era, privatization — or the outsourcing of public services to the private sector — has been touted as a way to make government more efficient and less costly. Critics, however, allege it is a form of union-busting that often leads to lower wages for workers and reduced accountability to the public.
The resolution expresses council’s dissatisfaction with the Ohio Legislature for granting “special privileges to the oil and natural gas industry” and asks it to repeal any laws that pre-empt local control over drilling.
The resolution targets the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” which uses chemically-laced water to free up natural gas trapped in shale formations underneath Ohio.
Fracking opponents worry that the chemicals used in the fluid — which companies aren’t required to disclose — can be toxic to people and animals.
Prior to the council vote, Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and Councilwoman Laure Quinlivan held a news conference on the steps of City Hall.
“I believe local officials should have a say on all matters related to potentially hazardous activities such as fracking,” Quinlivan said in an emailed statement. “I urge my colleagues to send a strong message to the Ohio Governor, the Ohio Legislature, and Cincinnati residents by passing this resolution.”
A 2004 state law puts regulation of oil and gas drilling
under the state’s purview, preventing municipalities from regulating
drilling on their land.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to Gov. John Kasich and members of the Ohio General Assembly elected from the Cincinnati area. The resolution comes after Ohio recently lifted a moratorium on new injection wells, which shoot wastewater deep underground for storage.
There had been a temporary ban on new wells almost a year ago after seismologists said an injection was to blame for 11 earthquakes around the Youngstown area.
City council in August passed an ordinance to band injection wells within city limits. Because the injection well ban doesn’t mention drilling, council hoped it wouldn’t clash with the state law preventing local regulation of oil and gas drilling.
Jailing juveniles as a form of “rehabilitation” comes with an expensive price tag. More than money, the criminal justice system costs kids their rights and that state seems to be OK with that.
"It is inherently wrong to allow private businesses to make a profit off
the incarceration of others," said Brickner in an ACLU press release. “Our state’s
prison system is bloated, and private corporations have a vested financial
interest to ensure our prisons remain full. If state officials have any hope of
shrinking our prison population, we must implement transformative criminal
justice reform policies and reject interests that grow our prison system.”
Brickner suggests that concerned citizens contact their elected representatives to express their opposition to privatizing prisons. Read the ACLU's full report on privatizing prisons here.
More bad news for Secretary of State Jon Husted. The Ohio Supreme Court told Husted his approved ballot language for Issue 2 contains “factual inaccuracies” and must be rewritten by the Ballot Board. Voters First previously contested the language as misleading to voters. If approved by voters, Issue 2 will put an independent citizens commission in charge of redistricting. Under the current system, state officials redraw borders, sometimes using the process for political advantage. In Cincinnati’s district, the Republican-controlled process redrew the district to include Warren County, giving the district more rural voters that tend to side with Republicans instead of urban voters that tend to side with Democrats. Voters First mocked the process with a graph showing how redistricting decisions can sometimes be made in 13 minutes with no questions asked. CityBeat covered the redistricting process here when Issue 2 was still in the petition process.
Ohio’s median income dropped last year, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. But rates of poverty and uninsured rates remained the same. Nationwide, uninsured rates dropped from 16.3 percent in 2010 to 15.7 percent in 2011, meaning 1.4 million people gained health coverage. Some of that is attributable to health-care reform passed by President Barack Obama.Former University of Cincinnati President Greg Williams is getting a pretty nice going-away present. The Board of Trustees approved a package for Williams that adds up to more than $1.2 million. It includes a bonus, retirement benefits, consulting fees, a year’s salary and a contract buyout. Williams abruptly left UC on Aug. 21, citing personal reasons.
Homeless shelters will cost more than expected, says 3CDC. The nonprofit group said it will cost about $40 million to build three homeless shelters and help finance others.
With the support of Democrats and Republicans, the Ohio legislature approved pension reforms yesterday. The reforms lower benefits, raise contributions requirements, increase the retirement eligibility age, establish new cost-of-living guidelines and set a new formula to calculate benefits, all for future retirees. For the most part, current retirees are not affected. Senate President Tom Niehaus, a Republican, said, “We know the changes are not popular, but they are necessary.” Before the changes, the system was losing $1 million a day, according to a statement from Rep. Robert Hagan, a Democrat.Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio is pushing against banks that take advantage of college students. In a letter to Higher One, Brown told the bank to rework its contracts with universities. Brown wrote in the letter, “Federal student aid programs should help students prepare for the future, not extract fee income from them.” He went on to ask the bank to redo its contracts so they are “consumer-friendly and consistent with reforms that Congress enacted for the credit card market.”
Ohio’s inspector general found ODJFS wrongly reimbursed organizations in central Ohio with federal stimulus funds when the organizations did not follow rules.
Vice President Joe Biden was in Dayton yesterday. During his speech, he spoke about the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya, which led to the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. Biden vowed justice will be served.
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney unleashed a big foreign policy gaffe yesterday when he politicized the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya. The attack was revealed to cause the death of Stevens after Romney made his comments.
Math shows homeopathy, a trend in medicine, is implausible.
Gary Mohr, director of ODRC, made the announcement while talking to legislative reporting service Gongwer in Columbus Tuesday.
“We're going to stay the course on those (sentencing reforms) and I think privatizing
additional prisons would take away from that reform effort that we have,
so I'm not anticipating privatizing any more prisons in the short term
here,” he told Gongwer.
Ohio became the first state to sell one of its own prisons to a private prison company in 2011. The ACLU criticized the move for its potential conflict of interest. The organization argued that the profit goal of private prison companies, which make money by holding as many prisoners as possible, fundamentally contradicts the public policy goal of keeping inmate reentry into prisons and prison populations as low as possible.
In his comments to Gongwer, Mohr said the state will now focus on lowering recidivism, not increasing privatization: “I don't think you can go through upheaval of a system and continue to put prioritization on reform at the same time. I think if we were to re-engage again on privatization of prisons, then we're going to take the eye off the ball a little bit, and I think we're making great progress. It's a matter of focus.”
In the past, the ACLU and other groups criticized Mohr's previous ties to private prison companies — particularly his private work for Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) before he became the director for ODRC. CCA in 2011 became the first private company in Ohio's history to purchase a state prison. The connection presents another possible conflict of interest, and it is only one of the many connections between CCA and Gov. John Kasich's administration.
Mike Brickner, ACLU researcher and director of communications and public policy, praised ODRC's decision in a statement: “Despite millions spent by private companies trying to convince policy makers and local governments otherwise, numerous studies have shown private prisons put their own profit ahead of good public policy. ODRC is wise to see that the privatization model distracts from their important efforts to shrink inmate population and reduce recidivism.”
But Brickner also made further demands from the state: “ODRC should go a step further by making a commitment not to privatize additional prison services such as food and medical care. Arguments for privatizing these services use the same faulty logic as the arguments for privatizing entire prisons.”
CityBeat was not able to immediately reach ODRC for comment on Mohr’s announcement. This story will be updated if comments become available.
During the course of researching and reporting last week's story on prison privatization in Ohio, CityBeat found the ODRC to be dismissive of our interest in speaking with Mohr or a spokesperson about private prisons. During two weeks of correspondence, CityBeat received numerous excuses as to why the ODRC couldn't grant an interview and eventually received two emails with the exact same statement — one from ODRC, a state
department, and one from Management and Training Corporation, a private
company that manages prisons in Ohio. The statement added a strange twist to the already-suspicious fact that the ODRC didn't want to talk about its prison privatization plan with the media. A full explanation of the issues ODRC posed to the reporting process can be found in the editor's note at the end of the cover story.
It's kind of like dressing up as a child and pretending you're a police officer or some other adult occupation, or maybe it's more akin to playing house.
Equality Cincinnati (EC), a gay rights group, will have a booth on Fountain Square during this weekend's Equinox Pride festival. During the event, EC will unveil its new domestic partner registry. Same-sex couples can sign the registry to show their symbolic commitment to one another.
|
<urn:uuid:44b3ecdf-a7ce-4fbc-adcf-61ef5475a6a7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/blogs-2-1-0-34-57.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
| 0.960133
| 3,079
| 2.265625
| 2
|
For parents, educators, and lawmakers, the promise of preschool is that children will enter school ready to learn, but, in reality, the results are mixed. In America, most parents have to pay for preschool, and quality varies. In France, as in most European countries, high quality preschool is a universal right guaranteed to all children.
This documentary follows the experiences of four families in New York, Atlanta, Bridgeport, CT and Paris, France. It reveals the range of preschool education available, from an expensive private school, to uneven federal and state programs, to an innovative big-city approach. The challenge ahead is to determine if and how a consistent level of preschool can be offered to all American children, particularly when public schools are themselves in need.
NOTE: Information you supply on this page will only be used to send this email. We request your name and email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
|
<urn:uuid:cfb6fee3-485c-44ee-b6d4-7471d3a34729>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://learningmatters.tv/blog/documentaries/watch-the-promise-of-preschool/9946/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953329
| 217
| 2.234375
| 2
|
Meet Yuliya Barsukova. She is a 17-year-old Russian high school student applying to college with a dream to be a journalist. She even has some professional experience working for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. But right now she is trying to decide what would be the best major to prepare her for a career in journalism. She is one many that is still choosing the career despite cutbacks at many news organizations and among the record number of people applying to journalism school.
I have had a few other youngsters (I know, I myself am young too) asking me what I would recommend for a major in college to prepare them for a career in journalism. I majored in journalism. But I think that if I were to go back I would have likely picked something more on the technology side of things like computer science.
This isn’t to debate the relevance or quality of journalism schools today because I think learning the fundamentals of journalism are invaluable and can be applied to careers outside of journalism as well. But journalists are having to be more entrepreneurial and tech-savvy in today’s online journalism environment and the profession requires a new set of skills. I think at the undergraduate level students should focus on the follow:
- Learning Journalism Fundamentals: This includes reporting factually and accurately, ethics, writing, etc.
- Become an Expert in an Area: Study a specific subject that you would want to specialize in and report on.
- Learn a Foreign Language: This makes you more valuable as a reporter. Also, it is obviously very valuable as a foreign correspondent or a U.S. journalist in a diverse city.
- Gain Tech Skills: Learn how to produce multimedia content, Web development skills, etc.
With anything, the argument could be made that a student could learn coding skills on their own or learn journalism from experience in a newsroom. But ultimately, I want to get your views on what you think would be the most valuable major for a young journalist to pursue. Vote below or add your thoughts in the comments. I will share them with the likes of Yuliya and others that have inquired. Oh, and for those interested in journalism school here is a great Twitter list by Mediabistro of J-Schools on Twitter.
|
<urn:uuid:13d35512-6a68-475b-9608-0148f01c5725>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://lavrusik.com/2009/11/28/what-major-would-you-recommend-for-a-highschooler-pursuing-a-career-in-journalism/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.977084
| 470
| 2.234375
| 2
|
Clomid Pros And Cons, These days when we all have to survive in the situation of worldwide recessed economy many people who have lost their working places are looking for different ways to make some extra money to stay afloat. Many find the way out in setting their own business. In the condition of globalization of business, it has become easier to set any business. Clomid Pros And Cons mexico, These days anybody can have its own business and control it with the help of information and internet advanced technologies. You can also start easily forex business and make money right in the comforts of your home putting little investments. Anybody who has knowledge in business can start this business, Clomid Pros And Cons. If you know advantages and disadvantages, you can reach success in this business.
So, Clomid Pros And Cons paypal, the first question means what forex business means. In simple words, it is foreign currency business. 20mg Clomid Pros And Cons, It deals with buying and selling currencies. Clomid Pros And Cons, In this business purchasing at low and selling high is the main principle used for making good money.
To meet the legal requirements of your country, you should register your sole proprietorship or business company with the government. This is how you can start a forex business. Then, 1000mg Clomid Pros And Cons, you should become a professional and experienced broker. You should learn how to make investment decisions by making an analysis of available information. This business will require some forecasting and calculation abilities, Clomid Pros And Cons. First of all, 200mg Clomid Pros And Cons, you should follow one successful broker and gain some experience from him. And after a while you will be able to take decisions and make forecasts by yourself. The next thing you should do is to define the currency pair, the currency that you will be doing business with.
If you want to make individual investments, Clomid Pros And Cons uk, you will need to set a forex trading account. Clomid Pros And Cons, You can set an account for dome hundred of dollars. A small deposit will also be required. With this account you will be able to trade. 750mg Clomid Pros And Cons, Often you can trade hundred times with the account.
There are some risks involved. The price of a foreign currency can be lowered or increased suddenly, Clomid Pros And Cons. As you can get more profits, there are chances that you can lose everything. But running forex business, Clomid Pros And Cons canada, you will understand this after a while. Apart from this there are also other risk factors involved. For example, 50mg Clomid Pros And Cons, the interest rate factor when dealing with currency pair.
Clomid Pros And Cons, When selecting the forex trader, you should be careful. Do not get motivated only after seeing the broker’s ad. Try to choose a skilled broker to protect your investments. You can find some automated computer software which can track the currency changes and helps to simplify forex business. So my recommendations is that from the very beginning you should acquire proper knowledge about this business, 10mg Clomid Pros And Cons. Then choose the right broker and definitely you will reach success in forex business.
Due to troubles in the world economy Forex has become a very popular way of earning money, Clomid Pros And Cons. Those who are looking for effective strategy, might be interested in managed forex account. But please make sure to read about forex trading scams before dealing with forex trading.
It is a must to read unbiased reviews and perform forex scam check before you invest money into trading activity. This is important, don't forget that we live in the world where info quickly enhances the quality of our life.
Due to this if you are properly armed with the information in your sphere of interest you can be sure that you will in any case find the way out from any bad situation. So, please make sure to get back to this blog on a regular basis or - the easiest way to take care of it - sign up to its RSS feed. In such an easy way you will have a direct shortcut to the latest informational updates here. Blogging can be helpful, you just need to know how to use blogging for the currency exchange market.
Similar posts: Long Term Side Effects Of Tetracycline. Wich Is Stronger Cipro And Amoxicillin. Cipro And Amoxicillin Toghter. 30mg Blood Glucoe Rise On Synthroid. 50mg Colchicine And Dosage. Lowest Prices Retin A usa.
Trackbacks from: Clomid Pros And Cons. Clomid Pros And Cons. Clomid Pros And Cons. Clomid Pros And Cons ebay. Clomid Pros And Cons ebay. Clomid Pros And Cons japan.
|
<urn:uuid:de56d8cd-d8ca-4323-aaee-617dcc273903>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.forexmaestro.com/how-to-start-forex-business-the-basic-guidelines/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.925774
| 1,021
| 1.5
| 2
|
I just finished reading an amazing book called The Talent Code (I recommend it to any person wanting to further develop their talent).
The author Daniel Coyle visited the the talent development programs responsible for some of the top talent in the world, such as:
But you don’t have to attend one of these talent pools to improve yourself.
Coyle says that the key to talent development is a neural insulator that we all have inside us called myelin.
He argues that every human skill — whether its leadership, computer programming, sports, music or anything else — is created by chains of nerve fibers carrying signals.
And it is myelin that wraps layers around these fibers…and there are certain things we can do to increase the thickness of this myelin, resulting in faster and more accurate movement and thoughts.
He recommends a few approaches to increasing your myelin (and thus your talent).
Focus your practice on repeating core skills, attend to your mistakes, practice those skills again.
“Struggle is not an option: it’s a biological requirement.”
The “Ten-Year, Ten-Thousand Hour Rule” is indeed valid — This finding from 1899 stated that world-class expertise in every domain (whether it’s cello, chess or tennis) requires roughly a decade or 10,000 hours (that would be about 3 hours a day, every day for a decade).
It’s the Ten-year rule that is often used in developing talent in young people (many parents try to time the beginning of a child’s practice of a skill to be about 10 years before that child will peak physically.
That’s why some children are best to start practicing certain skills when they’re 5 to 10 years old).
Did you know that comedian Jerry Seinfeld practiced his first Tonight Show set 200 times beforehand, according to this awesome profile of Seinfeld in the New York Times.
Overall, Coyle identifies three tips for improving practice:
Coyle points out that ignition is key to developing talents — it’s a secret source of energy that we can tap into.
“I Want To Be Like Them”
There are examples of entire countries being “ignited” by the display of talent of one individual.
For example, in South Korea’s case it was on May 18th, 1998 when Se Ri Pak won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship — she was the first to do so from her country.
Pak “ignited” many women in her country as shown by stats over the following 10 years later: by 2007, 45 players from South Korean had one about one-third of the LPGA Tour events.
Anna Kournikova is Coyle’s other example of “I want to be like them.”
That same summer of 1998, Kournikova reached the Wimbledon semifinals and became an overnight sensation (her good looks certainly helped).
Russia was ignited and within 10 years the World Tennis Association Top 100 was home to five times as many Russian tennis players.
Ignition can come in other forms — one study showed that an extremely high percentage of political leaders (Ghandi, Caesar, Napoleon, Bill Clinton) had one thing in common: they had lost their parents at a very early age.
Coyle reasons that the leader group’s loss of a parent triggered a primal cue that they were no longer safe…and that unlocked a massive energy source for them to tap into.
He points out that of history’s fastest runners, for example, they were on average the fourth child of 4.6 children — in other words, there is a pattern of the younger you are in your family, the faster you can run.
In this case, the primal cue is” You’re behind, better keep up!”
Finally, Coyle says that a “master coach” is key to developing talent.
He says that a master coach possesses the following virtues:
I was thrilled that Coyle identified John Wooden, my favorite coach/teacher, as an example of a master coach.
I hope you enjoyed these highlights on developing talents…but I only just scratch the surface of Coyle’s amazing book.
Buy/read it!Tweet 1 Comment
|
<urn:uuid:80e115a7-3b9c-4626-8aad-f16fdf05a36e>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://robdkelly.com/blog/personal-development/3-tips-for-talent-development/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.951966
| 905
| 2.28125
| 2
|
The Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest known cultures that spans over a large area of land in East Asia. China is an ancient civilization that has many mysterious and interesting aspects in its culture. Today China is one of the leading economies in the world and has great buying power in the contemporary market.
The states and cultures that have existed in the region known as China date even further back than six millennia. It is considered to be one of the oldest continuous civilizations known to man. The writing system developed by the Chinese is the oldest system of writing to be in continuous use.
The world has benefited by many great inventions that originated from ancient China. Paper happens to be one of those great inventions which originated in China and it wasn’t until much later that the Europeans started developing their own paper. The Chinese are also credited for developing the compass, printing machinery and gunpowder.
Ancient Chinese culture had a profound influence on its neighboring countries. The regions of Japan, Vietnam and Korea in particular adopted many aspects from ancient Chinese culture. The most obvious influences include the adoption of the Chinese writing system that was adopted in various degrees by these different nations.
The earliest known civilization to have inhibited the region of China was the Homo Erectus specimen which is today popularly known as the Peking Man. Archeological findings in the Zhoukoudian cave revealed that the region was thriving with a society more than 300,000 years ago. The Peking man was well acquainted with fire and new how to make some useful tools.
There was great regional diversity in the cultures of the different regions of China. Nonetheless the vast territory managed to stay united up until the Chinese Civil War which split the country into the People’s Republic of China and the self governing Hong Kong and Macau.
Highlights of ancient Chinese culture
Much of ancient Chinese culture developed around the Confucianist philosophy that predominantly prevailed through most of China’s history. The imperial courts were only occupied by those who had gained mastery over Confucian texts. Over the years the traditional Confucianist outlook has been challenged by different philosophies that managed to make their way to China.
Chinese calligraphy and writing have been a prominent part of ancient Chinese culture. Archeologists have been able to find countless written documents from the Chinese lands dating back to the Qing dynasty. The earliest written records were preserved on oracle bones. The art of writing had a profound influence on the culture of the region and it was regarded as the highest form of art in the country.
Many different forms of art stemmed from Chinese calligraphy including printmaking, scroll painting and the flourishing of Chinese literature can also be attributed to this ancient practice of writing in China. We find that since ancient times the Chinese people have held literacy in general and philosophy, art and science in particular in great importance. On the flip side ancient Chinese culture is also full of many mysterious elements that go beyond the scope of human reasoning.
|
<urn:uuid:71ad18df-b56a-42be-a366-3ee1a0eb5dbc>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/china/chinese-traditions-culture/article/China/Ancient-Chinese-Culture/1776
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973693
| 603
| 3.765625
| 4
|
Last Updated: 5:47 PM, March 14, 2013
Posted: 5:46 PM, March 14, 2013
Locals had been begging the city for years to install traffic calming measures on the busy Queens street where a teenaged boy was struck and killed by a car earlier this week, officials said today.
It’s unclear if the improvements requested could have saved the life of 16 year old Tenzin Drudak — who was killed by an allegedly distracted driver — but community members say his death highlights the dangerous conditions on Thomson Avenue in Long Island City.
“It is impossible not to spend any amount of time here and not think it could be safer,” said City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
“Its a ticking time bomb.”
The cluttered stretch — which features several schools, a public library and the busy 33rd Street subway station — feeds into the Queensboro Bridge.
Community Board 2 and Van Bramer had both asked the city to consider safety improvements. And over the summer, hundreds of LaGuardia Community College students had signed a petition asking the Department of Transportation to adjust the crossing signals.
The students claimed the signals didn’t give enough time for pedestrians to cross, but the city in response said that timing was adequate.
A spokesman for the DOT said they have been considering safety improvements on Thomson, including sidewalk extensions.
Drudak was walking on the sidewalk when he was struck by a careening van.
The driver told cops he lost control after he reached for a carton of milk he dropped, sources said.
He was ticketed for driving without insurance, cops said.
Friends said Drudak was a fashionable dresser who enjoyed basketball and rap music.
|
<urn:uuid:f3530091-b012-47ae-8742-d8ef0f0a51b3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/local/queens/queens_locals_begged_struck_traffic_GIudziEyvyrPxrJZE8I6KL
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.976462
| 358
| 1.5
| 2
|
January 15, 2009
LB Steel LLC/Coburn Steel Products is a privately held fabricating and machining company with about 300 employees and multiple plants. Approximately 350,000 sq. ft. of its 500,000-sq.-ft. facility in Harvey, Ill., is dedicated to fabrication.
Most of the welding the company does involves large, heavy components for the construction, railroad, and mining industries, as well as various OEMs. Materials used include carbon steel, stainless steel, mild steel, A36 or high-strength alloy steel, and aluminum and range from light 10- or 12-ga. metal to steel up to 4 in. thick. To improve productivity and quality, the company looked to robotic automation.
"Except for one older robot, all the welding in the plant was being done manually," said Mike Powers, manufacturing engineer. "The old robot had some reliability issues and was costly to run in terms of both consumables and replacement parts. Programming had to be done by a representative from the manufacturer, which also was costly," he explained.
In early 2006 the company implemented a modified Motoman FabWorld® robotic welding system at its Harvey facility that consists of an HP50-20 robot with a 44.1-lb. payload, 122.3-in. reach, and 0.006-in. repeatability. The extended-reach robot rides on a 6-ft.-long, three-position pneumatic shuttle track located between two heavy-duty MHT3000 headstock/tailstock positioners, which have a maximum payload of 13,889 lbs. and a 39.4-in. maximum sweep radius.
In early 2007 the company added a stand-alone HP50-20 robot at the Harvey facility that primarily does multipass welding on parts that are located on stationary tables. This cell is used to produce a large volume of parts used in large man-way portals for a major mining company.
"Welding the parts manually would take anywhere from 10 to 12 man-hours; using the robot, they can be welded in 21⁄2 to 3 hours," said Powers.
Also in early 2007, the company implemented an ArcWorld® 4000 cell at its 100,000-sq.-ft. facility in Chicago Heights, Ill. The system includes an EA1900N Expert Arc welding robot with a 6.6-lb. payload and 75-in. reach with ±0.003-in. repeatability.
All three of the robotic welding cells are running one shift, five or six days a week. "A lot of the weldments we make are being machined after they are welded. We try to build parts with specific gauge stops and use key datum points for references. Using those points all the way through helps us get consistent parts and makes for better repeatability," Powers said. "With that in mind, the robots also have seam tracking and touch sensing. Using that combination, we can end up with some pretty productive welding," he explained.
|
<urn:uuid:e3e2c51c-f2c0-4e24-94af-357720f04282>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.thefabricator.com/article/automationrobotics/fabricator-meets-competition-challenge-with-welding-robot-cells
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.9652
| 617
| 1.882813
| 2
|
Effective content sparks action and encourages conversation. The content can be words, design, video or a graphic — or conveyed through some other medium. But the point is to engage, interest and grab the attention of an audience.
That’s the first goal.
But once the content attracts the audience, it ought to hold them long enough for them to get the story, care about it and act on it.
So, here are the three steps of creating content:
- Figure out how to capture the audience’s attention
- Give them the story
- Compel them, through the story, to act
Some content creators are good at the first step or two. But if the story doesn’t lead the audience to act (or buy, sign up, believe, follow, call or share) that’s not marketing content — it’s entertainment. Entertainment is fine, as long as you realize that it’s just entertainment.
If you want to market through creating content, put yourself in the audience as you create it. Make sure it’s clear what you are supposed to know and do. Did the story capture your attention? Did you want to stay to the end? Did you want to act? And how?
Put your content through this self-test before sending it out to help ensure it’s not just good, but effective. Like this video: pure and powerful content marketing…
|
<urn:uuid:25343fbf-d345-42b1-996c-e81eedfeb000>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.gaylordllc.com/effective-content-always-tells-a-story-people-want-to-act-on-need-proof-read-on/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.931183
| 297
| 1.742188
| 2
|
ots of people are talking these days about the church's failure to reach men. The problem is an old one. To a large degree it is rooted in the eighteenth-century tendency of post-puritan preachers to temper hard truths and cushion the message as much as possible.
Victorian-era preachers added an extra layer of complexity to the problem with their love of flowery rhetoric. Grandiloquence. Turgid oratory. Bloated, high-sounding language designed to impress listeners with the speaker's sophistication rather than rouse consciences with the power of God's Word.
Pulpits became soft places where men loved to show off their refinement. Manly passion was deemed vulgar and lowbrow.
Charles Spurgeon abhorred that trend. He exemplified the opposite style. In fact, when Spurgeon first took his pastorate in London, one of the earliest caricatures published in the London newspapers about Spurgeon pictured him casting the shadow of a young lion from his pulpit—and it contrasted him with a typical Anglican clergyman, who cast the shadow of an old woman.
Spurgeon hated the effeminate tendencies of the Victorian pulpit, and he did everything he could to model a different trend. He said it's OK to be meek, and we ought to work hard at being gentle. But, he said, don't be "indifferent to truth and righteousness. God [does not choose] milksops destitute of backbone, to wear his glory upon their faces. We have plenty of men made of sugar, nowadays, that melt into the stream of popular opinion; but [men like that will] never ascend into the hill of the Lord."
When Spurgeon lectured his students on preaching, he cautioned them strongly against adopting effeminate mannerisms. He said,
Abhor the practice of some men, who will not bring out the letter "r," such a habit is "vewys wuinous and wediculous, vewy wetched and wepwehensible."
"Mawwiage . . . "
Spurgeon went on. He told his preaching students:
Now and then a brother has the felissssity to possessss a mosssst winning and delicioussss lisssssp . . . . [That will] ruin any being who aims at manliness and force. I can scarcely conceive of Elijah lisping to Ahab, or Paul prettily chipping his words on Mars' hill. There may be a peculiar pathos about a weak and watery eye, and a faltering style. . . . Where [those things] are the result of intense passion, they are sublime; but some possess them by birth, and use them rather too freely: it is, to say the least, unnecessary for you to imitate them.
Spurgeon was a man's preacher, and his ministry reflected that. He influenced men—and he is still influencing men from the grave. And even though he was criticized and despised and belittled in his own time for being too aggressive in his defense of the truth, notice that we still read Spurgeon, and his words are still absolutely relevant to our times. But everyone has utterly forgotten all the effeminate preachers of that era who at the time were absolutely certain that they were more "relevant" because they were more in tune with their own times than Spurgeon was.
You know what? They were wrong. And they were wrong for the same reason people are wrong today to follow whatever is deemed stylish. We ought to let Scripture, not the trends of secular culture, define for us what the church should be like.
The Bible says the church ought to be led by men, and every man in the church ought to aspire to be like the perfect man, Jesus Christ. And that involves, among other things, the manly proclamation and defense of the truth of Scripture; as well as aiming to be living reflections of the kind of character He embodied—including, of course, the fruit of the Spirit, courage, conviction, compassion, zeal for the truth, and the kind of gentleness that keeps those characteristics in proper balance, as opposed to nullifying them.
|
<urn:uuid:5606508a-8938-4503-b7a1-d629cedc563c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://teampyro.blogspot.jp/2009/04/manly-men.html?showComment=1240577820000
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.979943
| 869
| 1.9375
| 2
|
Programs that network users download and install on their computers usually without permission from or knowledge of the IT department. While some greynet applications are often useful (for example, instant messaging, streaming media and RSS software, peer-to-peer file sharing, peer-to-peer collaboration and proxy applications), they can also include or malicious programs (such as spyware).
Featured Partners Sponsored
- Increase worker productivity, enhance data security, and enjoy greater energy savings. Find out how. Download the “Ultimate Desktop Simplicity Kit” now.»
- Find out which 10 hardware additions will help you maintain excellent service and outstanding security for you and your customers. »
- Server virtualization is growing in popularity, but the technology for securing it lags. To protect your virtual network.»
- Before you implement a private cloud, find out what you need to know about automated delivery, virtual sprawl, and more. »
|
<urn:uuid:6acd7012-a811-4953-a5b3-4be7b89e4e49>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/greynet.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.904369
| 192
| 2.109375
| 2
|
John Moore/Getty Images
More than a million California children who currently lack health insurance will qualify for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. When it takes effect in 2014, more children from poor families will qualify for Medi-Cal, and others will get subsidies for private low-cost insurance through a new state exchange. But childrens' advocates are concerned that some kids won't get the best coverage. Reporter: Elaine Korry
After Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that compliance with the federal Secure Communities policy is optional in California, law enforcement officials with mixed feelings about the program are wasting no time pulling back from it. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Commission voted unanimously to stop handing people accused of low-level misdemeanors over to federal authorities. Reporter: Amy Isackson
End Music: "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning" by John Fahey and His Orchestra, from the album "Old-Fashioned Love"
|
<urn:uuid:cbce81b7-76e8-4d94-9211-ba34b6b6c3d7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201212120850
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93945
| 192
| 1.65625
| 2
|
IntraTextTable of Contents | Words: Alphabetical - Frequency - Inverse - Length - Statistics | Help | IntraText Library | Search
MALE AND FEMALE ASPECTS OF GOD
The only Being is manifested throughout all planes of existence in two aspects, male and female, representing nature's positive and negative forces. In the plane of consciousness there are two aspects: Wahdat, consciousness, and Ahadiat, eternal consciousness, and thus also spirit and matter, night and day, signify the dual aspect on lower planes. In the mineral and vegetable kingdoms sex is in a state of evolution, but the highest manifestation of male and female is man and woman.
Man being the first aspect of manifestation, is the more spiritual and nearer to God; woman being the next manifestation, is finer and more capable of divine knowledge. Man's natural tendency is towards God, while woman's tendency is towards the world. These contrary tendencies result in balance. Therefore man needs woman to direct his life, and woman needs man for her guidance and protection, both being incomplete in themselves.
The Oriental woman, whose freedom is restricted, is the better wife from the individual point of view, but the enforced inactivity of half the population is not beneficial to the nation. The Occidental woman who is given entire freedom is less anxious for and less capable of home life, but being out in the world her influence promotes the advancement of the nation.
Man has more freedom than woman throughout the entire world because he has more strength and power; and the fineness of woman needs protection, just as the eye, being the finest organ of the body, has been protected by nature with eyelids. Both excel in their own characteristics.
A virgin is idolized by man because she is the model of high manifestation; woman's virtue is a greater ideal than her physical and intellectual beauty. Nature has placed her under the protection of man, but what is most desirable is that man gives her freedom and that she appreciates it by making the best use of it.
There are three kinds of virgins. One, commonly considered a virgin, who has never had association with a man; another is the virgin in heart, whose love is centered in one beloved only; and the third is the virgin in soul, who considers man as God. She alone can give birth to a divine child.
Monogamy and polygamy are inborn human attributes. They also exist among birds and beasts. Each individual is born with one of these tendencies, but sometimes one rather than the other is developed by the effect of the atmosphere and surroundings. These tendencies also depend upon the climatic and physical conditions of different countries and races. Polygamy may be natural to man, and monogamy to woman, as the former helps manifestation while the latter destroys it. Illegal polygamy is worse than legal, because it creates deceit and falsehood. Monogamy is the ideal life which is a comfort in this world and the next, and perfects one in love.
Woman is a mystery within herself, owing to her subtle nature. Sages who made the mistake of considering woman to be of lesser spiritual importance forgot that they themselves were the product of woman.
The majority of prophets and masters have been men because man is the higher manifestation, as is signified by the myth of Adam and Eve, in which Eve was born from the rib of Adam, meaning that woman is the later manifestation; the fruit means that woman directed man's thoughts towards procreation. The interpretation of Adam and Eve's exile from heaven is the fail of mankind from the state of innocence to the state of youth. The separation and unhappiness of Adam and Eve show the object of God to manifest in the dual aspect, that He may accomplish his real desire of love. According to the Vedanta half of the divine body, Ardhangi, is womanhood, proving that unity of both is the complete life.
A child inherits more attributes from its mother than from its father, therefore the mother is more responsible for its merits and defects and if she has knowledge she can train the soul of her child even before its birth by the power of her concentration, molding the child's future according to her own will.
Harmony between truer persons is more lasting than the affections of average mankind. People of angelic qualities have everlasting harmony between them, in which God Himself accomplishes His object of manifestation.
Mankind is born with a worshipful attitude, and as all attitudes demand satisfaction by expression, so the attitude of worship finds its object of adoration. The ancient Greeks and Shiva Bhaktas of India worshipped both aspects of manifestation in the names of gods and goddesses. Sufism, being the essence of all religions and philosophies, looks upon both the opposite aspects of nature as one in reality, and calls it Safat Allah. Sufis reach realization of God by adoring His nature, calling on Him saying, 'Kull-i shayin Há l-i kull', which means, 'Everything will perish except His own Face.' They look upon all names and forms as the means of realizing the One, the only Being.
|
<urn:uuid:0421ba36-ca57-485f-89ad-5cebf489579c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.intratext.com/ixt/ENG1292/_PO.HTM
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.966495
| 1,054
| 2.0625
| 2
|
Press the play button to hear the latest news from THE REGION.
House Bill 1093, coauthored by Rep. Linda Lawson (D-Hammond), passed with a 12-0 vote and will now be presented to the full House for consideration.
VanDenburgh’s legislation requires courts to order those convicted to pay restitution for police animals that are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
“The cost to replace a police dog is around $12,000,” said VanDenburgh. “Local communities often have to find ways to raise that money on their own. This bill relieves local police departments of that burden.”
The Chief of Staff of Crown Point’s Police Department, Keith Stevens, testified to the invaluable work of his K9 Unit. According to Stevens, his previous dog of four years helped remove more than 106 pounds of marijuana off the streets, and found criminals, suicidal juveniles, and elderly citizens.
“We can’t reimburse the emotional aspect of losing a police K9,” said VanDenburgh. “Restitution of costs is the absolute least we can do.”
# # #
|< Prev||Next >|
|
<urn:uuid:136e75d9-6151-494f-b2d8-4318ab140a6b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://wakeradio.com/index.php/news/region-news/40195-bill-to-protect-law-enforcement-animals-goes-to-house.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.945356
| 253
| 1.6875
| 2
|
What you are about to read is an excerpt from a little picture book for adults I wrote. It is the story of someone trying to come up with the perfect graduation speech.
I love graduation speeches. I have always loved them, I will always love them. Once when I was in my twenties, I laid on my old girlfriend's peach couch (which I still had, but not my girlfriend) and watched twelve hours of graduation speeches on Sunday being televised on that odd BOOK TV channel. I have never been happier.
Which isn't to say that I haven't been bored by graduation speeches. Of course I have. Like everything, they are often better in theory.
But the thing I find so compelling about them is that they represent this moment in time when someone is trying to make sense of his or her life. We spend so much time blindly getting
through our days (if we are lucky) and so little time stepping back and reflecting. Graduation speeches force you to reflect. They are about consciousness. Nothing is better than consciousness. (Except oddly, unconsciousness. Not that I really mean that, but I guess I do.)
Anyhow, so that ultimately is what I believe all graduation speeches have in common -- they are saying, be conscious. And forgive me for being like this, but I will only be this way for
one more second, be conscious.
Okay, now you can go back to the rest of your life. Just like we all do after we hear a graduation speech.
|
<urn:uuid:b600e7e6-64b6-4a5b-a8dd-b706ec5fc3c3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-eric-kaplan/graduation-speech_b_868230.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.975785
| 308
| 1.546875
| 2
|
Posted: 05 August 2008
I didn't think that Coke and Pepsi would give up aspartame because if they did people would wake up well all over the world and know what poisoned them. They are simply adding another drink with stevia and will continue to poison the world with aspartame.
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
Aspartame Toxicity Center: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Pepsi producing new zero-calorie natural sweetener:
August 1, 2008
The Journal News
The next front in the Cola Wars may be a zero-calorie natural sweetener derived from a plant in South America.
PepsiCo Inc. of Purchase yesterday said it is teaming with the maker of Equal to produce PureVia, an ingredient that the beverage maker plans to include in some of its products following a review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
PureVia is produced from the leaves of the stevia plant. PepsiCo said stevia is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Its purified component, Reb A, is drawn from the sweetest part of the stevia leaf.
Stevia sweeteners are used in about a dozen countries, PepsiCo spokesman David DeCecco said. The Japanese have sweetened teas with it for about 30 years, he said. PureVia took four years for PepsiCo and its partner, Whole Earth Sweetener Co., a subsidiary of Merisant Co., to develop.
PepsiCo and Whole Earth Sweetener will jointly own and market PureVia globally. They will buy the sweetener from PureCircle, a supplier of Reb A.
PepsiCo will launch SoBe Life, a flavored beverage sweetened with PureVia, in Latin America this year. A PureVia tabletop sweetener that can be used in both hot and cold beverages and sprinkled on cereal will be released in the United States this fall.
The sweetener tastes good, has no calories, and meets growing consumer demand for natural products, DeCecco said.
"It gives us a trifecta," he said.
Coca-Cola also is developing a stevia sweetener with agriculture giant Cargill. They also have an application before the FDA.
John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest in Bedford Hills, said the soft drink industry has looked for years for natural, no-calorie equivalents to the widely-used artificial sweetener aspartame.
Fashioning a sweetener that replicates the flavor of sugar for a mass market can be a challenge, since consumers' palates vary widely.
"Taste is so subjective," Sicher said. "Human beings are accustomed to the taste of sugar and measure other sweeteners against sugar."
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola will continue to use aspartame, Sicher said, but they see opportunities in stevia.
"There is a subset, and probably a growing subset, of consumers who are interested in natural products. If these new stevia-based sweeteners meet the taste requirement, they could give both Pepsi and Coke a whole new arena for product innovation," he said.
"The key is going to be, they have to not just be natural, the sweeteners also have to taste good," he said. "Given the research going on, it's likely they will, but ultimately consumers will make that decision."
|
<urn:uuid:a38c6d07-de89-47fa-a1f7-3306abb8ee63>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.wnho.net/coke_pepsi_and_stevia.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.928437
| 744
| 1.921875
| 2
|
Imagine getting an e-mail from the FBI. What would you do? Chances are you'd respond to find out what's up. And bad guys who pretend to be FBI agents are counting on that.
Sierra Smith, who lives in the Seattle area, says it was very scary when she got an e-mail from "Special Agent John Edward." The message said two trunks containing $4.1 million were confiscated at JFK airport and a document inside had her name it.
ConsumerMan is on Facebook
Stay up to date with the latest consumer news
- ConsumerMan is on Facebook
The e-mail went on to threaten arrest.
Smith replied and asked to see credentials. The follow-up e-mail had an attachment with an FBI badge and a picture ID. In a follow-up e-mail she was asked for $850 to resolve the matter.
Smith didn't send the money. Instead, she did something very smart. She contacted the FBI office in Seattle and was told about the scam.
This is what's known as an imposter scam. The Federal Trade Commission says a growing number of scams now involve some sort of impersonation. In fact, imposter scams are now No. 6 on the FTC's list of Top Ten Complaints for 2010. The commission received more than 60,000 complaints about imposter scams last year.
"Government impersonation is a serious problem," says FTC fraud fighter Lois Greisman. "And it's not only e-mail. It's also unsolicited phone calls and text messages."
The scammers are impersonating police officers, federal agents and financial service companies. They're also pretending to be a friend or loved one in trouble who needs money.
"They will fake anything they can possibly fake as long as they can get you to part with your money or the personal identifying information they want," says Adam Levin, Chairman of Identity Theft 911.
Spotting an Imposter
Scammers have put a new twist on an old scam by pretending to be from the FTC. The impersonator suggests the FTC is supervising a prize giveaway. He or she might even use the name of a real FTC employee snagged from the commission's website.
Potential victims are told they must wire money (anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000) to pay for the taxes in order to get their prize.
Legitimate sweepstakes don't require you to pay insurance, taxes or shipping to claim what you've won. And if you do win a real contest, you won't get the happy news from the FTC or any other government agency. It just doesn't work that way.
FTC impersonators are also sending out fake e-mails designed to scare people into sending them money. Here's an excerpt from one:
"As we were trying to reach you since couple of days regarding a very serious matter about lawsuit filed on your name stating that you are doing some fraud and criminal activities and I am really very sorry to say you that you are going to be legally prosecuted in the Court House within couple of days and your SSN is put on hold by the US government…"
Notice the poor English, a warning sign that this e-mail is bogus. The message, supposedly by an FTC senior affidavit processor, provides a fake case number and phone number. It ends with the strong-arm pitch for money:
"This was a final notification e-mail to you if u want to resolve the issue by paying the out of Court Restitution Amount than you can do that, or do you want to face legal action?"
Tax time is prime time for scams
Cybercrooks have been pretending to be the IRS for years. One of the most common swindles starts with a bogus e-mail that says you have a big refund coming. They instruct you to click a link embedded in the message or to fill out a form provided in an attachment. Either way, you'll be asked for personal information.
"They'll tell you they need your bank account number so they can deposit the refund into your account," explains Avivah Litan, an expert on financial fraud at Gartner Research.
They may also ask for your Social Security number. Don't fall for it. Don't provide any personal information, even if the e-mail looks legitimate. Official looking IRS seals and logos can be faked. E-mail addresses can be spoofed to make it look like it's coming from "irs.gov" when it isn't. Copycat sites run by cyberthieves look just like the real IRS website.
On its (real) website, the Internal Revenue Service warns about these imposter scams: "The IRS does not send taxpayers unsolicited e-mails about their tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it's a scam."
More must-see stories
The IRS never initiates contact with a taxpayer with a phone call or e-mail. It's always by U.S. mail.
Why do people respond?
Why is it so easy to get away with impersonating a government agency or employee? Why do these clearly bogus calls and e-mails work? Don't people know a government law enforcement agency would never call them about winning a prize or e-mail them about being arrested?
"Most of these scams get you to act before you think," explains Linda Criddle, a cybersecurity expert who runs the site ilookbothways.com. "People really need to turn that around and think before they act."
Remember, no government agency would ever call or e-mail and ask you to wire money, give them your credit card or bank account information or Social Security number. Only a scammer does that.
You should be extremely suspicious any time you are being pressured to respond right away. You need to take the time to check it out. Who are you really dealing with? What do they want, why do they want it and why the rush? Unless you are 100 percent sure it's legit, hit delete, hang up or shred the letter.
Want to keep up with the latest on consumer news? Follow ConsumerMan on Facebook .
|
<urn:uuid:52126523-a5e3-43e1-849a-117c9cbcd95d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42347772/ns/business-consumer_news/
|
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
| 0.969533
| 1,274
| 2.078125
| 2
|
This is a potentially important and positive development in Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari has announced the extension of political parties to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The reason FATA has not had political parties is that this region remains governed by anachronistic regulations created a century ago by the British Raj. The British despaired of incorporating the hill tribes of the Northwest Frontier into India proper (which then included Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, as well as modern India). So they essentially left the tribes to their own devices, loosely supervised by political agents and a paramilitary Frontier Corps. This worked well enough from the British standpoint, although there was constant fighting on the frontier until the end of the Raj, but it essentially cut off this area from all political and social development. The result today: FATA has become a breeding ground for Islamic extremists who prey on a largely poor and illiterate population. As the New York Times writes:
The ban on political activities and parties had created a vacuum that was increasingly exploited by militants and religious extremists, allowing the Taliban and Al Qaeda to tighten their hold on the region as they mounted attacks on tribal elders and the area’s political overseers appointed by the central government, analysts and political workers here have said.
The government of Pakistan must commit its armed forces to a long-term effort to drive out the militants, which is starting to happen. Moreover, it must act to incorporate FATA into mainstream society, providing the kind of educational and political opportunities that would help to wean the inhabitants away from the extremists. Zardari’s announcement is a small step in the right direction. But Pakistan will have to do much more to follow up on some of the progress its troops are making on the ground.
|
<urn:uuid:413f22c3-497f-4a48-8908-5023367e74dd>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2009/08/15/positive-development-in-pakistan/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.975886
| 358
| 2.484375
| 2
|
Friday 04 January 2013 Updated: 04/01 08:36
LESS than a year ago central England was in the midst of a drought after the driest 18-month period for a century.
Reservoirs serving the area were at record lows, rivers were drying up and ground water was dwindling, meaning all sources of water for Severn Trent were in worryingly short supply.
Fast forward ten months through one of the wettest springs, summers and autumns on record and all is well in the world of water again.
At Draycote Water near Rugby, which supplies most of this region, water levels were down to 49 per cent this time last year, but a bumper wet season has seen levels restored to 95 per cent - much to the delight of water bosses.
Other reservoirs in Leicestershire which supply the region were even lower than Draycote - Cropston at 38 per cent and Swidland at just 28 per cent - but they are now at 99 and 100 per cent respectively.
These record highs are not just down to the non-stop rain in 2012, but also to Severn Trent reducing leakages to the lowest levels ever, and householders who have heeded appeals not to waste water.
The water supplier has also has the ability to take water from rivers and pump it into reservoirs when the river is high. And it has the power to turn off a reservoir supply and switch to ground water or river supply and even pump water from wet areas to those in drought.
But just because the drought is over Severn Trent is urging people to continue to conserve water .
Simple water-saving measures urged by the water companies during the drought should be continued to protect against future droughts. They include not leaving taps running, installing water butts to collect rainwater for garden use and thinking carefully about water actually needed.
David Essex, water strategy manager for Severn Trent is positive about the year ahead.
He said: "Our reservoirs are at an average of 94 per cent full and our groundwater sources are recharging nicely.
"Our plans are in place and we are confident that we are in a good position to provide our customers with a continuous supply of water throughout the coming year.
“But we would still ask our customers to be sensible with the amount of water they use.
"You never know when the next drought might be and getting into good habits now will help everyone in the future."
MAKING Stratford a million times better is the
GOLDEN boy James Roe has topped off a
THE DEVASTATED family of a teenager who died
DENYS Shortt - entrepreneur and founder of DCS
CONTROVERSIAL roadworks which added to the already gridlocked traffic in ...
PLANS to build 200 homes in Webheath have been thrown ...
A FORMER detective constable has appeared in court to deny ...
|
<urn:uuid:5a2a7763-75d5-4766-9208-f283f13c7fde>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/2013/01/05/news-Water-water-everywhere-59525.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.973486
| 597
| 2.171875
| 2
|
While I consider myself to be blessed with an amazing family and many great friends, all of my students aren't that lucky. I know that throughout my 9 years of teaching I have had students who don't have people to wish them a happy birthday or to make sure they feel loved and cared for. Like all teachers, I do the best I can to make sure that the first thing students learn when they walk into my classroom is that I care about them, that I care about more than their score on a standardized test or if they turned in last night's homework assignment. In order to make sure that all of my students know that I care about them as people I make a very conscious effort to do a few things:
- Find out when each student's birthday is, and tell every student happy birthday every year.
- Figure out what type of praise students respond to. Some kids want to be recognized in front of the class, while others would prefer a note, tweet, or a private chat after class.
- Compliment students on new clothes and haircuts.
- If a student looks like they are having a bad day, ask about it - even if they don't want to talk or give the infamous "nothing" response, just asking likely made a difference in the student's day.
- If a student doesn't turn in an assignment or has his head down, don't judge the student, talk to him about it.
- Ask about events going on in students' lives. Find out about last weekend's camping trip, soccer tournament, or whatever activities are important to students.
Please continue the conversation by leaving a comment to share your best practices to make sure your students know that you care.
|
<urn:uuid:e2db1abd-c3cb-471b-a919-70b5a0dd8171>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://jpprezz.blogspot.com/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980665
| 349
| 2.734375
| 3
|
August 11, 2011
The main motivation of no-collapse interpretations is to emphasize that the unitary Schroedinger evolution is all there is.
In order to reconcile this with our experience a description considering 'many worlds' or 'many minds' and the 'splitting' of the universe into different 'branches' is often used: The physicist does not kill the cat but really creates two worlds and then repeating this experiment doubles the number again and again.
It seems that the number N of 'branches' or different 'minds' etc. increases like N(t) ~ wt where w is some unknown constant. Now one can calculate something like an entropy S from it as S = log(N) and therefore S ~ t; time really is 'm.w.i entropy'.
But how does one reconcile all this with the time-reversible Schroedinger evolution?
|
<urn:uuid:9ea59fd1-7d18-46d1-95cd-4fb46c3d1dbe>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://tsm2.blogspot.com/2011/08/many-verses.html?showComment=1319089412885
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.915539
| 184
| 1.609375
| 2
|
Every now and then we like to throw in some lighter fare. For amusement, I re-post this heading from Howard Friedman’s Religion Clause:
“Fraternity House Is Not A Monastery For
It seems that a federal court in Illinois has rejected an argument that a proposed fraternity house in Chicago be considered a monastery. Since the local zoning laws prohibit a fraternity house at that location, the owner of the house petitioned the court for the house to be considered a monastery (which would be permitted in the zoning laws). The basis of the claim was that Sigma Pi’s mission statement is “In the Service of God and Man.”
Perhaps the claim would have been stronger, had some of the “brothers” presented themselves to the court wearing cowls and drinking mead?
The full text of Friedman’s summation follows:
In Myers v. City of Chicago, ND IL, Sept. 12, 2012, an Illinois federal district court rejected an equal protection claim by plaintiff who purchased a house on Chicago’s North Shore Avenue intending to rent it for use as a fraternity house to Sigma Pi Fraternity. However, fraternities and sororities in this area require a special use permit– except for those located in the area before 1970 zoning changes established this requirement. Plaintiff argued that the city should treat his proposed use of the house as a “monastery”– a permitted use in the area– because of the Sigma Pi’s mission statement: “In the Service of God and Man.” The court concluded: No matter how closely Sigma Pi hews to the letter of its motto, Myers has fallen far short of proving that the Sigma Pi fraternity brothers are actual Religious Brothers, that is, in the words of the ordinance, “persons such as nuns or monks under religious vows.” The defendants’ interpretation of this language to exclude fraternity houses therefore passes the rational-basis test.
via Religion Clause.
|
<urn:uuid:a56d8b58-12ac-41e4-9d36-c93d067d573d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://religioninthebalance.wordpress.com/category/on-the-lighter-side/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94627
| 412
| 1.84375
| 2
|
Signaling on Key Work-Life Policy from Congress
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives took a significant, if overdue, step to provide four weeks of paid parental leave to federal government workers in all three branches of government.
If it becomes law, H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, will ensure that nearly two million federal employees will be able to take time off to care for a new child. It’s surprising, in fact sort of shocking, that the federal government is behind the curve on this public policy--the vast majority of Fortune 500 employers already provide six to eight weeks of paid parental leave, while federal employees are only entitled to unpaid leave. While employees can use vacation and sick days for this purpose, most workers need that time for their intended purposes.
The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Maloney noted:
“As the nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government should be a leader in family-friendly workplace policy. Not only do we lag behind the private sector, but we also lag behind what is offered in other countries. We are the only industrialized country that does not offer any paid parental leave to all citizens. The European Union requires that its member-countries offer a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, and most countries exceed that amount.”
Next, it will be up to the Senate to pass this legislation. Providing paid parental leave to all federal workers would help the government with recruitment and retention. But most importantly, our government would send a powerful signal to all employers by enacting this critical work-life policy.
|
<urn:uuid:197c87a1-40ed-499b-bf74-cf95d21cea04>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2008/06/signaling_on_key_worklife_poli_1.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.949344
| 336
| 1.960938
| 2
|
Web Search powered by Yahoo! SEARCH
Activate or subscribe for full digital access | F.A.Q.s | A message from our publisher
A note from our editor | Download Our Apps: iPhone | iPad | Android | Kindle Fire
One only needs to look at Poulsbo for an example of a City dock that is well-integrated into the city center and primary tourism area. The whole thing flows, between the dock, the park, and local shops.
Bainbridge is scattered. The shops along Winslow are not close to the water, and the dock is not situated in a area with lots of tourist foot traffic.
All this to say, spending money on improving the town dock is a waste of the $2mm. There's no problem with the existing dock. There IS, however, a problem with the geographic and physical orientation of the combined "downtown" components of Bainbridge.
Council should be smart enough to see this, and not waste money on a useless project.
Want to participate in the conversation? Become a subscriber today. Subscribers can read and comment on any story, anytime. Non-subscribers will only be able to view comments on select stories.
Feels Like: 48°
Feels Like: 55°
Feels Like: 46°
Join the conversation, get local news updates and more on Facebook.
100% of the dollars donated are distributed to local food banks.
Find searchable data, including public employee salaries, crime stats and more.
|
<urn:uuid:089f5fa6-49e8-4261-9205-eda270ad51cd>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.kitsapsun.com/comments/reply/?target=61:319253&comment=417074
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.901334
| 315
| 1.578125
| 2
|
Along the bundles of international borders that surround us, a wave of fear is ceaselessly circulated. It is called the fear of deportation. Not all people are able to remain in their own countries. Not all people that migrate have papers that prove their credentials to check posts. Not all papers are equal.
Every year a few hundred thousand people of South American origin are deported from the United States of America. Of them, many are children, termed in the immigration registers as alien minors. Needless to mention, to steer clear of being deported, countless numbers stay in anonymity, change their addresses several times over, and most dangerously, live inside the territory of the USA without any substantial social security papers, which means not having access to any security, health, education and financial services.
In 2001 a legislative proposal was introduced in the US Senate in order to address the issue of so called illegal minor aliens kept away from the basic provisions of life required for attaining adulthood; and not getting absorbed into the allies of darkness that underline the colour boundaries within the territory of a country. This proposal is called the DREAM Act. DREAM is the acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. This bill would provide conditional permanent residency to certain illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. legally or illegally as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment. If they were to complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning, the students would obtain temporary residency for a six year period.
Questions do arise from the way the proposal has been defined. But what becomes most interesting is that, the proposal has been revived again in 2011 after being repeatedly silenced for a decade. This needs to be contextualized, and the big economic crisis becomes the necessary pinch of salt. Under pressure to find out ways of augmenting the state revenue the illegal now look like a resource hitherto untapped by taxation. In a December 2010 report, the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the November 30th, 2010 version of the DREAM act would "reduce deficits by about $1.4 billion over the 2011-2020 period and increase government revenues by $2.3 billion over the next 10 years." The same report, however, stresses that the Act '"would increase projected deficits by more than $5 billion in at least one of the four consecutive 10-year periods starting in 2021.”
Potential deportees were hopeful till the Act was defeated in the Senate in December 2010. Several felt that their dreams have been upended. In an interview to the New York Times, Isabel Castillo says, “At least now, I can mention my full name to a reporter and not ask her to pardon my anonymity…I can afford to publish a full frontal photograph and not plead to be photographed only from a certain angle that does not reveal my identity….” She has stood face to face with several Virginia politicians who want to see an immigration crackdown and told them her status, and yet no one has turned her in. Indeed, they’ve been respectful and friendly. Last summer, at a town-hall-style meeting, she had a long exchange with the governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, and a Republican pushing for tougher deportation policies. In January 2011, she testified before a House of Delegates subcommittee full of legislators who wanted to expand police power to round up illegal immigrants. Castillo was brought to Virginia at the age of six years and then went on to attend college. She says she cried when the motion was defeated. She graduated with very high grades, yet must work as a waitress because the absence of social security papers disallow her from applying to jobs that she thinks herself better suited for. She, like thousands of her comrades, keeps pushing the envelope, trying to bring about a big change by stringing together small twists and turns and can be possible every day.
She has reason to be hopeful again: the act has been reintroduced in May 2011.
For further reading, refer to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/education/21winerip.html?_r=1&ref=politics
|
<urn:uuid:cb0272a9-6a87-4e5a-8e38-a43e82650375>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://refugeewatchonline.blogspot.com/2011/07/deportee-i-am-should-i-dream.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97387
| 880
| 2.328125
| 2
|
Adaptation, Postpartum Concerns, and Learning Needs in the First Two Weeks After Caesarean Birth
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Aims. The purpose of this Roy Adaptation Model-based study was to describe women’s physical, emotional, functional and social adaptation; postpartum concerns; and learning needs during the first two weeks following caesarean birth and identify relevant nursing interventions.
Background. Studies of caesarean-delivered women indicated a trend toward normalisation of the caesarean birth experience. Escalating caesarean birth rates mandate continued study of contemporary caesarean-delivered women.
Design. Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) descriptive research design.
Methods. Nursing students collected data from 233 culturally diverse caesarean-delivered women in urban areas of the Midwestern and Northeastern USA between 2002–2004. The focal stimulus was the planned or unplanned caesarean birth; contextual stimuli were cultural identity and parity. Adaptation was measured by open-ended interview questions, fixed choice questionnaires about postpartum concerns and learning needs and nurse assessment of post-discharge problems. Potential interventions were identified using the Omaha System Intervention Scheme.
Results. More positive than negative responses were reported for functional and social adaptation than for physical and emotional adaptation. Women with unplanned caesarean births and primiparous women reported less favourable adaptation than planned caesarean mothers and multiparas. Black women reported lower social adaptation, Hispanic women had more role function concerns and Black and Hispanic women had more learning needs than White women. Post-discharge nursing assessments revealed that actual problems accounted for 40% of identified actual or potential problems or needs. Health teaching was the most commonly recommended postpartum intervention strategy followed by case management, treatment and surveillance interventions.
Conclusions. Caesarean-delivered women continue to experience some problems with adapting to childbirth. Recommended intervention strategies reflect the importance of health teaching following hospital discharge.
Relevance to clinical practice. Women who experience caesarean birth require comprehensive assessment during the early postpartum period. Nurses should devise strategies to continue care services for these women following hospital discharge.
|
<urn:uuid:642c9b2a-5996-442b-b472-3141b087d0c6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/83/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.922219
| 455
| 1.6875
| 2
|
Friday night, for some, is an evening of indulgence. After a long work week it’s tempting to reward yourself for the hard work of the previous week while celebrating the two days ahead of sleeping in and enjoying your free time.
Instead of making a habit of indulging in a high-calorie dinner and fattening desserts on Friday evenings, celebrate the end of the week by treating yourself to a nutritious dinner. Your body will thank you later.
Cook dinner at home. You can create a healthy (and budget-friendly) dinner with the items in your fridge on any night of the week, but on Fridays, you can kick back and get a little creative. Let the kids help chop and stir to get the whole family involved.
Don’t skip the pizza. Instead of calling for takeout, make your own pizza at home. Use flat breads from the freezer (such as Flat-Out wraps) low-fat cheese and your favorite fresh vegetables for a guilt-free veggie pizza night. Pop in your favorite movie and consider yourself rewarded for a long week of work.
Sub soda for H20. Yes, even if you’re an adult, you need your water. Recent studies have even suggested a link between drinking soda and obesity – even if you prefer diet to the “regular stuff.” If your palate is craving carbonation, opt for sparkling water or flavored seltzer.
Lighten up your dessert. Instead of digging into a pint of ice cream, opt for fresh fruit. If your favorite stone fruits, berries or melon are out of season, you’re better off eating canned fruit than no fruit at all. Del Monte products are packed in 100% juice and delicious when you mix with some fat-free yogurt.
Eating healthy on Friday nights sets the stage for a healthy weekend. What are you tips for making it through the weekend without wrecking your diet?
December 3rd, 2010
|
<urn:uuid:ac43b713-0163-4e4c-bfaa-8cf18737c777>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/12/healthy-friday-night-habits-will-keep-you-on-track-all-weekend/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927763
| 405
| 1.648438
| 2
|
Through meditation you can rejuvenate your spirit and body and also relax the mind. This meditation is ideal for health and helps to provide many benefits to the internal organs also.
Mindfulness meditation builds on the teachings of a fifth-century BC Indian prince later known as Buddha. It involves sitting still, with eyes closed, relaxing, and taking note of bodily sensations; the pressure of the floor on your foot, your tummy rising as you breathe. When a person's attention wanders, they are instructed to redirect it back to their breathing.
It helps you step back from automatic reactions built into emotions for evolutionary reasons and relax.
|
<urn:uuid:dd9328e7-0f63-4625-be3c-bb1e2c65c261>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://spiritualforum.org/meditation/super-combination-to-solve-mental-problems/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958311
| 127
| 2.46875
| 2
|
Already, Britain, Ireland, Poland and France have been drawn into the growing saga over the use of horsemeat and the apparent mislabeling of products along the supply chain. Millions of burgers have been recalled in recent days due to the scandal.
Eating horsemeat is not generally a health risk, but the cases have spurred disgust in places where such meat is far from a staple.
Earlier this week, Findus said it was recalling beef lasagna meals in Britain because of concerns raised by its French supplier Comigel. Tests later found that some of those meals contained between 60 to 100 percent horsemeat instead of beef.
Then on Friday, a second British company, Aldi, confirmed that tests on Comigel-supplied products it had recently recalled—beef lasagna and frozen spaghetti bolognese—showed some contained between 30 and 100 percent horsemeat.
Aldi said it felt "angry and let down" by Comigel and that it was severing ties with the French supplier.
Britain's Food Standards Agency said that in light of the latest information from Aldi, it is working with French authorities and recommends that any companies that have sourced beef products from Comigel "conduct a precautionary withdrawal of
Findus official Henrik Nyberg said about 20,000 frozen lasagna meals are being recalled in Sweden. Nyberg told The Associated Press that the products don't pose any food safety risk, and were recalled solely because they had been mislabeled.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday that the scandal is "completely unacceptable" and must be addressed.
Cameron acknowledged there is "great public concern" around the "very shocking" issue, saying "people will be very angry to find out they have been eating horse when they thought they were eating beef."
The British leader said his country's secretary of state for agriculture is speaking with ministers and will meet with Britain's Food Standards Agency because "this does need to be dealt with."
Officers from Scotland Yard also have met with the Food Standards Agency over the horsemeat scandal, but the police force said there is currently no official investigation.
Concerns about the use of horsemeat burst into the spotlight earlier this year, after it emerged that beef products from three companies in Ireland and Britain contained horse DNA. That led to the massive recall of burgers.
The revelations have shaken Ireland in particular because beef exports are a key industry. Irish government officials and an Irish meat company have blamed meat imported from Poland, but Polish authorities say they have found no evidence backing those claims.
|
<urn:uuid:5e02980d-ccb5-47fb-a0ef-1ee3fe48a716>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.twincities.com/ci_22547902/horsemeat-lasagna-recalled-sweden
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974573
| 521
| 2.234375
| 2
|
Joe P. Asher
Harlan City Police are warning that a large amount of counterfeit currency has surfaced recently in Harlan County. Counterfeit five, 10 and 20 dollar bills have been showing up more often than usual at businesses around the county.
Harlan City Police Officer John D. Noe said there are ways to detect a fake bill.
“We’ve had a rash of counterfeit bills going around,” said Noe. “One in particular is a $20 with a serial number of IG41499389B. They’ve been passed in a lot of the stores around town.”
According to Noe, although there is no definite pattern as to who may receive a counterfeit bill, there are some who seem to be more susceptible.
“They like to target new, inexperienced cashiers that are unfamiliar with handling money,” said Noe. “We have contacted the Secret Service and they advised to go to their website. There will be a blue box that says ‘know your money.’ You can click on that box and it will bring up a web page that will help you identify counterfeit money.”
Noe said there are several features in a bill that may indicate a counterfeit note.
“There’s a watermark on the right hand side. There’s special ink on the denomination on the right hand lower side. There’s several other features that cannot be reproduced,” said Noe.
Noe emphasized that there are fake bills showing up all over the county.
“Just today we’ve been made aware of $140 worth of $20 bills,” said Noe. “That was at one particular store. We’ve had reports and have responded to counterfeit money in about every store in the city of Harlan.”
Noe said the increase in counterfeit bills in Harlan began approximately one month ago with five and $10 bills. This has increased to $20 notes with some officers seeing higher denominations.
“One of the signs that somebody might pick up on is if somebody comes in and buys a 25 cents pack of gum and pays for it with a $20, that would be something to look at. They would be getting $19.75 change and they (the business) would be getting a bad bill,” said Noe.
Noe suggests checking bills in multiple ways — even if they pass the “pen” test — as counterfeiters have found a way around the most common method used for checking money.
“They’re coating a counterfeit bill with hairspray or some other type of solution that makes the pen mark show it’s a good bill,” said Noe. “Money is printed on a cloth, it’s not paper. It’s only furnished to the U.S. government. Nobody can get the cloth. The chemicals in the cloth react with the pen to make it mark a certain color. They’ve figured out they can substitute certain chemicals on a counterfeit bill to make that pen mark show that the bill is real.”
The Secret Service website, www.secretservice.gov, suggests a course of action for those that encounter a suspected counterfeit bill. Do not give the bill back to the passer. Delay the passer if possible. Observe the passer’s description and the description of any people with them. Contact the local police or the U.S. Secret Service. Write your initials and the date in the white borders of the bill. Limit handling the note by placing it in a container such as an envelope, and surrender it to a properly identified law enforcement officer or Secret Service agent.
Noe pointed out that so far everybody who has been found to be in possession of a counterfeit bill has been cooperative with authorities and likely got the bills in change without realizing they were fake.
Anybody who believes they may be in possession of counterfeit money should contact police or the U.S. Secret Service.
Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or firstname.lastname@example.org
|
<urn:uuid:8d562bcb-672c-4507-b374-ff8aa434ef19>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://harlandaily.com/view/full_story/20826932/article-Counterfeit-money-on-the-rise-in-Harlan
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957242
| 871
| 2.484375
| 2
|
Princess Merida, star of Pixar’s new animated film Brave, would be a model member of Team GB. The tousled heiress to the throne of Dunbroch could be a composite of some of its more successful members: the grit and gumption of Mo Farah; the winsome, ruffle-edged charm of Jessica Ennis; the smouldering strawberry-blonde locks of Greg Rutherford. Her skills in archery are the finest in all of Scotland, and she could even give the South Koreans a run for their money.
For 17 years now, Pixar has been producing tales of talking toys, balloon-borne widowers and rodents in the gutter gazing at the Michelin stars, but with their latest film, the studio has moved from fables to folk tales. Brash, boisterous and uninterested in her teenage suitors, Merida has less in common with her Disney Princess forebears than the sullen young heroines of Japan’s master animator, Hayao Miyazaki.
It was Miyazaki’s 2001 Spirited Away that won him an Academy Award and the attention of Western cinemagoers, and that film’s story of a 10-year-old girl whose parents are transmogrified into giant pigs is a major influence on Mark Andrews’ and Brenda Chapman’s picture.
While Brave lacks the sheer kaleidoscopic wonderment of Miyazaki’s work and can’t match the drumskin tightness of Pixar’s own Ratatouille and Toy Stories, there’s a bewitching craftsmanship to both its storytelling and 3D visuals that few animation studios could match.
Merida (voiced by Kelly MacDonald) has come of age, and her parents, King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), stage a grand tournament to find her a husband. Never mind that she’s handier with a bow and arrow than any man in the kingdom: doing her duty, Queen Elinor insists, is non-negotiable. Merida flees into the forest, where a log-whittling crone (the spit of Spirited Away’s Yubaba) offers her a charmed cake that will “make the Queen change”. Inevitably, it does just that, triggering a curse that both daughter and mother — in her new, shaggier, snufflier, ursine form — must work together to dispel.
Brave’s plot seems to have percolated through the iron mountains and tangled forests it plays out against: this feels like a story passed down from the early days of an ancient nation, thereby making the kilts and Patrick Doyle’s rousing Celtic score feel like more than tartan window dressing. (“Discover the land that inspired Disney-Pixar’s Brave,” runs the slogan to a recent VisitScotland campaign.)
The depth of Pixar’s fieldwork is revealed in the details, from visual references to the Lewis chessmen and Orcadian stone circles to a running gag about the Doric accent performed, with authentic incomprehensibility, by Kevin McKidd, who grew up in Elgin.
“Legends are lessons, they rhyme with truths,” Queen Elinor says early in the film as she sits down to tell her daughter a story, and Brave is as true as an arrow whistling straight towards the centre of its target.
|
<urn:uuid:8127c0ba-d749-489c-bc07-c614324e4903>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9467166/Brave-review.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.939986
| 731
| 1.53125
| 2
|
This standard (also referred to as the Scope 3 Standard) provides requirements and guidance for companies and other organizations to prepare and publicly report a GHG emissions inventory that includes indirect emissions resulting from value chain activities (i.e., scope 3 emissions).
The primary goal of this standard is to provide a standardized step-by-step approach to help companies understand their full value chain emissions impact in order to focus company efforts on the greatest GHG reduction opportunities, leading to more sustainable decisions about companies’ activities and the products they buy, sell, and produce. The standard was developed with the following objectives in mind:
To help companies prepare a true and fair scope 3 GHG inventory in a cost-effective manner, through the use of standardized approaches and principles
To help companies develop effective strategies for managing and reducing their scope 3 emissions through an understanding of value chain emissions and associated risks and opportunities
To support consistent and transparent public reporting of corporate value chain emissions according to a standardized set of reporting requirements Ultimately, this is more than a technical accounting standard. It is intended to be tailored to business realities and to serve multiple business objectives. Companies may find most value in implementing the standard using a phased approach, with a focus on improving the quality of the GHG inventory over time.
|
<urn:uuid:2a82775e-1335-47b5-917c-fadeb99d4b12>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://earthtrends.wri.org/publication/greenhouse-gas-protocol-corporate-value-chain-accounting-and-reporting-standard
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946889
| 256
| 2.015625
| 2
|
Vintage residents have a deep history. For many, that deep history includes memories of being an active part of the war. Each Vintage community honors these residents by putting their pictures on a “Veteran Wall.” Learn about Wallace, a veteran and his wife, Marilyn.
This story began in the city of Pasadena. Wallace and Marilyn met when they were four years old. They attended the same church and their mothers were friends. Wallace lived in Montebello and Marilyn in Pasadena. They grew up knowing each other and spending Sundays together. They attended different schools but were friendly throughout their childhood and adolescent years.
In 1943, Wallace joined the marines and was sent to Iwo Jima with the 5th Marines. He had just become engaged to a high school sweetheart right before departing for battle. But after enlisting and being sent off, he reconsidered and broke the engagement, thinking it would be unfair to have his fiancé wait for him. The next six weeks of war were very challenging ones for Wallace. The battle was treacherous and difficult to fathom. But Wallace persevered.
Wallace acknowledged it was a horrible war. When the flag was raised at Mount Suribachi, he shared that a roar could be heard from all the Americans. The point was so high, Americans could easily spot the American Flag. “It sends a chill in me to think of it” Wallace would say. “The flag stands for something. It stood for a lot that day.”
Wallace was discharged in 1946.
When Wallace returned in 1946, he once again became engaged to his high school sweetheart. Marilyn was invited to the wedding. But two weeks before, the wedding was once again called off, this time by the soon to be bride. It was for the best as Wallace did not feel as bad as he thought he would. It simply was not meant to be and this opened the possibility of a romance with Marilyn.
Marilyn and Wallace continued to be friends throughout this time. In fact, Wallace’s father would encourage Wallace to ask Marilyn out as he was fond of her. Finally, after week s of prompting, Wallace did ask Marilyn out after church one Sunday. Their first date was going to see “I’ve Always Loved You”, a war movie. Their courtship was quick and they become inseparable thereafter. Their relationship continued to strengthen and their romance was alive and well!
They were married in 1947 at the Church of Roses in Pasadena (which is still there). Marilyn was studying English literature and they moved into her mother’s home in Pasadena. Wallace found a job in the van and storage business and Marilyn found herself pregnant. They have resided in Alhambra for 57 years with 3 children.
For 65 years, Wallace and Marilyn have been together. They had a happy marriage, she shares, with many good times. Wallace was firm but never got angry and never raised his voice.
They both moved to Massie Hall at California Mission Inn in July of 2011. Marilyn shared she knew it was the right place when she visited and discovered the building was built in 1926, the same year as she was born, and was originally a home for missionaries. Her faith has always been strong.
“We love being here, it’s home” she says. “The staff is wonderful to us, from the food servers to the caregivers. They are all kind, considerate, ready to do the next step and so good at anticipating our needs. I am so happy here!”
In March of this year, 2012, Wallace moved to Recollections. Marilyn stayed in her apartment. Fortunately, they are on the same floor so she can visit him frequently. “Separating from Wallace was the hardest thing I have ever done. But I’ve gone the road as far as I can go with Wallace and we are in the best environment now.” They still dine together as well as spend quality time together, watching Dancing with the Stars, a favorite activity.
Marilyn concludes, “We have three wonderfully supportive children and three wonderfully supportive grandchildren. We could wish for nothing more. And here, we are surrounded by wonderful people. We are lucky!”
For more information on how Vintage has honored our veterans, visit our YouTube channel.
|
<urn:uuid:d72b71e7-52eb-4ca5-bb4a-8fce08159d5c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://blog.vintagesenior.com/tag/resident/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.98857
| 898
| 1.78125
| 2
|
Every smoke detector serves a different purpose. The primary reason to install them is to provide a means of early warning in the event of a fire. Smoke detectors may be used for detection of fire, to protect equipment or to connect with building functions. Spot-type detectors protect open areas; a projected beam line-type smoke detector works in an atrium; duct smoke detectors control air-handling systems.
Area smoke detectors primarily operate on either the ionization or photoelectric principle. The principle for ionization smoke detectors was invented in the late 1930s, but the first commercial detectors were not readily available until the 1950s. They operate by using a small amount of radioactive material, americium 241, to ionize the air particles within the detector. Smoke particles will attach themselves to the ionized air particles and reduce current flow. Once the current flow falls below a preset level, the detector will alarm. Ionization smoke detectors are good for detecting fires or dark smoke. However, they also are very susceptible to ambient conditions, such as cooking fumes, excessive airflow, exhaust or other fumes.
Photoelectric detectors have been around since the 1970s. They are more effective in detecting smoldering fires and are used more extensively than ionization detectors. However, they are more susceptible to false alarms triggered by steam or airborne dust or dirt. It is important to understand the type of fire and smoke that may be present, so the right type of smoke detector will be selected for the application.
Smoke detectors in commercial applications are connected to fire alarm systems to provide audible and visible notification for early warning and to control certain building functions to make the facility safer. Smoke detectors may automatically close doors to prevent smoke from traveling from one compartment to another. Slowing the spread of smoke provides occupants more time to exit the building.
Today, the technology has advanced to allow smoke detectors to evaluate multiple conditions, such as the type of smoke as well as heat, before they alarm. Although there are many complaints about false alarms, most alarms are caused by detectors responding to phenomena within their range of operation. If the proper types of smoke detectors are specified and installed, tested, and maintained properly, they provide a reliable means of protection, and the possibility of nuisance alarms is reduced greatly.
A common application is to install smoke detectors in elevator lobbies, machine rooms or hoistways to move elevators to a floor away from the fire in the event of smoke or fire in one of these locations. They also may be used to provide notification to fire fighters of the possibility of a fire in the elevator hoistway or machine room. A light would flash in the elevator car to notify them to exit the elevator before the elevator power is interrupted.
Duct smoke detectors are used to monitor the air conditioning systems in buildings. They are installed in the ductwork of the air handler and may simply shut down the fans upon detecting smoke to prevent distribution of smoke from one area of the building to another. In more elaborate setups, they control the building smoke control systems by opening or closing dampers.
The conflict between the two codes that require smoke detection in air ducts is a problem. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 90A, Standard for the Installation of HVAC Systems, is referenced where the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code is adopted. The International Mechanical Code (IMC) is referenced where the International Building Code (IBC) is adopted. A conflict results when a jurisdiction adopts both codes. NFPA 90A requires a smoke detector on the supply side of air handlers greater than 2,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) and also one on the return side if the air handler unit is greater than 15,000 cfm and serves more than one floor. The IMC only requires smoke detectors on the return side (the side that draws air from rooms in the building) of units over 2,000 cfm.
Smoke detectors also may be used to protect equipment. In NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm Code, there is a requirement to have a smoke detector in the vicinity of the fire alarm control unit if the room it is located in is not constantly attended. The purpose is to allow the fire alarm panel to transmit an alarm to the monitoring facility before it is incapacitated by a fire in that area.
The requirement for a smoke detector’s location is in the building, fire and life safety codes. The requirements for a smoke detector’s installation method are located in NFPA 72.
HAMMERBERG is currently the president/executive director of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association Inc. headquartered in Jasper, Ga. He serves on a number of NFPA committees, including the NFPA 72 Technical Correlating Committee and the Protected Premises Technical Committee. He can be reached at TomHammerberg@afaa.org.
|
<urn:uuid:87fbad9a-bd7d-4716-93de-2f4eff29939b>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ecmag.com/section/miscellaneous/alarming-versatility?qt-issues_block=1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.935542
| 989
| 3.609375
| 4
|
About Those Tax Returns: We’ve Seen This Tactic Before
With the current debate instigated by the Democratic Party and David Axelrod and Barack Obama regarding Romney’s tax returns, this strategy is nothing new. Two points are immediately obvious. First, as long as Obama’s obedient media keeps harping on the issue, it will be kept in the forefront. Second, Mitt Romney is under no legal or moral obligation to release ten years worth of tax | Read More »
Economic Data to Predict the Election
When looking at most of the literature regarding the effect of economic data on presidential election outcomes, most pundits point to the big three: GDP, unemployment, and gas prices. GDP is a general gauge of the overall health of the economy, unemployment and gas prices are obvious. However, several economists have found higher correlations regarding economic data like the ISM Manufacturing Index and electoral outcomes. | Read More »
What Do Independents Really Want From Romney?
Sean Trend of Real Clear Politics recently had an analysis of a Pew Study regarding the upcoming presidential election. Specifically, he cites the fact that when people were asked whether they had an opinion of Obama, 90% had to 8% no. Regarding Mitt Romney, the split was that 69% had an opinion, but 28% had not. Most importantly, with independents who had not reached a | Read More »
If Bain Capital, Then Why Not Jeremiah Wright?
It is a sad state in the world of politics that probably one of the most important elections in this Nation’s history has descended into a perception of the past. Poll after poll indicates that jobs, the economy, health care, and budget deficits are most on the minds of American voters. Instead, in Congress we are debating campaign finance reform in the non-starter DISCLOSE Act | Read More »
Is Mitt Romney This Year’s John McCain?
There is no shortage of ideas as to why John McCain lost the election in 2008 to Barack Obama. However, one iconic image of McCain remains from that campaign. In the midst of one of the worst financial collapses in American history, McCain suspended his campaign to ride into Washington, DC on his white horse to save the day. Although he was granted a seat | Read More »
Around the Circuits Again: Some Interesting Cases
Its time for another installment of interesting cases from the various Circuit Courts of Appeal that may wind their way before the Supreme Court eventually. Incidentally, they are called “circuits” because federal judges used to literally “ride the circuits” as in stagecoach circuits deciding cases. Just a little historical tidbit for your reading consumption. Starting in the 1st Circuit, that Court has ruled that Boston | Read More »
Electoral Projections: Still No Changes, but Looking Up
Generally speaking, every time I write one of these entries, I get comments to the effect that polls at this time mean little, or that this state or that state is in play, or complaints about the accuracy of polls. Let me state right up front, as I do every time, that with a little over 4 months to the election, anything can change. We | Read More »
We Got OUR 5-4 Decision: Don’t Over-React
Following the health care decision this morning on the Internet as it unfolded with CNN blaring in the background, I was, like most readers here, surprised. Incidentally, while CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was announcing the mandate was struck down and lining up liberal talking heads to comment, the Internet was reporting, correctly, the opposite. Jeffrey Toobin apologies aside for the initial confusion, it is quite evident | Read More »
A Hypothetical, Tongue-in-Cheek Conversation
The following is a discussion between Mitt Romney and his campaign manager and advisers. Advisor: Now that we have the nomination wrapped up, Mitt, we have to turn to the convention in Tampa. Romney: Yes, a few days in the hot Florida sun will do everyone good, I think. Listen, we have the platform stuff all tidied up right? I don’t want any surprises down | Read More »
A Triple Smack Down for Obama in Supreme Court
Yesterday, June 18th, the US Supreme Court announced four opinions, and three that involved the federal government and positions taken by the Obama Administration. The fourth decision was a Confrontation Clause case and DNA testimony involving a state trial in which the federal government was not involved. In the three cases- two involving Indian tribes, but having ramifications beyond Indian affairs- the federal government came | Read More »
|
<urn:uuid:53b9c2cf-384f-4dea-8474-c1f4491fd1ae>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.redstate.com/davenj1/tag/mitt-romney/page/2/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958729
| 947
| 1.726563
| 2
|
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CPIX) today announced top-line results from two registry studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Caldolor® (ibuprofen) Injection administered over a shortened infusion time in treating pain and fever in adult patients. The studies involved 450 patients receiving Caldolor at 35 leading medical centers throughout the United States.
The first of two registry studies was a phase IV multi-center, open-label surveillance clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of ibuprofen administered intravenously over five to ten minutes to adult patients in the hospital setting with temperature fever (>101°F) and/or pain (visual analog scale (VAS) assessment >3). Eligible patients were enrolled to receive one of two dose strengths (400 mg for treatment of fever, 800 mg for treatment of pain) of intravenous ibuprofen for up to a 24-hour dosing period. One hundred fifty patients from 13 clinical sites were enrolled in this study. Intravenous ibuprofen reduced fever and pain and the shortened infusion time was well tolerated.
The second of two registry studies was a phase IV multi-center, open-label surveillance clinical study to assess the safety of ibuprofen administered intravenously over five to ten minutes to adult hospitalized patients undergoing surgical procedures. Eligible patients were enrolled to receive 800 mg intravenous ibuprofen administered at induction of anesthesia and could continue Caldolor therapy for up to 24 hours. Three hundred patients from 21 clinical sites were enrolled in this study. The shortened infusion time was well tolerated.
"We are pleased to complete these two important studies supporting the safety of a shortened Caldolor infusion time," said A.J. Kazimi, Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals. "We remain committed to the ongoing development of our brands and expanding the patient safety database for our products."
Caldolor is indicated for the management of mild to moderate pain and management of moderate to severe pain as an adjunct to opioid analgesics, and for the reduction of fever in adults. It is the first FDA approved intravenous therapy for fever. Caldolor is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, patients with asthma, urticaria, or allergic type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Caldolor is contraindicated for use during the peri-operative period in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Caldolor should be used with caution in patients with prior history of ulcer disease or GI bleeding, in patients with fluid retention or heart failure, in the elderly, those with renal impairment, heart failure, liver impairment, and those taking diuretics or ACE inhibitors. Blood pressure should be monitored during treatment with Caldolor. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit www.caldolor.com.
About Cumberland Pharmaceuticals
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a Tennessee-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of branded prescription products. The Company's primary target markets include hospital acute care and gastroenterology. Cumberland's marketed products include Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning, Caldolor® (ibuprofen) Injection, the first injectable treatment for pain and fever approved in the United States, and Kristalose® (lactulose) for Oral Solution, a prescription laxative. Cumberland is dedicated to providing innovative products which improve quality of care for patients. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.cumberlandpharma.com.
Important Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Cumberland's current views on future events, based on what it believes are reasonable assumptions. No assurance can be given that these events will occur. As with any business, all phases of operations are subject to influences outside of the Company's control. Risk factors that could materially affect results of operations include market conditions, competition from existing and new products, an inability or failure of manufacturers to produce the Company's products on a timely basis or to comply with stringent regulations applicable to drug manufacturers, maintaining and building an effective sales and marketing infrastructure, government regulation, the possibility that patent rights may provide limited protection from competition, and other factors including those under the headings "Risk factors" and "Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations" in Cumberland's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2011. There can be no assurance that results anticipated by Cumberland will be realized or, if realized, that they will have the expected effects. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Cumberland undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
SOURCE Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc.
|
<urn:uuid:7f4587ae-ecb6-4833-aaf7-7ff0dec17598>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.stockhouse.com/news/usreleasesdetail.aspx?n=8740882
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.930962
| 1,042
| 1.507813
| 2
|
Old Town of Avila (Spain)
In October 1993 the Centre was informed of a project to construct a new bridge over the river Rio Adajo just outside the historic walls of the city and close to the Roman bridge. ICOMOS reported that the bridge would directly affect the view on the city. The Spanish Delegation informed the Committee that complementary information from the municipal authorities was expected and that as soon as this was available, the Centre would receive a report in this respect. The Committee expressed its concern on this matter and requested the Centre to inform the municipal authorities, and ask them to study other possibilities of solving the traffic flow.
|
<urn:uuid:90ac5f0e-4e44-4035-a859-fed645181d8f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/3305/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.976696
| 129
| 2.0625
| 2
|
Where Have All the Capitalists Gone?
I ventured over to the school of engineering today to hear a lecture from Boeing's Chief Technological Officer. Being in a "social science," I was looking forward to some good old fashioned capitalist talk. You know, men who wear ties and not track pants, free bottled water, profits, markets, calculus, etc?
The talk was impressive in a sense. The CTO highlighted Boeing's technological successes by showing us videos of the materials testing they had to endure to satisfy the FAA. They basically would bend the wings of a 787 about 25 feet from the tip on each side, making the plane virtually U shaped. They would land 787's all around the world, in freezing cold, in 35-50 mph crosswinds, loaded down with a million pounds of steel. The tests were impressive enough to earn a spontaneous round of applause from the audience of mostly engineers and faculty. Plus, you have to admit, humans went from not being able to fly in 1903 to a jet engine by the 1930's. That's an extraordinary rate of growth!
But then came the truly impressive portion of the talk; environmental progressivism and diversity! According to the CTO, the "most important"... let me say that again ... the MOST IMPORTANT objective technologically for Boeing is environmentally progressive operations. Large portions of research dollars are devoted to bio fuels that are never to be made using drinkable water or food sources. At this point, students began to look around and some rolled their eyes. Some fat bearded grad student laughed... I won't say who. Words like "footprint," "carbon reduction" and "community" were used.
Finally, the whole talk was capped off by something that looked like a University of Iowa brochure that had been shoddily photo shopped. A video was shown that included a virtual ethnic tapestry of diversity; people from all races laughing, pointing at diagrams and whatnot. I looked around the room and wondered if all the nerdy Asian and white guys jived with the whole "diversity" portion of the technological presentation.
Why is it that every company feels the need to pay lip service to climate change and diversity? I wanted to ask the fella, "did someone from the government make you say these things?" Was he jumping through hoops to keep various tax incentives or to keep the FAA and other regulatory agencies happy?
Boeing is one of the world's most technologically advanced companies, to be sure. They can put a man on the moon if they want to. The race and creed of that man and the fact that he flew there on cow farts or jet fuel make absolutely no difference to me. Do these things make a difference to anyone?
Why can't a company be proud of the technological advances they've given to the world, the jobs to their employees and the massive economic growth their technology has produced? Will we conservatives and capitalists ever stop being embarrassed about what we believe in?
|
<urn:uuid:93d53718-6844-47fe-8b33-86f6f93d9b3c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Where-Have-All-the-Capitalists-Gone
|
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
| 0.972189
| 609
| 1.640625
| 2
|
Samhith sitting in one place is not something you can see very often. Samhith listening to something intently is even rarer! But, there was a time last week, when my little boy actually sat quietly (well, almost quietly) for over an hour, intently listening, asking questions in between, peering close to see the details he was hearing about. What was it that interested him? Nothing less than the Egyptian Mummy which has travelled all the way from London to our very own Mumbai!
|Photo Courtesy: Mummy - The Inside Story, Facebook Page |
Nesperennub was a priest, who, like other members of his family, served at the temple complex of Amun-Ra at Karnak, in the shrine of Khons. The reason for his death isn’t very clear, but he must have lived sometime between c. 945 – 715 BC. His mummy was discovered at Luxor, the site of the ancient city of Thebes, in the 1890s and brought to the British Museum in London, in 1899. Now, more than a century later, he travels the globe, educating people across the continents, about his ancient civilization.
What makes this even more interesting is the fact that the exhibits don’t just explain the history and practices of the Egyptians, but they explain how we know about these things in the first place. Each item in the exhibit has its own story, and explains how it fits in with the rest. The mummy literally comes to life, with the visual presentation taking us inside, showing us what is left of Nesperenubb, and how we learn so much about him.
The Mummy exhibit begins with a visual presentation in the auditorium. “Mummy – The Inside Story” is screened every single day, every hour, on the hour, at the Auditorium right next to the Museum store. Please sit through the presentation before setting forth to see the exhibits. Believe me, it helps explain so much!
The exhibition itself is spread over 4 rooms, and there are free guided tours available at 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM every day. If you are not in time for these, or want a peaceful tour of the exhibits, there are audio guides available at the entrance for Rs. 70. This is not too steep a charge for a guide which takes you through the entire exhibition, step by step. The running time for the audio guide is about 45 minutes, but actually walking through the exhibits and listening to it took us more than an hour and a half. And this is what made Samhith actually sit down and listen. No human guide could have done that! So, go, get yourself and your kids an audio guide and see how much more they listen!
There is no doubt that the exhibition is aimed at the children. The language is simple, and easy to understand, no matter how complex the story told. Besides, the third section is just for kids – there are books to read, bookmarks to be made, drawing and colouring to be done, and photos to be taken, all on the Egyptian theme. Besides all these, there are also some lovely books at the exit, perfect for kids of all ages! My only grouse is that most of them are too expensive. However, the exhibit catalogue is on sale, and is worth a buy. It explains the entire exhibition in detail, and helps you remember all the facts you might have missed or forgotten.
The Mummy is at the Mumbai museum for exactly 2 more months – till the 24th of March. If you live in Mumbai, or are even visiting, during this period, please do not miss this exhibition. The museum has been kept especially open on Mondays just for this, so please make the most of it.
The Museum also has put up a load of information on their website, giving information for people visiting, for teachers, and also activities for kids. Please check their website before you go.
There are also loads of activities for kids, but most of the events have been held either on weekdays or weekends when we haven’t been free. But I have been hearing good things about them, so if you can, go, attend them... and let us know how they were. Also, there are special activities conducted for school groups, and you can contact the museum for further details.
|
<urn:uuid:f08a0f8c-45e3-4b34-9836-41e07bca8706>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2013/01/meeting-mummy-at-museum-in-mumbai.html?showComment=1359031059094
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.972181
| 902
| 2.25
| 2
|
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Workout for Joint Pain
I have planter fasasitas in both heals, bone spurs on the knuckles of both big toes, pain and swelling in both Knees and now my hip is inflammed. I am overweight which has happened I think due to the medication I have been taking for these problems for the last few years. I know I need to loose some weight to help with these bone issues I have. My question is what type of excersises should I do that will not irritate any of the above issues, or what type of exercise machine would be best to help out with this??
Thank you for your question. I am sure this is a very frustrating situation. We always recommend having a physical exam before beginning any exercise program, especially since you have multiple injuries you are dealing with. This exam will give you baseline information on your weight, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
Once your physician clears you to workout, I would suggest beginning with pool workouts 3-4 times/week (water aerobics, swimming, jogging in the deep end) where you add time on to each session.
After a few weeks, I would progress to seated bike workouts 3-4 time/wk. During these workouts, include both distance (30-40 minutes at a steady pace) and sprint work (i.e. after a 5 minute warm up, peddle as fast as you can for 20 seconds, then peddle slowly for 40 seconds, repeat for 20 sprints and follow with a 5 minute cool down).
After another few weeks, you can progress to an elliptical machine which is very easy on the joints.
I would also recommend you include some strength training 2-3 times a week, even if it is only 20 minutes (3-4 exercises with dumbbells). This will help speed up your metabolism and allow you lose weight more quickly vs. just cardio alone.
Additionally, you will need to make changes to your diet to allow for weight loss but include the right foods to give you energy to workout. Your physician can recommend someone to speak with regarding your diet.
It may be in your best interest to join a gym that will include some sessions with a certified personal trainer who can help you design your workout program and make sure you are familiar with all the equipment.
Starting an exercise program can seem daunting, but make a plan, make time in your day and stick to the program. It may take several weeks to see significant gains, but if you stay with it, you will achieve your goal!
Vincent J O'Brien, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
Clinical Instructor at the School of Allied Medical Professions
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University
|
<urn:uuid:4aa86210-6504-40d9-b41e-ae37d1ea9930>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.netwellness.uc.edu/question.cfm/74216.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961716
| 601
| 1.679688
| 2
|
China is 'world's largest hacking victim,' ambassador says
12.09.12 @ 19:32
BRUSSELS - China’s ambassador to the EU, Wu Hailong, on Wednesday (12 September) refuted a recent Bloomberg report that hackers linked to his government had broken into the email accounts of 11 senior EU officials, including one belonging to EU Council president Herman Van Rompuy.
"I read this story and I think there are many more similar cases reported in recent years. I think China is the largest victim in terms of hacker attacks," said Hailong.
Hailong said Chinese agencies and businesses are beingattacked on a daily basis but choose to keep quiet, unlike some Western counterparts.
"There is a cultural difference. In the EU, people go to the media. The same happens in China, but we do not go to the media. We firmly oppose hacking," he said.
A US-led investigation last summer claimed a hacker group with links to China's military, the People's Liberation Army, infiltrated and stole information, including attachments, from the EU institutions' email accounts.
The attacks took place over a period of four days in July 2011.
The Bloomberg report said the attacks are possibly part of a larger pattern to secure trade advantages by the Chinese. Other targets included lawyers working on anti-trust claims against China.
Wu's comments come ahead of the 15th EU-China summit on 20 September.
"It is the most important event in China-EU ties in 2012," said Hailong, who noted that it will also be Wen Jiabao, the outgoing Chinese premier's, final visit to the EU as a head of state.
Some 80 percent of China's exports end up in Europe.
The summit aims to help address the brewing trade disputes between the two sides. Among them is the recent anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar panels from China by the European Commission.
The European Commission claims sufficient evidence has been put forward to conduct a 15-month investigation into the multi-billion-euro industry.
Hailong noted that a negative outcome of the investigation could have potentially damaging affects on EU industry. While the panels are made in China "the machinery and technology was all from Europe, and specifically Germany" he said.
Meanwhile, the commission on Wednesday set up the EU's Computer Emergency Response Team, or CERT-EU, in order to better defend itself against cyber espionage in future.
Commission administration chief Maros Sefcovic noted that EU institutions are "frequently the target of information security incidents." The CERT-EU will be tasked to protect institutions from an ever greater and more sophisticated attempts by hackers to infiltrate the systems.
The project had already been in place as a pilot for the past year but has proven itself effective at thwarting attacks, claims the commission.
Sefcovic's spokesperson, Antony Gravili, would not comment on the origin of the attacks, but noted that even if such attacks were "routed via computers in China [it] does not mean it is an attack by the Chinese."
|
<urn:uuid:a290e230-0fd6-4f84-8ddc-d102c1a387a6>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://euobserver.com/foreign/117524
|
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
| 0.964596
| 636
| 1.875
| 2
|
When Rachel Boynton first went to Africa to research her documentary Big Men, which premiered this week at the Tribeca Film Festival, she had three unrelated phone numbers. Six years later, she had a film that takes an expansive, yet focused, look at how oil makes its way from deep in an ocean off the coast of Ghana to the U.S. stock exchange, and the ensuing complications.
The film explores the connections between the Ghanaian company who finds the oil field, the small Texas oil company who drills, the Wall Street private equity partners who invest, and the Ghanaian government officials who manage the contracts. The glitch, depending on your seat, comes when Ghanaian leadership changes, the justice department is called in to investigate allegations of corruption on the part of the U.S. firm and credit contracts due to the financial crisis.
The film’s backdrop is the increasing violence in Nigeria, where militants are stealing from and blowing up foreign gas pipelines in an effort to siphon off profits from the corrupt Nigerian government who isn’t sharing the riches. The doc simultaneously looks at the process and implications of western companies investing in foreign oil ventures, profiles an African country trying to profit after centuries of exploitation and watches as everyone navigates how to slice the billion-dollar pie.
Boynton also looks at the psychological motivations for the individual players, all striving to be masters of the universe, or in West African parlance, "big men." Rolling Stone spoke with Boynton about her cautious optimism for Ghana, the legacy of Milton Friedman and working with Brad Pitt and Sebastian Junger.
The Fossil Fuel Resistance
How did you become interested in oil and this particular topic?
In 2006, when I started making the film, oil prices were really, really high. You couldn’t turn on the TV without hearing about the price of oil. You couldn’t pick up a newspaper without seeing it in the headlines. I’d just made this movie that was about democracy and marketing, called Our Brand is Crisis, and I knew I wanted to make another film with big ideas and big questions about the way the world works. Oil is the most important resource on the planet, and I had never seen a movie that really looks at the question of what happens when the most valuable resource on the planet is found in one of the poorest places on the planet.
You open the film with a quote from Milton Friedman about greed. What does that quote mean to you in connection with this story?
Well, I start with two quotes. Milton Friedman, when he talks about greed, he is talking about it as the engine in society, he is talking about it as greed is good. It motivates our economy and it motivates our society. I felt very strongly that you needed another quote after that to balance out that attitude, because there is a cost, there is a price. Basically he was Mr. Individualism. But at a certain point you also have to think about how we are all connected to each other, and what the price of an over-emphasis on maximum individual profit might be. The second quote is a quote from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. It’s about these guys who go looking for gold and it destroys their relationship. I think of the movie as a modern day Treasure of the Sierra Madre with real people and access over the course of six years.
It also becomes clear that Ghana pushing back on foreign companies in an effort to correct centuries of imperialism and exploitation, and although this causes problems for western powers, the Ghanaians are really just trying to right their own ship. Absolutely. The fundamental question in the movie is who gets what out of the deal and so then the question is whom is pitted against whom in the deal. You’ve got private capital – Wall Street – you’ve got the oil company, you’ve got governments and you’ve got the people. And those are the principal entities looking to get a piece of the pie.
You explore the fallout from oil exploration in Nigeria. Do you think that the same thing could happen in Ghana?
Well sure. The same thing can happen anywhere where oil is discovered. But I’m cautiously optimistic about Ghana. They are asking for advice from all sorts of people and there is really a vibrant press there, and people who are asking questions of the government, watchdogs basically. The problem is there is just so much money involved. And there’s just a lot of practical things that need to be addressed, like you have to teach your ministry of finance how to do the accounting properly. I’m optimistic about Ghana but there is a danger that it could become Nigeria, just as there is a danger that anywhere where a massively valuable resource is found can become a hotbed for corruption.
But this seems like an ongoing issue in international development, are there any proactive measures that can be taken?
There are certain groups for example, Revenue Watch or EITI, that have initiatives called 'Publish What You Pay' where they are encouraging oil companies to publish how much money they pay in any country, so the people can hold governments accountable for how much money they get. The movement for transparency is a big help. But that question doesn’t address the question of the division of profit between the country and the company and what is a just and right distribution of profits. To me this isn’t just a movie about Africa, or what is going to happen in Ghana, it is also a movie about how New York and Texas are connected to these places.
It seems like everyone is trying to be the "big men," the Texas landmen, the Nigerian militants, the Ghanaian people, the politicians. . . .
The tag line on the poster is 'Everyone wants to be big.' And it’s funny because the term 'big man' or 'big men' is a very common term in Nigeria and in Ghana. There it’s an every day phrase. But it’s not just everyone in Nigeria or everyone in Ghana. It’s Milton Friedman. Everyone wants to be big, everyone wants more for his own people. And so then the question becomes how do we define who our own is?
I found the story of the man who originally discovered the oil to Ghana to be really heartbreaking. He wanted the recognition so badly and wasn’t getting it. It is interesting when you think about the movie, when you think about what makes someone big, it’s money and it’s reputation. Both of those things, they get mentioned over and over again. And they are linked but they are not the same thing.
Speaking of big men, Brad Pitt executive-produced the film. What was his involvement?
I was traveling with Sebastian Junger in the Niger Delta, he was writing an article for Vanity Fair, and he had had some correspondence with this guy called Jomo Bomo, who was basically the publicist for the militants. He had written Jomo Bomo saying, hey, can I get access and Jomo Bomo had written back saying, I don’t know who you are, you are out of luck. And then apparently Jomo looked him up on the internet and read about The Perfect Storm. Once he figured out who Sebastian Junger is he said, 'Oh, no problem, I’ll give you access, just give me a signed copy of your book.' So I thought, I need to bring on an executive producer that means something, and I went home and I asked Brad Pitt to executive produce the movie, and he read the pitch and he got really excited.
Do you think you’d see a story like this in Brazil, which has recently developed an oil economy, or is there something about this story that is unique to Africa?
No. The question of corruption is a question everywhere. It is not just about Africa, or Brazil, because everyone wants to be big. And oil money is just so huge. We are talking about billions of dollars. That doesn’t happen very often, and the potential for corruption increases exponentially.
|
<urn:uuid:4b4ca4e2-87d2-4791-9673-20d39c962eda>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.bigbradpitt.com/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.972118
| 1,675
| 1.75
| 2
|
.- St. Mary’s University of Juba, a Catholic university in the south Sudan, was officially inaugurated on April 16. The Sudan Tribune said that the new university is the second in Juba, the capital of the semi-autonomous region that is recovering from more than 20 years of civil war. Students began classes last month.
The university’s inauguration was officiated by Southern Sudan’s state Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs Mary Kiden Kimbo, the Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA) reports.
She officiated on behalf of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
“Ignorance would be more expensive to eradicate than poverty, the father of chronic diseases in Southern Sudan,” she said, thanking a church official for supporting the people’s movement during the war and for providing relief, healthcare and education in peacetime.
According to CISA, Central Equatoria State minister of Education Stephen Lemi Governor praised the Catholic Church for its work in developing human resources in Southern Sudan, where he said many people had lost opportunities for better education during the war.
Archbishop of Juba Paulino Lukudu Loro thanked the donors who helped build the university, asking them not to abandon the archdiocese.
He also urged all southern Sudanese to be responsible in nurturing the institution to become the best of its kind.
|
<urn:uuid:81e0d22a-5ac2-4f9a-b447-224c614a8204>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new_catholic_university_inaugurated_in_south_sudan/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00071-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.963215
| 289
| 1.5
| 2
|
According to recent estimates, healthcare spending in the United States will reach $4.5 trillion—over 19 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product—by the year 2019. Healthcare is second only to the food sector in franchise growth. This growth may offer remarkable opportunities for franchisors of healthcare concepts, as an aging and longer-living population demands more healthcare services.
Seasoned franchise lawyers are familiar with the many issues that must be considered when developing more “conventional” franchise systems, such as restaurants, tutoring services and automotive care concepts. Those same lawyers may be surprised to learn that the patchwork of federal and state laws controlling the sale of franchises is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to regulations that govern franchises offering healthcare services.
Healthcare franchises include concepts such as Pearle Vision®, Doctors Express® and Health Mart®. The franchisors of these concepts offer vision centers, urgent care clinics and pharmacies, respectively. There are, of course, many other examples of franchised healthcare businesses, including dental offices, chiropractic clinics and med-spas.
Healthcare franchises are appealing to wellness providers, for the same reasons that conventional franchise concepts are appealing to laypersons. The operational support, established training methods and promotional programs that franchisors offer may help a healthcare franchisee navigate through a daunting array of regulatory issues. Still, the reality is that when a franchised business offers the services of licensed healthcare professionals, an ill-conceived pricing promotion or coupon can result in a substantial financial penalty and a prison sentence for unwary franchisors or franchisees.
Healthcare franchisors and their counsel must be aware that practices that seem harmless when performed within the traditional franchise model may create substantial liabilities when applied to a healthcare franchise. A thorough understanding of the interplay of franchise law and healthcare law is essential to avoid such liabilities, and to provide proper operational guidance to franchisees.
Among the most significant regulatory issues that affect licensed healthcare professional franchises are restrictions against the corporate practice of medicine, prohibitions on certain types of payment arrangements and prohibitions against self-referrals.
II. Corporate Practice of Medicine
In broad terms, the prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine means that laypersons and general-purpose corporations may not employ physicians to practice medicine—effectively confining the delivery of medical services to entities owned and controlled only by licensed medical professionals and precluding the sharing of professional fees between physicians and non-licensed entities. The term “physicians” may include optometrists, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists and, of course, medical doctors. The ban on the corporate practice of medicine may be found in state statutes, attorneys general opinions, medical practice acts or a combination of these. The purpose of the prohibition is to ensure that licensed healthcare professionals maintain independence over the care of their patients without the undue influence of unlicensed corporations and laypersons.
The ban on the corporate practice of medicine means that franchised businesses that directly provide healthcare services cannot be owned or controlled by non-licensed persons or general corporations. If healthcare services are to be provided in conjunction with the franchise model, an independent licensed professional must provide them, or own the franchise. Further, a licensed healthcare professional may not share a professional fee with a non-licensed franchisor or franchisee. Doing so is considered to be assisting an unlicensed person to practice medicine. For example, a general corporation or layperson may own a vision center franchise and be in the business of selling eyeglass frames and sunglasses. If that vision center also offers optometry examinations, an independent doctor of optometry must provide them. There must be a clear separation of the healthcare services and the retail services offered by the vision center. Of course, this is true whether the vision center is franchised or not.
In some states, such as New York, violating the prohibition on the corporate practice of medicine is a felony. See N.Y. Educ. Law § 6512. In California, corporate practice of medicine violations are punishable by imprisonment from six months to five years, and a fine of $50,000 or double the amount of the fraud, whichever is greater. See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2417.5, as amended by Assembly Bill 2566.
A franchise lawyer evaluating a healthcare franchise should consider two threshold questions in connection with the ban on the corporate practice of medicine: (1) do the services furnished by the franchisee constitute a “professional service” subject to corporate practice restrictions, such as optometry or dentistry?; and (2) if so, can the franchise be structured in a manner that preserves the autonomy of the licensed professional?
Courts and government authorities differentiate between the business and the medical elements of delivering healthcare services. By focusing on the delivery of business services and leaving medical decisions to licensed healthcare professionals, a franchise system increases its ability to survive challenges alleging the corporate practice of medicine.
III. The “Anti-Kickback” Statute
42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b is known as the federal "Anti-Kickback" Statute (“AKS”). The AKS prohibits healthcare providers, whether licensed or unlicensed, from offering or receiving cash payments or anything of similar value in exchange for referrals that are paid for by federal programs. Senior care services, pharmacies and dental franchises are but a few of the categories for which AKS awareness should be a high priority. Providing rebates on professional services, demanding unreasonably high payments for medical support services (such as billing and transcription), furnishing tickets to entertainment events or any other remuneration that can be considered a cash or “in kind” payment may violate the AKS. See 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(b).
The AKS arose out of government concerns that inappropriate payments made to healthcare professionals might influence those professionals to specify products and services that are medically unnecessary or potentially injurious to patients. Likewise, offering patients any type of payment that encourages the utilization of federal payment programs may have the same effect on healthcare decisions. To protect both patients and the taxpayers that fund Medicaid and Medicare from personal and economic harm, Congress enacted a prohibition against the payment of “kickbacks” in any form. Cash, goods or just about any type of benefit in kind can be deemed a kickback. Statutory exceptions, known as “safe harbors,” set forth acceptable practices not subject to prosecution under the AKS, despite appearing to fall within the statute’s parameters. See 42 C.F.R. § 1001.952. These safe harbors apply only to those arrangements that precisely meet all of the many requirements contained in each exception.
Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have anti-kickback laws. State anti-kickback laws typically apply to all third-party payers, while the federal statute only applies to payments in connection with federal healthcare programs. Some state anti-kickback laws lack the intent requirements of the federal law and may also differ from federal law with regard to the types of safe harbors applied. For example, the federal AKS exempts compensation paid by an employer to a legitimate employee, while Florida’s anti-kickback statute does not. Interestingly, Florida courts have also held that state anti-kickback law is preempted by federal anti-kickback law. State v. Harden, 873 So.2d 352 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2004).
Although franchises are independently owned and operated businesses, federal authorities have not hesitated to pursue franchisors in AKS lawsuits arising from the actions of franchisees. In the year 2000, TLC Home Health Services LLC and its affiliates (“TLC”) had approximately 150 franchised units. The franchisees performed home healthcare services and submitted costs to Medicaid for services rendered to Medicaid recipients. TLC agreed to pay a six-figure settlement to resolve its potential AKS liability for the actions of a single franchisee. See Office of the Inspector General Fraud Report, 02‑15‑2005. TLC’s settlement was offered notwithstanding the fact that its franchisee was separately (and successfully) prosecuted by the Office of the Inspector General for paying commissions to consultants who provided “marketing services.” These consultants were paid a fee for each new homecare patient that their marketing steered to the franchisee. That fee was considered a payment to encourage overutilization of services submitted to a federal program for payment. TLC also paid $1.4 million to settle an action under the federal False Claims Act, which action was brought because of the unlawful activities of yet another franchisee. See U.S. ex rel. Pina et al. v. Staff Builders, Inc. et. al., Civ. No. 96-86664 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 23, 1996).
The AKS safe harbors are numerous, subject to change and highly technical. This makes a thorough analysis beyond the scope of this article, but safe harbors may include payments in connection with:
- Space rental
- Equipment rental
- Personal services and management contracts
- Referral services
- Compensation to legitimate employees
- Group purchasing organizations
- Price reductions offered to health plans
- Ambulatory surgical centers
- Electronic health records items and service
Each of the above is described in a separate, detailed section of the AKS. See 42 C.F.R. § 1001.952. The complete list of exceptions may be found at: http://goo.gl/GKCAA.
Franchisors and franchisees should ensure that arrangements in which a healthcare franchisee is offering discounts, exchanges or reduced-cost services to a patient, or receiving the same from a supplier, are precisely described in documents that have been reviewed by counsel experienced in both healthcare and franchise law.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 provides for civil monetary penalties for violations of the AKS in amounts up to $50,000 per violation and assessments equal to not more than three times the amount of the remuneration paid under the arrangement. See 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(a)(7). Violating state anti-kickback laws may subject a provider to disciplinary action by a state’s licensing board in addition to other sanctions. Counsel are well advised to carefully analyze the preferred supplier and discounting aspects of any franchise system that involves reimbursement by any third-party payer.
IV. Franchise Daily Deals
Websites such as Groupon® and LivingSocial® have recently come under scrutiny for offering discounts on healthcare services, including those provided by franchises. A recent deal offered “$50 for $200 credit towards exam and eyeglasses” at locations of a vision center franchise. Another deal offered “$24 for four chiropractic adjustments normally priced at $116” at participating chiropractic franchises. In both cases there is a real possibility that the law was broken. Daily deal sites keep up to half of the payments received from deal offer recipients and, in the above instances, the recipients become patients. These transactions may constitute fee splitting with a non-licensed person or general corporation, which is strictly prohibited by federal and state corporate practice of medicine laws. Moreover, there may be a violation of the AKS, because a payment was made to the deal site for a patient referral, and for goods and services that may be reimbursable under government programs. Adding to the complexity of the issue is that legal standards concerning which procedures constitute the practice of medicine and which healthcare professionals are included in fee-splitting prohibitions vary by jurisdiction. While most states are still grappling with this issue, medical boards in Oregon have advised chiropractors and dentists against participating in daily deal websites. See http://www.oregon.gov/OBCE/pdfs/OBCE_Stmt_Groupon_and_Fee_Splitting_7_21_2011.pdf?ga=1.
V. Prohibitions Against Physician Self-Referral
Certain federal and state laws prohibit a licensed healthcare professional from referring patients to designated health service (“DHS”) providers if the referring professional or a family member has a financial relationship with that DHS provider. The applicable federal law is 42 U.S.C. § 1395nn, commonly known as the “Stark Law.” The law is named for U.S. Congressman Pete Stark, sponsor of the initial bill. Creation of the Stark Law was spurred by studies showing that the number of tests ordered by physicians increased if the referring provider possessed an ownership interest in the testing facility. If the franchise system offers a business that is likely to receive payments from Medicare or Medicaid, the franchisor must structure the system to comply with the Stark Law.
As is the case with the federal AKS, several states enforce their own self-referral laws (or “mini” Stark Laws). While the federal Stark Law only applies to referrals for the service classifications set forth in the statute and when the services provided as a result of the referral may be paid by a federal benefits program, some states limit referrals by licensed healthcare professionals regardless of whether the payer is a governmental entity.
Among the 34 states that have statutes against self-referrals are Arizona (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1401(25)(ff)); California (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §650.01–02); Colorado (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-4-410.5); Minnesota (2004 Minn. ALS 198 (S.B. 2080)); and New York (10 NYCRR §34.1, et seq.). State laws vary widely in several respects. In California, the self-referral prohibition applies not only to persons licensed in the “healing acts,” but their immediate family members. See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 650.01-02. Arizona’s self-referral law applies only to medical doctors and surgeons. See A.R.S. § 32-1401(27)(ff). In other instances, application of state law depends on the type of services being referred. For example, Montana’s self-referral law specifically prohibits medical practitioners from owning pharmacies. See Mont. Code Ann. § 37-2-103.
The following is a partial list of the DHS facilities to which patients must not be referred if a financial interest is present:
- Clinical laboratories
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Outpatient speech pathologists
- Radiologists and other providers of imaging services
- Durable medical supplies providers
- Home healthcare service providers
Considering the number of franchised medical testing labs, pharmacies and home healthcare businesses currently operating, the relevance of the federal Stark Law and “mini” Stark Laws to franchising should be clear. The consequences of violating the federal Stark Law are severe. They include a $15,000 per referral fine and imposition of a $100,000 civil penalty for each ongoing arrangement considered to be an attempt to evade the law. See 42 U.S.C.S. § 1395nn.
VI. Practical Tips
Here are a few guidelines for healthcare franchisors and franchisees alike:
- The combination of legal issues relating to franchising and legal issues relating to healthcare can create unexpected liabilities if operations and system standards are not clearly established before a single franchise is sold.
- Franchisors and franchisees should ensure that national and local promotional materials are reviewed by counsel familiar with anti-kickback statutes, as well as franchise advertising law.
- Supplier and vendor agreements should be carefully analyzed so as to identify any rebate, discount or kick-back that might be considered an impermissible payment given or received by franchisors and franchisees.
Healthcare businesses account for over 14 million jobs in the United States and are expected to create approximately three million new jobs over the next decade. Ten of the top 20 fastest growing careers are in healthcare. As our population ages and life expectancies increase, the need for healthcare also will increase, thus enhancing the potential opportunity for healthcare franchises to flourish. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, healthcare franchisors, franchisees and their counsel must be prepared to continually monitor and manage the complex array of franchise and healthcare laws and regulations at all levels of the government. While definitely a challenge, the payoff may be well worth the investment.
|
<urn:uuid:0cfadeef-c0e7-4e79-bbbd-da81ad2e8fe7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.americanbar.org/publications/franchise_lawyer/2012/spring_2012/healthcare_franchises_just_what_doctor_ordered_prescription_trouble.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.942954
| 3,420
| 1.984375
| 2
|
Posted on Monday, February 14th, 2011 by Russ Fischer
The script The Last Voyage of the Demeter has been kicking around for quite a while, but the trip may finally be about to get started. The Bragi Schut Jr. script expands upon a small part of Bram Stoker‘s Dracula, wherein Dracula is transported to England via the ship Demeter, which arrives with all crew dead, the victims of some mysterious evil.
Various writers and directors have had hands in development, with the script undergoing a rewrite or two, but now the film may have a director, for real: David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) is in talks to direct.
Last year, Ben Kingsley and Noomi Rapace were attached to the film, and THR notes one of the problems with the fact that it has taken additional months to find a director: Noomi Rapace now has Ridley Scott’s Prometheus booked, and so she and Ben Kingsley may or may not end up in the film. Financing isn’t quite set yet, either, so even if David Slade signs, the film won’t instantly be ready to move forward.
In Dracula, the Russian ship Demeter sails out of Varna, on the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea, and is eventually found when a tempest washes it ashore in England. All crew are missing, but the captain is found lashed to the helm. Boxes of Transylvanian earth are in the hold and a creature that looks like a large dog leaps from the ship and escapes. The captain’s log recounts the horrific voyage as some evil on board the ship gradually picked off the crew. (Described in the log as “Crew, five hands . . . two mates, cook, and myself, (captain).”)
Taking all that into account, the obvious conclusion to draw is that the script might be quite a lot like ‘Alien at sea.’ That being the case, it’ll be a shame if neither Ben Kingsley nor Noomi Rapace will be able to take part. We don’t know the part for either, but since it would be quite unlikely for a woman to be part of the ship’s crew, I wonder if the fact that she was originally mentioned as a stowaway on the ship was a clandestine way to say she would have played Dracula? Interesting idea. Ben Kingsley might have been Dracula, but more likely part of the crew.
And, depending upon how faithful the script is to Stoker, there could be a big section at the end of the film where the captain is essentially alone on the ship with Dracula — possibly an option for the sort of interaction Ripley could never have with the alien — and also a section afterward where Dracula is the only being left ‘alive’ on the ship. Curious to see how all these elements would be handled.
|
<urn:uuid:7468bed1-76d3-49b1-aa2e-0ce8421b6046>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.slashfilm.com/david-slade-set-direct-last-voyage-demeter/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.963946
| 614
| 1.703125
| 2
|
Box calls have been with us for many years, they are simply a wooden box with a hinged lid that can be slid across the top to produce sounds via friction. Box calls are used to produce: Clucks - short quick bursts of sound, made by sliding the top quickly. Yelps - a slow methodic, repetitive call produced by repeatedly sliding the cover in a sequence. Purrs - gentle soft call made by slowly sliding the top.
Box calls are made on an individual basis and each produces a unique sound, depending on wood material and wall thickness. Chalk is usually placed on the underside of the top to increase the friction between it and the base and to increase volume.
Due to the fact that most box calls are made of wood, box calls are very susceptible to inclement weather and rapidly absorb moisture, at best changing the sound of the call of worse making the call inoperative.
|Are you aware that Google is offering +1 to Everyone? Share your +1 with Every One of Your Friends by looking for the +1 on websites everywhere!" |
If you liked this site, click
Order Online 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, 365 Days a Year
|
<urn:uuid:042fd077-4181-4719-8f44-603698f47a11>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.huntingblades.com/boxcalls.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952308
| 243
| 2.546875
| 3
|
"Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."
Acts 4:34-35, KJV
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."
2 Corinthians 8:9-15, KJV
|
<urn:uuid:c6ce054e-3b64-4c33-a631-f632b60a29c7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.endtimeprophecy.net/Blog/2011/09/07/christian-communal-lifestyle-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.993887
| 288
| 1.96875
| 2
|
Switching on hybrid technology
AI interview Lennart Josefson, Professor of Solid Mechanics at the Department of Applied Mechanics and director of the Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden
On November 24th this year, the Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre or SHC, is holding a program to give an overview on automobiles for the future and vehicle electrification. The program, being held in Gothenburg, will give the public an opportunity to find out about the SHC’s ongoing projects.
The SHC was set up in 2007 by the Swedish Energy Agency at the Chalmers University of Technology campus but is a joint initiative of Chalmers, the Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University as well as Swedish automotive manufacturers such as AB Volvo, Scania CV AB, Saab Automobile AB/GM Powertrain Sweden AB, Volvo Car Corporation and BAE Systems Hägglunds AB.
The SHC’s mission is to be a strategic knowledge and competence base for education, research and development within hybrid electric vehicles, and to form a framework for cooperation between industry and academia. Its objectives include the creation of knowledge and understanding for the fundamental processes in hybrid vehicle technology through experiments, simulations and modeling.
Other aims of the centre include defining and investigating new technologies and hybrid vehicle concepts that will lead to more fuel effective vehicles. The research work of the SHC focuses on a systems perspective, emphasizing on integration of and interaction between components and subsystems. The work of the centre is divided into three thematic areas - system studies and tools, electrical machines and drives and energy storage.
“There are two challenges hybrid vehicles (and electric vehicles) will face, the safety of the energy storage, i.e the energy storage must sustain normal operations and also impact loads. Secondly there will be now requirements for EVs in particular, with a demand for lower vehicle weights ( to accommodate batteries) and thus new active and possibly passive solutions might be necessary. We aim to address this latter issue in collaboration with the Centre SAFER (Traffic and Vehicle safety).
Work with Li-based batteries is ongoing at several places throughout the world as it is seen as the next generation of batteries for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. At SHC we have projects working with the battery cell, trying to find material combinations that will improve the energy output and also the safety. We have also started projects dealing with the performance of battery systems,” said Lennart Josefson, director of the SHC in an earlier interview to AI.
The SHC is also researching the energy management of hybrid vehicles according to the routes travelled, . This aims to boost and the development of electric motors operating with integrated charging. Another automotive research wing at Chalmers University is the SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre. Here, research spans a broad base, covering several disciplines and encompassing both traffic and vehicle safety in real environments. The centre’s activities engage the very elite in the field of traffic safety, and the results contribute to increasing the competitive advantages of the centre’s partner companies and organizations. The SAFER centre has 22 partners from academia, industry and society cooperate in the design of future vehicle and traffic safety systems.
Both the SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre and the SHC are working together to bring competences in hybrid vehicle technology and vehicle safety together. The objective is to propose new (light weight) vehicle architectures, with electric motors as primary energy source, that can meet future safety requirements. The SHC also has projects involving batteries. The SHC is working on finding the ideal material combinations that will improve the energy output and also the safety of batteries.
Automotive Industries spoke to Lennart Josefson, Professor of Solid Mechanics at the Department of Applied Mechanics and director of the Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
AI: What are some of the challenges that need to be overcome in the quest for the development of reliable and safe batteries? What kind of work is the centre doing in the field of lithium-ion batteries?
Finding electrolyte additives that can provide safety while having good electron transport properties, finding better electrode material combinations and also better models for the cell behavior.
AI: What are some of the solutions being developed at the centre for charging?
We are actively working with verifying concepts that integrate charging with the electric motor.
AI: How can optimal energy management be achieved by using route planning?
With the route for a vehicle known ( for example bus lines) it is possible to optimize charging and discharging of the energy storage system as well as gear shifts and engine on/off decisions. This optimization may lead to fuel savings
AI: What role do range extenders play in EVs? What work is the SHC doing in this field?
Range extenders can extend the driving range for an electric vehicle while providing a redundancy in propulsion and also possibly a lower weight (trading battery weight with the weight of the range extender). This solution can be attractive, when using biofuels for the extender one may reach low CO2 emission levels. The challenge is to produce a range extender at low cost and with good NVH properties. SHC is currently working with a proposal for an EU-project on a multi-fuel range extender.
AI: What are some of the smart solutions for electric motors that you see becoming viable commercial solutions in the near term future?
We will see several solutions for charging and discharging , and interacting with the grid.
AI: What are some of the issues that are critically important to the SHC? How do you think it is possible to combine the demands on safety and low emissions for vehicle architectures?
The performance of battery systems in real loading situations.
To combine demands on safety and emissions one needs to design lighter and smaller vehicles, using new material in the body structure and most likely also utilizing innovative passive safety features or introducing more active safety features.
|
<urn:uuid:b41785a8-f18d-4261-89ee-7c7e0f936639>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.ai-online.com/Adv/Previous/show_issue.php?id=3397
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94493
| 1,213
| 2.21875
| 2
|
Reflections on U.S. Economy, September 2009
In the short-run, it is very likely that a total financial collapse has been averted and that the free fall in the United States of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and employment has come to an end. There will probably be an increase in GDP for the third quarter, 2009 and most mainstream economists and the media will say that the recession is over. This will be true in the way that recession is officially defined. However, in the more important sense of people's economic lives, employment is likely to continue falling or increase at a rate slower than the increase in population meaning that unemployment, measured and unmeasured, is likely to continue growing. Given the high rates of unemployment and underemployment and the lack of bargaining power of workers, real wages are likely to continue to fall as are employee benefits. Given the continued budget deficits of most States and cities, public employees are also facing a future in the short run of no wage increases. Public services will continue to deteriorate. Housing foreclosures are likely to continue at a high rate. Poverty and unemployment will remain high. As Barbara Ehrenreich and Dedrick Muhammad, pointed out in the New York Times, Sunday, September 13th, 2009, an economic depression has been created in the Black community in the last two years and is likely to persist. In communities based on manufacturing and construction there has also been an economic depression with no end in sight.
The 2009 stimulus package of the Obama Administration although smaller than desirable and somewhat misdirected has had a positive effect in stimulating output and employment and in averting a full-scale economic depression. The other part of economic policy that begun under Bush and has been continued by Obama has been the injection of huge infusions of money into failing banks, and financial institutions such as AIG and Fannie Mae. Without these infusions, these institutions would have gone bankrupt. However, far cheaper and more economically just policies such as direct mortgage relief to homeowners, and nationalizing financial institutions with the purpose of providing credit to support people in need and desirable investment by businesses and cooperatives and public investment were not considered. This is because of the power of Wall Street and the extreme capitalist ideology of the Democrats and Republicans.
A generalized economic depression has been averted in the short run but with the likelihood that another and possibly even more severe financial collapse and recession/depression is likely to reoccur in the not too distant future. The necessary structural changes in the economy and significant financial regulation that would provide some economic stability and reduced financial speculation are increasingly remote.
There are different social structures of accumulation that shape capitalist development. The one that has structured the U.S. economy and global economy for the last 30 years has been a neoliberal one, marked by growing inequality of income and wealth, privatization, deregulation of corporations and finance within and between borders, and the dominance of financial capital. The financial bubble and near collapse were the non-surprising outcomes of this financialization.
A new social structure of accumulation has been promoted by liberal economists such as Robert Reich, Jamie Galbraith, Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. It would incorporate much tighter regulation of finance, universal health care, massive public investment in rail, mass transit, green technology, public subsidies for the develop of alternatives to oil based energy systems, some increases in taxes on the wealthy and restrictions on executive income, and increased public spending for education and for reducing poverty. It is what Van Jones in his book, Green Collar Economy, has called a Green New Deal. This would still be capitalism and would not end exploitation and poverty, militarism and imperialism, nor environmental destruction and alienation. We would still need to replace an unjust and unsustainable economic system. It would not end economic depression and the business cycle. However, this Green Newe Deal would reduce the probability of another even worse financial collapse and severe economic recession/depression in the next few years. While clearly being insufficient for economic and social and environmental justice, it would provide a social structure of accumulation for reducing unemployment and increasing somewhat, equality.
The conditions for a future financial bubble and collapse have not been altered. Wall Street has not been restrained. It is highly unlikely that even in the midst of the worst recession/depression since the 1930's that financial derivatives and the casino economy will be meaningfully regulated. The economic system is still very fragile and highly leveraged with debt. Although unlikely in the immediate future, the financial system could quickly unravel if the market for securities in commercial mortgages or another type of securitized asset (bond) collapses. The top 10% of the population now have an income equal to the bottom 90% of the population; the 13,000 households with the highest incomes have an income equal to the 40 million with the lowest incomes. (Left Business Observer, #120). Besides this inequality being obscene, it means that the majority will continue to go increasingly into debt to buy what they need. Consumer debt will grow.
The so-called economic recovery we will increasingly be hearing about will be a jobless recovery. Employment will probably start growing no later than summer, 2010 but unemployment and particularly underemployment will stay high. Unless wages grow significantly which will not happen unless there is a huge growth in the militancy and strength of the labor movement, consumption spending will be restrained, limiting the growth of employment. Manufacturing will continue to decline and the quality of life for the majority and global warming will worsen unless we rise up and organize and revolt.
The possibility of growing social movements is real and hopeful. The Obama Presidential campaign has led to an increased interest, especially by young people and Black people in public affairs and social change. The gloss of Obama's victory is wearing off. The U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is increasingly unpopular at home. So is the frustration and anger at the absence of meaningful healthcare reform. The limitations of what President Obama can or wants to do are becoming more apparent every day.
Just like the expectations raised by John Kennedy and the limitations of the reforms he proposed spurred massive activism in the 1960's, this can happen again now. Let us build and connect movements and issues as we organize and struggle for significant and meaningful reforms and revolution.
Don't Mourn, Organize!
Si Se Puede!
|
<urn:uuid:c0e54b51-2b93-4b56-b73a-25afd40aafe3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.zcommunications.org/reflections-on-u-s-economy-september-2009-by-peter-bohmer-1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962883
| 1,288
| 2.046875
| 2
|
We make our own baby food for Gabriel. It’s cheaper than buying jarred, I get to control what he eats, he gets to try more foods with diverse flavors, and also it’s just sorta fun! It is also a lot easier than you’d think!
Everyone always talks about the book Super Baby Food, and I’m no exception. It is a really fantastic resource for baby and toddler friendly recipes and is incredibly informative about food. It is a little hardcore (she encourages you to make your own yogurt, which sounds awesome, but also a little gross given that yogurt is basically spoiled milk), but a really great place to start.
Anyway, I like to use him as an excuse to go to the farmer’s market every week. I have to get him the freshest organic produce, right? And while I’m there, I might as well pick up some honey and cheese too! When I get home, I try to get to work as soon as I can.
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Chop and clean vegetables (in the image above, I used sweet potato and green beans).
3. Lay out on a baking pan and lightly drizzle with olive oil.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on the vegetable. I like to bake the vegetables rather than steam or boil them because it preserves more of the nutrients also you can cook it in larger quantities. Different vegetables cook faster than others, so check often.
5. Remove from the oven once they’re soft and leave them out to cool.
6. Once they’ve cooled, place them in a blender and blend until you’ve got a smooth puree. We’ve got a vitamix and I’m pretty sure we will never look back. You might have to add small quantities of water at this stage to help it blend. You can also add homemade vegetable stock if you’ve got it (store bought has too much salt for little baby kidneys).
7. Spoon the mixture into ice cube trays. You don’t need fancy baby freezing containers. Just plain old ice cube trays work just fine. Make sure they’re BPA free and can be sealed and protected from freezer flavors. We have this one and it works perfectly!
8. Freeze the cubes and once they’re frozen, pop them out and transfer to freezer lock zip locks, label and store!
All I end up having to do is pull out the cubes and add the smallest amount of hot water just to mash it up and then I serve it, but you can always use a microwave too!
|
<urn:uuid:b1664ae8-f2f1-49f3-8c25-48ccf576120d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://asproutingacorn.com/eat/making-your-own-baby-food/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953033
| 557
| 1.539063
| 2
|
By Krystie Lee Yandoli
Saturday, July 2, 2011
New York's legalization of same-sex marriage set off euphoric celebrations this week. It also offers a chance to showcase the political backing of those in the 18-34 age bracket.
NEW YORK (WOMENSENEWS)--When New York became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage last week, it extended marital rights and privileges to twice as many Americans , the Associated Press reported. The state with 19 million residents is the third-largest, trailing California and Texas.
The late-night passage of same-sex marriage legislation in New York on June 24 created a powerful afterglow here, exhilarating the thousands who marched in the annual New York City Pride parade and inspiring stories of exuberant couples planning nuptials after the law takes effect in July.
In a related victory this week, federal immigration officials canceled the deportation planned for a Venezuelan man in New Jersey who is married to an American man, the New York Times reported June 30. The case was being watched for signs of whether federal officials would ignore the couple's marriage under the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Apparently not.
Rhode Island provided a limited step forward for the rights movement June 29 by approving civil unions for same-sex couples. Now same-sex couples there can enjoy such rights as hospital visitations, joint bank accounts and property transfers. Even though civil unions have served as stepping stones to marriage laws in other New England states, activists were disappointed, seeing exclusions for religious institutions in the civil-unions law as creating big gaps.
The activism and the push-back is likely to continue for years to come.
Twenty states still have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage and 12 others have laws against it.
In May, the Gallup Poll found 53 percent of Americans favor laws recognizing same-sex unions, a first-time majority opinion. Support was strongest among those between ages 18 and 34, and significantly weaker among those 55 and older.
This is the same age group that shook off its reputation for political apathy in 2008 and played a major role in electing President Barack Obama. (Even if some of were too young to vote, they worked.)
Among Democratic caucus participants under 30, Obama took an unprecedented 57 percent of the vote, according to NPR. College campuses fired up around local campaign leaders, wrote unique blog posts and utilized social networking sites, and created viral YouTube videos.
But the man young people elected to the White House isn't matching the generation's enthusiasm for marriage equality. Federal agents setting aside DOMA and backtracking from deporting an immigrant may indicate an administrative rebuttal to an unfair law. But The Los Angeles Times reports that Obama, while hailing the New York law, isn't vowing the same level of federal support, saying that same-sex marriage should be left up to the states.
Krystie Lee Yandoli is a Women's eNews editorial intern.
To Read the Full Cheers and Jeers, go to:
Lagarde Takes IMF Helm, Aid for Families Slashed
By Krystie Lee Yandoli
|
<urn:uuid:f03ea9d7-6b95-49b3-9489-69e0e3235bc9>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://perrie@womensenews.org/story/lesbian-and-transgender/110701/marriage-equality-spreads-pride-in-new-york
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.942831
| 654
| 2.109375
| 2
|
- Join over 1.2 million students every month
- Accelerate your learning by 29%
- Unlimited access for just £4.99 per month
With reference to one major biome you have studied, evaluate the role of human activity in modifying its characteristics
The first 200 words of this essay...
With reference to one major biome you have studied, evaluate the role of human activity in modifying its characteristics.
A biome is a large scale or global ecosystem where biotic and abiotic elements interact with eachother producing a stable system that is in equilibrium. An example of this is the hot, wet equatorial climate where tropical rainforest is the dominant vegetation. Here the biotic elements such as the trees and animals for example sloths interact with the abiotic elements such as the poor soils and hot climate. The rainforest is millions of years old and remained undisrupted and in equilibrium for much of this time. However, as people exploit the rainforests resources, in particular its valuable trees, the equilibrium is changing. With trees being cut down at a rate of 40 hectares per minute how can it not?
Why are they needed?
Tropical rainforests cover over 7% of the earth's surface and play an important part in maintaining environmental and climatic stability. They help reduce soil erosion, prevent flooding and as the trees hold the soil together they stop a loss of nutrients from the soil. Due to the large percentage of land they cover they have
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- Over 150,000 essays available
- Just £4.99 a month
Not the one? We have 100's more
Environmental Management (view all)
- The impact of human activities on the environment
- How do humans affect the environment?
- Man's influence on the environment.
- Deforestation and its impact on the environment
- Pollution Project.
- (1a) Explain the classification of the selected energy resou...
- To what extent has the Three Gorges Dam project, in China, b...
- HOW PHYSICAL AND HUMAN FACTORS MAY HAVE MADE FLORIDA A CROWD...
- Economy Vs Environment. Development assumes economic growth...
- The development of alternative energy sources is a possible ...
""Nikolay. Business Studies. BTEC Student.
""Chris Mckellar. Media Studies, IT, English. A Level Student.
|
<urn:uuid:7531d324-0a34-4ed3-adf8-e74c071e16e2>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/geography/with-reference-to-one-major-biome-you-have-studied-evaluate-the-role-of-human-activity-in-modifying-its-characteristics.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.914941
| 504
| 3.46875
| 3
|
In most cases, squirrels and birds can survive quite nicely on their own. But lots of people feed them anyway, eager to attract more of the cute critters to the back yard.
But with one company citing panhandling as one of the reasons for its recent decision to leave downtown Fort Wayne after 29 years, and with other officials expressing similar concerns about the practice's impact on efforts to revitalize downtown, it may be time for the community to ask itself a politically incorrect but intrinsically humane question:
When someone asks for money on the street, how can you best help that person and the community at large?
This is hardly a new concern or confined to downtown, of course: Laws against begging have been around for years, and as recently as 2010 City Council debated how Fort Wayne might attract more street performers without also attracting more panhandlers and ended up eliminating many prohibitions against begging. But as I reported earlier this month, the Merrill Lynch brokerage firm had been at 130 W. Main St. since 1984 but moved to a north-side office in part because panhandlers had made many of its clients and employees uncomfortable.
Compared to the level of panhandling in many cities – even Indianapolis – Fort Wayne can barely be said to have a problem at all. “I haven't had any complaints. If it's a problem, I'd like to know about it,” said Bill Brown, President of the Downtown Improvement District. Even so, Merrill Lynch's public comments and similar concerns expressed privately by others do not project the image Fort Wayne desires when millions of dollars are being spent trying to attract more people and businesses downtown.
This is not primarily a law-enforcement issue. Mayor Tom Henry, who said he tried to deal with panhandling as a City Council member, said the city can prohibit panhandling near schools and other public areas but is generally unable to do much because of the First Amendment's free-speech guarantee.
So Jeff Krull, executive director of the Allen County Public Library, does what he can, especially at the main branch that for some serves as a daytime shelter. Rules prohibit panhandling and sleeping, and the library recently established a perimeter within which people cannot smoke.
“It's not very attractive, but this is just something you have to deal with in a city our size,” Henry agreed.
But is it? Really? Doesn't genuine compassion require something more than giving a panhandler a buck in the hope that he'll just go away?
Serendipitously, The News-Sentinel's partner in news, WANE-TV, just completed a series on panhandling in Fort Wayne and talked to a man who said many of his fellow panhandlers use money they're given to buy booze or drugs. “One thing we don't want to do is encourage individuals in their addictions issues, the Rescue Mission's Sharon Gerig told WANE. “We want to make sure someone's improving their life . . . focusing on their actual needs, not their wants.”
“Throwing a sandwich to someone in a park is getting redemption on the cheap. What they're doing is enabling people to not seek services,” Sean O'Byrne of the Downtown Council in Kansas City, Mo., told the Associated Press. There, as here, some fear that indiscriminate generosity to panhandlers, the homeless and others is not only harming the individuals supposedly being helped but is having a negative impact on some neighborhoods and business areas.
Even if some people need help despite the seemingly out-of-control government spending on welfare, food stamps, unemployment and “disability” payments, giving cash to a panhandler is almost always a bad idea. “We know many of them move from city to city,” Henry said.
True compassion is intended to help the recipient, not to make donors feel good about their own generosity. I used to give money almost every time I was asked, but stopped when it occurred to me I might be enabling the very behavior responsible for the person's problem in the first place. Now, if someone asks for money, I may direct them to the Rescue Mission or offer to buy them a sandwich. But I reject all requests for “bus fare.”
Brown believes Merrill Lynch's case may be an isolated one, and he may be right. Certainly Krull and Henry seem to agree. But because most people are smarter than squirrels, and might be compelled to seek more meaningful and lasting help elsewhere -- or even do more to help themselves -- saying “no” to panhandlers may be the best thing you could do for them, and the city.
Unless, perhaps, you find a panhandler like the one a friend recently saw in Indianapolis. The sign read: “We both know I'm going to buy booze.”
Such honesty deserves to be rewarded.
|
<urn:uuid:faf38afc-de20-4c0a-9103-e285c6ece511>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130209/NEWS/130209534/1015
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.976805
| 1,013
| 1.796875
| 2
|
If Hip-Hop was a sport…
For years we have noticed the direct correlation between hip-hop and basketball, the two are so intertwined it’s scary. Every basketball player wants to rap and every rapper wants to ball or did in their past. Hip-hop is just like basketball, you can shine individually and have your stats back you up despite if you win a championship or not, and in hip-hop’s case drop a classic album… or NOT! So this is where we come in. What if your favorite rapper hooped instead of gracing the mic? Who would he be? Here at ItsTheRatpack.com we decided to take a crack at it and compare artist to their basketball equivalent. Check it out!
Big L=Len Bias
Both of these guys had an untimely demise before we could see their true potential and what they could’ve become. A lot of spectators say that both could have been the best in their in hip-hop and sports, but unfortunately we will never know.
Notorious BIG = Wilt Chamberlin
BIG is arguably one of the greatest lyricist hip-hop has ever seen while Wilt is a entity in his own right and the ONLY player to ever score 100 points in a NBA game, cementing his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers. Wilt won 2 champions in during his career, while BIG had an untimely death, he dropped two classic albums. They may not have a enormous catalogue of music or a hand full of championship rings, but these two are and will forever be known as game changers and the upper echelon in their respective fields.
Tupac= Rasheed Wallace
Pac and Rasheed, two of the most versatile yet emotional and passionate men their field has ever seen. Pac can give you a track like “Hail Mary” and then switch it up and talk about how “Brenda’s got a baby”. Rasheed was the same way; he could kill you in the post but also be deadly from outside the arc. Both men often times let their emotions get the best of them, but that’s also why we loved them… they were real, they were transparent and overall they are Hall of Famers.
Jay- Z = Michael Jordan
I know some of you may disagree, but seriously… how can you not compare the two? They both retired and came back to show us they still have it. These guys have branded themselves like no other. Let’s be honest here, when you think of greatness in rapping or sports these are the FIRST two names that come up and set the standard or Blueprint for you should strive to be.
Both started their careers with a strong support system, but despite Em having Dre, and Kobe having Shaq, these men proved that they can stand on their own and are truly one of the greats. Both Kobe and Em had their issues and blemishes in their career which we won’t get into, but they overcame those struggles and prevailed to new heights in their career. Kobe dropped 81 points, 5 championships, 7 finals appearances, 2 Finals MVP’s while Eminem’s latest album Recovery sold 741,000 copies its first week and went on to become the best selling album of 2010 with 5.7 million copies and the best selling digital album of all time.
Lil Wayne = Allen Iverson
Although Wayne has dropped more albums than A.I. has appeared in the NBA finals, I compare these two for several other reasons. A.I. has a MVP title, All-Star MVP, and a trip to the finals, but no championship. While Wayne has 2 solid albums (Carter I &II) but no classics! That’s right; I said it, NO CLASSICS! On top of that, I feel that they have burn themselves out in their profession, Playing too long while not delivering on a consistent basis and recording too much material to the point where he has nothing left to talk about or worth listening to.
Drake = LeBron James
The potential is there with both of these guys and so is the hype! Drake had everyone proclaiming him as great and raps “next best thing” when he dropped the mixtape “So Far Gone”. But when he released his first debut album “Thank Me Later” it wasn’t quite the classic album that we were expecting. Just like LeBron, he hasn’t fully lived up to all the hype surrounding him. Sure he has fantastic seasons, and is a two time-MVP, which is equivalent to Drake’s countless features and Grammy nomination that he ultimately didn’t win. Both have failed to deliver when it counts the most, no classic album for Drizzy and no ring for Bron. So you’re stuck asking yourself the question “When will he get a ring/drop a classic album?” Or will they ever?
J. Cole = Kevin Durant
These two are young with limitless potential. Honestly the sky is the limit! Cole drops bars like Durant drops points, but the question we have is when will Cole drop an album and when will Durant make it to the finals and will both of them come out winning?
To be continued…
|
<urn:uuid:31ba8069-9d7b-4303-b1ef-d9346f5ba164>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://itstheratpack.com/2011/06/14/if-hip-hop-was-a-sport/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.977342
| 1,104
| 1.53125
| 2
|
The Primary General Board came to speak to this area this past weekend. While I am not in the Primary Presidency, our Primary President updated us on some changes to the Primary program.
- No more Sharing Time lessons in the Friend. From now on, sharing time lessons will not be published in the Friend. Lessons will be found in the Sacrament Meeting Presentation booklet, or you can use the lesson online.
- No more Class Sharing Time Presentations. All Sharing Time lessons will be given by the Primary Presidency only.
- Shorter Sharing Time = Longer Music Time Sharing time is now 15 minutes, and music time will be 20 minutes to allow music leaders more time to teach the songs for the Sacrament Meeting Presentations.
- Class Name Changes It used to be that Primary classes were named for the age you'd be turning during the upcoming year. For example, if you were going to turn 8 during 2010, you'd be in CTR 8. Now, classes will be named for the age all children in the class are on January 1. So if you are 7, you're in CTR 7. That means that all class names will move up with children this year -- CTR 5s will be CTR 5s next year, too, but after that they'll be CTR 6s.... Hope that made sense.
Please comment below if you have more information on the changes!
|
<urn:uuid:6b40ca09-f559-4ad2-a353-ddbf29653ee0>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.mormonshare.com/forum/news-primary-classsharing-time-changes
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.935526
| 279
| 1.5
| 2
|
Green Hills Of Dallas
Little Forest Hills just became home to Dallas’ first LEED certified house.
9011 Groveland Dr.
|photography by Scott Womack
Little Forest Hills never had such a green spring. Thanks to Alan Hoffmann
, local eco-savvy builder, this neighborhood just became home to Dallas’ first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified house
. The contemporary, mission-style residence is on track for Platinum certification, an honor currently bestowed upon only five or six ultra high-performance green homes in the country. Translated: These cool digs run on practically no energy and are constructed with the greatest possible sensitivity to the environment, per the U.S. Green Building Council’s new rating system.
The home’s primo LEED score is attributed to factors such as negligible summer energy bills (under $250 a month based on a comparable building), a 500-gallon rainwater collection tank, windows and shading maximizing passive solar potential, ICF (insulated concrete forms) walls, a gas-fired combustion furnace that operates at 96 percent efficiency, and thermal break windows.
Hoffmann, who says the environmental attributes and design prompted a quick sale of the 2800-square-foot “spec” home, has several more like it already in the works.
|
<urn:uuid:aede689e-a804-4d57-8879-e99cbe99e9e9>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/2007/04/30/Green_Hills_Of_Dallas.aspx?redirected=1
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.923788
| 279
| 1.78125
| 2
|
|Home Directory RSS Add Your Link|
|Main Category :: Talismans And Amulets|
Websites relating to Magickal Amulets, Good Luck Charms, Symbols, Mantras, Blessings, Genies, Ancient Talismans and Empowerments.
An amulet ( [Pliny], meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble") or a talisman (from Arabic طلاسم tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word "talein" which means "to initiate into the mysteries.") consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include: gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—(Latin, "go back, Satan"), to repel evil or bad luck.
Amulets and talismans vary considerably according to their time and place of origin. In many societies, religious objects serve as amulets. A religious amulet might be the figure of a god or simply some symbol representing the deity (such as the cross for Christians or the "eye of Horus" for the ancient Egyptians). In Thailand one can commonly see people with more than one Buddha hanging from their necks; in Bolivia and some places in Argentina the god Ekeko furnishes a standard amulet, to whom one should offer at least one banknote to obtain fortune and welfare.
Every zodiacal sign corresponds to a gem that acts as an amulet, but these stones vary according to different traditions.
An ancient tradition in China involves capturing a cricket alive and keeping it in an osier box to attract good luck (this tradition extended to the Philippines). Chinese may also spread coins on the floor to attract money; rice also has a reputation as a carrier of good fortune.
Turtles and cactus can cause controversy, for while some people consider them beneficial, others think they delay everything in the house.
Perfumes and essences (like incense, myrrh, etc.) also serve the purposes of attraction or repulsion. Popular legends often attributed magical powers to certain unusual objects, such as a baby's caul or a rabbit's foot; possession of these items allegedly endowed their magical abilities upon their owners.
In Central Europe, people believed garlic kept vampires away, and so did a crucifix. The ancient Egyptians had many amulets for different occasions and needs, often with the figure of a god or the "ankh" (the key of eternal life); the figure of the scarab god Khepri became a common amulet too and has now gained renewed fame around the Western world.
|
<urn:uuid:5f7e2567-c359-44c0-9b36-d3cff0bed292>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.astralmagick.com/magick_talismans_amulets/Talismans-And-Amulets_Empowerments.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.930057
| 564
| 2.171875
| 2
|
Creating a winning digital model
An effective social media strategy needs to build enough advocates so your real story is out there.
- March 2012
- Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Co
- Transparency and honesty are the currency of marketing. Customers want to hear from real people because they’re believable. Authentic brands are winning today.
- Turn to your customers for content, then make it sharable. Not only will your customers develop content that is “real” and resonates with other people, they’ll share it. Without making content sharable, customers won’t be able to speak about your brand as easily.
- Make listening an ingrained part of your culture – starting with the CEO. To do that effectively, the organization needs to be flexible and develop new processes for communicating what your social media listeners are hearing into the company.
- When you give up control of your brand, the community will start to govern itself. This behavior can become a powerful brand asset. An important part of an effective social media strategy is to build enough advocates so your real story is out there.
Build trust with transparency and authenticity“Transparency and honesty are the currency of marketing. Let people speak. Invite them to tell your story. I’m talking about your front line people and your customers. If you’re going to speak, you better speak like them. Never say ‘please hold for the next available representative.’ That’s not how human beings talk.
People think of Ford as a bunch of Midwest white guys who don’t get it. So the first thing we did is we put our front line engineers to talk about the company because they’re believable. Then, as soon as people start buying our stuff and believing in the brand, we allowed our customers to speak for us and that’s what we’re doing now. We never write a script for them. We just let it happen. We set it up in just the right way so people pay attention but then really it’s about that individual customer or engineer telling their story.
Our bet on the messaging side is really to put the branding in the customers’ hands to enable them to share content and really to give a voice to our own employees’ stories. People care about people. Reality is an important aspect to understand in this transformation. People want authentic experiences. They want the brand to be believable. It’s why authentic brands are winning today.”
Turn to your customers for content, and make it sharable“What I care about is how many people and how much content we’re producing as a brand. To produce a lot of content, you have to ask for help from all the customers.
As an example, we took 100 Fiesta cars one year before the US launch, which had a budget of about $100 million. We used $5 million and ran a contest using social and digital media to find 100 super savvy social people who had big social graphs to drive the vehicles for six months. We gave them a budget every week to do weird things and they would share their experiences with all their connections. We were very intentional about who we chose.
Fast forward to a year later. We had never run a traditional ad, yet we had higher name-plate awareness than the two leaders in this car segment. We’d spent just $5 million and reduced our traditional media spending by half. Our 100 drivers were like super nuclear reactors of content generation. The scale was unbelievable. Eighty-three percent of the people that wound up buying a Fiesta had never owned a Ford before. We achieved 60% name plate awareness with $5 million. In our industry, that costs $60 million. We learned that you can’t do this every time, but you can do it more often than you think.
Customers won’t speak about you unless you create engaging content that is shareable. It’s our responsibility to create really cool content that’s shareable.”
Make listening an ingrained part of your culture – starting with the CEO“As we bet on social media to go to market with our products, we have been so surprised by the importance of being flexible and listening to the community. That’s what we’ve learned through the Fiesta movement. We listened to these people. They told us what was cool about the car, which was totally different from what our engineers thought was cool about the car. It changed our company. Part of listening is accepting, of course, the negatives and the positive; it’s not a matter of choosing the positive stories.
One of the most important things we did is we put Scott Monty in charge of listening all day. He is literally the eyes and ears of the company. Whenever Scott hears something and thinks CEO Alan Mulally can help, Alan will stop whatever he’s doing and help. There was this guy Mark who Tweeted us: ‘I’m a Volkswagen/Audi guy and I’m driving this new Edge sport, and I think it’s pretty cool.’
You can’t do this often but it’s important to have that flexibility and it’s important to treat the social/media listeners on the front lines in your company with a different process than the people in the call center. Everyone matters, but it’s a way to teach your whole company the dexterity and flexibility that’s really required in today’s market. You don’t get social media because a couple of executives use social media. It’s either part of everything you do or not.”
A self-governing community is an important brand asset
“People own our brand. It’s a joke for us to think that we own the brands. It’s their conversation, and the sooner we give up the brand to them, the better off we are.
An important part of going to market in social is to understand how to build enough advocates so your real story is out there. If you invest in people who know your company more than they normally would, the conversation will become more self-governed than you think. This self-governing aspect of the social world is a very important part of your insurance policy.
As an example, we had a very high-mileage Focus customer on Facebook who went on about how fuel economy is our number one deficit. The reality is we lead in fuel economy and in more segments than anyone in the U.S., but no one knew. So, this customer is going off about their poor experience with a 10-year old Ford, and the community came around on our behalf and said: ‘You’re driving a 10-year old car; that’s not where Ford is today.’
It was very refreshing that this conversation would happen and we didn’t have to get involved. You should have that confidence. People are going to tell you this is scary stuff but just understand that the self-governing aspect of the community is a really important element of a social media strategy.”
The auto industry has traditionally used a lot of metrics and analytics, many of which were built to support the traditional way of doing things. What are the analytics that you look at now and that you really care about?
“The most important metric is brand favorability, which we measure every month in every country in the world now. Especially in the areas that really drive favorable opinion because when we did the analysis, we found that the correlation between favorability and pricing power is about .9. That means every point of favorability at Ford Motor Company in the US is worth $150 top line pricing in every model— even the old ones. I could tell you what that pricing is for every market in the world now. We’ve monetized the favorability connection to pricing and so we look at that pricing— back line pricing, net of equipment and the favorability as the most important metric that I care about.
The second metric I care about in the social digital space is the amount of content we’re generating, including engagement with the content. I’ll give you an example of a blow-away metric. We recruited a guy named Ken Block who is racing and doing stunts for Subaru. We hired him away because we knew we were going to get serious on these small cars: Focus, Fiesta and a whole sport line of these products and we wanted to get someone like Ken on our side. Ken said, ‘I think I can do an online YouTube video that I think will be incredible content.’ So we literally spent $15,000 and he did a seven-minute video of driving the vehicle through a factory. 44 million people spent 7 minutes with our content. That’s bigger than Super Bowl, and much higher engagement.”
How do you measure engagement?
“It’s share-ability, how many times a person shares that content. In fact, we will do content just to measure that. We were thinking how do we go on Facebook and be cool? We knew Mustang was a brand that people connect with the company even if they didn’t buy it. So we came up with this customizer that lets you customize a Mustang. You put it out it out in the social space and other people tell you which one is cooler. I think there are 100,000 different versions of the car you can create. You have to generate content like that all the time and what I measure on the customizer is, not only how much content, i.e., how many versions of customizer did we build, but how many times does it get viewed and most importantly how many times does it get shared?”
Submit a comment
Comments chosen to be published may be edited for length and clarity and will appear along with your name and details, but not your e-mail address. We will use your e-mail address only to send you a confirmation copy of your comments and to notify you if we publish them online. We value your feedback and will consider it carefully. Nonetheless, we receive so many comments that we cannot acknowledge all of them.
|
<urn:uuid:9926377c-83fd-4a45-898c-7d9cac7a9415>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://cmsoforum.mckinsey.com/article/creating-a-winning-digital-model
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.970342
| 2,139
| 1.5625
| 2
|
Children can have all sorts of difficulties growing up. Sometimes problems are obvious right from the start; and sometimes they don’t appear until a child is in school. Some children have trouble learning to read or write. Others have a hard time remembering new information. Still others may have trouble with their behavior. For some children, growing up can be very hard to do!
When a child is having trouble in school, it’s important to find out why. The child may have a disability. By law, schools must provide special help to eligible children with disabilities. This help is called special education and related services.
There’s a lot to know about the process by which children are identified as having a disability and in need of special education and related services. This section of NICHCY’s website is devoted to helping you learn about that process.
This brief overview is an excellent place to start. Here, we’ve distilled the process into 10 basic steps. Once you have the big picture of the process, it’s easier to understand the many details under each step. We’ve indicated throughout this overview where, on our site, you can connect with that more detailed information.
Step 1. Child is identified as possibly needing special education and related services.
There are two primary ways in which children are identified as possibly needing special education and related services: the system known as Child Find (which operates in each state), and by referral of a parent or school personnel.
Child Find. Each state is required by IDEA to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities in the state who need special education and related services. To do so, states conduct what are known as Child Find activities.
When a child is identified by Child Find as possibly having a disability and as needing special education, parents may be asked for permission to evaluate their child. Parents can also call the Child Find office and ask that their child be evaluated.
Referral or request for evaluation. A school professional may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may also contact the child’s teacher or other school professional to ask that their child be evaluated. This request may be verbal, but it’s best to put it in writing.
Parental consent is needed before a child may be evaluated. Under the federal IDEA regulations, evaluation needs to be completed within 60 days after the parent gives consent. However, if a State’s IDEA regulations give a different timeline for completion of the evaluation, the State’s timeline is applied.
Step 2. Child is evaluated.
Evaluation is an essential early step in the special education process for a child. It’s intended to answer these questions:
- Does the child have a disability that requires the provision of special education and related services?
- What are the child’s specific educational needs?
- What special education services and related services, then, are appropriate for addressing those needs?
By law, the initial evaluation of the child must be “full and individual”—which is to say, focused on that child and that child alone. The evaluation must assess the child in all areas related to the child’s suspected disability.
The evaluation results will be used to decide the child’s eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child.
If the parents disagree with the evaluation, they have the right to take their child for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). They can ask that the school system pay for this IEE.
Step 3. Eligibility is decided.
A group of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child’s evaluation results. Together, they decide if the child is a “child with a disability,” as defined by IDEA. If the parents do not agree with the eligibility decision, they may ask for a hearing to challenge the decision.
Step 4. Child is found eligible for services.
If the child is found to be a child with a disability, as defined by IDEA, he or she eligible for special education and related services. Within 30 calendar days after a child is determined eligible, a team of school professionals and the parents must meet to write an individualized education program (IEP) for the child.
Step 5. IEP meeting is scheduled.
The school system schedules and conducts the IEP meeting. School staff must:
- contact the participants, including the parents;
- notify parents early enough to make sure they have an opportunity to attend;
- schedule the meeting at a time and place agreeable to parents and the school;
- tell the parents the purpose, time, and location of the meeting;
- tell the parents who will be attending; and
- tell the parents that they may invite people to the meeting who have knowledge or special expertise about the child.
Step 6. IEP meeting is held and the IEP is written.
The IEP team gathers to talk about the child’s needs and write the student’s IEP. Parents and the student (when appropriate) are full participating members of the team. If the child’s placement (meaning, where the child will receive his or her special education and related services) is decided by a different group, the parents must be part of that group as well.
Before the school system may provide special education and related services to the child for the first time, the parents must give consent. The child begins to receive services as soon as possible after the IEP is written and this consent is given.
If the parents do not agree with the IEP and placement, they may discuss their concerns with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. If they still disagree, parents can ask for mediation, or the school may offer mediation. Parents may file a state complaint with the state education agency or a due process complaint, which is the first step in requesting a due process hearing, at which time mediation must be available.
Step 7. After the IEP is written, services are provided.
The school makes sure that the child’s IEP is carried out as it was written. Parents are given a copy of the IEP. Each of the child’s teachers and service providers has access to the IEP and knows his or her specific responsibilities for carrying out the IEP. This includes the accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided to the child, in keeping with the IEP.
Step 8. Progress is measured and reported to parents.
The child’s progress toward the annual goals is measured, as stated in the IEP. His or her parents are regularly informed of their child’s progress and whether that progress is enough for the child to achieve the goals by the end of the year. These progress reports must be given to parents at least as often as parents are informed of their nondisabled children’s progress.
Step 9. IEP is reviewed.
The child’s IEP is reviewed by the IEP team at least once a year, or more often if the parents or school ask for a review. If necessary, the IEP is revised. Parents, as team members, must be invited to participate in these meetings. Parents can make suggestions for changes, can agree or disagree with the IEP, and agree or disagree with the placement.
If parents do not agree with the IEP and placement, they may discuss their concerns with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. There are several options, including additional testing, an independent evaluation, or asking for mediation, or a due process hearing. They may also file a complaint with the state education agency.
Step 10. Child is reevaluated.
At least every three years the child must be reevaluated. This evaluation is sometimes called a “triennial.” Its purpose is to find out if the child continues to be a child with a disability, as defined by IDEA, and what the child’s educational needs are. However, the child must be reevaluated more often if conditions warrant or if the child’s parent or teacher asks for a new evaluation.
Want More Details?
You may find the following sections of our website particularly helpful for understanding the requirements and responsibilities intrinsic to the special education process.
- Evaluating Children
- All About the IEP
- Placement Issues
- Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations
- Effective Practices
- Resolving Disputes
- Transition to Adulthood
|
<urn:uuid:85520827-2ad0-49d3-a885-1f1f8949ef7a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://nichcy.org/schoolage/steps
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.96569
| 1,789
| 3.234375
| 3
|
mothernature on Family Tree Circles
Journals and Posts
John Quinn b 1760 PA married Elizabeth Bruce b 1765. Their children where John, William, Daniel. He then married Margaret In ohio and their children where Charles, George, and Jacob. Jacob was born 1802 in ohio. He married Hanna Stevens. Children where Anna, Nancy R. , Ralzy Castelman, and Mary. He owned property in Cranberry County, Ohio. He died building a barn on his property when he was in his 50's. Some of my dates could be off a little.
Rodney Fox father of James and Joseph. All three traveled from Ireland to Canada. James Jr came to US and married Blanch Philo. From what I understand their last name could have change when they reached Canada. I am stuck here and can not go back any further. I need help.
John Arther Chorley was born in England 1885. Came to US and married Elizabeth Alice Tong also from England. 3 children John A, Mable D, and Elizabeth.
William Philo was born in England Jan. 1841. He immigrated to the US in 1855 and married Sarah 1884. They owned a bar in Akron Ohio and raised 3 children. They Had 2 daughters and a son.
Walter W. Philo was born Dec 18,1884. He married Marrie and they had a son named Authur. Blanche was born in 1887 and married James Fox. They had 2 sons, Wilfred and Gilbert. Eva was born in 1894 and married Leo Preece. At this point I know they had 1 daughter her name was Thelma and she was born in 1915 and passed away in 1993.
- Displaying 1-4 of 4 Journals
|
<urn:uuid:22ee486a-7a5f-4c97-a703-6eadc17daeda>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.familytreecircles.com/u/mothernature/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.989124
| 367
| 1.898438
| 2
|
Deceased Online is the first central database of statutory burial and cremation registers for the UK and Republic of Ireland -- a unique resource for family history researchers and professional genealogists. Until now, to search these records you had to visit about 3,000 burial authorities and nearly 250 crematoria in the UK alone, each independently holding their own registers, mostly as old fragile books. No official central repository exists. Deceased Online is changing this.
Searching is FREE, and can be restricted as required to country, region, county, or individual burial authority or crematorium. However, once you find a record of possible interest, you do have to pay a fee to read all the details.
Deceased Online has recently added nearly quarter of a million burial and cremation records to the website, www.deceasedonline.com. These are for Cambridge City and Gainsborough in Lincolnshire (both in Eastern England) and for Wembley and Old Willesden cemeteries in the northwestern London borough of Brent. The details for all of these are on the "database coverage" section of the Deceased Online website.
The company also expects to add at least 2 million more burial and cremation records for areas right across the UK over the next 6-9 months.
You can read more at http://www.deceasedonline.com.
|
<urn:uuid:25defeb7-2619-473d-ba59-addd5aecbc21>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2010/03/deceased-online-adds-nearly-a-quarter-million-burial-and-cremation-records.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.93978
| 282
| 1.554688
| 2
|
2.7.2 Program Content
2.7.2 Program Content
Offers degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated purpose and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education.
Compliance ___ Partial Compliance ___ Non-Compliance
South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) offers nine associate degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with SLCC’s mission (stated purpose) and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education.
The mission of SLCC (1) is “to cultivate a learning environment in which participants develop the qualities and skills necessary to engage actively in the economy, governance, and culture of South Louisiana.” Through each of the nine degree programs, students are provided an environment that allows them to develop their qualities and skills to either transfer or enter the workforce upon completion of their degree.
SLCC adheres to the Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education (BoR) associate degree definitions as stipulated in BoR Academic Affairs Policy number 2.15 (2) :
The standard number of credits required for the Associate Degree will be 60. Given that the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare students to directly enter careers upon graduation, AAS programs often require additional technical training; consequently, AAS degree programs may range from 60-72 hours. Exceptions to the standard number of credits must be approved according to the respective System’s policy. The BoR will periodically review both the number of credit hours required and approved exceptions to the 60-hour standard.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - An applied/academic degree program with a limited general education component core (15 hours), primarily designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry. AAS degrees can be formed by combining a Technical Diploma program with 15 hours of required general education or can be a distinct curriculum unrelated to any preexisting program of technical studies. All general education coursework must meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges (SACS/CoC) requirements. If technical coursework required of the degree is intended for transfer to a four-year institution, this coursework must meet appropriate SACS/CoC requirements.
AAS degrees are limited to technical colleges, community colleges, and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AAS degree resides with the Board of Regents.
Example: AAS in Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic
Associate of Arts (AA) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core (24 hours), designed primarily to serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. AA degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AA degree resides with the Board of Regents.
Example: AA in Care and Development of Young Children
Associate of Science (AS) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core (27 hours), designed primarily to serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. A.S. degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of an AS degree resides with the Board of Regents.
Example: AS in Teaching
Associate (A) - An academic degree program with a significant general education core, designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry, but which also may serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. The use of this particular degree designation should be limited to cases wherein other associate degree designations (AAS, AA, or AS) have been determined to be inappropriate. All coursework must meet SACS/CoC requirements. Non-designated associate degrees are limited to community colleges and two-year transfer institutions. Approval authority for implementation of a non-designated associate degree resides with the Board of Regents.
Example: Associate of General Studies
Additionally, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors has passed the Day One Guarantee (3), which states, “If one of our graduates educated under a standard program, or his/her employer finds that the graduate is deficient in one or more competencies as defined in the program objectives, the community or technical college will retrain the employee at no cost to the graduate or the employer.” To date, no alumni or employer of an alumnus has requested to be retrained (LCTCS Career and Technical Education Policy # 8.001).
The SLCC programs that are primarily transfer programs are:
Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer (AALT)
Associate of Arts in Care and Development of Young Children (AA CDYC)
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (AS CJ)
Associate of General Studies (A GS)
Associate of Science in Industrial Technology (AS IT)
Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer (ASLT)
Associate of Science in Teaching (AST)
The AALT, ASLT (4), and AST (5) were created through statewide meetings of faculty from both community colleges and universities to assist Louisiana students in the transfer process. These three programs guarantee students beginning at community colleges transferability as a junior to Louisiana public universities, as long as the student completes the degree with a minimum of a C in all courses and meets the university’s eligibility standards for the junior level.
The AACDYC program is transferable into the General Studies curriculum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL). SLCC and ULL are in the process of creating a 2+2 agreement in this area.
The ASCJ program has a 2+2 agreement (6) with ULL, Northwestern State University, and University of Phoenix.
The AGS program is used to assist students in transferring to universities, especially ULL. Students following the AGS can complete 2+2 programs with ULL in the following areas (7) :
Business Administration—Business Systems, Analysis & Technology
Business Administration—Insurance and Risk Management
Business Administration—Professional Land and Resource Management
Health, Information Management
Elementary Education (Prek-3 Grade)
The programs that are primarily workforce readiness are:
Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Technology (AAS EMT)
Associate of General Business (AS GB)
According to the National Registry of EMT, SLCC’s AAS EMT program provides 2% of the nation’s EMT graduates. This program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) (10). In Spring 2010, the EMT paramedic students passed the National Registry at 86%, which is above the national average.
|Graduates by Program||2009-2010||2008-2009||2007-2008|
|AS Criminal Justice||14||20||6|
|A General Studies||74||64||25|
|AS Industrial Technology||23||24||13|
|AS General Business||23||20||18|
The Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer, Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer, and Associate of Science in Teaching are not included in the table above as since they were implemented in the 2010-2011 academic year.
The SLCC Curriculum Committee (11) approves all new programs. Using results from the Annual Plans, curriculum has been changed. For instance, students in the Industrial Technology program were not performing well in the technology areas of their portfolios in the internships and special projects classes. At the time, the Industrial Technology program was incorporating instruction in the use of Microcomputer Information Systems in the introductory course to Industrial Technology. However, after reviewing the portfolios, a decision was made to add a survey computer course to the curriculum (12) .
SLCC’s courses and programs are based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education as evidence by the transferability of the courses. SLCC has eleven 2+2 agreements with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. All programs must be approved by the LCTCS and the BoR. Faculty and staff participate in statewide discipline committees regarding curricula. A faculty member attends the statewide articulation meetings assuring SLCC’s courses align with other colleges and universities across the State. The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs attends Chief Academic Officers’ meetings.
|(1)||Catalog Mission Statement|
|(2)||Board of Regents Policy #2.15|
|(3)||LCTCS Day One Guarantee|
|(4)||AA/AS Louisiana Transfer Degrees|
|(6)||2+2 ULL Agreements|
|(7)||2+2 ULL Agreements|
|(8)||2+2 ULL Agreements|
|(11)||Curriculum Committee Minutes|
|(12)||ITEC Unit Plan|
|
<urn:uuid:d3260908-ce48-4385-93e9-62a2b951bd4c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.southlouisiana.edu/SACS/2.7.2
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.915795
| 1,885
| 1.546875
| 2
|
At least 147 people were killed during fighting between two rival Libyan tribes over the past six days in a remote part of the country, media reports said.
Another 395 people were left wounded and 180 people were transported to Tripoli for treatment, the country’s health minister, Fatma al-Hamroush, told reporters over the weekend, according to AP.
The government on Saturday said that it held talks with the two rival factions over the fighting in the oasis city of Sabha and the two came to a ceasefire agreement, reported Reuters. The two groups involved in the conflict are members of the Tibu ethnic group and militias from the city.
Abdurrahim El-Keib, Libya’s interim prime minister, said the truce has been taken up by both sides after several ceasefire agreements failed, the news agency said.
“We are pained for the south and we are sorry that the clashes reached this stage,” El-Keib said. “The government is working to solve this problem.”
Residents in Sabha said the two tribes used mortars, rockets, and automatic rifles, with Tibu spokesperson Mohammed Lino adding that around 70 homes were burnt and 100 families were displaced, AP reported.
|
<urn:uuid:830a1b4f-9e65-45f5-b471-0c394e049843>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/clashes-in-southern-libya-leave-147-dead-213672.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980592
| 253
| 1.507813
| 2
|
Nepal to Allow 'Other' Gender on Official IDs
BY Trudy Ring
May 26 2012 1:21 PM ET
The government of Nepal announced this week that it will allow citizens to choose “other” as the gender option, rather than male or female, on official ID cards.
LGBT activists in the nation welcomed the decision, which implements a ruling made by Nepal’s Supreme Court in 2007, reports wire service Deutsche Presse-Agentur. It will help transgender people as well as others who suffer discrimination because their appearance does not match the gender listed on their citizenship cards, they said.
“Our community feels we are finally being granted an identity by the state, and my friends have told me they feel proud about it,” said Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s first openly gay legislator.
The change will take effect in a few weeks, said officials with Nepal’s Home Ministry.
Sign Up For Email Updates
- Entertainment News Do You Hear 'Girl Men' or 'Guru Men?' 17 min 3 sec ago
- The End of Bullying Could Video Games Be a Cure for Anti-LGBT Bullying? 7:00 AM
- Television The Brains Behind Husbands 6:03 AM
- Tyler Curry The 'Undetectable' Paradox in Talking About HIV 6:00 AM
- Current Issue Meet the New Voice for Dallas 4:00 AM
- Books New Antigay Children's Book Teaches Kids to Hate LGBT Families May 23 2013 8:17 PM
- Commentary Op-ed: Boy Scouts Must Complete the Inclusion Process May 23 2013 7:32 PM
|
<urn:uuid:90c9f66d-7ed9-476f-84a2-4548b0bd9fd3>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2012/05/26/nepal-allow-third-gender-official-documents
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.916575
| 340
| 1.984375
| 2
|
North Korea to send people to labor camp for not mourning enough
Even emotions are heavily regulated in the Stalinist hermit kingdom of North Korea: everybody must love the leader, and when he passes away citizens must cry hard. As hard as possible.
North Korean authorities will sentence anybody who didn’t participate in the organized demonstrations of mourning for deceased leader Kim Jong-il to at least six months in a labor camp.
North Korea’s prisons and camps hold about 200,000 people, according to
the US Committee for Human Rights.
The regime will punish also those who did participate but did not cry enough or did not seem genuine, along with those accused of criticizing the country’s new leader Kim Jong-un, reported
South Korea’s online newspaper Daily NK.
According to the South Korean website, the North Korean regime organized a round of criticism sessions from December 29th to January 8th. The sessions "created a vicious atmosphere of fear."
Along with imposing fear, the authorities are already working hard to build a cult of personality around the new leader Kim Jong-un, son of late Kim Jong-il. “Every day from 7am until 7pm they have vehicles for broadcast propaganda parked on busy roads full of people going to and from work, noisily working to proclaim Kim Jong-un’s greatness,” a source explained to Daily NK.
Founded in December 2004, Daily NK regularly reports stories from inside North Korea via a network of informants inside the country, covering mainly human rights issues. The Daily NK is partially funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, an NGO funded by the US Congress.
|
<urn:uuid:3f41d139-febd-43bb-ba7b-9aa833355e8f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.digitaljournal.com/print/article/317731
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.953988
| 341
| 2.015625
| 2
|
BETHESDA, Md. — (Oct. 15, 2007) Where does the benefit lie in an afternoon nap" Is it in the nap itself--or in the anticipation of taking a snooze" Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that the time just before you fall asleep is where beneficial cardiovascular changes take place.
This finding is part of a study entitled Acute Changes in Cardiovascular Function During the Onset Period of Daytime Sleep: Comparison to Lying Awake and Standing, found in the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society. The study was conducted by Mohammad Zaregarizi, Ben Edwards, Keith George, Yvonne Harrison, Helen Jones and Greg Atkinson, of the Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool, U.K.
The Afternoon Nap
Afternoon naps, or siestas, are practiced in many Mediterranean and Latin American countries such as Spain and Argentina. They are typically short naps or rest periods of no more than an hour that are taken in the afternoon.
While earlier studies on siestas have found that this practice may slightly increase the risk of heart attack, newer and more controlled studies have shown an inverse relationship between siesta taking and fatal heart attacks. In a recent epidemiological study of 23,000 people in Greece, those who regularly took siestas showed a 37% reduction in coronary mortality compared to those who never nap, while individuals who occasionally napped in the afternoon had a reduction of 12%.
Why do afternoon naps affect cardiovascular function" One reason could be changes in blood pressure. At night, our blood pressure and heart rate decreases as we sleep. Some researchers hypothesize that the lower blood pressure reduces strain on the heart and decreases the risk of a fatal heart attack.
Most studies have focused on cardiovascular behavior in nighttime sleeping. This study provides a detailed description of changes in cardiovascular function of daytime sleep in healthy individuals, comparing napping with other daytime activities such as standing and lying down without going to sleep.
Nap versus Conscious Rest
The researchers tested nine healthy volunteers (eight men, one woman) who did not routinely take afternoon naps. The volunteers attended the university laboratory on three separate afternoons after sleeping four hours the night before. The volunteers wore equipment that checked blood pressure, heart rate, and forearm cutaneous vascular conductance (which determines dilation of blood vessels).
During one afternoon session, the volunteer spent an hour resting, lying face-up in bed. During another session, the volunteer spent an hour relaxed, but standing. And in one session, the volunteer was allowed an hour to sleep, lying face-up. During the sleep stage, the researchers measured the volunteer’s different stages of sleep.
The session in which the volunteer was allowed to fall asleep was delineated into three phases:
Changes Found Only in Pre-Sleep
Researchers found a significant drop in blood pressure during the sleep trial, but not during the resting or standing trials. What’s more, this drop in blood pressure occurred mostly after lights out, just before the volunteer fell asleep.
This reduction in blood pressure may be one explanation for the lower cardiovascular mortality that some studies have found among people who habitually take siestas. On the other hand, some studies of nocturnal sleep have shown that blood pressure rises when we awake and that more cardiac deaths occur in the mornings. So the John Moores team will next look at blood pressure during the waking portion of the afternoon nap to see if this period may also pose an increased danger of coronary mortality.
For an audio version of this release, including portions of an interview with the principal author, Professor Greg Atkinson, please go to www.lifelines.tv.
To schedule an interview with the author, please contact Christine Guilfoy at firstname.lastname@example.org or call (301) 634-7253.
Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease. The American Physiological Society (www.The-APS.org) has been an integral part of this scientific discovery process since it was established in 1887.
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
|
<urn:uuid:365684f8-f806-4fc4-9505-5cb5f65d8b9f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/aps-eaa101207.php
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.9276
| 902
| 2.96875
| 3
|
Google court loss: Shake-up for online defamation
An Australian court awarded $A208,000 damages against Google on Monday, arising out of its search engine presenting defamatory material to viewers.
This decision goes against two overlapping British cases in favour of Google.
The Australian decision could end up being applied in multiple Commonwealth countries, including gazumping the UK cases. And it has implications for all who run websites, blogs and ISPs.
Online providers should at least have a process to take down defamatory material.
Showbiz promoter Michael Trkulja was shot in the back by a balaclava-clad gunman in a Melbourne restaurant in 2004.
Online material linked that event to the criminal underworld, with the implication that Mr Trkulja was also tied up with criminals.
The court decided this was defamatory.
The big legal issue was: is Google liable for defamation when its search engine automatically produces those defamatory results. Yes, said the court.
Start with the hard copy world
Important to the judge’s approach was his comparison with the hard copy world.
Say a newspaper publishes something defamatory. There is a chain of parties liable for defamation, including the publisher, the journalist, the editor, the printer, the newspaper distributor, the bookshop selling newspapers and libraries with copies of the newspapers.
In an online world, Google’s search engine is, said the court, similarly liable.
In fact, it is potentially more at risk and liable compared to those parties as it went further than being just a passive provider of defamatory material, in view of its search engine software, described below.
Innocent dissemination defence
Without some protection, the width of that liability would be too great.
Why should a bookshop be liable when it knew nothing of the defamatory article in the newspaper being sold?
So the innocent dissemination defence has been developed in a number of countries, including Australia, England and New Zealand.
Broadly, if a liable party – other than those closely involved such as the writer and the publisher – can show it had no notice, and acted reasonably, it can avoid liability. Essentially, downstream distributors can get off the hook.
Take the newspaper example. If the newsagent becomes aware there may be defamatory material, it avoids liability by stopping to sell the paper. If it carries on it will be liable for defamation from the date it should have stopped selling it.
Google in Australia could rely on the innocent dissemination defence, but only if it stopped access to the material when it came to its notice.
Here, the court said that it didn’t. So $200,000 damages were awarded to Mr Trkulja from the point when it should have stopped access.
The UK cases
There are three UK cases on similar issues, all decided by the same judge. Two involve Google.
The internet-based provider won each case with the court deciding that the following would not be liable:
- An ISP simply transmitting content.
- Search results from a Google search similar to what happened in Australia.
- Google hosting a bloggers’ platform, bloggers.com.
The Australian judge said that every case is fact-sensitive and so those cases could be distinguished from Mr Trkulja’s predicament. But he also questioned whether the three British cases correctly stated the law as to Australia.
If he is right, there are real prospects the UK and other courts will follow the same line.
The issues were far more developed in the Australian court than the British courts, and in our view, the Australian judge correctly commented on those cases.
The three cases were early pre-trial cases, but the Australian judgment followed a full trial. The judge said he might have received more detailed evidence about Google search engines arising from the full evidence at trial, compared with the UK cases.
In particular, underneath the automatic search is complex software enabling the selection of links and search results? This is the well-known complex algorithm that Google has developed and configured over the years.
In other words, the Google search is not just automatic and beyond Google’s control. Google has some control, including because its algorithm is a key part of the process and drives choice of search results, based on search key words entered by the user.
Although not yet resolved, the position of an ISP simply carrying traffic may be different, but there is still a prospect that pure ISPs could be liable, too. An ISP is like a bus carrying a passenger’s suitcase containing a defamatory document. It can be argued that an ISP is too remote from the defamation chain.
What will happen?
It is likely Google will appeal, but that may be an uphill battle as the Australian court applied long-standing principles. There is a legitimate debate around where online defamation liability should start and stop.
Should an ISP simply carrying traffic be potentially liable? That can be argued both ways from a legal and a policy perspective.
The answer could be to have updated innocent dissemination defence rules to cover the online world. Some are out of date.
What is clear is that it is not just as simple as Google and others saying:
- Cut back the scope for defamation as that has a chilling effect and puts handbrakes on the internet.
- We are just a conduit and no more.
There are steps Google can take under the current regime to minimise its exposure, including a workable and accessible takedown regime. It already has a regime but it may not be as robust as the Australian case suggests it should be.
Implications for websites, blogs, ISPs, etc
The Australian case confirms that other online providers remain exposed. Often they can’t get off by simply claiming they are a conduit.
For example, if a blog allows comments from third parties, it is likely that the host blogger, at least, has liability for defamatory statements by the third parties, even though someone uploads a comment without the blogger knowing that has happened.
This is similar to a radio station being liable for defamatory statements in live talkback. Under some innocent dissemination regimes, that defence won’t be available.
Website hosts and other online providers face exposure, too. Even ISPs simply carrying traffic could be in the sights: that is not fully resolved yet.
As to managing risk while still doing business online, a key step is to have a good system for taking down potentially defamatory material, especially after notice from someone else. Content should be reviewed regularly, the more so on sites that are inherently more risky.
Plenty of material we see that is posted on online newspaper sites is defamatory, for example.
There are also legal issues around whether the provider overtly edits or does so behind the scenes.
Like Google, online providers have some judgment calls to make.
(Read more about defamation matters in NBR ONLINE's Weekend Review.)
|
<urn:uuid:f220d316-9fdf-4aac-8bc2-137f08e24c71>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/google-court-loss-shake-online-defamation-ck-132352
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959034
| 1,432
| 1.640625
| 2
|
scheefj at netscape.net
Tue Aug 24 10:51:15 CDT 2010
I would like to play^H^H^H^H use some of my vintage portables the way
they were intended. For example, the Radio Shack Model 100 and the HP
110 Portable have 300bps internal modems. I have several other modems
thru which these machines could talk to a *NIX but I do not want to pay
for multiple phone lines in my home. How can I simulate a POTS
connection between these modems? I don't need a dial tone or ringing,
etc., as I can just tell one machine to connect and the other to answer.
Way back I heard that a few modems would work if the tip and ring wires
of the modems were crossed and connected, but most need something more
than that. Is there some simple circuit I could build? Surely I'm not
the first to want to avoid phone bills for such play^H^H^H^H testing.
More information about the cctalk
|
<urn:uuid:63a93c88-35ac-442e-a826-0803b78c8068>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2010-August/103329.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956202
| 226
| 1.820313
| 2
|
In the heart of campus, the slab of blue heirloom granite is pretty hard to miss.
'In Honor and Remembrance of Service and Sacrifice," the inscription reads, 'Dedicated to Armed Forces Veterans of the Champlain College Community November 11, 2012'
Two governors and a Vermont National Guard general joined a crowd of students and school dignitaries Monday for the dedication of the new memorial to veterans.
"You'd be surprised at the number of people who thought this was a great idea," explained Warren Baker, a professor who worked on the effort.
Champlain College has embraced its community of veterans very publicly in the last few years, committing new resources to its 'Yellow Ribbon Program.'
The college waives half of the tuition bill for qualified veterans who enroll as students.
The Veterans Administration's 'Post 9/11 G.I. Bill' often picks up remaining expenses.
Anthony Lorenzo, 21 of Georgia, is taking advantage of the offer. "I did my time, I've been in for four years and now the Champlain College community is 'paying me back' by allowing me to go to school here for, well, for free," explained the early education major.
"I don't pay a dime," Lorenzo said.
Champlain is among dozens of schools around the region participating in some form in the program.
"I'm just here to say thank you," Gov. Peter Shumlin told the crowd. "There are many, many generations of Americans and Vermonters who would not prosper were it not for the dedication of our institutions of higher education, to ensure those who serve our country get a fair shot at an education, and therefore a good job."
Among its two thousand students, Champlain College estimates about one hundred are returning veterans taking part in the Yellow Ribbon program.
"We are richer because you are part of this community," school provost Dr. Robin Abramson told the crowd.
|
<urn:uuid:ae419d2b-f15d-435e-bdd7-6b96be1b4e3a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/Vt-college-unveils-new-monument-to-student-veterans/-/8869880/17377626/-/v2fw1jz/-/index.html?absolute=true
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97186
| 401
| 1.5625
| 2
|
Treatment for a lethal form of brain cancer could be on the horizon after the discovery that the cancer can be formed by two genes fusing together. People with the disease could potentially benefit from drugs that block the activity of a protein produced by this wayward fusion.
Cancers can be sparked by a number of genetic mutations, including disruptions to single parts of a gene that either over-stimulate or castrate an important protein. But some cancers arise when two entire genes are accidently fused together during natural cell replication. The protein that the fused genes code for performs some of the functions you would expect of it but does so in new locations or contexts. "They do their thing, but incorrectly," says Anna Lasorella at the Institute for Cancer Genetics at Columbia University, New York.
Lasorella and her colleagues studied the genes involved in a lethal form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. About 3 per cent of the glioblastoma tumours they looked at were caused by the fusing of two genes.
On its own, each gene has an important but benign function. When fused together the two wreak havoc during cell division. The protein that the fused genes code for latches onto the spindles that pull freshly replicated chromosomes into two new cells during cell division. The interference means that instead of an even division, the cells end up with different numbers of chromosomes: a phenomenon known as aneuploidy. "It's a well-known hallmark of cancer," says Antonio Iavarone, also at Columbia.
Having identified this mechanism, the team wanted to check that the fused genes actually cause this form of cancer. So they injected the newly formed protein into the brains of healthy mice. Ninety per cent of the mice went on to develop the expected glioblastomas.
The team then administered a drug that blocked the activity of the new protein. In doing so, they were able to double the mice's survival time.
Because the protein is specific to the cancer cells, the team predicts that drugs to target it would cause minimal damage to healthy cells.
Journal reference: Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1220834
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
Have your say
Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.
Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article
|
<urn:uuid:32b748d2-c813-4a17-bdb7-8859e68c226c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22111-gene-fusion-is-behind-deadly-brain-cancer.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=health
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.954605
| 534
| 3.828125
| 4
|
Customer satisfaction in tourism is greatly influenced by the way in which the service (hospitality) is delivered and the physical appearance and personality of the business. It is critical that these elements be communicated in the best possible manner to convince people to come and experience what your business or community has to offer. Equally important is the ability to generate repeat business because of your efforts. Thus, tourism marketing becomes the method to reach potential visitors. It is a vital part of tourism management and can be done effectively and well, with sophistication and tact, or it can be done poorly in a loud, crass and intrusive manner. Remember that to do an effective job in tourism is to:
1. Adopt a strong customer orientation which includes regular research and assessment of their needs, wants and attitudes;
2. Allocate sufficient resources and time to tourism marketing;
3. Assign formal responsibility for marketing to one person or department;
4. Develop and regularly update a marketing plan.
6 Steps for Developing an Effective Tourism Marketing Program:
Step 1. Inventory Of Attractions And Accommodations.
Step 2. Assessing Current Marketing Efforts
Step 3. Market Research
Step 4. Target Market
Step 5. Determine Tourist Motivators
Step 6. Developing Promotional Goals
The primary way the majority of your prospective clients are going to find out about your travel lodge, tour, agency or destination offering is through what people read about you in your written marketing communications. What and how your travel brochures, web site, tradeshow displays, advertising, even what your promotional videos, phone message, letterhead, etc. communicate about your tourism products can be worth 100's of $1,000's in increased arrivals and sales.
The conventional ways of looking at consumer behavior - especially in tourism and leisure - are becoming outdated. No longer (if they ever were) are the purchasing habits of the leisure customer predictable by labeling a group as a segment of the market and describing it with average characteristics. More and more, marketers are turning to tailored and targeted marketing to individuals. This is now possible through new technology with sophisticated database management systems and immense amounts of historical and purchased information (lists) on individual preferences and purchase behavior. This trend is particularly appropriate for tourism marketing since there is a world of paradoxes in leisure behavior.
Sameness and diversity and security and risk taking seem side by side. Some accountants sky dive; people eat at McDonalds for lunch and a four-star restaurant for dinner; take luxury BMW to the self service petrol pump; trade a large investment portfolio through a discount broker; visit Hawaii and never go in the ocean. Leisure lifestyles, in particular, are inconsistent, contradictory, and individual.
This multi-profile customer is difficult to motivate by traditional institutional means.
The challenge of database marketing for tourism is strategic. A market of individuals, individually addressable and open to interactive communication, threatens the very existence of established marketing techniques and trade relationships. The economics of large scale production favors large firms with strong brand identities. The economics of customer information favors a generation of smaller, flexible firms with healthy firm-to-customer relationships. The future lies with firms who can use the new two-way channels of communication to create customer based relationships, reaching across a whole range of travel, leisure, and financial services products and resting on honest and intelligent dialogue.
Here are the major tenets of the database travel marketing:
Past consumer behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.
A purchase is simply one event in a customer's life. To figure a customer's true worth, you have to calculate lifetime value.
Customers are more important than non-customers.
Certain customers are more important than other customers.
Customers are likely to share certain characteristics.
|
<urn:uuid:937b2531-f7d9-415f-9454-7cf5b6540944>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.syl.com/travel/tourismmarketingisamethodtoreachpotentialvisitors.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.928503
| 773
| 1.976563
| 2
|
Date: February 23, 2012
The President Signs H.R. 3630,
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Job Act of 2012
On February 22, 2012, the President signed H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Job Act of 2012, which became Public Law 112- 96.
On February 17, 2012, the House passed the bill by a vote of 293-132, and the Senate passed the bill by a bipartisan vote of 60-36.
Following are provisions of interest to SSA.
Section 1001 - Extension of Payroll Tax Reduction
- Extends through December 31, 2012, the 2-percentage point reduction in the Social Security payroll (or self-employment) tax rate applicable to employees and the self-employed that applied through February 29, 2012, as authorized by Public Law 112-78.
- As with the provision that is currently in effect, the amount of revenue that is foregone to the Social Security Trust Funds because of the extension of this payroll tax reduction will be replaced with General Fund transfers of the same amount.
Section 2104 (Secretary of Labor) and 4003 (Secretary of Health and Human Service) - Data Exchange Standardization for Improved Interoperability
- Requires the Secretary of Labor (DOL), in consultation with an OMB interagency workgroup, States and employers, to issue a rule designating standard data elements for any information required under title III or title IX of the Social Security Act (Unemployment Compensation).
- Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with an interagency workgroup established by OMB and with consideration of State and tribal perspectives, to issue a rule designating standard data elements for any category of information required to be reported under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
- Requires both DOL and HHS to issue the proposed rule within 12 months of enactment and the final rule within 24 months of enactment.
Section 3101 - Qualifying Individual (QI) Program
- Extends the QI program through December 31, 2012. The QI program provides Federal reimbursement for States to cover Part B premiums for seniors with incomes between 120 percent and 135 percent of poverty.
Section 5001 - Federal Employees Retirement
- Increases by 2.3 percent the employee pension contribution for Federal employees entering service after December 31, 2012, who have less than 5 years of creditable civilian service.
- Corresponding increases in employee contributions would be made for individuals entering the CIA and Foreign Service pension systems.
- Members of Congress and congressional employees entering service after December 31, 2012, who have less than 5 years of creditable civilian service would be subject to the same contribution rate and annuity calculation as other Federal employees.
|
<urn:uuid:791f1720-12cf-4f29-a9d9-1c5be08cb78d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/legis_bulletin_022312.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00076-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.934159
| 563
| 1.609375
| 2
|
We’ll be working on the core library of KDE/Telepathy, planning for a first release and hacking on other cool stuff. Since I’m not very good at keeping up with writing here, I’m going to try and give regular updates on identi.ca instead (although I’ll write here too whenever I can manage it).
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Posted by grundleborg on September 16, 2010
Posted by grundleborg on January 30, 2009
I haven’t written a blog entry for ages – so long in fact that it almost resulted in a mutiny against me in #kde-bugs. So, with the fear of angry triagers trying to RESOLVE me and a vaguely relevant BBC article to inspire me, here goes…
This morning I happened to be reading a BBC article when multiple mentions of the “open source software” buzzword caught my eye. It starts like more of the typical ranting about the ever lasting NHS computer system saga, that anyone vaguely aware of British politics will be bored stiff with hearing about by now, but then it goes on:
Instead of awarding long-term contracts to large IT companies they could open up the procurement process to smaller firms using “open source” software.
Grrr… why do they have to mention “smaller firms” and “open source software” together like that (or perhaps I’m just being paranoid).
It recommends the adoption of open data standards across government, in effect creating a common “language” for government IT systems.
This would reduce licensing costs and free government bodies from long-term monopoly supply contracts, the report says.
Dr Thompson said his report “shows how government could save hundreds of millions of pounds a year by creating a more open IT procurement process – including levelling the playing field for open source software”.
“It isn’t rocket science – it’s about creating a modern and efficient procurement system. Governments and companies around the world are making use of open source software, and we could achieve much more here in the UK,” he added.
The article goes on. I must say it’s nice to hear some high-level political report talking in these terms, but whether it will come to anything remains to be seen – it is at this stage only the opposition party talking like this.
More on-topic KDE stuff soon (I hope).
|
<urn:uuid:771b1727-26b5-4cfb-b4c8-6f8ff3145859>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://grundleborg.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.937296
| 524
| 1.523438
| 2
|
A WORKSHOP being held in Port Macquarie next month will provide community organisations with an opportunity to learn more about funding offered by the NSW Government for environment and heritage projects and how to plan and deliver a better project.
The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is running a series of workshops across the state for community organisations and local councils, with a workshop to be held in Port Macquarie on Wednesday, March 13.
Those people attending will learn more about the grants programs available through OEH including a range of funding under the NSW Environmental Trust, the NSW Heritage Grants Program, the NSW Floodplain Management Program, the NSW Estuary Management Program and the NSW Coastal Management Program.
Other topics to be covered will include best practice project management and information on writing and submitting applications to ensure they have the best chance of success.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said the Hastings region faced a range of environmental and heritage challenges including estuary management, coastal erosion, weed management and acid sulphate soils.
She said Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and the local community both played a major role in managing and protecting the local environment, heritage and natural resources in the local region.
Next month’s workshop, she said, would provide them with valuable information about the types of grants available and help them to better plan their work.
The March 14 workshop will be free of charge but those people attending will need to register online at www.environment.nsw. gov.au/grants/workshop.htm
More information is available on the website, or by calling (02) 8837 6320 or 0409 834 648.
|
<urn:uuid:bdf8c5ff-0b04-4a37-8646-bf7dbc5e7468>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.portnews.com.au/story/1312274/workshop-to-focus-on-oeh-funds/?cs=257
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.933294
| 342
| 1.734375
| 2
|
Automatic federal budget cuts scheduled to take place next January will cost the nation 2.14 million jobs, including more than 207,000 in Virginia, an economic study says.
The report compiled by Dr. Stephen Fuller of GMU’s Center for Regional Analysis in Fairfax in conjunction with Chmura Economics & Analytics in Richmond says the $1.2 trillion in cuts required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 will reduce gross domestic product growth by two-thirds in 2013 and raise unemployment by 1.5 percentage points, to above 9 percent.
“The Congressional Budget Office released its analyses of these impacts confirming what other independent organizations had already concluded — that if the provisions of the BCA of 2011 are implemented beginning January 2, 2013, the U.S. economy, which is still struggling to sustain its recovery more than three years after the end of the 2008-2009 recession, could be pushed into recession during the first half of 2013,” the study notes.
The Budget Control Act was the law passed by Congress last year during the debt ceiling crisis. The law set up $1.2 trillion in federal budget cuts to take effect starting next year if a 12-member, bi-partisan “super committee” could not come to an agreement on budget reductions.
The cuts now are slated to take effect because the committee failed to reach an agreement.
Virginia ranks second among the states that would be hardest hit by the cutbacks, according to the report.
Its total job loss of 207,571 jobs would include 136,191 resulting from Department of Defense cuts and 71,380 from non-Defense cuts.
California ranked first in total job losses with 225,464.
There are no comments for this entry
|
<urn:uuid:3c781e09-c1f0-4d97-8095-27512c31923f>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/federal-budget-cuts-could-cost-virginia-more-than-207000-jobs-study-says/320416/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956831
| 353
| 1.8125
| 2
|
Women Don’t Make More Because They Still Don’t Ask – And Then, When They Do, They Are Penalized For It
Women don’t ask. They don’t ask for raises and promotions and better job opportunities. They don’t ask for recognition for the good work they do. They don’t ask for more help at home. In other words, women are much less likely than men to use negotiation to get what they want.
Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide
This really is an amazingly difficult unfairness. I presented the excellent book, Women Don’t Ask, back at the February, 2004 First Friday Book Synopsis. My colleague Karl Krayer presented their next book, Ask For it, at the May, 2009 First Friday Book Synopsis. The authors, Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, have been pounding away at this simple truth: women don’t make as much as men because they don’t ask for it.
And now, after championing this one simple truth, they have made another discovery: women who do ask for it are penalized for asking – because it is not a “feminine trait” to aggressively ask. So, not only do women have to start asking for more money, they have to learn to ask like a woman should ask.
Al of this was part of an excellent segment yesterday on All Things Considered. (Read the transcript, and listen to the segment, here).
Here are some key excerpts:
In the face of a persistent gender pay gap, researchers and women’s advocates are focusing on one little-discussed part of the problem: Women simply don’t ask for more money.
“I tell my graduate students that by not negotiating their job at the beginning of their career, they’re leaving anywhere between $1 million and $1.5 million on the table in lost earnings over their lifetime,” Linda Babcock says.
And so – just ask – right? Not so fast:
Babcock showed people videos of men and women asking for a raise, following the exact same script. People liked the man’s style and said, ‘Yes, pay him more.’ But the woman?
“People found that to be way too aggressive,” Babcock says. “She was successful in getting the money, but people did not like her. They thought she was too demanding. And this can have real consequences for a woman’s career.”
To be clear, both men and women thought this way.
Women can justify the request by saying their team leader, for example, thought they should ask for a raise. Or they can convince the boss their negotiating skills are good for the company. The trick, Babcock says, is to conform to a feminine stereotype: appear friendly, warm and concerned for others above yourself.
“I gotta say, that was very depressing!” she says with a laugh.
Here’s the challenge. If you are a woman, learn to ask for more (more money; more opportunities; more accounts; more of everything); then ask; but, ask while conforming to a feminine stereotype.
As I said – this is an amazingly difficult unfairness.
|
<urn:uuid:a42eb079-5594-4220-9d9f-13470469de40>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/women-don%E2%80%99t-make-more-because-they-still-don%E2%80%99t-ask-%E2%80%93-and-then-when-they-do-they-are-penalized-for-it/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960645
| 705
| 1.75
| 2
|
Addressing hunger and poverty have been key issues for former President Bill Clinton since he left the White House. And that focus has now found him issuing a warning about producing crops for biofuel production. Specifically, Clinton told those at USDA's Annual Outlook Forum that producing more biofuels could bring food riots around the globe.
"If we produce more biofuels, that means less food and that will bring food riots," Clinton said, even while stressing that the U.S. needs to become more energy independent.
So how to accomplish this? Clinton pointed to Brazil as an example, noting they don't tear down the rain forests to produce ethanol from sugarcane. But he also noted that sugarcane was starting to push soybean and cattle producers from their traditional areas to more marginal areas.
"The best thing to do is to say we have to be more energy independent, but we don't want to do it at the expense of food riots," Clinton stated. "We have to make intelligent decisions."
But with his urging to not grow more crops for biofuels, Clinton assured those in agriculture "there's going to be plenty for American farmers to do." A key question needs to be asked, he added, "is there some way to produce food in traditional way and still get a good price for it?"
"We know that the way we produce and consume energy has to change, yet for farmers there are no simple answers," he said. "There is a way for us to do this and to do it right."
|
<urn:uuid:183d4245-223f-49ee-a77c-5bdb7280b740>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.agweb.com/agday/article/former_pres._clinton_warns_more_biofuels_could_mean_foot_riots/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.980516
| 314
| 2.71875
| 3
|
Symbolism was an artistic movement that lasted from 1890 to 1900. They were a diverse group of artists often painting independently with varying artistic goals. Symbolism began in France and spread across Europe and America. It was a forerunner of Surrealism, Expressionism and Abstraction. discarding appearances for images of fantasy. Prominent symbolist artists were Puvis de Chavannes (1824–1898), Gustave Moreau (1826–1898), Henri Rousseau (1844-1910), Odile Redon, Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847- 1917), and Gustav Klimt. Some created imaginary themes, mysterious figures, monstrous, creatures from biblical stories and Greek mythology.
Symbolist painters believed that art should reflect an emotion or idea rather than represent the natural world in the objective, quasi-scientific manner embodied by Realism and Impressionism... Their almost universal preference for broad strokes of unmodulated color and flat, often abstract forms was inspired by Puvis de Chavannes, who created greatly simplified forms in order to clearly express abstract ideas. His muted palette and decorative treatment of forms made a considerable impact on a new generation of artists, most notably Paul Gauguin and Pablo Picasso.
|
<urn:uuid:aa42e56b-c7fe-4d1c-9c23-fe4277049e5a>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.conservapedia.com/Symbolism
|
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
| 0.936628
| 256
| 4.03125
| 4
|
Peter Miller, Anshul A. Shah
Because most of the risk in a typical balanced portfolio comes from equities, an effective way to help stabilize portfolio volatility is to dynamically adjust the portfolio’s equity exposure in response to market conditions. PIMCO has examined various methods of implementing such volatility management and concluded that S&P 500 Index futures may be the most efficient tool for doing so. Equity index futures can be used by a portfolio manager to implement changes to equity market exposure in a cost-effective manner while leaving the rest of the portfolio unchanged. S&P 500 futures, specifically, offer potential benefits including high liquidity and low transaction costs compared to other futures contracts.
Equity exposure: the source of volatilityPortfolio volatility is often driven by equity exposure. While fixed income assets certainly exhibit a degree of volatility, equity risk dominates most balanced or traditional portfolios, as shown in Figure 1. As a result, stabilizing portfolio volatility across market environments generally requires dynamically adjusting portfolio equity exposure:
Such a dynamic strategy can be implemented in three main ways: directly trading physical equity assets, buying or selling equity index options, and transacting in equity index futures. Each approach has potential benefits, risks and costs for investors to consider.
Weighing three approaches to adjusting equity exposure Physical equity assets: The main benefits of trading physical equity assets – including stocks, funds and ETFs – are precision and flexibility. When de-risking a portfolio, the portfolio manager can pinpoint and sell those specific sectors or positions that he/she deems too volatile. When re-risking, he/she can purchase those assets that he/she deems most attractive. The portfolio manager thus retains the ability to granularly manage the portfolio based on his or her risk and return expectations.
However, trading physical assets can have substantial drawbacks. Critically, transaction costs and the potential for illiquidity can materially impact performance. Wide bid/ask spreads and high commissions may significantly reduce returns, especially if the portfolio manager de-risks or re-risks frequently in an effort to tightly manage portfolio volatility. Selling individual equities, especially in large volumes, may also take a long time to accomplish in illiquid markets and may even cause the stock price to move against any remaining positions. These problems are typically more likely to arise in stressed markets, when de-risking quickly may be most critical.
Another disadvantage of trading physical assets is its complexity. It requires the portfolio manager to identify specific investments to trade within the context of the broader portfolio, which can take time and effort and thus create additional costs for the portfolio – both expenses and opportunity costs. The costs and complexities associated with direct equity trading may not always justify the precision it provides, especially if it is important to adjust equity exposure quickly.
Equity index options: Equity index options provide another potential approach to managing portfolio volatility. When using equity index options to de-risk, a portfolio manager does not have to identify specific securities or funds to sell. Instead, he or she can identify a broad-based index (or indexes) representing a portfolio’s overall equity exposure and then implement an option trade on the selected underlying index.
This strategy may consist of buying put options and/or selling call options. The potential benefit of this approach over selling individual equity securities is its broad-based nature. Rather than identify a large number of securities or funds to sell, the portfolio manager need only identify an index or a small number of indexes. Additionally, under most market conditions, liquidity should be greater for index options than for individual securities.
However, buying put options as a portfolio hedge can be expensive, especially during times of market stress when implied volatility and volatility skew are elevated. This cost may materially impact portfolio returns over time. The strategy has other drawbacks as well. While it may be simpler to execute a few option trades rather than to sell many individual securities or funds, it is still difficult to determine which strikes and expirations to trade. Moreover, the portfolio manager may need to constantly monitor the option positions in order to determine their evolving impact on portfolio risk. Finally, options entail risks, such as the potential for rapid changes in value and the possibility of expiring worthless.
Equity index futures: The third approach to managing volatility involves transacting in equity index futures. This approach has several potential advantages over trading physical equity securities or options. Generally, costs are lower because index futures require no upfront premium and are liquid in most market conditions. Liquidity is a particularly important consideration in a volatility management strategy as the portfolio may de-risk and re-risk within short periods of time.
Another potential advantage of using futures is simplicity: the portfolio manager does not need to choose specific securities, sectors, or option strikes; only the notional value of the contract must be determined. This process helps save portfolio managers much of the time and effort associated with traditional asset selection and allocation and allows them to focus on other aspects of managing the portfolio.
Finally, futures allow a portfolio manager to leave the portfolio fully invested in its existing active equity positions while simultaneously hedging the overall equity risk. This maintains the portfolio’s alpha opportunities while adjusting the beta, or broad equity market risk, which is the primary driver of equity volatility in most portfolios.
The primary disadvantage of using futures is less precision – trading equity index futures doesn’t offer the level of granularity that trading individual securities or funds typically offers. However, this may not be a material consideration, particularly in a de-risking environment. During times of market stress, risky assets tend to move together more closely, with correlationsapproaching one. As a result, equity futures should achieve exposure similar to the portfolio’s equity securities while allowing a portfolio manager to manage cost and reduce complexity. While futures can also entail risk – notably the potential for sizable losses on unhedged positions – they are a useful tool for dynamically adjusting portfolio equity exposure.
Equity index futures: choosing an indexSelection of the equity index that underlies the futures contract is critical to the success of a volatility management strategy. Utilizing several indexes may provide a better match to an overall portfolio’s equity exposure in a manner similar to trading a large cross-section of securities or funds. However, this approach does come at a cost. Not only is it more complex to manage several underlying indexes, but also the cost of trading futures on more illiquid indexes can meaningfully impact performance. This fact highlights the importance of trading liquid futures contracts with large regular volume and broad appeal among a variety of market participants. The S&P 500 futures contract currently meets this definition: it is the largest contract available by volume (see Figure 2), is used by a broad investor base and can be traded virtually around the clock. Its liquidity may also allow investors to trade quickly in and out of contracts, and take either long or short positions, often at lower bid-ask spreads than other index futures.
Although the S&P 500 represents large cap stocks in the U.S., it is often viewed by many investment managers as a reasonable proxy for equities around the globe. This is especially true during times of market stress, when equity indexes have been highly correlated, as Figure 3 shows. This is precisely the time investors typically need portfolio equity exposure quickly reduced.
ConclusionBecause equity risk tends to dominate overall volatility in most balanced or traditional portfolios, it is important to manage its impact. In our view, managing portfolio volatility with S&P 500 Index futures can provide several potential advantages over other approaches, as indicated in Figure 4: lower costs, higher liquidity, more efficient and dynamic rebalancing and low complexity. Finally – and importantly – portfolio managers can maintain alpha opportunities in the active portion of the portfolio while seeking to reduce beta, or overall market risk.
Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. All investments contain risk and may lose value. Investing in futures and options involves a high degree of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investing in derivatives could lose more than the amount invested.
There is no guarantee that these investment strategies will work under all market conditions or are suitable for all investors and each investor should evaluate their ability to invest long-term, especially during periods of downturn in the market. Investors should consult their financial advisor prior to making investment decisions.
The Barclays Investment Grade Corporate Index is an unmanaged index that is the Corporate component of the U.S. Credit Index. The index includes both corporate and non-corporate sectors and are publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes that meet the specified maturity, liquidity, and quality requirements. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility, and Finance, which include both U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The non-corporate sectors are Sovereign, Supranational, Foreign Agency, and Foreign Local Government. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged market index generally considered representative of the stock market as a whole. The index focuses on the Large-Cap segment of the U.S. equities market. The EURO STOXX 50 Index covers 50 stocks from 12 Eurozone countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged index generally representative of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The DAX 100 Index is a total rate of return index of the 100 most highly capitalized stocks traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The FTSE 100 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of the 100 most highly capitalized companies traded on the London Stock Exchange. The equities use an investibility weighting in the index calculation. The index was developed with a base level of 1000 as of January 3, 1984. The Nikkei Stock Average is an index of 225 leading stocks traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Similar to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, it is composed of representative “blue chip” companies (termed first-section companies in Japan) and is a price-weighted index, whereby the movement of each stock, in yen or dollars respectively, is weighed equally regardless of its market capitalization. The Morgan Stanley Capital International World Free Index is an unmanaged market-weighted index that consists of over 1,200 securities traded in 21 of the world’s most developed countries. Securities are listed on exchanges in the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. The index excludes closed markets and those shares in otherwise free markets that are not purchasable by foreigners. The index is calculated separately; without dividends, with gross dividends reinvested and estimated tax withheld, and with gross dividends reinvested, in both U.S. Dollars and local currency. It is not possible to invest directly in an unmanaged index. The correlation of various indexes or securities against one another is based upon data over a certain time period. These correlations may vary substantially in the future or over different time periods that can result in greater volatility.
This material contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of PIMCO and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material is distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.
PIMCO provides services only to qualified institutions and investors. This is not an offer to any person in any jurisdiction where unlawful or unauthorized.
No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660, 800-387-4626. ©2013, PIMCO.
Are you sure you would like to leave?
You are currently running an old version of IE, please upgrade for better performance.
|
<urn:uuid:0f71e0ac-421e-4cd4-80d7-c2a492ec78f7>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.pimco.com/EN/Insights/Pages/Using-S-and-P-500-Futures-to-Dynamically-Manage-Portfolio-Volatility.aspx
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.932303
| 2,499
| 1.765625
| 2
|
Views of the Tea Party movement are at their lowest point ever, with voters for the first time evenly divided when asked to match the views of the average Tea Party member against those of the average member of Congress, according to Rasmussen Reports.
Only eight percent now say they are members of the Tea Party, down from a high of 24 percent in April 2010 just after passage of the national health care law.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 30 percent of likely U.S. voters now have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party. Half (49 percent) of voters have an unfavorable view of the movement. Twenty-one percent are undecided.
In April 2009 when the Tea Party protests against President Obama’s spending policies first erupted, 51 percent of Americans held a favorable opinion of the movement. However, just 35 percent felt that way by last July.
Only 34 percent of voters now believe the Tea Party movement is good for the country, down from 49 percent in April 2011. Slightly more (40 percent) think the Tea Party is bad for the country, while 17 percent say neither.
A majority (56 percent) of voters agrees that the Tea Party movement has become less influential over the past year. Just 21 percent feel it has become more influential, although even more (23 percent) are not sure.
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted on January 3-4, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports.
The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent level of confidence.
While views of Congress are near all-time lows, 33 percent of voters think their views about the major issues facing the country are closer to those of the average member of Congress than to those of the average Tea Party member.
Another 33 percent say their views are closest to those of the Tea Party member, but that’s down from 48 percent in April 2011. Thirty-four percent are not sure.
Similarly, 35 percent feel the average Tea Party member has a better understanding of the problems America faces today, a 10-point drop from April 2011. Just as many (35 percent) now think the average member of Congress has a better understanding of those problems. Thirty percent are undecided.
Sixteen percent of Republicans now say they are Tea Party members, compared to two percent of Democrats and eight percent of voters not affiliated with either major party.
Most Republicans continue to have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party and have much more confidence in the average Tea Party member than the average member of Congress. Most GOP voters also still believe the movement is good for the country. Most Democrats disagree in every instance.
A plurality (46 percent) of unaffiliated voters regards the Tea Party unfavorably, but these voters are narrowly divided on most other questions related to the movement.
Still, 46 percent of Republicans agree with 60 percent of both Democrats and unaffiliateds that the Tea Party has become less influential over the past year.
In April of last year, 53 percent of Republicans viewed the Tea Party as a political plus for the GOP.
Fifty-six percent of voters who are Tea Party members think the movement has become more influential over the past 12 months, while 60 percent of non-members believe it has become less influential.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
|
<urn:uuid:688556b7-4ae0-48d0-af96-183e3cf72483>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/rasmussen-tea-party-membership/2013/01/07/id/470333
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97372
| 676
| 2.21875
| 2
|
Innovators need assurance that their knowledge rights will be protected
New models of intellectual property rights are needed to protect — and promote — local knowledge and innovations, says Anil Gupta.
Knowledge and innovations created by people in developing nations need to be protected by intellectual property (IP) rights — not so much to prevent others from learning and building on their ideas, but to ensure that they are not short-changed. IP rights also protect those who commercialise these innovations from unfair competition.
Inventions protected by patents, a main conventional form of IP rights, can withstand the scrutiny of 'global prior art' — that is, they have novel features beyond previously known practices or technologies. India's National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has filed in the United States and in India more than 500 patents on behalf of knowledge-rich, economically poor people.
But we should go beyond conventional models of IP rights to give innovators a true stake in their inventions. That's because never before in human history has more knowledge been eroded from communities than in the current generation — and we seem to be mute spectators.
For the common good
One way that innovators can protect their work is through the concept of 'technology commons', which evolved during the doctoral work of my colleague Riya Sinha. It implies that copying and adapting innovations is allowed between people ('horizontal learning'), but not from people to companies, except through licensing.
For example, in the case of a multi-purpose ploughing machine operated with a mobyke (motorcycle), several mechanics copied the design and some improved it. These improvements and the original innovation could then be put in a technology commons bundle.
Under this arrangement, no one person can license it to a third party without consulting others, particularly the lead innovator. The entitlements of the lead innovator and imitators or beneficiaries need not be equal.
But the concept needs fine-tuning. For example, some of the recent improvements don't use a mobyke at all (they use a chassis — an iron frame with a different gearbox and four wheels), and so cannot be considered derivatives of the original innovation. The question is where to draw the line when such complications emerge.
Investing in domestic innovation
Generally, countries endeavour to strengthen domestic industry by acquiring technology from abroad through a technology acquisition fund. But there has been little discussion of how it could be used to incentivise domestic innovators.
How could it work? The idea is to acquire the rights of technologies whose potential may not have been exploited fully in the hands of the innovator. The government or public institutions can then make these innovations open source, or license them to small entrepreneurs for free or at low cost.
NIF is now managing a fund in this way, with help from India's Department of Science and Technology, allowing innovators to use their creation as they wish but also allowing NIF to disseminate it.
Grassroots innovators should not be expected to subsidise the cost of societal learning; the state or market should bear that cost.
Extending IP protection
Protecting IP rights is important, but we should go further. Institutional science and technology (S&T) expertise needs to be combined with local knowledge and innovations to create value-added products.
When scientists acknowledge that, for example, a crop developed by a farmer is better than the variety released by a university, it raises the self-esteem of a local innovator. This was the case for Balwan Singh, from Haryana state in India, who distributed seed from his improved onion variety to thousands of other farmers in his area.
The variety is in the process of being registered with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, along with 20 other varieties, which NIF can access for wider dissemination.
But without the assurance of some protection, at least over the short-term, there is no incentive for thousands of communities, traditional knowledge holders and grassroots innovators to disclose their knowledge.
We need a registration system that extends IP to potential entrepreneurs and investors at a low cost. Under this system, innovations would get automatic IP protections once disclosed by the innovators, and if their value was non-negligible. Local knowledge would become part of our global heritage after the protection time period is over.
And if commercialised after that, the money would be channelled to an international fund for incentivising conservation and disseminating creativity at the grassroots level in local languages.
Licensing to other nations
To promote faster technological change at a larger scale, we need a different global fund to create a pool of IP-protected innovations that can be licensed to developing countries at no cost or low cost.
India's NIF and the Honey Bee Network offered such a pool to S&T ministers of developing countries at an international meeting held in New Delhi in March 2012. Low-cost, non-exclusive licences to IP-protected technologies were offered to African countries, starting with Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
We also need to explore longer-term licensable rights in traditional knowledge — treating it as a 'prior art' disenfranchises communities and nullifies their research and development (R&D) efforts over generations.
The asymmetry in securing rights on knowledge between the formal and informal sector has to be overcome sooner than later. Otherwise, we risk communities losing faith in the fairness of formal institutions.
National Innovation Foundation Awards. Balwan Singh profile
Gupta, A. K. WIPO-UNEP study on the role of intellectual property rights in the sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge [1.60MB] (WIPO-UNEP, 2000)
All SciDev.Net material is free to reproduce providing that the source and author are appropriately credited. For further details see Creative Commons.
|
<urn:uuid:a38ae4dc-8961-49c2-8c55-21b11e5450de>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/indigenous-knowledge/opinions/how-to-protect-the-inventions-of-the-poor.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.940931
| 1,200
| 2.546875
| 3
|