text stringlengths 181 608k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 3 values | url stringlengths 13 2.97k | file_path stringlengths 125 140 | language stringclasses 1 value | language_score float64 0.65 1 | token_count int64 50 138k | score float64 1.5 5 | int_score int64 2 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inspiring Quotes - Reading inspiring and motivating quotes regularly can actually help build confidence and become persistent in what you seek and how you choose to live. Overall, inspirational quotes can make a man more successful.
Every generation across the human race has looked up to someone for inspiration. Wise men have been able to influence lifestyles and personalities. For many people, their words have acted as inspirations in their career, relationships, personality and every other walk of life.
Application contains following features:
1) Collections of Most Inspiring Quotes.
2) Favorites section for quotes you likes to follow.
3) Share best quotes with other family and friends.
4) No Internet connection required.
As they say knowledge is to be shared, in the same way personality can be borrowed. Whatever be your dream or way of living, there would be someone who makes you think twice before giving up and staying upon the track that you have chosen. Now that we have online media, getting inspired is just a few clicks away. To make inspiration more portable, here is an app that will keep you excited, agreeable and a more satisfied personality. As said by Sir Robert Louis Stevenson, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant”, every day in your life will get a reason towards a distant goal. Quotes like this can ease away the frustration of another hard working day that you feel to have gone futile.
Inspirational quotes have the power to get you through a bad week and bring in the courage to face all adversities. This is the reason that these people have been role models for many and have led the world to a more agreeable place. The app “Most Inspiring Quotes” is a collection of various such inspirational quotes that have influenced mankind over the ages to try harder and strive along. Success has no short cut – there is a long way to go. All along, you can have this app as your guide!
Like it? Share with your friends!
Supported operating systems:
Google Android 2.3, Google Android 3.0, Google Android 3.1, Google Android 3.2, Google Android 4.0, Google Android 4.1, Google Android 4.2, Google Android 4.3, Google Android 4.4, Google Android 5.x, Google Android 6.x
Other Software by developer «Creativeglance»:
Wedding Games Ideas Kiss Makers or Ice Breakers, it is both a ritual and form of entertainment to play wedding games after the event. He harmless fun can be quite functional to know people from other families and create a bond that is going to last a lifetime
Friendship Poems Friendship poems often times express how one chooses their friend skillfully and finding a balance in the relationship of give and take and building trust between the two
Campfire Recipes Camping is always special. It is the event of your life where you are in perfect company – friends, loved ones, beautiful location and good food! Now that the summer is in full swing, you might have some plans ready for
Halloween Card Creator Halloween Card Creator app is easy and fun to create spooky fun Halloween cards and share them with your friends. Create your personalized Halloween Card to surprise your friends and family with a great custom card
Quit Smoking Secrets **** Hurry up! Get this application for free ***
Stop smoking is not easy. In our application 'Quit Smoking Secrets' you can find tips which may help you to quit smoking
Animal Shapes - Kids Puzzle ANIMAL SHAPE PUZZLE - Animal Shapes has the perfect balance between ease of play and mind challenge. Educational is fun with colorful animal shape puzzle!
Track My Budget-Money Planner Income - Expense management is one of the sucking tasks in this fast moving arena but we can't deny the fact that it is a most important task as well
Home Security Tips Home security should be important to everyone whether you live in a house or an apartment
Sympathy Quotes, Sayings Sympathy messages are an important part of healing. When sending a sympathy message to someone it is often difficult to know what to say or how to phrase your thoughts and feelings. This app compiled a list of appropriate and warm sympathy sayings
Stickers for Chat App Coolest variant and best stickers for you in our stickers for Chat App. We are here to create a new trend in your daily chat with our stickers for Chat App. Make the environment more laughable and funny with the set of these hilarious Chat App stickers | <urn:uuid:646cc728-1dba-4753-83dd-01c79dcf366d> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.mobuware.net/encyclopedia-facts-tag/inspiring-quotes-download-free-267235.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280065.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00540-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938487 | 938 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Engineers are battling to drain an unstable lake created by China's deadliest landslide in decades amid fears it could burst and swamp devastated areas where people are still hunting for landslide survivors.
At least 702 people died in north-western Gansu province when an avalanche of mud and rock engulfed the small town of Zhouqu at the weekend. Another 1,042 people are missing, an emergency relief official, Tian Baozhong, said.
Officials have warned for years that heavy tree-felling and rapid hydro-development were making the mountain area around Zhouqu more vulnerable to landslips, government reports show.
One government report last year called the Bailong river a "high-occurence disaster zone for landslides".
Officials are focusing on the loose dam thrown down by the landslide.
Water levels behind the barrier fell slightly after controlled explosions created a channel to funnel some water off.
"Our county is surrounded by mountains, the barrier lake has clogged the river, and once water comes from upstream, we will be flooded," said He Dong, a 36-year-old survivor of the mudslide. "This is a great danger to us."
Locals in Zhouqu wept beside half-buried and destroyed homes where their relatives and friends were trapped.
"My niece is buried under there. She is a high school student, such a good girl," said 42-year-old Yin Linfeng, who was away when the landslide struck.
"She was buried in the rubble when she was looking after my house. I will not give up. I want to see her body if she is dead. It was all my fault," she said.
A 52-year-old Tibetan man was pulled alive from a collapsed apartment this morning. He was only the second person found alive since Sunday in a town buried in up to seven metres of sludge.
Search efforts under a blazing sun and the pain of finding only corpses were also taking a toll on survivors, medics said.
"There are people who have spent several days looking for their family members, without any food or water. Some of them suffered from hypoglycaemia (a sharp fall in blood-sugar levels), some fainted, some had heatstroke," said military doctor Wang Puxuan.
The landslide was the worst to hit China in six decades, state media said, and the most deadly single incident in a year of heavy flooding that had already killed nearly 1,500 people.
Five people died in a landslide in north-west Shaanxi province on Monday night after heavy rains.
There is no sign of a let-up in the onslaught, with tropical storm Dianmu heading for northern China and expected to bring strong rains back to the disaster area.
Fearing new downpours after days of sunshine that helped rescue work, local officials focused on preventing a catastrophic overflow of the brimming new lake in the centre of Zhouqu.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from villages downstream as a precaution as the surge of mud and floodwaters would be almost impossible to escape. | <urn:uuid:f37c28fe-3a5c-4bc7-b882-6b0bfc25431f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/10/china-landslide-dam-burst | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00678.warc.gz | en | 0.980919 | 632 | 2.109375 | 2 |
Many sixth-grade students walked away from school last week for the summer with some valuable information about wildfire safety from a curriculum sparked by the Butte County Fire Safe Council that is starting to catch on in other counties.
About 360 Ridge students each year are exposed to the program that tries to teach them about what to do before, during and after wildfires. But much like a wildfire, the program is spreading into other areas of the county including Forest Ranch and other fire-prone communities. It's also made its way into Lassen County and Southern California where educators have adopted the pilot program and made it their own.
The five, one-hour lesson curriculum is the first of its type in the nation, kindled in Paradise by the fire safe council in 2005. Most teachers teach the class prior to summer vacation, Butte fire safe council director Calli-Jane Burch said. Sixth grade is a good time to teach the lessons because at that age they're old enough to make a real difference and have already learned about fire safety in the home through firefighter-taught lessons including stop, drop and roll. Paradise Intermediate School sixth-grade teacher Greg Holman agreed that children are captivated by the program since he's been teaching it, especially since the Humboldt Fire in June 2008.
"They're really engaged and they can see the relevance," he said. "I try to stress they're old enough to the be the calm, head of the house and say 'we need to evacuate or if the power's out go to the car to listen to the radio.'"
The class was always effective, but the Humboldt Fire had an effect on people, he said.
"The students do feel a sense of empowerment - it's a really good program but it really became more relevant after the Humboldt Fire," he said. "They realize it's not something that may happen but it will happen."
While most prefer to teach the material prior to fire season, school starts again after summer vacation in August with plenty of fire season left, Holman, a Durham Fire volunteer of 20 years said.
"It's a great way to start the school year," he said of the visually interesting curriculum.
Holman also commended the fire safe council for developing such a strong program and listening to his feedback and making annual adjustments.
Burch said a team developed the curriculum and was truly amazing how comprehensive the material was.
"It's really custom and really thorough," she said. "To me it would be great for adults too."
The program's coordinator, Anna Stephens a retired teacher with 37 years' experience now living on the Ridge, said she helped design the program in 2004 and makes annual upgrades to the curriculum.
"The whole idea is that California foothills and especially in Butte County are historically, currently and in the future are in danger of wildfire," she said.
One of the first lessons is on the geography of where the students live, taking into account the vegetation, topography and weather of the Ridge. Students also learn about the Wildland Urban Interface or WUI. Next they learn about the fire triangle - that fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen to burn and that if any one of the three is removed a fire cannot survive. Students also learn about sources of fire are mainly lightning and people, Stephens said.
"It's jam-packed," she said of the course.
Students' second lesson is about reducing risk and the empowerment of clearing defensible space and taking fire prevention measures at home including fire-wise plants and cleaning gutters and wood pile placement. Also, teachers teach students about fire ladders and how to disrupt the chain of a fire climbing plants from the ground to the tops of trees.
Finally, the students learn about doing the right thing at the right time by taking precautions before fire season, not mowing brush on hot windy days which can actually start fires, Stephens said. The third day is about how agencies work together during a fire including local governments, volunteers and firefighters. Also evacuation routes are taught and the career path to becoming a firefighter is talked about.
Day four covers a family plan to survival during a wildfire. Students work with their parents to gather a list of emergency telephone numbers and lists of shelters.
The fifth day's lesson revisits all the topics of the course with the students acting in skits and teaching their peers about a specific point of fire safety, Stephens said.
"It's fun to be a part of it and to see these really enthusiastic teachers," she said.
The program is supported by community donations and grant funding from Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Wal-Mart and a National Fire Plan grant from the Bureau of Land Management of the California Fire Safe Council.
Donations for the program are accepted at 767 Birch St. Paradise, CA. For more information please visit www.thenet411.net or call 877-0984. | <urn:uuid:29d126d3-e39f-4225-a05c-eb28c760b7e7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.paradisepost.com/general-news/20100601/fire-safety-education-spreading-like-wildfire | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285001.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00302-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97391 | 1,011 | 2.546875 | 3 |
I want to start by saying that I am a father and have a daughter; I find the accusations against legendary film director Woody Allen by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow quite disturbing. In Ms. Farrow’s letter published in The New York Times, the young woman goes into gruesome details about the alleged abuse. Most everyone will find the letter’s contents upsetting; however, we must also state that Mr. Allen has long denied the claims of this abuse, and he has never been charged in regards to this situation.
You can read a good deal more about the case’s details and why the prosecutors in Connecticut did not bring charges against Mr. Allen, but there remains the element of doubt, yet we also must recognize that we need to use “alleged” here because nothing has been proven.
Which gets us to the matter of art and the artist. As long as I can remember, there has been a debate about whether we should judge a work of art by the artist who created it. For example, if William Shakespeare had been a convicted murderer, would that detract from his body of work? Should it matter to us at all what happens in an artist’s personal life? Does not the work in and of itself exist and therefore should please or displease us based on its own merits?
This reminds me of the movie star Rock Hudson. My mother loved Rock and was a great fan. She enjoyed all his movies, and when he started appearing on the TV series Dynasty she was thrilled, though she noted he looked “very thin and like he is not well.” We know now that Mr. Hudson had the AIDS virus, which he died from in 1985. When stories were published afterwards, it was claimed that he was gay and the star machine that operated in Hollywood conspired to keep that information from the public. I will never forget that Mom said, “I don’t care what they say; I still love his movies.”
I bring up this case because Mom was not judging Rock by anything he did behind closed doors. All that was important to her was the work Rock did, and that endured for her even after she learned the truth about him. In her mind the “work” mattered much more than the real life the actor lived when not on screen.
In Mr. Allen’s case, what has caused all this to surface again since the event of alleged molestation occurred over 20 years ago? The answer is Mr. Allen’s lifetime achievement honor at this year’s Golden Globes, and there is also the matter of Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins, two actresses in his latest film Blue Jasmine, being nominated for an Academy Awards in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories and Mr. Allen for Best Screenplay. Since Mr. Allen is in the news once again, does that make him fair game for renewed accusations, and you may ask why hasn’t this happened sooner?
Mr. Allen has worked steadily since he and Mia Farrow broke up in 1992 due to her discovery of a romantic relationship with her adopted daughter Soon Yi Previn, who was 19 at the time. Shortly after this the accusations about Allen’s abuse of Dylan surfaced. We could question why Ms. Farrow has waited until now or why her mother did not press the issue continuously over the years. Of course, child abuse is such a horrendous matter, and also something a family may choose to keep private in respect to the child. We could imagine that Ms. Farrow (now 27 and married) found the courage to speak out when she saw Mr. Allen receiving accolades, and I respect her right to express herself and her outrage.
Still, I recently saw Blue Jasmine and it is an amazing film, mostly because of the performances by its nominated stars. Blanchett is so transparent, so totally believable in the role of a lifetime. Playing the disgraced wife of a former big Wall Street Bernie Madoff type (Alec Baldwin), Ms. Blanchett allows every emotion to register on screen as she slowly comes to grips with her dismantled former life of wealth and privilege. Moving in with her down and out sister (the equally amazing Hawkins) in San Francisco, she tries to reconstruct her life with less than satisfactory results.
The point is that Mr. Allen has created a fine work of art in Blue Jasmine. I enjoyed every moment of the film, and I marvel at his ability to cull such rich and resonant performances from his female (and male) stars. It is worth noting that when former muse Diane Keaton accepted his award at the Golden Globes, she mentioned how well Woody motivated and inspired the actresses in his films. Looking back on his movies we can remember many memorable female performances and know the truth of that statement (including Mia Farrow in Hannah and Her Sisters), but it could also have been the motivation for Dylan Farrow to speak out – to let the world know what they are seeing on screen has nothing to do with what happened to her so long ago.
So we do get back to the art and the artist. Roman Polanski, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway all come to mind here. Of course, there are many other artists and writers we could discuss, but think about these three men and their body of work. Do Mr. Polanski’s films not stand out as some of the finest made? Does not Pound’s poetry resound even now, so long after his death? And does not Hemingway‘s work as arguably the finest short story writer ever stand far above the disaster of the personal life he lived?
Polanski was accused of statutory rape, Pound of being a Nazi sympathizer, and Hemingway of being a misogynist and bully, but I have always tried to read or view a work of art in a vacuum. I suppose as human beings we are inevitably drawn into the nature of the person who created the thing we respect and admire. We look for hidden clues, meanings within meanings, to get at the person who crafted such fine work. We don’t just want to see the portrait; we want to see the hand of the person who held the paintbrush, warts and all.
We as modern Internet people are so addicted and affected by ready access to information. We want to know everything, sort of a 24-7 TMZ mentality, and it seems to be a social desire to take a fiction and make it reality TV. With so many TV series about celebrity lives, it is not all our fault. Imagine if Hemingway lived today – his reality TV series with four wives, three sons, assorted mistresses, carousing friends, and angry associates could make for something more juicy and infinitely more entertaining than Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I could just picture a grizzled Hemingway staring at the camera and telling the tale of his submarine and skirt chasing, those days in Paris with Fitzgerald, and how he ran with the bulls in Spain. I have to say that’s a show I would watch, but how would such a series affect the way we think about the work Hemingway created and left behind for generations to come?
Despite all the things that happen to writers, actors, directors, and other artists, we always have to come back to the work. Woody Allen didn’t become famous because he was just any guy from Brooklyn and had some stories to tell; his fame is based on his body of work. He had to create something larger than life, something that would be more than some conversation he once had in Brighton Beach. Allen was able to successfully and memorably translate real life experiences into reel life ones. To do this he had to have talent, pluck, and luck. Let’s not forget the talent part, and he also had to find people to believe in him and his vision. The rest, as they often say, is history – in this case cinematic history.
Woody Allen’s cinematic body of work is simply amazing. While there are some clunkers to be sure, what artist or writer doesn’t have those? Overall, Allen has left behind an impressive film legacy as a director that is right up there with Scorcese, Coppolla, Chaplin, Ford, and DeMille. Maybe there are people who do not like that, but they cannot erase all his films, just as they cannot delete all of Alex Rodriguez’s homers. We may not like the alleged way A-Rod came to hit all those dingers, but we cannot deny that they happened.
I want to share a story of a good friend who had extensive masonary work done on his patio, back porch, and pathway into the backyard. When I came to see it, I was astounded by the intricacies of the stonework, the beautiful design in the pathway, and the mosaics spreading out in designs across the porch. When I inquired about getting the mason to do work on my house, my friend sadly related that the man was arrested and charged with all sorts of crimes. He put his hands on his hips, stared at the yard, and said, “It’s such a shame, he did such good work.”
I never forgot that story and never will. My friend still has those things in his yard and uses them daily while the man who crafted them languishes in jail. When I recently asked about how the mason is doing, my friend said, “I don’t know; I never think about it.” Of course, my friend was not a little girl whose life was changed forever by a man she thought she could trust. Maybe she never thought about Allen all those years either, and when she saw the Golden Globes she started thinking again and we end up getting that letter.
I know the situations are different, but in the end the mason’s stonework and Allen’s movies are enduring works of art. It is up to each person to decide whether to appreciate them or not.
Photo credits: Allen and Dylan Farrow-Wire Images; Daily News | <urn:uuid:97cc5ac4-2dc1-45cb-b9ef-6650c49425da> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://blogcritics.org/woody-allen-should-we-judge-art-by-the-artists-personal-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571982.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813172349-20220813202349-00068.warc.gz | en | 0.985008 | 2,100 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Visit our other Wisconsin Historical Society websites!
Refine or narrow your results by clicking any term in the gray boxes below.
Expand your results by removing any breadcrumb in a gray outlined box above. Click on the blue "X" to remove the term.
Narrow your results by entering a keyword into the search box above. Then click the "Search Within" checkbox, then click on the orange "Search" button.
If you did not find what you are looking for or you did not get any results, try changing your search term(s). See our Search Help page for more tips.
Date: 1810 ca.
Description: View of the city of Lincoln, England. Photocopy after an engraving by B.G. Topham.
Description: A fur trade engagement for Charles St. Antoine dit Vacher, written in French.
Description: A handwritten order to evacuate Ft. Dearborn.
Description: A handbill entitled "McKinley, The Poltroon & Assassin, In His True Colors."
Description: Scale: about 43 miles to 1 in. Boundaries colored.
Description: The second page of a letter written by Daniel Boone to his sister.
Date: 1810 before
Description: This map shows lot and block numbers, streets, and the public square. The bottom right margin reads: "Robert M. Eberts, Henry S. Baird, A.G. Ellis, R.S. S...
Description: A contract, written by Joseph Grubb regarding work and boarding for Samuel Marshall, which is signed by Grubb.
Description: Swiss baptismal certificate, Glarus.
Description: The address cover page of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Lancelot Minor.
Description: Forth Crawford (1816-1831).
Description: The back side of the first page of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Lancelot Minor.
Description: Etching depicting the burning of Washington, D.C. by the British during the War of 1812. In the foreground are a number of soldiers moving toward the Capit...
Description: Eastern half of the United States. Scale: 2.5 inches = 250 miles.
Date: 1815 ca.
Description: Engraved view of the first state buildings in Columbus, Ohio, including the United States Courthouse, Public Offices and the Old State House. A number of p...
Description: Map of the Upper Territories of the United States.
Date: 1816 ca.
Description: This is a photostat copy of a manuscript map in the National Archives showing a plan of Fort Howard and a view of its north side. Originally surveyed by Wi...
Date: 1814 ca.
Description: Fort Shelby, built by the Americans during the War of 1812. In 1814 the fort surrendered to British forces led by Captain Andrew W. Bulger who renamed it...
Date: 1812 ca.
Description: Four rusted bayonets and shot that sat in the hold of the ship Niagara for 80 years.
Description: Dagger from an American officer of the war of 1812. Renat was a member of the naval fleet of the Great Lakes which was under the command Oliver Hazard Perr...
If you didn't find the material you searched for, our Library Reference Staff can help.
Call our reference desk at 608-264-6535 or email us at:
© 1996-2017 Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706 | <urn:uuid:e4a330d6-c67e-4719-bc14-7b392241206a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:1135-4294963829-263&dsNavOnly=N:1135-4294963829&subject_narrow=Children+and+animals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284352.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00190-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.886555 | 728 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Kashmiris traditionally have a natural flair for the arts, and Kashmir's handicrafts have made their impact on the national as well as international markets.
Traditional items made of walnut, a dark brown wood - copper samovar, teapot and house boats are famous for their excellent craftsmanship in the region.
To increase its demand and popularity, the artisans who are engaged with walnut wood carving, are changing the traditional items in size and design. The new products are available in various sizes, innovative designs and look more attractive and decorative.
"We thought of making new and innovative things. We use wood as a base material instead of copper both in making small and big sizes like gift items, which can be famous all over the world. This art requires a lot of craftsmanship skills and efforts. It takes three to four years in learning, after that we start working. The wood that is used is not an ordinary one, but a special one," said Shafeeq Ahmad, a walnut business dealer.
One of the artisans said that to create a piece from walnut required highly skilled expertise and time.
"It took almost one year in making. I do not use any mechanical device in making. It is purely a hand work. It is a real wood craving work," said Bilal Ahmad, an artisan.
The walnut wood has a unique colour, grain and sheen and the carving and fretwork done on it is of the finest quality.
Walnut is the most common wood used for carving and Kashmir is one of the few places where walnut trees thrive. | <urn:uuid:0ac88d91-f46f-45c1-8082-4ed5c4b2da97> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.oneindia.com/2009/04/03/kashmir-artisans-giving-traditional-walnut-products-a-new-lo.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280221.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00237-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968619 | 331 | 2.390625 | 2 |
The U.S. government is one of the largest customers of data analytics from tech firms, and the National Security Agency has recruited a top security officer from Facebook, according to a report in the New York Times.
The NSA hired Facebook Chief Security Officer Max Kelly when he left the company in 2010, according to the Times report published Thursday.
Intelligence agencies are recruiting top employees from U.S. tech vendors in an effort to help the agencies better collect information about Web users, the story said.
In addition, Skype is cooperating with the NSA through a program exploring the legal and technical issues involved in making customer calls available to intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Times reported.
The NSA spends an estimated US$8 billion to $10 billion a year in Silicon Valley on activities including investing in tech startups and awarding classified contracts, the Times reported.
Skype representatives didn't respond to a request for comments on the story. Last year, Mark Gillett, corporate vice president in Microsoft's Skype division, denied that Skype had made changes in its architecture at the behest of Microsoft to give law enforcement better access to users' communications.
"Skype's architecture decisions are based on our desire to provide the best possible product to our users," Gillett wrote in a blog post.
A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment on the Times story, but said the company was unaware that Kelly took a job with the NSA after leaving there.
Earlier this month, the Guardian and the Washington Post published information leaked from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who said that nine tech companies, including Facebook and Skype, have given the NSA direct access to their servers. Most of the companies have denied his allegations.
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:75a86a18-50c0-4aec-b468-1a53ba19a9e1> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.networkworld.com/article/2167483/data-center/tech-companies-cooperating-with-nsa--report-says.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282140.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00134-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952285 | 391 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Drawings of Japanese geisha can be found both online and in print. An image search for the term "geisha drawings" on any major search engine renders a wide selection of geisha-themed images, as do websites that allow users to search galleries by subject, such as Pinterest. Online art vendors, including Fine Art America, offer geisha-inspired artwork for sale. For modern drawings, visit sites with user-generated content such as deviantART.Continue Reading
Geisha drawings can also be found in print at most bookstores. Japanese history texts often contain depictions of geisha, but the best places to find drawings of geisha are art publications. The art section of a bookstore may have entire publications devoted to traditional Japanese art. Liza Dalby's book "Geisha," available for purchase on Amazon, contains a variety of artful depictions of geisha. Many major art museums also have drawings of geisha on display. These museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, allow users to search the galleries by topic, like geisha.
The most common drawings of geisha are Japanese brush paintings. These paintings were typically done in ink and are known for their clean, simple lines. Recent drawings of geisha range from traditional to highly stylized and modernized depictions.Learn more about Drawing | <urn:uuid:59c5c985-1eac-4a17-adfd-cbc0c27e0f70> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://www.reference.com/art-literature/can-geisha-drawings-39448b85e893b46b | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988725475.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183845-00510-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949867 | 267 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Sometimes even classics need a change of pace. Such was the case for the Annie Café & Bar, a favorite restaurant in Houston and a trailblazer of the city’s food scene in the ’80s and ’90s. Restaurateur Ben Berg tapped his friend, architect Issac Preminger, to bring the eatery back to life with a new design that rethinks everything from the color palette to structural elements.
“I wanted to really freshen and brighten it up,” Berg tells AD PRO. “If a restaurant has been open 38, 39 years, in three different forms, if it is an icon and wants to stay one, it needs to be renewed for a new generation.” The airy, industrial-inspired space features exposed whitewash brick walls, soaring faux palm trees, a dramatic green scalloped-tile bar, and floor-to-ceiling black steel and glass walls that create six private rooms. AD PRO caught up with Preminger to talk through the renovation process.
AD PRO: The original restaurant closed in May, and you gutted and redesigned all 11,000 square feet. What were the reasons for such a big change?
Issac Preminger: From a functional standpoint, [the old design] didn’t work—there were no restrooms upstairs, and the bar was very small. We moved the stairs over, which gave us more room to do the bar, and gave us space downstairs to create another venue. We also redistributed the areas of the dining room. The dining room before was very large, so if there weren’t a lot of people in the restaurant it looked empty. We now have a dining room and several rooms for private parties. It was designed, permitted, and constructed in four months. | <urn:uuid:378b25ea-9583-4d05-88cd-120d43b834f6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-annie-cafe-and-bar-unveils-a-complete-redesign | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571150.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810070501-20220810100501-00668.warc.gz | en | 0.967849 | 374 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Discipline meets playfulness, and novelty meets history in the building of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Osijek, Croatia, which we explored in the framework of this week’s PACE X HYPEANDHYPER episode.
The building of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Osijek could serve as a perfect example for students. With an abundance of natural daylight, airy community spaces and solutions also facilitating individual learning, it is the perfect starting point for the architects of the future.
The building was designed by Croatian architects Dinko Peračić and Roman Šilje as part of a complex. The shorter sides of the oblong building are open, and several other solutions also strengthen the open character of the building, including the open endings of the corridors, the internal terraces and the giant roof windows.
Students can navigate in the building characterized by easy passability just like the air and light finding their way from the skylights to the ground floor. The faculty of architecture is passable from the basement up to the highest floor through wide connecting elements with various additional functions, including an open classroom, a canteen, grandstands next to the Students’ Club, terraces, porticos, a lobby for offices and bike parking. In addition to the contemporary spaces of learning, interaction and teaching, they also kept a section of the past: the architects found an elegant way to integrate the archaeological site on the ground floor into the building.
Teaching architecture can also be perceived as a series of meaningful conversations. At the Faculty of Architecture in Osijek, the building supports this vast meaning, illustrating vividly the most important architectural topoi: disciplined order and wild playfulness, historical stratification and novel tectonics at the same time.architect and assistant professor András Márk Bartha DLA
In our series titled PACE X HYPEANDHYPER, we showcase a prominent contemporary public building from the Central Eastern European region each week. | <urn:uuid:53c631f8-fc02-4f09-9d3f-a1d9fd046b13> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://hypeandhyper.com/en/faculty-of-civil-engineering-and-architecture-osijek-croatia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571692.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812105810-20220812135810-00078.warc.gz | en | 0.947096 | 413 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Popularity:This software was not yet scanned for viruses
Project planning application for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/Win7. A separate version is also available for a range of PDAs.
Create a project plan by entering tasks and resources, add holiday information and create dependencies between tasks. Plan will calculate the entire project schedule taking into consideration dependencies and holiday information.
Includes display of Gantt chart and critical path calculation.
The program also can be used as an inexpensive Microsoft Project file viewer, since it can read MPP, MPD, MPX and XML files. Note, however, that Plan isn't simply a Microsoft Project viewer, since it also can update and recalculate projects and if necessary write them back in Microsoft format.
Use Plan for Windows stand-alone or use it in conjunction with Pocket Plan on a Pocket/Handheld PC/Nokia Communicator. This option allows you to create project plans on your PC and then transfer the data to your PDA where you can continue to work on your plan.
What's New in this Release: Added support for reading Microsoft Project 2013 files
Link to Plan for Windows sample code
Platform: WinXP,WinVista,WinVista x64,Win7 x32,Win7 x64,Win2000,WinServer
License: Free To Try
Date Added: May 08, 2010
Last check for an update: Jan 22, 2017
Last version date: May 17, 2015
Page Visit: 106
Malware Status: Not scanned yet | <urn:uuid:edfd0cf9-ef3e-41e8-ba6e-717808a44659> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.rsoftr.com/business/project-management/plan_for_windows-60193.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281746.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00283-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.845914 | 316 | 1.59375 | 2 |
G-8 SUMMIT: Leaders of the world's eight major industrialized nations have set a goal of cutting worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases in half by 2050. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is hosting the Group of Eight summit at a resort on the northern island of Hokkaido, announced the deal today. Mr. Fukuda says the accord allows each nation to set its own "aggressive" midterm goals toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.The top environmental advisor for U.S. President George Bush says it aligns with Mr. Bush's demand that growing economies such as India and China agree to take part in the reductions.
MALAYSIA - D8 SUMMIT: Leaders at a summit of eight developing Islamic nations say the rising costs of
food and oil could have dire implications. Malaysian Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, host of today's one-day summit in
Kuala Lumpur, says soaring food prices, which he says have jumped 75-percent
since 2000, threaten the world economy, and could lead to domestic political
unrest. Mr. Abdullah urged the other participating nations to boost food
production and cease using farm land for crops solely devoted to biofuels. He
says the "zeal for energy security" has led to the global food shortage.
THAILAND - TRIAL: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is standing trial today -- nearly two years after he was ousted in a bloodless military
coup.Mr. Thaksin and his wife are due to appear in court to face charges
of abuse of power and conflict of interest in a real estate purchase while he
was in office. The couple denies the charges.The ousted prime minister
returned to Thailand in February, after nearly 18 months of self-imposed
exile.On Monday, thousands of people marched on in Bangkok to demand
that police take action against supporters of Mr. Thaksin.
CAMBODIA - THAILAND: Cambodians are celebrating the decision by the U.N. cultural body to grant
international status to an ancient temple along its border with
Thailand.The streets of the capital of Phnom Penh were filled with
residents singing, dancing and waving flags today after hearing
the news that UNESCO (the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) had placed the disputed 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on
its World Heritage List. Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement
calling the designation "a new pride" for Cambodia and its
people.Meanwhile, a high court in Thailand ruled today the government's
previous endorsement of Cambodia's UNESCO bid as unconstitutional.
NOKOR - NUCLEAR: Talks to end North Korea's nuclear program will resume this week in Beijing after being stalled since late last year.A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, told reporters today that the talks will begin on Thursday and are scheduled to last for three days.He says the discussions could go on longer if progress is made, adding that participants hope to push the talks on to their next stage if possible.Talks are expected to focus largely on the work of verifying Pyongyang's recent declaration of its nuclear program.Last month, North Korea released documents detailing its nuclear program, and destroyed the cooling tower of its main nuclear complex.
RICE - EUROPE: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Russia's behavior towards Georgia
is adding to tensions in the region. Rice noted today
in Prague that the former Soviet republic of Georgia is now an independent
state, and called on both Russia and Georgia to avoid "provocative" actions.
U.S. officials have been dismayed by a series of steps that Moscow has
taken towards Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The two regions declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s,
sparking fighting and the dispatch of Russian peacekeepers to the region.
NEPAL - TIBET: Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered the release of three Tibetan leaders who were jailed on accusations of leading anti-China protests in Kathmandu.The court ruled Monday in favor of the activists saying their detention was illegal.The three were arrested last month and were charged with anti-China activities.Last week, police in Nepal detained around 300 Tibetan exiles after some demonstrators tried to storm a Chinese embassy building in Kathmandu.Tibetan exiles have been holding demonstrations against China since March, when deadly clashes broke out between protesters and Chinese authorities in Tibet.
INDIA - NUCLEAR: India's communist parties say they are withdrawing their support for the government to protest against a nuclear energy deal with the United States.The energy deal will give India access to civilian nuclear technology, despite its refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.India's communist parties say the deal will bind India too close to Washington, and could compromise India's national security.Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says the deal is needed to give India more energy alternatives to drive its economy.New Delhi and Washington want to seal the deal before the U.S. presidential election in November because its fate is not certain if it has to face the next U.S. administration.
Listen to our World News for details. | <urn:uuid:42ddf8ec-6a78-4773-811a-beeba0e3fb53> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://lao.voanews.com/a/a-52-2008-07-08-voa4-90692184/1188147.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571536.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811224716-20220812014716-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.950976 | 1,099 | 1.554688 | 2 |
The world of esports keeps growing. Esports is a booming global industry of video gamers playing competitively in tournaments. It might have started as a phenomenon occurring in basements, but it has grown bigger since then. The industry is larger, the audience is global and there are numerous opportunities to invest.
In this article, we look into some of the most prominent investment opportunities available in esports.
What is Esports?
In its simplest sense, esports – an acronym for electronic sports – is a term that describes competitive video gaming.
Esports combine several traditional gaming elements while adding some novel components to create the ultimate gaming experience. Like traditional gaming, they involve consoles and games from mostly recognized developers. However, unlike conventional gaming, they usually involve human-to-human players and a captive audience.
Several games have been able to harness that natural competitive fire in players and have soared to astronomical heights. Call of Duty pits two teams against each other in a modern-day virtual battleground, while games like League of Legends do the same thing – but with a more idyllic, fantasy-based virtual environment.
In esports, players can play one-on-one or as part of dedicated teams. In the latter category, teams can also have analysts and coaches who help bring out the best in each player. Games can be played physically on consoles or online via streaming platforms.
Then, there is the element of fans, who enjoy the games and the atmosphere that this competitive nature creates. Some of these fans are gaming enthusiasts who watch to learn skills, while others just love the thrill of it all.
Why Esports is So Popular
To be fair, online gaming isn’t entirely new. As far back as the 70s and 80s, the gaming space has seen a significant proliferation of players. However, many were considered amateurs. Over the past 10 years, however, esports has taken off. The industry is at its most vibrant point and making impressive gains. In 2016, more people saw the finals of League of Legends (43 million viewers) than the NBA finals with its 31 million eyeballs.
Data from Business Insider shows that total esports viewership is expected to grow at a 9 percent compound annual growth rate between 2019 and 2023, topping 646 million in the latter year.
Primarily, this increase has been fueled by the following factors:
1. Improved Gaming Accessibility
The improved accessibility of games has become the top reason why esports has now become so popular. You can access games from your mobile, console, and online streaming channels. With so many ways to play games, you can turn pretty much any device into a gaming hub and get on the trend.
It goes without saying that not every platform supports the same gaming experience. Mobile devices and certain streaming platforms are still no match for the processing power of gaming consoles or dedicated PCs. Nonetheless, improved accessibility ensures that anyone can get into the esports scene easily.
Better Gaming Quality
Game developers have also improved their development skills over the past few years. More games have been introduced for people to play, and the technology used to control these games – as well as the networks that host the games – have improved in capability. All of these have made games more desirable for players.
Today, esports lovers have a long list of titles to select from. You can choose a wide range of titles encompassing several genres and from different developers. From war and fantasy to sports and combat games, esports is becoming just as vast as traditional video gaming.
Not all games are for everyone, but you should be able to find a title that appeals to you easily. Some of the most-watched esports titles on Twitch are League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
How to Invest in Esports
The esports industry is a billion-dollar space. Esports players make money through their skills—which is developed through extensive play. You could enter an esports competition and win the prize money if you’re talented enough. You could also go the way of famous names like Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, who makes millions annually via streaming channels.
However, these two are quite improbable for most people. You need otherworldly skills and incredible dedication to win an esports league. For success in streaming, you need both and a wide-reaching fanbase on streaming channels for you to monetize.
Still, there’s some hope. You could take some money and make strategic investments in esports that will make you sizable returns.
Here are some smart ways to invest in Esports:
Invest in Esports Companies
The first way is to invest in an esports company. There are different types of companies in the esports space. You can purchase their stocks and gain as these stocks surge over time.
You can invest in the following categories of esports companies:
Gaming companies primarily develop and distribute gaming content. They could also own and organize esports leagues in some cases.
Game publishers benefit from the ownership of their games. They control where their games are played, hosting tourneys and others. Publishers and developers have more avenues to monetize their intellectual property over time.
Some of the top game publishers and developers include:
- Electronic Arts (EA): FIFA, Madden NFL, Apex Legends, etc.
- Activision Blizzard: Call of Duty, Overwatch, etc.
- Ubisoft: Watchdogs, Gods & Monsters, For Honor, etc.
- Epic Games: Fortnite, ZombieArmy, BorderLands 3, etc.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment: God of War, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, etc.
Media companies have been the largest beneficiaries of the growth in online game streaming. These companies operate streaming platforms and entertainment services, receiving revenues from subscriptions and endorsements.
These companies generally provide a derivative entertainment form. Since they provide increased engagement, they are critical to the esports business model. Also, their business model works so well because it is game-agnostic. Unlike publishers and developers, media companies find it much easier to adapt to industry trends and the rise of new gaming genres.
A media company could also branch out to sponsor esports leagues and teams. So, they are attractive investment opportunities. The most popular esports media companies include Twitch (now owned by Amazon), Huya (owned by Tencent), the Modern Times Group, etc.
These companies primarily build tools that enhance the gaming experience – everything from gaming rigs and dedicated PCs to keyboards and even gaming chairs. In some instances, they also sponsor esports leagues and teams.
The hardware companies have benefited from increased gaming demand a lot. Many see the hardware as the “picks and shovels” of the esports space, and everyone, regardless of their skill level, will need these tools to enjoy the experience.
Some top hardware manufacturers include NVIDIA, Razer Inc., and Turtle Beach.
Buy Esports ETFs
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a set of investments that trade on an exchange. These instruments provide a means of buying and selling a basket of assets without purchasing each component.
Generally, an ETF works like this; a fund provider that owns the underlying assets builds a fund to track their performances. The fund manager sells units of these funds to investors. So, while each investor owns a portion of the ETF, they don’t own the fund’s underlying assets. With ETFs, you can diversify your portfolio. These instruments are also relatively cheap. Since they are easy to trade and provide diversification benefits, it’s easy to see why they are so popular.
Some of the top gaming ETFs include:
NERD is a multi-cap blended fund tied to the Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports Index. The index tracks esports companies’ performance, with stocks of companies like Huya, Tencent Holdings, and Chinese live-streaming giant DouYu.
HERO is a multi-cap growth fund focusing on video game publishers, esports leagues, hardware manufacturers, and streaming services. The fund holds stocks in over 40 companies, with top names including Chinese streaming service Bilibili, Singapore-based internet service provider Sea Ltd., and video game maker Nintendo Co. Ltd.
ESPO is a large-cap growth fund that targets hardware and software companies with ties to the esports space. The fund also has stocks for betting companies and casinos.
ESPO tracks the MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index and has a portfolio of several dozen companies. Top holdings in the ETF include Tencent Holdings, NVIDIA, and Bilibili.
The Crypto Revolution and Gaming
Cryptocurrencies have gained significant attention, especially over the past year, with several top firms’ entry into the space.
With asset prices rising, many have raised the potential for mainstream adoption. However, the industry won’t be able to achieve this if it doesn’t show real-world applications, combined with a compelling user base. Considering recent events, gaming seems to be one of the most lucrative opportunities.
Due to the coronavirus, in-person attendance at events dropped by 0.8%, according to research firm Newzoo. However, forecasts show that the industry should manage a 50 percent growth over the next three years and hit $1.6 billion in value by 2023.
Crypto sector analysts also believe that the gaming industry, as a whole, is ripe for exploration. Last November, digital research firm Messari reported that the coronavirus’s impacts could provide the perfect opportunity for blockchain technology and digital assets to transform the esports space. Fantasy sports are not left out.
Citing research from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Messari explained that fantasy sports and betting should grow by 7.2 percent over the next three to five years. Since 75 percent of traditional sports bettors reportedly play fantasy sports, these markets are ripe for growth. With the spread of the coronavirus, esports companies have seen a need to digitize their sporting experience. This way, they can keep viewership up.
Several fantasy games built on blockchains use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to increase their value, offering them to players and community members in exchange for engagement. Last year, esports personality Susie Kim confirmed the launch of her custom fan cryptocurrency, called SUSIE. Her followers can purchase the token and use it to gain access to Discord chats and shoutouts on her social media channels.
Kim is credited for helping build Twitch’s presence in South Korea. With the move, she joined a group of 30 gamers, content creators, and influencers who launched their personal cryptocurrencies on Rally – a digital asset development platform with backing from top venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. You could purchase these assets and gain money as they increase in value – most likely in tandem with the views on these personalities’ channels.
There is also some interesting work in the NFT space. NFTs are tokens that allow innovators to issue unique digital assets. They are particularly compatible with gaming because they enable users to acquire valuable in-game assets stored on a blockchain.
Last year, Felix Kjellberg (aka PewDiePie), a gamer and YouTuber with over 100 million subscribers, lent his support to Wallem – a blockchain-based 3D augmented reality game that uses NFTs for skins and other in-game purchases. The game also rewards users with Ethereum-based tokens from time to time.
Wallem uses augmented reality technology and a 3D map to place virtual objects in the real world. The game features an in-built crypto wallet, allowing users to find and collect cryptocurrencies – including Bitcoin and Ether, which they can transfer to external wallets and sell on exchanges.
The esports scene is ripe for investment. Despite the effects of the coronavirus and the seeming market slowdown, the industry has seen significant gains over the past few years and is expected to bounce back.
While most of the money-making opportunities in esports will require that you build your skills and gain massive followings on streaming services, you could also invest in several strategic forms to monetize your passion for online gaming. You will need some analysis skills, but you can get started with little capital and take advantage of several monetization avenues. | <urn:uuid:bdb0ef3c-05cb-4527-9ad5-966cc283669c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://beincrypto.com/learn/investing-in-esports/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573163.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20220818033705-20220818063705-00069.warc.gz | en | 0.952984 | 2,534 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Download links and information about Rossini: Overtures by Claudio Abbado, The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe. This album was released in 1991 and it belongs to Opera genres. It contains 7 tracks with total duration of 01:01:03 minutes.
|Artist:||Claudio Abbado, The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe|
|Buy it NOW at:|
|Buy on iTunes $9.99|
|Buy on Amazon $7.23|
|1.||Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Overture||7:15|
|3.||L'Italiana in Algeri: Overture||7:48|
|4.||William Tell: Overture||11:01|
|5.||La Cenerentola: Overture||8:09|
|6.||La scala di seta: Overture||5:57|
|7.||La gazza ladra: Overture||8:57|
In the early 19th century, Gioachino Rossini's witty and energetic style redefined and dominated the grand tradition of Italian opera and his melodies have been immortal favorites ever since. The best themes from each opera are distilled in the overtures, themselves masterpieces of tuneful orchestral writing. Such evergreen as the overtures to William Tell (known to generations of listeners as the Lone Ranger's theme) and The Barber of Sevilleare conveyed here with contagiously joyous style by the eminent Italian conductor Claudio Abbado. His passionately persuasive performances even rescued some of Rossini's operas from undeserved obscurity. | <urn:uuid:2a424882-c6dc-4ac5-ad9e-a2f615084d0a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.wikimp3.org/album/claudio-abbado-the-chamber-orchestra-of-europe-rossini-overtures-1991/122639/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280221.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00230-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.810217 | 338 | 1.640625 | 2 |
On December 14 at 7:00PM, the Lenox School Committee will hold an informational meeting about School Choice in the Lenox Public Schools.
School Choice is a Massachusetts program supported by state law that allows school districts to enroll students who live in other school districts. It was created in the early nineties to allow parents and students more options in K-12 public education.
School Committees must vote annually if they wish to participate in School Choice. Districts receiving Choice students must annually identify the number of school choice seats available and must create and maintain an application process that does not discriminate. Once a student is enrolled through School Choice, the receiving district is obligated to educate the student in the district’s schools through the remainder of their K-12 education. Sending districts (or municipalities) are obligated to pay a sum of $5000 per student to the receiving district to offset educational costs. School Choice has served thousands of students since its inception, but today there are both supporters and opponents of the program.
Supporters of School Choice maintain that it allows families more access to effective schools. School Choice receipts can be an important source of revenue for districts who seek to expand educational offerings and programs. Administrators can use Choice as a way to manage the enrollment, creating grade sizes and class sizes that they consider optimal. Additionally, School Choice students and families are often active contributors to their schools and school communities.
School Choice opponents may point out that the $5000 cost offset does not cover the per-pupil cost of educating a student, which in some districts can surpass $15,000. Considering this difference between per-pupil costs and per-pupil revenue, some see School Choice as subsidizing educational efforts of other towns or districts. And, as numbers of non-resident students increase, some citizens may develop concerns about the erosion of town or “local” identity.
The Informational Meeting of December 14th has been planned to educate the public on historical trends and current facts about School Choice in Lenox. The Committee also hopes to hear public opinions on this complex topic, which in recent years, has been the source of much discussion.
If you’d like to learn more about School Choice or how School Choice impacts the Lenox Schools, please plan on attending. TL | <urn:uuid:86de4fa5-6fe9-4a12-be60-c35ff2508ff2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.lenoxps.org/blog/2016/11/30/learn-more-about-school-choice/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285289.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00152-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969413 | 467 | 2.484375 | 2 |
PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIBERALIZATION (PART I)
The present need for liberalization process will determine a country's ability to enter a new phase of development transforming her into a truly Information Society
By Yousaf Haroon
Assistant Professor (Management) National Post Graduate Institute of Telecommunications & Informatics (NPGIT&I)
May 19 - 25, 2003
The dynamism of global telecommunications markets is widely attributed to rapid technological development and an increasingly liberal policy environment. Over the past decade, a large number of world economies have also embarked on reform paths, and witnessed significant expansion of their telecommunication networks and striking improvements in quality. But neither performance nor policy have been uniform across the region. Countries differ in both the sequence and extent of reform. Furthermore, it is not always apparent where the improved performance is because of specific policy choices rather than in spite of them, and where more could have been achieved had policy been different. Such has been the case of telecommunications in Pakistan where after 54 years of independence the tele-density remains just 2.5 which is a serious telecommunications regulatory and policy challenge the nation has to grapple with in the emerging world of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
This paper addresses two questions. Is it possible to identify the constituents of good telecommunications policy? And is it possible to further the choice of good policy at the national level through multilateral negotiations? Telecommunications liberalization is a complex and relatively new process. Choices have to be made regarding the privatization of state-owned telecommunications operators, the introduction of competition, the opening of markets to foreign investment and the establishment of pro-competitive regulations. While there is growing consensus that each of these elements is desirable, it is a rare country that has immediately gone all the way on all fronts. In Asia and Pakistan, in particular, governments have differed in their willingness to concede control to the market, and most have a penchant for gradualism. Competition has been introduced, but the number of firms has been fixed by policy; privatization is often partial and there are limits on foreign participation; separate regulators have been created but they are rarely fully independent in decisively perusing a path to mature competition in telecommunications.
Even though economic theory is bold in its pronouncements on the extremes, it is more tentative in its prescriptions on the transition path. How much greater are the social benefits if privatization is accompanied by competition? How much greater are the benefits if all barriers to entry are removed in markets where some competition has already been introduced? How much competition is desirable-is there no good reason to limit entry? How far should foreign investment be encouraged in concentrated markets? How important is an independent regulator for the emergence of robust competition? What should the regulator regulate? How is any adverse impact of liberalization on income distribution and poverty best addressed? There is a surprisingly long list of questions to which we cannot yet provide definitive answers, though there is no dearth of strong opinions.
LIBERALIZATION PROCESS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Present is the past of future! The future technologies take telecommunications beyond transportation of voice over channels to exchange of high speed IP (Internet Protocol) data integrating industries and services across homes, across markets, across countries into a telematic society which fulfills its needs using telecommunications services. Therefore, the present need for liberalization process will determine a country's ability to enter a new phase of development transforming her into a truly Information Society.
The need for liberalization leading to competition in network industries such as telecommunications is required to promote healthy competition for improved productivity, wider consumer choice and lower prices. Even greater is the need to provide basic necessities of life such as health care, education, security and employment. Communications is today ranked as a top-level basic need for sustainable development of the human beings. Telecommunications, therefore, play a vital role to develop Information Communication Technologies (ICT) competencies at the global level bringing access to an unlimited resources and human activities just a push button away.
In telecommunication industry the most significant constraining factors are:
* The legacy of monopoly control
* Wide spread public ownership and state aids
* Political and institutional diversity
* Public service objectives
* Interconnection issues
The liberalization process today is a function of regulation which ultimately seek competition govern the telecommunications industry of which the most significant examples are of US and UK which have successfully rolled out market liberalization in telecommunications and various other sectors of the economy and have reaped desired goals. The liberalization of telecommunication market structure can be divided into three phases:
* PHASE 1: Monopoly : Single Dominant Market Player
* PHASE 2: Emerging Competition : Mix Market
* PHASE 3: Mature Competition : Many Market Players
The evolution of regulation over 3 phases of liberalization of market.
Market liberalization generally goes hand-in-hand with regulatory reforms, as the nature of regulation has to adapt over time to the new economic environment (globalization, shifts in technology etc.). An improvement in the regulatory environment does not necessarily mean deregulation and it may also entail re-regulation provided that the new rules are better adapted to the new economic environment. In a changing business environment, regulations that were appropriate in the past may no longer be so in the future. They may even prevent enterprises from competing successfully in the larger world markets, causing a destruction of employment or productive capacity. Governments therefore have a responsibility to keep regulations under continuous review and assess their appropriateness in the current business environment. The issue of regulation and its evolution over time is particularly important for the network industries where the respective roles of regulatory and competition authorities must evolve with the degree of liberalization.
Pakistan endeavors to introduce competition in telecommunications through a market liberalization process where the government has to make tough choices between the incumbent operator having a monopoly in telecommunications PSTN infrastructure to be fairly treated as national asset, and to promulgate a balance regulatory regime based on open and mature competition both at infrastructure and service levels. Like the rest of the world, telecommunications sector in Pakistan is going through a process of rapid change in convergence in focus on mobile, Internet, cable TV, and other value added services not to mention IT (Information Technology) developments in specific.
HISTORY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIBERALIZATION IN PAKISTAN
In order to determine the intensity of liberalization process the history of telecommunications plays an important roll highlighting key mile stones achieved in this regard.
Pakistan at the time of its inception in 1947 owned a meagre telecom base with just 14,000 operational telephone lines. Telecom service was meant just to meet the needs of country administration. The year 1962 saw the first sector change when Post Telegraph & Telephone services were separated by establishing independent T&T and Postal Departments. Since the mid-1980s, a number of countries including Pakistan overhauled telecommunications sector, to arrange mobilize additional capital, improve performance of operating enterprises and respond to rapidly growing pressures for more varied services. The pace and scope of sector reforms has varied considerably in South, Latin America and Asia. A number of countries opted to privatize their telephone entities. In the Far East (early 1990s) there have been initiatives on partial privatization (Thailand & Malaysia etc) including liberalization of non-basic services. The results achieved were found to be beneficial. This brought the wave of change in South Asia also. To begin, Pakistan in 1990 also started taking gradual sector reform measures within the existing legal and regulatory framework. In line with emerging trends, private sector participation and deregulation initiatives were taken between 1989-91.
The Telegraph and Telephone (T&T) Department was converted into Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation on 15th December 1990 by delegating the powers to the Board of Directors for better functioning of the telecommunication system in the country. Thereafter, on 1st January 1996, the said system was reorganized by establishing Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) and Frequency Allocation Board and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). Government is further committed to deregulate and liberalize telecommunications industry through privatization of state-owned monopoly i.e., Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) under ITU and WTO Agreements by end of 2002 opening up the telecom sector for private sector and international competition under the ambit of PTA as a regulator.
Pakistan telecommunications and IT sector has seen a major structural shift for growth and development in the last few years. The key highlights of the telecom sector can be depicted as the state-owned monopoly PTCL has earned over USD 1 billion revenue in FY2001-02 while preparing for a deregulated scenario. Internet access has expanded over 1000 cities and towns across Pakistan. Internet bandwidth capacity availability has increase to 400 MB/s and 250 cities are connected through fiber optics. PAKSAT-1 Pakistan's own satellite is ready for launch and positioned at 38o E orbit slot.
Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation (PTC) was established in December 1990 to take over operations and functions from the Pakistan Telephone and Telegraph Department. Its operations were governed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Act 1991. At the same time the Government of Pakistan (GOP) began to introduce private participation in the sector and licenses were awarded for cellular, card-operated payphones, paging and more recently, for data communications services in the country.
In 1991, GOP first announced its intention to privatize PTC. In 1994, the Government of Pakistan decided to test the appetite of the domestic and international capital markets for PTC which later become PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) though subsequent partial privatization. Consequently, in the third quarter of 1994, the Government of Pakistan issued six million 'Vouchers' exchangeable into 600 million shares (with a par value of Rs. 10 per share) of the future PTCL in two separate placements. These Vouchers were converted into shares of PTCL in mid 1996. Following such conversion the Government of Pakistan own (88%) and private investors own (12%) shares in PTCL. There are now five telecom companies listed in the local stock exchanges which are:
Name of Company
Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited
World Call Communications
World Call Multimedia
Source: Telecom Status Report 2001-02
Currently Pakistan is carrying out privatization for which the government has recently promulgated Privatization Ordinance 2000 to privatize public sector holdings in Telecom, Oil & Gas, Banking & Finance, Transport, Power and Real-Estate sectors. Although the government is a staunch supporter of quick privatization of the incumbent operator i.e. PTCL in order to ensure efficient management of the company's assets yet the downturn in international economy has adversely affected the ongoing plans for privatization of the incumbent operator. The government has decided to hold its position at the moment until the bidders can offer a reasonable price, keeping in view of the high profitability in the telecommunication sector.
INCUMBENT OPERATOR IN PAKISTAN: PTCL MONOPOLY
The incumbent operator Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited is a government-owned joint stock company and provides basic telephony, value-added services, email & Internet, digital cross-connect, ISDN, leased lines, call waiting/forwarding, speed dialing, toll-free numbers etc. In accordance with Pakistan's WTO commitments and the Act, the Government will maintain PTCL's exclusivity in the provision of domestic and long distance services until 31st December, 2002. Keeping pace with the fast changing telecom world, PTCL has taken key initiatives to modernize and upgrade its network and takes quantum leap, rapidly expanding the country's IT & Telecom services to all concerns of the country. In the liberalization process the key issues between the incumbent operator and the regulator i.e. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, has been the interconnection charges, unbundling of Local Loop (LLUB) and tariff rationalization.
At the moment the competition in Pakistan has just entered stage 2 (Mix Competition). During this time the country has seen a sharp decline in international calling rates but a rise in domestic calling rates under Tariff Rebalancing by the incumbent in order to eliminate cross-subsidization of domestic calls. At the moment the incumbent enjoys monopoly on PSTN which is also the access point of almost 99% of Internet access for connection to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) Network. Until December 2002, all international traffic was also routed using the incumbent International Gateway giving PTCL a direct influence to control both prices and content for Internet access.
Last but not least, the job of regulator in Pakistan today demands a great deal of commitment and competence to promote and accelerate the process of liberalization through introduction of healthy competition keeping in view the goals of the development of society at large by offering affordable prices and attractive services which can take Pakistan from an Agri-Society to Info-Society.
WTO TELECOM SECTOR COMMITMENTS
In Pakistan the exclusivity on cross-border supply of voice telephony as of January 2004, will end with no commitment on commercial presence. Pakistan also under WTO commits on full competition in private leased circuit services (transmission capacity) as of January 2004.
Pakistan allows competition in satellite based services, including voice telephone and value-added services subject only to restrictions on cross-border supply to preserve monopoly rights on basic and international networks and services until their expiry which has ended on December 2002.
Under WTO commitments Pakistan has opened markets for data transmission, e-mail, internet and intranet, domestic VSAT, trunk radio services, video conferencing, tele-medicine and tele-education etc.
REGULATION FOR MARKET LIBERALIZATION
Last decade saw a number of changes happening in telecommunications industry and most predominantly the emergence of Internet, innovations and inventions in electronic equipment and software applications. Globalization and international trade on one end and ICT (Information Communication Technology including telecommunications on the other end, have created a new way of life to be lived. Numerous state-owned telecommunications operators were privatized, and a wave of pro-competitive and deregulatory telecommunications policies swept the world. New market-based approaches to the supply of telecommunications services were introduced in scores of countries. This liberalization of telecommunications markets was motivated by various factors, including:
* Increasing evidence that more liberalized telecommunications markets were growing and innovating faster and serving customers better.
* The need to attract private sector capital to expand and upgrade telecommunications networks, and to introduce new services.
* Growth of the Internet, which caused data traffic to overtake voice traffic in many countries, and led to the introduction of many new service providers.
* Growth of mobile and other wireless services, which provided alternatives to fixed networks and introduced new service providers to telecommunications markets.
* Development of international trade in telecommunications services, which are increasingly provided by transnational and global service providers.
The objectives of telecommunications regulation vary from country to country. Governments in most countries continue to see telecommunications as an essential public service. Even after telecommunications networks are no longer run by them, governments normally retain a regulatory role to ensure that telecommunications services are supplied in a manner consistent with national perceptions of the public interest.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IN PAKISTAN
A comprehensive "Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Ordinance" was promulgated in 1996 which established the framework for the creation of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) as an independent regulator of all telecommunication activity in the country, the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) as a second carrier in Pakistan exclusively for public sector communication needs and the Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust (PTET). The Ordinance provided details of the establishment, constitution, powers and rights of PTA, FAB, NTC, PTCL and PTET and defined the terms of the monopoly of PTCL, the mechanisms of transfer of assets, liabilities, employees, rights and obligation from PTC to PTCL, NTC, PTA, FAB and PTET. This law also covered issues such as rights of employees transferred from PTC to the other entities and national security.
The Government's broad objectives in the telecommunications sector are:
1. The expansion and improvement of the telecommunications infrastructure in Pakistan to better support economic, social and cultural developments in Pakistan.
2. The facilitation of new investment and competition in the telecommunication sector by developing the legal and regulatory framework.
3. The encouragement of increased private sector participation in the development of telecommunications, in particular by the privatization of PTCL through the recruitment of strategic investors.
4. The development and improvement of telecommunications capacity to meet the demands of the information technology sector.
5. Encouraging the development of local telecommunications expertise to promote local research and manufacturing so as to create a telecommunications industrial base in Pakistan.
6. The protection of consumer interests.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FRAMEWORK
In 2000, a separate division on Information Technology & Telecommunication (IT&T) has been created in Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST) headed by the Federal Secretary. In 2002, under an Ordinance the division was up-graded into Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications (MoITT) in order to govern the IT and Telecom sector and to devise a policy-framework for promotion of investment, transfer of technology, competition and human resource development. The Telecom Policy will be implemented and regulated by the sector regulator, namely, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and Electronic Media and Content Policy will be regulated by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) respectively.
TELECOM SECTOR REGULATOR: PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
The telecommunication industry is regulated by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority — an autonomous body established under section 3 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-Organization Act, 1996, an Act of the Parliament to regulate the telecommunication industry in Pakistan, including matters relating to protecting consumers' interest, licensing regime, tariff regulation, type approval of equipment and interconnection arrangements.
The Authority has the following major objectives and functions:
1.regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan.
2. promote and protect the interests of users of telecommunication services in Pakistan;
3. promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan;
4. promote rapid modernization of telecommunication systems and telecommunication services;
5. make recommendations to the Federal Government on policies in the telecommunication sector.
The Authority has been vested with the necessary powers by the federal government to effectively perform its functions.
FREQUENCY ALLOCATION BOARD (FAB): SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT
The FAB has the exclusive authority to allocate and assign portions of the radio frequency spectrum to the Government, providers of telecommunication services and systems, radio and television broadcasting operations, public and private wireless operators, and others. The FAB has an executive director, who is the vice chairman, devoting his full time to the business of the FAB. The objective of the FAB is the efficient management of the spectrum.
PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY (RULES & FUNCTIONS) REGULATIONS 2000
Under Section (5) of Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act 1996 PTA (R&F) Regulations 2000 came into force. The rules provide a detailed regulatory framework for regulator to regulate the telecommunications sector heavy-handed. The rules define the powers of the regulator to conduct regulatory function with full force clearly charting out policy of public hearing; license conditions; grant and renewal of license; roll-out conditions; quality of service conditions (QoS); anti-competitive practices; procedure for appeal and penalties; universal service obligation condition; consumer protection; standardization of equipment; spectrum management conditions; numbering plan; and details about fees including chalking out details for effective monitoring and market survey commitments.
CRITERIA FOR GRANT OF TELECOMMUNICATION LICENSE
Criteria for application of evaluating license include the following:
a. economic viability;
b. technical competence;
c. financial capability;
d. credibility and track record;
e. Pakistani share in ownership;
f. prospects of technical progress and introduction of new technology or market concepts.
CRITERIA FOR QUALITY OF SERVICE
Good quality service provision by the regulator as:
a. average time to get a line;
b. faults per line per annum;
c. average time to repair a line (hours);
d. answer to seizure ratio: local calls (% of total calls);
e. answer to seizure ratio: international calls (% of total calls);
f. billing errors;
g. current bill delivery timings;
h. directory inquiries: time to get a response (seconds); and
i. in case of pay phone, % of pay phones operating at any one time
In order to determine the quality of service the regulator conducts various market surveys through professional market research firms and publishes them periodically in the public rating various operating services in terms of quality of service and takes necessary actions to ensure that the standard of quality is not compromised by any operator beyond acceptable limits. PTA has been publishing sector specific QoS ratings of operators in mobile and Internet service providers.
CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION OF REGULATORY FEES
PTA has the power to charge or levy the following type of fees for grant and renewal of licenses which include:
a. license fee (initial license fee and/or annual license fee);
b. license renewal fee;
c. special fee;
d. license fee for allocation and use of radio frequency spectrum;
e. license revalidation fee;
f. license modification fee;
g. license restoration fee;
h. transfer and assignment of licenses fee;
i. license fee for type approval of terminal equipment;
j. fee for providing copies of the license documents;
k. license applications fee;
l. number usage and allocation fee;
m. any other fee (levied by PTA from time-to-time).
PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS RULES 2000
These rules define a comprehensive regulatory framework for liberalization of telecommunications in Pakistan elaborating interconnection rules, costing rules such as LRIC (Long-run incremental costs), SMP (significant market power) operator, quality of service and telecommunication operator rules in general.
INTERNET OVER CABLE REGULATION 2001
IC regulation authorizes cable operators to provide Internet access via cable to users with is indeed a major step towards promotion of IT and Internet services at the national level. These regulations specify quality of services commitments, interconnection, license regulations and penalties related to cable operators who would like to provide Internet over cable.
(to be continued) | <urn:uuid:783a307b-14d4-4397-bdc2-bdec8f9da0b0> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/pagesearch/Search-Engine2003/S.E112.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720962.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00386-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929744 | 4,718 | 1.875 | 2 |
It happens to everyone at some point: you’re busy washing dishes, taking a shower, or running your garbage disposal when all of a sudden, a clogged drain stops you in your tracks. While some clogged drains can be taken care of with a plunger and some effort, there are a few signs that your drains need help from the pros. Think you might need drain cleaning in Renville County, MN, or the surrounding areas? Read on to learn the ten signs that mean it’s time to seek professional drain cleaning services.
It’s normal to have occasional clogs in your drains, especially if a lot of hair goes down your shower drain or you regularly flush too much toilet paper at once. However, frequent clogs can signify that something is backing up your entire plumbing system, especially if the clogs are happening across multiple drains in your home. If you just reached for the plunger last week and now you’re grabbing it again, you might be better off scheduling professional drain cleaning.
Does the dishwater in your sink take forever to drain? If water seems to trickle back into your drains at frustratingly slow speeds, you might have a plumbing issue. Over time, your pipes become clogged with hair, food residue, and toilet paper, along with other unpleasant leftovers. Slow-moving drains are hard to deal with by yourself because the problem might be deeper than you can reach. While a slow-moving drain may seem more annoying than dangerous, it’s best to contact professional drain cleaning services before your plumbing problems get worse.
Remember those slow-moving drains? Standing water is the next step if you don’t schedule plumbing services for drains that are slower than normal. If your water doesn’t drain at all, you likely have a large or particularly obstructive blockage inside your pipes. If your tub is still full an hour after you’ve had a bath and pulled the plug out of the drain, this is your sign that you need to get your drains professionally cleaned now.
Multiple Drains Are Clogged
If your sink drain and bathtub drain both seem to be clogged, it’s a big red flag that your plumbing needs help. Multiple clogged drains indicate that your whole plumbing system needs to be looked at ASAP by professional drain cleaning service technicians. Plumbing maintenance pros have tools like hydro jetters that can clear residue from the whole system and get your drain lines back to normal.
Have you ever opened your washer or looked into your shower only to see disgusting dirty water or, worse, sewage backup? This is a sign you need professional drain cleaning ASAP as it signals an issue with your sewer line. Cleaning your drains should always be left to the professionals in this particular situation because sewage backup is not only gross but also poses a health hazard to you and your family. If you act fast and call as soon as you notice backup, plumbers can perform drain lining repair or replacement to keep your plumbing functional and safe.
While water overflow can be a natural consequence of flushing strange or excessive items down the drain, your toilet should never overflow out of nowhere. A toilet that functions the way it ought to should not flood your bathroom out of the blue. If every time you flush the toilet, water rises to the lip and threatens to spill, that’s not normal. Neither is the toilet overflowing out of nowhere with no flushing involved. If these plumbing problems are happening to you, it’s time to have your drains looked at by professionals.
Fruit Flies Won’t Shoo
Do you seem to keep attracting tiny, buzzing, unwanted guests? Fruit flies aren’t unheard of in homes with a lot of live plants, but if the flies seem to be focused on your kitchen sink, your drains might be why they’re coming to visit. Over time, food residue can build up in your kitchen sink drain or your garbage disposal, attracting these annoying little freeloaders. If you notice fruit flies in your kitchen, keep an eye on where they’re going, and if they won’t leave your sink alone, it’s a sign you need professional drain cleaning.
Do your toilets or sinks gurgle, gulp, or make other noises more suited to your stomach than your plumbing? Watch out — your pipes are likely having a problem with draining. Clogs can cause air bubbles in your pipes that are the source of the sounds that you hear. Getting your pipes cleaned out will eliminate these noises and stop causing you to worry about the monster lurking in your plumbing.
If your home’s drains are functioning the way they should, they will carry food and sewage waste out of your home and into the sewage system. However, if there are clogs or backups, waste can linger in your pipes longer than it’s meant to, causing foul-smelling drains. If you can’t shake the sensation that you smell something rotting coming from the pipes, don’t ignore it; get in touch with professional drain cleaning professionals as soon as possible so they can diagnose the problem.
Drain Cleaners Aren’t Working
Plumbers strongly advise against the use of store-bought chemical drain cleaners. They can damage your pipes after just one use because they are corrosive and acidic. In other words, even though you’re trying to help your pipes, you end up doing them more harm than good. Unfortunately, consumers sometimes do end up using them anyway. If one application of drain cleaner doesn’t seem to be unclogging your pipes, don’t keep pouring bottle after bottle down the sink — you’re eating away the insides of your plumbing system. It’s best to get a plumber to look at your drains to solve your problem in a way that will preserve the life of your pipes and keep things cleaner for longer.
Plumbing Problems? No Problem!
Once you’ve decided to contact professional drain cleaning services, you deserve plumbers who work tirelessly and effectively to help solve your problem. Our expert residential plumbing contractors in Renville County, MN, and other local areas can handle all your plumbing needs. We pride ourselves on offering you effective solutions that are on time and within your budget. Contact us today! | <urn:uuid:4b7f7b13-af2e-4c43-b2dd-4f48375cdfca> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.northernservicestoday.com/10-signs-you-need-professional-drain-cleaning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571210.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810191850-20220810221850-00475.warc.gz | en | 0.940226 | 1,335 | 1.5 | 2 |
Figure. Percentage of respondents willing to consent to scenarios involving increasing levels of trainee participation, from assisting only (far left) to fully performing the procedure without the responsible staff surgeon present in the operating room (far right).
Porta CR, Sebesta JA, Brown TA, Steele SR, Martin MJ. Training Surgeons and the Informed Consent ProcessRoutine Disclosure of Trainee Participation and Its Effect on Patient Willingness and Consent Rates. Arch Surg. 2012;147(1):57-62. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2011.235
Author Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Health System, Tacoma, Washington.
Objectives To examine patient perceptions and willingness to participate in resident education and to assess the effect on patient willingness and consent rates.
Design Anonymous questionnaire designed to capture demographics, overall opinions of teaching programs, and willingness to consent to various scenarios of trainee participation. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed.
Setting Tertiary-level referral center.
Patients Three hundred sixteen individuals scheduled for elective surgery.
Main Outcome Measures Consent rates for various scenarios.
Results Of the 316 patients who completed the questionnaire, most expressed overall support of resident training: 91.2% opined that their care would be equivalent to or better than that of a private hospital, 68.3% believed they derived benefit from participation, and most consented to having an intern (85.0%) or a resident (94.0%) participate in their surgical procedure. However, when given specific, realistic scenarios involving trainee participation, major variations in the consent rate were observed. Affirmative consent rates decreased from 94.0% to 18.2% as the level of resident participation increased. Patients also were more willing to consent to the participation of a senior resident (83.1%) vs a junior resident (57.6%) or an intern (54.5%). Patients overwhelmingly opined that they should be informed of the level of resident participation and that this information could change their decision of whether to consent.
Conclusions Most patients expressed approval of teaching facilities and resident education. However, consent rates were significantly altered when more detailed information was provided and they declined with increasing levels of resident participation. Providing detailed informed consent is preferred by patients but it could adversely affect resident participation and training.
The concept of a preoperative interaction between patient and surgeon to achieve informed consent can be traced back at least as far as ancient Greek and Byzantine sources.1 However, only in the modern era has a formal system of performing and documenting the informed consent process been widely adopted in Western medicine.2 The accepted standard is to provide information that “a reasonable patient” would want and would need to know to make an informed decision, but this counseling may vary widely by health care professional, setting, and type of surgical procedure.3 The informed consent process is further complicated in the setting of a teaching hospital. The foundation of surgical training in the United States,4 adapted from the German model by Osler and Halsted, is a system of graded responsibilities and independence. Currently, no widely accepted guidelines or policies exist for providing information regarding the role of surgical trainees to the patient during the informed consent process. It is not uncommon to have little to no relevant discussion regarding the role of the trainee or to have this issue addressed only by vague blanket statements in the written consent form.
Several recent studies5- 7 have pointed out the paucity of information typically provided to the patient regarding trainee participation; those studies call for this information to become a standard and universal component of informed consent. However, the specifics of such a policy and their potential effect on the patient and the trainee remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the general understanding of and willingness to participate in the surgical education process among a group of patients scheduled for a surgical procedure. Also, we sought to analyze the potential effect on patient consent rates of providing specific and detailed information regarding possible resident participation in the surgical procedure and to identify any patient factors that influence the decision of whether or not to consent.
This study was conducted at a tertiary-level US Army hospital and referral center. In addition to containing a busy surgical service, this facility serves as 1 of 6 major Army teaching centers for graduate medical education. The residency in general surgery is a 6-year training program (including a research year), with a total of 5 interns (postgraduate year [PGY]–1) and 16 residents (PGY 2 through PGY 6). This program follows the standard US paradigm of increasing levels of responsibility and decreasing levels of direct supervision over time. Because our institution is a military training program, all graduating residents are expected not only to be able to begin the independent practice of surgery but to be fully prepared to deploy to remote areas or combat zones and to provide a full range of care in challenging conditions with little to no direct assistance or supervision.
The study population consisted of all patients who were scheduled for an elective surgical procedure and who had arrived at the general surgical clinic for their final preoperative evaluation. Only adult patients (18 years or older) with adequate English-language skills to read and to complete the survey instrument were included. Patients who were unable to provide their own informed consent due to mental or physical disability were excluded. The survey was anonymous and voluntary; individual responses were not available to any of the treating physicians or nurses. At the completion of the patient accrual phase, all completed surveys were collected and their data entered into a computerized spreadsheet.
The survey instrument was 2 pages long and started with basic questions concerning patient demographics. Next was a series of questions regarding the patient's understanding of our teaching hospital status, his or her planned surgical procedure, and his or her comfort level pertaining to receiving care at a teaching facility in general. Prior to the next set of questions, definitions for terms such as teaching hospital, medical student, intern, resident, and staff surgeon were provided. The final section presented the patient with 9 specific scenarios for his or her surgical procedure, with escalating levels of trainee participation and training level (ie, PGY level), along with corresponding decreases in the level of staff surgeon participation. These were created to represent real and common scenarios of resident and staff level of participation at a teaching hospital. They ranged from a surgical procedure performed solely by a staff surgeon with others merely observing to junior residents performing the procedure with the aid of a senior resident without direct staff presence. We concluded the survey with questions aimed at assessing to what extent patients expect to be informed regarding the involvement of trainees, who should be held responsible for surgical complications, and whether they believe that societal and/or personal benefit accrues from allowing residents to take part in their care.
A summary score of “patient willingness” was created by summing the number of scenarios (out of 9) in which the respondent answered affirmatively to questions regarding trainee participation, with possible scores ranging from 0 to 9. Respondents scoring in the lowest 25th percentile were categorized as being “highly unwilling.” Initial exploratory descriptive data analysis was performed to characterize the study population demographics and the responses to each question. Univariate analysis using the χ2 test for categorical data and the t test, the 1-way analysis of variance, or the Mann-Whitney test for continuous data was performed to compare responses between groups categorized by demographics such as sex, military status, age group, and type of surgical procedure. Multivariate logistic regression models were created to identify characteristics associated with the highly unwilling group. All data analysis was performed using Predictive Analysis Software, version 18.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois).
Five hundred surveys were distributed, of which 316 were completed and returned (response rate, 63.2%). The overall demographics of the study population are shown in Table 1. Most patients indicated no preference for a type of facility (teaching vs private). Among those with a preference, more preferred a teaching hospital for overall care (24.9% vs 8.8%) and for minor surgical procedures (28.2% vs 12.0%), with equivalent results (24.7% vs 26.6%) for major surgical procedures. A total of 91.2% of those with a preference opined that their care in a teaching hospital would be equivalent to or better than that of a private hospital. Patients overwhelmingly preferred to be informed regarding resident participation in their surgical procedure, regardless of whether they were undergoing a minor (87.5%) or a major (95.7%) procedure. Also, 92.2% opined that they also should be informed if this was the first time the trainee was performing a particular procedure; more than half (55.0%) stated that this information would make them less likely to consent.
Most respondents demonstrated overall understanding and support of teaching and surgical trainee education. Most (78.9%) already knew that our institution is a teaching facility before their clinic visit and supported the concept of trainee participation in their surgical procedure. A total of 94.0% stated that they would consent to the involvement of a surgical resident; this decreased to 85.0% for surgical intern involvement and 79.9% for medical student involvement. Most respondents (68.3%) perceived a personal benefit from participating in resident training (68.3%), and almost all (87.4%) believed that their participation would benefit other patients.
When given specific, realistic scenarios involving trainee participation, major variations in the consent rate were observed. Consent rates declined from 95.0% for no direct resident assistance to 82.7% with a senior resident assisting, 57.6% with a junior resident, and 54.5% with an intern. The Figure demonstrates the marked change in consent rates with increasing levels of resident participation. The consent rate declined sharply from 57.6% with a junior resident acting as the first assistant to 25.6% and 18.2% when the resident acts as the operating surgeon with or without direct staff observation, respectively.
Respondents who had a summary score (the number of scenarios with an affirmative response) in the lowest quartile were categorized as being highly unwilling. Table 2 shows the comparison of demographics and key survey responses between the highly unwilling group and the rest of the cohort. Respondents who were less willing to participate in trainee education were younger and, more often, women. Although experience with prior surgical procedures was equivalent between the 2 groups, a history of prior surgical procedures at our facility was significantly less prevalent among respondents in the unwilling group (35.4% vs 50.5%). Striking differences were observed between groups for the answers to questions relating to a belief that benefit would accrue from care at a teaching facility. Highly unwilling patients were significantly less likely to believe a personal benefit (46.8% vs 76.6%) or a benefit to future patients (75.7% vs 91.7%) would accrue from participating in the training of surgeons. A multivariate logistic regression model including key demographics and response to survey opinion questions was then created. Independent factors associated with the highly unwilling group were female sex (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.4; P = .03), having been unaware that the facility is a teaching hospital prior to their clinic visit (2.6; 1.2-5.7; P = .01), and negative response to whether they believed that personal or societal benefit accrues from participating in the education of surgical trainees (4.1; 1.7-10.4; P = .002).
Although the concept of obtaining a patient's permission and assent for surgery has been noted since the earliest recorded days of medicine,1 not until the landmark decision Schloendorff v The Society of the New York Hospital in 1914 did informed patient consent become legally defined. In the United States and in many parts of the world, the formerly paternalistic role of the physician dictating treatments to an obedient patient has given way to recognition of and respect for patient autonomy.3 The modern process of informed consent entails describing to the patient the risks, the benefits, and the alternatives to a surgical procedure. This has become an ethically expected and a legally required component before any nonemergency surgical procedure.
A key component of the informed consent process is that the responsible surgeon or surgeons who will be performing the procedure are identified to the patient. Although this point is relatively straightforward in a nonteaching or a private practice setting, there have been significant controversy and debate regarding times when trainees also will be participating in a surgical procedure. The term ghost surgery was originally coined to describe the practice of allowing someone other than the responsible surgeon to perform the procedure; it subsequently has been applied to the practice of allowing trainees to perform procedures without specific patient consent.8,9 In a detailed investigation in the state of New York, the Lifflander Report found that this practice was extremely common in teaching hospitals and that no consent or a general consent to allow “such assistants as he [the attending surgeon] shall select” was obtained.8 This report generated proposed legislation dictating that detailed information regarding the role of trainees must be provided as part of informed consent. Attending surgeons countered with the argument that informed consent must only include the “responsible” surgeon who will provide supervision and oversight. The proposed legislation was subsequently defeated; to this day, it remains common practice to provide little to no information regarding the role of trainees during the informed consent process. In agreement with other published studies,6,10- 13 our results demonstrated that most patients (87.5%-95.7%) would prefer to be given more information regarding the role of trainees in their medical and surgical care.
In contrast to the finding of overwhelming patient preference for information regarding trainee participation, the available data indicates that this information is rarely volunteered or provided by counseling physicians. Trainees themselves have frequently not volunteered this information, particularly in the setting of obtaining consent for an invasive procedure.11,14 In a detailed interview of 30 attending surgeons in an academic hospital, Knifed et al5 found that most (83%) did not volunteer information regarding trainee participation during the informed consent process. They also demonstrated the willingness of attending surgeons to allow active trainee participation, with 87% allowing residents to operate while the attending surgeon was not adequately dressed and washed for surgery but was present and 77% allowing residents to operate when their attending surgeon was not present in the operating room. In our study, these 2 common situations of minimal resident supervision were associated with the lowest consent rates, with only 25.6% and 18.2% of patients indicating a willingness to consent to these respective scenarios. Many previous studies5,6,9,15,16 of this issue have concluded with arguments for routine and detailed disclosure of information regarding trainee participation during the informed consent process but they provide no data estimating the potential effect of such a policy on consent rates. Our results raise significant concerns regarding the effect of such a policy on resident education and, in particular, the effect on allowing increased levels of autonomy to trainees.
The purpose of this survey was not only to clarify patient preferences but also to attempt to quantify the potential adverse effects of implementing requirements for detailed informed consent. We found that the vast majority of patients would prefer to be given detailed information regarding trainee participation and that this information could change their likelihood to consent. Of concern, we also found that providing this information had the striking effect of decreasing the willingness to consent to having trainees participate, with many scenarios demonstrating a less than 50% affirmative consent rate. It becomes obvious that an unintended consequence of such policies may be harm to surgical education and diminishment of the expertise of graduating surgical trainees.
In a prior study7 of 199 patients in an emergency department setting, providing additional information regarding the trainees' level of experience increased unwillingness to be treated by medical students from 17% to 28% and from 8% to 13% for interns. Our study similarly demonstrated the adverse effects on consent rates of providing detailed resident participation information and demonstrated decreased patient willingness to allow more junior trainees to participate in their care. Of interest, our consent rates for trainee participation (18.2%) were significantly lower than those reported in a previous study.7 This likely reflects increased apprehension when preparing to undergo a surgical procedure compared with a routine examination in an emergency department or a clinic setting. It also emphasizes the potential for a disproportionately adverse effect on consent rates for surgical specialties. Another interesting finding of our study is the difference between results obtained when asking generalized questions regarding support for the medical education process and/or resident participation compared with more specific and individually relevant questions. When we posed generally worded questions regarding overall support for resident participation, most patients responded affirmatively. The markedly lower consent rates when additional and specific information was given regarding how the trainee will be participating highlights the need to carefully evaluate not only the results of this and other studies but also the exact wording of the questions and response choices.
Although this and other studies11,17 have found decreased consent rates when additional information regarding trainee participation is provided, it is unclear whether these effects could be counterbalanced by educating patients regarding the positive aspects of care in a teaching setting. Our results suggest that patient understanding and perceptions may significantly affect their attitude toward surgical education. Patients who had been unaware that our facility is a teaching hospital and those who did not believe personal and/or societal benefit would accrue from allowing resident participation in their care were much more likely to be among those highly unwilling to consent. Patient education pertaining to these factors may represent a high-yield target for improving patient understanding and willingness to allow full trainee participation.
In conclusion, our findings confirm those of other series, namely, that patients routinely would prefer to be informed regarding details of trainee participation in their care, and that this information would significantly affect their willingness to consent. This is the first study, to our knowledge, that has quantified the effect on consent rates of providing detailed descriptions of resident participation. Although most patients express an overall willingness to participate in surgical education, wide variations can be observed in the actual consent rates for specific training situations. This decreased willingness to consent and the potential effect on training programs must be considered when discussing policy initiatives aimed at improving informed consent. Several factors regarding patient understanding of training programs and their appreciation of the benefits of participation appear to be linked to willingness to consent; these factors could represent targets for educational efforts. Although we cannot make specific recommendations regarding the appropriateness and the proper level of disclosure regarding resident participation in surgery based on our results and our review of the literature, we believe that broad calls for routine mandated disclosure should be carefully planned and analyzed prior to implementation to avoid any adverse effects on surgical training.
Correspondence: Matthew J. Martin, MD, Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Health System, 9040-A Fitzsimmons Ave, Tacoma, WA 98431-1100 (email@example.com).
Accepted for Publication: March 11, 2011.
Published Online: September 19, 2011. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2011.235
Author Contributions: Dr Martin had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Porta and Martin. Acquisition of data: Porta and Martin. Analysis and interpretation of data: Sebesta, Brown, Steele, and Martin. Drafting of the manuscript: Porta and Martin. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Sebesta, Brown, and Steele. Statistical analysis: Porta, Steele, and Martin. Administrative, technical, and material support: Sebesta and Brown. Study supervision: Brown and Martin.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Role of the Sponsor: This article represents the opinions of the authors only and does not represent the views of the US Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or Madigan Army Health System.
Previous Presentation: This paper was presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association; February 19, 2011; Scottsdale, Arizona, and is published after peer review and revision. | <urn:uuid:8da1cee5-4e8a-4f8f-8388-af4a8cd08ebc> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/1107313 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00220-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957368 | 4,151 | 1.796875 | 2 |
- Resist the urge to think writing your own book is a crazy idea. It's not!
- Don't get discouraged during the process when you get the feeling that you'll never be able to finish.
- Accept that writing a book takes a lot of time, especially when it's a new experience for you. Think of it as a project with milestones and unexpected challenges down the road.
- Your personal project will take even longer if you're fully employed and have a very demanding day job.
- So be patient. It can take five years or more, but you won't regret it. The experience will broaden your horizon, regardless of whether your book becomes a bestseller or you manage to sell a few hundred copies.
- If you are a commuter—like I am—buy a dictaphone or some other small sound recording device. A long daily commute can be a real waste of time. Try to develop the story of your book inside your head. Grow and enhance your characters. Think of how to make the plot more suspenseful. Try playing with alternatives. Use the dictaphone, so nothing gets lost. You can always write it down later.
- Take breaks. When you've rewritten a chapter several times, let it rest for a few weeks, or even better, for a few months. Wait and take a fresh look then. You'll be amazed about new viewpoints and new ideas being generated. It'll allow you to make more meaningful changes and the quality of writing will improve further.
- Conduct all the proper research, especially when you're writing hard science fiction. Build a network of subject matter experts and like-minded people. Access material on the web from a variety of sources.
- And don't forget: You should read at least 30 to 40 books a year (both fiction and non-fiction). That's crucial. Writers who don't read much will have trouble creating a great book.
- Audio books are also a great invention. It's another means of spending quality time during your daily commute.
- Work with peer reviewers. Ask your friends if they're interested in getting involved. A lot of people greatly enjoy offering critical assessment and valuable feedback. Even small observations and contributions count. The reviewers all become part of your project and part of your story. Working with them can also deepen your friendships.
- For everything around language, vocabulary, grammar, style and so forth: there are great online resources on the web. Use them! Try out different ones and find out which ones work best for you. Try to master the art of self-editing. The professional editor will come into play later.
- Delete, delete, delete! This is probably the single most important tip. Delete words, delete sentences, delete paragraphs, even delete entire chapters. Every word, sentence, paragraph, and chapter has to add value. If that's not the case, get rid of it. Readers are annoyed by redundant or unimportant parts. Readers don't like to be slowed down, especially when your book should excite them and maintain its suspense.
- Buy and read the following book: Sol Stein on Writing - A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies. The paperback version is available for less than $15. A very good investment, I think!
- Go through several cycles of rewriting and self-editing.
- When you feel your manuscript is ready for publication, ask your peer reviewers for an opinion.
- If you're ready to take your project to the next level, accept the fact that from now on it gets even harder. To publish your book choose one of the four option listed below. By all means, stay away from option number 5 !
- Option 1: Large publishers have got the best marketing teams and a large sales force at their disposal. When signing up with them, it's much easier for you to be considered for highly visible book reviews. If your book sells well during the first three to six months, large publishers will channel additional marketing money into the campaign and your chances will increase even further. So were's the catch? It's plain and simple and quite sobering: Far less than 1% of all manuscript submissions will get accepted. Finding a literary agent willing to take you on is even harder. Many publishers only accept submissions handled through an agent. So if you want to go for this option, you need a lot of patience and you should not get discouraged by a growing mound of rejection letters. Very often literary talent and the quality of a new book gets overlooked, because many publishers look at books from a purely commercial point of view. If Boris Becker or David Beckham writes a book, regardless of the content publishers are very interested. Why? Because potential customers in bookstores will recognize their names. So if you're not well known, you should still keep trying. Eventually you could get lucky winning the lottery and a large publisher will offer you a contract. But it's also possible that you're tempted to give up completely having tried for so many years.
- Option 2: Small publishers might be easier to approach, especially when your book's genre is quite unique. For a non-fiction book this works even better, if you're one of the few subject matter experts of a new topic, a new trend, or a hot controversial debate. In general, however, the low submission acceptance rate is more or less the same as for any of the large and well-known publishers: not even 1%. And you have to understand that for a small publisher the financial risk is even greater for a potentially unsuccessful book. So they've got to be very selective during the manuscript selection process. You might have written a remarkable book, but the publisher is not willing to take the risk.
- Option 3: Over the recent years self-publishing has become a quite successful alternative. It means that you start your own little company and manage the whole process yourself. This of course requires financial investments on your part. For a high-quality book you need to hire a professional editor and a cover art designer. You need consulting about formatting, typesetting, and you need to pay the printing press. There's also significant administrative work involved for issues such as copyright handling, ISBN registration, wholesale book directories, online stores and so forth. Print on demand makes the actual sales part quite flexible, lowering the risk of potentially unsold copies. You keep all the revenues and do not have share them with any publisher. That's what it makes quite attractive for a lot of aspiring writers. There's an excellent book by Dan Poynter called the Self-Publishing Manual. The paperback is available for less than $15. Again, a very good investment. Yet, keep in mind that a considerable amount of time will be necessary to set this up. If you don't have the time, you might want to consider the next option.
- Option 4: Full-service self-publishing means that you're in a way outsourcing the overall coordination. It's a model that requires an even higher investments on your part than the previous option, because you do not only buy editing and printing services and so forth, but someone else manages the whole process. Put simply, the author and publisher share the risk. There are only a few reputable publishers in this segment. Those publishers have a proper submission process and on the average they accept about 20% of the submitted manuscripts. Now 20% is a lot better than 1%, but this system still filters out low quality work. The publisher is interested in the book's quality, because all royalties are shared. There are different models for this and the author share might range from 20 up to 50%. As a result the publisher is interested in high volume sales and will carry out a reasonable marketing effort. If your books sells well, say several thousand copies the first year, it's actually possible to shift from option 4 to options 1 or 2. Sometimes publishers approach new authors if there's enough buzz around their book (see book promotion). At some point even you can take the initiative and approach a larger publisher of your choice.
- Option 5: Stay away from the so-called vanity publishers! They will accept any submitted manuscript and print it, no matter how stupid the content or how poor the quality. There's a large one time fee without any professional editing, typesetting or cover art design. Such companies basically just forward your electronic copy to a print shop and charge a lot of money for doing this.
- Okay, you've settled for one of the first four options, what comes next? Marketing and book promotion!
- Regardless of the publisher you're working with, you need to complement the publisher's marketing efforts with your own campaign. Even bestselling authors hire their own consultants, who handle the book promotion.
- If you decide to develop your own marketing strategy, perhaps the next page can offer you some useful tips.
- Get a small paper-based notebook to write down all your promotion ideas, planned activities, done activities with follow-up tasks.
- Setup your own website that features the book - think of good titles for each page and include the proper META tags.
- Get feedback about your website.
- Offer site search for your website - regularly check search terms entered by your users.
- Keep in touch with fans of your book.
- If your website is interesting and adding value, other websites will link to īt.
- Put your website's URL into the book itself, in all of your correspondence, email signatures and so forth. Even put the URL on the back of your car. Make sure the letters are large enough. Traffic congestions can actually be a blessing for you. The driver behind you gets bored and might stare at your URL repeatedly. Be sure to use a name easy to memorize.
- Print flyers with the front cover or your book, the blurb, the URL of your website, and information how to order the book - ask friends to give flyers to their friends.
- Start your own blog the moment the book is available.
- Write a press release (news release) and submit it to both online and print media.
- Ask for book reviews and book testimonials.
- Write articles for newsletters dealing with your subject area.
- Encourage people to write Amazon reviews.
- Ask your peer reviewers to spread the word - the word of mouth is still one of the most powerful ways of promoting a book.
- Get entries in library journals.
- Get an entry in online directories such as dmoz.org
- Hope that someone creates an entry in Wikipedia (you can't do it yourself).
- Stay in touch with other writers. Ask for their advice. Offer your support to them.
- Explore the possibility of 'co-operative marketing'.
- Sign up for Amazon Connect - consider their Search Inside program.
- Be careful with email campaigns - very often this will be considered as spam - think about highly targeted campaigns (people who are interested and active in your subject area).
- Try to make new interesting contacts in Xing and LinkedIn, try to get connected to other writers, editors, organizers of conventions etc.
- Become active in online communities such as Fluther, Facebook or Myspace.
- Target other countries - English books for example are not only read in the United States or the United Kingdom.
- At some point consider foreign translations.
- You might also think of producing an audio book.
- Ask yourself: Can the story of your book be turned into a movie script?
- Take advantage of the so-called local bookstore syndrome - ask for an appointment and introduce yourself as a writer who lives in the area - many bookstore managers are very sympathetic.
- Contact special bookstores, e.g. ones that sell science fiction only.
- Don't spend a lot of money on advertising - many readers are suspicious of this - but you might consider buying Google AdWords. Try to think of unique keywords related to your book and don't compete with generic terms such as thriller, bioengineering, programming, or travel. Click on image to look at my own examples:
Useful resources for aspiring writers| | <urn:uuid:df603d55-7673-4564-b389-51424410700d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.meet-matt-browne.com/main-writing.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573104.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817183340-20220817213340-00478.warc.gz | en | 0.950901 | 2,532 | 2.171875 | 2 |
The human mouth has many bacteria in it and can get a variety of diseases and conditions. Brushing your teething and using mouth wash can help kill some bacteria, but some conditions require more. When you are experiencing a metallic taste in your mouth, you may think it is just something you ate, but actually, a metallic taste in your mouth is a condition called dysgeusia. It is not life threatening, but can be inconvenient. Dysgeusia can be caused by upper respiratory tract infections, hormonal changes, some medications (such as Capoten or Flagyl), tobacco smoke or nasal polyps. Proper mouth cleaning and an increase in zinc intake can cure dysgeusia.
- Skill level:
- Moderately Easy
Other People Are Reading
Things you need
- Baking soda
- 50 MG zinc supplement
Rinse your mouth with mouthwash.
Moisten your toothbrush with water. Sprinkle a half teaspoon of salt on your toothbrush. Pour a teaspoon of baking soda on your toothbrush.
Scrub all your teeth with the baking soda and salt solution on your toothbrush.
Rinse your mouth out with water.
Repeat this every morning and night for a week. Floss every night.
Take a 50 MG zinc supplement pill daily until you get rid of the metallic taste in your mouth that dysgeusia causes. Zinc is known to help cure dysgeusia because the mineral improves your immune system and promotes growth of new cells.
Go to a dentist if the metallic taste persists. If it stops, go back to using normal toothpaste twice daily and discontinue the use of the zinc supplement.
- 20 of the funniest online reviews ever
- 14 Biggest lies people tell in online dating sites
- Hilarious things Google thinks you're trying to search for | <urn:uuid:35dd674f-e123-45ff-93d9-31e0e3038f02> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5687219_cure-metallic-taste-mouth.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281353.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00072-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.877723 | 378 | 2.625 | 3 |
Gibson 1923 F5 Mandolin
The Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan is still world-famous for its musical instruments. In the early part of the 20th century they were more famous for their mandolins than their guitars, especially when Lloyd Loar came on board in the 1920s. Loar was a luthier, who is now mentioned along with names like Stradivarius, Orville Gibson, C.F. Martin, and even some of the pioneers of the electric guitar Leo Fender and Les Paul. Mandolins designed and built by Loar for Gibson during this period are now considered the most collectible and playable instruments by musicians and collectors alike. Mike Mullins recently made a trip to George Grunh’s Guitar Shop in Nashville, Tennessee and got to sit down with a 1923 F-5. | <urn:uuid:c95885b9-16cd-462e-a854-3de150de0531> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://totallyguitars.com/blog/tg-classic-blogs/vintage-guitars-2/gibson-1923-f5mandolin/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570871.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808183040-20220808213040-00265.warc.gz | en | 0.969283 | 182 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Opus reticulatum (also known as reticulated work) is a form of brickwork used in ancient Roman architecture. It consists of diamond-shaped bricks of tuff, referred to as cubilia, placed around a core of opus caementicium.
The diamond-shaped tufa blocks were placed with the pointed ends into the cement core at an angle of roughly 45 degrees, so the square bases formed a diagonal pattern, and the pattern of mortar lines resembled a net. Reticulatum is the Latin term for net-like, and opus, the term for a work of art, so the term translates to "net work".
This construction technique was used from the beginning of the 1st century BC, and remained very common until opus latericium, a different form of brickwork, became more common. Examples have even been found in Etruscan cities, such as Rusellae, wherein opus reticulatum is present around the entire perimeter of the Roman amphitheater. In the Roman province of Judea, Herod The Great used such brickwork in the baths of his 3rd Palace of the larger Hasmonean royal winter palaces complex in Jericho.
Opus reticulatum was used as a technique in the Renaissance Palazzo Rucellai in Florence, the skill having been lost with the end of the Roman Empire, and rediscovered by means of archeology by Leon Battista Alberti.
The initial, rough form of opus reticulatum, an advancement from opus incertum, is called opus quasi reticulatum.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Opus reticulatum.|
|This architecture-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.| | <urn:uuid:034a43c6-726d-4233-aa7c-10c221068743> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_reticulatum | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00463-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938308 | 372 | 3.5625 | 4 |
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — The approach of Hurricane Sandy has prompted the Coast Guard to restrict access to ports in the coastal waters of the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia.
Coast Guard officials said in a news release Saturday evening that it has set Port Condition Yankee, which means gale-force winds are possible within 24 hours at the Virginia Capes. No vessel may enter ports along the eastern shore without the permission of the captain of the port.
All remaining ports in the Hampton Roads region remain at Port Condition x-Ray.
The news release says facility operators should contact Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads at 757-638-6641 to request permission for vessels to enter the port.
Anchored vessels should prepare for severe winds. Vessels should monitor VHF-FM channel 16.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) | <urn:uuid:6aba5784-a1f4-4954-a81c-7e0929c99482> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/10/27/coast-guard-restricts-access-to-ports-in-va-md/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279368.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00326-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919045 | 182 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Angela N. Buffenn
Areas of treatment:Amblyopia
- Department of Ophthalmology
- Department of Pediatrics
Angela N. Buffenn, MD, MPH
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles
About this doctor:
Angela N. Buffenn, MD, MPH, is director of the Orbit and Eye Movement Institute in the Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. In addition, Dr. Buffenn is director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship Program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where she is an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology.
Dr. Buffenn earned her Medical Degree and Masters of Public Health Degree from the University of Michigan. She completed her residency at the University of Maryland and her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Buffenn’s research priorities include exam techniques for detecting ocular disease in infants and children, amblyopia, and various forms of strabismus. One type of strabismus Dr. Buffenn has been investigating currently is the management of intermittent exotropia, a form of strabismus in which the eyes deviate out. Dr. Buffenn has also been the principal investigator for a study addressing the detection of ocular disease in infants and children, a collaborative effort with pediatricians at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles funded by Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. and the Pearle Vision Foundation.
On a national level, Dr. Buffenn serves as an editorial board member of the Journal of AAPOS, a publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. She also serves as chair of the Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee (OTAC) Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Panel, which is a division of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Education:M.D., University of Michigan Medical School, 1995
M.P.H., University of Michigan Medical School
Internships:St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 1995 - 1996
Residencies:University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1996 - 1999
Fellowships:The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, 1999 - 2000
Certifications:Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology
Professional society memberships:California Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus | <urn:uuid:93cb0a0d-94a8-4859-a9d5-b90294110975> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.keckmedicine.org/doctor/angela-n-buffenn/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721555.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00179-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.884617 | 528 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Difference between revisions of "Texture"
(Stub page for these.)
m (Fixing link)
|Line 1:||Line 1:|
'''Textures''' are images of a specific [[Image
'''Textures''' are images of a specific [[Image ]] that can be sampled by a [[Shader]] program.
Revision as of 13:35, 8 September 2009
|This article is a stub. You can help the OpenGL Wiki by expanding it.| | <urn:uuid:a5148a70-da5a-4d2e-b2cd-1ae4fa0c545b> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.opengl.org/wiki_132/index.php?title=Texture&diff=2543&oldid=2537 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280730.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00250-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.880184 | 104 | 2.234375 | 2 |
No matter how well intentioned people are about making sure they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals, they face tough obstacles. With breastfed newborns, the scale is tipped in the right direction (except for vitamin D). After infancy we are biologically designed to thrive on a balanced variety of whole foods, such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and lean sources of protein and calcium. But natural instincts to eat the right amount of healthful, balanced foods can...
Alan Greene, MD, FAAP
Dr. Greene is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, an Attending Physician at Packard Children's Hospital, and the Founding President of the Society for Participatory Medicine. He is on the board of directors of Healthy Child Healthy World, The Lunchbox Project, and the Organic Center. He is the author of many popular health and parenting books including Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green.
In 2010 Dr. Greene founded the WhiteOut Movement to change how babies in the United States are fed.
He has been featured in the New York Times and has appeared on CNN, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America - Health, NBC Evening News, World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer, and The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Greene was honored as one of “the 100 most creative and influential innovators working in health care today” and was named the Children’s Health Hero of the Internet by Intel. | <urn:uuid:c5c645c3-9ce5-4336-824e-5b80d1f8422b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://totalhealthmagazine.com/Alan-Greene-MD-FAAP.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572581.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816211628-20220817001628-00071.warc.gz | en | 0.949272 | 310 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Lafarge SA, the world’s largest cement producer, reaffirmed its commitment to building a cement plant in Langkat, northern Sumatra, with an investment of up to IDR5trn (US$585m), Indonesia’s industry minister said.
Industry Minister MS Hidayat announced Sunday that Lafarge was currently finalising a feasibility study for the project and exploring sources of raw materials in the area, while also designing an environmental impact analysis to be submitted to the Environment Ministry.
"If all runs well and Lafarge can get an investment permit from the BKPM [Investment Coordinating Board] at the end of this year, construction of the plant will start at the beginning of next year," Hidayat told The Jakarta Post via telephone.
The construction of the plant, which has a planned capacity to produce 1.5Mta of cement, would be in line with the government’s efforts to shift investment away from Java to other islands and support the country’s new economic master plan, he added.
Hidayat said he had asked Lafarge to allocate most of its production for the domestic market with possible exports to neighbouring countries when local needs had been fulfilled.
He said that apart from the Langkat plant, Lafarge was eyeing the possibility of setting up another plant in East Java.
The French firm had initiated early moves, including discussions with state cement producer PT Semen Gresik, Hidayat said.
Earlier this year, Lafarge began operations at its new cement plant in Lhok Nga, Aceh, with a cement capacity of 1.6Mta, which replaced a plant damaged by the 2004 tsunami. The construction project, which began in 2007, cost US$300m.
The Industry Ministry estimates that domestic cement consumption would grow by between 7-10% annually, with demand expected to reach 55Mt by 2015 and break 100Mt in 2020.
The Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) estimates that total cement production this year would increase 4.97% to 43Mt from 41Mt last year, in line with surging domestic cement consumption of 6% to 42.4Mt this year from 40Mt last year.
The increased domestic demand for cement has led to a number of global cement producers pouring investments into Indonesia.
Chinese firm Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd expressed its commitment last week to building four cement plants in East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and West Papua, with an overall investment of US$2.35bn. | <urn:uuid:3e93732f-6234-45ed-9836-bc1ac0f27100> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.cemnet.com/News/story/128422/indonesia-lafarge-update-on-its-possible-idr5tn-investment-in-northern-sumatra.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00121-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958463 | 536 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Walks range from easy, low-level strolls, such as the famous Russell Falls Track (suitable for wheelchairs), to cross-country ski trips across the higher plateaus. As always, remember to bring warm, rain and wind-proof clothing – no matter what time of year you visit. Use the guide below to find a walk that suits both you and the weather of the day.
Pandani Grove Nature Walk
We’ve listed this alpine walk as moderate as the track can be covered with ice and snow. Even in dry conditions it’s still often wet underfoot. The track skirts the edges of Lake Dobson through subalpine vegetation and passes through a grove of beautiful tall pandanis, and pencil pines. Collect a brochure from the Visitor Centre and learn a little about the alpine environment.
This wonderful lookout is accessed via the Lake Fenton Carpark. It is a 2hr return track. From the carpark, follow the bush trail to Fenton, crossing the Fenton Creek below the dam wall, then picking up the trail at the sign indicating “track”. Great views can be gained with a short moderate effort. Walking boots are recommended for this walk.
This is a delightful series of small glacial lakes. Access is from a track that leaves from the ski fields. Take the Urquart Track from the Lake Dobson car park to reach the ski fields.
Tarn Shelf/Lake Newdegate/Twilight Tarn and Lake Webster Trail is a long days circuit walk that will take you across the Tarn Shelf, returning via the lower lakes. The tarns are often frozen in winter. The rustic Twilight Tarn hut is a relic from days gone by and contains skiing memorabilia from earlier decades. Track work has been undertaken to address the muddier sections of the track and to protect the rare and sensitive vegetation in the area, please assist us by staying on the formed tracks.
Mt Field East and Lake Nicholls
This is about a five hour return trip. The uphill climb is gradual rather than steep. It can be extremely windy on the summit so be sure to carry protective clothing.
Lake Belton and Lake Belcher
The track to these lakes leaves from Wombat Moor and crosses open moorland before descending through sub-alpine forest. Sections of this walk are wet and muddy.
Mt Field West
This is a long days walk to the edge of the national park. It should not be attempted in wet and windy conditions and all parties should have at least one experienced walker, with navigation skills. The entire route can often be skied in the winter months.
Mt Field East via Windy Moor
If you don’t mind wading through a few sections of deep mud, this walk makes a nice circuit and travels across a lovely moorland.
Rodway Range - Tarn Shelf Circuit
This walk will give you the views from the Rodway Range as well as the delights of the Tarn Shelf. It’s recommended for fit walkers only. Skis or snowshoes are often necessary in the winter months.uphill climb is gradual rather than steep. It can be extremely windy on the summit so be sure to carry protective clothing. | <urn:uuid:df2f6b33-f848-4159-b436-123647e92bcd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://tasmaniaforeveryone.com.au/mt-field-np.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572043.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814143522-20220814173522-00471.warc.gz | en | 0.932402 | 699 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Welcome to the website of the Journal “Security Dialogues”. This journal represents an independent and international academic journal, which covers the broadest conceptual framework of security studies and provides publishing of works of a wider thematic range (from the fields of security, defence, peace, resolving of conflicts, etc.). The journal comes out twice a year and is of international character, with international reviewers.
The aim of this journal is to serve the purpose of broadening the knowledge of these fields for the scientific and academic circles, as well as for the students of these and such similar disciplines. The relevant fields that are covered deal with the concepts, paradigms, institutions and odds for solving contemporary issues of the theory and practice of defence, security (on several levels), peace and conflicts.
The topics and content material, which are covered in this scientific journal, refer to the contemporary moment and are in accordance with the rapidly moving events in the international relations, while at the same time being connected to the areas of security, defence and peace. The content is of great importance not only to students, whose studies are focused on such topics, but also to governmental and non-governmental public officials, who have to be in step with the most recent events and theoretical debates connected to security, defence and peace. Hence, the Journal "Security Dialogues" is widely open to the scientific public both in the country and abroad, the public officials, the people of the military and police, as well as the students of the first, second and third cycle of studies at the Institute for Security, Defence and Peace.
The Journal "Security Dialogues" is searching for works on all the possible aspects of the security, defence and peace phenomena and issues, such as international relations, geopolitical and geostrategic aspects of the different problems, national and regional security issues, military organization, organized forms of crime, terrorism, civil military relations, civil defence, arms control, resolving of conflicts, peace operations, etc. | <urn:uuid:c689a8a0-6e48-4b28-b5c6-7fc059dc477d> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://sd.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00209-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952247 | 405 | 1.679688 | 2 |
This Rainbow Wasp Nest Was Built With Colored Paper
Though you probably don't want to see one in your house, wasps’ nests are impressive works of nature. Paper wasps construct their nests by chewing wood into a pulpy substance and using their saliva to hold it all together. In order to make these structures appear even more extraordinary, biological science student Mattia Menchetti experimented with providing colored paper to a colony of European paper wasps.
He started by feeding his captive wasps yellow paper, and then gradually began introducing more shades. The insects soon created a technicolor home for their larvae. In addition to making for some unusual eye candy, the nest is sturdy as well. A protein in the saliva of European paper wasps is so effective in making their nests waterproof that it's been used by scientists for a biodegradable drone.
You can check out the colorful photographs below. For more of Menchetti’s science work, you can visit his website.
Images courtesy of Mattia Menchetti | <urn:uuid:191eb730-fe7f-4a71-878b-d829a04c5e52> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://mentalfloss.com/article/73212/rainbow-wasp-nest-was-built-colored-paper | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281226.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00374-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959792 | 213 | 3.390625 | 3 |
The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA)
The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, sometimes called the Colombia Free Trade Agreement or FTA, was signed on November 22, 2006.
The Colombia FTA is a comprehensive free trade agreement. When the Colombia FTA enters into force, Colombia will immediately eliminate most of its tariffs on U.S. exports, with all remaining tariffs phased out over defined time periods.
The Colombia FTA also includes important disciplines relating to customs administration and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, government procurement, investment, telecommunications, electronic commerce, intellectual property rights, and labor and environmental protection.
U.S. firms will have better access to Colombia's services sector than other WTO Members have under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. All service sectors are covered under the Colombia FTA except where Colombia has made specific exceptions.
The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force on May 15, 2012. The Agreement provides immediate benefits for U.S. exports. A summary of these benefits is provided here.
Industry Opportunity Reports
Select from the links below to view reports profiling the current trade and tariff environment between the United States and Colombia, and the sector-specific market access results of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion.
- Agricultural Equipment
- Building Products
- Construction Equipment
- Consumer Goods
- Electrical Equipment
- Environmental Goods
- Fish and Fish Products
- Footwear and Travel Goods
- High-Tech Instrumentation
- Information and Communications Technologies
- Medical Equipment
- Metals and Ores
- Paper and Paper Products
- Shipping and Transportation Equipment
- Textiles and Apparel
- Wood and Lumber | <urn:uuid:c25f3105-f3ac-4305-93e1-cbfa617f8fdc> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://trade.gov/mas/ian/tradeagreements/fta/tg_ian_002421.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721174.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00282-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.909779 | 354 | 2.265625 | 2 |
We are searching data for your request:
Upon completion, a link will appear to access the found materials.
The September 11, 2001 It is marked in the collective memory as a tragic day: members of the jihadist network Al-Qaeda crashed two planes into the Twin Towers in New York. About 3,000 people died and about 6,000 were injured, But September 11 is also the anniversary of another tragic day: the coup in Chile.
After a brief government of the Popular Unity of almost three years, the president of Chile, Salvador Allende, was overthrown by a military coup that would give way to a 17 year dictatorship.
The Chilean road to socialism
Allende assumed the presidency of Chile on September 4, 1970, with 36.3% of the electoral census, with the purpose of transforming the country into a socialist state by democratic means, through the rule of law and renouncing an armed revolution, becoming the first politician of Marxist ideology who acceded to the presidency of the government through elections .
The Allende government It experienced a very unstable situation due to the amount of misgivings it generated among the conservative sectors of the country and also towards the United States, which did not agree with the nationalization of copper and of some American companies that were in Chile.
Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State, along with President Nixon, instructed the CIA to prevent Allende from being invested president of Chile in the first placeBut when that failed, a campaign of operations was launched to impede the governance of the country.
An attempt was made to choke the Chilean economy by restricting credit and freezing economic aid. The World Bank and other international financial institutions also limited loans. CIA agents sabotaged the economy and fomented an opposition movement against the government.
The international context
The Allende government is in a very complex historical moment.
In the 1970s, Cold War It was a reality that faced two countries with great military capacity and with atomic weapons, United States and the Soviet Union, each a reflection of two antagonistic and opposing economic models, capitalism Y communism.
The involvement of the United States in the coup in Chile it has to do with a world context in which North Americans tried to control the advance of Marxism and socialism in Latin America.
The Cuban Revolution had occurred in 1959 and the United States was not willing to see that trend be repeated in different Latin American countries.
The coup in Chile
At first the coup was planned for September 15 or 16, to be able to camouflage its preparation with the rehearsal of the military parade of September 19.
It was finally set on September 11, The day that Allende had launched a call for a national plebiscite to decide his continuity as president.
The coup began at dawn with the rise of the Navy. Later it was spread throughout the territory by the Army, Navy, Aviation and Carabineros.
The blow was devastating, the Popular Unity could not be allowed room for maneuver to reorganize and defend itself, all the defense plans planned by the Popular Unity government were useless.
Allende was informed in the early morning of September 11 of the situation. At seven in the morning he went to the Palacio de la Moneda and there he remained armed with his most loyal collaborators.
The coup leaders informed her that she had to immediately hand over her position to the supreme chiefs of the Armed Forces and ordered her to vacate the Palacio de la Moneda before eleven in the morning, otherwise she would be attacked by land and air.
The military offered Allende the possibility of surrendering and leaving the country, but he rejected the offer.. At 10:30 a.m., the tanks opened fire on La Moneda and at 11:50 a.m. the bombing of La Moneda took place.
Despite the attacks, those who still resisted in La Moneda, with Allende at the head, refused to surrender. General Palacios decided to take it at 2 o'clock.
Allende's death and the coup in Chile
It seems then Allende decided to surrender and committed suicide shooting himself with his AK-47 to the chin.
In the afternoon, a Governing Board was formed. Despite some pockets of resistance in some parts of Santiago, the coup had triumphed and together they took control of the country.
Thus began 17 years of a civic-military dictatorship. | <urn:uuid:04f957f5-2269-49ec-8687-46438121055c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ng.vwfuncup.be/3299-september-11-1973-the-coup-in-chile.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.975575 | 901 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Ever Closer Union: Over 50 Suggestions to Promote the Social Union and the Cultural Value of the United KingdomTweet
The following was delivered by Alistair McConnachie at the London Swinton Circle (Chairman, Allan Robertson), at 7pm on Tuesday 18th June 2013, in the downstairs meeting room at Orange Street Congregational Church, Orange Street, London, WC2. The speech was delivered with a Powerpoint presentation, and some of the pics are included below.
Topic headings are in Upper Case, and the bullet-point suggestions under each topic are in Blue. You can click on any of the topic headings below to jump to the appropriate part of the text.
Alistair would like to thank his supporters who alone make it financially possible for him to devote his full time to researching, writing and delivering this material. If you appreciate this content and if you would like to assist this work, please donate to Alistair via this page. Posted on this site on 24 June 2013.
Ladies and gentlemen, today is the 18th of June. It was on this morning, in 1815, that the Royal Scots Greys made their famous charge at the Battle of Waterloo, immortalised forever by Lady Elizabeth Butler in her famous painting. A reminder that together, we have a proud history of standing up to, and beating, European tyrants - and I include in that statement our victory in the Cold War.
Let me tell you what I am not going to speak about this evening. Those will be matters related to things like, the West Lothian Question, or federalism, or an English Parliament, or suggested reforms to the House of Commons or the House of Lords, or the voting system. I won't be speaking about them.
Also let me say that when I use the term Britain in this speech, I am using it - as I always do - as shorthand for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
What I am going to be talking about are ideas which, in some cases, can be made into political policies, and in other cases are simply good ideas which can be done by individuals and groups and institutions acting on their own accord.
I suggest these ideas because I believe they would help to strengthen the social and cultural bonds which we share throughout the United Kingdom - to help promote our sense and experience of shared Britishness.
This is important because our Union is not just a political Union.
Our Union is, to a very large extent, a social and cultural Union conjoined, to the point of sharing the same blood vessels, with a political Union.
The nationalists will pretend that the social and cultural elements will somehow miraculously survive dissection from the political elements. 1
Hence the name of this talk, "Ever Closer Union: Some Ideas and Policies to Promote the Social Union and the Cultural Value of the United Kingdom."
Now, before I lay some ideas out for you, I want to back up a bit and give a philosophical justification for my approach.
How Britain Comes Alive for Us
In some ways the idea of a nation, and a national identity, is intangible, but one can connect to it - that is, sense it in one's heart and soul, and experience it physically in word and deed - though mechanisms.
Mechanisms to grasp the intangible are...
Symbols - things like flags, passports, monuments, the Queen - who is a symbol, a National Icon.
Rituals - things like singing songs and anthems, marching, or watching marches, partaking in Remembrance Services, attending or even just witnessing on the television, events such as Royal Weddings, Trooping the Colour, National Commemorations, Award Ceremonies, or even Competitions on television - the National Lottery.
Institutions - things like the Monarchy, Parliament, the Armed Forces...and in the past certainly the institution of Empire...which had a huge bearing upon one's sense of British identity. Today we have the Commonwealth - more about that later.
Institutions in which an identity can be vested also include things like sporting teams - Team GB, the British Lions - and also industries and services which have a national flavour, whether public like the Royal Mail, the NHS, the former "British Rail", the various Heritage bodies, or private such as charities like the RNLI, RNIB, RSPCA and so on.
Art and Culture - this includes artistic things like photographs, paintings, designs, on T-shirts, on album covers, on posters. It includes cultural expressions such as video, TV and film productions, music, plays, comedy, dance. I say, "dance" - there was an excellent patriotic dance which won the final of Britain's Got Talent last week, which in itself is actually a kind of National Institution.
Products - such as British cars, trains, ships, and all sorts of products which you can buy from fridge magnets, to pens, to beer mats, to clothes and fashion products...to games, toys and jigsaws even - this jigsaw is from the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow, spotted for sale on ebay recently.
It is through loyalty towards symbols; participation in rituals; membership, or at least support, of institutions; involvement in artistic and culture activity related to such things; and possession of, or at least appreciation of, products...it is those things which enable us to connect to the idea of the nation and our national identity in a tangible way.
These things enable us to grasp, and relate to, something which is intangible, to sense it and to experience it as part of our lived existence.
So if we want to develop the idea of the nation and our identity then we can look into those elements and try to develop them. And I'll be doing that - although there are also general policies which I'll be talking about, based around things like travel and education.
Some of these ideas will strike you as good and immediately do-able. Some may strike you as good but perhaps not possible at present.
But I want to put them all out there for consideration and discussion and perhaps to spark other people's ideas; and to inspire people who will be better placed than I to take these ideas, or similar ideas, forward.
A VISION Before I get into some ideas, let me just tell you where I am coming from.
Without vision, the people perish, as it says in the Bible (Proverbs 29:18).
When Britain has been at its Best, it has been when the British Vision has been at its Best. And that Vision has often been about providing service to the rest of the world.
If we are to do that then we cannot do it by being separated and scattered among ourselves. We do it by being United in mind, body, heart and spirit.
I like this statement, from Arthur Mee 2 :
Our flag flies for the unselfish pursuit of the good of all mankind.
I think that is a great Vision for a Nation to hold onto in order to inspire itself.
A Vision of a great United Kingdom at the centre of a civilised world order, using its combined talents to serve, to lead where appropriate, and to protect where necessary.
So, this discourse is coming to you from that point of view. OK, let's get into some topics and ideas...
TRAVEL IN THE UK
President Eisenhower said "The passport to peace is travel". I'm going to adapt that and say, "The passport to British Unity is travel".
It is the road, rail and air links in the UK which connect the people of Britain together in a physical sense. Visible symbols of the unity of the United Kingdom.
The rail network especially has always been one of Britain's great unifiers.
Without wanting to get into a debate about the rights and wrongs of rail privatisation, I do believe we lost something when we lost "British Rail".
We certainly lost the word "British" on all our stations!
And don't think that has no effect on the way people understand their place in the country.
Indeed, it has a huge effect. Especially when everything in Scotland now gets the word "Scot" or "Scotland" attached to it, and smothered in Saltires.
Furthermore, these nationalised industries did, to an extent, give people a sense, or at least remind them, of the common bond which unites us all here in Britain.
So the first thing to always do is to have a presumption that we:
Invest in Road, Rail and Air Links around the UK
[A member of the audience suggested that Air Passenger Duty should be abolished. It has also been suggested to us that the High Speed rail link, HS2, should be extended to reach Scotland.]
Maintain the Caledonian Sleeper Services
I mention this because it has been under threat in the past.
Again these are visible symbols, and physical mechanisms (and historical traditions), which link us directly to Britain's capital.
"London's just a sleep away..." says the sign I spotted at Glasgow Central this morning.
Continue to Subsidise Travel for Young People
I suggest that there should be an extra discount for Young Persons Travel between the 4 Home Nations. Call it a "British Bonus".
For example, a young person booking a ticket in England gets 50% off for travel within England, and 75% off for travel to another part of the UK. It would also encourage young people to go to colleges in other parts of the UK. It's all about encouraging us to mix.
CONSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION for School Children
I'm going to continue the theme of Young People, and in that regard, school children.
I was invited to attend a Meeting in the Scottish Parliament recently. I noticed a group of school children passing by, being shown around by a Guide. I'll say this for the Scottish Parliament, they have got their public relations down to a T.
They even have Outreach Educators who will, on request, visit your school to tell you about the Scottish Parliament, and they have an "Education Centre", in the Parliament, where you can bring your class to do work.
They are going out their way to make the Scottish Parliament a real, living experience for schoolchildren.
What has Westminster got to rival that? Probably nothing! It needs to switch on and start making itself relevant again. So that brings me to this suggestion:
School Visits To the British Parliament
Say, every 4th year Modern Studies Class throughout the UK should be assisted financially to visit the Westminster Parliament.
School Visits From the British Parliament: Outreach Educators who will Visit Your School
If that's not possible then Westminster should have Educators who will visit your school - any High School in the UK - who can explain its constitutional role, and relevance, within the UK. We especially need this in Scotland now!
A British Constitution Module for High Schools
Mandatory in all High Schools throughout the UK. Education is a devolved matter. However, once we have a pro-Union administration in Holyrood again, this should be part of its agenda.
Along with the theme of travel being the passport to British Unity, let's…
Encourage Exchange Visits between Schools from the 4 Corners of the UK
A Scottish class spending a week in England, for example, and vice versa.
Encourage Town Twinning
Perhaps a way of doing that is to encourage town twinning. Perhaps the schools in each of the towns could arrange exchange trips for their pupils each year.
Children from every School to have the Opportunity to visit WW1 and WW2 Battlefields and notable places
to help give them an insight into their past.
Teaching British History in Schools
They are trying to do this in England. However, in Scotland, because education is devolved, our history classes are in the hands, right now, of the separatists who want to teach "Scottish history", as if it exists alone and apart from its wider British context.
However, with the wonders of modern technology it is possible that a school could be set up online to promote such British History. Myself and a colleague are creating some videos, and putting them online, at the moment on the theme of Scotland's British Heritage.
STUDENTS and YOUNG PEOPLE
They say that in order to achieve its full potential, a flower needs an ever larger pot in which to grow.
In that regard, the United Kingdom has the potential to be fertile ground for our young people. However, separatism would poison that field, and devolution is already muddying it up.
The devolution of education, and consequently of funding mechanisms, has undoubtedly harmed the ability of both the Scots and English to be treated equally throughout the UK - and thereby it has harmed our experience of Britishness.
For example, in Scotland, Scottish students (and EU students) get subsidised education but English, Welsh and Northern Irish, have to pay.
There is no British equality there!
Moreover, between 2000 and 2011 (the years of devolution) the proportion of Scottish applicants to English institutions has fallen by over a third. Applications to the north-east of England, once the main destination for Scottish students to England, have fallen by almost half. 3
It is a very good example of how devolution can destroy the social union, not work to support it. It is an example of how it can create division, inequality and possibly even resentment between young people on our Islands. So, we need to...
Encourage Young People to go to Colleges and Universities throughout the UK
It is a great way of bringing young British people together.
Level Playing Field: The first thing is to create a level playing field, which means we have to sort out the funding mechanisms and make them the same throughout the UK.
This should be a priority and this priority must legitimately over-ride the devolved matter, because of the principles that "devolution must strengthen the Union", and "ever closer union" (see our suggestions under "Ever Closer Union", below).
Grants to Encourage Study in Rest of UK
There should be government assistance available for students who want to study in another part of the UK. Another "British Bonus". An inducement to get young people moving throughout the UK because...the passport to British Unity is travel.
Establish Summer Employment Schemes for Young People throughout UK
I've long advocated, and written articles on, the idea of finding ways to move young people from urban areas into the country for summer work.
I'd like to see a British-wide (not devolved, but a UK-wide) Agency which matches rural employers with young people from the cities - for casual summer work. A great way not only of introducing city people to rural people but a great way of forming bonds between the town and country, and mixing the British up. ("The Summer of London" Heart design by Kyle Bean at kylebean.co.uk)
That's a picture of some London Icons shaped as a Heart. It seems London is very much a centre of Britishness, and that's great, but we also want to Spread that Love around a bit.
During the Jubilee Celebrations last year, the Queen, Prince Philip, and the Royal Family did a tremendous job of involving all the Home Nations, and British Overseas Territories and the Crown Commonwealth Realms in the event. The energy of Her Majesty and Prince Philip is remarkable.
When the Queen came to Glasgow on 4th July 2012 the streets around George Square were packed. (3 pics on left - the area on the upper left of the first pic was blocked off)
However, in some cases, certain events could be spread about the UK a bit more.
Let me give you an example.
Cast our minds back to the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, on 3 June 2012.
On that day, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh "screened" the Pageant. But no effort had gone into it. They didn't advertise it as a serious event, which is just as well. It was, literally, just a telly, in the courtyard, which is just off the public pavement, not in the Palace grounds.
They had about 50 people there. But if effort had been put into doing it properly, they could have had 5,000 people in the grounds of the Palace.
Here is what they should have done.
They should have treated it like the Queen's Garden Party.
The event would have been in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It would be by invitation - and you could get a very broad section of the population - all these people creating conversations and a buzz among their colleagues in the run-up to the event. There would have been one of those massive big screens you see at concert venues. A minor Royal would be present. There would have been proper security.
[Newspapers reported that the Queen's Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh on Tuesday 2 July 2013 was attended by 8,000 people.]
Something similar should have been done in Wales, perhaps in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, or Caernarfon Castle. In Northern Ireland, perhaps at Hillsborough Castle.
Believe me, people will jump at an Invite like that. The events would have been packed out.
It would have ensured that the Thames Pageant, the high point of those particular celebrations, would have had a physical presence in all four corners of the UK.
It would have dispersed the London-centric feel of that particular event, and made it more of a wider British event. It would have helped to Spread the Love around a bit.
So I say...
Make more use of the Royal Residences to Involve all 4 corners of the Nation in Major Royal Events
Of course the republicans will always whine their petty "cost" objection, without realising that these events are just another form of investment into the economy, keeping everyone from events companies, suppliers, waiters, security personnel, and the local economy, in work.
Anyway, here is a good example of joined-up British thinking: On the 17th May 2013 the Grenadier Guards paraded for the first time in Edinburgh. They were the official guard for the Queen's Representative, Baron Douglas of Selkirk, who was attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who himself was staying in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, that week.
That was a great fusion of the Monarchy, particularly in Scotland, the British Army (up from London), and the Church of Scotland.
Royal Babies Born in each of the 4 Corners of the UK
When members of the Royal Family have babies, then if they are blessed to have more than one then they should have them born in different parts of the British Isles. Have one in England, one in Scotland, one in Wales, one in Northern Ireland.
A late colleague of mine suggested it to me, and it is a great idea.
It would be about uniting the whole Kingdom in the persons of the Royal Family.
I was genuinely disappointed when I found out that the Queen Mother had been born in England! I always thought she had been born at Glamis Castle in Scotland. In fact, the Queen's late sister, Princess Margaret, remains the only Royal to have been born in Scotland in the last 300 years (at Glamis).
While I am on the Royal Theme, let's move to something connected with it, Heraldry.
Some people might say, "Oh Heraldry, that's not important." Wrong. It is one of those hugely symbolic issues, and it's also one of those "equality of dignity" issues, that people really do get worked up about, if it is thought to be unfair. 4
Re-instate the Coat of Arms on all Holyrood Parliament material
The Coat of Arms which used to appear on all Holyrood parliament stationary was based on the Scottish Royal Coat of Arms - very much a British symbol.
As soon as the SNP took power for the first time in 2007 - the first thing they did was get rid of that. They changed the name of the Scottish Executive to "Scottish Government", and removed the Coat of Arms entirely from all Holyrood material.
No better indication of the direction they wanted to go - get rid of anything with a British connotation.
They replaced it with a bland logo which was simply a Saltire with the phrase "The Scottish Government".
That should also have stood as a lesson to those people who voted SNP because they thought they would make the buses run on time...instead of realising that a vote for the SNP is a vote to empower it to work its radical agenda throughout society.
Well, that Coat of Arms needs to be brought back by the next pro-Union administration, and it needs to be done in a way which makes a very overt political statement that Scotland's future is British.
I also want to use this opportunity to say a few words about Wales - and here is where an "equality of dignity" approach also comes in.
A Royal Coat of Arms to Include Wales
The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom presently includes 4 quarters, two of which are the Lions of England, one is Scotland's Lion, and the other is the Harp of Ireland.
It is time that a quarter became the Prince of Wales Feathers, or even the Welsh Dragon itself - both of which have long featured in the Coats of Arms of British Royalty.
In fact, the Welsh Dragon used to stand where the Scottish Unicorn stands today in the Royal Coat of Arms.
Here is Queen Elizabeth I's, Royal Coat of Arms.
As you can see, the Welsh Dragon was prominently displayed, as were the Welsh Feathers. The Unicorn replaced the Dragon after the 1603 Regal Union.
A Royal Standard to include Wales
The Royal Standard flag is similarly quartered with the English Lions in two quarters.
That should be kept as the English Royal Standard, just as the Scottish Royal Standard has the Lion Rampant in two quarters.
However, we need a new one which would be a British Royal Standard, which would have a quarter representing Wales.
At the very least, create a Welsh Royal Standard for flying in Wales - which would have the Prince of Wales Feathers, or the Dragon in two quarters - just as there is a separate Scottish Royal Standard for flying in Scotland.
A Union Jack Version to Include St David's Cross for certain Formal Occasions in Wales
There is a huge beauty about the Union Jack which should not be changed, but for some formal occasions in Wales, how about incorporating St David's Cross, which is a Gold Cross on a Black background. I suggest a thin gold trim, run down the inside of the red of St George's Cross, would be the best way to do that.
While we are on the subject of Flags...
An Act Clarifying Flag Flying Guidance
These things don't have to be demanded in law, but they can be clarified. There seems to be so much confusion about them.
In most cases, we just want to provide guidance and encourage people to be imaginative and to display their patriotism. And in that regard, I'd like to make some suggestions.
Union Jack to Fly on all UK Government Buildings
Any public building which is run, or which represents an industry or service which is run, on British taxpayer's money, and which has a flagpole, should fly the Union Jack.
Gordon Brown and the Labour Party did seek to free up the regulations on this back in 2008. However, we need to see more of it in Scotland in response to the nationalists.
Union Jack to Fly on Royal Family Birthdays and any British-themed Day (which we can think up!)
This does happen at the moment, but it would be Great to see it more widespread.
Also private companies with flagpoles should be encouraged to do this as well. Perhaps some of them don't realise that it is quite legal to do so.
And let's fly it on "Union Day" commemorating 1 May 1707, or the day James became King of Great Britain (24 March 1603, and the day he was crowned 25 July 1603) or the Battle of Britain Day (15 September 1940), or to remember the Clydebank Blitz (13 and 14 March 1941), the Battle of Trafalgar Day (21 October 1805), the Battle of Waterloo Day (18 June 1815), or Super Saturday (4 August 2012), or any excuse to run it up the flagpole! Suitable days are limited only by our imagination!
It is also a very simple and highly effective way for Unionist-controlled councils in Scotland to make a strong statement against separatism.
Saint's Flag on the Saint's Day
All public buildings should be encouraged to fly the flag of the particular British Saint on that day regardless of where in the UK that public building is based.
I made a video calling on Glasgow City Chambers to fly the St David's Cross on St David's Day, St Patrick's Cross on St Patrick's Day, and the St George's Cross on St George's Day.
Let's have a new "British Day Bank Holiday"...to Mark something specifically British
It was Trooping the Colour at the weekend, which happens on the occasion of the Queen's official birthday. That is something very British and something which gets televised live throughout the UK.
It seems to me that there would be no better day - for a new British Day Bank Holiday - than the Monday of the Queen's Official Birthday Weekend.
It falls on either the first, second or third Saturday in June. So like the Easter Monday Bank Holiday, the date would change each year. (This year Trooping the Colour was the 15 June, which also happens to be Magna Carta Day - another British event.)
It would be a way to get people thinking about these things, and it would be another way to spread out a sense of Britishness - spread it out from the very British Trooping the Colour in London...to the whole country...to enable everyone to share in the event, even if it is only just with a day off work.
[Bank Holidays are devolved (!) but a pro-Unionist administration at Holyrood should bring it in at the same time as the rest of the UK.]
And while we are on National Days, how about…
A Patron Saint for the United Kingdom
St Aidan seems to be a possible choice, having worked in Ireland, Scotland and England. 5
A GB Football Team
We've got the British Lions in rugby. It would be good to have something like this in football...certainly for friendly competitions, at least.
Unfortunately, due to the politics of FIFA and the SFA, as well as what they perceive as their own financial interests, this is difficult to do.
If it is not possible at a professional level, maybe something could be done at the amateur level. Nevertheless, in principle it is a great idea and we shouldn't stop talking about the possibility.
Establish "Cross-border" Leagues in all Sports
This encourages the British to mix, literally.
Bring the 2018 Youth Olympics to Glasgow
Glasgow is already short-listed, and its bid is supported by the UK government and the British Olympic Committee. We'll know the decision by 4th July. Glasgow is up against Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Medellín in Colombia.
It would be great to be able to bring the Team GB spirit to Glasgow!
Bring the "Warrior Games" to Britain
I lifted this idea directly from an article in The Daily Telegraph. This is an annual event, first held in 2010 in the USA. 6
It's a Paralympic competition between injured service members and veterans. Prince Harry attended them in Colorado this May. Both London and Glasgow have the facilities now to hold such events.
Where are the pro-UK films today? Films which give people a pride in "Being British". Films which help them to see the value of Britain the Nation...to appreciate the Union?
Those of us who grew up in the 40s and 50s, were exposed to the pro-British war films of the period. Those of us who grew up in the 70s and early 80s were also exposed to those same films on television, every weekend.
We got strong pro-British impressions. Where are such films today?
But films don't have to be war films.
They can be located in other contexts - which are pro-British, and where patriotism is assumed. Again, without the vision, the people perish. So that leads me to this Proposal...
Establish a Foundation for pro-UK Films which will Financially Support appropriate Projects
Perhaps this is something that is more likely to happen in the private sector. It could be established as an artistic charity. It would have a Board of Directors who would decide to give money to appropriate film Projects.
It would enable people to donate and leave legacies to fund artistic Projects which help to promote the Union of the UK and the Best of British.
THE ARMED FORCES
The Armed Forces are one of the key institutions of Britishness.
When you build up the Armed Forces, you build up one of the main carriers and transmitters of Britishness in society.
When you cut them down, you cut down on part of that culture and identity.
Unfortunately, in an age of austerity, the Armed Forces are often the first casualties. So the first thing that should be done is...
Ring-fence Defence Spending
The NHS and Overseas Aid spending budgets are ring-fenced. Do the same with defence.
Build more Warships for the Royal Navy
Let me show you a way we can defend the country, boost the economy and get people voting to maintain the Union at the same time!
The Royal Navy is a key British Icon. Run down the Royal Navy and you run down Britishness.
Furthermore, the Royal Navy is also tied directly into British Industry. Boost the Royal Navy, and you boost British Industry. It's a mutually beneficial partnership.
Investing in the Royal Navy (or the Armed Forces in general) is always a win-win situation. You create long-term jobs and you protect the nation.
At the moment there is a serious lack of warships. We have 19 destroyers and frigates in total. Destroyers are traditionally anti-aircraft platforms, and Frigates are anti-submarine platforms.
A rule of thumb to find the number sea-worthy at any time is to divide the number of warships you have by 3. So we have 19 hulls, or 6 in total which can be put to sea while the others are in port being refurbished.
Also, remember that we have these 2 large aircraft carriers being built. In order to provide them with a proper anti-aircraft screen, then each carrier will need at least 3 Destroyers to protect it. Therefore, if they are both out together, there will need to be 6 Destroyers.
Using our rule of 1 in 3 sea-worthy at any time, that means we will need 18 destroyers. At the moment, we only have 6 Type 45 Destroyers.
There are also 13 new Type 26 Frigates which are planned, but which have not yet begun construction - and may not begin, until 2015 at the earliest.
Meanwhile, we have shipbuilding yards running out of work and BAE Systems threatening to close down one of its yards.
So what the government must immediately do - which would indicate its commitment to the British ship building industry, keep all 3 yards alive - in Portsmouth, and Govan and Scotstoun in Glasgow - and help us to win the referendum next year, is the following.
1. Start building more Type 45 Destroyers. We need another 12. At the very least, let's start building another 2 or 3 - as a bridging order until the Frigate-building programme gets going.We have the immediate skills to do this.
2. Commit to building more than 13 new Type 26 Frigates. Ideally another 5 to make it 18, enabling 6 to be sea-worthy at any one time in order to provide the Carriers with sufficient anti-submarine protection.
3. Start a programme to construct a new class of Corvette. These are smaller, shorter-range, but heavily armed warships, suited for protecting fisheries, oil and gas, and counter-piracy measures. A fleet of Corvettes would free up the Destroyers and the Frigates to concentrate on defending the Carriers.
These 3 policies would keep all the British yards open, would be an investment in research and industry, would create jobs, and boost the economy, and an announcement like that would utterly take the wheels off the separatists' campaign. 7
That's what you call "joined-up thinking" and let us hope that the government will not lack it next year.
And talking about shipbuilding, how about...
A new Royal Yacht
Whatever the practical usefulness of such a vessel, in principle, the idea is sound. It is about creating jobs and elevating the prestige of the nation at the same time. And let's ensure we...
Maintain and Rebuild the Scottish Regiments
They have been a central mechanism by which the British experience has been transmitted in Scotland. Yet, they have been decimated by so-called "unionist" governments over the last 25 years.
At the very least - do nothing more to run them down - if you truly believe in the Union!
Invest in the Territorial Army
It's another great way of introducing the British to each other in towns and cities throughout the UK.
Maintain the Mounted Units of the British Armed Forces
They are occasionally threatened, but it is clear that the Household Cavalry, and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, are an absolutely vital part of the pageantry of this country. We saw them at Trooping the Colour at the weekend. We saw the Cavalry in the Mall when Kate and William were married. They're Awesome!
Re-Locate the National Army Museum
The National Army Museum is located in Chelsea. It doesn't attract as many visitors as the other great London Museums.
So along with the aim of spreading out the idea of Britishness around the Kingdom, why not re-locate it somewhere where it may have more visitors. Perhaps in Edinburgh, or Cardiff, or Belfast or another large English City. 8
Officially Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Start of WW2, 3 September 2014
This will be two weeks shy of the referendum on Scottish separation, but there has been no mention of it so far. A very appropriate time to remember how we stood together during those dark days.
Officially Commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 2015
Today is the 198th Anniversary. I put this in here because it was reported last week that there is no official commemorations planned for the 200th. Yet, it was another example of Britain standing up to European tyranny, and as such should be commemorated as part of our united British national story.
Some ECONOMIC POLICIES
Maintain the Royal Mail as a Public Body
The Royal Mail is a Great British institution, but it is seldom spoken of in the way politicians speak about "the BBC" or "the NHS".
However, like the rail and road networks, the Royal Mail quite literally, brings the British together - as does British Telecommunications plc.
I suggest we do nothing more to dismantle one of the remaining public institutional mechanisms by which people come to identify and feel British in the first place - and I suggest that the Royal Mail is one of those mechanisms.
And while I am on this subject...
Take the Stationary Office back into Public Ownership
And rename it "Her Majesty's" again!
When I lived in Edinburgh during the 1990s, I used to pass the shop on Lothian Road every day. There it was, for all to see, "Her Majesty's Stationary Office".
Whether it is called "Her Majesty's" this, or "British" that...these are mechanisms which embed these phrases, and what they stand for, into the public space and into our lives, and consequently into our senses and our experiences.
They are mechanisms which help us to identify as British.
Throwing them away in the name of a short-term economic "quids-in" strikes me as a kind of national cultural vandalism; an assault on the Nation's identity, until we have nothing left which is "British" in a meaningful public and social sense.
And of course, it goes without saying, but it is always worth saying...
Maintain our Dual System of Weights and Measures
Again, this is something that helps to make Britain distinct.
BANKING and LEGAL TENDER
Change the Name of the Bank of England to the British Central Bank
The Bank of England needs a name change. It was established, by William Paterson, a Scotsman, in 1694, prior to the Union of Parliaments. It should have changed its name in 1707 to something like "the Bank of Great Britain".
It was nationalised in 1946. That was certainly the time to correct its name, to reflect the fact that it was the "national" Central Bank, which had been "nationalised", and that "national" meant Britain.
But that didn't happen and I suggest that was an oversight.
Again, it is about equality of dignity for all the Home Nations. It is about saying, "This is the Central Bank for all of the UK and so it should have an appropriate name."
Now, I can understand that some people might not like this suggestion, since "the Bank of England" has a certain romance to its name. However, if it changes its name to the British Central Bank, and then Scotland does become independent...well, it can change its name back to the Bank of England again.
I suggest it is time to correct this anomaly that should have been corrected in 1707, and certainly in 1946! 9
Bank of England Notes to be Declared Legal Tender throughout the UK
Strangely, and to emphasise my point, Bank of England banknotes are not actually legal tender in Scotland, only in England. That is ridiculous. Everyone uses them because they are accepted, but an Act of Parliament just clarifying that they are legal tender would clear things up.
Bank Notes of Scottish Private Banks and the Notes of the Crown Dependencies to be declared Legal Tender throughout the UK
At the moment, the banknotes of Scottish private banks are not "legal tender", even in Scotland, and even though the Scottish private bank notes are sterling, which have been purchased from the British Central Bank. Again that is silly. Anything which is authorised and backed by the British Central Bank should be considered legal tender. Again, an Act of Parliament is necessary.
BRITAIN IN THE WORLD
Britain is still very well placed in the World.
Britain is still at the centre of the Commonwealth. There is still the understanding that without Britain, the Commonwealth would not exist in the first place. And Britain, to a large extent, continues to provide the impetus and leadership for the Commonwealth.
There are still 15 other members of the Commonwealth of which the Queen is the Head of State.
There is also the remnant of the Empire (obviously not members of the Commonwealth) - the 14 British Overseas Territories - all of which are very strategically located.
I'm not advocating bringing back the Empire, but I am advocating looking at ways to use Britain's unique place in the world to help it exercise a central, positive, role in world affairs, going forward.
Establish a Commonwealth Council to Promote Co-operation and Trade
This would rejuvenate the idea of the Commonwealth as a trading bloc for everyone's mutual benefit. Something that has been sorely neglected in the last 40 years.
The Commonwealth may not be an exact alternative to the EU, but much more needs to be made of it. In time it could grow into a significant global player.
Other things related to the Commonwealth...
A British Commonwealth Museum with a separate Building in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Emphasise the Britishness of the Commonwealth Games, next year
Glasgow used to be called "the Second City of the British Empire". The Games next year will be a great opportunity to recall to memory Glasgow's place in British and Commonwealth history.
I've made a YouTube video on this. Of the 71 competitors, the Queen is the Head of State of almost half (34 out of 71 = 48%) and almost one third fly the Union Jack (21 out of 71 = 30%). [Update: Since this video was made, The Gambia has dropped out and so the stats above are 34 out of 70, and 21 out of 70.]
And as for the Overseas Territories...
British Overseas Territories to have Westminster Representation
This isn't my idea but it has been getting a bit of publicity recently. It would be about bringing in these Territories further into the British family, forging ever closer links, for our mutual benefit.
We would not be asking them to give up anything that they already possess for that privilege. Rather, we're motivated by a desire to keep together the world-wide British family.
We want to maintain vital links and do what we can to help each other, in an uncertain world.
From a Unionist perspective, it shows that the Union extends outwards even from these shores, in both a political sense and in a broad sense.
We are still uniquely placed to be able to take the lead in these things. It would be folly not to appreciate that, or build upon it.
EVER CLOSER UNION
Labour always told us that the Scottish Parliament would "strengthen the Union". However, it failed to write anything into its Scotland Act 1998 - which set up the Parliament - which would maintain oversight on devolved legislation to ensure none of it had corrupting and weakening influences upon the Union relationship.
If Holyrood really is intended to "strengthen the Union", then powers should flow back to, not just away from, Westminster - when that is appropriate, in order to maintain a United Kingdom, and keep it "strengthened".
How to ensure that?
Just as the EU frames its laws to encourage "ever closer union" within the EU, it should be a principle and an aim of the British government at all times, and the Scottish government - when it is under unionist control - to ensure "ever closer union" within the UK.
I suggest there are at least 4 ways we can do that.
1. Establish a UK Constitutional Veto: Safeguard against Future Rogue Laws by additional Paragraph in Scotland Act
In order to safeguard against future rogue laws which damage the Union, a further paragraph "c" should be added to Section 35 (1) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Power to intervene in certain cases) which should state something along the lines of:
"If a Bill contains provisions which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would be incompatible with the principle of ever closer union for the United Kingdom, or contrary to the principle that devolution must strengthen the Union, or incompatible with the principle of equality of opportunity throughout the United Kingdom, he may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent."
2. Accept that a Devolved Competence can be Rescinded
If we accept that the Union relationship must be maintained, and that the Scottish Parliament is intended to "strengthen the Union", and if we believe in the principle of "ever closer union" for the UK, then there should be no reluctance - at least in principle - to rescind a particular devolved competence if that competence is being used in a way which is damaging to our Union relationship.
Of course, that would be politically problematical and it is most likely to apply only where there is a separatist administration in power, but it should not be something that is considered impossible. It should be accepted in principle! There should be a presumption that it is possible. There should be nothing controversial about that presumption.
3. UK Government to Legislate to Rescind a Particular Rogue Law
Perhaps more politically feasible would be a piece of UK government legislation, which, rather than targeting the entire devolved matter (ie Education) simply rescinds the particular rogue law whose consequences are damaging the Union relationship.
Right now, too many people are stuck into the nationalist idea that the Union is destined to break up. They see things through the nationalist frame where the only alternative is "more devolution" heading on an ever slippery slope downwards to separation in all but name.
Once we introduce the driving force of "ever closer union" then we realise the Union can just as easily be destined to move closer, and that realisation gives us a whole new set of possibilities to work with.
4. A Ministry of State for the Union
To bring this all together, we need Whitehall to set up a specific Ministry, and maybe even Holyrood too.
We need a Union Office - a Ministry for the Union - and a Minister for the Union.
This would be an official government body tasked to promote the social and cultural value of the Union of the United Kingdom, and which is able to spot and prevent, and defeat threats to the Union.
It would be able to make sure that the things I have been speaking about tonight have a good chance of happening.
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for listening.
(1) See for example, the article by the lead researcher for the "Yes Scotland" campaign, Stuart McDonald, "A clear case of border-line identity disorder", The Scotsman, 12-6-13, p. 31.
(2) Arthur Mee, Arthur Mee's Book of The Flag, Island and Empire, (London: Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd, 1941), p. 71. Similarly inspiring, in the Queen's 21st Birthday Speech, on 21 April 1947, she stated: "If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage, and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing - more free, more prosperous, more happy and a more powerful influence for good in the world - than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers. To accomplish that we must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves. There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto, "I serve". Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the Throne when they made their knightly dedication as they came to manhood."
(3) Michael Chessum, "Creating a British divide in education system", The Scotsman, 9-8-12, p. 27.
(4) I first read the useful phrase "equality of dignity" in Colin Kidd's book: "In the sphere of symbolic politics, equality meant equality of dignity, whether in armorial bearings or in the casual assumption that England had become a synonym for Britain. In the world of public policy, equality meant proportionate taxation and expenditure across the component parts of the United Kingdom."
Colin Kidd, Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland, 1500-2000, (Cambridge University Press, 2008), p. 271.
(5) Ian Bradley, "Wanted: a new patron saint", The Guardian, 26-8-02, p. 17. Cahal Milmo, "Cry God for Harry, Britain and...St. Aidan", The Independent, 23-4-08, pp. 12-13, and editorial, "The people's priest", at p. 28.
(6) Jim White, "Let's Bring the Warrior Games to London", The Daily Telegraph, 13-5-13, p. 20.
(7) Some of the ideas in this section were inspired by the article, Opinion - Odin's Eye, "Sword of Damocles over Shipyards", Warships: International Fleet Review, February 2013, pp. 5-6.
(8) Harry Reid, "A memorial to military battles lost and won", The Herald, 22-1-13, p.13.
(9) Since this presentation, it has been brought to our attention that the late Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish attempted to move an amendment to the Bank of England Bill in the House of Lords on 3rd March 1998 to rename the Bank of England the "Central Bank of the United Kingdom". See Hansard at http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/grand_ committee_report/1998/mar/03/ official-report-of-the-grand-committee
Pic taken on Tuesday 18 June 2013, by Alistair McConnachie prior to speaking at the event.
Help us Raise Money via Amazon: Here is a way you can help us cover our running costs. We get a commission on products which are purchased on Amazon after the customer has arrived at Amazon via clicking on an item in one of our Amazon widgets (as below). This includes products which are not listed on the widget but which you find after arriving on Amazon via this portal. For example, if you click on an item below, get taken to Amazon and then move around to purchase an item, of any value, then we will receive a percentage of your purchase. Depending upon the product - for example, watches and jewellery - it can be up to 10%. Books are 5%. The product costs exactly the same to you whether it is accessed via our site or directly, and nor do you have to purchase the item we have recommended. Therefore, any time you want to purchase from Amazon, please get in the habit of reaching it through any of our widgets. This can really help us. Thank you!
[Legal Statement: Alistair McConnachie is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk ]
If you appreciate this article, please consider donating using any of the links at the top right of this page; or send a cheque, details on our Donate page. You can also stay in touch with what we do by signing-on to receive our free regular Update email - simply enter your details in the 'Receive Free Newsletter' box at the top right of this page. You can find out more about A Force For Good at the About page. And here is a link to Alistair McConnachie's Google Profile. | <urn:uuid:73729278-b1f5-4755-b891-ec419b878695> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.aforceforgood.org.uk/vision/uk12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00119-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962125 | 10,577 | 1.921875 | 2 |
South Korea and the United States were set to open talks Friday on the possible deployment -- vehemently opposed by China -- of an advanced US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea.
South Korea's defence ministry said initial discussions would focus on potential locations, as well as cost-sharing and a timeline for installation of the THAAD system.
The system fires anti-ballistic missiles into the sky to smash into enemy missiles either inside or outside the Earth's atmosphere during their final flight phase.
The interceptor missiles carry no warheads, instead relying on kinetic energy to destroy their targets.
Seoul and Washington announced their intention to begin formal talks on its deployment following Pyongyang's long-range rocket launch on February 7, which was widely regarded as a covert ballistic missile test.
The first official meeting has been on hold amid fierce opposition from China and Russia, with Beijing warning the deployment had the potential to "destroy" relations with Seoul.
China sees THAAD as a threat to the effectiveness of its own nuclear deterrent, arguing that it could be used to monitor Chinese missile launches as far inland as Xian in the northwest.
The defence ministry in Seoul stressed Friday that any deployment would be solely aimed at countering North Korea's "increasing nuclear and missile threats".
"North Korea has continued its nuclear tests and long-range missile provocations and defied South Korea and the international community's deterrence efforts," the ministry said.
China is South Korea's most important trade partner and -- in deference to Beijing's sensitivities on the issue -- South Korea had previously declined to formally discuss bringing in THAAD.
But North Korea's continued testing -- and Beijing's previous resistance to imposing harsh sanctions on Pyongyang -- triggered a change in Seoul's stance.
There is already a THAAD battery stationed in Guam, and Japan, the US's other key ally in the region, is also considering taking on the system. | <urn:uuid:34f85ba7-aac1-48eb-ba2f-d9a8f6d5c72c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.thanhniennews.com/world/south-korea-us-open-missile-shield-talks-59893.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571210.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810191850-20220810221850-00468.warc.gz | en | 0.965934 | 390 | 1.960938 | 2 |
The Book of Mormon is a document that is considered canonical scripture that complements the Bible by Latter Day Saint adherents. Most traditional Christians, as defined by their adherence to the Nicene Creed, object very strongly to this belief, sometimes due to what they see as contradictions between it and the Bible, or various other reasons. Latter Day Saints believe that the Book of Mormon does not contradict the Bible.
- Official LDS Edition mp3
- RLDS 1908 Authorized Edition of the Book of Mormon (courtesy of CenterPlace.org)
- The Zarahemla Research Foundation's Book of Mormon; Restored Covenant Edition
- 1830 Book of Mormon
- RCE Book of Mormon | <urn:uuid:58702513-804a-4a94-af67-bed5b9a9722a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/The_Book_of_Mormon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00122-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925337 | 140 | 2.34375 | 2 |
The LA Times reports today that the public perception of homelessness in Los Angeles is more accurate than the official happy talk:
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority…said only 29% of the homeless population had either a mental illness or substance abuse disorder….The Times, however, found that about 67% had either a mental illness or a substance abuse disorder. Individually, substance abuse affects 46% of those living on the streets — more than three times the rate previously reported — and mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder, affects 51% of those living on the streets, according to the analysis.
But wait. Even the LAT analysis might be too optimistic. A study from the California Policy Lab at UCLA comes up with even higher numbers for the US homeless population:
These numbers, it turns out, aren’t really disputed. So why does it matter? Partly because the right policy response depends on a realistic assessment of the problem. If most of the homeless are just down on their luck and need a temporary place to stay, that calls for a particular kind of housing response. But if the vast majority are mentally ill or struggling with addiction, that calls for an entirely different response.
But that’s not all. I’ve made this point before and gotten raked over the coals for it, but if you want to solve the homeless problem you have to understand the public resistance to building local homeless shelters. Is it because most of us are self-centered assholes who refuse to help the poor if it means even the slightest inconvenience to our otherwise comfortable lives? If that’s the case, the right response might be education or guilt or just plain political bulldozing.
If the Times analysis and the UCLA report are correct, however, maybe local resistance is actually based on understandable concerns, not just free floating racism and assholery. Maybe families with children have good reason to be anxious about having addicts and the mentally ill wandering around their neighborhood. Maybe you would be too.
Social problems are hard to solve already, and they’re even harder to solve if we tell ourselves fairy tales and then insist that anyone who sees things differently is a horrible human being. That gets us nowhere, especially if it turns out that these folks have a more realistic view of the problem than we do and are therefore going to become even more stubborn if we try to tell them they’re wrong about things they can see with their own two eyes. Just a thought. | <urn:uuid:20dc95c0-c416-4400-b273-803e89980819> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://adops.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/10/addiction-and-mental-illness-are-rampant-among-the-homeless/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573699.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819131019-20220819161019-00265.warc.gz | en | 0.956828 | 505 | 1.84375 | 2 |
If there is one thing missing in contemporary religion, it is a sustained godly cause. "Updates" are the mode of operation among many professed believers: updated methods, updated techniques, updated messages, and even updated gospels. But this is not the manner of the kingdom of God. It is progressive in nature, which is directly opposite of addiction to obsolescence. Believers, under the administration of the Holy Spirit, go "from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). The psalmist declared that those in Zion would go from "strength to strength" (Psa. 84:7). The Gospel generates a manner of life described as "from faith unto faith" (Rom. 1:17). These expressions describe a process with which the world is not familiar. It is one of advancement and spiritual development.
Our text sets forth a situation that is both challenging and necessary. It reveals a singularity of objective, and the sustained effort required to attain it. Faith does not change its goal. It often requires the adjustment of ones commitment and effort, but never an alteration of the goal. That is the nature of life in Christ. "One thing" dominates throughout the life of the child of God (Psa. 27:4; Luke 10:42; Phil. 3:13). It is that controlling factor that is our present theme.
WHY PAUL WAS INTENSE IN HIS DEVOTION
Those that are haphazard in their commitment to Christ find it difficult to comprehend the zeal of believers. But there is a compelling reason for their incessant effort. You cannot maintain sustained zeal by a system of law. Threats, however true they may be, are not sufficient incentive to keep people running the race and fighting the fight. Paul, prior to being "in Christ," was devoted to the Law--the holy Law. He exercised himself to be "blameless" concerning the righteousness of which it spoke. But that zeal was nothing to compare with what he experienced in Christ Jesus. In Him, effort reached a new plateau. The persuasion of "the mark" instilled a zeal law could not produce.
Paul "labored more abundantly" than the rest of the Apostles (I Cor. 15:10). It was not because he was younger, or because he had access to more technical aids. It was because he saw more. His heart and mind were ravished with the grace of God. His eye had a single goal. He was willing to "spend and be spent" for the cause of Jesus (2 Cor. 12:15). The world, even the religious world, could not match the glory of the things he was shown by Christ. His insatiable appetite for the grace of God is what brought it to him. He received much because he wanted much! That is the reason for his explanation of his own prodigious activities: "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10).
The future also held intrigue and attraction for the apostle. He saw something ahead that was worthy of the deepest commitment and most extensive labor. He perceived that obstacles lay between him and the goal, and he determined to "press" through them. His spiritual posture was bent toward what he saw, and he refused to be deterred from it.
THERE IS A "MARK" or "GOAL"
"I press toward THE MARK," Paul confessed. "THE mark!" So far as he was concerned, there was no other worthy objective; no other goal so compelling and rewarding."The MARK!" Something identifiable, not vague. It was something he could perceive and understand. When his heart was fastened upon it, he adjusted the course of his life appropriately. It allowed him to get his spiritual bearings. Elsewhere he used glorious phrases to denote its reality. He referred to a "blessed hope and glorious appearing" (Tit. 2:13). He mentioned an "anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast" (Heb. 6:19), and a "city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). He spoke of receiving a "crown of righteousness" (2 Tim. 4:8), and "ever" being "with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17).
The future was not ambiguous for Paul, and it should not be for you! One of the undeniable marks of a degenerate and failing church is its lack of confidence concerning the future. This is the dark spot on the horizon of the fearful and unbelieving.
But what was "the mark" or "goal" toward which Paul pressed? Note that it is immediately related to "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). This is the objective of the heavenly calling. It is the reason for the remission of sins. It is the motivation for Christ saving His people from their sins. This is why people believe. It is why they obey God. It is why they perfect "holiness in the fear of the Lord" (2 Cor. 7:1). It is why they "run with patience the race that is set before them" (Heb. 12:1). It is why they "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12).
The "mark," from one point of view, is "eternal life." That is the sum and substance of the blessing. It is the "gift of God" (Rom. 6:23). That is a summary view of our involvement in "the world to come" (Mark 10:30). Your "continuance in well doing" will be rewarded with "eternal life" (Rom. 2:7). We are "justified by His grace" in order that we might "be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Tit. 1:2). The "exceeding great and precious promises" that have been given to us can be compressed into as single promise. "And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life" (1 John 2:25). The "eternal life" that we have now is a pledge of the fullness we will enjoy in the world to come. That is a "mark" worthy of consistent and unflagging effort!
From another point of view, you might view "the mark" as life's finish line. It is the point at which the race ends. Paul caught a glimpse of it before he left his body. It prompted him to say,
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
His warfare was good! His faith enabled him to complete the strenuous course appointed to him. It had led him through perils (2 Cor. 11:26). It led him through weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10). It led him through the rejection of many to whom he preached. He had to press on with infirmity (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Sometimes he had to press forward alone, with his brethren forsaking him (2 Tim. 4:10). Sometimes it led through discouraging incarceration (2 Cor. 11:23). Sometimes when he was isolated in the midst of a sea for a day and a night (2 Cor. 11:25). But "the mark" kept him coming! It was a dominating goal with which the world simply could not compete!
He was dominated by the same spirit as the patriarchs. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (Psa. 42:1-2). "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Heb. 11:16). Every professed believer should ask himself if God is ashamed to be called his God!
In our text, Paul relates "the mark" with "the resurrection of the dead" (v. 11). He is not saying that he wants to simply participate in the resurrection of the dead; every one will do that (Acts 24:15). He desires that the resurrection be the answer to the dichotomy his regeneration produced. For believers, "the resurrection from the dead" is the culmination of faith. Then we will be made "whole," and all adversarial relationships will be abruptly terminated.
Salvation is not an end of itself!
It may come as a starling surprise to many to hear this. Salvation is the appointed means to the end! It prepares us for the future by removing our past and giving us power in the present. But it is "the mark" that is the real issue! It is "the mark" that must be reached. It does no good to enter this race if you do not finish it! A "heavenly call" offers no consolation prize for those that do not end up there!
"The mark" is experienced now in a firstfruits sense. The righteousness for which we "wait" will be fully experienced there, if tasted by faith now (Rom. 4:20-24). The presence of the Lord which will be "face to face" then is enjoyed by faith now as we "fellowship" with the Son (1 Cor. 1:9). The devil who will be banished there may be successfully resisted now! These firstfruits experiences are what keep us pressing. Without them, we would soon fall by the way.
THE "MARK" IS ATTAINABLE
A goal that cannot be attained is no goal at all! Men of God do not "beat the air" or "run in vain" in their pursuit of "the mark." Their incentive has been provided by the Lord Jesus Himself. "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matt. 7:8). God has not promised us something that is beyond our reach. He has not flashed a mirage before those in the desert of this world, deluding them into thinking things will be better in the "bye and bye."
Although not accessible under the law (Heb. 9:8), a "way" has now been sanctified that leads to "the mark." From one point of view, that "Way" is the Person of Jesus Christ. How glorious His affirmation: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The life of faith brings us to "the Father" now (I Thess. 3:11), and the removing of those things "that can be shaken" will bring "the Father Himself" to be "with" us (Rev. 21:3).
The "way" is both "new" and "living." It has been "consecrated" particularly for us, giving us access to the most holy place of all, the presence of the living God. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" (Heb. 10:19-20). It is "new" in the sense of being different--of another order. It is "living" in the sense that it is effective, bringing the realization of the promised benefit.
Factually speaking, believers are the only real "goal-oriented" people. All earthly goals are temporal. They are simply "lusts" that will ultimately pass away with the world (I John 2:17).
But it is not so with the people of God. What they seek will be found. The forfeiture of this world will gain for them permanency in "the world to come" (Heb. 2:5). Little wonder that the Spirit admonishes us to run with purpose and intent. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Cor. 9:24). If we do not reach the goal, what difference does anything else really make? We shall have spent our lives in total futility if we do not make it to "the mark," obtaining the "prize" of the high calling in Christ Jesus!THE BELIEVER IS APPREHENDED!
A condition is described here that must not be overlooked. Paul acknowledges that he has not yet "apprehended" the objective of his salvation. That is why he is stretching forward, pressing to obtain it. But note this phrase, "that for which also I am apprehended of Jesus Christ" (v. 12). Jesus had APPREHENDED Paul! The expression is arresting! Think about it! "I keep on, trying to grasp that purpose for which Christ Jesus grasped me" (Phillips Modern English). "Because Jesus Christ has made me His own" (RSV). "I press on, hoping to take hold of that for which Christ once took hold of me" (NEB). "Trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me" (Jerusalem Bible). What an edifying view!
Our own salvation is evidence of divine activity. We have been "apprehended" by Jesus Himself! It was not against our wills. We were "willing in the day of His power" (Psa. 110:3). Like the shepherd that brought the lost sheep home on his shoulder, Jesus "took hold" of us, rescuing us from the dilemma of sin! He said that He came to "seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10), and He has done so! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Do not miss the glory of this truth! God did not "apprehend" the people in Noah's day. They were destroyed with a flood (Gen. 6-7). God did not "apprehend" Israel in this sense! Their nature was never changed. God Himself said of them, "All day long I have stretched forth my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Rom. 10:21). But Jesus has apprehended us. Why? Because this is the day of the open heavens! It is a different time, when sin has been put away by the sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 9:26). It is a different day, with a message of good news (2 Cor. 6:2)!
Paul pressed to apprehend the prize because he himself had been apprehended. What of you? Have you been apprehended by Jesus?
ITS ATTAINMENT REQUIRES EXTENSIVE EFFORT
The foundation for our acceptance with God was not accomplished without extensive effort. Jesus "learned obedience by the things that He suffered" (Heb. 5:8), throwing Himself into the work of redeeming an estranged race. The appropriation of His salvation requires no less effort on our part. Think of the words of our blessed Lord. "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27). "Labor" is not a casual word, and "meat that endures to everlasting life" is superior to all other sustenance. The two go together!
Great blessing cannot be realized through minuscule endeavors! That truth, if received, would revolutionize the modern church! It would provoke "true worshippers" to discard methods and techniques designed to simulate spiritual life, but which cannot produce it.
Forgetting the things that are behind. Inhibiting recollections of the past are to be placed behind us. "The things that are behind" are not blessings, like the new birth and the realization of special comforts. They are "things" that promoted flesh and pride. They tended to rivet us to the earth and obscure the realities of the world to come. These are related to the "fiery darts" of the wicked one, not to divine involvements. In Paul's case, they concerned his religious heritage, and the fleshly advantages it provided. So flawed was that part of his life that, while embracing what he thought to be truth, he "consented" to the murder of a man of God (Acts 22:20), and persecuted "the church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9). An entire system of thought was involved that was contrary to that of God. How ironical that the chief handicap of Saul of Tarsus was his religion! However, he was unfortunately not the last to experience such a disadvantage.
Paul chose to forget the apparent advantages of his natural birth. He elected to purge from his mind the recollection of progress within an empty religious system. He even forgot his surpassing zeal for the Law that dwarfed that of his peers. These things were excellent from earth's point of view, but lost their value in the superior light of God's grace. A report of them would have looked good on a resume to the First Church of the Frigidaire; but they had no value so far as eternal things were concerned.
When dwelt upon, the past inhibits our progress to "the mark." It is filled with competing interests, and can lure us back into the quagmire of sin. The direction of the Kingdom is consistently forward, never backward. Drawing back leads to "perdition" (Heb. 10:39). Going forward leads to life eternal.
Straining toward what is ahead. There is blessing "ahead" for the people of God. But men will not strain toward God's appointed future for the faithful if they are not convinced of it. The KJV translates this "reaching forth." Others employ the word "stretching." The idea is one of extreme exertion. Here, our affection is the area of activity. We are, so to speak, straining to see, not trying to work. There are clouds and mists between here and the glory. Their presence requires that our "affection" to be "set on things above, and not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-3). It takes effort, unusual effort, to accomplish this.
Candidly, I am concerned about the lack of godly effort that characterizes many professed believers. It betrays a level of sensitivity toward God that is not acceptable. It indicates that a "conviction of things not seen" Heb. 11:1) is not present. This condition makes the individual unacceptable to God! There really are no satisfactory explanations for its presence!
We are reaching toward an open door (Rev. 4:1), a satisfied God (Isa. 53:11), and a welcoming Savior (Matt. 11:28; John 6:37). The "powers of the world to come" (Heb. 6:5) tug at our faith. Heavenly influences beckon us to "come." This is "the day of salvation" and the time of spiritual "succor" (II Cor. 6:2). Those that stretch forward to "the mark" will not be disappointed."
There are "troops" and "walls" between us and the realization of "the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls" (1 Pet. 1:9). With determination, we can identify with the words of David, after he had been delivered out of the hand of his enemies and king Saul. "For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall" (2 Sam. 22:30; Psa. 18:29). However, "running" and "leaping," even when undergirded by divine strength, engage the hearty effort of the victor.
Pressing toward the mark
While stretching forward involves affection and focus, "pressing" also involves moral effort and progress. "Pressing" is a strong word. Most of the time it is employed in Scripture, it has to do with persecution, and is so translated ("dioko" -- Phil. 3:16; Mat. 5:10-12; 10:23; Acts 26:15; Rom. 12:14; 1 Cor. 4:12; 15:9; 2 Cor. 4:9; Gal. 1:13' 4:29; 2 Tim. 3:12, etc.). It deals with diligent and unrelenting pursuit. The "pressing" individual will not be dissuaded. He will go through fire and water if called upon to do so. He will not allow anything or any relationship to rob him of the "prize." It is more important than career, family, or possessions. If the race requires the forfeiture of earthly companionship, the "pressing" one will run anyway. If there are conflicts with earthly relationships, they will be forfeited in preference of obtaining the prize.
The almost total absence of this type of commitment today betrays the condition of the professed church. Like the idolatrous monkey-triad, they have heard nothing, see nothing, and, consequently, do nothing. People do not let go of the world because they have not been convinced that there is something better. But their assessment of the case is wrong. There is something better! Jesus has opened the way to heaven--into the "holiest" of all. In Jesus, the world is now offered an affiliation with God that has never before been realized by those guilty of sin.
Spiritual violence is a trait of the kingdom age
This is not violence like that of Noah's day (Gen. 6:11). Nor, indeed, does it consist of a state of moral chaos. It is the spiritual quality that compels one to gain the kingdom of God at any price. This type of attitude was revealed on a grand scale in the days of John the Baptist. Commenting on that situation, the Savior said, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12).
The NIV translation reads, "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." The idea here is that men perceived God's kingdom as worthy of the most extensive effort. They would even publicly repent to obtain it, and did so.
The reason for this condition is apparent. John preached that the kingdom of heaven was "at hand"--it was near, and, therefore, accessible. It is even more attainable now, and those that perceive this to be the case, will pay whatever price is required to obtain it. The rich young ruler did not see this truth, and thus went on his way with great sorrow (Matt. 19:21-22). He did not see the things of God to be of greater value than earthly riches. How tragic that he does not stand alone in this benighted state!
The prolific development and distribution of techniques designed to stimulate spiritual activity confirms the absence of a pressing spirit in the professed church. Too often religious activity is nothing more than a simulation of life rather than evidence of life itself. Where an earnest quest for the "mark" is not found, conviction of its reality does not exist.
The promise of spiritual harvest is given to those that do not become "weary" in their endeavor to obtain it. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). This simply means that there are inhibitive influences all about us. Satan has not reconciled himself to our salvation. His efforts to thwart it are incessant. The pressing, violent spirit confronts his initiative with vigor. The individual that stretches toward the "mark" refuses to be dissuaded by our adversary!
The reality of the goal stimulates the energetic pursuit of the same. The individual that is convinced of the "prize" will "press" to obtain it. That is the "manner" of the kingdom! Jesus has gained the access to glory for us. He now encourages us to come to it, pressing through every obstacle, and overcoming every hinderance.
How appropriate is the exhortation of Scripture. We all do well to take it seriously. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2).
An unusual degree of effort is required to fulfill this admonition. Laying aside "every weight" and besetting sin cannot be accomplished casually. "Looking unto Jesus" calls for intense concentration. Running the race before us calls for sustained exertion. Laying aside weights and besetting sins requires exertion. Looking unto Jesus demands disciplined concentration. Running the race set before us necessitates consistent exertion. But your efforts will not be in vain. Be encouraged! This is the day of the open heavens. Our Lord Jesus has destroyed the devil, spoiled principalities and powers, and taken away our sins. We have been reconciled to God.
PLEASE VIEW OTHER ARTICLES
MOST RECENT: PRETERIST PRATTLE
THE GOOD WORD OF GOD
ONLY TWO MEN
JESUS, THE GREAT SHEPHERD
THE POSITION OF THE WORD OF GOD IN THE DIVINE ECONOMY
THE DIVINE DESIRE FOR SELF-EXTENSION
INNER CONFLICT CONFIRMS JUSTIFICATION
LAW AND GRACE
THE WORD BECAME FLESH!
SODOMY BEFORE AND UNDER THE LAW
THE PASSING OF THE NATURAL ORDER
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
NEGLECTING SO GREAT SALVATION
WHAT ABOUT THE ETYMOLOGICAL VIEW?
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK
HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE??
THE ROLE OF ISRAEL IN THE LATTER DAYS
WHAT ABOUT MIRACLES?
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
RAISED TO SIT IN HEAVENLY PLACES
THE SPIRIT POURED OUT ON US ABUNDANTLY
WHAT ABOUT ABORTION
WHAT ABOUT CREMATION?
406 S, Sergeant St
Joplin, MO 64801
E-mail your comments to: GivenB@aol.com Web Page by: Solid Web Page Creations | <urn:uuid:acb14060-05ca-4046-9786-19bafdedab4e> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://wotruth.com/ARTICLES/article15.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988720468.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183840-00488-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966039 | 5,722 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Pakistani-American Researcher Sarah Khan On Her Photo-Exhibition On Indian Farmers & Spice Porters
- IWB Post
- December 21, 2018
On a sweltering Sunday in June a few years ago, Sarah K Khan was invited to a simple Rajasthani breakfast of masoor dal, fresh-made chapatis and a mound of hot rice covered in powdered jaggery. The little feast had been made by a young man who works as a spice porter on weekdays at Gadodia Market, Asia’s largest spice market located in Khari Baoli in Old Delhi, and along with other spice porters who live and work in Gadodia Market, spends his weeks carrying heavy loads for spice-trading companies.
A Pakistani-American researcher exploring food, culture, migration and sustainability, Sarah has been photographing the market since her first visit to India in 2001, and documenting the lives of the porters in portraits has been a long-term project for her. Most tourists would come, walk around, look at the views, and take photos from a distance of the men labouring. But Sarah was no ordinary tourist, she kept showing up and gradually the porters became more open to her. And one day a porter said to her, “if you want to spend time come on a Sunday, when we rest. It is easier to interact.”
Sarah’s father’s family lived in Old Delhi, and the stories she heard growing up was one of her major draws to the city. “The source of flavour and taste, this center of spices in Delhi motivated me as did knowing that my father and his family walked these same streets before Partition,” said Khan in an interview with Scroll.
Though photographing the market for almost 17 years now, it was in 2014-15 that she really got to know some of the porters. “A large majority of them come from farming background,” she said. “These men become the designated family member to travel to the city to bring in some cash while the rest stay behind and tend to their farms. The reasons for migrations are many and Old Delhi and Khari Baoli overflow with much migrant diversity. I wanted to highlight that most migrants anywhere work hard to make a living with dignity, and I wanted to capture them as individuals with vibrant personalities.”
Back in Old Delhi, documenting the lives of the spice porters, returning photos, and privileged to take more. Morning scene before the mad mad rush. Those with the least always give the most.
15 Likes, 2 Comments – Sarah K Khan (@sarahkkhan) on Instagram: “Back in Old Delhi, documenting the lives of the spice porters, returning photos, and privileged to…”
The images that she captured in this Delhi market, alongside the ones taken during her research meeting and speaking with many women farmers, found their way into a solo exhibition titled In/Visible: Portraits of Farmers and Spice Porters of India at New York University’s Kimmel Windows Gallery.
The exhibit will be up 24/7, all summer. “In/Visible: Portraits of Farmers and Spice Porters, India” Photography Exhibition by @sarahkkhan to Debut at NYU’s Kimmel Windows Galleries, Jun 7 – Sep 7, 2018 https://t.co/yPIAFyyLJV
None of the images show the men toiling or as beasts of burden. Instead the portraits reveal them striking a pose in their best. “For many of them it was their quiet time. They would be hennaing their hair, shaving, cooking. A lot of them were resting or talking on the phone to their families. Many would see my camera and request me to take their photographs. I photographed them as they preferred, as they wanted to be seen.”
“There was one young porter, who called me ‘didi’, who was so eager to be photographed that he planned the location, background and his serious gaze back at the camera. He struck different poses, and angles, fussed with his collar and took it very seriously. He would then take me to other porters, to their shops and godowns where they rested. The younger porters spent time getting ready, while other porters did not want to talk about where they were from, or their backgrounds. Instead they wanted me to take several photos of them in different poses with their friends close by,” she further recollected.
But also in the exhibition are portraits of women whom Sarah met while researching and documenting the lives of women farmers as part of the Fulbright Scholar Programme. “There are 95 million women farmers in India. Their informal labour and their extraordinary contributions are undervalued. They are encyclopedias of information and ecological knowledge about a specific place. The women I engaged with are seed savers, growers of crops, foragers, hunters and food processors, and culinary experts. I worked with Mirasi caste singers in Rajasthan, Siddi women farmers in Karnataka, women rice farmers in Nagaland, Adivasis in Telangana, millet processors in Andhra, and women street vendors in Delhi. All of them struck a chord with me.”
Another day with these beauties. The Mirasi caste singers, poets, storytellers and main carriers of every conceivable type of cultural knowledge. Making invisible lives visible in partnership with those who have been doing it for decades! @thedesertmuseumjodhpur
18 Likes, 3 Comments – Sarah K Khan (@sarahkkhan) on Instagram: “Another day with these beauties. The Mirasi caste singers, poets, storytellers and main carriers of…”
Just as her other projects, the central theme for this project, too, remains the strength of these women outside of their work as farmers and as resilient working individuals.
H/T: The Scroll | <urn:uuid:cb7dcc41-dfc5-43fe-8932-2faafd1fd67d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.indianwomenblog.org/pakistani-american-researcher-sarah-khan-on-her-photo-exhibition-on-indian-farmers-spice-porters/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570977.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809124724-20220809154724-00476.warc.gz | en | 0.972234 | 1,252 | 2.109375 | 2 |
In the grave new world of “male,” “female,” and fifty other Facebook “gender-identity” categories purportedly describing everything in between, maybe it’s time to ask once more, for context: Just what is sexual orientation?
For example, here I am, a man married for a quarter-century (yes, to a woman, just to be clear); we have eleven children. That should make me “straight,” right? But am I “straight” enough? Set aside the dizzying rabbit-hole of sexual identity for the moment. In contrast, it seems the only thing secular culture wants to consider regarding sexual attraction is whether I’m sexually attracted to men (I’m gay), women (I’m straight), or both (I’m bisexual). So, yes, I’m sexually attracted to some women, certainly, but not all women. This makes me “straight”?
If we can have fifty-something flavors of gender identity, why not more than the three categories describing sexual orientation? Shouldn’t the “orientation” label include the reasons why I’m attracted to some women but not all women? For example, I’m attracted to brunette women rather than blondes. Other preferences come to mind—a certain body type, a certain facial profile, a certain way of speaking, a certain sense of humor. Am I merely a “heterosexual” or am I really a “body-mass-index-specific, facio-centric, voco-determinative, humor-dependent brunette-erosexual”? Can “straight” adequately describe my “real” sexual orientation?
Here is the problem: sexual orientation is merely a calculation derived from collecting data—data about our experience of sexual attraction toward other persons considered over a certain period of time.
To be clear, sexual attraction is supposed to be at the service of love (or the communion of persons), but it is not love itself—it’s an impulse or desire that we experience without willing it. Rather, we must respond to the impulse through the use of our intellect and will. Thus, sexual attraction is designed to lead to us loving a real human person.
This also means that sexual “orientation”—being an impersonal collection of information about sexual attraction—is not only farther removed from “love” than is sexual attraction, but it’s also a more clearly “reductive” or “impoverished” category because it actually removes the value of the human person by focusing squarely on the sexual “values” of a person and not the person himself. It’s an abstraction that treats the human person as an object, which we are not supposed to do.
At least my above “brunette-erosexual orientation” is less reductive than “straight” because it begins to point to “this” particular woman rather than simply “a” woman. Even so, sexual attraction does not exist so that we can objectify other persons by analyzing them to see whether I find their sexual values attractive or not. The “poverty” of sexual orientation is that it ultimately distracts us from treating persons as persons.
Sex Drive and the “Test-Drive”
Let’s use a fairly simple analogy to put this in perspective. Every time we experience an impulse of sexual attraction, it’s like we’ve been suddenly whisked away unwillingly and placed in the driver’s seat of a car that we can “test-drive”—the car is already running, but it’s in “park” and not “drive” (to put it in “drive” we have to choose or will to do so).
So, look around—what is it about this car that appeals to you? Should you actually drive the car or leave it in “park” and get out of the driver’s seat? You have to decide what to do next.
That’s how sexual attraction works: we experience it and then must choose what to do next with it. Every time. After enough “test-drive” opportunities, looking around to see how this or that car appeals to us, we even begin to collect enough data to create a “blueprint” that illustrates the kind of vehicle we always seem to end up sitting in. Each time we’re “whisked away,” there seems to be a pattern—the car’s always blue, it always has tilt-steering, power brakes, etc.
The generic car “blueprint” is like sexual orientation. It collects the data on all the cars, so you begin to have some sense of expectation as to what car you’ll end up in during each potential test-drive. Yet, the truth is that it’s not the blueprint that’s important or even essential—you can’t test-drive a blueprint. You can only test-drive a real car.
In other words, what’s “real” is sexual attraction (each car itself), not sexual orientation (the abstract blueprint that describes a collection of cars).
But this car analogy can take us further. During each test-drive (each experience of sexual desire), we have to decide first whether to put the already-running car in gear and take it somewhere. The problem is that not all destinations are equally safe. Where will this particular sexual attraction take us if we choose to put it in gear? Will it be a dead-end street, like pornography? Will it be a hit-and-run, like adultery or fornication? Or, will this test-drive in an attractive car also take us to the destination we desire—the experience of real love with a real person?
When we make the right choice, our sexual attraction, like the attractive car, can be the vehicle that transports us to a loving communion of persons. That’s what it’s meant to do. But, once this happens, something else unexpected happens to our magical “test-drives”—more and more, we only want to test-drive the car that brings us to our beloved, our spouse. Sure, sexual attraction often whisks us away—even when we’re married for 40 years—and tempts us with different “test-drives,” but only one car now takes us where we really should be going. So we leave those other running motors in “park” and get out of those driver’s seats, waiting for the one car.
True “Orientation Change”
Having said all this, here’s the real hinge upon which this analogy turns, and upon which we can vividly see the bankruptcy of sexual orientation when compared to sexual attraction.
Once we’ve found the one car (real spousal love), the sexual orientation “blueprint” remains not only “unreal” but it also gradually becomes increasingly inaccurate. In fact, with the passing of time, what we had once carefully put in our automotive blueprint (the data collected from our experience of sexual-attraction “test-drives”) no longer describes the vehicle we’re driving. We’re driving the one car—not the blueprint—and like all cars, they change with time. All those blueprint features of the appealing souped-up roadster of yesteryear begin showing their mileage.
Backing out of the analogy, in real terms, the blueprint of sexual orientation no longer “fits” the lived experience of sexual attraction one feels toward one’s spouse once time has changed the hair color from dark to gray, the body type from thin to not-so-thin, etc. For the longtime married couple, the sexual attraction that led to a loving spousal communion of persons so long ago can now be seen in its proper light. Rather than being sexually attracted to some generic-blueprint “her” because of certain youthful or pristine sexual values, the husband of 50 years remains sexually attracted to his wife of 50 years precisely because her uniquely personal sexual values belong only to her, the beloved—not because they still match some 50-year-old blueprint.
Simply put, sexual orientation is a concept that loses all of its meaning once sexual attraction actually does its intended job. Once you willingly subordinate each and every experience of sexual attraction to your love for your spouse, your “orientation” shifts to a specific one, not an abstract group. If you want to call something “orientation change,” this is it.
My sexual “orientation,” therefore, really isn’t “straight” or even “brunette-erosexual.” My real orientation actually is a unique person and has a name: so, in case you’re curious, my orientation is named “Sue.”
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Shutterstock.) | <urn:uuid:cefa98d3-9038-48e9-9635-fb563ceb39b2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/the-poverty-of-sexual-orientation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00052-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934702 | 1,936 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Why is Wind speed in hurricanes so wrong?
You are absolutely right!
Windy is the best "tool" for visualization of weather models and the only one that provides, for free, data from the ECMWF. Unfortunately some people cannot distinguish model data (forecasted values) from real measurments (observations). And some others even expect to have forecast radar images !!! ignoring that radar "can see" only what happens now ... forecast models "visualize" the future (with all the inaccuracies that include).
P.S. sorry for my poor english
If someone wants to compare actual wind measurements with model's outputs:
Here can find ocean wind measurements from scatterometer (satellite instrument)
@Siff , it is mentioned in the about section. It says the site uses three weather models. i don't see why you feel they need to spell out the things they do not use.
@georgewells , news agencies are most likely getting their data from the National Hurricane Center, who are in turn getting their wind speed data by flying an airplane into the storm. This website relies on a few standard models to present it's graphics, not actual observations.
Siff mentioned that he had been comparing weather station data to Windy's reported surface winds and they agreed. I too have been doing this following Irma (I live in Orlando). I went to weather channel or other local weather data for a location and compared it to Windy and they did seem to be very close (for wind speed). Weather stations measure the actual wind speed from instruments that are 10m off the ground (http://www.wral.com/weather/blogpost/1283652/). I would assume that the reported hurricane wind speeds are measured the same way, but I agree that there’s a big disparity between the reported speed and Windy’s speed. Another very similar site, www.ventusky.com, has the same disparity.
I don't care about the politics for sure. I also think this is a great graphic to indicate what's happening and going to happen. Whether there is some error in the system of 20 or 40 %, it's a great way to show laymen some technical information that isn't a bunch of stuff that only engineers, meteorologists, or geniuses can comprehend. GREAT JOB
AnemoiVenti last edited by
Windy needs to get the Winds right... kind of a poetic necessity. :)
I agree with many that that the wind data sets (wind & wind gusts) are are not easy to nail at all - let alone consistently. But I truly believe it needs to be mastered over time... especially in the angry weather world we have brought ourselves.
I think Ventusky is making a good effort here (though not sure on data accuracy audits re wind).
When Cat5 Matthew rolled thru Florida last year - the wind data projections were wildly off the further out from the storm centers.. useless actually.
When I looked that the micro-local Dark Sky wind speed projections... they were spot on.
I think that (in the end) there needs to be a artful balance between macro and micro data. That said: when you are in a storm - most want to know what is going to happen to me where I am... and those we love.
Master the winds... Windy!
Stay safe everyone....
Windy states very clearly that winds are arrived at using all relative, applicable and resourceful data and they are defined. The arrows represent wind velocity, (relative speed and direction), within a certain volume suspended above the surface. There may be a billion directions and speeds in that volume, but the one chosen represents the speed and direction expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, in particular the mode, median, or, (most commonly), the mean.****
IMO windy is a great tool-very discerning engineering.
Mike Boyle last edited by
Steve, this is great and I thank you (I live in Florida)
A better work around is take the measurement at 100 meters or 500 meters.
This is a compromise of sorts.
This is a worthwhile project and may save many lives here.
I am reposting on Facebook with some editing. all the tool bars and are can be distracting. I wish you could do false colour white green and blue.
Mike Boyle last edited by
ralphthemagician last edited by
@Siff I get what you're saying, but you can't really compare this to the general media. Modern entertainment journalism just makes stuff up. They don't care. Their information comes from the aether. They just want you to keep watching through the commercials to the next segment. They'd say the winds are made of explosive gas and are gusting at Mach 2.5 if it was believable.
Please at least post a notice of wind info not being related to actual real time experience. I used this to track storm as my daughter and crewof S/Y Ocean Star are stranded in Tortola. I was am so confused and it absolutely added to all the stress!!! Did not know what info to trust.
Finally realized the tracking portion is the only real time data that is helpful . All that other effort to post data is USELESS if it is not actual experience in real time.
I am amazed at the accuracy of Windy hurricane 'forecasts'. OK the max wind speed is off, but you can tell the severity of the storm by its size and color bands. I kept some screen grabs captured last week using the european model and noticed Windy 'forecast' for Irma was spot on (going up west coast of Florida starting Sunday 10 Sept). I now am looking at forecast of Jose for Sept 18 ....wow a monster off the USA east coast and yet another hurricane forming at 20N 40W (while the GFS model does not show this at all). FABULOUS TOOL, CONGRATULATIONS!
@Siff The explanation makes perfect sense from a data science perspective. The grid is aggregating data...it is a window function. The simplest example is an average (rectangular window function). Take the average of 10, 10, 20, & 80. The average is 30. Clearly, 80 was included, but the output (30). When the OP says that it "smoothes" away extremal data, they literally mean smooth:
That said, there are better methods that can preserve extremal measurements. These are called "High Resolution Schemes" or "Total Variation Diminishing" methods:
These let you recover data like this:
The challenge with using these for weather is scale and computing power.
Stay safe out there!
Ricky_Lightning last edited by
@Siff The sources that are providing the data sets for the likes of windy.com, has been proven to be selective in what data they distribute. For example the reporting of Earthquakes - Dutchsinse (A YouTuber who operates a channel warning various parts of the world of any imminent earthquake related threats) regularly demonstrates examples of earthquakes being reported on other nations websites, (other meaning non-US) but not by the USGS. This is a regular occurrence. Ergo if the source is unreliable why bother using its data?
@Ricky_Lightning See my post, this is not a "data withholding" problem. It's math. There are only so many ways to aggregate a bunch of measurements into one while preserving the character of the data.
Ricky_Lightning last edited by
@meteo-GR what would be the point in comparing the two as you've suggested? The source of the data in both examples, is from the same source.
Ottavs last edited by
Why are the rain and wind scales not high enough for purposes in hurricanes and unusual weather?
@Ottavs Because it is showing averages, not peak measurements. | <urn:uuid:2deb7f90-229a-49d6-b66f-f318863a66d8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://community.windy.com/topic/4415/why-is-wind-speed-in-hurricanes-so-wrong/27?lang=en-US | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572127.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815024523-20220815054523-00277.warc.gz | en | 0.940879 | 1,779 | 2.515625 | 3 |
This could be mucus from nose and throat.Actually mucus drips from nose into throat and gets collected there then in morning or after getting up you feel to clear it,and in hawking the mucosa gets injured and bleeds.
Take these medicines-
Tab. Mucinac 600 once daily
Tab. Ebastine/Loratidine +Phenylephereine /pseudoephedrine
nose drops 2 drops both nostril 2 times a day for 5 days only
Physiomer normal saline nasal spray
2 puffs both nostril 2 times a day
follow up after 5 days. | <urn:uuid:c2a3280b-b95b-4fd7-bfb1-c4321b02668e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.healthcaremagic.com/questions/Sore-throat-headache-and-sinus-pressure-Thick-yellow-mucus-and-flesh-and-blood-while-clearing-throat-What-is-it/397877 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282202.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00551-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.763056 | 131 | 1.523438 | 2 |
About Luther Allison
Many people in various music circles consider Luther Allison (1939-1997) to be the Jimi Hendrix of the blues. Allison took a Chicago Blues skeletal frame and added his own interpretive embellishments of soul, reggae, jazz, funk and rock. Like Hendrix, Allison would lose himself in guitar mantras and often jam his shows out for up to four hours. In his youth, he was the second youngest of fifteen kids living in a house on the cotton fields of Widener, Arkansas. Allison played the organ in church and sang Gospel as a child. He grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry and B.B. King on his father's radio, which inspired him to hang out in blues clubs during his teenage years. He befriended Charles Waters (son of Muddy) when he was eighteen. Before long, this friendship lead to a priceless musical education; Allison was soon sitting in with Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and Howlin' Wolf. | <urn:uuid:563dd9e7-c229-4ed7-8633-8e0a4117ca26> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://us.napster.com/artist/luther-allison?from=rhapsody | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285315.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00575-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980429 | 205 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Wayne Schmidt's Egg McMuffin Page Their history and how to make the best Egg McMuffins in the world.
It may seem odd to list the making of Egg McMuffins under the Hobbies section of my website, much less devoting a separate page to it. After all, Egg McMuffins are simply an egg-based breakfast sandwich. The answer is that for more years than I care to count I've slowly developed a recipe and cooking techniques to create what I believe is the best Egg McMuffin in the world. With so much time and effort invested, not to count a few extra inches to my waistline, I felt this noble meal deserved its own page.
Before getting into the recipe a little historical perspective will help increase appreciation for this humble-seeming dish.
Egg McMuffin History:
Egg McMuffins began 110 years ago with the creation of Eggs Benedict. Two stories have equal credence for the origin of this Egg McMuffin precursor:
1. In 1893 (or the 1860s or 1880s depending on the reference) Mrs. Legrand Benedict was lunching in the world-famous restaurant Delmonico's in New York when she asked the chef, Charles Ranhoffer, to come up with something new. His response was toast topped with ham, a poached egg and topped Hollandaise sauce (beaten egg yolks cooked and thickened with hot drawn butter and flavored with lemon juice and sometimes paprika or other spices.) The dish caught on with the patrons and became a regular offering. The recipe was included in chef Ranhoffer's 1894 cookbook The Epicurean and was called Eufa a' la Benedict or Eggs a' la Benedict.
2. One morning in 1894, the New York banker Lemuel Benedict was suffering from a hangover. Entering the Waldorf Hotel's restaurant looking for a cure, he directed the chef, Oscar Tschirky, to place two poached eggs and crisp bacon on some buttered toast and top it with Hollandaise sauce. The dish became a favorite and over time chef Tschirky changed the recipe to use Canadian Bacon and English muffins.
Over the years various family members related to either Mrs. Benedict or Lemuel Benedict, and several food historians, have offered evidence that one or the other is the true origin. To date the weight of evidence is equal for both arguments.
(A third story with little historical support is that Eggs Benedict was invented at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans.)
From the 1890s to 1970 Eggs Benedict remained in their original form and were featured as high-end breakfasts in better restaurants. Then everything changed.
In 1971 Mr. Herb Peterson, owner of a San Diego-based McDonald's franchise, called Ray Kroc, president of McDonald's, and told him he'd invented an new breakfast offering that he wouldn't believe. Mr. Peterson refused to describe the dish until Mr. Kroc could taste it in person. They got together and Peterson served him a sandwich consisting of a sliced and buttered English muffin filled with a hard-cooked egg, a slice of Canadian bacon and a piece of American cheese. Kroc must have liked it because in that same year McDonald's began test marketing its new breakfast sandwich, named an Egg McMuffin. The test was successful and in 1973 it was offered through all McDonald's franchises. Egg McMuffins quickly became one of the most popular sandwiches sold and were immediately copied by virtually every fast-food business in the world.
Interesting Trivia: April 16 is national Eggs Benedict Day.
My Thoughts about Egg McMuffins:
I was hooked on Egg McMuffins with the first bite. The combination of bread, eggs, bacon and cheese satisfied me better than anything else. While gourmets across the world lamented at reducing the elegance of Eggs Benedict to fast-food fare, I believed the American cheese was a distinct textural and flavor improvement over the traditional Hollandaise sauce.
(Note: although the original Egg McMuffin was superb, I have compared similar offerings from all the fast-food franchises and have come to believe that Jack-in-the-Box's Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich (without the mayonnaise) is the heartiest and most flavorful rendition of this meal.)
As good as these sandwiches were, after a few years I began wondering if they couldn't be improved. So began the saga of the development of the Egg McMuffin recipe that follows.
I wanted to increase the flavor of the sandwich and the creaminess of its texture. To do this I decided to take a step backward to the original Eggs Benedict and serve the sandwich open-faced with the eggs fried so that the flavorful yolks were cooked but still a creamy liquid. In this way they become the sauce for the meal. This worked great but one yolk wasn't quite enough sauce for one sandwich so I increased it to two yolks. I kept the American cheese but instead of toasting the English muffin, which made it too crunchy for me, only warmed it in a microwave. Finally, one sandwich didn't completely satisfy me so the recipe was increased to two. This created the problem of the meal being too rich so I added two more English muffin halves, one topped with strawberry preserves and the other with grape, to act as palate cleansers. What resulted is a breakfast that so completely satisfies every taste and textural desire that after finishing it I glow for hours.
The recipe is not complicated but does involve careful preparation and timing to insure the egg whites are thoroughly cooked but not tough, the yolks are heated to a thick creamyness but not cooked to dryness and the cheese is melted to perfect smoothness yet not so liquid that it flows off the sandwiches.
My Egg McMuffin Recipe:
The following recipe contains enough cholesterol to clog the
arteries in half of the people in New Jersey.
Proceed at your own risk.
The most important step in this recipe is to have everything prepared before cooking starts. This is because several of the steps have to be timed to within seconds and leaving anything to be done during cooking invariably ends up with something wrong in the resulting meal: usually over-cooked yolks or over-melted cheese.
1. Slice two Thomas' Original English muffins in half. (Use a knife. Fork splitting creates more crannies for butter or margarine to hide in but using that much butter results in greasy Egg McMuffins.) Rub off any cornmeal crumbs from the bottoms and lightly dampen the bottoms with a little water to keep them soft and moist. Lightly butter the tops. Place a 1/8th-inch thick slice of Canadian bacon on the two larges halves. (I prefer the flavor of Jones' Canadian Style Ham. Rosa's is too thin and has an odd rectangular shape.) Spread top-quality strawberry preserves on one of the other halves and grape jelly on the last.
(I prefer the flavor of Knots strawberry preserves and Welch's grape jelly.)
Place all four halves on a large microwavable plate and cover with a microwavable lid to keep them from drying out. Put this in the microwave.
2. Divide the whites and yolks of two eggs, each into four separate bowls.
I found the
best tasting and looking eggs to be Healthy Horizons.
Their chickens are fed a special diet that makes the yolks darker
and more flavorful.
The best way
to separate eggs is to use a large spoon.
Run a finger around the spoon's edge to make sure it
doesn't have sharp burrs that may pierce the yolk.
Separate two more eggs adding one yolk to each of the bowls already containing a yolk. Discard the second pair of whites. Using them makes the final Egg McMuffins too rubbery.
3. Use a 3 and 1/2-inch diameter cookie cutter to cut two pieces of American cheese (I prefer Kraft) into circles. Place the trimmed corners on the circles of cheese to form a hollow. (This will help hold the cheese on the eggs.) Cover the cheese with thin plastic wrap to keep it from drying out but leave it out to warm up to room temperature.
4. Assemble the table setting so you are ready to eat the second the dish is finished.
5. Start warming a non-stick electric griddle with two 3 and 1/2-inch diameter cookie cutters on it. (I use a waffle iron with the plates reversed to the smooth side.) Spray the insides of the cookie cutters while they are on the griddle with non-stick oil, then lift the cutters off and lightly wipe down the griddle. You want an almost invisible layer of oil to prevent even the slightest sticking. (A thick layer will cause the whites to bubble while cooking.) Replace the rings and let the griddle heat up. You want it warm enough so that the whites start cooking as soon as they hit the surface but not so hot that they sizzle and bubble.
6. Warm two oven-safe metal pan lids in an oven set to 170-degrees.
7. Once everything is ready, review the following cooking procedures one last time because once the whites hit the griddle the sequence of cooking is going to be too tight to pause and look up something.
8. Pour the egg whites into the rings. If one ring is smaller than the other, as it will be if they both came from the same set, pour it first, wait 15 seconds then pour the second ring. This gives the smaller but thicker white a little more time to cook through so both whites end up with the same degree of doneness. Cook the whites for one minute.
9. Run a sharp knife around the inside edge of the rings to break the whites loose. Remove the rings.
10. Use a spoon the push some of the uncooked egg white from the middle to the edge of the white. This creates a well to hold the egg yolks. Without doing this the yolks tend to spill off the whites and onto the griddle. Make sure the wells are large enough to hold two yolks.
11. Cook the whites 45-seconds more.
12. Carefully pour two yolks into the well of each white. Cover with the pan lids that have been warmed in the oven and cook for 1 minute. (Not separating the eggs and cooking the yolks and whites together invariably results in the yolks getting over cooked.)
13. Remove the English muffin halves that have jelly on them and warm the halves with the Canadian bacon in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Return the jellied halves and warm for another 40 seconds. (Keep them covered so they don't dry out during warming. Also, the exact times for warming may vary depending on the microwave's power. Finally, if all four halves are warmed for the same time the jellies will get so hot they'll boil and dissolve into the muffins.)
14. After one minute of cooking, remove the covers from the eggs and careful place one of the cheese circles on each one. Do not cover because this will cause the cheese to melt too fast.
15. Immediately turn around and take the warmed English muffins out of the microwave. (They should just be finishing.) Carry the plate to the eggs and using a pancake turner, gently scoop up the eggs and place one each on top of a muffin half that has the Canadian bacon.
At this point the cheese should just be starting to turn smooth and shiny without melting to a liquid. Be careful to keep the egg as level as possible or the cheese may flow off to one side. By the time you move to the table for eating the heat in the eggs should finish the job of softening but not melting the cheese.
16. Transfer the plate to the table setting, gently slice off a bite and eat. Ahhh... life is good.
Cut the Egg McMuffins with small snips using a sharp thin knife. The cheese is slightly sticky and trying to cut an entire Egg McMuffin in half in a single motion is likely to cause the cheese to stick to the blade and get dragged off.
The yolks should be cooked to a creamy consistency without being dry. After the first cut they should flow out onto the plate. Dip each bite in the yolk to act as sauce.
Eat slowly to savor each bite.
After finishing the first Egg McMuffin, eat one of the jellied muffins to act as a palate cleanser. Eating both muffins at once gets to be too much of a good thing. I usually prefer the grape-jellied muffin between the two Egg McMuffins so I can finish with the strawberry.
I've tried many different drinks with this meal and have decided that the best option is to not drink anything during or after the meal. Doing so dilutes and dissipates the meal's rich flavor. Rather, I sip light tea while preparing and cooking the Egg McMuffins to satisfy any thirst ahead of time.
I admit that this meal is closer to the original Eggs Benedict than Egg McMuffins. Yet I retain the fast-food name because that was the seed from which this meal grew. I sincerely hope you enjoy this breakfast, or at least found this page entertaining.
(Click on main site to browse 70 other topics ranging from exotic kaleidoscope designs to the strange world of lucid dreaming. There you will also find several other pages dealing with chocolate.) | <urn:uuid:9c19dfb5-5ad1-4cd1-85ed-0ba48250907f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://waynesthisandthat.com/eggmcmuffin.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279650.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00431-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95351 | 2,819 | 1.640625 | 2 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Federal and state agencies broke ground today on a project that will become the single largest floodplain salmon rearing habitat restoration in California history. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are partnering on the “Big Notch Project,” a 30,000-acre floodplain habitat restoration and fish passage project in the Yolo Bypass in Yolo County.
The project will expand floodplain rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and improve access through the bypass for salmon and sturgeon, which is pivotal to the recovery of these threatened and endangered fish species.
“As California experiences a third year of dry conditions, the State and its federal partners are committed to supporting wildlife during this extended drought,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This project is part of a decades-long plan that has been recognized as critical for the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon.”
“Big Notch is a pivotal project for ongoing operations of the water projects that are critical to the State,” said Ernest Conant, California-Great Basin Regional Director for Reclamation. “Big Notch is an example of the collaboration it takes to implement a complex and expensive project, and everyone came together to make it happen.”
The Big Notch Project is located in the Fremont Weir State Wildlife Area in Yolo County. Part of the project includes the removal of a section of the Fremont Weir, the installation of three gates, the excavation of 180,000 cubic yards to carve a new path for salmon, and construction of a control building and pedestrian bridge.
When the project is finished in late 2023, the gated passage, or notch, will be opened when the Sacramento River is high enough to flow into the Yolo Bypass floodplain. The water will enter the bypass through the notch at Fremont Weir and create shallow-water habitat for fish to easily migrate through the area. Juvenile salmon will be able to feed in a food-rich area for a longer time, allowing them to grow more rapidly in size, improving their chances of survival as they travel to the Pacific Ocean. Adult salmon and sturgeon will benefit from improvements that will reduce stranding and migratory delays due to passage barriers.
The Big Notch Project is being implemented in conjunction with the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project. The State Water Project provides water to 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland, and businesses throughout the state. The Central Valley Project provides an annual average of 5 million acre-feet of water for farms, 600,000 acre-feet of water for municipal and industrial uses, water for wildlife refuges, and reduces Central Valley flood risk.
For more information about the Big Notch Project, visit:
Sabrina Washington, Information Officer, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources
916-820-7664 | email@example.com
Gary Pitzer, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
916-223-5137 | firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:5a8a18fe-2847-495b-9e50-a8d7974ccbfa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2022/June-22/Groundbreaking-Marks-Largest-Floodplain-Salmon-Rearing-Habitat-Project-in-California-History | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573104.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817183340-20220817213340-00479.warc.gz | en | 0.918759 | 659 | 2.59375 | 3 |
"it just feels like a chore to read these sections"
For me, I typically find it a chore to read long stretches of lengthy description. The key for writing a chapter like you mentioned is dialogue. Chapters without much dialogue tend to be boring. Obviously this is not always the case, but dialogue definitely speeds things up and engages the reader. I once read that dialogue is the sugar of writing. To keep your reader interested, you have to give them a little sugar every once in a while.
The problem with chapters where your MC is alone is that he doesn't have anyone to converse with (besides himself, but that's not a proper conversation). I find that when I write chapters with little to no dialogue I worry about readers finding it engaging.
A few things you could do to make up for the lack of dialogue:
- Include lots of action. Make things happen to keep the reader interested. A brawl outside his prison cell. A fistfight. Someone trying to escape, maybe attacking a guard. These bits of action will hook your reader into a chapter that might otherwise be dull.
- Interesting internal monologue. Try to make his thoughts thought-provoking and interesting to the reader. Avoid repetitive thoughts and try not to make his thought process unrealistic or too dismal. If he's sitting in a prison cell all depressed with thoughts like "I'm never getting out of here" or "I hate it here, I hate myself, etc." then you will quickly lose the reader.
- Don't clutter. What I mean by this is don't include unnecessary description or words just to fill up a page, especially in a chapter that you are already concerned about being boring. Make it sharp and concise and not too wordy.
- Add dialogue. Even if the guy is in a prison cell alone, you can try to include dialogue to sweeten it up and keep the reader going. Can he hear other inmates talking? Are they planning an escape? Does a guard say anything when he walks by his cell? What about when the MC eats lunch? You could have him talk to the other prisoners in the lunchroom. Or he can even talk to himself, just make sure to keep it realistic.
If the chapter is later in the book where your reader is already attached to the characters and immersed in the story, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Especially if you know it moves the story forward and develops the character. As long as it's not boring the reader will stick through a couple chapters even if there is minimal dialogue.
As for your subquestion, I read Cinder and the rest of The Lunar Chronicles a few weeks ago and she has a few prison scenes which are all very interesting. I haven't read a single chapter by that woman that isn't completely captivating. Marissa Meyer does a fabulous job with balance character devlopment and plot. Anyway, I highly recommend checking out her scenes where the MC is stuck in a prison cell.
There were many interesting elements in her writing that kept the prison scene engaging, but here are a few:
- The MC is a cyborg and has an interface inside her mind (so she can look things up on the internet while she's in the cell and see what's going on in the outside world).
- A few different people come to visit her (one of them brings her a gift which she later uses to escape).
- The MC's internal monologue is not overdone and I think that's one of the things I really like about it. It isn't thought-based, but rather the chapters are pushed forward by actions and events.
- The prison scene doesn't last too long (not more than a chapter or two) and she ends up escaping. The escape was a whole chapter by itself and while I could see how it could have been boring, Marissa Meyer made sure to steer clear of any boringness!
A good author knows how to couple up character development with plot to make scenes that engage the reader in both ways at once. This makes for a really powerful scene. If say, for instance, a main character betrays everyone else in a scene that is followed by a toe-curling fight (or some other action scene; maybe someone dying). It makes the scene very intense in a lot of ways and gives it a lot of depth.
EDIT: I see your note about not having any other prisoners. I think you could still make do with the scene. If you have a lot of interesting elements, I wouldn't fret. As long as it's interesting you won't have a problem. The MC can still converse with the guards perhaps. My advice is to try to keep the chapters of the MC by himself as short as possible. Include all the interesting elements and essential things you need for character development, but scrap the unnecessary description or boring monologue. Good luck.
One element you could try is having one of the guards slip him a note. Maybe the guard is somehow related to one of the MC's friends. The note could say anything. Are they trying as hard as they can to get him out? Are they informing him of what's happening in the outside world? You could do a few cool things with this concept.
One more note: You can add flashbacks while he's in the prison cell. That way, the reader gets some dialogue and a bit of the character's past. A nice tactic. With all that free time in the cell, he is bound to reminisce on his past at some point. Why not give the reader some of that to keep the prison chapters from being too dull? | <urn:uuid:b62f2818-6fc8-461e-8ae3-130ea90fe819> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/21075/how-to-write-a-good-prison-scene/21079 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572408.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816151008-20220816181008-00676.warc.gz | en | 0.979027 | 1,153 | 1.6875 | 2 |
The other night, I sat alone in my dorm room streaming the Ultimate Fighting Championship and watched Holly Holm best Ronda Rousey, which Kelefa Sanneh wrote about for the Web site (“Ronda Rousey, Routed”). Unlike most eighteen-year-old girls, I have been in martial arts since the age of four. After nearly eleven years of Tae Kwon Do, five years of kickboxing, and the occasional jujitsu and Muay Thai lesson, I knew who Rousey was long before Beyoncé ever sampled her at a concert. I was devastated when I saw her out cold on the floor. Despite her trash talking, despite the tiff at the weigh-in, despite her not having touched Holm’s gloves, despite the fact that my fighting style is more similar to Holm’s, I was crushed. Holm, a world boxing champ many times over, seems to be great, wholesome, and humble; she exudes sportsmanship and on paper is an ideal athletic role model. But I did not want her to win. Why? She didn’t make the breakthroughs that Rousey had. I wanted Rousey to keep going, to keep proving why female athletes deserve the spotlight. I was never celebrated for achieving the same athletic feats as my male counterparts in school. I felt I couldn’t be as feminine as I wanted to be because people knew I could knock them out. Now Rousey is a sex symbol, and so much more. I was finally able to sleep, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, because although Rousey won’t retire undefeated, no one will be able to take back all that she has done for me and others who relate.
Jill Lepore’s article touches on a number of topics relating to public-opinion polling, but does not cover enough of the backstory (“Politics and the New Machine,” November 16th). The reference to Americans’ increasing use of cell phones doesn’t mention that most researchers are successfully integrating cell-phone interviews into their sample designs. The critique of the role that polling plays in a representative democracy does not give sufficient credit to public opinion as a matter of philosophic debate. A reader interested in delving into the subject might begin by reading “Polling and Democracy,” a report by the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s task force on public opinion and leadership. The association is the country’s largest and oldest organization for special reports, journal articles, task forces, and conference programs dealing with issues relating to cell-phone interviewing, changing response rates, attitudes, election polling, and non-probability sampling using the Internet.
Lepore describes the committee that, in 1948, was tasked by the Social Science Research Council to investigate “polling’s most notorious failure”—the prediction that Dewey would beat Truman. She writes that the resulting report found that the problem was due, in part, to quota sampling, but the committee did not place most of the blame there; it noted that replacing quotas with probablility sampling would allow researchers to estimate sampling error. The Mosteller report, as it is called, stated that “the pollsters overreached the capabilities” and “they had been led by false assumptions into believing their methods were much more accurate than in fact they are.” The explanation offered by pollsters was that, convinced they knew the outcome, they had stopped polling too early and missed a shift to Truman. That particular mistake won’t be made again, but, with respect to the overall conclusions of the report, little has changed. | <urn:uuid:4582f9af-948f-4766-8203-87e0c5582edb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/07/the-mail-from-the-december-7-issue | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571745.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812170436-20220812200436-00467.warc.gz | en | 0.970956 | 815 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The world’s media has moved on but people in Sierra Leone are still living with the consequences of the most deadly outbreak of Ebola in history. This photo gallery by Hazel Healy provides a glimpse into how they are coping, two years on.
Featured stories from New Internationalist.
Page 8 of 10
UN peacekeeping is big business, but is it achieving its aims? asks Louisa Waugh.
Chris Brazier interviews Elleke Boehmer, Professor of World Literature in English at Oxford University.
Filed in: Fiction and
Seven years after the end of the civil war, Jo Eckersley and Ashwin Hemmathagama assess Sri Lanka’s progress.
Filed in: Sri Lanka
‘Libya needs to start again from scratch’: Interview with the President of the Amazigh Supreme Council
Khaire Elhamesi, the elected chair of Libya’s Amazigh representative body, explains to Karlos Zurutuza how to cope with the ongoing turmoil in the country.
Strange goings-on in the trial of indigenous protesters accused of killing police in Bagua. Roxana Olivera reports from the Peruvian Amazon.
Around the world, trade unions are facing fierce repression. But workers are still uniting to stand up for their rights and, in some cases, winning, from this month’s New Internationalist magazine.
The factory collapse in 2013 caused an international outcry – but have labour conditions improved? Thulsi Narayanasamy reports from Bangladesh.
Labour rights in post-socialist countries such as Russia, China and Vietnam are being fought for from outside, not within, official trade unions. Tim Pringle reports.
On this International Day of Democracy, Iris Gonzales reports on the heavy-handed campaign of the country’s president.
For International Day of Democracy, Iris Gonzales offers snap shots of the country’s corruption, poverty and drug war. | <urn:uuid:1ba22596-2444-4bbf-8dbf-9dd16cb83d20> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://newint.org/features/index7.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279933.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00120-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906739 | 406 | 1.78125 | 2 |
You'll be surprised at how weeds can be used in your garden, says Meg Liptrot.
The extra rain this summer can be seen two ways. It is a blessing for gardeners, there is less need for irrigation, and therefore a cheaper water bill, or a curse because of all the extra weeding.
What constitutes a weed, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. A close friend of mine makes beautiful ink drawings of these often maligned and forgotten-about plants. It can also help to think of a weed as a plant in the wrong place, instead of turning to chemical warfare to deal with the "problem". Synthetic chemicals should be seen as a last resort for dealing with weeds, and it is certainly not an option in an organic garden.
Some weeds are useful indicators of the status of your soil. If your garden has plenty of creeping buttercup, it shows your soil is wet and has poor drainage. Some weeds are rich in certain nutrients. Black nightshade (inkweed), for instance, is full of potassium, and can be composted to increase potash for crops.
If you find you're growing a better crop of weeds than veges this year, don't despair, some weeds can be eaten. Dandelion and chickweed leaves can be added to a salad. Dandelion roots are commercially dried and baked then ground as a coffee substitute. Dogs love to snack on cleavers (biddibid) and it can also can be made into a healthy tea, as can nettle. If eating weeds isn't your thing, chooks will eat chickweed (it grows in the colder months) and they also do a good job clearing out tradescantia (its former common name was "wandering jew").
In home gardens, oxalis and couch (twitch grass) are some of the more annoying weedy perennials. Oxalis is abundant in summer, fortunately dying back as the temperatures cool, but the bulbs remain in the ground, waiting to emerge next summer. Couch grass has underground rhizomes which are relatively dormant in winter, becoming rampant in summer. It is native to temperate Europe, India and surrounding regions. Kikuyu grass is native to Africa. Both have excellent drought-proof qualities and make good turfgrass. They are tenacious when growing in the wrong spot, underneath prickly rose bushes, for example.
Rather than end up with backache and sore knees, the most time-efficient way to deal with these perennial weeds is to cover them. I don't recommend using woven plastic weedmat in border gardens, because the matting is there permanently, and a real nightmare to remove or dig through. Leaf material decomposes into compost on top of weed mat, becoming a perfect spot for windborne weed seeds to take root, defeating the mat's purpose.
I've found the best and cheapest option for weed suppression is to use plain brown unprinted cardboard, and it's a great way to re-use cardboard boxes. When you have collected enough boxes, open them up to a single layer and soak the cardboard for a few minutes in a wheelbarrow filled with water. Then place the cardboard around your garden plants, overlapping the edges. Apply shredded bark mulch 15-20cm thick (available in large quantities for a small price from arborists). Ensure you don't pile up the mulch against the base of woody trunks, as this can kill shrubs and trees. It is also best to use this technique after a heavy rainfall, or in the cooler seasons when the soil is moist.
Now you'll have plenty of time to enjoy your garden, instead of being a slave to the weeds.
Top weed tips
* Prevention is better than cure. Catch weeds before they seed. Always mulch bare soil as weeds need sunlight to germinate. Use spoilt hay as mulch to suppress kikuyu grass around young trees.
* Use a Dutch hoe to skim off weed seedlings on a hot, dry day. Simply disturb the surface to uproot them, the hot sun will do the rest.
* For paving where weeds are tricky to get out, use a Niwashi (Japanese garden tool) or carefully pour salted boiling water over stubborn weeds.
* Keep your lawn longer (adjust the blade on your lawnmower) as longer grass will smother daisies and other broadleaf lawn weeds.
* Got a weedy patch of bush at your place? Target one area at a time. Dig out Kahilli ginger roots and place in a barrel of water. Cover and allow to rot, then apply the resulting gloop back to the soil as fertiliser. For tradescantia, fill up a lightfast bag or container, then allow to rot, too. Add a compost activator to hasten process.
* For more information on dealing with weeds in native bush, contact the Weed Free Trust. Its War on Weeds campaign is on in west Auckland this month. | <urn:uuid:08bf6004-b9dd-4c69-b1ef-037ab2b0d49f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/design-garden/news/article.cfm?c_id=236&objectid=10791521 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00457-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943541 | 1,028 | 2.328125 | 2 |
Mexico is on a nationalistic campaign for energy independence and needs more fuel. To that end, its state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos has struck a deal for full control of a Houston-area refinery it shares with Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
Pemex, as the Mexican explorer is known, made an unsolicited bid for Shell’s 50% stake in the facility in Deer Park, Texas, and agreed to pay $596 million, according to a statement Monday. The transaction will be fully financed by the Mexican government and is scheduled to close during the fourth quarter. Shell will retain control of an adjacent chemical plant.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, needs to fulfill campaign promises to restore the country’s self-sufficiency in energy. He’s risen to power partly through his criticism of free-market economic policies that he says ransacked the country’s oil riches. AMLO has placed Pemex at the heart of Mexico’s energy revival, and has promised no gas price hikes for consumers in the meantime. | <urn:uuid:a4e46f13-5e40-401d-aad5-afa5d8508df2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://earlyjournal.com/mexico-buys-houston-refinery-as-it-pledges-energy-independence/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572221.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816060335-20220816090335-00067.warc.gz | en | 0.967274 | 228 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Immunofluorescence studies reveal that platelet changes induced by adenosine diphosphate and collagen do not include the reorganization of the cytoskeleton in such a way as to expose actin, α-actinin, or vinculin. However, when such platelets were made permeable by saponin, these cytoskeletal proteins were present. In studies with collagen, fluorescence was observed along the fibers at areas of platelet adhesion and where no platelets were seen by phase microscopy. No fluorescence was observed with collagen treated with platelet-poor plasma. Scanning electron microscopy of collagen samples treated with platelet-rich plasma revealed a fibrillar meshwork with single platelets, platelet aggregates, and nodular structures that were smaller in size than individual platelets. These nodular structures may represent remnants of platelets still attached to the collagen after platelet detachment has occurred. These tenacious collagen-platelet membrane-binding sites have associated with them cytoplasmic α-actinin and vinculin, proteins that have been proposed by others to anchor actin filaments to the plasma membrane.
|Original language||English (US)|
|Number of pages||15|
|Journal||The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine|
|State||Published - Apr 1984|
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine | <urn:uuid:74670bfd-5464-4257-af0c-6de66afac1e7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://einstein.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/platelet-cytoskeleton-immunofluorescence-studies-on-adp-and-colla-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.944066 | 322 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Researchers at Oregon State University have made a fundamental advance in understanding xanthohumol – a compound found in hops that’s of significant interest to prevent or treat the lipid and metabolic disorders that are a primary killer of people in the developed world.
The scientists identified for the first time more precisely how xanthohumol works, and why it may have such significant promise in addressing the high cholesterol, blood sugar, obesity and other issues that are collectively referred to as “metabolic syndrome.”
The findings were recently published in BBA – Proteins and Proteomics, a professional journal, by researchers from several OSU departments and the Linus Pauling Institute. The work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.
More than 25 percent of the adults in the United States meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome, putting them at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. That syndrome is defined by diagnosis of three or more of several conditions, including abdominal obesity, elevated lipids, high blood pressure, pro-inflammatory state, a pro-thrombotic state and insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance.
The new research was based on mass spectrometry in combination with a chemical labeling technique. In it, the scientists concluded that several “prenylflavonoids,” particularly xanthohumol, clearly are a ligand, or have a binding mechanism that promotes the activity of the Farnesoid X Receptor, or FXR. FXR, in turn, is a master regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism – in simpler terms, the body’s processing of fats and sugar.
“There’s already interest in targeting FXR as a possible approach to a therapy for fatty liver disease, type2 diabetes and obesity,” said Claudia Maier, a professor of chemistry in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences. “With this work we’ve identified a unique binding mechanism and chemical structure that could make that possible. This is really very interesting, and very promising.”
This new understanding of the FXR receptor at the molecular level, researchers said, could, in theory, facilitate the use of compounds that take advantage of it – such as xanthohumol – or development of other compounds with a similar chemical structure that work even better.
“We now see how these prenylflavonoids are working, and with modification through computational approaches it might be possible to even improve upon that,” said Liping Yang, the lead author on the new study and faculty research assistant in the OSU Department of Chemistry. “The end result might be either supplements or a prescription drug, with the potential to address metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic liver disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.”
The FXR receptor, the scientists said, is a part of normal lipid and glucose metabolism, working in collaboration with appropriate diet, weight, exercise and other healthy activities. However, its function can be eroded by intake of too much fat and sugar. Restoring that function, by contrast, may help address metabolic problems.
In previous research, published earlier this year by OSU scientists Cristobal Miranda and Fred Stevens, scientists studied laboratory animals that were on a high-fat diet. When they were given a high dosage of xanthohumol, it reduced their LDL, or “bad” cholesterol by 80 percent; their insulin level by 42 percent; and their level of IL-6, a biomarker of inflammation, by 78 percent.
Weight gain was also constrained, compared to animals not given xanthohumol. The levels of xanthohumol used in the research far exceeded any amount that could be obtained by normal dietary intake, but could be easily obtained through supplements.
In that study, researchers pointed out that direct health care costs arising from obesity or related disorders account for up to 10 percent of U.S. health care expenditures. | <urn:uuid:586e8852-543e-4f2b-8666-4bf44b27d35e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.teknoscienze.com/scientists-outline-biochemistry-of-xanthohumol-an-avenue-to-treat-metabolic-syndrome/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281151.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00111-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951978 | 816 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Student profile: Lizzie Hunter
Meet Lizzie Hunter, final-year Geography student and Sustainability Officer in the Students’ Union. Tomorrow, Wednesday 22 April, is Earth Day. Lizzie shares her top tips for helping to protect our planet and volunteering opportunities you can do from home.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a final-year human geography student. I decided to run for Sustainability Officer in my final year because I’d been a part of the Students’ Union’s Green Mary sustainability group since coming to Queen Mary, and saw an opportunity to work on various sustainability-related projects while helping to run the group.
Tell us a bit about what the Students’ Union has been doing to support sustainability.
We’ve been really engaged with sustainability this year, thanks to our Executive Officers and Sustainability Coordinator, Tom Stockton. We started the year off in September leading a march down Mile End Road as part of the Global Climate Strike. We’ve also held events such as the Re-use Fair and a clothes swap, helping to reduce waste, and were able to offer volunteering opportunities such as campus gardening and canal clean ups. We have worked with local community groups, such as Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, getting involved with bulb planting in the local parks. The bulbs in Shandy Park opposite the Queens’ Building at Mile End are now in bloom!
The Students’ Union has also created a sustainability action plan for the next year with actions and targets to achieve. This includes reducing waste, improving recycling, engaging students and enabling the student voice. We’ve also passed a student council motion to lobby Queen Mary to declare a climate emergency, and created a board of students from across the University to raise issues relating to sustainability.
Describe your average day/week as the Sustainability Officer.
I often meet with Tom and others within the Students’ Union to help plan upcoming events and campaigns. Fortnightly, I help run Green Mary student group meetings, helping students plan campaigns based on their specific passions.
I also meet with students to talk about what actions Queen Mary should be taking to address the climate crisis and what we can do to lobby change within our University.
I love how different each week is based on what issue we’re working on, and it gives me the opportunity to meet so many lovely people.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s great to be able to work on projects that I am passionate about and I have a lot of flexibility to shape my work to my personal interests. I have a huge interest in sustainable fashion, so it was great to be given the opportunity to run a clothes swap and raise awareness of the impact of fast fashion. I also love that I have been given the opportunity to meet people who share my passion that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
As it’s Earth Day tomorrow, Wednesday 22 April, what top tips would you share with those looking to do something to help protect our planet?
My top three tips would be firstly, to think about the small actions you can take to create collective change, such as eating less meat and buying more secondhand clothing. Secondly, I would say find ways to lobby the government and corporations to take action on issues that are important to you, such as divesting from fossil fuels. As a Queen Mary student, my top tip would be to join Green Mary and help create sustainability based campaigns and events on campus!
What actions can we do from home to support the sustainability agenda during the Coronavirus lockdown?
During the lockdown period, although it’s a lot harder, there are still lots of ways to participate in sustainability campaigns and initiatives. For example on our social media (@qmulsustain),we have been sharing various volunteering opportunities that can be done from home. For example, this week we highlighted the Missing Maps project where from your laptop you can help map areas around the world where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.
What’s your favourite place on any of our campuses?
Regent’s Canal! I have fond memories of spending summer evenings sat by the canal with friends when I lived on campus in first year. A close second is the top floor of the Graduate Centre at Mile End, I love the view and always reminds me why I chose to move to London.
What are you going to do after you finish university?
I still haven’t made a decision about what I would like to do after university. A geography degree is broad and has given me a lot of options. I would like to work in sustainable fashion, or working to make less sustainable fashion more sustainable. I would also love to work for an environmental NGO.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
I have always struggled with this question because I can never narrow it down. A sustainability-themed party would include Lucy Siegle (a great environmental journalist), Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez (the future US president), and David Attenborough (it’s a given). A wildcard would be Freddie Mercury (if they can be dead or alive) because I am secretly a huge Queen fan and he would have some amazing stories. | <urn:uuid:d6ae73c7-cf4c-40f3-8ec0-54ae0e9c884e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://my.qmul.ac.uk/news-and-events/student-and-society-profiles/items/student-profile-lizzie-hunter.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571869.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813021048-20220813051048-00070.warc.gz | en | 0.959532 | 1,098 | 1.828125 | 2 |
President Barack Obama on Thursday launched a new effort to rebuild the nation's long-term economic strength by dramatically increasing exports, as government data showed that the gap between what Americans sell abroad and what they import narrowed unexpectedly in January.
But the trade report also showed that, while imports declined, U.S. exports lost momentum as well, slipping for the first time since last spring.
The mixed signals indicated just how significant the challenge will be to meet the president's goal of doubling exports in five years, which was last accomplished in the 1970s, when global competition was less intense.
Obama stressed the urgency of the issue as he announced the creation of an Export Promotion Cabinet that would assign senior officials to enhance and facilitate overseas sales.
Although he offered few details on the timing of specific actions, the president pledged to forge favorable trade agreements and to crack down on unfair trading practices.
Obama's push to expand exports comes amid rising trade tensions as countries recovering from the global recession renew their efforts to protect their share of global markets and grow jobs through exports.
The nation's large and long-running deficit with China, in particular, is re-emerging as a political lightning rod.
Touching on the sensitive issue of China's currency policy, Obama repeated his call for Beijing to move "to a more market-oriented exchange rate [that] would make an essential contribution to that global rebalancing effort."
The Chinese currency is widely seen as significantly undervalued, giving exporters an extra pricing advantage in selling their goods overseas. The currency has been pegged to the dollar since the outbreak of the financial crisis in mid-2008 — and many manufacturers and others in China argue that it would be destabilizing to let it appreciate.
Obama first stated his goal of doubling exports in five years in his State of the Union address in January. Although many economists view the target as overly optimistic, manufacturers and some policy analysts welcome the stepped-up efforts on trade.
Critics say the key is whether "net exports" rise. "Doubling exports per se does nothing to generate net growth either in economic output or job creation," said Alan Tonelson, a research fellow at the U.S. Business and Industry Council.
"The problem is that because the level of imports is larger than exports, if both increase at roughly the same pace the trade deficit will widen again," Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients Thursday.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said recently that the U.S. could meet Obama's goal — even without major changes in China's currency policy, which some analysts see as vital to rebalancing the global economy. For one thing, Locke said, less than 1 percent of the 30 million businesses in the U.S. sell goods abroad.
Thursday's report from the Commerce Department showed that despite the improvement in January, the U.S. trade deficit has generally been on the rise since hitting a recession low of $25.8 billion in May as both imports and exports have grown.
The January trade deficit declined to $37.3 billion from a revised $39.9 billion in December. Analysts on average were expecting a deficit of $41 billion in January. But the drop was due to an unexpectedly large falloff in imports of petroleum and automobiles.
The total value of U.S. imports, seasonally adjusted, fell 1.7 percent in January, to $180 billion. U.S. exports of goods and services, meanwhile, dipped 0.3 percent from December to $142.7 billion, mostly because of lower shipments of cars and airplanes.
The trade statistics can be volatile from month to month, but the general trend since last spring has raised analysts' concerns about a return to a rising U.S. trade deficit and the drag that it would have on the broader economy and growth. | <urn:uuid:143635c5-0b87-4d6f-8e30-2c83f4eee531> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-11/news/sc-biz-0312-trade--20100311_1_exports-unfair-trading-practices-currency | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560284411.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095124-00455-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969843 | 786 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Decode Your Genome
Starting yesterday, Torontonians can now pay $999 USD (plus shipping) to unlock the secrets of their DNA. The service, from Silicon Valley based 23andMe has been available south of the border since last year, but just yesterday the company announced they'll now ship to customers in Canada.
23andMe, founded by Anne Wojcicki (the wife of Google billionaire Sergey Brin), helps individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The way it works is they send you a kit in the mail; you mail them back a sample of your saliva and 4-6 weeks later they'll post all the results online for you to explore.
According to 23andMe's web site, the service allows customers to:
* Search and explore genes contributing to their personal characteristics, such as lactose intolerance, athletic ability, and food preferences;
* Learn how the latest research studies relate to their genomes;
* Compare their profiles to family and friends who are also 23andMe participants and trace the inheritance of genes associated with specific traits;
* Discover genetic roots and find out where and how their ancestors lived and learn about the prehistoric events they experienced, and;
* Actively participate in a new research approach and contribute to the advancement of the field of genetics.
Personally, I'd love to take the test. I know others are a little creep'd out about stuff like this - not wanting to know what diseases they might be genetically pre-disposed to. But me? Why not?
Now if only the $999 were covered by OHIP.
Photo from Michael Arrington on Flickr
Join the conversation Load comments | <urn:uuid:6d2b52cc-0c5a-4757-8608-9640a0c70eb7> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.blogto.com/tech/2008/01/decode_your_genome/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572161.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815054743-20220815084743-00471.warc.gz | en | 0.949314 | 350 | 2.140625 | 2 |
Role models are often thought of as essential for children or young adults. But having someone to look up to is important at any age, especially when you're embarking on new or demanding tasks such as caregiving. Here are some words of wisdom from public figures that may help you along the caregiving journey.
1. It's OK to Laugh
Of course it's hard to make light of the challenges that come with caregiving, but allowing oneself to see the humor amid the trials can provide a needed way to de-stress.
At a celebrity-hosted fund-raiser for the Alzheimer's Association called "Hilarity for Charity," actor Samuel L. Jackson, who lost his mother to Alzheimer's in 2012, acknowledged the hardship involved in watching older parents lose themselves to dementia. "Alzheimer's is a cause close to my heart, and one I care deeply about," he told attendees.
Jackson also took time to share the humor that can arise in the everyday moments shared with those we care for. He recounted how whenever his mother and aunt would stay with him, they would hide their purses from his maid, thinking she was a stranger. Later, chaos would ensue as they tried to find their purses, having forgotten where they hid them.
"It's a pretty devastating disease," Jackson said, "but [those who have it] can also be very funny."
2. Accept the Hard Decisions
Tough decisions arise while caring for an aging parent, and the emotions that surface can linger for years. But decision making is a necessary part of the caregiver role.
Actress Holly Robinson Peete, married to NFL star Rodney Peete, has, like 7 million other Americans, juggled long-distance caregiving for a parent with working in her career and raising children.
When it became clear that Robinson Peete's father required 24-hour care, she and her brother made the decision to move him to a care facility. "The day we moved my dad into the facility was the worst day of my life," she says. "To this day, since my father passed away, I still feel a tremendous amount of guilt. That I wasn't there, that it didn't happen on my watch."
While the pain stays with her, time has also allowed Robinson Peete to be more accepting of the decision. "The guilt has never really gone away, but I don't hold myself accountable anymore -- it was a hard choice, but really the only choice," she says.
"It's important for people to understand that you have to move on with your life."
3. Let the Sun Shine In
Remembering good memories and taking in happy moments while caregiving can be as important as allowing oneself to feel grief and anger along the way. These positive reflections can help balance out the trying times.
Oprah Winfrey hosted a Q&A with contemporary thought leader Panache Desai on her series Super Soul Sunday. At one point Desai gives advice to a woman struggling as the primary caregiver to her failing mother: Part of getting through the process is surrendering oneself to the taxing emotion that comes with the experience.
While Winfrey recognizes the truth in his words, she also offers, "Could we learn as much from the joyful times? It seems like you've got to get hit over the head with a hammer in order to get 'the lesson' or to get the experience that's going take you to the next level."
Understanding what a remarkable role caregivers across the country play, Oprah.com devotes an entire portion of its website to caregiving resources. One article that focuses on taking care of oneself includes more of this positive-focused energy, including such tips as "rewriting your worst days as Saturday Night Live skits."
"I want to say, can't I just learn from the joyous times?" Winfrey points out.
1. "Seth Rogen Raises $400,000-plus for Alzheimer's at Star-Packed Event." The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/seth-rogen-raises-400000-alzheimers-447214. Accessed January 22, 2014.
2. "Samuel L. Jackson Will Host the Fifth Annual Shooting Star Gala to Benefit the Alzheimer's Association." Social Work Helper. http://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/05/23/sam-l-jackson-shooting-stars/. Accessed January 22, 2014.
3. "So Far Away: Twenty Questions and Answers About Long-Distance Caregiving." National Institute on Aging, National Institutes for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/so-far-away-twenty-questions-and-answers-about-long-distance-caregiving/getting. Accessed January 22, 2014.
4. A Cast of Caregivers: Celebrity Stories to Help You Prepare to Care. Sherri Snelling. Balboa Press, Bloomington, IN. 2013.
5. "Holly Robinson Peete Talks About Caregiving." Thirdage.com: Health for Boomers and Beyond. http://www.thirdage.com/caregiving/holly-robinson-peete-caregiver. Accessed January 22, 2014.
6. "Q&A with Panache Desai: How to Care for an Elderly Parent and Stay Present -- Super Soul Sunday." Oprah Winfrey Network, YouTube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMDOPboxLOY. Accessed January 22, 2014.
7. "Connected Caregivers: A Network of Resources to Help You Stay Strong and Supported." Oprah.com. http://www.oprah.com/packages/aarp-caregiving.html. Accessed January 22, 2014. | <urn:uuid:2d7f1bc3-48f3-4c53-82cb-d3bf848fb005> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.caring.com/articles/caregiving-and-black-history-month | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280364.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00028-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960605 | 1,229 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Last week, as Donald Trump was sweeping the Acela primaries and beginning to campaign in California and Indiana, I was taking a long-planned family trip to England and France. Everywhere we went, people asked about Trump, who is receiving a lot of media attention abroad. What is his game? Who are his supporters? Does he have any chance of becoming President?
Of course, Trump doesn’t get quite as much coverage or occupy as much mental space in Europe as he does here. The biggest news stories during our brief stay in England were the upcoming referendum on whether Britain should pull out of the European Union and a long-awaited jury verdict finding police responsible for the deaths of ninety-six soccer fans at a stadium in Sheffield, twenty-seven years ago. Paris, which we visited at the end of the week, is still looking inward after November’s terrorist attack. Near our hotel in the Bastille district, heavily armed soldiers were patrolling the streets; not far away, at the Place de la République, the monuments were adorned with pictures and tributes memorializing the victims of the November 13th attacks. Yards away, an Occupy-style collective had taken over part of the square to express support for migrants from Syria, Afghanistan, and other trouble spots.
In other words, Europe has plenty of its own problems to deal with. But with these problems has come the rise of a number of Trump-style right-wing populists. Indeed, one of the things you realize when you cross the Atlantic is that Trumpism isn’t as purely American a phenomenon as it appears from up close. Save perhaps Silvio Berlusconi, the disgraced former Prime Minister of Italy, there is no exact European equivalent to the brash New York billionaire, but the larger forces that have propelled Trump to the brink of the Republican Party’s Presidential nomination—nationalism, nativism, disillusionment with the economic results of globalization, fear of terrorism, cynicism about career politicians—are just as strong in Europe, perhaps stronger.
From the Irish Sea to the Carpathian Mountains, right-wing anti-establishment movements are on the rise. In the U.K., their objective is “Brexit,” on June 23rd, when the country votes in a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. In recent weeks, Nigel Farage, the beer-swilling leader of the anti-immigrant, anti-E.U. U.K. Independence Party, has been joined in arguing for an exit by Boris Johnson, the towheaded mayor of London. Johnson has thrown off his liberal-Tory mask to lead the anti-E.U. forces inside the U.K.’s ruling Conservative Party, against the wishes of Prime Minister David Cameron—and of President Obama, who made it patently clear, just prior to my family’s arrival, that the U.S. would prefer Britain to remain a member of the E.U. Obama’s intervention may have cheered the pro-E.U. forces, but it doesn’t appear to have affected public opinion much. Two polls published over the weekend suggest that the referendum is still too close to call.
In France, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the anti-immigrant National Front, is busy preparing to challenge the embattled François Hollande in next year’s Presidential election. Much as last December’s gun massacre in San Bernardino generated support for Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., the ISIS attack in Paris has hardened French attitudes and played to the National Front’s advantage. Since December, Hollande’s government has adopted a number of illiberal counterterrorism measures, authorizing raids of mosques and other Islamic buildings without court warrants, and placing suspects under house arrest before their cases reach a judge. But Le Pen continues to claim that mainstream French parties are incapable of defending the country, and many people appear to agree with her call for still-harsher measures. As I was having my morning croissant on Friday, I came across an opinion poll in Le Figaro suggesting that almost half of the French public now views the country’s large Muslim minority as “mainly a threat.”
In central and eastern Europe, where the Syrian-refugee crisis is a huge issue, the far right is enjoying even more success. Last month, Norbert Hofer, a representative of Austria’s anti-immigrant Freedom Party, finished first in the initial round of voting in that country’s Presidential election.* (Like Trump, Hofer boasts of carrying a gun to protect himself.) Three weeks from now, he will face the Green Party-backed Alexander Van der Bellen in a runoff election. Should Hofer win, it will be the first time since 1945 that Austria has had an overtly nationalistic and far-right President. Although the position is largely ceremonial, it affords the power to dismiss parliament and call fresh elections, which Hofer has threatened to do if he is elected.
In Poland and Hungary, meanwhile, two avowedly nationalistic governments are continuing to strengthen their grip on power. Viktor Orbán, a self-styled strongman, has been the Hungarian Prime Minister for six years now, and in the past couple of years, as refugees have passed through Hungary on their journeys north from Greece and Turkey, he has ruthlessly exploited popular fears of a deluge of newcomers. Unlike Trump, Orbán hasn’t just talked about building a wall to keep out unwanted migrants: his government has gone ahead and built fences on its borders with Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Now it is planning to put up another one, this time on Hungary’s eastern border with Romania.
Poland, further north, is less immediately affected by the refugee crisis. But the reactionary Law and Justice Party, which gained power in elections last October, has seized on the issue to help justify its agenda of purging Poland of liberal and cosmopolitan influences. (The government has already eliminated liberals and other opponents from state-run media and other powerful institutions.) After the March terrorist attack on the Brussels Airport, the Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydło, appeared to renege on a deal with the E.U. to take in about seven thousand refugees, saying that she didn’t see “any possibility” that her country would accept migrants from Syria and other countries. Subsequently, the Polish foreign minister, Witold Waszczykowski, said that his government would honor the agreement as long as the refugees were given a proper security check. The details remain unresolved, however, and public opinion appears to favor a Trump-style lockout.
To be sure, the parallels between what is happening in the United States and in parts of Europe shouldn’t be pushed too far. The United States isn’t dealing with a refugee crisis, and, mercifully, it hasn’t had any recent terrorist attacks as spectacular as the ones in Paris or Brussels. And few, if any, of its citizens are intent on seceding from the union. Trump, although he clearly has substantial support, also has very high disapproval ratings, and a majority of Americans oppose his controversial policy recommendations, including his proposed ban on Muslims. | <urn:uuid:0d015886-adb4-4f5a-93e9-785f43090faa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/a-europe-of-donald-trumps | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571210.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810191850-20220810221850-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.97102 | 1,499 | 1.53125 | 2 |
"Sustainable purchasing" means that, when you buy something, you consider the environmental, human and financial sustainability of product and process from raw material to end of product life
Systemwide policy goals for purchasing address the sustainable content of products, the degree of fiscal, social and corporate responsibility in production and delivery of purchased goods and sustainability practices of vendors.
- 100% compliance with required level green spending minimums within 3 years after a product and/or product category is added to the University of California Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.
- 25% of spending in any product category must be “green.” This target must be reached within 3 fiscal years after a category is added to the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.
- 25% of total spending must be from economically and socially responsible sources. This target must be reached within 5 fiscal years of adoption.
- A minimum of 15% of the points used to evaluate purchase proposals must be sustainability criteria.
- Packing materials should be non-toxic, biodegradable, 100% post-consumer recycled content that is recyclable or reusable, or not excessive.
- 74% of cleaning supplies are "green" – UC Davis has met the green spend goal for cleaning supplies.
UC Davis Supply Chain Management practices Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) to procure products and services with a reduced or minimal environmental impact as compared to other products or services that serve the same purpose.
Aggie Buy the campus's online purchasing system, enables departmental shoppers to filter search results for energy-efficient and environmentally-preferable options which can be saved as favorites.
AggieSupply Scientific Store creates sustainable efficiencies for researchers and labs by centralizing receiving and distribution and reducing the number of courier trucks on campus.
Replacing inefficient equipment. The university frequently offers incentives to replace old, inefficient equipment with new technology. Ultra low temperature (ULT) freezers are a prime example. In 2016, UC Procurement Services teamed up with campus sustainability and facilities managers to negotiate a special UC price on energy efficient ULT freezers. Older freezers require an average 19 kWh/day to run. That's about as much as it takes to power an entire single family home! The systemwide negotiated price made new 9 kWh/day models more affordable for labs. UC Davis Supply Chain Management can help departments find current incentives, rebates and deals. They also host periodic printer exchange events to make acquisition of new, energy efficient printers easy for departments. | <urn:uuid:5554619a-363f-496a-adf7-3b507bd5d03d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/goals/purchasing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572043.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814143522-20220814173522-00470.warc.gz | en | 0.915072 | 526 | 2.21875 | 2 |
With the economy on the upswing and the job market getting stronger–why is it taking so much longer these days to get hired? A survey of job seekers from glassdoor.com found that since 2009 the time it takes from application to actually hearing about whether or not you got the job –has more than doubled. It now averages 23 days.
“Job applicants are much more qualified now,” Chambers said. “Sometimes your second and third choices are actually also terrific.”
As a result, employers are putting job applicants through a lot more hoops — including many more interviews, often with teams of people, and many are asking strange questions which seem to have nothing to do with the actual job.
In terms of the applicant pool, Chambers says, “It’s a buffet now.”
- Kara Chambers, vice president of talent strategy at The Motley Fool. She tweets @tmfkara.
- Scott Dobroski, expert on community at glassdoor.com.
JEREMY HOBSON, HOST:
It's HERE AND NOW.
And the economy has been getting better over the last several years. There's no question about that. The unemployment rate has fallen to 6.7 percent from a high of 10 percent back in October of 2009. But even as things have improved, the process of finding a job has gotten harder. It's taking longer these days to go through that process, because employers are getting pickier, there are often many more job interviews required to get hired - often with teams of people - and sometimes strange questions which seem to have nothing to do with the actual job.
For more on this, we're joined by Scott Dobroski, a community expert at glassdoor.com. That's a website were jobseekers come to research jobs, and where companies recruit employees. Scott, thanks for joining us.
SCOTT DOBROSKI: Thank you for having me.
HOBSON: And we're also joined by Kara Chambers. She's vice president of talent strategy for The Motley Fool. That's a company of about 300 employees that publishes financial information online. Kara, welcome.
KARA CHAMBERS: Thank you for having me.
HOBSON: Well, Scott, let me start with you with the big picture. Your company surveyed job seekers and found that the application time has doubled since the recession began. Explain.
DOBROSKI: What we found is that the average interview process has actually increased from about 12 days in 2009 to 23 days in 2013, across all industries.
HOBSON: Wow. And why? What are they taking so long for?
DOBROSKI: Basically, it's taking longer because companies can't afford to get it wrong this day and age. They really need to separate the great talent from just the good talent. And so they've really implemented many more ways to pinpoint the best talent from just the good talent in recent years. A lot of this goes back to metrics, data-driven, a lot of testing being done, multiple interviews, group interviews, challenging interview questions and other things, too.
HOBSON: Well, and you say challenging interview questions. There are some really strange interview questions that are being asked. Give us some examples from what you found in your survey.
DOBROSKI: There are. And this part is actually really interesting to see, because it's across all industries and even job titles, junior jobs and senior jobs, as well. So, one question, for example, asked at Bed Bath and Beyond, which you can find in almost any city across America, they asked some of their employees there: If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? And so why they're asking...
HOBSON: Hmm. I don't know how I would answer that. I don't know why that would have any bearing on what kind of a job I could get.
DOBROSKI: Well, in this one, a really good answer would be, I'm Wheaties, because that's the breakfast of champions. And perhaps Fruit Loops, which is full of sugar and might make you a little sloggy throughout the day, that maybe would not be the best answer.
HOBSON: Well, and that's not the only question. There are some other ones here. If you were a pizza delivery man, how would you benefit from scissors?
HOBSON: Do you believe in Big Foot? Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?
HOBSON: Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer? Kara, let me bring you in. Have you ever asked one of these crazy questions to an applicant?
CHAMBERS: Well, we are The Motley Fool, so yes, we have. We don't rely on them too much. I think the purpose of a lot of those questions is to see how people think on their feet. And so we'll ask things like: What makes you foolish? How do your friends describe you? I think we try not to go too wacky, but we jump in there sometimes. And, again, it's a test to see how people think on their feet, so I can see the purpose in that, getting the candidate to loosen up a little bit. So we see that pretty often in our group, as well.
HOBSON: Well, and how long are you taking, on average, to go through the application process with the potential employee?
CHAMBERS: So, I would say it can be pretty long, for a number of reasons. The right fit is really important to us. A poor fit for a hire is a long and costly mistake, and it's not good for either side, for the candidate or us. And so we do take a while. It's probably about 60 days for us in our group, because we tend to be very selective.
HOBSON: Well, and do you feel, as an employer, that you have the upper hand still, even as the economy has gotten better and people have more choices about what they want to do when they think about what job they should have? Do you feel that you still have the upper hand?
CHAMBERS: I wouldn't say we have the upper hand. I think it's a matter of having the right fit. And what we see a lot is it's easier now than ever to apply for a job. So we get a lot of great people. And what happens is it's hard to pick the right great person, and so sometimes your second and third choices are actually also terrific. So it isn't necessarily about having the upper hand, per se, and wanting to drag out the process. I'd say, for us, we would love to shorten the process. We're trying to find ways in our group to make it more efficient, because we know it's not fun on either side to have this process be so long.
HOBSON: Well, and let me just press you there. If you say that you've got a lot of good choices and you can pick between the first, second and third choice, it does sound like it's an employer's market rather than a jobseeker's market.
CHAMBERS: Right. I would say it is still a little bit more of an employer's market, but the difference now is the immediacy. Your candidates find it very easy to apply and get in there and find out about the job and learn, and so there's a little extra work that goes into setting them apart. And cultural fit is important, as well. So that tends to be the differentiator. We like to hire for potential, because people move around a lot in their careers. So we're interviewing a lot less for experience and thinking a lot more about potential. And so that's where we start pushing each other a little bit.
HOBSON: But, Scott Dobroski, what is a jobseeker to do when they're in this situation? It can get very frustrating to sit there for weeks and weeks and not know whether a company is really interested in you or not.
DOBROSKI: I mean, it really depends whether you're an active or a passive jobseeker. And actually, sometimes employers these days are even looking for more of the passive jobseeker who are happily employed and they're doing good at their job. However, if you are the active jobseeker and you are frustrated, it's too easy this day and age to not be able to find out who that HR manager is, who the hiring manager is, who are some of the team members that you interviewed with, and even contact them.
Ask for a status update. Remind them how interested you are. Let them know that you spotted news about them and hear your thoughts in the news, or add something you didn't say on your resume or in your interview to perhaps make them remember you and put yourself above as they go through this evaluation process. However, in reality, sometimes there are things you cannot do, which is why you also need to be thinking about new opportunities and have a list of, say, five companies you're inherently interested in, stay with them, and keep applying to them, as well.
CHAMBERS: Can I add something to that, as well?
HOBSON: Yeah, sure.
CHAMBERS: So, one thing we talked about when I just talked about that second and third choice candidate, a lot of times, that person gets the next job that opens up. We've got them in mind. And so sometimes what will happen is you'll find a candidate, and you'll start developing the position as you're recruiting. You'll interview your first couple of people and realize, actually, this isn't what we're looking for. We need to go back and retweak the job.
And then we go back to people we've interviewed before and say, hey, why don't you come back? I've seen it many, many times happen, and we say - we interview or we tried really hard to decide between these two candidates, and we hire one. And then as soon as we realize there's more to do, we bring in that second person. We'll want to hire the next one. And so you might be further in than you think.
HOBSON: Well, while I have both of you, I just want to ask you finally a question that was asked at Urban Outfitters by somebody who was trying to make a hire. And the question is: You're a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? I'll start with you, Kara.
CHAMBERS: What color would I be and why?
CHAMBERS: Oh, goodness. That's a difficult one.
HOBSON: You might not get the job if you answer badly. So...
CHAMBERS: Oh, I would say bright red. That's probably my favorite color. I used to drive a bright red Mini Cooper, and that was just - I like being able to spot that car in the parking lot. So...
HOBSON: Scott, what color would you be and why?
DOBROSKI: Well, I would say that I would be bright yellow, because it catches your attention. It's shiny and new, and you just want to use it all day long and bring that attention to the skills that I have to contribute to your company.
HOBSON: I would be burnt sienna, because that's the only color I can remember from the crayon box. I don't even know, frankly, what that is.
CHAMBERS: I think I just didn't get this job. I think I just didn't get this job.
HOBSON: You're fired, Kara.
HOBSON: All right. Well, Scott Dobroski, community expert at glassdoor.com, and Kara Chambers, vice president of talent strategy for The Motley Fool, thanks so much to both of you.
CHAMBERS: All right. Thank you so much.
DOBROSKI: Thank you.
HOBSON: And, Robin, don't think you're getting away without answering this question. What color?
ROBIN YOUNG, HOST:
I don't know, and that's exactly what I would do.
YOUNG: But I just want to say, Barbara Walters was not wrong. She was the first one to ask in interviews, if you were a tree...
HOBSON: What would you be?
YOUNG: ...what kind of tree would you be?
HOBSON: And I remember a movie answer. Somebody said: I would be a weeping willow, because I'm always sad. I think it was somebody who was pretending to be Oprah. HERE AND NOW, a production of WBUR Boston and NPR, in association with the BBC World Service. I'm Jeremy Hobson.
YOUNG: I'm Robin Young. This is HERE AND NOW. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | <urn:uuid:b4aea512-950f-405f-9a86-164336ff9a9a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/surprising-questions-your-next-job-interview | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285289.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00146-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98022 | 2,748 | 1.640625 | 2 |
1 Danish School of Education - Research Programme in Teaching and Learning in the Disciplines, Danish School of Education, Arts, Aarhus University2 The University of Queensland3 Danish School of Education - Research Programme in Teaching and Learning in the Disciplines, Danish School of Education, Arts, Aarhus University
Proportional reasoning involves the use of ratios in the comparison of quantities. While it is a key aspect of numeracy, particularly in the middle years of schooling, students do not always develop proportional reasoning naturally. Research suggests that many students do not apply proportional methods appropriately and that they often erroneously apply both multiplicative and additive thinking. Further, students cannot always distinguish non-proportional situations from those that are proportional. Understanding the situations in which students mistakenly use additive or multiplicative thinking and the nature of the proportional reasoning that students apply to different problem types is important for teachers seeking to support their students to develop proportional reasoning in the classroom. This paper describes the development and use of a two-tier diagnostic instrument to identify situations in which students could and could not apply proportional reasoning and the types of reasoning they used. It presents data from an Australian study involving over 2000 middle years students (Years 5 to 9) as a means of illustrating the use of the instrument for diagnosing students’ reasoning in different situations. The findings showed that the instrument was useful for identifying problem types in which students of different ages were able to apply correct reasoning. It also allowed identification of the types of incorrect reasoning used by students. The paper also describes useful applications of the instrument, including its use as a diagnostic instrument by classroom teachers and its use in the design classroom activities included in teacher professional learning workshops.
Mathematics Education Research Journal, 2013, Vol 25, Issue 4, p. 523-545
Proportional reasoning; middle school mathematics; diagnostic testing; two-tier testing | <urn:uuid:4b9f3edc-f914-4983-940d-9ee96cc20f16> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.forskningsdatabasen.dk/catalog/255082750 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00171-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947572 | 381 | 3.296875 | 3 |
October 11, 2011
In the windswept lobby of the Ibn Sidr hospital in Sirte, wounded men with blank expressions lay on trolleys, listening to the irregular drumbeat of the explosions destroying their city.
Forces loyal to the National Transitional Council (NTC) captured the hospital on Sunday morning. The scenes on Monday offered a sad glimpse into the desperate existence of those holding out in the last city in Libya still loyal to former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
There was blood on the floor and decomposing bodies in the morgue. The rooms were ransacked and the windows smashed. Many of the wounded had been wheeled into the corridors as shelling made the wards unsafe.
Workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were working to evacuate the wounded. “These people need to be treated and they can’t be treated here,” said Dibeh Fikr, spokesperson for the ICRC in Libya. But other hospitals nearby were full and aid workers were struggling to find beds for the 100 or so patients waiting there. | <urn:uuid:00e4bb5c-e167-423d-8a3a-b65c73b980f6> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.infowars.com/libya-bloody-chaos-at-hospital-gives-glimpse-of-sirtes-agony/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279169.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00210-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964106 | 224 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Holding about 50 percent of the world's uranium deposits, Australia stands to cash in billions from uranium exports. And so in just the past few days, the Howard Government committed to a controversial decision to sell uranium to nuclear-capable India. Naturally the Labor opposition party is worried that this could prove problematic with India's neighbour, Pakistan.
However, the deal with India looks set to be upstaged by a potentially bigger sale. Also under consideration is a deal for Australia to sell uranium direct to Russia. And who should be firing off warnings down our way but none other than anti-Putin campaigner, Gary Kasparov.
Kasparov has reportedly told Australia's Bulletin magazine: "Should Australian uranium end up in the wrong hands… Australia will not be able to act innocent or to claim ignorance". This is being reported here, by ninemsn, and here by the Bulletin. | <urn:uuid:7361dadc-617e-4ac2-b619-cd77e0700686> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://closetgrandmaster.blogspot.com/2007/08/kasparov-warns-australia.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280128.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00393-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935933 | 181 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Search by Keyword
This page features cool Fathers Day Crafts for kids to create, as well as a free printable reusable calendar for the month of June.
June's official birthstone is the pearl (shown above), a symbol of health and longevity.
June is the sixth month of the year and has 30 days.
In the United States, June holidays include Flag Day (June 14th) and Fathers Day (3rd Sunday in June).
June is also associated with longer daylight hours, the largest number of weddings, the first day of Summer, and Gay Pride celebrations.
U.S. states admitted to the Union during the month of June were Arkansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Scroll down for a creative collection of easy yet inventive craft ideas for Fathers Day projects.
For more project ideas, calendars, tattoo art, and other designs, visit any of the links shown on this page.
Below: These cool cuff links are as easy to make as they look, with a super cute and playful result.
Just buy the cuff link hardware from any jewelry store, craft store, hardware store, or ebay. Glue one fastener to the underside of each Lego block. Let the cuff links sit for a few hours so the glue will dry.
Below: These Fathers' Day Suit cards are as cute as can be.Here are the simple, step-by-step instructions.
1. Place a piece of paper horizontally on a table.
2. Carefully fold the outer edges inward so they meet in the middle. Press to make a crease.
3. In the same manner, fold the top corners downward to make the collar.
4. Cut out a paper necktie and glue it to the inside of the card so it is visible when the card is folded shut.
5. Add real buttons and a little square pocket to the jacket.
6. Use your imagination to personalize the card.
Below: To print this Fathers Day coloring page, just right-click on the image and select a save option from your drop-down menu. This will SAVE it to your picture file for future use, where you can reduce or enlarge it as needed. Then print it out and start coloring.
Below: Right-click on the calendar image and save it to your picture file.
Below, More Fathers Day Crafts: Click on the image or the link shown below for a free, printable, full size chess set just like the one shown here.
Go here for More Fathers Day Crafts
Hit this link for a Free Printable 3-D Chess Set
For another unique, budget-friendly gift idea, get Crazy Horse Appearing, a new Biography of Chief Crazy Horse, featuring the only fully authenticated (by Lakota people) image of Crazy Horse ever found.
Order Crazy Horse Appearing thru the contact page of this website and get a first printing signed by the author from ISHI Press for $20, plus $3 for shipping.
Visit this page for a free printable July Calendar
Look here for Premium Factory Outlets in All 50 States.
For fun things to do anywhere in America, visit Fact and Photo Galleries for All 50 States.
See this page for Air Travel Discount Deals and Low-Cost Lodging in all 50 States and Washington DC.
Click here to get Low-Cost Car Insurance in All 50 States and Washington DC.
Visit this page to learn how to Work From Home Anywhere in America.
Go here to see a complete list of Universities and PhD Programs in All 50 States. | <urn:uuid:c04e941a-6996-455d-8750-6eaabb90774e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.top50states.com/fathers-day-crafts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280825.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00207-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906611 | 744 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The council turns its attention to the charism of chastity, reminding us that it is a gift from God, and not primarily a personal choice, except in the sense that we cooperate with God’s gift of it:
The chastity “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12) which religious profess should be counted an outstanding gift of grace. It frees the (human) heart in a unique fashion (cf. 1 Cor. 7:32-35) so that it may be more inflamed with love for God and for all (others). Thus it not only symbolizes in a singular way the heavenly goods but also the most suitable means by which religious dedicate themselves with undivided heart to the service of God and the works of the apostolate. In this way they recall to the minds of all the faithful that wondrous marriage decreed by God and which is to be fully revealed in the future age in which the Church takes Christ as its only spouse.
The bishops give an excellent definition of this virtue, reminding us that it serves a purpose for the building up of the Church, and is much more than a personal and individual sacrifice.
Religious, therefore, who are striving faithfully to observe the chastity they have professed must have faith in the words of the Lord, and trusting in God’s help not overestimate their own strength but practice mortification and custody of the senses. Neither should they neglect the natural means which promote health of mind and body. As a result they will not be influenced by those false doctrines which scorn perfect continence as being impossible or harmful to human development and they will repudiate by a certain spiritual instinct everything which endangers chastity. In addition let all, especially superiors, remember that chastity is guarded more securely when true (sisterly or) brotherly love flourishes in the common life of the community.
This last piece is important, and possibly uncovers a serious flaw in the persistent effort of post-conciliar hierarchy to come to grips with sexual acting out amongst the clergy. Those men, remember, do not often benefit from a common life in a community. Good physical and emotional health among religious is vital, and prospective members should be carefully tested for maturity.
And in bringing up the point of ill-adapted priests, let me clarify I’m thinking of those men who are discouraged and distressed by unhealthy aspects of their existence, but who are not acting out in pathological ways. I’m thinking of clergy who in their bones know they need more support, but who don’t make those needs known, nor do they get the support from the bishop.
Since the observance of perfect continence touches intimately the deepest instincts of human nature, candidates should neither present themselves for nor be admitted to the vow of chastity, unless they have been previously tested sufficiently and have been shown to possess the required psychological and emotional maturity. They should not only be warned about the dangers to chastity which they may meet but they should be so instructed as to be able to undertake the celibacy which binds them to God in a way which will benefit their entire personality.
The biggest danger is treating chastity as more of an individual religious state than a communal one. | <urn:uuid:5ae62d4e-c9cc-49fc-b809-5099222701ba> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://catholicsensibility.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/perfectae-caritatis-12/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279489.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00011-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956717 | 672 | 1.890625 | 2 |
The Rhetoric of HTML
These are teasers for chapters of an online "book" Writing
With Images. They are unfinished and
spare in the fashion of web-writing. Many of them are several
years old, but they still receive some visitors.
- Satire:Two "classic" sites
for satire: DadaNetCircus and Distorted Barblie.
[For more on web
satire, see Writing With Images,
5.3: Images in net.art.satire]
- Dada Photomontage and
Hypertext Mapping:Imagemaps and perspectives on
- Art and the Semiotics of
Images: Three Questions About Visual Meaning.
on word/image in web writing, see Writing With Images, 1.5:
- Writing With Images: Towards a Semiotics of the Web. A much fuller and more systematic treatment of visual meanings.
George L. Dillon
University of Washington | <urn:uuid:a260e0df-3a40-450f-a2fb-8525e814858f> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://faculty.washington.edu/dillon/rhethtml/rhethtml.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280791.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00359-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.87044 | 201 | 2.109375 | 2 |
A common misconception is that you will lose your home if you file for Bankruptcy. In fact, many people use Bankruptcy to protect their most valuable asset, their home, and stop the foreclosure process.
The foreclosure process in South Carolina is a state court judicial procedure initiated by your mortgage company when you fall behind in your monthly mortgage payments. This is the process by which your mortgage company takes your home if you fail to make your payments. First, you will receive a Summons and Complaint from your lender, followed by a hearing where a sale date will be set and ultimately an auction at the courthouse on the day of the sale. Bankruptcy can stop a foreclosure and provide a homeowner a safe mechanism to keep their residence.
The most important thing with foreclosure is that you must file a bankruptcy case before the property is sold at the foreclosure sale. After the sale is concluded, the former homeowner is only a squatter with no more rights to the property. Before the sale is final the homeowner can file a bankruptcy case under Chapter 13 reorganization to keep their home.
Under Chapter 13, the homeowner may choose to resume mortgage payments and pay back the missed payments over several years or we can seek a loan modification to alter the terms of the loan with the lender’s permission and agreement. We will work together to determine the best strategy based on your circumstances and budget.
Please remember that this is a very basic description of bankruptcy law and not legal advice. We can discuss your situation in detail during a free, confidential consultation with an attorney who will explain how bankruptcy law fits your specific situation. We are a debt relief agency. | <urn:uuid:356773e7-337a-4ecc-b54e-91174f33d400> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://meredithlawfirm.com/foreclosures/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572581.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816211628-20220817001628-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.96556 | 333 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Step Up For Students
What is the Step Up For Students Program?
It is an initiative of the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program. The innovative program provides K-12 education scholarships for qualifying low-income students who are entering kindergarten or first grade or attended public school the previous year. The scholarships give low-income parents the opportunity to choose the K-12 school that best meets their children's needs. Get up to $7,000 a year per child for K-12 private school. New income eligibility limits. | <urn:uuid:010a84ad-40dc-4a03-9d31-2afdb469ee09> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.pineygroveacademy.org/step-up-for-students | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572127.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815024523-20220815054523-00267.warc.gz | en | 0.940736 | 108 | 1.84375 | 2 |
AUSTIN — Over the course of two days of committee meetings, Texas lawmakers took on two of the biggest complaints in the state’s education system: access to inappropriate materials and parents’ rights in their child’s education.
The Texas House Public Education Committee met for a total of 25 hours on Monday and Tuesday, hearing testimony on two subjects that will likely take center stage in the coming session.
On materials deemed inappropriate by some, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, asked Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath whether he is aware of any curriculum in the state that bullies students based on race or grooms them with pornography.
Morath said the Texas Education Agency has received complaints on the issue, but added that he could not indicate whether it is a widespread problem.
“It’s a very big state, and the world's complex. So the short answer to that question is yes, we have complaints that would appear to substantiate periodic instructional materials problems in those areas,” Morath said.
He said this was likely because the language of the standards that are adopted by the State Board of Education “allows for a broad degree of interpretation.”
Morath said the current education system is a state-recommended but locally controlled framework. This means that although state boards, like Texas’, outline what students should learn in certain grade levels and provide textbooks that align with those preferred learning outcomes, local school boards have final say over purchased textbooks and learning materials.
He added that lawmakers can strengthen policies to address any concerns.
“The question of what our kids are taught is a deeply important question,” Morath said. “The focus on the quality of the curriculum, making sure that it is free from ideological bias to the extent that we can — these are worthy objectives and benefits.”
The committee also heard testimony from dozens of parents, citizens and professionals on parents’ rights in their child’s education.
Across the state, what students are taught has become the subject of debate, with some saying it could be one of several reasons why teachers are not returning to the classroom, further exacerbating the critical teacher shortage statewide.
Morath, however, said data suggests that teachers are overworked with stagnant pay.
“We have set teachers up with jobs that are very difficult for mortals to do,” he said.
This election cycle, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has made a particular push to expand parents’ rights to make them the primary decision maker when it comes to what their child is taught.
If reelected for a third term, he has promised to expand parental access to course curriculum by requiring schools to provide course curricula at the beginning of every semester.
Morath said he believes that rights start, stop and revolve around parents.
“I think anytime you assume otherwise, you're making egregious mistakes,” he said. But he added that he believes when a parent sends their child to school, it is a partnership between the school and parent to educate the child.
Both topics are likely to garner attention during the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 10. | <urn:uuid:ac4f4870-9046-4d5e-88f1-d3873151eaf0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.gainesvilleregister.com/news/education/texas-legislators-weigh-classroom-issues-for-next-session/article_870cf286-10f3-11ed-ba9d-578b39dc4da3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573029.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817153027-20220817183027-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.969308 | 656 | 1.9375 | 2 |
Best Vegan Snacks
Luckily, many of the best traditional snacks are already vegan friendly. You don’t normally rustle up a quick butternut squash risotto as a snack but nature has handily provided us with lots of great snack-sized goodies. As well as some obvious and “automatically” vegan snacks, we’ve got some ideas for more complex plant-based snacks too. By and large, these are pretty healthy, so fill your snack-craving little boots!
Healthy Vegan Snacks
Loads of the healthiest vegan snacks are the ones that nature made for us. They tend to be amazingly convenient too, because if you’re hungry and in a hurry, these are items that you can just grab, assuming you have them in the house of course. The National Health Service (NHS) suggests healthy snacks should be around 100 calories and lots of these are under (or at least not too far over) that figure.
We don’t think you have to stick rigidly to the 100 calorie mark though. As long as the calories are quality ones (see more about the British Nutrition Foundation Quality Calorie (QC) concept), packed with nutrients, going to 200 or more calories is fine, especially within a balanced wider diet or when taking regular exercise. Here are some of our favourite healthy vegan snacks that require no, or virtually no, preparation.
Top Vegan Snack Options
|Snack||Approximate Calories||Health Benefits|
|28g of Almonds||160||High in protein, fibre, vitamin E and magnesium|
|28g of Cashew Nuts||155||High in protein, magnesium and good source of iron|
|28g of Brazil Nuts||180||Amazing source of selenium, good source of fibre and magnesium|
|Medium Banana||105||Good source of fibre, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese|
|80g of Edamame Beans||97||High in fibre and protein, excellent source of folate, manganese and vitamin K|
|Medium Apple||95||High in fibre, good source of vitamin C|
|Medium Carrot||33||Amazing source of vitamin E, good source of fibre, low calories|
|80g of Olives||90||Contains healthy fats and reasonable source of vitamins A and E|
|28g Dried Apricots||68||Good source of fibre, vitamin A and potassium|
|80g Cherry Tomatoes||21||Low calories, reasonable source of vitamins A, C and E|
In truth, we could add just about any nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables to this list. If you want an easy, tasty and nutritious vegan snack, these are the items you should ideally be looking at and, with most fresh fruit and veg, you don’t need to worry too much about the serving size.
Some vegetables and especially some fruits can be high in sugar though, so as a general rule sticking to about 80g of any given fruit or vegetable is a good idea unless you are more knowledgeable about nutrition. With most fresh plant-based foods, this counts as one of your five a day too, with more than 80g not “counting” extra as it is best to eat a range of fruit and vegetables.
When it comes to dried fruit, nuts and seeds, you have to be more careful and we would advise, as per the table above, only around an ounce (28.4g) of these. If you have a mix of nuts and seeds you could maybe go as high as 60g or so but nuts and seeds are high in both fat and calories. Dried fruit, on the other hand, tends to be high in sugar, the overall sugar content having been concentrated (in terms of mass) by the dehydration.
More Quick Healthy Vegan Snacks
Whilst the snacks above are incredibly healthy and simple, it would be a bit of a cop out if our post consisted solely of the most basic snacks. The ones above are, by and large, suitable for those following a raw vegan, diet but if you’re looking for something a little more complex, we’ve also got plenty of great options that still fit the bill as a healthy vegan snack.
Barring a few exceptions (such as those with added butter), popcorn is essentially vegan and however you buy it, it’s also really quick and easy to prepare. Whether you buy raw kernels to pop in the pan or microwave, designated microwave popcorn, or bags of pre-popped corn, this is a snack that will be ready in less than five minutes.
Assuming you don’t go for one dripping in a fat or a sugar-filled topping, it’s pretty healthy too, especially compared to crisps, which are a comparable sort of snack. It has more fibre and protein than crisps, is a whole grain and contains around 25% fewer calories than crisps by weight.
What’s more, it has more volume, by which we mean that 50g of popcorn looks and feels like a lot more food than 50g of crisps, so you should naturally eat less. Unless you get served a massive bucketful of the stuff on a trip to the cinema that is.
As with popcorn, when it comes to roast chickpeas you can buy them ready to eat from the shop or make your own. Either way, you’re going to get a huge hit of fibre, lots of vegan protein and a range of minerals.
To make your own, just take some pre-cooked chickpeas and roast in a single layer at around 190°C for half an hour. This will dry the chickpeas out, meaning the next step will crisp them up perfectly. Then just add a little oil and salt (or whatever seasoning and flavours take your fancy), turning the chickpeas so they all get coated. Roast for another 10-15 minutes until golden and crunchy.
Check out our great vegan hummus recipe and see how easy it is to make this amazing dip. You can buy it readymade if you like but it’s so easy to make and doing it yourself is cheaper and gives you full control over the ingredients and nutrition.
We can eat hummus with pretty much anything, so depending how healthy you want to be, have it with cucumber, celery, carrots, pita bread, on toast, or just about anything that takes your fancy.
You can put pretty much anything in a smoothie and they are a great way to have a quick blast of nutrients. There are all sorts of recipes out there but we like a nice simple one that serves up a good mix of energy with enough protein and fibre to keep you feeling nicely satiated.
Just blend 160g of mixed berries, half a banana, a splash of fruit juice (orange, grapefruit or anything you fancy) and 5g each of chia and linseeds. Mix this with enough of your favourite plant-based milk to create the consistency you want – around 150ml should do it.
We make our own vegan-friendly muesli and, served with almond milk, we reckon it is hard to find a more nutrient-dense tasty snack or breakfast option. Packed with fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, plus some nice additions from the fortified milk, we reckon you could live off this (it would be quite boring and you might not last that long, but you definitely could).
Our mix includes oats, rye flakes, bran flakes, omega seed mix (usually pumpkin, sunflower, linseed and hemp), chia seeds, Brazil nuts and goji berries but of course you can mix and match most of these. Just be careful not to have too many sweet dried fruits and note that this is quite dense in calories so it is important to control the size of the serving.
Butter Bean & Harissa Dip
Bean-based dips are brilliant. Eating beans and pulses is really healthy because they are very high in fibre and, especially important for vegans, they are a great source of protein. They are often a good source of iron and other minerals too.
You can make any number of dips with butter beans, cannellini beans and other similar ingredients but this piquant cracker is one of our favourites. Just blend a can of butter beans (drain them but not thoroughly, as you’ll want some of the water to obtain the right consistency) along with a good squeeze of lemon juice and a heaped teaspoon of harissa. And, that’s it! You can use this in the same way you would hummus and we love it with a vegan Quorn fillet and a salad.
Beans on Toast
This is a little dish we invented and we’re sure you’ll love it. Take some baked beans from a can. Heat them. Put them on toast. Sorted. Incredible right?
Okay, it’s not really a Vegan Friendly original but it’s certainly a classic and it is incredibly quick and pretty darn healthy. Two slices of brown bread and just under half a can of beans will give you: 348 calories, 17g of protein, 14.3g of fibre (almost half your daily requirement), more than 50% of your daily vitamin B1 and around the same of iron, almost 40% of your folate requirement, more than a third of your daily calcium, around 25% of your zinc needs and a nice selenium hit too!
You can make the beans yourself too if you want by cooking cannellini beans in a really rich tomato sauce. If that sounds like too much hassle, just pimp your beans a bit with some smoked paprika, chilli flakes or some fresh herbs. This will add more flavour and more goodness too.
These savoury, soy seeds provide a delicious crunch and a satisfying salty hit and are great with an ice cold beer. They are also a great way to season other dishes and work very well in salads too. Just take a mixture of your favourite seeds – we use equal amounts of sunflower and pumpkin with a little sesame – and dry roast these in a pan over a medium heat.
As they start to turn brown, remove from the heat and add a few dashes of soy sauce (around one tablespoon per 40g of seeds). Quickly stir to make sure all the seeds get coated and once the soy has evaporated (no more than a few seconds), let the seeds cool and crisp up on a plate.
Sweetcorn with Chilli & Lime
This is as simple as it sounds: add freshly squeezed lime juice and some grated lime zest and thinly sliced fresh chilli (or dried chilli flakes) to cooked corn. It is a great flavour combination that works best with corn freshly sliced from the charred cob, although you can use tinned sweetcorn that has been warmed on the hob or in the microwave.
It won’t have the same bite but the flavour of fresh lime juice and zest, plus chilli flakes, is great with the natural sweetness of the corn. For extra indulgence, add your favourite vegan butter too. A similar mix made with edamame beans is also worth trying. | <urn:uuid:e25ac0f2-b862-49eb-984c-e4fe7835ca22> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thesuperhealthyfood.com/healthy-vegan-snacks-2021/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572163.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815085006-20220815115006-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.939961 | 2,373 | 1.859375 | 2 |
By the time a person is sixty years old, he/she would have spent twenty years sleeping. Dreams are visions during the night, when man slumbers upon his bed, when he sleeps (Job 33:15; Job 4:12-21). Dreams are senses of occurrences in the realm of the spirit and God uses our dreams to give us messages and reveal things to us. You or someone you know can make important judgment/decision based on a dream.
According to Doctor Olukoya, “the images we see in the dream are transactions that go on during sleep; and are windows to your unconscious feelings and to your unconscious thoughts”. That is, if we understand what is going on in our dreams, we will understand what is going on in our physical life. Dreams do not lie but the devil can lie to you. In other words, if you dream about something that is not true or cannot possibly be true, it could be manipulations or deceptions of the devil but the dream itself is not a lie. Instead, it is a spiritual monitoring system which helps you deal with your physical life, reveals to you your fears and hopes, past and future, informs, warns you and can change, influence or heal you. Therefore, dreams should not be ignored and constant dreams should be taken seriously. If you don’t dream at all or remember your dreams, then there is a problem. Why? …Because every normal human being is supposed to dream. In fact the only problem as identified by scientist is that not everybody recalls their dreams. Whether you try to explain this with psychology or other type of logic, every human being is supposed to dream. Remember it is your spirit that sees all your dreams, not with your physical eyes, and these occurrences are registered in your brain for you to remember when you wake up. So If you do not remember your dreams or don’t dream at all, then what does your spirit man see or do when you fall upon your bed and sleep? There is double danger when you do not dream or remember your dreams because if God talks to you, you will forget or won’t even hear him.
Dreams are mentioned at least 121 times in the bible. For example:
- God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands” (Gen. 20:3-5).
- God communicated a wonderful promise to Jacob through a dream.
- God spoke to Leban “a warning to him, which was similar to Abimelech’s dream.
- If anyone was noted for having dreams from God and knowing the future because of such, it was Joseph (Gen. 37:2).
- Pharoah’s dream: His dreams about the future were significant and led to many important events.
- Gideon was encouraged by a dream from the enemy
- God appeared to Solomon in a dream and had a conversation with him which resulted in his special God-given abilities (1 Kings 3:5-15)
When the dream is from God, the dreamer is left calm, quiet, and reasonable, with open and clear mind. Why? Because regardless of the situation, God comes to comfort us, to give us directions, instructions, guidance, correction, revelations, exhortation, encouragement and assurance (Job 33:15-19). But if the dream is from the enemy, the dreamer will feel empty, confused, terrified. In fact, the dream will not make sense. Why? …Because the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Some dreams can be ignored while others must be taken seriously. For example, if you experience a night mere on a night you were very angry, agitated, argued with someone, or overfed yourself. Examples of false dreams are seen in the following scriptures:
“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD (Jer. 23:31,32).
“The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd” (Zec. 10:2).
Howbeit, dreams are very important whether they are true or multitude of businesses. On Pentecost, Peter spoke the following words which refer back to the book of Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams (Acts 2:17). Clearly, more people will begin to dream and see visions in these last days so listen to God and be one of them! | <urn:uuid:58c563c0-f307-46f4-8e4a-c590d768e467> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.thankgodforjesus.org/when-we-dream-why-you-should-dream-and-remember-your-dreams/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281574.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00026-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95727 | 1,147 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Adverse reactions to food encompass food poisoning, food aversion, and non-immunological food intolerances (including dietary indiscretion) as well as true food allergy, but the frequent misuse of the expression 'food allergy' to describe any such reaction has confused our understanding. Yet the prevention of any adverse reaction to food is simple: feed a diet that excludes the offending foodstuff and the patient will be free from clinical signs. Client and patient compliance is obviously essential, but the key to successful management is making the diagnosis and identifying the foodstuff that must be excluded. It is here that difficulties arise, although the relatively recent advent of hydrolysed diets has broadened the choice of suitable exclusion diets.
True food allergy is a reproducible adverse reaction to a specific food or food additive with a proven immunological basis, and which typically causes dermatological and/or gastrointestinal (GI) signs. The diagnosis is in vogue with pet owners, and the growth in special veterinary exclusion and hydrolysed diets would suggest that the condition is both common and readily diagnosed. Neither is necessarily true: other causes of pruritus and gastrointestinal signs are more common and, as some of them respond to dietary manipulation, and these should be ruled out before an exclusion diet trial is performed.
The cornerstone of the diagnosis of food allergy remains the response to dietary manipulation. The principle of an exclusion (elimination) diet trial is to feed dietary components to which the animal has not previously (or recently) been exposed. This diet should be the sole source of nutrition for the duration of the trial. Complete owner compliance is essential, and it must be stressed that all treats and supplements must be withheld. Clinical signs should resolve on exclusion of the offending dietary component and return with rechallenge.
Objective criteria by which to judge a response to a diet trial are generally lacking, especially as the signs of other diseases may also respond to dietary manipulation. Walker et al. (2013) studied 30 dogs with food-responsive chronic enteropathy and showed that, compared with controls, duodenal biopsies showed a higher overall WSAVA score, with villus stunting, increased lamina propria eosinophils and ultrastructural changes. There was some improvement in eosinophils and ultrastructural changes after an exclusion diet trial. Yet these microscopic changes are not pathognomonic and studies demonstrating complete histopathological resolution after a diet trial are rarely reported.
Options for exclusion diets include both home-prepared and commercial single-source protein diets, and hydrolysed protein diets. Traditionally, exclusion diets were composed of single protein and carbohydrate sources. The literature suggests that in dogs the most frequent foods incriminated are beef, dairy products, and gluten (wheat protein), whilst in cats, beef, dairy products, and fish are reportedly significant causes. However, the prevalence of allergy to different food substances may simply reflect geographical variation in the nature of the foods most commonly fed. Lamb or chicken or rabbit with rice or potato have been historical choices for home-prepared diets but, given the increased diversity of pet diets, these components are often not appropriate. Thus, more esoteric food sources may be required.
Home-cooked diets have been preferred to commercial diets because of reports of relapse when patients are switched to an equivalent commercial diet. However, many clinicians recommend the use of a commercial diet initially, because it is easier for the owner and thus compliance is enhanced. A wide range is now available, containing different sources of protein (e.g., chicken, soy, fish [capelin, catfish and salmon], venison, or duck) and carbohydrate (e.g., rice, corn [maize], tapioca, or potato). Thus, it should be possible to find an appropriate diet in most cases, although manufacturers cannot always guarantee a constant supply of diets with more exotic components.
Hydrolysed protein diets, usually based on either chicken or soy protein, are an alternative exclusion diet. Such diets are significantly more expensive to produce than standard exclusion diets, and both palatability and owner compliance may be problematic. In principle, the hydrolysis process splits proteins into components of a molecular weight below that which would be expected to elicit an immune response. Most veterinary hydrolysed diets (e.g., Hill's z/d ULTRA Allergen-freeTM and z/d Low AllergenTM, Purina HA®, Royal Canin Hypoallergenic, Affinity Advance® Hypoallergenic) contain peptides with an average molecular size in the range of 5 to 15 kilodaltons. Yet to completely abolish all antigenicity, peptides need to be less than 1 kD, but at that size they usually have a bitter taste. Very recently, a diet containing free amino acids and much smaller (< 1 kD) oligopeptides (Royal Canin Anallergenic®) has been marketed; it is too soon to know whether this offers any further advantages. But even at the molecular size achieved in most hydrolysed diets (i.e., 5 to 15 kD), peptides/proteins are too small to be able to cross-link IgE molecules on mast cells, and type I reactions should be abolished.
Hydrolysed diets are currently the easiest way to guarantee the feeding of novel "protein," and this approach has become the preferred method for many clinicians. Studies have suggested a beneficial effect of such diets, although it has not been proven that such diets have an advantage over traditional single-source protein exclusion diets. However, some clinicians now claim a positive response to a hydrolysed diet alone in a majority of cases that typically would have been treated with steroids in the past. Again histological evidence of resolution is usually lacking, but hydrolysed diets may be a useful treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), even if diet is not the actual cause. Hydrolysed diets may contain anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, or even simply provide an inflamed intestine with a more digestible diet that the diseased gut can assimilate. Thus, animals with what would formerly have been termed idiopathic IBD, now called chronic enteropathy, may benefit clinically from a hydrolysed diet and food trial is recommended before commencing steroid therapy.
Once remission is achieved with an exclusion diet trial, the patient should be challenged with the original diet to demonstrate relapse and confirm the diagnosis. However, some clients refuse challenge, particularly if relapse is likely to bring recurrence of diarrhoea. After relapse during the challenge phase, for clients who are willing, a series of provocation tests can be performed to identify the offending food or foods. Remission is first regained by "rescue" with the exclusion diet, and single foodstuffs are then introduced sequentially as provocation tests. If there is no relapse, the food is identified as "safe," and the next food is tested; if there is a relapse, rescue is repeated and the food is identified as "unsafe." When all the offending foods have been identified, or at least sufficient safe ones have been recognized to permit the choice of a regular diet, the animal is maintained on a safe diet.
Given the difficulties of diet trials, indirect allergy blood tests have been attempted; unfortunately, none are reliable in veterinary medicine for the diagnosis of a food allergy.
1. Cave NJ. Hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice. 2006;36:1251.
2. Foster AP, et al. Serum IgE and IgG responses to food antigens in normal and atopic dogs, and dogs with gastrointestinal disease. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 2003;92:113.
3. Hannah SS, Laflamme DP, Marks SL. Hydrolysed proteins in diets for the management of food hypersensitivity or inflammatory bowel disease. In: Proceedings of the WSAVA/FECAVA World Congress; 2000: 517.
4. Jackson HA, Jackson MW, et al. Evaluation of the clinical and allergen specific serum immunoglobulin E responses to oral challenge with cornstarch, corn, soy and a soy hydrolysate diet in dogs with spontaneous food allergy. Veterinary Dermatology. 2003;14:181.
5. Osborn DA, Sinn J. Formulas containing hydrolysed protein for prevention of allergy and food intolerance in infants. Cochrane Database Systematic Review. 2003;(4):CD003664.
6. Ricci R, et al. A comparison of the clinical manifestations of feeding whole and hydrolysed chicken to dogs with hypersensitivity to the native protein. Veterinary Dermatology. 2010;21:358.
7. Walker D, et al. A comprehensive pathological survey of duodenal biopsies from dogs with diet-responsive chronic enteropathy. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2013;27:862. | <urn:uuid:b0f8c640-4e53-4355-8095-50341586a0f3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=12886&catId=57099&id=7054666&ind=126&objTypeID=17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570879.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809003642-20220809033642-00669.warc.gz | en | 0.928998 | 1,848 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Want Your ACO To Succeed? …Focus On Improving Doctor/Patient Communication
The basic premise of the Accountable Care Organizations is simple enough. By incentivizing providers (physicians and hospitals) to assume financial responsibility for coordinating the health care of a defined patient population, it is possible to increase the quality of care while decreasing the cost of care delivery.
For ACOs to succeed, experts tell us that 3 things are required: 1) health information technology is needed to track and manage patient populations, 2) redesigned care delivery processes are needed to support patient care coordination, and 3) the right set of provider financial incentives must be in place.
The improvements in quality and cost effectiveness in large part are predicated upon providers being able to engage patients with the goal of changing their health behavior.
The problem is that most physicians lack the patient-centered communication skills needed to engage patients in their own health care not to mention persuade patients to change their health behavior.
An Example – Physician and Patient “Meeting of the Minds”
I think we can all agree that “telling patients what to do” is not an effective patient engagement or behavior management strategy. After all, if patients don’t agree with or understand the rationale for a recommendation from their doctor, they are not likely to comply with it.
Rather, a meeting of the minds by physicians and patients is needed…and that requires physicians understanding the patient’s perspective. The evidence bears this out. Higher ratings of trust, satisfaction, and intention to adhere occur when patients see themselves as similar to their physicians in personal beliefs, values, and communication.
The problem is that physicians and patients often disagree on even the most fundamental issues…and herein lies the problem:
- Doctors & patients disagree on the principal reasons for office visits 53% of the time.
- There is “substantial discordance” between the problems patients describe to physicians and the symptoms that physicians document in the EMR.
- For diabetic patients who cited pain or depression as their top health concern their physicians rated these conditions “as likely to affect the patient’s health outcomes” in only 9% and 32% of cases respectively. (Remember, 95% of the treatment for diabetes is patient self care).
- 41% of patients disagree with their physician as to whether their presenting symptoms represented a psychological versus a medical problem.
- Physician perceptions of “how pleased, cheerful, relieved, worried, angry, and disappointed” they thought the patients were during office visits differed significantly from patient rating of how they actually felt.
- Physicians tend to underestimate the patient’s desire for health information in 65% of visits.
So What’s The Take Away?
Many physicians today are ill prepared to assume the role or financial responsibility of care coordination (or care management) given their lack of patient-centered communication skills. Notice I didn’t mention lack of time since effective use of patient-centered communication skills over time can actually save providers time.
Unless and until medical groups, hospitals, health plans, CMS, and ACOs address this critical shortcoming through providing physicians with the training, tools and resources needed to develop and refine patient-centered communication skills, ACOs will not deliver on their promise of more effective and efficient medical care.
That’s my opinion. What’s yours?
Street, R. et al. (2008) Understanding Concordance in Patient-Physician Relationships: Personal and Ethnic Dimensions of Shared Identity. Annals of Family Medicine. 6:198-205.
Greer, J. and H. R. (2006). Predictors of Physician-Patient Agreement on Symptom Etiology in Primary Care. Psychosomatic Medicine, 282, 277-282.
Stein, T. et al. (1999) Inaccuracies in physicians’ perceptions of their patients. Medical Care. Nov;37(11):1164-8.
Keulers, B. J., Scheltinga, M. R. M., Houterman, S., Van Der Wilt, G. J., & Spauwen, P. H. M. (2008). Surgeons underestimate their patients’ desire for preoperative information. World Journal of Surgery, 32(6), 964-70.
Street, R. et al. (2008) Understanding Concordance in Patient-Physician Relationships: Personal and Ethnic Dimensions of Shared Identity. Annals of Family Medicine, 6:198-205.
Freidin, R., et al. (1980). Patient Physician Concordance in Problem Identification. Annals of Internal Medicine, (93), 490-493.
Stein, T. et al., Inaccuracies in Physicians’ Perceptions of Their Patients. Medical Care. 1999 Nov;37(11):1164-8.
Pakhomov, S. et al. (2008). Agreement between Patient-reported Symptoms and their Documentation in the Medical Record. American Journal Of Managed Care, 14(8), 530-539. | <urn:uuid:88ed87ac-c6be-4c14-81d5-6b07daa61f64> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.healthworkscollective.com/steve-wilkins/77656/want-your-aco-suceed-then-your-better-focus-improving-how-your-doctors-patients- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00044-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91118 | 1,060 | 1.96875 | 2 |
« السابقةمتابعة »
Young, the Diffident, and the Neglected. The Purpose of this Exhibition is not to enrich the Artists, but to advance the Art; the Eminent are not flattered with Preference, nor the Obscure insulted with Contempt, whoever hopes to deferve public Favour, is here invited to display his Merit.
Of the Price put upon this Exhibition fome Account may be demanded. Whoever sets his Work to be shewn, naturally desires a Multitude of Spectators; but his Delire defeats its own End, when Spectators affemble in such Numbers as to obstruct one another. Though we are far from wishing to diminish the Pleasures, or depreciate the Sentiments of any Class of the Community, we know, however, what every one knows, that all cannot be Judges or Purchasers of Works of Art : yet we have already found by Experience, that all are desirous to see an Exhibition. When the Terms of Admirfion were low, our Room was thronged with such Multitudes as made Access dangerous, and frightenened away those whose Approbation was most defired.
Yet, because it is seldom believed that Money is got but for the Love of Money, we shall tell the U se which we intend to make of our expected Profits.
Many Artists of great Abilities are unable to sell their Works for their due Price ; to remove this Inconvenience, an annual Sale will be appointed, to which every Man must send his Works, and send them if he will without his Name. These Works will be reviewed by the Committee that conduct the Exhibition. A Price will be secretly set on every Piece, and registered by the Secretary. If the Piece exposed is sold for more, the whole Price shall be the Artist's ; but if the Purchaser's Value it at less than the Committee, the Artist shall be paid the Deficiency from the Profits of the Exhibition.
Το' Τ Η Ε
In which is delineated what a News-Paper may
and ought to be.
T has always been lamented, that of the little
Time allotted to Man, much must be spent upon Superfluities. Every Prospect has its Obstructions which we must break to enlarge our View : Every Step of our Progress finds impediments, which however eager to go forward we must stop to remove. Even those who profess to teach the Way to Happiness, have multiplied our Incumbrances, and the Authour of almost every Book retards his Instructions by a Preface.
The Writers of the Chronicle hope to be easily forgiven, though they should not be free from an Infection that has seized the whole Fraternity, and instead of falling immediately to their Subjects, should detain the Reader for a Time with an Account of the Importance of their Design, the Extent of their Plan, and the Accuracy of the Method which they intend to profecute. Such Premonitions, though not always necessary when the Reader has the Book complete in his Hand, and may find by his own Eyes whatever can be found in it, yet may more eally be allowed to Works published 8
gradually in successive Parts, of which the Scheine can only be fo far known, as the Authour shall think for to discover it.
The Paper which we now invite the Public to add to the Papers with which it is already rather wearied than satisfied, consists of many Parts; some of which it has in common with other periodical Sheets, and Tome peculiar to itself.
The first Demand made by the Reader of a Journal is, that he should find an accurate Account of foreign Transactions and domestic Incidents. This is always expected, but this is very rarely performed. Of those Writers who have taken upon themselves the Talk of Intelligence, fome have given and others have fold their Abilities, whether small or great, to one or other of the Parties that divide us; and with out a Wish for Truth or Thought of Decency, without Care of any other Reputation than that of a stubborn Adherence to their Abettors, carry on the fame Tenor of Representation through all the Viciffitudes of Right and Wrong, neither depreffed by Detection, nor abafhed by Confutation, proud of the hourly Increase of Infamy, and ready to boaft of all the Contumelies that Falsehood and Slander may bring upon them, as new Proofs of their Zeal and Fidelity.
With thefe Heroes we have no Ambition to be numbered, we leave to the Confessors of Faction the Merit of their Sufferings, and are desirous to Thelter ourfelves under the Protection of Truth, That all our Facts will be authentic, or all our Re. marksjust, we dare not venture to promise: We can relate but what we hear, we can point out but what we fee: Of remote Tranfactions, the firft Accounts are always confused, and commonly exaggerated; and in domestic Affairs, if the Power to conceal is less, the Interest to misrepresent is often greater ; and what is fufficiently vexatious. Truth seems to
fly fly from Curiosity, and as many Enquirers produce: many Narratives, whatever engages the public Attention is immediately disguised by the Embellish, ments of Fiction. We pretend to no peculiar Power of disentangling Contradiction or denuding Forgery, we have no settled Correfpondence with the Antipodes, nor maintain any Spies in the Cabinets of Princes. But as we shall always be conscious that our Mistakes are involuntary, we shall watch the gradual Discoveries of Time, and retract what we have hastily and erroneously advanced.
In the Narratives of the daily Writers every Rca, der perceives somewhat of Neatness and Purity want. ing, which at the first View it seems easy to supply; but it must be considered, that those Passages must be written in Hafte, and that there is often no other Choice, but that they must want either Novelty or Accuracy; and that as Life is very uniform, the Affairs of one Week are fo like those of another, that by any Attempt after Variety of Expression, Invention would soon be wearied, and Language exhausted. Some Improvements however we hope to make ; and for the rest we think that when we commit only common Faults, we shall not be excluded from common Indulgence. The Accounts of Prices of Corn and Stocks are to most of our Readers of more Importance than Narratives of greater Sound, and as Exactness is here within the Reach of Diligence, our Readers may justly require it from us.
Memorials of a private and personal Kind, which relate Deaths, Marriages, and Preferments, muft always be imperfect by Omission, and often erroneous by Misinformation; but even in these there fhall not be wanting Care to avoid Mistakes, or to rectify them whenever they shall be found.
That Part of our Work, by which it is diftin. guished from all others, is the literary Journal, or
Account of the Labours and Productions of the Learned. This was for a long Time among the Deficiencies of English Literature, but as the Caprice of Man is always starting from too little to too much, we have now amongst other Disturbers of human Quiet, a numerous Body of Reviewers and Remarkers.
Every Art is improved by the Emulation of Competitors ; thofe who make no Advances towards Excellence, may ftand as Warnings against Faults. We shall endeavour to avoid that PetuJance which treats with Contempt whatever has hitherto been reputed facred.
We shail repress that Elation of Malignity, which wantons in the Cruelties of Criticism, and not only murders Reputation, but murders it by Torture. Whenever we feel ourselves ignorant we shall at least be modest. Our Intention is not to pre-occupy Judgment by Praise or Cenfure, but to gratify Curiosity by early Intelligence, and to tell rather what our Authours have attempted, than what they have performed. The Titles of Books are neceffarily short, and therefore disclose but imperfectly the Contents ; they are fometimes fraudulent and intended to raise false Expectations. In our account this Brevity will be extended, and these Frauds whenever they are detected will be exposed; for though we write without Intention to injure, we Shall not suffer ourselves to be made Parties to Deceit.
If any Authour shall transmit a Summary of his Work, we fhall willingly receive it ; if any literary Anecdote, or curious Observation shall be communicated to us, we shall carefully infert it. Many Facts are known and forgotten, many Observations are made and suppreffed ; and Entertainment and Instruction are frequently lost, for want of a Re | <urn:uuid:62b85cdf-5660-46d4-a7f9-decf4b8ab723> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://books.google.com.eg/books?id=nbAIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA153&vq=%22Reprefentations+of+general+Nature.+Particular+Manners+can+be+known+to+few,+and+therefore+few+only+can+judge+how+nearly+they%22&dq=editions:ISBN0013106716&lr=&hl=ar&output=html_text | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571147.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810040253-20220810070253-00474.warc.gz | en | 0.962471 | 1,898 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Notre Dame announces pastoral plan for gay, transgendered students, including student organization
December 19, 2012
The University of Notre Dame has announced a pastoral plan “for the support, holistic development and formation of students who identify as GLBTQ [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning], as well as their heterosexual friends and allies.”
In its plan, the university states that “its goals and objectives, as well as its programs and initiatives, are consonant with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The University calls all Notre Dame students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to the disciplined development of the theological virtue of charity, the cardinal virtue of justice, and the moral virtue of chastity in lives of self-giving love.”
allows for the creation of a recognized Student Organization designed to provide peer-to-peer support, direct service opportunities, and friendship for GLBTQ students and their heterosexual allies … due consideration is to be exercised so as to avoid any political or social activities that might compromise Notre Dame’s Roman Catholic allegiance and commitments.
“There is substantial cause for concern about the soundness” of the pastoral plan’s implementation, said law professor Gerard Bradley. “For example, the plan says that Notre Dame affirms Church’s teaching, which distinguishes between homosexual acts and the homosexual condition, and that the condition itself is not sinful. But the plan nowhere affirms the Church’s teaching that the condition is itself objectively disordered.”
“I believe there is a need at Catholic universities to provide pastoral care and support to persons with same-sex attraction,” said Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne – South Bend. “This is what Notre Dame’s 'Pastoral Plan' is attempting to do.
“This pastoral care should help the students not to feel unwelcome or alienated in the community, but also help them to lead chaste and holy lives,” he continued. “Promoting chastity is an important part of our pro-life commitment.”
“The Sixth Commandment that calls to chastity follows the Fifth Commandment that calls us to respect life,” added Bishop Rhoades. “It is the connection between life and love.”
- Beloved Friends and Allies: A Pastoral Plan for the Support and Holistic Development of GLBTQ and Heterosexual Students at the University of Notre Dame
- Notre Dame’s Plan for a Faithful Homosexual Outreach (National Catholic Register)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
Posted by: koinonia -
Dec. 19, 2012 7:00 AM ET USA
The chaste Christian life is essential. Charitable pastoral direction in concert with the sacramental gifts of the Church and docility of students' intellects and wills in receptiveness to God's grace is indicated. Catholicity involves unity in belief, practice and purpose in concert with the Church and with Christ's teaching. It's fundamentally inclusive for those who desire to participate in unity and in docility to the Master. It necessarily involves the cross. Is this the case at ND? | <urn:uuid:9b370b5e-b219-4368-958e-1298d4e1c46a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=16574 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560282202.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095122-00548-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940885 | 700 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Food Advertising Fails
|April 20, 2010||Posted by Lauren under Health News, Misc|
Did you know that the food industry spends MORE money each year than tobacco on advertising? Yearly, over $30 billion is invested in both direct advertising and promotions to get people to eat more food (particularly food that is energy dense and full of additives, sugar, salt – all those things that we tend to find addicting!).
I’m sure you’ve all seen and heard advertisements that seem less than true. From diet products to “healthy” fast food meals, advertisements can run the gambit from just stretching the truth to telling outright lies.
Today I wanted to highlight two of my “favorite” advertisements that are currently being run. The first is a radio ad from coca-cola. Their new “Open Happiness” campaign focuses on making coke “fun” again. Basically, if you’re in need of a little happiness, open up a bottle of Coke for an instant smile.
You can watch the full Music Video here, but here is the chorus: (Not gonna lie, it’s a catchy tune! ;)).
C’mon lift me up (it’s a brand new day)
Open up a lil happiness today
So I can be someone new
C’mon and lift me up (to a better way)
Open up a smile on another face
So I can (feel something new)
Open up some happiness
Open up some happiness
Open up some happiness…
The radio advertisement (sorry I couldn’t find an mp3 of it online!) goes something like this. The catchy “Open Happiness” song starts playing (ooo…is this a new song on the radio?? I like it….) and then after going through the chorus once, a woman’s voice breaks in to tell us that having family time can be hard. But with the new coca-cola contour bottle, family time is easier than ever. So grab a bottle of coca cola, and enjoy some time with your family!
Seriously? I’ll admit it’s a catchy tune but saying coke = happiness is a stretch enough. Now coke = easy family time? Yes, I’m sure it is quick to whip out a liter of coke and pass it around the dinner table, but how much longer does it take to pour everyone a glass of water??
As little sense as that commercial makes, at least Coke doesn’t try to pretend it’s actually good for the health of your family. These next commercials imply just that.
I’m sure you’ve all seen them — the new high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) commercials that aim to make viewers feel like idiots for ever questioning the health benefits of this substance.
Corn syrup is everywhere (literally). Because corn is a highly subsidized crop, using corn syrup in products in place of sugar is much cheaper. Not only that, but it keeps your food nice and moist and we tend to like the way it tastes. Will eating it in “moderation” kill you? No. But to suggest that pouring your kids a glass of the stuff is healthy is completely false. Seriously — neither is pouring your kids a glass of sugar.
My aim here is not to make a case regarding why you shouldn’t eat corn syrup. While I personally have been trying to cut it out as much as possible, I don’t get too bent out of shape if I consume it sometimes. Case in point – the amount of jelly beans I’ve been eating these past few weeks. 😉
All I suggest is that you do your research – there are plenty of resources online. Here are a few to get you started: a Wikipedia article about HFCS, an article from the Mayo Clinic, an interesting article on MSN Health that actually highlights the difference between sugar and HFCS, and concerns about HFCS for those with diabetes. Of course (to be fair), you can read what the Corn Refiners Association (i.e. the people who developed the above commercials) has to say about it here.
The advertising industry is pretty powerful. It can make us want to buy things we never thought we needed…or that we secretly know aren’t very good for us. And with so much conflicting information out there about what we should and shouldn’t eat, it can sometimes be hard to know what to believe.
On the Lighter Side
You can actually find a ton of HFCS-spoof commercials on YouTube. Most are dripping with sarcasm. The following satire is one of my favorites (spin off of commercial number 2):
And finally, here is an article from The Onion announcing Coca-Cola’s decision to introduce a new 30-Liter size bottle.
What other food advertisements have you seen/heard that are completely ridiculous, a little shady, or downright false? | <urn:uuid:741265a6-aaa0-41f3-99fa-2b10d2bf855e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.healthontherun.net/misc/food-advertising-fails/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285315.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00566-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944137 | 1,049 | 1.789063 | 2 |
What should we do if we find that different Bible translations actually contradict?
Some versions of the Bible are more interpretive than others, and this is usually done to simplify the reading. One translation may sound very different from other translations, when in actuality, they are generally saying the same thing. This is basically true for all the major translations, though slight differences do exist. This is why it is helpful to study more than one translation if one does not know the original Hebrew or Greek. Even then it is helpful to see how other scholars have viewed the text.
We must realize that our translations are just that | <urn:uuid:45b2e4ac-dd3a-4bfc-92f3-49b859e8e718> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://bible.org/question/what-should-we-do-if-we-find-different-bible-translations-actually-contradict | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280825.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00206-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945593 | 124 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Introduction to Biomedical Engineering is a comprehensive survey text for biomedical engineering courses. It is the most widely adopted text across the BME course spectrum, valued by instructors and students alike for its authority, clarity and encyclopedic coverage in a single volume. Biomedical engineers need to understand the wide range of topics that are covered in this text, including basic mathematical modeling; anatomy and physiology; electrical engineering, signal processing and instrumentation; biomechanics; biomaterials science and tissue engineering; and medical and engineering ethics. Enderle and Bronzino tackle these core topics at a level appropriate for senior undergraduate students and graduate students who are majoring in BME, or studying it as a combined course with a related engineering, biology or life science, or medical/pre-medical course. Features: new: each chapter in the 3rd Edition is revised and updated, with new chapters and materials on compartmental analysis, biochemical engineering, transport phenomena, physiological modeling and tissue engineering. Chapters on peripheral topics have been removed and made avaialblw online, including optics and computational cell biology; new: many new worked examples within chapters; new: more end of chapter exercises, homework problems; new: Image files from the text available in PowerPoint format for adopting instructors; readers benefit from the experience and expertise of two of the most internationally renowned BME educators. Features: instructors benefit from a comprehensive teaching package including a fully worked solutions manual; a complete introduction and survey of BME; new: new chapters on compartmental analysis, biochemical engineering, and biomedical transport phenomena; new: revised and updated chapters throughout the book feature current research and developments in, for example biomaterials, tissue engineering, biosensors, physiological modeling, and biosignal processing; new: more worked examples and end of chapter exercises; new: Image files from the text available in PowerPoint format for adopting instructors. As with prior editions, this third edition provides a historical look at the major developments across biomedical domains and covers the fundamental principles underlying biomedical engineering analysis, modeling, and design. Bonus chapters on the web include: Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology, Genomics and Bioinformatics, and Computational Cell Biology and Complexity. | <urn:uuid:0eb79589-842b-42e7-ad27-ae6913c8d98a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | https://www.zookal.com/introduction-to-biomedical-engineering-9780123749796/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560283689.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095123-00353-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917249 | 445 | 2.453125 | 2 |
NBC moderator Lester Holt asked the two candidates Monday night for guidance on what they would do to address the issues of race that have dominated the national discourse over a summer of violence.
Both candidates said the country must rebuild trust between police and the communities they serve with little explanation of how that would happen. They differed, greatly, however, on other ideas.
Clinton, for example, said, “the gun epidemic is the leading cause of death of young African-American men, more than the next nine causes together. We have to tackle the plague of gun violence, which is a big contributor to the problems we’re seeing today.”
Trump repeated a mantra, one his said Clinton refuses to mention: “Law and order.”
“We need law and order in our country,” he said. “I just got today the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. We have endorsements from, I think, almost every police group.
“We have a situation where we have our inner cities, African-Americans, Hispanics are living in hell because it’s so dangerous.”
Trump also reiterated his call to legalize and expand the “stop and frisk” program that had been in use in New York but that was blocked by the courts.
Complete debate coverage | <urn:uuid:24565e3d-8f3c-4f46-8c2f-8cfe49e406b2> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/09/26/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-differ-bicker-on-race/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988725475.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183845-00510-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974627 | 273 | 1.648438 | 2 |
North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan has
come out against a proposed constitutional amendment which would ban
gay marriage in the state.
Voters will decide on the measure
during North Carolina's May 8 presidential primary.
If approved, the amendment would bar
North Carolina from recognizing the relationships of gay and lesbian
couples with marriage, civil unions and possibly domestic
“In today's hyper partisan political
environment, I view any attempt to alter our state constitution with
a critical eye,” Hagan, a Democrat, said in a statement released to
“Amendment One has far-reaching
negative consequences for our families, our children and our
communities. North Carolina is one of the most business-friendly
states in the nation, and this amendment would harm our state's
ability to recruit the innovators and businesses that are driving our
economic recovery. Jobs are my number one priority, and we cannot
afford to take our eye off the ball and give businesses a reason to
grow and expand elsewhere,” she said.
Republican Senator Richard Burr, North
Carolina's senior senator, has not spoken directly on the amendment,
but he has previously supported an amendment to the Constitution
which would define marriage as a heterosexual union.
“None of us ever want to change the
Constitution,” Burr said during a 2004 debate. “But I can't
think of any institution more important in this country than marriage
being between a man and a woman.” | <urn:uuid:2de16a09-3fc8-42c3-9ba4-29009930c9b7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.ontopmag.com/article/11051/Kay_Hagan_Says_North_Carolina_Gay_Marriage_Ban_Would_Harm_Business | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00164-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952015 | 314 | 1.8125 | 2 |
With a finance degree from Gies Business, you’ll be prepared for achievement on this thriving, dynamic subject. Finance college students learn to value tasks, firms, and securities.
What are the 3 types of finance?
Types of Finance
As individuals, businesses, and government entities all need funding to operate, the finance field includes three main subcategories: personal finance, corporate finance, and public (government) finance.
On a quarterly foundation, or more regularly if deemed necessary, the Company formally rates each portfolio investment on a scale of one to 4. Each funding is assigned an initial score of a “2” underneath the belief that the investment is performing materially in-line with expectations. An investment score of a “4” could possibly be moved to non-accrual status and the ultimate growth could possibly be an actual realization of a loss by way of a restructuring or impaired sale. Additionally, the Company had $300.0 million of SBA-guaranteed debentures outstanding as of March 31, 2021.
Online Program Prices For 2020
Plus, by setting up strong financial controls and reporting from the start, a small business is ready for the increased scrutiny that will come because it grows. Financial controls are required by law for publicly-traded companies.
- The challenging a part of the equation is often in determining how this worth can be monitored on a person level.
- If monitoring cash, organizing finances coming in and going out of a corporation and working with numbers seems interesting, then a monetary clerk career may be in the future.
They desire a piece of the pie, typically attaining partnerships standing via their funding. They could wish to give input on the business, offering their ideas and expecting them to the implemented. For the savvy startup with few different options, angel buyers current an enormous alternative for quick growth and shared expertise, but the fee is losing some autonomy in the way Business you run your company. If you’re OK taking on a associate for the lengthy-haul, it’s a perk worth considering. Family and associates can also be a supply of technical or coaching support. Don’t hesitate to include them in business plans, when acceptable. As with something that includes loved ones, try not to let emotions get in the way in which of a strong funding plan.
New Mountain Finance Company Declares Monetary Outcomes For The Quarter Ended March 31, 2021
In addition, an excellent information of regulatory compliance procedures is crucial. A commitment to educational excellence and skilled success is the inspiration of every of our applications. Students who complete this diploma could have the additional credits needed to fulfill the a hundred and fifty-hour requirement to sit for the Certified Public Accountant Examination in many states and to fulfill the 150 hour CPA licensure requirement in Maryland.
Lenders will notify credit bureaus when a loan is placed in default, which could have a sharply adverse effect on a business credit rating. Factor charges are used to calculate the cost of borrowing in sure business financing products, together with merchant money advances. A frequent instance is a business owner who provides up a share stake in their business to an investor in exchange for a sum of money.
Division Of Finance And Advertising
After Lan transfer into a brand new position we received Pete as our Account rep. He had massive shoes to fill, however did incredible as properly. One of the most effective firms I actually Finance have had the pleasure of working with, the staff are extremely helpful and take the time to reply all your questions, I dont have a single grievance about them.
Interest charges and prices for these differ, but they are usually restricted to these companies making revenues within the tens of millions of dollars. Online loans differ in scope, value, and objective, however it is assumed that they are more environment friendly and might produce a quicker turnaround from application to funding. Many also can give you a pre-approval, to let you understand when you’ll have good possibilities of qualifying, your common mortgage quantity, and the prices – earlier than you ever apply. In return, online loans are sometimes dearer, as they won’t Business & Finance undergo the identical vetting process as a standard lender. Some traditional banks could offer 100% on-line loan products, as nicely, together with the extra in style short-term loans. It could possibly be numerous components, however the main difference is that the bulk of the mortgage utility course of is finished on-line. A typical online lender will not require you to come into the lender in particular person to confirm or complete paperwork. | <urn:uuid:c746a026-8cc8-4c9d-98d4-d0882daaa524> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://infopartner24.xyz/division-of-business-and-finance-3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571246.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811073058-20220811103058-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.958543 | 937 | 2.375 | 2 |
Beijing: China's state-run newspaper daily on Wednesday said that India, a major power, rarely plays up to other nations, while noting that the national interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies.
An opinion piece "US intervention resisted by Indian culture" in the Global Times on Wednesday said: "As a major power, New Delhi rarely plays up to other nations. This has been one of India's most significant features since it gained independence in 1947. National interest is always prioritised in New Delhi's foreign policies."
The US was "disappointed" over India's decision not to issue visas to members of a US commission that reviews violations of religious freedom around the world, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said last week.
"As the White House is attaching more importance to its ties with New Delhi in recent years, how the visa refusal will affect the US-India relationship is worth exploring," said the article by Zhuang Guotu, professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.
The article said this is not the first time the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been refused visas. The panel was denied access to India in 2009 also.
"Given the independent and self-reliant stance of the Indian government, there is little likelihood for other powers to draw New Delhi over to their camps. Refusing visas to the US delegation is consistent to India's traditional way of handling its foreign relations," it said.
The article noted that the US has long been attempting to use its soft power, especially its system of values, to influence the internal affairs of other nations.
"Since US President Barack Obama came into office, the White House has attached great significance to manipulating US smart power, a combination of hard power and soft power strategies, to influence others."
It added: "However, to Washington's disappointment, New Delhi has the capability and determination to resist US-led Western cultural infiltration. While almost all the other civilized nations have been Westernised in many aspects of life, India has shown high confidence in its traditional culture."
"Compared with other nations, Western culture has exerted little influence on New Delhi."
The article observed that cultural confidence is a key driving factor for India to stick to its own religions, ideologies and customs.
It went on to say that judging from the current situation, "the White House is attaching increasing importance to its relationship with India".
"Following the rise of East Asia and South Asia, the whole of Asia is carrying more weight in the international system. As a major state that can reshape Asia's power pattern, India is becoming increasingly vital to the White House."
"While Washington needs to draw New Delhi to its side to counter Beijing, the Indian government, which eyes the maximization of its interests, will not back off in the interactions with the US. This is why India has flatly refused to grant visas to the US religious panel this time."
The professor wrote that the visa refusal may be a retaliatory measure to an unpleasant incident that happened in 2010 as well.
"Then Indian ambassador to the US Meera Shankar was singled out and frisked by a security agent at US airport, allegedly because she was wearing a sari. This was unacceptable to India, which later strongly protested to the US," the article recalled.
"The principle of reciprocity is honoured in Indian diplomatic activities. It is unsurprising for India to retaliate over this unpleasant incident six years later."
The article predicted that cultural collision between the US and India will see an intensifying trend in the future.
"The US will continue to infiltrate its system of values into India by all possible means, to which New Delhi will still firmly reject," it said.
It added: "The ruling BJP is a Hindu nationalist party. Denying visa to religious panels reflects the determination of the administration of Narendra Modi to protect local cultures and religions. Tougher US intervention will see firmer resistance from India." | <urn:uuid:1e8fbdb7-6aa5-48f9-8d4d-39e8a9504d57> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.firstpost.com/world/for-us-resistant-india-national-interest-has-always-been-key-in-discussing-foreign-policies-chinese-daily-2677978.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280504.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00142-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960238 | 816 | 2.046875 | 2 |
When Albert Fredrick Arthur George was born on December 14, 1895, few suspected that he would one day be king. But when his older brother Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David abdicated in 1936 after only 326 days on the throne–and went from being King Edward VIII to the Duke of Windsor–the younger brother, also known as Bertie (and Queen Elizabeth’s dad) became King George VI.
And it’s been a big couple of years for him at TIFF: The King’s Speech won over just about everyone in 2009 and last year Madonna held her North American premiere of W.E.–about Wallace Simpson and the Duke of Windsor (George VI’s brother)–at the festival.
This year, audiences will see him portrayed on the big screen on September 10 at TIFF in Hyde Park on the Hudson: a film based on a week in the summer of 1939 when President Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the king (Samuel West) and queen (Olivia Colman) in upstate New York.
Here’s a round-up of the actors who’ve portrayed King George VI in film:
1. Hyde Park on the Hudson (2012), played by Samuel West
2. The King Speak (2011), played by Nicholas Hosting
3. W.E. (2011), played by Laurence Fox
4. The King’s Speech (2010), played by Colin Firth
5. Churchill, the Hollywood Years (2004), played by Harry Enfield
6. Sekret Enigmy (1979), played by Andrzej Mrozewski | <urn:uuid:ebff363d-ef56-4158-bde9-e882e42142a6> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/tiff-2012-here-comes-king-george-vi-again/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721141.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00415-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962233 | 350 | 1.554688 | 2 |
After all these years, I still do not understand how to use force duration.
The half note in the example has force duration on it, as soon as I tie it to the preceding eighth note, it all falls apart. Why?
AC/DC shouldn’t be so hard… but then again, “It’s harder than it looks…”
All the best,
If you really want to use Force Duration, use it left-to-right, i.e. set it on the eighth note. At the moment the eighth ties to the half, the half ceases to exist, it gets incorporated into the eighth. So any properties or otherwise set on the half are similarly “overridden” by the eighth - and if Force Duration isn’t set on the eighth, it’s not set on the new, amalgamated note.
But also, why force yourself (pun intended) to set this for every instance, when there are Note Grouping defaults in Notation Options that handle this for you (or should, if you’re in 4/4?).
You’re right! I overlooked:
“Notes starting after the start of the bar of multiple beats in duration.”
The picture saved me.
I normally do not have problems finding the right options, but this one got away… | <urn:uuid:8df14a16-eb92-4748-9fdd-7159dfb3ad94> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://forums.steinberg.net/t/force-duration-for-dummies/752390 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571987.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813202507-20220813232507-00276.warc.gz | en | 0.889885 | 294 | 2.203125 | 2 |
The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
Preventing and responding to physical dangers and injuries in humanitarian settings is a core part of the mandate of the global Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. This webinar examines Child Protection Minimum Standard (CPMS) 7, Dangers and Injuries. Based on a practitioners’ survey and an extensive literature review, it reviews existing provision and shortfalls. Finally, it makes recommendations for child protection workers, humanitarians in other sectors, donors and policy makers. | <urn:uuid:bc2a299d-92a7-4fd5-a0d9-43b90c329777> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/child-protection-humanitarian-action-webinar-review-dangers-and-injuries/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571911.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813081639-20220813111639-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.779339 | 139 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Cuts out the selected object and stores it on the clipboard. The object can be reinserted from the clipboard by using Paste.
Inserts the element that you moved to the clipboard into the document. This command can only be called if the contents of the clipboard can be inserted at the current cursor position.
Opens a submenu in the Gallery where you can choose between Copy and Link. The selected Gallery object is either copied into the current document or a link is created.
Ako si odabrao objekt u svome dokumentu, tada novi unos će zamijeniti selektirani objekt.
Inserts the selected picture as a background graphic. Use the submenu commands Page or Paragraph to define whether the graphic should cover the entire page or only the current paragraph.
Copies the selected element to the clipboard.
Deletes the current selection. If multiple objects are selected, all will be deleted. In most cases, a confirmation question appears before objects are deleted.
Objekt je ili fizički obrisan ili je prikaz objekta uklonjen, ovisno o kontekstu.
If you choose Delete while in the Gallery, the entry will be deleted from the Gallery, but the file itself will remain untouched.
Use the Open command to open the selected object in a new task.
Enables a selected object to be renamed. After selecting Rename the name is selected and a new one can be entered directly. Use the arrow keys to set the cursor at the beginning or end of the name to delete or add to part of the name or to reposition the cursor.
Updates the view in the window or in the selected object.
Odabrani element se prikazuje u galeriji pri maksimalnoj veličini. Dvostruko kliknite na pregled da biste se vratili u normalni pogled galerije.
This command can be activated if an object is selected. A link named "Link to xxx" (xxx represents the name of the object) will be created directly in the same directory as that of the selected object. | <urn:uuid:ca7e4dcb-3586-4e51-a812-194fdce0131f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/hr/text/shared/00/00000010.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571745.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812170436-20220812200436-00466.warc.gz | en | 0.765447 | 475 | 1.671875 | 2 |
How is .NET able to support multiple languages?
A language should comply with the Common Language Runtime standard to become a .NET language. In .NET Web Development, code is compiled to Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL for short). This is called as Managed Code. This Managed code is run in .NET environment. So after compilation to this IL the language is not a barrier. A code can call or use a function written in another language.
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests) | <urn:uuid:b5903785-a8ae-42c5-af2b-4761aba736c7> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?276213-How-is-NET-able-to-support-multiple-languages&p=1261003&mode=threaded | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281162.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00534-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90837 | 116 | 2.640625 | 3 |
- September 15, 2020
- Posted by: avantconsulting
- Category: SME Loans
5 Alternative Ways to Finance Your Business – When it comes to business, it is needless to say that capital is required, and financing can be tricky at times. Especially when the economic outlook is bleak, it poses some difficulties for businesses. Business loans are not at all foreign to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). At some point in time, you would most likely apply for a business loan for financing purposes. However, banks may have stricter regulations in approving loans so SMEs may find it difficult to raise funds. Hence, we have compiled the alternative funding solutions.
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending
P2P lending, also known as crowdfunding, is an option for businesses. Unlike a bank loan, borrowers and lenders are often connected via an online lending platform. Therefore, businesses that require funding can be matched to potential lenders. The more common P2P lending platforms in Singapore include Funding Societies, Validus and Minterest.
P2P is also very popular because of the ease of getting loan and also the speed to getting it.
The quantum that they are lending out though is much lower than the other options.
- Finance leasing
This is commonly adopted by sellers. It is the idea of using someone else’s money to make a profit and subsequently using that to make a loan repayment. There are 2 main types of finance leasing – direct finance leasing and sale-leaseback.
For direct finance leasing, it is an arrangement where the lessor leases their assets (e.g. equipment) with the aim of profiting from the interest payments made by the lessee. When interest repayment has been fully paid for, the lessor can transfer the ownership of the asset to the lessee and terminate the lease. Alternatively, the lessor can choose to retain its ownership too.
For a sale-leaseback arrangement, the lessee sells the asset to the lessor and then leases it back from the lessor. When the lease term ends, the asset would return to the lessee. So why do companies do that? Why don’t they just keep the asset? Well, the advantage of sale-leaseback is the access to cash flows without affecting the company’s operations.
Finance leasing is also great because it is a off-balance sheet financing method, meaning it is not reflected under the liabilities portion of the company’s balance sheet.
- Project financing
It is a way to have your business project completed while safeguarding the company’s assets. This is a loan structure that is primarily relies backed by the company’s assets and project’s cash flow. This is attractive to the private sectors as companies can fund projects off-balance sheet. On top of that, such financing method is usually for large-scale and long-term projects. Hence, it would be more commonly adopted for infrastructural projects like the construction of buildings, train tracks and power plants.
For Singaporean companies, maybe to buy a small machine to install and already getting the award from the company will mean you are able to get the funds back. You can work on getting more project financing done and allowing your company to take on more projects.
- Supply chain financing
This is a method that improves the efficiency of transactions across different parties. It is how businesses have a longer window period to make their payment to their suppliers while allowing their suppliers to get paid early. It provides short term credit that optimizes working capital for both buyers and sellers.
However, this method may not be suitable for all. It works well if you as the buyer has a better credit rating than the seller. With a better credit rating, you are more likely to be able to source funds from banks or financial institutions. With this, it sets you at a better position to negotiate with the seller and you can try to fight for better trading terms such as – longer payment period.
- Invoice financing or factoring
It is a way for companies to borrow using invoices that are owed by their customers. This would be a good short-term financing option, especially for SMEs. Generally, lenders would finance up to 70%-90% of the total invoices. Such financing method poses less risk to lenders as the invoices signals payment by customers in the future. Hence, it is expected that the amount would be paid back.
Invoice financing is one of the best ways for businesses to get more projects and more cash flow.
Avant Consulting looks forward to listening to your needs and giving you the necessary advise for your business needs. | <urn:uuid:2170b17e-7d02-4ed6-87e2-ad962800bab8> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.avantconsulting.sg/5-alternative-ways-to-finance-your-business/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570767.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808061828-20220808091828-00471.warc.gz | en | 0.966062 | 968 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Holistic Spiritual Counseling
What is holistic counseling?
If you've had counseling in the past from either a psychologist or psychiatrist, you know that some of their concerns will be: what are the behaviors, thoughts and feelings that impact on you and those around you in your life.
This group of therapists will give you a diagnosis, set up a cognitive/behavioral treatment plan and possibly prescribe medication to help you manage how you behave.
The Holistic Spiritual Counselor will also include the behaviors, thoughts and feelings, but he will work with you from a Mind, Body, Spirit Model perspective. Simply put, it means that the Holistic Spiritual Counselor works from the premise that if the body feels miserable, it is the result of negative thinking and feelings and low spiritual energy.
When the spirit of the person is low, it affects the body as well as how one feels and thinks. The Holistic Spiritual Counselor sees this connection with the Mind, Body and Spirit and works with the individual from this perspective.
What can a Holistic Spiritual Counselor do for me that is different from a traditional therapist?
The Holistic Spiritual Counselor will listen with compassion and will view each situation and presenting issue from a Mind, Body, Spirit Model.
He'll assess your coping skills and evaluate your strengths. He'll help you create new goals -- and he'll show you how to realize those goals.
The Holistic Spiritual Counselor will be your guide. He'll teach you self-help empowerment skills to increase your coping ability, lower your anxiety and enhance your spiritual connection with your Higher Power (God).
What is Holistic Spiritual Counseling?
Just as you have physical, emotional, psychological and intellectual needs, you can have very strong spiritual needs as well.
Have you ever experienced a time when you didn't feel connected with yourself, the world, nature or your Higher Power (God)?
When your counselor is both comfortable with and competent to include spirituality into the focus of a counseling situation, it's very helpful and empowering. At Holistic Spiritual Counseling Services, we focus on the Mind, Body and Spirit of the whole person.
How is this different from seeing a Priest, Rabbi or Minister of my Church?
The Holistic Spiritual Counselor does not address your religious beliefs. He explores with you the spiritual aspects of your life that need to be healed and incorporated back into your life.
Is there a difference between what is religious and what is spiritual?
Yes, there is a difference between what is religious and what is spiritual.
A person can have a spiritual practice without being religious and without going to Church. As well as a person can have a religious practice but not feel spiritually connected.
The Holistic Spiritual Counselor works with the individual to find their spiritual path, how to stay connected with their Higher Power, to manifest gifts from the universe, and how to become aware of the peace and love that exists within you and the world.
What type of new learning tools can the Holistic Spiritual Counselor teach me?
You'll learn personal self-help breathing and relaxation exercises, new stress management strategies and skills. You'll learn to listen to your body when it is tense and how to be in touch with your inner spiritual power and ability to relax and let go.
You'll have the option of receiving a Reiki sound table treatment, toning, acutonics tuning forks, Emotional Freedom Technique, Guided Imagery for self-healing, and Qi Gong for wellness. You'll have the option of learning Mindfulness Meditation and other meditation practices that help your mind and body to relax and restore joy and peace within.
You will also have the option of learning to reconnect spiritually with your Ancestors, to explore how the wounds and pain of the past have had an effect upon your family system and how the wounds of the Ancestors may affect you now. | <urn:uuid:d2d3393c-02be-4ebd-97ad-15835483c4e3> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.holistic-spiritual-counseling.com/faq/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280891.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00152-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952794 | 800 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Due to a recent rise in cases, the World Health Organization declared the spreading monkeypox outbreak a global public health emergency on Saturday, July 23. Here's what you should know.
With July being Park and Recreation Month and this year’s theme being “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation,” Clement Lau, a departmental facilities planner with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, shares one way for park and recreation professionals to rise up: telling our stories.
NRPA’s SNAP and WIC Outreach Toolkit provides information for park and recreation professionals on how to provide SNAP/WIC outreach directly to community members, connecting them to enrollment and retention assistance for increased access to affordable and healthy foods.
The August issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today’s bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, titled, “Homelessness: How Can I Help?”
National Farmers Market Week, taking place August 7-13, is an annual celebration hosted by Farmers Market Coalition that highlights the vital role farmers markets play in the national food system.
On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're discussing how Montgomery County, Maryland, is celebrating Latino Conservation Week with Michelle Ramirez, the public outreach specialist for Montgomery Parks.
On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we map out all the resources you need to have a successful Park and Recreation Month this July. | <urn:uuid:9806134f-5936-46ae-b8a7-82a617c731bb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.nrpa.org/blog/2022/7/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572163.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20220815085006-20220815115006-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.919533 | 309 | 1.5625 | 2 |
The agave's claim to fame is as the plant from which the distilled adult beverage Tequila, named after the nearby town that made it famous, is produced.
But that may change. A sweetener created from the agave plant could lower blood glucose levels for the 26 million Americans and others worldwide who have type 2 diabetes and even help the obese lose weight, according to a paper presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The reason is that agavins, a natural form of sugar found in the agave plant, are non-digestible and can act as a dietary fiber, so they would not raise blood glucose. Agavins are the only carbohydrates used to produce the drink. All ethanol in tequila comes from the fermentation of glucose and fructose generated after agave pines are cooked. But because the agavins are converted to ethanol, agavins are not found in the finished product.
"We have found that since agavins reduce glucose levels and increase GLP-1, they also increase the amount of insulin," said Mercedes G. López, Ph.D. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that slows the stomach from emptying, thereby stimulating production of insulin. She added, "Agavins are not expensive and they have no known side effects, except for those few people who cannot tolerate them."
In addition, agavins, like other fructans, which are made of the sugar fructose, are the best sugars to help support growth of healthful microbes in the mouth and intestines, she said. López, who is with Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Biotechnology and Biochemistry Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, also noted that agavins can help people feel fuller, which could help them eat less.
Agavins contain fructoses since agavins are fructans - fructoses linked together in long, branched chains - the human body can't use them in that configuration, so they don't affect blood sugar. Agavins also sometimes get confused with agave nectar or agave syrup, which appears on many health-food store shelves. These products contain fructans that have been broken down into individual fructoses, so they are much more similar to high-fructose corn syrup.
Also, she and her team said agavins are better than artificial sweeteners, which are absorbed by the body and can cause side effects, like headaches. "One slight downside, however, is that agavins are not quite as sweet as their artificial counterparts," she said.
López said that in the study, her team fed a group of mice a standard diet and added agavins to their daily water. They weighed the mice daily and checked their glucose blood levels weekly. Most mice that drank agavins ate less, lost weight and their blood glucose levels decreased when compared to other sweeteners such glucose, fructose, sucrose, agave syrup and aspartame.
"This study represents the first attempt to evaluate agavins as sweeteners in spite of their lower sweetness compared to sugar,'" she said. | <urn:uuid:2ec82370-746a-4d12-b365-1c1a7bbd7622> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.science20.com/news_articles/tequila_plant_may_be_good_diabetics-131813 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280835.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00050-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956385 | 671 | 2.625 | 3 |
Oil demand slumps in August(Read article summary)
Total petroleum deliveries for August 2012 were at their lowest level for the month in 15 years and domestic oil production followed similar trends, according to OilPrice.com.
A U.S. energy trade group said the petroleum market in the country was hit by slumping demand. Total petroleum deliveries for August were at their lowest level for the month in 15 years and domestic oil production followed similar trends. Unemployment figures and data from the manufacturing sector were listed as contributing factors. Overseas, meanwhile, the IMF said there were short-term prospects for recovery, though trouble was brewing over the horizon.
The American Petroleum Institute reported that U.S. petroleum deliveries were down to 18.6 million barrels per day. While this represents a 2.8 increase from the previous month, it reflects a 4.3 decline from the same period last year and marks a 15-year low for the month. Petroleum deliveries are an indication of market demand and the API's chief economist, John Felmy, said levels for August are indicative of a lacklustre economy. (RELATED: US Navy Develops a Technique to Produce Jet Fuel from Sea Water)
"Given the nation’s weak employment situation, it’s no surprise petroleum demand was off," he said in a statement. "Contraction in the manufacturing sector probably also reflects the slipping numbers."
The U.S. rate of unemployment has stayed above 8 percent for 43 consecutive months, the longest period since World War II.
Gasoline demand for August was down 0.4 percent compared to the same time last year. Hurricane Isaac, which struck the southern U.S. coast as a Category 1 storm late August, shuttered gulf coast production, causing a spillover effect in retail markets. Some regions of the United States saw prices hover above $4 per gallon for several weeks after the storm. API, however, said demand for gasoline was down nearly a full percentage for the year. (RELATED: Coal Set for a Strong Comeback in Europe)
Imports of crude oil, however, declined but so did the number of rigs operating in the United States, API said. No mention was made by the API of White House considerations for a drawdown from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The industry group, which represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, said crude oil stocks were up 2.7 percent compared to August 2011, but down nearly 2 percent from their July levels.
Overseas, OPEC, in its latest monthly report, said it expected the Eurozone to return to growth after suffering further contractions this year. Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said expiring tax cuts and spending cuts in the United States presented a "serious" risk to the health of the global economy. For the Eurozone, the situation was notably worse.
"We continue to project a gradual recovery, but global growth will likely be a bit weaker than we had anticipated even in July, and our forecast has trended downward over the last 12 months," she said in a statement. | <urn:uuid:21fb6f50-4027-4ba2-8025-b552a9257bf0> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://m.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/0927/Oil-demand-slumps-in-August | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280761.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00089-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970967 | 631 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Last days of school for 2016
As she loves riding so much, it's also a great opportunity to stimulate her vocabulary. Lynda has been helping her to practice putting 3 words together, so she has managed to say "Asher on bike". Well done Asher. It's wonderful to watch you learning and growing so much.
Hannah enjoying a cuddle with Anakin and Stripes.
It looks like we will be choosing between these two.
We have 3 black and white ones, so they ended up getting named after Star Wars characters. The one with more black was being called Blackie by Hezekiah, so we said we should call him Darth Vader. It was decided that Anakin was preferred though. The female was called Princess Leia at first, but then Hezekiah pointed out that she should actually be called Padme Amidala. So her nickname is now Princess Padme. The suggestion for the last black one was then Chewbacca. It was fun having names for them, even though we aren't keeping them all. It just makes it easier to talk about them with each other - as we then knew who we were talking about.
This grey one has a thin white band over his neck and light stripes down his back. So he is just simply Stripes, and the other grey one is Smokey.
The primary school sang a song. We could hear Hezekiah singing at the top of his voice. We had gotten his attention so that he knew we were here. It was so cute seeing all the little kids waving to their parents when they were spotted.
Such a special thing for them to stand up infront of the whole school and all the parents.
Good job Hannah. You really have made wonderful progress with your reading.
Her award reads "This special award recognises students who have consistently shown our R.I.S.E. values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence."
Well done Ruth. We are very proud of you. Thank you for being such a great example to your younger siblings too.
Asher was showing off this afternoon as she used the older children's scooter. She is really good on her own one (with 3 wheels) but it's a lot more tricky with just 2 wheels. She is doing really well with it though.
Hannah brought a tomato plant home too - so that got planted as well. The pumpkin plant that is already there was one Ruth got from the local PGG store (as a seedling) which is also for the biggest pumpkin competition at the show.
Brendon got his hedge trimmer out and I trimmed them, while she got paid for removing all the cuttings. There were a number of wheelbarrows full. Hezekiah enjoyed helping her, so she paid him a bit of what she earned. Ruth just got into it and got so much done through the afternoon. Brendon watched Asher so that I could get out there and so some work too. It was great for me to also get that time working outside and it always helps Ruth having company while she works. I trimmed the hedge as far as I could, but we will need to sort a longer cable for Brendon to finish the hedge tomorrow.
Ruth was thrilled when I suggested she then get the Christmas tree set up. We haven't gotten around to putting it up over the last couple of years, but we decided Asher should be ok with leaving it this year, so it went up. The few presents that have been wrapped already got put under it and Ruth is thrilled. She really does love Christmas. | <urn:uuid:4f25c890-4a84-47f2-9a33-ebdefc642c9d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://bbuckland.blogspot.com/2016/12/last-days-of-school-for-2016.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571719.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812140019-20220812170019-00268.warc.gz | en | 0.990887 | 745 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The following paper is a curriculum for learning basic computer science concepts using World of Warcraft and the scripting language Lua. I wrote the paper with two other MIT students while taking Eric Klopfer's course "Computer Games and Simulations for Education and Exploration" (11.127/CMS.590) in March, 2011. It was originally published on my MIT site. I am archiving it here for anyone who is interested in learning how video games can be used for education. See "A curriculum for learning computer programming in WoW" for background on this project.
Curriculum: Teaching Computer Science through WoW Scripts
Andrew Hsiao, Ian Lamont, Michele Pratusevich
CMS.590: Professor Klopfer
1 March 2011
For decades, games have introduced young people to computer programming. Early exposure to programming games has been a stepping stone to careers in computer science and technology-related entrepreneurship. There are many well-known examples. Long before he built Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg reveled in creating computer games with his friends, and Salesforce.com cofounder Marc Benioff got his start in the computer industry as a teenage designer of games for Atari home computers.
But even among young people who don't become programmers or found startups, there is a widespread awareness of the role in programming in creating games. There comes a point in the life of a typical primary school student that he or she will wonder how handheld, console, or web-based games are made, and the answer will come back that someone - or a group of people - entered a series of instructions into a computer to make it display images, play sounds, and perform functions that make up the gameplay. Some of the more dedicated gamers or curious tinkerers may be compelled to take things a step further by designing their own games, or modifying existing games ("modding") to extend the gameplay in some fashion. In doing so, these youths learn many elementary programming concepts, including computer languages, software tools, and fundamental computer science building blocks such as variables and functions.
Many others, however, will never take that next step. They will be aware of the role of programming in creating games and other software, but will never learn specific concepts or the practical aspects of computer programming.
Teaching Computer Science through WoW Scripts is designed to help non-programmers bridge the gap. The following series of four exercises is designed to be the beginning of a course in teaching high-school students basic computer science concepts, as well as critical thinking skills, using the online role-playing game World of Warcraft and the scripting language Lua. The curriculum is aimed at teenagers who have never been exposed to computer programming or played the game, although those with some experience may be able to develop more advanced scripts to use in the game. Students will learn how computer languages work, including core concepts such as if statements, loops, and variables.
With these foundations, students can then learn more complicated programming concepts such as functions to develop their own complex customizations of WoW. In a more comprehensive computer science curriculum, the concept of saving scripts that can be run much more easily using macros would be explained. For an advanced curriculum, the creation of add-ons would provide a practical purpose to programming and scripting. However, because add-on creation is involved and complicated, it is not one of the exercises described here.
World of Warcraft (WoW) is a sword-and-sorcery fantasy world that lets anyone with a PC or laptop and an Internet connection battle monsters, find virtual treasure, and play with other people who are online at the same time. The world is not unlike J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, or the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons. It was launched by Blizzard in 2004, and is one of the top online role-playing games, with millions of users in the United States, China, and elsewhere.
Lua is a powerful, lightweight programming language that is known as a "scripting language." Scripting languages enable control of an application (in this case, World of Warcraft) but Lua has also been used for other games, industrial applications, and consumer hardware platforms.
"Scripts" are small computer programs that perform a very specific function. Typically, they are a very precise set of instructions that the software environment (i.e., WoW or some other program) can understand. Sometimes they are as short as a few sentences of text. In a game like WoW, a script might display extra information about a monster that is attacking a player, or help a player find a new route to a certain destination. Many first curricula in computer science use scripting languages to teach fundamental computer science concepts because they have more gradual learning curves than other kinds of programming languages. Scripts do not require installing compilers and interpreters that come with more complex programming languages. After learning basic programming concepts in a scripting language, more complicated programs can be written using multiple scripts.
Specific computer science topics, exercises, and outcomes in the WoW programming curriculum are listed below.
Instructors may wonder why a gaming environment is being used to learn programming concepts, as opposed to textbooks and traditional classroom lectures. Besides the obvious interest that games hold for young people (according to a recent survey, 80% of American teens aged 12-17 own a game console ), the practice of experimenting in a game world reinforces what James Paul Gee refers to as the Probe, Hypothesis, Reprobe, Rethink Cycle. As noted by Gee in What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy, this cycle is required to learn complex and fast-moving video games in immersive 3D environments, like the one found in WoW. The four-stage cycle works as follows:
- The player must probe the virtual world, which involves looking around the current environment, clocking on something, or engaging in a certain action.
- Based on reflection during and after probing, the player must form a hypothesis about what something (a text, object, artifact, event, or action) might mean in a usefully situated way.
- The player reprobes the world with that hypothesis in mind, seeing what effect he or she gets.
- The player treats this effect as feedback from the world and accepts or rethinks his or her own original hypothesis.
But the process is not limited to learning how to survive an attack by a monster or find a certain treasure in a video game. The Probe, Hypothesis, Reprobe, Rethink Cycle can be applied to a variety of extracurricular learning situations. It is part of humans' innate ability to recognize patterns, self-reflect on outcomes based on success/failure feedback cycles, and derive powerful learning experiences. "It's how children learn," Gee writes, "when they are not learning in school."
For the WoW programming curriculum, the Probe, Hypothesis, Reprobe, Rethink Cycle will take place on two levels. Learning to program requires cycles of experimentation and testing on the code, in order to make sure it works and improve the functionality. There is also the effect of the scripts on the gameplay itself, which students can also probe and test in a shared environment with their classmates. Some students may want to share their "mods" with each other, or cooperatively work on more complex tasks (for instance, dividing up coding and testing responsibilities). Such behavior adds to the learning experience and encourages critical thinking and teamwork in a shared environment of peers.
Tools you will need
Students will need to have World of Warcraft installed on the laptop or PC they are using for class. They should register their game, create a player, and experiment with the world before starting the exercises. We recommend that each player spend at least three hours in WoW and reach at least level 3 before starting the first exercise. Before attempting an exercise, students' characters should be in a town or other place where they will not be attacked or disturbed.
The basic tool needed to create scripts in Lua is the WoW game itself. Very simple yet powerful scripts can be created right in the chat box of WoW. The first exercise describes in some detail how this is done. For creating more complex scripts, a basic text editor like Notepad (that comes standard with every PC) or TextEdit (included with every Mac) can be used to edit the scripts before pasting them into the WoW chat box. Students will not need to use external text editors (outside of the WoW chat box) to create scripts until they are at a level where they are using macros to hold their scripts.
Before starting on the exercises, students should be aware that there are a plethora of resources available online about writing Lua scripts, macros, and add-ons. World of Warcraft has built-in functions that are available through an "application programming interface" (shorted to API) that can be used in any script. An API is just a collection of functions and properties of the language that can be used by the programmer. Information about the WoW API can be found here.
Summary of class exercises
1. Beginning programming concepts and Hello World
Creating a simple program that displays the text "Hello World" is a long tradition in teaching new computing languages to students. In this exercise, students will use the Lua scripting language to display "Hello World" in the WoW chatbox.
In the first activity the student will learn how to accomplish one of the simplest tasks in programming: outputting a message. With this program, the student will be able to "print" statements. Explain to the student the meaning of "print" in programming jargon: being able to "print" refers to being able to output text to some sort of interface the programmer can see. When programming in Lua in World of Warcraft, that interface is the chat box. An important thing to note when printing to the chat box is that whatever is printed will not be broadcast to the world. Rather, it is only printed in the chat box of the user who is running the script. The student should be shown this script to print a message to the chat box:
/script print("Hello World!");
Take a look at the components of this program. First the statement "/script" is typed into the chat box to denote the start of a Lua script. All scripts you type into the chat box will start with this statement.
Next there is the statement "print". This function is provided by the World of Warcraft API to give the programmer the opportunity to print statements to the chat box. Built-in functions can be used in any program to accomplish tasks the programmer does not want to hard-code himself. Many of the built-in functions in any environment or programming language accomplish tasks that would be very difficult to code by the programmer.
When a function such as "print" is used by the programmer, it is referred to as a function call. The function calls using the built-in functions in WoW are straightforward - the function call "print("Hello World!")" takes the chat frame at the bottom left of the screen and adds the message "Hello World!" to it.
The ""Hello World!"" between parentheses immediately after the function is what is called the argument of the function. Arguments are parameters that are used by the function to accomplish a specific task and usually vary between function calls. In this particular case, the text can be changed to anything that the programmer wants to be output to the chat box.
The semicolon at the end of the statement denotes the end of a logical statement in the script. A semicolon is required at the end of every logical statement. This is a confusing concept to first-time programmers, but hopefully the examples provided in the exercises will give more insight about this. It is up to the discretion of the teacher how much they want to enforce and encourage the use of semicolons.
Note that the text must be put between quotation marks to be recognized as a valid text input. Each function requires its own special formatting for the arguments, but for outputting text to a chat box, the text must be enclosed in quotation marks. Notice how the text is printed on one line in the chat box. To print something that spans multiple lines, use the sequence of characters "\n" (it means "new line", back from the days of the first programming languages). When this sequence is inserted into a block of text, the text that comes after it will be on a new line. So the code:
/script print("Hello \n World!");
will print "Hello" and "World!" on different lines. Finally, the statement is closed with a semicolon. In Lua, a semicolon denotes the end of a line of code. When typing scripts into the chat box, the semicolon is necessary for the chat box to understand that it is finished running the script and can begin taking normal chat box input again.
Text is not the only thing that can be printed to the chat box. Text in the context of programming is referred to as a string. The reason that the text must be put between quotation marks in the print statement is that the script only recognizes strings when they are put between quotation marks.
Strings are only one type of input that the script recognizes. If a script sees a number, it treats it differently than a string. A whole number in the context of programming is referred to as an int (short for integer). Ints can be used in arguments of function calls, but they do not need to be surrounded by quotation marks. This idea of strings and ints brings up a more advanced concept in computer science that would be revisited in a more advanced exercise: the idea of types of input that the script sees. The students learning computer science through WoW Scripts do not need to understand the idea of types, but they should know that the script treats numbers and text differently.
Using print statements are useful in programming for a variety of reasons. When needing to test outputs of programs that are more complicated or wanting the user to see a certain message, print statements are a simple way of achieving this goal.
As an additional exercise, a student should modify the above code to print his or her name into the chat box. Modify the code to print numbers as well - keep in mind that numbers do not need to be surrounded by quotation marks.
2. Conditional statements
This section is intended to introduce students to basic control flow using if statements. Explain to students what control statements do: if statements take a conditional statement, and then execute a specific section of code depending on if the conditional statement is true or false. Present the following script to the students:
if (IsPartyLeader()) then
print("I am the leader of my party!");
print("I am not the leader of my party.");
In one line for in-game use the script would look like:
/script if (IsPartyLeader()) then print("I am the leader of my party!"); else print("I am not the leader of my party."); end;
"IsPartyLeader()" is a function like "print", except this function does not take any arguments because it does not need information from the user to perform its task. All the information it needs is automatically gathered from the game. In this case, it will be true if the player calling the function is the leader of a party, and false otherwise. The reason for the "()" at the end of the function call is that all function calls must contain these parentheses. However, not all function calls require arguments between the parentheses.
Have the students log on to WoW and pair up. Have one student in each pair create a party and invite the student they are paired with. Then have both students run the script and verify that the one that is the leader has the message "I am the leader of my party!" in their chat window and the other student has the message "I am not the leader of my party." Then have the second student invite the first student to a party and have them both run the script again, and verify that both students have the other message printed out to their chat window. After the students have had a chance to try it out themselves, walk them through the execution of this script, pointing out how the control flow differs for each case, and how the game decides which message to print.
Now have the students modify the script so that if they are outdoors, the script prints out "I am outdoors!" otherwise the script prints out "I am indoors." The relevant function you should have them use is the IsOutdoors() function. The end result should look similar to the following code:
if (IsOutdoors()) then
print("I am outdoors.");
print("I am indoors.");
To run the script in-game the following should be typed into the chat window:
/script if (IsOutdoors()) then print("I am outdoors."); else print("I am indoors."); end;
To have students test out their scripts, have them use their hearthstones to get to a town or city, and then stand outside the doorway to a building. Run the script while outside, then walk into the building and run the script again. The two messages should print out into their chat windows.
At the end of this module students should understand how if statements work.
This section details how to introduce students to variables, both in terms of what kinds of variables there are (types) and how to use them in scripts. The concepts of ints and strings were introduced in the first exercise but are given a more thorough (but not complete) examination here. Explain the concept of variables to students: variables are placeholders for other values, and are usually used to allow for easier manipulation of whatever data you are working with. Show the following code snippet to the students:
When showing how to translate the expanded code into the one liner for in-game usage, make sure to point out that since we are putting all of the code into one line, we have to include a semicolon between the statements as a delimiter for where one statement ends and the next begins. The in-game code would be the following:
/script local a=3; local b=4; print(a*b);
Have the students run the script on their own machines. Next explain the difference between local variables and global variables. Local variables only exist for the one single run of the script, while global variables persist even after the script has finished running. Local variables must be specifically declared as such; if there is no "local" keyword before the variable is defined, the game will assume you want the variable to be a global variable. To demonstrate, have the students enter the following:
/script print(a); print(b);
They should get "nil" as a result both times. "nil" means that there is nothing there, that the game thinks the variable is undefined. Now have them run the first script with the local keywords taken out:
/script a=3; b=4; print(a*b);
And then run:
/script print(a); print(b);
This time they should get "3" and "4" printed to their chat boxes instead of "nil".
Finally we want to teach the students that there are different types of variables. This is explaining with an example the difference between an int and string that was introduced in the first exercise. Show them the following script and ask them what they think will happen:
local d="Hello, World!";
After having them guess, have them run it in-game:
/script local c=2; local d="Hello, World!"; print(c*d);
They should have nothing print out at all. This is because "c" is representing a number while "d" is representing a string, and the game has no idea how to multiply a number to a word; it only knows how to multiply if it has two numbers. When something goes wrong in a "/script" command, the game will simply stop running the script, which is why nothing is being printed out.
At the end of this exercise students should understand that variables are placeholders for other concrete values, and that there are both local and global variables as well as different kinds of variables. As an exercise, have the students do some basic calculations with print statements based on the experience points and money awarded by a quest. An example of such an exercise would be printing the name of a quest and then the ratio of the number experience points to the number of money awarded by the quest.
Loop statements repeat a specific computing task. By the end of this activity, students will be able to create a loop that goes through their players' extensive inventories of weapons, armor, treasure, and other objects, and displays them in the chat box.
The outcome for this second activity is to teach students the basic programming control flow of for loops. A for loop is a control flow used in computer science to complete a repeated action. Automating this process instead of typing out the same line of code or executing the same action multiple times saves time and effort. A simple version of a for loop can be used to for example print 10 messages to the chat box:
/script for i = 1, 10 do print("Again!") end;
What is happening in this script is simple: the for loop syntax counts from 1 to 10 inside the loop, executing whatever statements are between the "do" and "end" tags. There can be more than one statement between the "do" and "end" tags, since any action can be executed inside of a loop.
The use of "i" in the for loop is called a counter. It is a variable (taught in the previous activity) that keeps track of the number of times the for loop has been executed. To change the number of times the for loop is executed, simply change the numbers after the variable "i". This variable can be used inside the statements of the for loop (between the "do" and "end" tags) to do any number of things - for example, you can print the variable itself inside the for loop:
/script for i = 5, 8 do print(i); print("\n"); end;
And the script will print the numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 in the chat box on separate lines. There are many things you can do with for loops in the context of the game. For example, try the following exercises:
- 6 times, if the player is the party leader, print "I am the party leader!"
- Challenge: using online resources and the World of Warcraft API to write a script that loops through all the items in your bags and prints out their names in the chat box.
Students should be level 3 or higher in World of Warcraft and have active accounts prior to starting the lessons. Explaining some of the basic definitions (Lua, script, chat box, etc.) and discussing the test environment (i.e., WoW) should take no more than 45 minutes. Each exercise should take one 45-minute class session to complete, although instructors may want to devote more time to certain lessons if students need more time to experiment with the scripts.
An important thing to note about learning programming is the self-help portion. To become proficient programmers knowledgeable about programming concepts and execution, students should spend time experimenting with writing their own scripts. The more time students spend on the exercises, the better of an understanding of computer science concepts they will have.
Once the lessons are complete, some students may be interested in progressing beyond the curriculum exercises. A good place to start is the WoW API, which will provide many interesting built-in functions to experiment with. To get started with macros, please visit http://www.wowwiki.com/Making_a_macro .
The simple exercises that follow will reinforce some of the basic concepts described above. Any subset of these exercises can be used as an assessment of concepts learned. The teacher can decide which exercises to use as an assessment and which can be used as additional practice assignments. Exercises are grouped by concepts. In all exercises, students should be encouraged to test the scripts they have written. For example, for the first conditional statement exercise below, students should be encouraged to run the script first when they are targeting another character and then later when they are not targeting another character.
- Ask the students to use print to display the first names of three of their classmates on three separate lines in the chat box
/script print("Andrew"); print("Ian"); print("Michele");
- Ask the students to use print as a calculator to calculate the amount of copper they have in their possession. The conversion rate is 1 silver piece equals 100 copper pieces. They should just manually open their bag to see how much silver and copper they have, converting and adding the numbers to calculate the total amount of copper they have.
/script print("I have ");print(3*100+52);print(" copper.");
- Using the WoW API, find the relevant functions to accomplish the following task: check to see whether you have a character targeted. If you do, print a statement saying so. If you don't print an alternate statement.
/script if(UnitHealth("playertarget")~=0) then print("TARGET ACQUIRED!!"); else print("I don't have a target..."); end;
- Using the WoW API, find the relevant functions to accomplish the following task: if you are swimming or not swimming, print a relevant statement.
/script if(IsSwimming()) then print("I am swimming."); else print("I am not swimming."); end;
- Design a simple script using variables and the built-in function GetMoney() to print the number of silver pieces in your possession. This is building on one of the additional exercises from the built-in functions - automating finding the amount of money you have in your possession instead of having to look in the bag yourself. Use print() to give context to the number displayed. GetMoney() returns the number of copper pieces in the player's possession. The conversion rate is 1 silver piece equals 100 copper pieces.
/script a=GetMoney(); b=100; print("You have "); print(a/b); print(" silver pieces");
- Design a script that prints out how much money you would make if you sold every item in your backpack. Use the following code snippet to get the sell price of an item:
local itemSellPrice=select(11, GetItemInfo(itemID));
Every time the previous line of code is run, the variable itemSellPrice will contain the sell price in copper of the item with the ID of itemID. The function GetContainerItemID will be useful here; read its documentation in the WoW API.
- Example solution:
/script local total=0; for i=1,9 do local itemSellPrice=select(11,GetItemInfo(GetContainerItemID(0,i))); total=total+itemSellPrice; end; print("My items are worth"); print(total); print("copper.");
Note that the ending index of the for loop must equal the number of items in the student's backpack, and that all the items must be packed as tightly towards the top of the backpack as possible (i.e. there can be no gaps). | <urn:uuid:5f20d585-0135-4ff4-a851-946299bd094a> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.ilamont.com/2012/02/teaching-computer-science-through-wow.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280900.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00006-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929296 | 5,686 | 3.390625 | 3 |
Hundreds of kids got an up close and personal with animals on Friday at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds during 4-H day.
About 500 students from Columbiana County were invited out for the day, which is now in its fourth year.
The day is designed to teach students about the fair, the 4-H program and possibly get students to join 4-H.
Some of today’s activities were designed to let students know the program just is about more than the animals.
“What today is really (is) a day to show them that we’re really interested in the STEM activities, which is the science, technology, engineering and math,” said 4-H Extension Educator Katie Houk. “We’re really interested this year. We had a group teaching about the parliamentary procedure, which is the proper way to run a meeting, so they got to see a little demonstration about that.” | <urn:uuid:a51e2706-81e6-4920-ad6e-7c35c6801d56> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://wkbn.com/2013/05/17/students-meet-animals-during-4-h-day/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280266.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00499-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982972 | 195 | 2.5625 | 3 |
On conclusion of his short trip to Pittsburgh to attend the G-20 Summit, he was in upbeat mood.
His admirer and director of G-20 research group of Toronto University John Kirton told rediff.com that amongst the 19 leaders of G-20, only Dr Singh is truly qualified to talk about the complex world of international finance because he has doctorate degree in economics and has practised his knowledge throughout his life.
He said that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is only partly qualified because he was finance minister before becoming PM; but Brown was a student of history in his college days.
PM Singh's personal qualifications and India's thriving democracy continue to give it an edge at international summits that are dealing with the world of economy. In spite of India's dismal contribution in international trade, which is little above 1 percent, India sits confidently on high table.
Was G-20 at Pittsburgh a success?
It was certainly a step forward for developing countries. The bottom-line of such high-level international summits can be termed successful if rich people yield even little space to developing or poor countries. In real world, developed, rich and powerful countries are controlling leverages of the finance sector while the leaders of the developing countries, who are struggling with poverty, inflation and money for infrastructure but still growing impressively, are trying to make these Western countries realize that they can no more dictate the world -- because their growths are stagnating, their dependence on developing world is increasing and it is becoming irreversible.
Following points of the statement released by the G-20 leaders suggests why the summit at Pittsburgh was a way forward and positive for India and other developing countries.
The statement said G-20 countries will "make sure our regulatory system for banks and other financial firms reins in the excesses that led to the crisis. Where reckless behaviour and a lack of responsibility led to crisis, we will not allow a return to banking as usual."
This means that millions of dollars of hefty pay packages and salary-linked performance which breeds greed amongst bankers and financers will come under scrutiny.
G-20 leaders also said, "We designated the G-20 to be the premier forum for our international economic cooperation. We established the Financial Stability Board to include major emerging economies and welcome its efforts to coordinate and monitor progress in strengthening financial regulation."
PM Singh in his press conference also emphasised this resolve to G-20 as an achievement.
PM Singh on this issue said, "We have agreed that the G-20 will henceforth be the premier forum for international economic issues. This is an important development broadening the global governance structure."
Another big shift came in rich nations' behaviour, when G-20 leaders said, " We are committed to a shift in International Monetary Fund quota share to dynamic emerging markets and developing countries of at least 5 percent from over-represented countries to under-represented countries using the current quota formula as the basis to work from. Today we have delivered on our promise to contribute over $500 billion to a renewed and expanded IMF New Arrangements to Borrow."
PM Singh in his interaction with mediapersons also pointed out, "Agreement on 5 percent shift was a compromise. Developing countries had asked for 7 percent." Nevertheless this shift means that China, India and other countries would get voting rights in functioning of IMF.
Another major signal that has emerged from the G-20 is that the IMF and World bank has got attention, more focus and more funds, specific role and their focus is again directed to the real issues of poor nations.
The statement resolved that, "We stressed the importance of adopting a dynamic formula at the World Bank which primarily reflects countries' evolving economic weight and the World Bank's development mission, and that generates an increase of at least 3 percent of voting power for developing and transition countries, to the benefit of under-represented countries. While recognizing that over-represented countries will make a contribution, it will be important to protect the voting power of the smallest poor countries. We called on the World Bank to play a leading role in responding to problems whose nature requires globally coordinated action, such as climate change and food security, and agreed that the World Bank and the regional development banks should have sufficient resources to address these challenges and fulfill their mandates."
G-20 has decided to take steps to increase access to food, fuel and finance among the world's poorest while clamping down on illicit outflows. Steps to reduce the development gap can be a potent driver of global growth.
Another big issue that cropped up at Pittsburgh is about food security and concrete action to help poor face climate change.
It said, " Over four billion people remain undereducated, ill-equipped with capital and technology, and insufficiently integrated into the global economy. We need to work together to make the policy and institutional changes needed to accelerate the convergence of living standards and productivity in developing and emerging economies to the levels of the advanced economies. To start, we call on the World Bank to develop a new trust fund to support the new Food Security Initiative for low-income countries announced last summer. We will increase, on a voluntary basis, funding for programs to bring clean affordable energy to the poorest, such as the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program."
But India is unlikely to agree to one issue that came up at the G-20 summit. No Indian government can afford to withdraw subsidy on kerosene. G-20 recommended, "To phase out and rationalize over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest. Inefficient fossil fuel subsidies encourage wasteful consumption, reduce our energy security, impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to deal with the threat of climate change."
G-20 wants government to withdraw subsidy on one hand and give cash directly to poor to buy clean energy.
Another issue of Indian interest was about protectionism.
G-20 leaders said, "We will fight protectionism. We are committed to bringing the Doha Round to a successful conclusion in 2010."
PM Singh mentioned this issue to media and said that, " I think things could be worse in regards to protectionism. There is evidence of creeping protectionism it has not reached an alarming point. And therefore, it is necessary to bring international pressure to restrain and restrict the growth of protectionism."
G-20 has also sent political message to spare no effort to reach agreement in Copenhagen through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations. However, again, on this issue India is not on same page with most of the developed countries including USA.
PM Singh refused to predict outcome of Copenhagen saying, "I am not an astrologer.."
Image: The leaders of the G20 Summit pose for a group photo in Pittsburgh, USA on Friday
Front row, L-R: South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, US President Barack Obama, China's President Hu Jintao, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Second row, L-R: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Top row, L-R: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, International Labour Organization Director General Juan Somavia, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, World Bank's President Robert Zoellick, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy, Chairman of Financial Stability Board Mario Draghi.
Photograph: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters | <urn:uuid:763b5db8-8c34-4f4d-9821-c96e3c4378c2> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.rediff.com/money/special/why-the-g20-summit-in-pittsburgh-a-step-forward/20090926.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281353.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00063-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945072 | 1,711 | 1.65625 | 2 |
From operating system commands to menu entries, almost every new computing term is in the English language. The age-old problem for translators is to convey the collocations, and moods—baggage that doesn’t often translate too well. Software translators, therefore, must be particularly careful in dealing with such terms, for fear of producing awkward and stilted work, which could mar the FOSS experience. This is the paradigm within which we’ll critique the Indian-language FOSS desktop and gauge its state of readiness for you, the user.
Naturally, I can only comment on the languages that I know, and I pick Hindi for this review. I installed support for the language in my Ubuntu 8.10 GNOME desktop. Kaisa tha, then?
Installing and activating local-language menus
Very few distributions have Indian language menus installed by default. In Ubuntu 8.10, install the feature yourself, as follows: System menu→Administration→Language Support (Figure 1). Now, in the window that appears, select your language, and Ubuntu will download the fonts and menu files. It’s a large download! Make sure you have a fast Internet connection. This step will also install your language keymap, so that you can word-process in your language. So if you can type in your language as the earlier article in this series described, then you’ve already got translated menus installed. Neat, huh?
But you’ll have to activate the menus. Log out. Now, in the login window, select the Options menu and then Language. Choose your language here. Log in again with your user name and password. Hey presto, aapke menus ab Hindi mein bhi! (Refer to Figure2.) Kya khoob baat hai…
Khidki or window?
…or is it something else? Most of the common e-terms such as open, save, view, edit and rename are translated competently. One place where the translators have excelled in particular is ‘Raddi mein bheje’ (of course, it’s written in Devanagari script in the menus!) which is a delightful and comprehensible translation of ‘Send to Trash’. It translates the concept of a trash can into that of a pile of raddi on the image level. Way to go! Immigrant concept, naturalised fully.
But a very few words, though not quite lost at the airport, are delayed by the customs. Consider ‘page layout’, and then ponder over the Hindi translation in the OpenOffice.org suite of Ubuntu 8.10—prushtha vikhandan purvavalokan. I’m no Hindi expert, and presumably more people than Ashutosh Rana speak like that—no offence intended—but everyone doesn’t. And I have never adhisthapit (install) any vancchit (default) applications. These concepts had better be trans-created instead of translated. They look really awkward in the guest language.
These are rare, very rare (and comic) issues with the Hindi desktop. The translators are not entirely to blame. What can they do, when for example, there is no adequately co-locational term for ‘window’ in Hindi? The word ‘khidki’ cannot be suggested except in humour, until the word accumulates new meaning. Dear, dear me. A bold alternative could be to translate the concept of a ‘window’ using an Indian visual (as was done while translating the ‘Trash Can’ concept). ‘Jharokha’ here could be a choice. It has co-locational pedigree as well as a really nice sound.
The desktop menus, right-click menus, dialogue boxes and mouse-over info have been translated, as well as the menus of the popular applications such as OpenOffice.org writer, spreadsheet, presentation, Evolution mail, dictionary, movie player, Pidgin instant messenger, Gedit, Terminal, and GNOME games. Mozilla Firefox is not touched. As for the Rhythmbox music player, it is only partially translated. Information and warning messages are also translated. And files can be renamed in your language script also. Rather bafflingly, the help files have not been translated at all!
At its current state, the desktop in our test distribution looks as if a native speaker would be at home with it. Oh, how he can vikhanditise his prushts…
Translate your own desktop
Eleven Indian languages are being worked into KDE4; GNOME has 15. There’s lots of work still to be done. For example, the FOSS Hindi desktop in GNOME 2.24 is 80 per cent translated. The KDE4 desktop is 70 per cent translated, according to their websites. And maybe there are translation issues in a couple of places. For example, very ‘propah’ Sanskritised Hindi is used, but that is not the only Hindi spoken in India. There’s scope for translators who want to see ‘their’ language represented on the desktop. That must be the case for many Indian languages.
So, how do you get involved? You link up with other volunteers, that’s how. Visit the KDE and GNOME websites; they have separate sections for localisation. Or you can visit your distribution’s website and join their team. For Ubuntu, visit the Ubuntu-India website. For Fedora, your place is translate.fedoraproject.org. And so on, for your distribution.
Generally, the process of localisation is this: the material to be translated is uploaded on these or related websites, and you have to translate it in a special editor. That done, you submit your work by e-mail or upload. Simple! Not at all time-consuming either. It’s a great way for non-techies to contribute to FOSS, isn’t it?
Localisation is associated with a fair bit of hype; but the FOSS localisation communities, especially the Indian ones, if Hindi is any indication, are actually implementing it in a usable way. | <urn:uuid:1bc82197-99be-4635-a10e-8efe74857d62> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://opensourceforu.com/2009/02/enabling-indian-languages-on-the-foss-desktop-part-3-your-desktop-your-language/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280266.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00501-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930464 | 1,300 | 1.765625 | 2 |
noun, plural tapirs (especially collectively) tapir.
any of several large, stout, three-toed ungulates of the family Tapiridae, of Central and South America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, somewhat resembling swine and having a long, flexible snout: all species are threatened or endangered.
noun (pl) -pirs, -pir
any perissodactyl mammal of the genus Tapirus, such as T. indicus (Malayan tapir), of South and Central America and SE Asia, having an elongated snout, three-toed hind legs, and four-toed forelegs: family Tapiridae
- Tapir mouth
tapir mouth ta·pir mouth (tā’pər) n. Protrusion of the lips due to weakness of the oral muscle in certain forms of juvenile muscular dystrophy.
noun, plural tapis. 1. Obsolete. a carpet, tapestry, or other covering. Idioms 2. on the tapis, under consideration or discussion: A new housing development for that area is on the tapis. noun (pl) tapis 1. tapestry or carpeting, esp as formerly used to cover a table in a council chamber
noun, plural tapis verts [ta-pee ver] /ta pi ˈvɛr/ (Show IPA). French. 1. an unbroken expanse of lawn used as a major element of a landscape design.
noun 1. toe loop. noun, Skating. 1. a jump in which the skater takes off from the back outer edge of one skate, makes one full rotation in the air, and lands on the back outer edge of the same skate. | <urn:uuid:5464ec8d-46ca-4e62-ac41-1f5dd8f4bdf1> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://definithing.com/define-dictionary/tapir/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280929.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00430-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.844785 | 374 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Jan. 30 (UPI) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will end free food and water aid to Puerto Rico as supermarkets are now set to reopen, four months after Hurricane Maria.
FEMA will “officially shut off” its emergency humanitarian aid for the island on Wednesday after providing more than 30 million gallons of potable water and nearly 60 million meals following the storm.
The agency gave the food and water supplies to 78 mayors of the island, who directed staffs to hand them out them at distribution centers and by going door-to-door.
“The reality is that we just need to look around. Supermarkets are open, and things are going back to normal,” Alejandro De La Campa, FEMA’s director in Puerto Rico, told NPR.
FEMA said it’s provided up to $500 million in public assistance to date, with an additional $3.2 million to help with unemployment stemming from Maria.
“If we’re giving free water and food, that means that families are not going to supermarkets to buy,” De La Campa said. “It is affecting the economy of Puerto Rico. So we need to create a balance. With the financial assistance we’re providing to families and the municipalities, they’re able to go back to the normal economy.”
Many Puerto Ricans feel the aid is being cut too soon.
Morovis Mayor Carmen Maldonado said around 10,000 of her 30,000 residents are still receiving food and water aid.
“There are some municipalities that may not need the help anymore, because they’ve got nearly 100 percent of their energy and water back,” Maldonado said. “Ours is not so lucky.”
Maldonado said FEMA’s aid is critical to residents, as much of the money they would have normally used to buy food is instead being used to buy fuel.
About 450,000 of the island’s 1.5 million electricity customers are still without power — and those who do have electricity experience frequent blackouts.
“This is all something that FEMA should contemplate before eliminating its delivery of these supplies,” Maldonado said.
“I hope Mayor Cruz’s presence at #SOTU will remind the president and my colleagues in Congress of our urgent responsibility to help Puerto Rico fully recover and rebuild,” Gillibrand tweeted Monday. “Our fellow citizens must not be forgotten or left behind.”
Cruz has been critical of Trump in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria — even calling him the “Hater in Chief.” Trump fired back, saying the San Juan mayor showed “poor leadership ability.” | <urn:uuid:05440d25-c3c0-4a3e-90c8-175df7859a2a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://gephardtdaily.com/national-international/fema-to-end-hurricane-related-food-water-aid-for-puerto-rico/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571536.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811224716-20220812014716-00268.warc.gz | en | 0.955456 | 575 | 1.984375 | 2 |
In 1941, the American Diabetes Association held its first Scientific Sessions. The group consisted of 12 attendees who discussed five research posters. Since then the meeting has grown considerably.
Well, “considerably” is an understatement.
The 71st Scientific Sessions will begin this Friday in San Diego, CA. The estimated 13,500 professionals attending will include physicians, scientists, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, pharmacists, podiatrists, psychologists and other health care professionals.
To put the enormousness of the meeting in perspective here are some big facts and figures worth mentioning:
From Across the Globe
People from all over the world travel to Scientific Sessions. In fact, attendees will represent more than 100 countries. Geographically, the farthest point on the globe from San Diego is in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There are 35 attendees who will be traveling from South Africa (the closest land mass to that particular spot in the Indian Ocean), which takes over 24 hours by plane.
Talk About It
This year there are 120 concurrent sessions (including symposia, current issues and oral presentations), with 420 invited speakers and 10 special lectures and addresses. That adds up to about 300 hours of talking about diabetes research, care, treatment and prevention!
Read About It
There also will be more than 1,600 posters and more than 70 guided audio tours of the posters. The average poster size is about 3 feet by 4 feet, meaning that the posters at Scientific Sessions will cover about 20,000 square feet, more than enough to cover an entire NHL ice hockey rink!
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Okay – I’m not sure exactly what color the carpet is going to be, but Scientific Sessions will use 37,076 feet of carpet. That’s more than seven miles of carpet, or more than enough to carpet a path around the perimeter of Central Park in New York City!
More than 500 gallons of complementary coffee will be served. That’s 6,500 cups of coffee –a week’s worth of coffee for the entire news department staff at The New York Times.
Keep Things Moving
A bus system of 27 buses running five bus routes will be in motion for Scientific Sessions. At peak service, 2,629 people will be riding each hour. That’s just under the number of athletes who attended the 2010 Olympics.
Many, Many Sweet Dreams
During Scientific Sessions, 40,000 hotel room nights will be used in the San Diego area. That’s more than enough rooms to house the undergraduate class of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Have a Seat!
At the San Diego Convention Center, 25,334 chairs will be utilized in the 24 session rooms. That’s enough chairs to fill the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall nearly ten times.
Get an Early Start
Scientific Sessions takes years of detailed planning and coordination. In fact, each host city is chosen approximately 14 years in advance. Next year Scientific Sessions will be held in Philadelphia.
Slow Construction, Quick Destruction
While it takes approximately five days to set up the convention center for Scientific Sessions, it only takes a day and a half to pack everything up!
Signs of Green
Over 350 signs, 40 banners and a dozen props will be used to direct attendees throughout the convention center. When Scientific Sessions are over, they will either be recycled or donated to the local American Diabetes Association office in San Diego for future use!
What’s the main value of bringing the world’s leading diabetes experts together to discuss basic and clinical research, therapies and more? The networking, collaborating and exchanging of new ideas that lead the path to help Stop Diabetes®. | <urn:uuid:a41c6163-e9b2-4665-9193-59fffee3076b> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://diabetesstopshere.org/2011/06/20/behind-the-scenes-of-the-world%E2%80%99s-largest-diabetes-meeting/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560280825.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095120-00207-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901489 | 758 | 1.914063 | 2 |
|Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product|
GROWTH IN MELBOURNE
At June 2009, there were an estimated 4.00 million people residing in the Melbourne SD, an increase of 93,500 people or 2.4% since June 2008. Melbourne was the capital city SD with the largest growth in 2008-09 and has been for the last eight years.
Melbourne SD accounted for 80.4% of Victoria's population growth between June 2008 and June 2009, and was home to 73.4% of Victoria's population in 2009.
Growth in the outer suburbs
The largest population growth in Victoria continued to occur in the outer suburban fringes of the Melbourne SD. Wyndham (C), located to the south-west of Melbourne's city centre, experienced the largest growth of Victorian LGAs, increasing by 10,800 people in 2008-09. Just over half of this growth occurred in the SLA of Wyndham (C) - North.
Casey (C), located to the south-east of Melbourne city, experienced the second largest growth of Victorian LGAs in 2008-09 increasing by 8,400 people, followed by Melton (C), west of Melbourne city, which increased by 7,300 people.
Wyndham (C) also experienced the fastest annual growth rate (8.1%) of all Victorian LGAs. Other LGAs on the suburban fringes of Melbourne that grew quickly in 2008-09 included Melton (C) (7.9%), Cardinia (S) (6.5%), south-east of Melbourne city, and Whittlesea (C) (4.7%) to the north.
In 2008-09, Wyndham (C) - North and Whittlesea (C) - North had the largest population growth of all SLAs in Victoria (both up 5,900 people). Whittlesea (C) - North accounted for just over 90% of the growth in the LGA of Whittlesea (C) and also had the fastest annual growth rate of any SLA in Victoria, increasing by 18.3%. Wyndham (C) - South experienced the second fastest growth rate (12.8%).
Growth in the inner city
Melbourne (C) had the ninth largest increase in population of all LGAs in Victoria in 2008-09 (up 3,600 people) and continued to experience relatively fast growth with a growth rate of 4.0%. However, as in the previous financial year, this was lower than the average annual rate of 5.4% for the five years to June 2009. Within Melbourne city, the SLA of Melbourne (C) - Remainder grew by 1,800 people (3.1%), Melbourne (C) - Southbank-Docklands increased by 890 people (5.3%) and Melbourne (C) - Inner increased by 880 people (6.3%).
GROWTH IN REGIONAL VICTORIA
In the year to June 2009, the population of the balance of Victoria increased by 22,800 people (1.6%) to reach 1.45 million people.
All SDs experienced population growth in 2008-09. The fastest growth occurred in Barwon and Central Highlands (both 2.1%), Gippsland (2.0%) and Loddon (1.8%). Barwon, Gippsland and Loddon also had the largest population growth increasing by 5,700, 3,500 and 3,300 people respectively.
Within regional Victoria , the LGA of Greater Geelong (C), located south-west of Melbourne, experienced the largest increase in population (4,000 people) for the year to June 2009. This was followed by Ballarat (C), in Victoria's west and Greater Bendigo (C) in central Victoria, increasing by 2,100 people.
Fast population growth continued to occur along the coast in 2008-09. The LGA of Surf Coast (S), covering areas such as Torquay along the Great Ocean Road, experienced the fastest growth in regional Victoria, with an increase of 3.9%. This was followed by Baw Baw (S) (2.8%), to the south-east of Melbourne and Golden Plains (S) (2.5%) situated west of Geelong. Bass Coast (S), incorporating Phillip Island, continued to experience fast growth, increasing by 2.5%.
In the year to June 2009, the three Victorian LGAs that experienced a decline in population were in regional Victoria. Two of these, Northern Grampians (S) and Loddon (S) declined by less than 20 people.
The LGA of Murrindindi (S) experienced a substantial population loss in the year to June 2009 (1,000 people), largely due to the bushfires that occurred in February 2009. The bushfires destroyed almost 1,300 houses across the LGA. The SLA of Murrindindi (S) - East, which includes fire-affected towns such as Marysville and Buxton, decreased by 280 people. In Murrindindi (S) - West SLA where Flowerdale and the Kinglake area are located, there was a decline of 750 people.
At June 2009, the population density of Victoria was 23.9 people per square kilometre (sq km), the second highest of all states and territories after the ACT (149.8). The population density of the Melbourne SD was 520 people per sq km, much higher than Australian capital cities combined (370 people per sq km).
Within the Melbourne SD, the SLAs with the greatest population densities were Melbourne (C) - Inner (7,800 people per sq km) and nearby Port Phillip (C) - St Kilda (6,300). The neighbouring Stonnington (C) - Prahran (5,300) was the third most densely populated SLA.
The most densely populated SLAs in the capital city also experienced some of the largest increases in density between June 2008 and 2009. Melbourne (C) - Inner increased in density by 460 people per sq km, the greatest of all SLAs. The next largest increases occurred in Melbourne (C) - Southbank-Docklands (190 people per sq km) and Port Phillip (C) - St Kilda (110).
The lowest population densities were in the outlying SLAs of Cardinia (S) - South (17.0 people per sq km), Nillumbik (S) Bal (30.9) and Yarra Ranges (S) - North (34.4).
CENTRE OF POPULATION
At June 2009, Victoria's centre of population was within the Moreland LGA, approximately 12 kilometres north of Melbourne in the suburb of Hadfield. In the five years to June 2009 the centre moved approximately 0.6 kilometres south, towards Melbourne's central business district.
The centre of population of the Melbourne SD at June 2009 was just west of the Monash Freeway, in the suburb of Glen Iris.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS
For a full list of LGA populations, see the Downloads tab.
These documents will be presented in a new window. | <urn:uuid:fac840c0-12df-4078-b729-5b9b3a0d0d15> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/3218.0Main%20Features52008-09?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2008-09&num=&view= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721355.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00013-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962423 | 1,506 | 1.742188 | 2 |
The Jewish Funders Network has released the latest edition of its Greenbooks, a series of guides written for funders to maximize the impact of their giving. The second volume is devoted to Hitchadshut Yehudit, (Jewish Renewal) in Israel.
The Greenbook comes at a time when more Israelis are seeking a deeper spiritual connection to Judaism while still living an essentially secular life.
“The issue of Judaism in the state of Israel is critical, because it will determine the character of the Jewish state. A quiet revolution is taking place by which Israelis are reclaiming their Jewish heritage that once was considered a fiefdom of the ultra-Orthodox establishment,” said Andrés Spokoiny, JFN President and CEO. “This guide will help funders understand this new field and make informed decisions. Smart funding is always important, especially in an area as critical and fraught as this one.”
As the Greenbook notes, self-identified secular Jews are increasingly taking ownership of their own Jewish identities, re-appropriating traditional Jewish texts, and incorporating them into non-Orthodox Jewish life. In addition, the boundaries of identity are blurring and being replaced by multiple, hybrid, Israeli identities, superseding the labels of ‘religious’ and ‘secular’ which have for so long polarized Israeli society.
Hitchadshut Yehudit refers to programs that offer Jewish Israelis opportunities for such activities as learning, cultural expression, identity exploration, and social action. All are explicitly based on Jewish values, texts and traditions, and infused with pluralism and autonomy.
Each Greenbook focuses on a specific funding area in the Jewish community, and outlines issues, strategies and approaches funders can use as they seek to effect lasting and meaningful change.
This edition highlights the multi-faceted emerging field of Hitchadshut Yehudit, which:
- Reflects the evolution of Jewish Israeli identities in the context of contemporary Zionism and Jewish sovereignty
- Encompasses hundreds of programs and organizations with diverse political and ideological commitments
- Raises a host of contentious questions, including what Jewish life and identity should resemble in Israel and how Jewish renewal can foster dialogue between Israeli and Diaspora Jews | <urn:uuid:f51d552f-8f0c-4755-a63f-a64fd3482f4b> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-funders-network-releases-greenbook-devoted-to-hitchadshut-yehudit-jewish-renewal-in-israel/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560285289.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095125-00146-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938802 | 459 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.