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warc | 201704 | Why You Aren’t Lifting with the Big Boys (An Interview with Jim “Smitty” Smith)
We have a special interview for you today with Jim “Smitty” Smith of the Diesel Crew. I have known Jimmy for about 5 years now and have always loved his strength training content. A lot of it is outside the box, and all of it is very effective and produces results. If you like to lift heavy shit or want to get leaner, stronger, and faster, this interview is a must read!
Kevin: Smitty, you are working in the trenches getting people stronger and faster every day. I am sure many of these people come to you after previously failing to get results with other programs. So I need to ask, what do you think are the biggest mistakes coaches and trainers are making when developing programs for strength and speed? Smitty: Probably the biggest issue I see is a program that was designed once and then distributed to all players. Speed and strength are an individual adaptation. All athletes are at different points along the strength / speed continuum. Some athletes require more speed / explosive work and some athletes require more basic strength training. It really depends on a ton of factors including but not limited to; fiber type ratio, neural efficiency, sport position, training age, anthropometry, optimal mobility, etc. You cannot write a generic program for the entire team or for multiple athletes across various teams and expect the same outcome. Programming and training are very individual and unique activities. Kevin: Much of the AMD 2.0 system focuses on properly warming up and recovering. What is the minimum amount of time should your average Joe lifter budget for warming up and what should they make sure to include?
Smitty: A good warm-up can be done in 10-15 minutes. Most people say¸ “I don’t have 10-15 minutes extra to devote to warming when I’m at the gym”. My response is, you better make time. The warm-up is essential and cannot be missed. It sets the tone for the entire workout AND how quickly you recover from the training. The exercises you do in the warm-up should help to progressively, over a period of time, improve your mobility, create muscular balance and help you move and feel better every day. Even though I’ve been training athletes for many years, it is only recently that I’ve understood the importance of a thorough warm-up. It has benefited me greatly with a bad knee and bad shoulder to restore my movement and hit big PR’s in the gym. My athlete’s have noticed a huge difference in their playing and performance as well. A good warm-up should progress from general movements to more specific movements and should include; SMR, mobility exercises, activation exercises, dynamic and more specific workout prep movements. Kevin: OK, same question, but instead let’s talk about the ideal situation. What kind of time do you budget for your athletes and clients? Smitty: Ideally? That is a great question. I have been auto-regulating more and more sessions by making the warm-up the workout. This means no longer do I blindly follow the programs I wrote earlier in the day for the afternoon sessions. As always, as soon as the athletes come into the gym, the assessment begins. How are they moving? How is their mood? Are they run down? Are they complaining? Do they get a good sweat during the warm-up? Everything is an assessment and if the assessment “shows” me that they aren’t ready for the training session (because of a previous night’s game or they aren’t recovered from their last training session), then we change gears. The pre-written workout is thrown away. The warm-up now becomes the workout. We extend the warm-up to 20-30 minutes (and sometimes longer) and work on getting a good sweat, hitting some foam roller and killing some mobility drills. Auto-regulation is the future of training. Kevin: When reviewing AMD, I noticed you made plenty of time to talk about stress and cortisol. How do you approach this subject with athletes and clients? Smitty: Talk, talk, talk. Athletes are notorious for trying to be tough. There are exceptions though, haha. They don’t want to show weakness or disappoint you, if you have a good relationship with them. As stated before, as soon as they walk into the gym, I’m asking questions. What did you do last night? How much sleep did you get? What did you eat yesterday? this morning? The answers to these questions, along with how they are performing in the warm-up, will allow you to make general assumptions about their current state of recovery. Kevin: EDT (Escalated Density Training) was popularized by Charles Staley years back, what did you notice implementing EDT into a strength and conditioning program that made it a staple in AMD? Smitty: In the new AMD 2.0 system, there are 2 separate 12 week programs. The muscle building / fat loss 12 week program utilizes EDT. I love the EDT aspect of this program because of the insane conditioning, muscle building effect, metabolic disruption and time efficiency. There are so many benefits that it was a perfect choice for this particular AMD path. The other 12 week path is for the lifter who has been in the gym for a while and has hit a plateau or has a nagging injury that won’t go away. That is why AMD is a great program because it caters to everything and you can choose the program that is right for you. Kevin: In the Power Core Manual that is included in AMD you include crunches (GASP!!!). Many coaches say crunches should never be programmed into an effective program. Personally I believe if you have an athlete/client with a strong enough core and no low back issues, crunches have their place for strength and asthetics. What is the reasoning for them being in the AMD program?
(NOT in the Power Core Manual!)
Smitty: For the comprehensiveness of the AMD system, I have included an integrated AMD Power Core manual. Because core training is an important component of the workout, all of these core exercises fit directly into the AMD workout template. When writing AMD I wanted to make sure it was comprehensive and applicable to all lifters / athletes at any level. That is why I sectioned the Power Core manual into; beginner, intermediate and elite exercises. The crunch variations of course were included in the beginner section because they are very familiar to everyone. If special attention is spent to movement of the torso and not hyper-flexing the neck, these exercises can work to build basic static strength of the abdominals. As strength is developed, the lifter will move from beginner, to intermediate and finally to the elite exercises. If performed correctly, I don’t see any issue with including crunch variations as long as the ultimate goal is progression. Kevin: Thanks so much for your time Smitty. Everyone make sure to check out the AMD page and check out the awesome free video’s Smitty is posting: | 7,006 | 3,198 | 0.000319 |
warc | 201704 | Australian companies are trying to push through a scandalous proposal to build the world’s largest coal port right over the Great Barrier Reef, risking the survival of this entire amazing world heritage site. Mining magnates who stand to make billions in profits are moving fast to secure funding – but if we stop the money, we could stop the port and all of the damage that comes with it.
Activists in Australia are pressuring the government and UNESCO is speaking out, but a bank owned by the US public is crucial to the project. Global pressure on the US bank now could bring international shame and spotlight environmental issues in the middle of the US election season.
We don’t have much time to stop the machines before they begin ripping up the sea bed, clearing out coral to make way for coal tankers. If they pull out, the entire crazy plan could be shut down for good.
let’s make some noise
The money isn’t yet secured, and the good news is that the bank is accountable to the American taxpayers and the politicians they elect. Let’s up the pressure on the bank’s chairman Fred Hochberg and demand he halt the funding for this dirty deal. We have only days to act – he’s in Australia for meetings right now and if we reach 500,000 signers we’ll make sure he gets the message loud and clear!
The enormous coal port project would push the already vulnerable reef closer to the brink by constructing an export terminal inside its waters – and by flooding the market with 8 billion more tonnes of coal exports. It would allow up to 20 ships each day to travel over this pristine area, shuttling dirty coal from inland Australia to China. We saw the kind of damage these ships can cause in 2010 when a ship ran aground, leaving a 3km gash in the unique reef.
Right now, the proposal is facing hurdles after UNESCO reported that coal development is damaging the reef, and the Australian government has intervened by calling for a review of the environmental assessment. If we can cut the funding off at its source we can bring another blow to the plan – and help stop the entire mining operation.
The US Export-Import Bank is already embattled within US politics and wants to avoid any further controversy. A massive outcry right now could stop them from destroying the most spectacular underwater scenery in the world.
Sign now and Avaaz will deliver the message straight to Hochberg. | 2,460 | 1,270 | 0.00081 |
warc | 201704 | About 86 million Americans took advantage of the healthcare reform law's prevention benefits for Medicare beneficiaries and people with private insurance last year, the Obama administration said in two reports released Wednesday.
One
report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that an estimated 32.5 million — almost three out of four — Medicare beneficiaries took advantage of the law's coverage of prevention with no cost sharing last year. These include 6 million mammography screenings, 2.8 million bone mass measurements and 1.2 million pap tests — all of which were previously subject to deductibles or co-payments.
Another 54 million people in private insurance are estimated to have taken advantage of the law's expanded coverage of at least some preventive services, according to a
report from the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These include pediatrician visits, cancer screenings and immunizations.
"Americans of all ages can now get the preventive services they need, like mammograms and the new Annual Wellness Visit, free of charge, as a result of the new healthcare law," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement accompanying the reports. "With more people taking advantage of these benefits, more lives can be saved, and costly, and often burdensome, diseases can be prevented or caught earlier." | 1,442 | 742 | 0.001372 |
warc | 201704 | 4 21shares
“Do you think computers are meant to crash every three to four years?” I asked Jonathan Hefter, the CEO of Neverware, a start-up based in New York City.
He digs under his desk, laughing and pulls out a pair of lady’s pantyhose. “There are two things in this world planned for obsolescence. Computers and pantyhose. They are designed for the dump.”
Ever been to a tech festival?
TNW Conference won best European Event 2016 for our festival vibe. See what's in store for 2017.
While an undergrad at Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, Hefter studied economics. Not wanting to go into finance after graduating in 2009, he spent a year tinkering in his parent’s lonely basement in Englewood, NJ. While he’d never taken a computer class before, the concepts of networks came naturally to Hefter. While hashing out his dream to create sustainable computing, he successfully developed the world’s first “juicebox.”
In early 2010, he set up two technology pilots in area schools, which proved to himself and others that the concept could work. In the spring, at the Kairos Society’s Annual Summit he was approached by Polaris Partner Peter Flint, who invited him to become a resident of Dogpatch Labs.
In May 2010, Hefter, now age 25, founded Neverware, a company that is akin to the fountain of youth for computers and moved into NYC’s Dogpatch Labs. The company’s flagship product, the JuiceBox a100 is a single server appliance that, when added to a network, will power up to one hundred old desktops with Windows 7. Under Hefter’s desk is a 10-year old Pentium 3 computer, your typical “general piece of crap computer,” with a missing hard drive (pictured above right). Using his college laptop as a monitor, Hefter demos Neverware’s power.
“For a school in Africa, give them a LAN, one juicebox, and the computers that corporations throw out, and they suddenly now have the latest technology. Think about the implications in terms of education!” Hefter says wide-eyed.
CBM: Has this been done before? JH: Yes, actually, but not since the 1960s. In that era we relied on mainframe computing and one really powerful computer would support dozens of terminals. But as time went on computer power became faster and cheaper, quicker than the networking technology, so we went to the local PC model.
But in comparison to piping out the experience from a central computer, the PC model is wasteful energy wise and pollution wise. When computers are thrown into landfills or burned in incinerators they release several toxic elements, including lead, mercury, and barium.
Every new juice box set up acts like a brand new network. It saves a lot of pollution, now that networking technology has caught up. Unfortunately, the PC industry hasn’t caught up with modern technologies.
“Being able to build and to successfully create the juicebox concept came in part from my naiveté because I hadn’t been involved in the industry so I had no clue that certain things just weren’t done. This allowed me to develop as if those barriers did not exist,” Hefter explains.
CBM: Do you think computers companies will see your company as a threat? JH: Thankfully they don’t see us at all right now. If they did, then, yeah they’d be getting a little uncomfortable. CBM: Why use Windows? JH: Neverware is a path to the future but it also recognizes the present. When you have an OS written inside of a browser you’re limited by programs that run in java script. The world is going to switch over to new concepts of what makes an OS an OS. Right now we’re still a world that runs on Windows. Any company that wants to be adopted and change things has to accept the reality of where we are right now. CBM: What are the advantages of running a start-up in NYC? JH: Well, we get to convert snow into computing power! Honestly, this really isn’t an NYC type start up. We’re horribly antisocial. Well, our product is. We’re not media. The fact that we make a real enterprise grade technology makes us standout and I think that’s been very advantageous for us in setting ourselves apart in the constant chatter.
In total Hefter has internally manufactured 4 juiceboxes, 3 real ones and 1 mobile demo. Because of the flexibility of the jukebox, they have a great amount of freedom in designing its capabilities. There are unique aspects of it that have strong relevance to government and security that they’re not fully exploiting right now. Hefter has decided to first focus on education, to give the developing world an edge, because he believes this is the place where he can be the most disruptive.
Neverware is still working out pricing but will likely employ more of crowd pricing software-as-service model. Suffice it to say it will costs a fraction of a traditional desktop. The current JuiceBox a100 server can power 100 computers. He plans to build a 150 version soon. At the moment, Neverware is bootstrapped but is in talks with VCs for future funding.
In early January, Hefter made his first trip to Silicon Valley. “I ended up extending my trip because so many people had heard of Neverware and wanted to meet,” he said smiling. Towards the end of the month, Hefter will speak about Neverware at the Aspen Institute’s Education Innovation Fair and Forum in Washington, DC. And after a 6 month stint at Dogpatch Labs, Hefter is moving his three person team across Union Square to New York’s hip new co-working space, General Assembly.
Hefter is also gearing up for their upcoming beta of the JuiceBox a100, which will be the largest deployment yet of Neverware technology.
From the image above, he looks a little bit like another famous entrepreneur we all know… | 5,874 | 2,934 | 0.000354 |
warc | 201704 | Freelance. Temp. Part-time.
If you’re in your twenties and working in the media industry in the US, you’re probably very familiar with those terms. Chances are if you’re lucky enough to snag a job in media it probably falls under one of those three categories. If you’re
really lucky, you’ll get a temp-to-hire job. Some people might think of those types of jobs as unstable, but in reality, it’s great. “This event was off the charts”
Gary Vaynerchuk was so impressed with TNW Conference 2016 he paused mid-talk to applaud us.
You have flexible working hours, the option to work from home, less commitment and the chance to make some money on the side, which if you’re a true millennial means working on your book/album/Etsy shop. That is, until you get sick… Or pregnant.
But why would you want to get pregnant in your twenties with a budding career? I’m 26-years old and that’s the reaction people tend to have when they hear I have two kids. My reasons range from personal to practical, but for as long as I can remember I wanted to be a young parent.
My mom was young when she had me and I’ve always felt privileged to have had the chance to know her during her youth. I got a chance to have a closer relationship with her and can honestly say that we are best friends today. She had her fifth kid by the time she turned 32. During that time, she also completed the equivalent of an MS in Chemical Engineering and a MA in Education.
I never thought this was weird, nor did I think it a crazy goal. I knew it wasn’t easy and that my mom was (and is) a really hard worker. But so am I and it has always been my goal to follow in her footsteps – be a young mom while pursuing my career. There’s one difference between my mom and me though – she did this in Europe, while I’m in the US where it’s a totally different story.
I found out I was pregnant a few months into my first job out of college. It was a temp-to-hire position at big media corporation. After telling them I was expecting, it became apparent that I would not be getting hired at the end of my temp contract. They had no legal obligations towards me and I wasn’t worth investing in at that point. I was luckier with my second job. It was for another big media corporation but the site I worked on was for moms, so they valued that I have children.
The company was very family-friendly and I worked part-time, with some of it from home. I loved my job and I like to think that my job loved me too. During that time, I grew as a freelancer and really appreciated the flexibility with my hours and location, and a good boss. After I gave birth to my second child, my boss kindly offered to hold my position for three months. She had no legal obligation to do so, but she valued me as a team member and wanted to make sure I came back.
I felt honored and lucky, even though I would not be making any money for those three months. When I returned to work, my position and the team grew. And this meant the requirement to be in the office full-time grew too. I couldn’t commit to that so I went back to part-time, which led to me feeling like I had been demoted by circumstance, despite my performance.
I also noticed that three months is a long time to be out of the office in the fast-paced world of assistants, coordinators and entry-level jobs. I felt left out and I had nobody to relate to. No one I worked with had been in a similar situation where they took that much time off. Sure, senior directors and managers took maternity leave all the time, but people who were just starting out? Not so much. It honestly felt like having my beautiful new little baby had hindered me professionally. It felt that black and white.
Enter TNW
I heard about The Next Web from a friend who worked here. She told me, “They’re looking for a social media person in the US. They have cribs in the office.” She knew how to reel me in. It was a work from home position, which was a dream, and there were benefits including health insurance and unlimited vacation days. All things I really needed as a young mother that temp jobs don’t ever offer.
When I interviewed for the job, there was a lot of juggling in my life: going back to work, having a newborn and interviewing via Skype at crazy European hours. It went pretty well until my almost-three year old son started screaming his head off in the next room. At one point, he started knocking on the door screaming for me, which wasn’t a big deal… Until my soon-to-be-new boss mentioned it.
“Do you have a hostage in there?”
“No, it’s just my son, although he might feel like a hostage.”
Crap. I really thought it was over. I had tried to make the best of it, to be funny, but I thought there was no way I got the job. Oh well, it was too good to be true anyways.
A week later, my now boss called me and offered me the job. He didn’t mention my son screaming in the background. He didn’t mention my being a mom, until we discussed work schedules and he mentioned total flexibility for school drop offs and pick ups. It took everything in my power to not scream “YES, I’LL TAKE IT” right then and there but I was a little more restrained than that. Needless to say, from my past experiences, I believe it would have never happened that way with an American company.
Fast forward a month into my new job when a lot of the TNW team is in New York for our annual conference, I was nervous. Had heard about the parties that go along with the conference and I was also very much aware that I was the only one my age on the team with kids. I mean, I enjoyed partying in college, but these days I’d much rather sleep than rage.
On the first night, I met everyone for dinner and got sat next to our CEO – and world renowned party animal – Boris. I was tired from all the extra conference work. “Uh oh, he’s going to think I’m square,” I thought. “I need to bring up that I’ve been to Ibiza. Stat.”
The first thing he said to me was “So, let me see a picture of what’s keeping you up.” We spent much of the evening exchanging kid stories and cute videos. What struck me as special about this was that he made me feel comfortable with who I was right away . There was no corporate pressure to fit in, change who I am or put on a show. Even if who I am is a little lame next to his adventurous life as a CEO, father and Dutch celebrity.
For my whole second pregnancy, I kept on telling people: “We’re taking a break after this one so I can focus on my career.” I felt the need to excuse my having kids so young, to constantly remind others that I was dedicated to my career despite my growing belly and imminent three month break. This American problem is rooted in the law, or lack thereof. But it’s also manifested in the culture and the expectations of that culture.
For me, missing the time and later having to return full-time in-office directly affected my ability to grow professionally and I felt that wasn’t fair. But worse, it took away much of my confidence in my life choices.
Yes, the law in Europe is on the side of mothers and the law in America, well, it doesn’t exist. And, yes, European companies kick American companies’ asses at maintaining a culture where having kids, even at a young age, is not a negative. But more specifically, TNW is a place where I feel comfortable – no, I’m encouraged – to be who I am, and where I don’t for one second doubt my ability to grow because of who I am.
I still plan to take a big break before the next kid, but it’s nice knowing that working at The Next Web, I don’t have to.
This is a #TNWLife article, a look into life and work at The Next Web. | 7,937 | 3,709 | 0.000282 |
warc | 201704 | United Parcel Service reported a fourth quarter net loss after it took a large pension related charge. It also forecast weaker-than-estimate profit for 2013 due to an uneven global economy. The company followed the trend of other big companies such as Northrop Grumman and Rockwell Automation that were dragged down by pension-related charges. A prolonged period of low interest rates is driving up companies’ pension costs.
Excluding the $3 billion noncash pension charge, UPS still missed the forecasts of analysts. The company said it got a $225 million increase in pension costs this year. Chief financial officer Kurt Kuehn said that it will be a significant drag in 2013.
UPS is expecting earnings to increase 6 to 12 percent in 2013, from $4.80 to $5.06 per share. This is below the average forecast by Wall Street of $5.11. Analysts said that the lower expectation was due to the worldwide economic growth.
The company posted a fourth quarter net loss of $1.75 billion or $1.83 per share after the pension charge. It was in contrast to a net profit of $725 million or 74 cents per share last year. Revenue went up 2.9 percent to $14.57 billion from $14.17 billion. UPS said costs related to Superstorm Sandy that devastated the New York metropolitan area in late October slashed profit by 5 cents per share in the quarter.
Excluding the one-time, noncash items, profit was at $1.32 per share, which was still below the analysts’ average estimate of $1.38 per share. The company told reporters that it is experiencing a cycle of mixed growth and mixed signals.
Analysts said that the 7.7 percent increase in next-day air shipments in the United States is a good sign for UPS. The company has a large operating capability and more volume means good business. UPS’ largest rival, FedEx, has been struggling with declining profits as customers opt to send goods by ground. | 1,898 | 973 | 0.00104 |
warc | 201704 | When I think of Ohio's job crisis, I think of Jack and Rose in the movie, Titanic.
(I know. Stay with me, here.) After the ship has gone down [read: Ohio jobs], Rose [read: Jello Ted Strickland] makes Jack [The Federal Stimulus] promise to never let go. [as seen here in this ridiculous photo] But he doesn't. And according to data in the Columbus Dispatch, the stimulus isn't keeping its promise, either. Why? Because, like Jack, it was doomed from the beginning. Let me explain. Back in February, Governor Strickland said about the federal stimulus, "these resources will save or create more than 130,000 jobs for Ohioans." Now, eight months later, with just 18.8% of Ohio's stimulus funds even disbursed, Ohio only has 13,144 jobs to show for it. At that rate of job per dollar spending, Ohio will only have "saved or created" about 66,000 jobs upon exhaustion of the funds. That's barely half of the jobs promised when Governor Strickland came back from begging Washington to save him from the mess he created. Now, for the sake of argument, let's give Jello Ted a break and pretend all 66,000 jobs are created, and not "saved". That still would only account for 1/5 of all the jobs lost under his administration. Sorry, Governor. Jack let go. | 1,256 | 719 | 0.001401 |
warc | 201704 | They were two completely different issues, with almost identical results, and one more thing in common: union special interests were involved in both. In 2011, Big Labor backed the "No" vote, and ended up with the win. This year, they were asking for a "Yes" vote, and fell flat on their faces.
So why the huge difference? Put simply... spending.
In 2011, the union front-group We Are Ohio raised and spent some $40+ million on defeating the reasonable reforms contained in Senate Bill 5. The campaign to keep the bill, Building a Better Ohio, came in around $12 million. All told, it was about a $3.50 to $1.00 spending advantage for the unions.
In 2012, well, the unions raised roughly $8.2 million to support the redistricting reform via Issue 2. Of that:
$8,134,000, a full 99.2%, came from special interest groups. A mere $63,000, or just 0.8% came from individual citizens. A full third--$2,722,000--came from out-of-state special interests. $3,899,000, or nearly half, of the entire sum came from teachers unions, based on them stealing from... err... "assessing" their members earlier in the year.
In other words, unions had 99.9% parity in fundraising in 2012 and got trounced at the ballot box. What does that say about Issue 2 then and now?
Unions can't win on the facts.
They spent a small fortune--almost all of which came from mandatory "assessments" on members rather than actually asking for contributions--beating Issue 2 in 2011. The same funding wasn't there this year, and wouldn't you know it, unions got their hindquarters handed to them. Unions were matched dollar for dollar, and they lost the messaging war.
Doesn't seem like a group that can win using the truth.
Ultimately, this just underscores why unions are truly afraid of what's happened in Indiana and what's currently happening in Michigan. It's not about "free riders" or the loss of power. It's not about losing dues dollars or campaign funding. In the end, it's about actually having to be responsive to their membership.
That bears repeating:
The biggest fear of every union is actually having to be representative of their membership.
Currently, union leaders are nothing but liberal Democrats, interested in furthering liberal politics, no matter the cost to their membership. Whether it's your local school district, or Hostess, union leaders have proven they'd sacrifice the jobs of every one of their members rather than give up any of their perceived power.
In a right-to-work state, unions actually have to show their value to keep their members--they have to represent the values and beliefs of their membership. And instead of simply stealing from... err... assessing members every time a political issue pops up, unions would have to make an honest-to-goodness appeal for contributions.
You know, like every other professional organization.
*GASP* Unions having to play by the same rules as everyone else?!? The horror!
Unions have strayed very far from their original purpose: representing their members. Just look at the results of Issue 2 this year--they couldn't sell their proposal to the general public, let alone their members, and yet they still paid for their $8 million campaign using 99% member "assessments."
Perhaps if union members believed unions actually represented them, they'd actually believe the political messages... without unions having to spend $40 million (of member money) to convince them. | 3,446 | 1,703 | 0.000593 |
warc | 201704 | According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a request by the FDA to re-hear, as a full court, a three-judge panel's decision in favor of the electronic cigarette industry. In that decision, the Appeals Court ruled that the FDA cannot regulate electronic cigarettes as a drug-device combination under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, but must instead regulate these products as tobacco products under the Tobacco Act.
A three judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals previously upheld a lower court's injunction against the FDA seizing shipments of NJOY electronic cigarettes under its Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulatory power. The FDA appealed that decision, asking the full Appeals court to re-hear the issue. The Appeals Court has denied that request, meaning that if the FDA wants to appeal further, it must ask the U.S. Supreme Court to accept the case. Thus, the original Appeals Court decision remains in effect, and at the present time, the FDA does not have the authority to regulate electronic cigarettes as drug delivery devices, but must instead regulate them as tobacco products. The Rest of the Story The FDA now has three basic options: 1. Accept the Appeals Court ruling and regulate electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. 2. Appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. 3. Issue a formal rule-making on electronic cigarettes and hope that the Courts will give the Agency deference in its definition of statute. It is very unlikely that the FDA will choose option #1, since it seems determined to deny vapers the potentially life-saving benefits of electronic cigarettes and seems to have no understanding of the benefits of harm reduction as a public health strategy. The FDA may choose option #2, but I think it is very unlikely that the Supreme Court would take on the case at this early stage, given that the FDA has never issued any formal rulemaking on the regulation of electronic cigarettes. I think the Supreme Court would likely wait until there is a formal rulemaking on the issue before it accepts the case. This leaves, as a most likely outcome, option #3. However, the FDA may be reluctant to do this because it could mean taking electronic cigarettes off the market and the Agency will face quite a fight if it takes this approach. I suppose a fourth option is simply a continuation of the status quo, where the FDA regulates the marketing claims of certain electronic cigarette companies but leaves the overall market intact. From the perspective of public health, this might actually be the best outcome, at least in the short-term. | 2,635 | 1,156 | 0.000866 |
warc | 201704 | Imagination can be found on most blogs, but a blog can focus on imagination as well. Blog topics designed to develop greater creativity might include prompts as well as tips on strengthening the power of the mind. Some bloggers might use their sites as a showcase for sharing their own imaginative creations with the world.
A blog is an ideal forum for brainstorming and developing ideas, innovations, or inventions. The input we receive from others can put our ideas to the test. We can provide inspiration to others as well as receive inspiration to continue to be motivated in what we are working to achieve. The support we can receive from blogging friends and associates can be something that we might have a difficult time finding from our friends and families.
Do you find it easier to express your imagination on your blog than with the people in your daily life? Have you ever developed an idea that started on your blog and was helped along by others who had read what you had written about that idea? Can you think of some other blogging elements that start with the letter "I"? | 1,095 | 575 | 0.001749 |
warc | 201704 | Airfare usually consumes a large portion of a touristâ??s travel budget, but it doesnâ??t have to be as costly as many people think. Planning ahead can save you money. If you know how to take advantage of airline discounts and other policies, even a first-time flier can end up with a drastically reduced rate.
Step 1
Investigate potential package deals for booking airlines and hotels together. Many major resorts partner with airlines to provide customers with package incentives. Booking a flight and hotel in tandem can save you hundreds of dollars.
Step 2
Schedule your vacation with midweek flights or off-season tourism in mind. A midweek flight is usually cheaper than a weekend flight, often much cheaper, and if you can schedule your vacation with midweek flights youâ??ll also avoid large weekend airport crowds and long security checkpoint lines. Off-season flights also yield cheaper airfare. Just remember that every region has a different off-season. Generally speaking, the off-season is whenever the regionâ??s weather is least favorable for travel or tourism. If youâ??re willing to put up with less than perfect weather conditions at your destination, you can get cheaper airfare.
Step 3
Book your flight with long-term spending in mind, especially if you travel frequently for business. According to Microsoftâ??s Small Business Center, many travelers will stick with one airline in order to earn airline frequent flier miles and future travel discounts. However, this may not always be the best strategy. You must carefully consider the future savings that frequent flier discounts offer, and then also consider the overall savings that simply going with a cheaper airline might bring. Microsoftâ??s Small Business Center claims that most people actually save more by switching airlines based on whichever one has the cheapest fare at the moment.
Step 4
Book flights in advance. A last-minute ticket not only makes planning your trip difficult, it also usually costs more than an advance purchase. Airlines provide incentives to travelers who plan ahead.
Step 5
Research the airlineâ??s luggage policies. In order to get the cheapest fare possible, youâ??ll want to make sure you factor in baggage check fees. Some airlines allow passengers to check one free bag per ticket; others charge extra for any checked luggage. While baggage checking fees are usually only around $15 or $20, this fee could be the difference between one airfare and another.
Tip In the unfortunate event that you are traveling to the funeral of a relative, most airlines offer discounted bereavement rates. In order to get a bereavement discount you must call the airline in advance and furnish a copy of the deceased relativeâ??s death certificate. Photo Credits airplane image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com | 2,873 | 1,361 | 0.000751 |
warc | 201704 | Major beneficiaries include Imperial County, local schools and Imperial Valley College EL CENTRO, CA, March 26, 2012– Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern) today announced that a report conducted for Imperial County by the County’s independent consultant found the Ocotillo wind energy project would contribute more than $100 million directly to local taxing jurisdictions over the 30-year life of the project.
According to the report prepared by Development Management Group, Inc., “The Ocotillo Express LLC Wind Energy Project will provide certain and specific tax revenues to the County of Imperial and other region-based taxing organizations. Unlike solar energy production which is provided a property tax exemption for solar equipment, wind energy is subject to property tax. This provides a substantial economic benefit to the County of Imperial and its residents.”
In addition to Imperial County, Imperial Valley College and Imperial Unified School District, other major beneficiaries include County Fire Protection, Imperial County Office of Education and the County Library System, all of which are slated to receive tax revenues in the millions of dollars. Several other tax beneficiaries are each slated to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue over the life of the project.
“The Ocotillo wind project will provide a substantial economic benefit to Imperial County and its residents, with extensive tax benefits going to the schools, library and fire department,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. “Taxes paid by the Ocotillo Wind Project will have a significant positive impact on local schools, Imperial Valley College and the County’s finances over the next three decades. In addition, this project will also help revitalize the local economy through the creation of hundreds of jobs and through several million dollars of contributions to local education, community and Native American cultural programs.”
The independent report also found substantial job creation impacts and economic development impacts would result from the Ocotillo Wind Project.
The Ocotillo wind project is expected to generate over 300 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction phase and approximately 20 full-time permanent jobs, while producing enough clean and renewable wind energy to serve more than 120,000 households a year. The project has broad support from Imperial Valley local governments, the business community and labor organizations.
Pattern has been committed to respecting the cultural heritage of the area. The Company funded extensive on-site cultural surveys and designed the project to avoid direct impacts on artifacts identified on the site. The project has received strong support from the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians. In addition, Pattern has made a substantial contribution to the Ocotillo Desert Museum, and is committed to making further contributions when the project becomes operational, to help the Museum complete its exhibits and remain open to the public.
“Pattern is proud of the extensive measures it has taken to avoid any impacts on cultural and environmental resources,” added Garland. “We will continue to work closely with the community and Native Americans, as well as environmentalists and local agencies to ensure the region’s cultural heritage and environmental resources alike are preserved and protected.”
About Pattern
Pattern Energy Group LP is an independent, fully integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates renewable energy and transmission assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. With a long history in wind energy, Pattern’s highly-experienced team of scientists, engineers, construction experts, and legal and financial professionals has developed, financed and placed into operation more than 2,500 MW of wind power projects. Pattern is strongly committed to promoting environmental stewardship and is dedicated to working closely with landowners and communities to create premier renewable energy projects. Currently operating 520 MW of wind energy in North America, Pattern has 250 MW of wind projects in construction and is developing the Ocotillo Wind Project in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. Pattern has corporate offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, New York, and Toronto, and project offices in El Centro, California and Blenheim, Ontario. For more information, please visit www.patternenergy.com and www.ocotillowind.com. | 4,568 | 1,999 | 0.00051 |
warc | 201704 | Answers: Seeking shelter from tornadoes in the open
By Chris Cappella, USATODAY.com
Q: You are traveling down the road. A tornado is coming or you have received warnings. Where is the best place to seek shelter? I have been reading ditches or ravines are safe, but won't the severe winds suck you up? What if there are no ditches or ravines in the immediate area?
A: The best place to seek shelter if you spot a tornado or receive a warning that there is or might be one in your area is inside a sturdy building, preferably in a basement or safe room, or at least in an interior room on the first floor under something heavy like a table or desk. If you have a bathroom or closet in the middle of your house it can be used as your safe room. People have survived the blowing debris from tornadoes in their bathtubs.
Happening upon a sturdy shelter at the time you spot a tornado or hear a warning is unlikely on the open road, and is also a dangerous game to play. If you are in the open when this occurs, it's too late and all of your options for safety are bad.
Before we sift through your bad options, you need to know that tornadoes do not suck up debris, despite the best efforts of popular movies and uneducated TV broadcasters that tell you otherwise. Tornado winds blow things around, creating airborne debris that can and has killed people.
Leaving your vehicle and lying down in a ditch or ravine to escape a tornado may sound insane, but it might be your best option. It's the one recommended by the National Weather Service. The idea is that most wind-borne debris as well as the intense winds that could blow you away will pass over you. Most highways are raised up to allow rainwater to run off, so there are plenty of ravines and low spots.
Although winds in a ditch or ravine might be less, there's a very real danger that the tornado could drop parts of someone's house, or maybe your own car, on you. Violent tornadoes also have been known to scour the ground and even blow the asphalt right out of the road bed. You wouldn't stand a chance.
Get the idea of seeking shelter under an overpass out of your head. Overpasses can be even worse than a ditch or ravine because the narrow spaces actually funnel the wind through them at higher speed than over the open ground. A separate USATODAY.com story and interactive graphic explain why overpasses are tornado death traps.
More recently, meteorologists with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the nation's think tank of tornado research, have offered another choice. Driving away from the tornado. This also can be highly dangerous because it can be very difficult to see which way the tornado may be traveling.
If you can brush emotion and panic aside, however, and the tornado is not on top of you, it may be possible to see which way it's moving. Once you have an idea where the tornado is headed, drive at right angles away from its path. Unless you are near an interstate exit, this might be impossible. If you can't tell which way the tornado is moving, or you are on a highway between exits so there's no place to go, that's when the ditch starts looking like the best option. (If the tornado does not seem to be moving right or left, and just looks bigger and bigger, it's headed right for you. Head for the ditch!)
Don't stay in your vehicle. If it isn't blown aloft by the extreme winds to bounce and disintegrate, it will likely be pulverized by flying debris. I have seen a number of photos over the years of cars and trucks punctured by wood, metal and even tree branches. If the debris can go through a car door, it will have no trouble going through you, too. I also have seen the frames of king cab pickup trucks — all that's left of the vehicle — wrapped around power poles and trees like pretzels.
Adding to all of the danger just described is the very real possibility that the tornado will be wrapped in rain and invisible to you. Or, the darkness brought on by a storm might make a tornado difficult to see. You might never get to exercise your bad options.
That's why the right thing to do when facing the threat of severe weather, including tornadoes, is to stay informed. Get the weather forecast for the area in which you will be driving and make a plan in advance of what to do in case of a tornado.
When the weather begins to look threatening, pull off the road and get inside a sturdy building. You might need to do this even before the weather gets real bad if there are many miles between exits. No worries. It's probably time to stop for a cup of coffee anyway. If a tornado heads for the restaurant you're in, the walk-in freezer would be a good shelter. Or, you could at least get under a table or sturdy counter.
What you should take away from this is that when there are tornadoes in the forecast, keep up with the weather and don't get caught in the open so you won't need to make those less than ideal life-and-death decisions.
Learn how to build a safe room in your home. One of USATODAY.com's stories about tornadoes in Oklahoma in 1999 highlight the safe room as one of the few structures that withstood the violent tornadoes that day. A graphic at the top of the page gives you a preview of the material needed and look of one kind of safe room. A link farther down the page takes you the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Web site, where you'll find plans to build your own safe room.
Resources: Tornadoes | 5,450 | 2,515 | 0.0004 |
warc | 201704 | Today's guest post comes from David Sehat. David is an associate professor at Georgia State University and author ofThe Myth of American Religious Freedom. Readers of the blog will probably recall that Paul was quite excited about this book's release. He interviewed David in anticipation ofMyth' s publication, he announced when it was published, he alerted us to the extended conversation about it and he celebrated when the RiAH bump was confirmed David won the much deserved Frederick Jackson Turner Award. With this post, the tradition of featuring David's work continues as he gives us a look into his new bookThe Jefferson Rule: How the Founding Fathers Became Infallible and Our Politics Inflexible. Readers can find new interviews with David about his work here and here as well as his S-USIH post about "Why We Should Stop Talking about the Founding Fathers." David Sehat
American politics is often like religion. It is an arena of orthodoxies. It employs liturgies for different occasions. It leans upon a secular priesthood to run its affairs. And, above all, it promotes veneration of the sacred. Sometimes the notion of the sacred is attached to the nation, which is understandable even if it is not something that I feel. But what I find more remarkable is that American politics promotes the veneration of the Founding Fathers. That “assembly of demigods,” in Thomas Jefferson’s phrase, has been given supernatural wisdom, uncanny virtue, and sagacious foresight into the distant future. They have become the phantasmagorical leaders of the American revolutionary promise and the architects of the American creed.
Their mythos began just a few years after their death. In the 1840s, as he was beginning to edit his grandfather’s papers, Charles Francis Adams complained, “We are beginning to forget that the patriots of former days were men like ourselves. . . . We are almost irresistibly led to ascribe to them . . . certain gigantic proportions and superhuman qualities.” As the Founders actual lives faded into the past, he realized that popular memory filled in the gaps in often astounding ways.
Consider the case of George Washington. His myth began with his body barely in the ground. “Washington, you know[,] is gone!” the writer Mason Locke Weems exclaimed to his publisher when he heard the news. “Millions are gaping to read something about him.” Fortunately, Weems claimed to have begun collecting tales about Washington six months past and was ready to satisfy popular demand. The resulting book, which was based on evidence that was slim at best and more often simply fabricated, solidified Washington’s reputation not as a remote and stoic political leader in a deferential age (which he was), but instead as an honorable, virtuous, and sentimentalized Christian. Weems claimed to be rejecting “Washington the hero, and the Demi-god” for Washington the real man, but he offered a version of the man who was just as heroic in many ways. Here is the origin of the bizarre tales of Washington’s boyhood, including the one of him cutting down his father’s cherry tree. When confronted by his father about the tree, Weems has Washington responding, “I can’t tell a lie, Pa; you know that I can’t tell a lie.” Washington then confesses to cutting down the tree, and his father rejoices in the opportunity to see his son’s immaculate honesty. (It was this story that prompted Mark Twain to claim of Washington: “He was ignorant of the commonest accomplishments of youth. He could not even lie.”)
Such fabulist and often facile tales became so commonplace over the next 100 years—and included more than just George Washington—that historians were often agog at the level of fabrication. As the historical profession became organized in the 1890s, books began appearing that claimed to unearth The True George Washington or The True Benjamin Franklin from the accretive layers of popular myth. The authors of such works often complained that the hagiographers of the Founding generation, such as Mason Locke Weems, lacked any proper sense of history. Sydney George Fisher, the author of The True Benjamin Franklin, was so exasperated that he opened his book with a little homily on the differences between the mythos of the Founders and that of the ancients, especially the Greeks. Ancient people always made their gods more human than not, he claimed, but “our process is just the reverse.” “Out of a man who actually lived among us and of whose life we have many truthful details,” he grumbled, “we make an impossible abstraction of idealized virtues.”
Yet these academic treatments could not keep up with popular myth. By 1916, when Warren G. Harding coined the phrase “the Founding Fathers” in his address to the Republic National Convention, the rage for the Founders was only growing. His new phrase simply offered a novel expression for the old attitude of veneration, and Harding actually did much to promote the cause, most prominently in his inaugural address in 1921. “Standing in this presence, mindful of the solemnity of the occasion, feeling the emotions which no one may know until he senses the great weight of responsibility for himself,” Harding intoned, “I must utter my belief in the divine inspiration of the founding fathers.” It is a sentiment in complete accord with the Tea Party Republicans of today.
There are various ways to respond to such talk. Sydney George Fisher eventually threw up his hands. In an article entitled, “The Legendary and Myth-making Process in Histories of the American Revolution,” Fisher realized that he was not up to the task of correcting factual misconception. Writers like Mason Locke Weems might offer “trash and cant,” he said, but “it is in vain that the historians, the exhaustive investigators, the learned, and the accurate rail at him or ignore him. He captured the American people. . . . He said exactly what they wanted to hear.”
I suppose I am not so ready to give up the fight. It should go without saying that the Founders were not an assembly of demigods. They were human beings who wore dentures, had bad breath, and suffered from the various gastro-intestinal disorders of the age. They displayed the limited horizons of their place and time—with the usual notions about the place of slaves, women, and others outside the body politic. The attitude of reverence seems to me inappropriate given the Founders’ striking limitations, which are understandable in human beings but unacceptable in objects of veneration. That reverence, to put it more strongly, is a form of political fundamentalism, and the effect is, as Henry Clay complained in 1820, to make all the Founders’ opinions ”the articles of faith of the new Church.” Given all the challenges we face today—global warming, international terrorism, pandemics, species loss, political corruption, and so on—I vote that we jettison our obsession with the Founders and instead plunge into addressing the new realities of our time. | 7,234 | 3,430 | 0.000302 |
warc | 201704 | NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, says that today’s homes are more affordable than at any time in the past 40 years. But as the economy improves, expect housing prices to rise again, making homeownership less affordable. VAR and Housing Virginia recognize the need to keep housing within reach for those want to pursue (and understand the responsibility of) the American dream of homeownership.
To help housing advocates and state officials understand trends in housing affordability, VAR, local Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) in Virginia, and Housing Virginia are partnering to create a quarterly Housing Affordability Index. The initiative was announced at the Governor’s Housing Conference.
Details after the jump. Housing Virginia, a statewide non-profit entity dedicated to affordable housing and the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), announced today a joint effort to produce of a quarterly Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for Virginia beginning in 2010. The announcement of the HAI took place at a press conference held during this week’s Governor’s Housing Conference in Norfolk.
The HAI is a broad measure of housing affordability that examines the relationship between both buyers’ and renters’ housing costs and their household income. This is the first housing index in the nation to consider both buyer and renter affordability on a statewide basis. The overall HAI reflects the relative supply and affordability of owner and renter housing. “Basically what we’re looking at is presenting the percentage of a typical Virginia household’s income necessary to afford the typical home in Virginia,” explained Scott Brunner, CEO of the Virginia Association of Realtors.
The Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech is conducting the analysis, which will relate the affordability of housing across the Commonwealth based on median sales price of homes sold and median rent paid to the median household income of families. The HAI will be available for individual market areas (counties and cities) as well as regions across the Commonwealth.
The median-priced, existing single-family home is produced from local Multiple Listing Service data calculated by area in the Virginia Association of Realtors’ quarterly Virginia Home Sales Report. The typical family income is defined as the median household income in an area as reported by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
“In general, areas where the median housing costs require less than 30% of the median household income are considered more affordable, and areas where housing costs exceed 30% of household income are considered less affordable to the typical family,” said Kit Hale of Roanoke, chairman of Housing Virginia.
For example, taking 30 percent of income as the baseline for affordability, a median-income family earning $60,000 and paying 30% of their income for housing could expect to pay $18,000 in housing costs annually; That amounts to $1,500 per month for rent or mortgage principal, interest and taxes. Likewise, a median-income household earning $45,000 could expect to pay $13,500 in housing costs annually or $1,125 per month.
“As Virginia Realtors, we work to find the best housing option for each consumer we serve. For some that may be renting; for others, it may mean helping another family achieve the American dream of homeownership,. Regardless of which alternative a consumer wants or needs, we believe the new statewide affordability index will give consumers a useful tool and a truer picture of housing costs in today’s Virginia markets,” said VAR President Cindy Stackhouse of Dumfries.
“The board of directors of Housing Virginia has long believed that housing affordability is an issue that affects everyone. Housing affordability has a tremendous impact on our economy and the quality of life in our communities, right down to questions of whether our firefighters and school teachers can afford to live in the communities where they work,” added Hale.
The first Housing Affordability Index is expected to be released in January 2010, and should reflect housing data from the final quarter of 2009. | 4,224 | 1,874 | 0.000547 |
warc | 201704 | What’s behind the best presidential decisions? About this blog: Presidential decision-making is tricky. Fire Gen. Douglas MacArthur, or not? Pardon Richard Nixon, or not? Invade Iraq, or not? Nick Ragone assesses how White House decisions are made in “Presidential Leadership: 15 Decisions That Changed the Nation," being released today – Presidents’ Day – by Prometheus Books. Ragone considers the big decisions such as Nixon’s commitment to go to China, Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Kennedy’s challenge to America to reach the moon. Here, he reveals two traits behind the best presidential decisions.
“The aggressive impulse of an Evil Empire” — it’s one of the most recognizable and devastating utterances in presidential history. Many historians, in fact, consider it something of a turning point in U.S-Soviet relations — in an instant, President Reagan had successfully reshaped the trajectory of the Cold War by branding the adversary as evil at a time when much of the country was urging just the opposite: greater cooperation.
And it nearly didn’t come about. Those closest to Reagan wanted nothing to do with the harsh rhetoric. Time and again they had scrubbed similar phrases from his speeches, much to the president’s chagrin. To their thinking, it was unnecessarily inflammatory, would cause more harm than good, and on some level was simply unpresidential, beneath the dignity of both the office and the man. Reagan felt differently. That one sentence perfectly captured all he believed about the Soviet Union. He wanted to put the world on notice that he considered victory in the Cold War not only achievable, but inevitable – a view that few outside his inner circle shared. If he had to bypass his own State Department and overrule many of his closest advisors to use the language in a speech, so be it. He wasn't going to be denied. The line between presidential success and failure has always been a fine one. It's a bit of a mystery why some decisions take hold while others do not. To reduce presidential achievement to a few axioms would be shortsighted and difficult; there are simply too many variables that factor into the equation. That being the case, there are two traits that seem to stand out the most: conviction and persistence. Decisions born of either, or both, tend to stand the best chance at creating policies that shape the long-term trajectory of the nation, and typically come to define the narrative of their presidency. When confronted with the prospect of civil war over South Carolina's nullification of the federal tariff laws, Andrew Jackson, who had broken ranks with his southern brethren on the issue, steadfastly maintained that the nature of the Union was perpetual, and therefore could not be summarily disbanded by a disgruntled state.
He believed so much in the sanctity of the Union that he wrote an 8,000 word treatise on the topic, which Lincoln would later draw upon to justify some of his actions. With the eloquence of his words and vehemence of his ideas, Jackson was able to forestall civil war for another three decades.
Lincoln faced a similar predicament as he made his way east for his inauguration in the spring of 1861. There was widespread disagreement over whether the Union should be held together by force. Many in the country, including the outgoing president, thought it wiser to let it dissolve.
But like Jackson before him, Lincoln held the Union with near biblical reverence. Even at his lowest point in the spring of 1862, he never wavered on the rightness of his decision to go to war. Of course, history would prove him right.
Ironically, few presidents believed more deeply or advocated more fiercely for a policy than Woodrow Wilson with the League of Nations. The peace-keeping organization was his brain child, and he literally gave his life trying to secure its approval in the Senate.
Although he failed to win ratification, the cause was prescient. How history might have been different had the United States been active in world affairs in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Lend-Lease program was born of Franklin Roosevelt’s subtle but persistent maneuvering to gird the country for war. Truman knew that his decision to fire Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War was wildly unpopular – even career ending – but that never influenced his thinking, much like Gerald Ford with his pardon of Richard Nixon. History has vindicated both men.
Posted by: geo82170 | February 21, 2011 10:28 AM | Report abuse | 4,616 | 2,339 | 0.000437 |
warc | 201704 | Mid West Gascoyne region
The Mid West Gascoyne Region is almost entirely dependent on groundwater resources for its water needs. Access to reliable water resources plays a key role in sustaining and developing the vibrant local economy in the region. Groundwater also sustains rivers, wetlands and bushland of social, cultural and ecological significance, including sites which are drawcards for tourists.
The Carnarvon horitcultural industry is a major part of the local economy and is reliant on intermittent flows in the Lower Gascoyne River to recharge local aquifers. The need for water is increasing, with water demand in the Mid West potentially doubling within the next 30 years.
Water allocation planning in the Mid West Gascoyne is focused on groundwater and maintaining a reliable water resource that can support both economic growth and development.
Water allocation plans
For more information on the water allocation plans in this region, click on the plan image below. Alternatively, click directly to the plan document under related publications on the right.
Carnarvon Artesian Basin water management plan Lower Gascoyne water allocation plan Arrowsmith groundwater allocation plan
Jurien groundwater allocation plan
The lower Gascoyne River in flood in 2009. | 1,285 | 626 | 0.00161 |
warc | 201704 | PMI mortgage insurance is an added cost to home ownership that many people pay needlessly.
Why Do You Have to Pay PMI?
PMI is basically an insurance policy you pay for that insures the bank in case you default on your mortgage. You typically have to buy PMI in order to get a mortgage if you put less than 20% down. Mortgage lenders are taking a big risk when they lend you money. They are putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars and hoping that you pay it back. When you make a 20% down payment, you have more skin in the game. Statistically speaking, the bigger the down payment, the smaller the risk of default. If you only make a 3.5% down payment (required for a FHA loan) or even if your down payment is only 10%, lenders worry that you will default.
And if you default on the loan, that means that the lender is responsible for the costs associated with the lost mortgage and the real estate and its upkeep.
This is where PMI comes in. If you default, the payout can help the mortgage lender offset some of the costs associated with foreclosing on your home and trying to sell the property.
When You Can Stop Paying PMI
While it can be disappointing to make mortgage insurance payments, the good news is that you don’t have to do it forever. When you have built enough equity in your home that you “own” 20% of it, you can cancel your PMI. In most cases, PMI is added to your monthly mortgage payment. Most mortgage lenders automatically drop the cost of PMI from your monthly payment when you have 22% equity in your home.
The Homeowner’s Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 requires lenders to offer automatic termination of PMI to their borrowers. However, it is still a good idea to keep track of the situation.
If your lender doesn’t drop the payment, you can point out that it is time to stop charging you for the mortgage insurance. Prior to the HPA, some homeowners would pay PMI premiums for years after they no longer had to.
Automatic termination doesn’t kick in until your loan value reaches 78% of the current value of your home, as long as you are current on your mortgage. This means that if you are behind in mortgage payments, the lender doesn’t have to end the PMI until after you catch up. You can request cancellation of your PMI, when the loan value is 80% of the home’s current value. If your home has gone up in value, this can mean that you pay less in PMI, since your ability to cancel (or have automatic termination) depends on the appraised value of your home, as well as the original purchase price.
You will have to pay for the appraisal yourself. Talk to your mortgage loan servicer (
not the PMI insurer) about the PMI removal policy and then follow the procedure. As long as the properly accredited appraiser can verify the value of your home and you follow the steps to have the PMI removed, there shouldn’t be a problem if you have at least 20% equity in your home.
There are rules about late payments with your mortgage that can allow the lender to reject your request for PMI.
PMI is a reality that many homebuyers have to face when they are ready to purchase a home. However, with a bigger down payment and a plan to pay down your mortgage quickly, you can reduce the amount of time spent paying PMI. | 3,301 | 1,513 | 0.000673 |
warc | 201704 | The ideal letter of recommendation is a detailed and objective description of your intellectual capabilities, written and oral communication skills, creativity, integrity, judgment, and leadership potential. Law schools want to know that you have the intelligence and skills necessary to be a law student and a lawyer, and the ideal letter of recommendation demonstrates your abilities and capabilities with concrete examples and in comparison to other students.
Number of Letters of Recommendation
Follow the law school’s requirements. Most law schools request one to three letters of recommendation. Many law schools want one or two letters of recommendation to be from faculty members. You can review a list of law schools and the number of letter of recommendation they require, recommend or accept by going to the LSAC website >>.
Even if a law school does not require a letter of recommendation, submit letters of recommendation as part of your application, especially if you can solicit letters from writers who will give you a strong recommendation. Limit yourself to two or three letters of recommendation under these circumstances.
Selecting a Letter of Recommendation Writer
Letters of recommendation from professors carry the greatest weight since law schools are academic institutions. As a result, at least one of your letters of recommendation should be from a faculty member, and if possible, from a faculty member in your major. The professor should be one who can write a detailed letter attesting to your academic abilities. Don’t fall into the “star search” trap. An in-depth letter of recommendation from a young adjunct professor who knows you well will have a greater impact than a cursory letter from a distinguished professor who barely knows you.
Letters of recommendation from people outside academia, such as employers, attorneys, judges, or pastors, will only be effective if several years have elapsed since you graduated, and if the letters contain specific, substantive information about your academic potential in addition to information about your personal qualities. If you cannot provide a letter of recommendation from a professor, you should offer an explanation in a short addendum to your application.
Letters of recommendation from well-known politicians or other famous people who do not know you well are useless. These letters tend to be short and generic and will not make an impact on a law school admissions committee.
To avoid scrambling for letters of recommendation, set a goal of getting to know one professor reasonably well each academic year. If you start in your freshman year, you will have three or four professors who can write letters of recommendation for you law school application or provide references for internships or jobs. You can accomplish this goal by making the effort to schedule meetings with professors during office hours, taking advantage of the Dine-with-a-Mind lunch program, becoming a teaching assistant, or seeking ways to work and collaborate with professors on their research projects.
Students who are planning to spend several years pursuing other interests between college and law school should solicit letters of recommendation from professors before graduation. Over time, professors retire, die, move to other academic institutions, disappear on sabbaticals to remote places, or forget that you were a student in one of their classes. Students who are not going straight through to law school can take advantage of the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to “store” their faculty letters of recommendation.
Requesting a Letter of Recommendation
You should not be shy or embarrassed about asking a professor for a letter of recommendation. Writing letters of recommendation is one of the duties of faculty members.
Approach potential letter writers well in advance of the application deadline. Ideally, you should give a letter writer two to four weeks to write the letter.
Make an appointment to see a potential letter writer in order to make a formal request in person. Sending a request via email or by dropping off a form is impolite. Remember, the way in which you make the request can influence the letter writer’s perception of you.
Ask the letter writer directly if they know you and your work well enough to write a positive letter of recommendation for your law school application. If the professor is unenthusiastic or equivocal, it is better to ask someone else. If the answer is positive, then be prepared to provide the letter writer with the following information to assist him or her in writing a detailed letter on your academic abilities:
A short memo or cover sheet describing your relationship, such as the courses you have taken, the work you have done, etc.
A copy of your transcript.
A resume.
Copies of exams or papers from the letter writer’s class. To help you with your letters of recommendation, save exams and papers from the courses in which you did reasonably well.
Recommendation forms from the LSAC or law schools.
Stamped envelopes addressed to the LSAC or law schools.
A list of dates when the letters of recommendation are due. In developing your deadlines, remember the the LSAC takes about two weeks to process your letters after they are received.
Be prepared to waive your right of access to your letters of recommendation. Law school admissions committees tend to discount letters of recommendation that are not confidential.
You can track the status of your letters of recommendation online through the LSAC's CAS. Shortly after the deadlines you gave your letter writers, contact those writers who have not sent their letters yet and politely remind them of the deadline.
After you have received decisions from the law schools, send thank you notes to your letter writers and let them know where you intend to enroll.
LSAC Letter of Recommendation and Evaluation Services
LSAC offers a letter of recommendation service to LSDAS registrants through the CAS. Use of LSAC’s letter of recommendation service is optional, but virtually all law schools either prefer or require that you use this service. The service allows you to specifiy which letters will be sent to which law schools, up to the maximum number of recommendations that are accepted by each school. A letter of recommendation can either be targeted to specific law schools or a general one that can be sent to multiple schools.
In addition to letters of recommendation, the LSAC's CAS offers an evaluation service. The standard form evaluation provides a rating scale for various skills that have been identified as important to success in law school, such as intellectual skills, personal qualities (motivation, compassion, judgement, initiative, etc.), integrity and honesty, communication skills, task management skills, and the ability to work with others. To learn more about the LSAC’s evaluation service, go to the LSAC website >> .
An evaluation is not the same as a letter of recommendation. The evaluation has a set scale (truly exceptional – 1op 1-2%, average – top 5%, very good – top 10%, good – top 25%, average – top 50%, below average – bottom 50%, unable to judge) that applies to set questions evaluating set criteria. The letter of recommendation has no set criteria and provides the writer with greater leeway in what qualities to address and how to address them. You may want your faculty recommenders to provide a traditional letter of recommendation while directing an employer to provide an evaluation, either with or without a letter of recommendation. The evaluation criteria seem better suited to an employment situation, and Wheaton College students are usually reliable and desirable employees who should do well on the ranking scale. Whoever you decide to do an evaluation, make sure you provide very specific information about yourself so that the evaluator knows who you are when they receive an e-mail from the LSAC to do the online evaluation.
Students who are planning to pursue other interests between college and law school can use this service to “store” faculty letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation and evaluations that are few years old are still good, especially since an increasing number of law school applicants have been out of school for a few years. Before you graduate, have your faculty letter writers send their letters of recommendation or evaluations directly to LSAC, which will hold the letters and evaluations for the duration of your registration period, which is currently five years. | 8,712 | 3,451 | 0.000294 |
warc | 201704 | PM2.5 From CIIC Particulate matters or PM , is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. PM2.5 ( 细颗粒物) particles are air pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, small enough to invade even the smallest airways.
Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) pose a health concern because they can be inhaled into and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) are referred to as "fine" particles and are believed to pose the greatest health risks. Because of their small size (approximately 1/30th the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deeply into the lungs.
These particles generally come from activities that burn fossil fuels, such as traffic, smelting, and metal processing. | 855 | 507 | 0.002034 |
warc | 201704 | Some general and heavy hitting health information that would change your life completely if I could give everything listed here to you for free. Unfortunately, there too much stuff and miss information to go in on everything. This is a healthy rant with possibly just the thing you’ve been searching for.
Trying to live healthier is the same as living longer and can be done better than ever these days with products like the 90 Essential Nutrients that prevents all birth defects, prevents most disease and illness along with curing tons of stuff people suffer from like pain, arthritis, Alzheimer. That sad part is that it’s still legal for treatments to be used when cures are available for practically free when compared to prescriptions and doctor costs.
Check back in the future for possible updates to this Health Exercise Cleansing Wiki & Guide with Tips, Tricks, Cheats and FAQ type info. Feel free to leave any questions along with other communication in the comments below.
Health
Health is very important and probably the most under valued thing in life along with the most longed for. With so many things in the environment that cause damage to the human body I’m surprised there isn’t some high tech breathing apparatus. I think video footage that shows aliens may be fake if the aliens aren’t wearing some kind of air purifier, waaaay off topic random thought.
There are things that can be done that can extend life expectancy dramatically like nutritional supplements, finding a good food source, water/air purifier and removing pollutants from the environment.
Here’s some health literature that can open you eyes wide open to the massive world issue of malnutrition.
Joel Wallach books on Amazon, biggest list I could find. Could probably find books cheaper somewhere else like eBay. These books have a ton of health information that came out of collage research programs along with overly educated minds. Exercise
Honestly I have no clue about exercise except where to get probably the best after workout shake available to the public. It’s called Slender Fx™ Meal Replacement Shake Chocolate Fudge or French Vanilla and it has made a dramatic improvement in my life just using it without exercise. It’s loaded with possible the cleanest and healthiest ingredients that can be put into food including gmo soy glutton free and made by both the worlds leading nutritionist Dr. Joel Wallach and top fitness experts.
If your not getting the required nutrition your body needs after working out your missing out on less to none long/short term fatigue and tons of muscle building growth. The most important thing though would be life expectancy being reduced apparently by sweating it out and not replenishing it. NFL players life to be on average around 50 years old, people in the health industry blame Gatorade and Powerade for have almost zero nutrition (2-4 VitsMins, need 90) when athletes/exercisers bodies are starving for food, Rebound is suppose to be the best alternative to sports drinks.
Cleansing
Cleansing is a huge part of today’s society because just about everything seems to have something in it that stay with us in a negative manor. Some of the biggest toxins in the body that can be removed are heavy metals like mercury and aluminum along with radiation and fluoride.
Radiation and fluoride ride together on the periodic table of elements and are very similar in cellular structure to iodine which is a positive for the human body. By not getting a healthy source of Iodine in your diet your body will store the closer resembled radiation and fluoride instead.
Vaccines are know to have all of the above which will more than likely reduce long term IQ of individuals or cause severe damage on the spot including death. They say vaccines are to keep you from getting sick though they are practically guaranteed to make you sick right away, sounds like a poison to me. I take the 90 along with a water purifier and haven’t been sick in 5+ years. I assume it must be the Alexapure water filter cause it’s the only thing I can get my mom to use and she stopped getting sick regularly.
Liver/Gallbladder Cleanse – Doing a epsom salt and extra virgin olive oil cold press cleanse will remove plastic that is built up in the gallbladder from eating foods with plastic in it. The result is painlessly removing the green or grayish marble size plastic balls out through the stool on the 6th day. The liver can repair itself back to full size and functionality from the most minute piece given the right conditions. Eating foods that are good for the liver are just as good, watermelon is suppose to be the best because of it’s glucosamine.
Improving the condition of your liver can easily give you more energy and help loose body weight with doing much hard work. Once the liver is up and running the rest of the body starts working more like it should. They say the stomach, liver and ??? are the most important to maintain in order for the rest of the body to function properly.
Foods
In this day and age it can seem almost impossible to find out what good and what bad food. Thankfully, there is a good/bad food list that easy enough to understand along with providing more in-depth knowledge on things that are hard to understand like gluten which is basically modified proteins (GMO) that don’t digest and only scrap the digestive track reducing it’s ability to absorb nutrition.
It seems like most of the main line grocery store food is contaminated with cost cutting measure that have no regard for health or have in them intentional harm to make more money in the medical industry. BHT has recently been added to cereals and many other foods types/brands for “better shelf life” though animal studies show massive growth and death via cancer. BHT is illegal in most other countries Your best bet is to build upon good eating sources and try to cook at home as much as possible.
A golden rule for health is that most of the stuff on TV is useless to the point that it’s obvious someone doesn’t want grandma out of her wheelchair. The amount of meds they push for disease an illness with cures is ridiculous, then next they’ll have a commercial talking about class action lawsuits over people taking medication that should have never been invented. | 6,408 | 3,054 | 0.000334 |
warc | 201704 | World Family Declaration
We the people of many lands and cultures reaffirm the truth enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 and echoed in international treaties2 and many of our national constitutions,3 that “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” Hence the family exists prior to the state and possesses inherent dignity and rights which states are morally bound to respect and protect.
We declare that the family, a universal community based on the marital union of a man and a woman, is the bedrock of society, the strength of our nations, and the hope of humanity. As the ultimate foundation of every civilization known to history,4 the family is the proven bulwark of liberty and the key to development, prosperity, and peace.
The family is also the fountain and cradle of new life, the natural refuge for children, and the first and foremost school to teach the values necessary for the well-being of children and society. The family truly is our link to the past and bridge to the future.5
Children are our future, and we gratefully acknowledge the selfless service rendered by parents, grandparents, guardians, and other caregivers who provide opportunities, as prescribed in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, for children “to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.”6
Recognizing that, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance,”7 and, as stated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, every child should, “wherever possible, grow up in the care and under the responsibility of his [or her] parents,”8 we declare that a functional, nurturing family founded on marriage between a man and a woman provides the surest safeguard of the special care and assistance to which children are entitled.
Gravely concerned by the escalating calamities afflicting children and society due to the rapid decline of marriage and family, we recall the sobering observation that “throughout history, nations have been able to survive a multiplicity of disasters— invasions, famines, earthquakes, epidemics, depressions— but they have never been able to survive the disintegration of the family.”9 We affirm the ancient wisdom that the world cannot be put in order without first putting in order the family.10
We call for a culture that honors and enables faithful, fulfilling, and resilient marriages; that recognizes and protects the uniquely valuable contributions of both mothers and fathers to the lives of their children; and that encourages the values and vision necessary for young people to look forward to and prepare for successful marriage and parenting.
We call upon officials and policymakers, internationally, nationally, and at all levels of government, to immediately establish policies and implement measures to preserve and strengthen marriage and family.
We urge citizens, leaders, and people of influence everywhere to place as their highest priority the protection and strengthening of the family as the irreplaceable foundation of civilization and our only hope for prosperity, peace, and progress.
Leaders throughout history have proclaimed it, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares it, and constitutions across the world affirm it: The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and must be protected.
Never has the family stood in more urgent need of protection as it now faces its moment of greatest peril, a crisis that is eroding society and jeopardizing civilization. The solution has been known since antiquity. To put the world in order, we must first put in order the family.
Please sign, encourage others to sign, and disseminate the
World Family Declaration as widely as possible—and then do everything possible to strengthen and protect the family. What we now do, or fail to do, will shape our world for generations to come. The
World Family Declaration is an initiative of the World Congress of Families.
Endorsing organizations:
World Public Forum: Dialogue of Civilizations The Howard Center Doha International Family Institute European Centre for Law and Justice Concerned Women for America Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute Institute for Family Policies International Federation Alianza Latinoamericana para la Familia American Family Association Australian Marriage Forum Real Women of Canada United Families International FamilyPolicy.ru European Dignity Watch Red Familia Ordo Iuris Power of Mothers Family First Foundation Reach the Children Endeavour Forum Beverly LaHaye Institute Profesionales por la Ética Novae Terrae Centrum Wspierania Inicjatyw dla Życia I Rodziny Club of Large Families Family First New Zealand HazteOir.org Population Research Institute Dads4Kids Movieguide.org The Fellowship of St. James Family Policy Institue GrasstopsUSA.com Human Life International Notizie Provita
Contact the World Family Declaration Initiative: info@worldfamilydeclaration.org | 5,235 | 2,388 | 0.000426 |
warc | 201704 | Data backups: The smart person's guide
Image: iStock/kjekol
All of the cutting-edge applications and exotic storage hardware in the world do not matter if your data backups aren’t reliable. This guide is an entry-level summary of enterprise backup software.
Executive summary What it is:Put very simply, backup software makes copies of all the important information on your network and puts it away for safe keeping. The many ways to do this will be explained in this guide. Why it matters:Data backup matters in case something gets corrupted in your files. But there are many other reasons to make copies of your work, from the obvious to the arcane. Who this affects:Backup software impacts everyone. Other than storage and system administrators, most people never think about data backups until it’s too late; fortunately, most modern backup software operates invisibly to end users, who will be happy that recent copies of their work are readily available when needed. When this is happening:Backup is nearly as old as data storage. The phrase “IBM and the seven dwarfs” referred to the leading eight mainframe manufacturers in the 1960s — behemoth IBM along with Burroughs, Control Data, General Electric, Honeywell, NCR, RCA, and Univac. Primitive applications to record data backups emerged from this ecosystem as mass storage options — mostly magnetic tape, but also hard disks — made punched cards obsolete. How to get it:The easiest way to get a data backup application is by purchasing it directly from the software vendor. Of course, the popularity of backing up data onto private and public clouds is a game-changer for purchasing options. Additional resources: What is a data backup?
There are many ways to make backup copies of data from an enterprise’s cacophony of dedicated storage servers, application servers, desktops, and mobile devices. Incremental backup is one of the most popular methods. This type of backup makes full copies of your information at spaced-apart intervals, such as weekly or monthly, while only copying the changes at more frequent intervals such as daily or even more often for particularly vital systems. Many companies also use snapshot (file system imaging) applications, which take a virtual picture of your data rather than copying the complete bits.
Tiered storage refers to a method of putting backup data in the most suitable location based on its importance. For example, data that’s important yet rarely accessed could go on magnetic tape storage, which is very reliable yet has slow access speed compared to disk or flash.
Data that is less important, but still needs to be backed up, could go onto older/slower tape, consumer-grade hard disk arrays (vs. enterprise SANs), or perhaps a cloud. Such information could also be stored in a “cold” location that isn’t always connected to your network.
Data that’s urgent may be copied onto a SAN, which in turn backs up to another, or even onto ultra-fast flash storage. This type of urgent data is often replicated across a private network to a remote location, because you’ll need it back quickly and reliably if a disaster besets your primary location.
Other modern storage backup technologies include virtual tape, which makes any other type of storage (such as a SAN or a NAS) look like a tape library to an application; deduplication, which optimizes storage by eliminating redundant copies of the same information; data mirroring, which automatically makes two copies of all fresh data (usually stored in different locations) rather than actively having to perform backups; and data compression, which shrinks information for storage purposes and expands it back whenever needed.
Additional resources: Why does data backup matter?
Collections of magnetic zeros and ones live a tough life. Creation, spinning around, being erased, moving to other hardware, being copied and renamed and changed — any number of maladies could make you glad there’s a clone of yourself around somewhere.
Real-world examples abound — users can accidentally delete important files; traditional hard disks and newer solid-state drives both fail; malware can alter bits beyond recognition, government or industry regulations may dictate privacy rules; litigation often requites digital discovery; and man-made or natural disasters could physically damage your server rooms. Having copies of data is the best insurance. Just like regular insurance, you’re fortunate if you never have to use it.
Additional resources: Who does this affect?
Everyone is impacted by data backup. End users from the mailroom to the board room need to understand that recovering individual emails or files, while possible, isn’t always fast or easy. System adminstrators and programmers may have applications and databases that cause conflicts with each other, in turn making backup applications lose track of which copies should be saved and which are redundant or simply wrong. Sometimes there’s no particular emergency need to access a backup, except that customers or support staff just want an older version of some particular information. Storage managers need to be on top of all this.
Additional resources: When is this happening?
Every year, and sometimes every quarter, sees new features or mergers/acquisitions from the data backup industry. Backup appliances, service-level agreements (especially for cloud and remote backup systems), and virtualized storage are some of the latest trends.
A huge issue is security — what if there were corporate policies, industry ethics rulings, or even government laws to encrypt all of your backup data? That could require more storage capacity and faster bandwidth to just tread water in the world of storage management.
Additional resources: How do I get it?
There is no shortage of ways to get data backup technology. Gartner cites storage hardware giants EMC (soon to be Dell) and IBM, along with software specialists Commvault and Symantec (soon to spin out its Veritas division), as the current leaders in storage backup. For 2015, Gartner’s famed “magic quadrant” also cited Actifio, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and Veeam as important players. Challengers included Acronis, Arcserve (a recent CA Technologies spin-off), Asigra, Barracuda Networks, Dell (soon to own EMC, as noted above), Unitrends, and Seagate. There are dozens of other data backup companies. Microsoft Windows and various flavors of Unix have built-in data backup utilities, and there are myriad open-source alternatives.
Additional resources:
View article: | 6,684 | 3,160 | 0.000323 |
warc | 201704 | US markets are
looking to be in a bit of trouble here for the first time in 2012 now a the European debt crisis is going to come back in full
force this week.
European markets, specifically the DAX, is breaking down
on strong volume and the US markets look ready to follow.
On
the bright side some of the fastest and largest returns I’ve ever had
in the swing trading portfolio have come on corrections lower.
Also,
good news can be found when looking at gold and silver who
look to have bottomed now and set to move higher soon as they really are the
best safe place to weather this storm.
Finally,
the mining shares are sold out and some are moving up sharply now while many
others are set to soon follow.
Metals review
Gold
rose 1.81% this past week but still has lots of work to do. The confluence of
moving averages here all the way to the $1,700 area could take a couple more
weeks to best and that is great as a strong base needs to be built here as a
support level if it is ever needed in the future.
Gold
remains on sale down here along with the mining shares whom remain sold out
and are beginning to move up now nicely in some cases.
Now
is a time to be buying the shares and also some more gold and silver if that
is in the cards for your investing plan.
I
do not think we will see gold fall any further than this area but then again
if a huge order is dumped on the market it could, but this last effort to
smash gold had a very short and limited effect which tells me gold is all but
sold out.
Both
the GLD ETF and the futures volume was mediocre for
the week as there is no real conviction either way for the moment.
Silver
fell 0.55% over the last week and remains within a $2 range between $31 and
$33.
As
with gold the moving averages here are going to take a bit more time to best
and that is great. It gives wise investors more time to get some more
physical silver and will build a strong base to move higher out of.
I
wouldn’t be expecting great things for a week or two out of silver
unless this European crisis hits hard this coming week and European and US indexes are looking ready for a drop here so it could
well as the markets anticipate and lead crisis for the most part.
Futures
volume for silver was pretty decent as traders are buying future contracts
for the next big push higher in silver which is imminent and not far away while
the SLV ETF volume was nothing to speak of.
The
ETF volume generally picks up as a breakout of a chart pattern is occurring
as it’s really just a trading vehicle and we do need to see that high
volume to confirm a move, although last time it was perfect and still did not
work, but I’ve talked about that blatant smashing enough the past
several weeks.
Platinum
fell 0.81% this past week. While technically the wedge is breaking down to
the downside, the horizontal support level and 100 day moving average is
holding the price here for now. We’ll see soon if this
remains is to be.
To
me it looks like we are going to breakdown lower unfortunately which would
take platinum down to the $1,500 support area.
Both
the PPLT ETF as well as the futures volume is confirming my view that we are
heading lower as more volume is coming in on push days lower.
Palladium
rose 1.47% this past week and looks good here.
The
61% Fibonacci retracement level I posted here last week is holding well and
the chart looks to be near completing a little rounded bottom.
If
you’re into trading this ETF or the futures then the next buy point is
a move above the 38% retracement level which is exactly where the 100 day
moving average is at the moment. That level is $665.
Volume
in both the futures and the PALL ETF confirm my view that we are heading
higher soon with stronger volume on up days than down days.
Palladium
is much more predictable than gold and silver and is much easier to trade as
a result.
Fundamental Review
Paul
Walker of the GFMS group is once again suggesting gold companies hedge a portion of their gold
output as the future for the gold price is not as strong as
it’s been recently, according to Paul. He even went as far as to say ”You could see gold well south of $1000/oz at some juncture in the not too distant future.”
To
suggest this action is reckless at best and fraudulent at worst in my opinion.
While
gold may indeed take on a correction and actually decline this year or
perhaps only rise 5% or another small number, to think this gold bull market
is over is admitting that he knows nothing about monetary history.
In
the shortest form I can muster, monetary history consists of this.
Currency
begins backed by gold and silver. Over time this link is diminished and then
cut all-together. For several years things are fine but eventually too much
money is printed and inflation ensues, followed by hyperinflation. The
currency goes bust and the cycle beings again.
All
the while pundits and authorities insist that this time it’s different.
It never is.
Get
your physical gold and silver insurance policies while they are one sale now!
If
you know any mining companies whom are being advised by Mr.
Walker I suggest you kindly suggest they run, not walk.
In
stark contrast to Mr. Walkers
views the World Gold Council says demand for gold is on the rise as investors are using
it as a tool for capital preservation. Yes! Finally they are
getting it!
Are
you?
A
major South African miner is looking to finally expand into a safer jurisdiction,
Canada. They’ve got a joint venture going now where they can
earn up to 60% interest in then gold deposit. The company sites the low-risk
political jurisdiction that is Canada as a major reason for the attempt at
entry.
I’ve
rambled on far too many times and far too long about the dangers of mining in
South Africa and stated publicly my opposition to investment there until the
situations are resolved which I honestly don’t think I’ll ever
see.
It’s
about time a South African company is realizing this and taking action to
move slowly away.
This
weeks snafu belongs to
North Korea as their rocket launch attempt ended up sinking.
It wasn’t such a long-range rocket after-all! I guess it’s
suiting as the 100
th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic
hits this weekend.
I’ll
end it there with this short free weekend letter and wish you a great restful
and healthy weekend before we get into the storm that could come in the
markets this week.
Warren Bevan
www.preciousmetalstockreview.com
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is solely the responsibility of the reader. We recommend seeking
professional financial advice and performing your own due diligence before
acting on any information received through “Precious Metal Stock
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warc | 201704 | Causes of Cataract Developmental due to Maternal malnutrition or infections. Acquired: Senile – due to ageing. Deficiency of vitamins and amino acids. Administration of toxic chemical. Hypocalcaemia (persistently low calcium level). Systemic conditions like Diabetes mellitus. Trauma/Injury. Radiation. Symptoms of Cataract Gradual dimness of vision. Necessity of frequent change of glasses. Fogginess of vision. Seeing of spots before the eyes. Diplopia (Double picture) of vision. In late stages pain, redness, watering and headache. Diagnosis of Cataract
You have to first consult your eye specialist to confirm the diagnosis for which you have to take the following tests.
Vision testing. Slit lamp examination to visualize the eye chambers. Examination of the eye with an ophthalmoscope. Tonometry to record intra ocular pressure. Systemic examination to find out any cause. Treatment of Cataract
No medical treatment by drugs or otherwise has been shown to have any significant effect in inducing the disappearance of Cataract.
Investigations of Cataract Above tests by an ophthalmologist. Laboratory Investigations of: Hemoglobin. WBC count. Blood Sugar Test. Urine test. Bleeding & Clotting time. Blood record. Electro Cardiogram and Medical Fitness opinion by physician and anesthetist. Surgeries for Cataract Simple Cataract Removal without lens implantation. Cataract removal with Intraocular lens Implantation through: Regular 8–10 mm incision requiring stitch in the eye. Newer 4–5 mm section not requiring any stitch. Extracapsular Surgery
The eye surgeon removes the lens, leaving behind the back half of the capsule (the outer covering of the lens).
Phacoemulsification
In this type of surgery, the surgeon softens the lens with sound waves and removes it through a needle. The back half of the lens capsule is left behind. | 1,863 | 994 | 0.001019 |
warc | 201704 | Are you still on that diet you started at New Year’s? Don’t try so hard. It might make you more successful in the long run.
We're not saying it should be all cookies, all the time. But if you're like most people, you'll need occasional rewards for your healthy behavior. The worst kind of dieting is the sort that makes you miserable, and encourages backsliding when all the hard work is done.
Next ArticleRead This | 429 | 297 | 0.003481 |
warc | 201704 | Riverina rain welcome for parched crops
Posted
This week's rain is coming at a vital time with some crops in the region's west having had only 25 millimetres or less since March.
Conditions were very dry in June but falls of 40 to 57 millimetres have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Hillston district agronomist with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Barry Haskins says local farmers need at least an inch at the moment.
"In our little patch out round Hillston and west of Griffith, it's a fairly large cropping area and we've really missed out on pretty well everything since our March floods which was March the 3rd, so yeah, very much looking for rain," he said.
Mr Haskins says early sown crops are progressing quite well, but plantings from mid May are urgently in need of a drop, especially canola.
"Coupled with the lack of rain, we've also had this some very very cold weather and very severe frosts actually this last couple of weeks so that took the sting out of the crops as well so we're really lookig forward to some rain to get them going and progress them the way they should be," he said.
The dry weather could also affect yields for winter crops in the western Riverina.
"You couldn't say yield is not affected," Mr Haskins said.
"There are some really thirsty looking crops out there.
"But at the end of the day we're a pretty marginal area in the area that I work with at Griffith.
"So if we can get this inch of rain in the next couple of days I think we'll be sitting pretty well.
"Again, we've got a full profile of moisture underneath the crops.
"That'll be very rewarding in spring time when temperatures get a bit warmer."
Deniliquin agronomist John Fowler says for crops like canola, the rain is too late.
But he says cereal crops and pastures around Jerilderie, Deniliquin and Moama will benefit.
"Not enough to finish the job for us but without it we were finished in a sense," he said.
"It also brings a bit of hope to the stock owners, a lot of those had started hand feeding already and this rain won't generate any useful feed for four or five weeks but at least but it gives them the promise of some spring growth.
"It's in the nick of time any later and it would have been too late."
Mr Fowler says the rain could not have come at a better time, but more will be needed to keep crops going.
"We are only about halfway there, at 15 millimetres, we really need 30 or a bit more," he said.
"And we can have that over the next fortnight that would be ok.
"I think we will get other 10 millimetres before the end of the week and that will be great but then we need a bit more than that just to keep us going." | 2,715 | 1,347 | 0.000755 |
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The Jumping Jack Flash Hypothesis: It's A Gas Gas Gas! Hypothesis: As has happened in the past, the already-anoxic oceans have grown considerably more anoxic because of changes in the Gulf current that distributed heat around Florida, up the east coast and then to the east. As a result, as has happened before, the anoxic 'dead zones' are pluming clouds of deadly invisible hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere. Consequently, the ozone layer is being reacted away (H2S + O3 -> H2O + O2 + S), exposing the Earth to rising and probably ultimately lethal levels of UV radiation and causing a major increase in mutations and genetic chimeras all around the world. This process is also allowing in more heat, which is now accumulating in the Gulf, along the east coast, and in other areas of the world's oceans, lakes, and seas, and beginning to dissociate the methane hydrate deposits. (Confirmed.) Because the H2S eats away the hydroxyl radicals as well as ozone, and because the hydroxyl radicals are what would NORMALLY mitigate methane in the atmosphere, the resulting methane plumes will last considerably longer, enhancing the oceanic heating, causing more H2S plumes, making the methane last longer...and so on. The rising H2S levels in the atmosphere are killing off aerobic (oxygen-using) life on Earth. This began some time ago, with bees and small lizards, and has worked its way up the size ladder as the atmospheric plumes have increased in concentration, and this process has escalated radically since the Gulf circulation significantly changed in 2010. Now the H2S is wafting down into low-lying areas and killing people there in increasing numbers, and it is making its way into homes now too and killing multi-person households, as well as fish, birds, trees and other oxygen-using life around the world. Because hydrogen sulfide and methane are both highly flammable gases, their interaction with our flammable fuels infrastructure (cars, planes, jet skis, boats, homes, hotels, businesses, chemical plants, ammo depots, etc) is problematic and is leading to increases in fires and explosions, everywhere generally, but more on and near the coasts. Also, hydrogen sulfide is extremely fast-acting (it is deemed a 'knockdown agent' for this reason) and people driving any type of vehicle are likely to be affected, either rendered unconscious or dead, and this will cause an increase in major vehicular accidents of all kinds which has already begun. Hydrogen sulfide is a heavier than-air-gas and will be accumulating in low-lying places: the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, ravines, ditches, quays, canyons, valleys, gorges, streams, etc. Water is also heavier-than-air, so wherever you find water you are likely to find H2S accumulating. Methane is slightly more buoyant than (normal) air so it will mix and be generally everywhere, but will tend to fill up our atmosphere from the top down. Proposed Explanations For Other Mysteries: Chemtrails - Used for radiation protection to replace disintegrating ozone layer; to provide particles that work with HAARP to create ozone in the stratosphere with arcs; to provide aluminum oxide for use with mobile Claus plants to remove H2S from the atmosphere; to hide celestial objects from human view when deemed necessary. Rumbling Sky Noises - The sounds of Claus plants running invisibly in the sky. The Claus process, discovered in the late 1800s, removes hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream and is the best way to do that that we have discovered. Boom Sounds / Flashes Of Light In Sky - Hydrogen sulfide and/or methane plumes detonating in the sky above us, either purposely via human action (using incendiary flares or whatever), or igniting due to lightning. This may also sound like fireworks or 'popping sounds' if the plumes are smallish. Strange Creatures - As the ozone layer dissolves and more spaceborne radiation beams down to the Earth, DNA and RNA is being damaged, fragmented. This is resulting in Mother Nature splicing in genetic data as best she can to fill damage-induced holes and gaps, sometimes taking this information from passing viruses, resulting in many more mutations, and in particular multi-species chimeras (generally two species). Many of these new chimeric creatures have human DNA/RNA and show human characteristics because our genome is so prevalent in the biosphere; we are everywhere. Freak Hailstorms - As hydrogen sulfide plumes are blown into the upper atmosphere, they are reacting away our ozone layer (H2S + O3 --> H2O + O2 + S). It is very cold up that high in the atmosphere, so the H2O is sometimes coming down as hail at unusual times of the year, in unusual places and in highly unusual amounts. Zombie-like Behavior - Hydrogen sulfide is a broad-spectrum poison but has powerful neurotoxic effects. In other words, it harms the brain, the neurology. It appears that it harms the higher functions: morality, conscience, logic, reason, language, memory. The result is that in some small percentage of the population, people just...lose it. They eat other peoples' faces, or eat their own son (happened in Uganda), etc. Cannibalism seems to be a common effect in this small percentage of the population. (Most people it simply kills outright.) So as we all breathe it in more and more, there will be more people doing simply insane things, from stripping off clothes and chasing buses to attacking and chewing on people. | 5,639 | 2,714 | 0.000369 |
warc | 201704 | 3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2011 Quality Declaration
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/10/2012
Page tools: Print PagePrint All RSS Search this Product STATES AND TERRITORIES
The number of births in 2011 increased for most states and territories, with the exception of Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the oldest median ages of mothers and fathers (for mothers 31.4 years and 31.5 years respectively, for fathers both 33.6 years). The Northern Territory had the youngest mothers and fathers (28.5 years and 31.5 years), followed by Tasmania (29.4 years and 31.8 years).
Total fertility rates (TFRs) for New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory increased in 2011. The remaining states all recorded a slight decrease in TFR. In 2011, Tasmania recorded the highest TFR (2.17 babies per woman) and Victoria recorded the lowest (1.75 babies per woman).
Fertility rates were highest for women aged 30–34 years in all states and territories in 2011, with the exception of Tasmania and the Northern Territory, where women aged 25–29 years recorded the highest fertility rate. For more information see data cube
. Table 1: Births, Summary, States and territories - 2001 to 2011
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warc | 201704 | There are lots of fruit trees in the Wimbledon area, but much of the fruit falls on the ground and is wasted. Abundance helps people to access this fruit and pick it.
Or main objective is that the fruit gets used. If at the same time, we can help people who might be struggling with the cost of fresh food, share skills, reduce waste and have fun doing all of this, so much the better!
Abundance works because lots of people do little bits to help. Here are the different ways you could help:
Over the last year, we have localised fruit picking and distributing - so there are now teams of people working together in Raynes Park, Morden, Wimbledon Park and Wimbledon town centre & village. We are looking to localise even further and set up teams in Merton Park/Dundonals and Colliers Wood.
Let us know if you'd like to help in some way by emailing or would like to receive email updates of what is happening, please contact abundancewimbledon@gmail.com.
Downloads Links The RHS guide to pruning fruit trees - pdf guideVideo of fruit-picking in the gardens of Wimbledon and Southfields
Come fruit-picking with Jean-Jacques
More Video Links Abundance London - video of the schools project How to Graft Fruit Trees - using the whip & tongue method How to Plant Fruit Trees How to Celebrate Our Orchard Heritage How to Involve the Community in Orchards Other Links Other Abundance projects | 1,395 | 752 | 0.001338 |
warc | 201704 | Sitakanta Panda
''Impact of mobile number portability on competition and pricing''
( 2010, Vol. 30 No.4 )
We analyze a tractable model of mobile number portability in a mobile-to-mobile call market and find that this regulation leads to ambiguous welfare effects. MNP increases competition by reducing the consumer switching costs and hence, the telecom firms' market power on the one hand and on the other, increases call prices for (i) it may cause consumer ignorance if phone number prefixes no longer indicate or identify networks, (ii) it may also induce the carriers to increase termination charges for calls to mobile networks. We discuss how in the run-up to the MNP implementation in India, there has been a steep decline in call prices because competition has been increased in anticipation as seen through fall in switching costs. We survey the extant literature on the multifarious effects of MNP as well.
Keywords: Mobile number portability, switching costs, market power, two-part tariffs, network competition.
Manuscript Received : Nov 23 2010 Manuscript Accepted : Nov 23 2010 | 1,099 | 590 | 0.001706 |
warc | 201704 | In this article we will discuss about the problems relating to accounting for long-term assets. First, what is the original acquisition cost of a particular long-term asset. Second, how should the amount of expense or period write off should be determined and allocated against yearly revenue to reflect the asset’s consumption. The other related issues […] | 369 | 257 | 0.004022 |
warc | 201704 | Two recent enhancements provide added functionality to the Internal Revenue Service’s Online Payment Agreement application. The first permits individuals who have not yet received a bill to establish pre-assessed agreements on current tax year Form 1040 liabilities. The second allows practitioners with valid authorizations to remain in the application to request agreements for multiple clients.
With the filing deadline approaching, the Internal Revenue Service today announced enhancements to the interactive Online Payment Agreement application on IRS.gov.
The Web-based application allows eligible taxpayers or their authorized representatives to self-qualify, apply and receive immediate notification of approval for installment agreements – including paperless direct debit agreements.
The IRS estimates that over 75 percent of those eligible for an installment agreement can establish one using this application. Since launching in October, about 3,000 taxpayers have successfully used it to set up a payment agreement with the IRS.
Paying taxes on time and in full avoids unnecessary penalties and interest. However, taxpayers who cannot pay in full may request a payment agreement. To be eligible, a taxpayer must first file all required tax returns and be current with estimated tax payments if applicable.
Individuals with a balance due notice can access the application using the following information: Taxpayer identification number (generally a Social Security Number) and Personal identification number, which can be established online using the caller identification number from the balance due notice.
Individuals who have not yet received a bill must provide the following information to establish pre-assessed agreements on current year returns:
Trending The balance due shown on the return Taxpayer identification number Spouse’s taxpayer identification number (if applicable) Date of birth Adjusted Gross Income from last year’s income tax return Total tax from last year’s income tax return.
Three payment options are available when applying online:
Pay in full — Taxpayers who pay within 10 days save interest and penalties. Short-term extension — Receive a short-term extension of up to 120 days. No fee is charged, but additional penalties and interest will accrue. Monthly payment plan — A user fee will be added to the amount owed, and interest and penalty will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance.User fees are $105 for non-direct debit agreements and $52 for direct debit agreements. A reduced fee of $43 is available for individuals with income at or below certain levels.
To access the application, use the pull-down menu under “I need to...” on the front page of IRS.gov and select “Set Up a Payment Plan.” | 2,817 | 1,253 | 0.000819 |
warc | 201704 | Ask Dr. Dave
December 1, 2006
December 2006
Question:We make consumer products out of polystyrene and ABS, and have been bonding them using solvent welding for many years. We would, however, like to get rid of the solvents in our plant. What alternatives do we have? Answer:Compared to many other plastics, polystyrene-based plastics are relatively polar materials that are easy to bond. If you clean and abrade the surface, you should get good bonds with a reactive acrylic or polyurethane adhesive. The five-minute epoxies, which are typically mercaptan-cured products, will also usually give good performance on polystyrene. If one of your materials is clear, then UV acrylic adhesives will give outstanding bonds with strengths that usually exceed the strength of the plastic. Question:We need a very fast-curing sealant for some construction applications. We also need resistance to standing or flowing water, as well as high elongation. Cost is an important factor, but we will pay a premium for speed and performance. Answer:You might consider using fast-curing versions of conventional sealants, such as silicones or a two-component polyurethane sealant, but I would suggest you try a two-part polyurea. Polyureas are similar to polyurethanes but are based on reacting an isocyanate with a multifunctional amine rather than with a polyol. This chemical reaction occurs quickly without added catalysts and can provide good seals within a few minutes, though full curing may take several hours. Polyureas tend to be somewhat more expensive than polyurethanes, but their very fast cure and outstanding properties often outweigh this extra cost. You do have to be careful with surface preparation, though; the polyureas cure so quickly that complete wetting of the surface is sometimes difficult, leading to reduced adhesion. Thorough cleaning and the use of primers (when necessary) should solve this problem. Your sealant vendor can help you in this regard. | 1,968 | 1,014 | 0.000989 |
warc | 201704 | Grief Counseling Courses
Death is a very final event. It is the end of our physical life as we know it. Many cultures and populations follow special mannerisms or traditions in order to transition a person and loved one from this world. For the living, sometimes it is a method of meaningful closure through environmental control and the provision of physical, emotional, and medical comfort to the person in need. There are times, however, when control and comfort are not possible due to unforeseen, emergent, or extenuating circumstances or when the individual is hospitalized with a suddenly poor prognosis. How do families and friends handle these situations? Similarly, when death occurs in the hospital setting, how do nurses and hospital staff handle it? Is there significant emotional distress associated with patient death? What do nurses do to relieve this potential burden on themselves?—The answer is cope through
care.
Today, many healthcare facilities are now handling patient death as a recognized method of care practice (Capitulo, 2005). They have acknowledged the need to implement practices and approaches of care and comfort during times of bereavement not only for the dying patient, but also for the patient’s family and friends. Subsequently, such implementation of bereavement protocols has also been found to aid the primary nurse and their co-workers deal with or effectively cope with loss of a patient-whether anticipated or unexpected (Ellershaw, 2003).
Many are familiar with terms like
end-of-life, palliative care, or comfort care, but how many of you are familiar with Seeds of Hope? A colleague of mine at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center (SJHHC) in Syracuse, NY has developed a program called Seeds of Hope where nursing and ancillary staff provide special, end-of-life care for patients and their families. A bonus outcome to the program is that staff members are finding that they are also receiving care and closure themselves.
Please also review our
Grief counseling courses. If you qualify, by taking the required grief counseling courses, you can become certified.
For the full article please go here. | 2,171 | 1,131 | 0.000894 |
warc | 201704 | Cancer Tests That Can Save Your Life
The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers these general screening recommendations for healthy women. If you have certain risk factors or symptoms, work with your doctor, who can create a cancer screening schedule that is right for you. It is important to remember that people of any age can get cancer, but the risk for most cancers increases with age.
The following is advice from ACS on how to watch for common cancers in young and middle-aged women. Since screening tests and exams are the best way to catch cancer early, carefully check to make sure you are getting what you need.
Breast Cancer Screening Tests
The ACS recommends mammogram screenings for breast cancer. Mammograms use low-dose x-rays to make a picture of your breast tissue. The ACS recommends having a mammogram every year starting at age 40. You can continue to have this exam yearly if you are in good health. Due to family history, genetics, or other factors, some women may also want to have an MRI in addition to mammograms. Your doctor can help you decide if additional screening is recommended for you.
Cervical Cancer Screening Tests
The ACS and many other health organizations recommend the following guidelines for cervical cancer screening:
If you are aged 21-29 years—It is recommended that you have the Pap test every 3 years. If you are aged 30-65—It is recommended that you have the Pap test along with the human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years. (Or, you can continue to have just the Pap test every three years.) If you are aged 65 or older—You may be able to stop having Pap and HPV tests if you have had normal results. Normal results include 3 normal results in a row and no abnormal results in the past 10 years. Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is another common type of cancer affecting the female reproductive organs.
Screening Tests
There are not currently effective tests for early detection of ovarian cancer. You should let your doctor know if you have any symptoms that may be caused by ovarian cancer such as bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling full early, or problems urinating. Remember that these symptoms may have other causes than ovarian cancer.
If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, there are some screening tests that may be used, such as pelvic exams, transvaginal sonography (a type of ultrasound test) and CA-125 blood test (a protein that may be higher in women with ovarian cancer).
Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer
Endometrial cancer affects the inner lining of the uterus (called the endometrium).
Screening Tests
ACS recommends that you talk to your doctor about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer, especially once you reach menopause (usually around the age of 50). If you have any symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding or spotting, pain in the pelvic area, or pain during urination or intercourse, tell your doctor right away. If you are at high risk for endometrial cancer, after age 35 you may need to have an endometrial biopsy every year.
Skin Cancer Screening Tests
During your routine physical exam, your doctor will check your skin. If you have any concerns about suspicious moles, talk to your doctor. Some symptoms to look for include changes in the shape, such as uneven shape or ragged edges, color, or texture of a mole. You can also check your skin once a month. Follow these tips for doing a skin self-exam:
Use a full-length mirror or hand-held mirror to check hard to spot places, such as between the buttocks or in the genital area. Do the exam in a well-lit room. Turn from front to back and left to right. Note the size, shape, color, and texture of all skin blemishes and moles. Check your fingernails, palms, and forearms. Check your feet, toenails, soles, and between the toes. Examine your scalp, separating the hair with a comb or a blow dryer. Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer affects the colon or the rectum, which are parts of the digestive system.
Screening Tests
According to the ACS, you should begin screening at age 50. If you have certain risk factors for colorectal cancer, you may need having screening tests started when you are younger. Screening may involve one of the following tests:
Tests to find polyps and cancer: Flexible sigmoidoscopy (every 5 years)—a visual exam of the rectum and lower portion of the colon Colonoscopy (every 10 years)—a visual exam of the rectum and colon Double-contrast barium enema (every 5 years)—a test that involves inserting barium (a milky fluid), and then having x-rays done of the intestines CT colonography (every 5 years)—a radiology test that looks at the colon Other tests that may be used to find cancer: Fecal occult blood (every year)—a test to detect the presence of blood in the stool Fecal immunochemical test (every year)—another test to detect the presence of blood in the stool Stool DNA test (no specified schedule)—a test to identify DNA markers that may signify the presence of polyps or cancer
While these recommendations are from the ACS, there are many other organizations that provide screening guidelines. The screening tests that your doctor recommends depend on a number of factors, like your age, personal and family medical history, risk factors, and symptoms. You can take an active role in your healthcare by talking to your doctor about the right screening tests for you.
Revisions Michael Woods, MD Reviewed: 02/2016 Updated: 03/31/2014
Please note, not all procedures included in this resource library are available at Henry Ford Allegiance Health or performed by Henry Ford Allegiance Health physicians.
All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition. | 6,425 | 2,822 | 0.000359 |
warc | 201704 | Maximizing MCLE
Death, taxes, and CLE are three certainties in the life of the practicing lawyer. Experienced lawyers can argue endlessly over which of the three is the most inconvenient. Simply put, the yearly double-digit minimum continuing legal education requirement in CLE mandatory states cannot be avoided, unlike an uncomfortable phone call. The annual deadline for completion of the requirement leaves many lawyers scrambling to meet the minimum number of educational hours required by their state bars. As the day of reckoning approaches, ever-elusive ethics hours become hot commodities. And, amazingly, self-study hours increase exponentially nationwide in a matter of days.
In meeting the minimum, a young solo or small-firm lawyer can be overwhelmed by the multitude of CLE programs available locally and nationally by various vendors and organizations. For better or worse, the least expensive and most convenient options can often determine CLE selection. For young lawyers with crammed calendars and tight budgets, a better and more informed decision can be made much easier with a little research and some forethought.
CLE programs can be categorized in many ways, but for the most part they fall into one of three types: substantive reviews, practicums, or recurring events. Substantive reviews of particular areas of the law are often called institutes or conferences. Most substantive reviews include introductory, nuts-and-bolts material for young lawyers in addition to more advanced material. If an appealing CLE does not cover the basics, consider brushing up on the area of law before attending. Aside from honing in on interesting area in their field, young lawyers should research the program as they would when choosing between classes in law school. Important factors in this research include the various topics to be covered, the faculty, and the intended audience. For instance, the size and age of the audience can help or hinder networking opportunities. Researching the faculty is particularly important. CLE faculty should have good reputations, as well as be organized and efficient speakers. Ask around or look online if there are any doubts. Don’t be afraid to ask for reimbursement if a featured faculty member is substituted at the last moment. The program’s environment should also be taken in account. One lawyer may get more out of a small classroom environment with free-flowing interaction between the CLE faculty and attendees, while another may learn more by taking exhaustive notes in the anonymity of a large auditorium.
Practicums are often described as workshops or advocacy seminars, which usually involve sessions focused on training and strategy. Practicums include topics regarding communication, negotiation, leadership, business development, and pro bono work. Successful practitioners often teach these programs, rather than law school faculty. Again, research is important, as the practitioners should inform and instruct, as well as inspire action on the methods taught. These programs often utilize paired or group exercises intended to make the ideas expressed more concrete. Practicums regarding pro bono work offer benefits especially helpful to young lawyers. First, the fees are less than most other programs and are usually waived if the attendee commits to take a case within a certain amount of time, e.g., one case in a year or even one case every year. Second, the practical experience gained from the subsequent pro bono work is immeasurable.
Recurring events are often organized by respective state, city, or county bar associations. Monthly section meetings featuring speakers or a panel over breakfast or lunch are examples. These shorter programs allow young lawyers to target specific issues within an area of law. Such programs recur throughout the year, usually attract a more manageable audience size, and offer opportunities for continuity and networking that may not be as available at other programs. Lawyers will almost fill their yearly requirements if they attend one of these recurring one or two-hour CLE events a month. If convenience is a big concern, the ABA offers a few monthly online CLE events for free, e.g., the
ABA Journal’s ABA Connection Teleconference CLE and the ABA Section of Business Law’s Business Law Today (BLT) Live Teleconference and Live Audio Webcast (complimentary for the first 250 registrants who are members of the section). These programs serve as alternative options for young solos and small firm lawyers who don’t have the time or money to knock out yearly CLE hours with a costly two- or three-day long program.
The reality is that CLE programs range in cost from zero to sixty dollars per hour. The bill for a day or two of CLE with travel runs from the hundreds and into to the thousands. Fortunately there are ways to defray the expense of CLE. Eliminating the travel is good start, but this may also eliminate the most appealing programs. Young solo and small-firm lawyers can apply for full and partial scholarships for many programs sponsored by the ABA. New lawyers may also receive discounted rates for programs sponsored by their state bars. In addition, programs sponsored by young lawyer associations are usually less expensive than other comparable programs.
CLE programs should be a break from the everyday work schedule, not a hassle. By utilizing this information, a young solo or small firm attorney can aim to reduce the stress on their schedule and budget sometimes caused by this professional obligation.
Kirby D. Hopkins is an associate with Drucker, Rutledge & Smith, L.L.P., with offices in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. He practices in the areas of business litigation and appellate law, concentrating on banking. He begins his term on the board of directors of the Houston Young Lawyers Association this May. He may be reached at hopkins@drs-llp.com. | 5,936 | 2,780 | 0.000362 |
warc | 201704 | Level 35
201 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000
Level 4
99 William Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Level 5
231 North Quay Brisbane QLD 4000
Level 5
1 Farrell Place Canberra ACT 2601 Contact Armstrong Legal: Sydney: (02) 9261 4555
In NSW, "Sexual Assault" carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. "Aggravated Sexual Assault" has a maximum penalty of 20 years whilst "Aggravated Sexual Assault in Company" has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Sexual assault is an offence that would usually (but not always) result in full time imprisonment if a person is convicted. This is true even where a person has no previous convictions.
In NSW, a court can impose any of the following penalties for a sexual assault charge.
The offence of Sexual Assault is contained in section 61I of the
Crimes Act 1900 which states: Any person who has sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of the other person and who knows that the other person does not consent to the sexual intercourse is liable to imprisonment for 14 years.
In other words, this means:
Sexual intercourse means:
Consent in relation to sexual assault offences is defined in the
Crimes Act 1900.
The law explains the first person knows that second person is not consenting even if the first person is just reckless as to whether the second person is consenting. This includes circumstances where a person does not know if the second person is consenting, realises they might not be consenting, but goes ahead anyway.
The law also says that a person is taken to “know” that the other person is not consenting if the first person has no reasonable grounds upon which to conclude that the other person was consenting.
To convict you of Sexual Assault, the prosecution must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
Possible ways to defend a charge of Sexual Assault include but are not limited to:
This matter is strictly indictable, meaning it will be finalised in the District or Supreme Court.
Home Detention for a sexual assault charge: Home detention is an alternative to full-time imprisonment. In effect the gaol sentence is served at your address rather than in a gaol. If you receive a sentence of home detention you will be strictly supervised and subject to electronic monitoring. Read more. Intensive corrections order for a sexual assault charge (ICO): This option has replaced periodic detention. The court can order you to comply with a number of conditions, such as attending counselling or treatment, not consuming alcohol, complying with a curfew and performing community service. Read more. Suspended sentence for a sexual assault charge: This is a jail sentence that is suspended upon you entering into a good behaviour bond. Provided the terms of the good behaviour bond are obeyed the jail sentence will not come into effect. A suspended sentence is only available for sentences of imprisonment of up to two years. Read more. Community service order for a sexual assault charge. (CSO): This involves either unpaid work in the community at a place specified by probation and parole or attendance at a centre to undertake a course, such as anger management. In order to be eligible for a CSO you have to be assessed by an officer of the probation service as suitable to undertake the order. Read more. Good behaviour bond for a sexual assault charge: This is an order of the court that requires you to be of good behaviour for a specified period of time. The court will impose conditions that you will have to obey during the term of the good behaviour bond. The maximum duration of a good behaviour bond is five years. Read more. Fines for a sexual assault charge: When deciding the amount of a fine for a sexual assault charge the magistrate or judge should consider your financial situation and your ability to pay any fine they set. Read more.
If you suspect that you may be under investigation, or if you have been charged with an offence, it is vital to get competent legal advice as early as possible. Our lawyers are highly specialised in criminal law and will be able to guide you through the process while dealing with the various authorities related to your matter. | 4,231 | 1,843 | 0.000548 |
warc | 201704 | Growth spurt in a child starts in the age of eleven in girls and by thirteen in boys. The pubertal growth can happen for two years and this is followed by the development of the reproductive organs. The endocrine activations start the release of chemicals that are important for growth in children. This phase of growth may happen up to 18 years and in some, it may continue till 25 but sometimes, the growth stops after the age of 16. Growth ends when the bones in the body fuse together. The plate on the end of bone in the body is replaced by a thin line which marks the end of growth. In adults the increase in the level of estrogen can fasten the end of growth and this can be prevented by taking proper diet and herbal supplements to increase height.
A nutritious diet and herbal supplements to increase height helps the body to get the optimum level of growth, even though the growth of person is determined by the hereditary factors. Previously, it was believed that growing after 18 was not possible but now researchers agree that certain factors in the body can be regulated to promote the growth of body after the age of 18 and the most important factor for the growth of height is taking the right diet. One can alter the factors responsible for preventing growth by taking a high value diet. Taking a nutritious diet and herbal supplements to increase height can benefit a person in many ways. Role of diet and herbal supplements to increase height: Nutritional deficiency is one of the main causes for poor growth. It is advised to take a balanced diet which includes the right amount of proteins, vitamins, calories and calcium, to get optimum level of growth. Some children suffer from intestinal disorders which can reduce absorption of nutrients by the body and cause deficiencies that result in stunted growth. The diseases of the lung, heart and kidney also causes a lack of nutrients. The accumulation of toxins is a major cause of deficiencies which causes growth failure. The blood sugar level in the body should be normal and also the stress should not be high as it can also effect growth. A healthy breakfast includes calcium and proteins in the right amounts which helps in increasing height. A proper metabolism of the body is important and the day should be started with cereals or oats. The fruits like cashew or raisins can be taken. Foods rich in vitamin D and calcium can be taken to strengthen the bones and fruits such as apple, strawberries and bananas should be included in everyday diet. Herbal supplements can be taken such as Long Looks capsule which provides the body with nutrition to enhance metabolism, regulate immune system, regulate blood sugar levels, reduce impact of stress on body and increase absorption of nutrients. Diet and herbal supplements to increase height is important because proper nutrition, a healthy breakfast, proper sleep, exercising and frequent smaller meals play a vital role in growth of human body.
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warc | 201704 | Sciencein Christian Perspective
Sociology and the Christian Student: A Statement of the Problem 1Richard Perkins Houghton College Houghton, New York 14744
From:
JASA 32 (June1980): 114-118. It appears to be self-evident that a certain amount of antipathyexists between evangelical and fundamentalistic forms of Christianity on the onehand, and the behavioral sciences on the other. Moreover, sociology in particularseems to attract more than its share of attention when this antipathy is recognizedand debated publicly. A friend recently attended a Southern Baptist church inFlorida and returned with this account of the message: the minister emphaticallyagrued that college education can-and often does-create real problems for theChristian student. He therefore recommended that parents in the congregation sendtheir sons and daughters to (preferably local) "Bible-believing" colleges.Beyond this, he maintained that under no circumstances should they permit theirchildren-whether they be at a local Christian college or not to- enroll in sociologycourses. For, should higher education in general not prove fatal to their faith,sociology surely would. As a college professor, a sociologist, and as one who would classify himself (shouldthe need arise) as an evangelical Christian, I believe the minister has a point.Of course, I do not think that intellectually capable students should stay outof college or that they should avoid sociology: at the very least, my vested interestsin both would urge me to reject that stance. But I do believe that Christian faithand sociology do not easily mix --that is, they do not lend themselves as readilyto intellectual synthesis as biology (or, better yet, physics) and Christianity. Of course, this is not the first time a more general version of this issue hasbeen raised. The question of the incompatability of science and religion is, obviously,one which has received the attention of many scholars. 2 The central question in these essays revolves around thereal or apparent intellectual antipathy between faith and reason as the basisfor one's world view. While there need be no necessary logical inconsistency betweenthese two perspectives, we find that they are often held to be alternative, ratherthan merely different, orientations used in making sense out of the world. Theapparent 'winner' in this on-going struggle has been science whereas the Bibleclaims that the "just shall live by faith," the typical citizen of modernsociety increasingly seems to prefer living by empirical observation. From theoutcome of the famous Scopes trial to the local pastor who now consults psychologytexts in order to formulate his moral pronouncements on the effects of TV viewing,science has steadily made inroads into areas previously defined as the exclusivedomain of religion. 3 In addition to the issues arising from science posed as an alternative Weltanschauung,the argument has also extended to the more specific subject of the behavioralsciences. Here again there is no shortage of analytical literature. It is whenreligion (as an individual's belief system or as a bureaucratic organization)becomes the dependent variable in psychological, anthropological, or sociologicaltheories that the otherwise implicit conflict between social science and religiouscommitment becomes explicit. Here the student is confronted with empirical evidence-notsomeone's opinion, mind you-demonstrating that religiosity vanes with such non-supernaturalfactors as income, sex, occupational status, education, authoritarianism, anomie,tolerance for ambiguity, peer group pressures, and various forms of psychologicalcomplexes. Moreover, the churches which parishioners form in their collectivepursuit of organized religion typically turn out to be very similar to non-religiousbureaucratic organizations in their financial manipulations, promotional schemes,career motivations, and so forth. In other words, behavioral science has shownreligion to be a very human (i.e.. "secular") activity indeed, and whilethis may not provide Christian students with a rationale for pitching their faith,it probably causes many of them to look at religion in a very different (and henceforthcritical) light. The Sociology- Christianity Debate When we focus more specifically on the role of sociology in this on-going debate,we find that very little has been written-especially when the object is to analyzethe effect that the study of sociology has on the religious commitment of theevangelical Christian student. 4 Rather than attempt a full-scale analysis of all the 'trouble spots.' I brieflydiscuss two issues in contemporary sociology which pose potential problems forChristian faith-particularly the faith of Christian students studying sociologyfor the first time. One of these issues deals with the results of empirical studiesin the sociology of religion and the other arises from sociological theory asapplied to the interpretation of one's daily existence. Empirical Findings and Faith There exists within sociology a strong, yet often implicit, theme which PeterBerger and others refer to as the "debunking motif:" "The sociological frame of reference, with its built-in procedure of lookingfor levels of reality other than those given in the official definitions of society,carries with it the logical imperative to unmask the pretensions and the propagandaby which men cloak their actions with each other." 5 In some cases this unmasking effort is deliberate and therefore obvious. For example,sociologists point out that things are not always as them seem: that the operationsof bureaucratic organizations are influenced by informal social controls whichare not included on the official tables of organizational authority or that people"fall in love" for many reasons which are not recognized (or, at leastnot acknowledged publicly) by the lovers themselves. In other words, sociologistsoften find through their studies of social behavior that there is a lot more goingon than what thepeople say is going on. Moreover, these "unofficial" levels of realityuncovered by sociological analysis involve insights which to many seem threatening.For example, lovers tend to become somewhat disenchanted when it is pointed outto them that many of the factors which play a part in shaping their relationshiphave absolutely nothing to do with Cupid's arrows. 6 More to the point, sociology has contributed alternative perspectives on religiousinteraction which many persons find uncomfortable- -perhaps even outrageous. Forexample, it was the sociologist Max Weber, following the suggested (if somewhatless sophisticated) lead of Karl Marx, who undertook the first fullscale empiricalinvestigation of religious styles and social location, showing that religiousworld views vary in systematic and consistent ways from one social class to another.More recently, H. Richard Niebuhr has given us a detailed sociohistorical analysisof denominational growth and the political and economic forces which, at leastin part, generated them. 7 Empirical studies in the sociology of religion have frequently revealed findingswhich debunk the image many Christian students have of the church. Liston Pope'sanalysis of Gastonia, North Carolina, for example, uncovered the blatant ideologicalfunctions of local Protestant churches and the role that sermons played in thwartingthe union effort in the textile industry. 8 Festinger's study of a millenarian sectreveals that the underlying dynamic in binding a congregation together is basedupon social and psychological factors having little, if anything, to do with acknowledgedreligious goals. 9 Other studies have also shown that vigorous orthodox commitments often come frompersons who represent anything but those who have been profoundly "touchedby the love of God." For the most part, these studies have shown that religiousorthodoxy and religious commitment are strongest in those persons who are mostauthoritarian and dogniatic, 10 illiberal and closeminded, 11 socially isolated, 12 ethnocentric, 13 and anti-democratic. 14 Findingssuch as these are hardly likely to make the Christian student wish to renew hisor her commitment to the family of professed believers. 15 An addition to pointing out that God's people possess feet of clay, (or even perhapsthat their feet are dirtier than most), sociological analysis also rests uponthe observation that values are relative to the group which endorses them: thatis to say, one's perception of the world is more realistically described as aninterpretation and one's interpretation varies according to the group in whichone is socially located. Thus, the student of sociology inevitably discovers thatvalues are relative. Yet, at the same time, the Christian is, by definition, committedto a set of absolute values -conceptions of how the world ought to operate whichare said not to be subject to historical, geographic, or social factors. Eventhough the value-relativism of the social scientists belongs in the category ofempirical claims while the absolute values of the Christian respresent a non-empiricaljudgment, the possibility of intellectual tension between the two nonethelessexists. For many Christian students, a "belief in" one necessitatesrethinking one's "belief in" the other. There is at least one more reason to suspect that the findings from sociologicalresearch tend 10 run counter to the world-view shared by most Christian students.Most of these students subscribe to the common sense notion that attitudes havecausal primacy over behavior. Even though this "attitudes first" thesisis widely held in American culture in general, there is good reason to suspectthat evangelical Christians have an even greater attachment to this style of thinking.The basic goal of evangelical Christians is to expand the influence of Christon earth. The means to this end is some variation of "soul-winning."Here the mind of the non-believer is the basic focus rather than the non-believer'sbehavior. In other words, the emphasis is on the "heart" rasher thansuperficial externalities of behavior. To express this in biblical terms, theEpistle of James, while not forgotten, takes a back seatto the Epistle of Hebrews: faith is placed first -and changes in behavior follow. The point here is not to debate the theological issue at hand, but to point outthat this sort of reasoning is likely to have an effect on the way in which onegenerally interprets the world. It is at this point that the student discovers(and, it is my experience that this discovery is accompanied by some degree ofdiscomfort) that conclusions from research studies run counter to this assertion.Although the attitudes-behavior relationship is at least in part reciprocal, theemphasis appears so he on behavior changing attitudes, rather than on the otherway around. Thomas Pettigrew puts the matter succinctly: "behaving differentlymore often precedes thinking differently." 16 What is at issue here is not merely a matter of revising one's thoughts abouta rather abstract relationship. Rather, this intellectual shift has the potentialto shift one's theology as well, and it is this shift which brings out the realthreat. Is must occur to at least some of these students that one's religiouscommitment is a function of one's typical behavior (as a factor of one's sociallocation, reference groups, etc.). Peter Berger, whose Invitation To Sociologyis assigned reading in many introductory courses, says as much in the followingquote: "Rules carry with them both certain actions and the emotions and attitudesthat belong to these actions. ...The preacher finds himself believing what he preaches ... In other words, onebecomes (a believer) by engaging in activities which presuppose belief." 17Many students find this notion upsetting not simply because it contradicts thespeculations of common sense, but because it threatens to undermine the validityof their spiritual commitment. Sociological Theory and Religious Faith As is indicated in the preceding paragraph, underlying all theoretical work insociology-from functiunalistic stratification models to labeling theories of socialdeviance-is the proposition that reality is socially constructed. This enterprisein reality construction initially takes place as human beings collectively projectmeanings unto objects and events which confront them. Thus, instead of confrontinga chaotic and therefore terrifying world, the average member of society can restassured that Normal people are going about their Normal affairs. The crucial point in all this- -and one which often goes unnoticed unless sociologistsare around to point it out -is that this socially constructed reality is stabilizedby the inevitable process of reification, whereby these meanings take on an ontologicalstatus they otherwise do not deserve. It is one thing for persons to declare that"little girls are not aggressive," thereby creasing (assuming this isa new idea) a predictable and therefore meaningful social world in which to operate:it is quite another thing to assume that little girls must be unaggressive. Themotive for the first statement is usually nothing more than sheer convenience:the behavior of little girls ought to be at least somewhat predictable; if itwere not, social order would be less tenable than it already is. Here it is impliedthat normal little girls can be anything humanly imaginable and that unaggrcssivcnessis the role we somehow happened to settle on. But the second statement more accuratelycharacterizes the social world in which most of us live most of the time; theissue of normality in little-girl behavior is not ordinarily open for seriousdebate. Once established as Normal behavior, our roles as traditionally definedtend to become fixed and immutable; in other words, the meanings symbolized bythese roles become reified. Of course, all of these ideas are common to any introductory sociology course. 18It is my experience that ideas such as these tend to transform the consciousnessof students; what was previously seen as ordinary (and rather dull) everyday socialbehavior now becomes a fascinating if not consciously-planned conspiracy to maintainan artificial, socially imposed set of meanings. But the Christian student islikely to react with shock when he or she learns of the part which religion hashistorically played in this conspiracy. This is neither the time nor the place to go into a detailed empirical accountof how religious movements have involved themselves in reality-maintenance enterprisesthroughout history. 19 More to the point of this paper, it should be emphaticallyunderscored that this sort of intellectual revelation can, and often does, havea profound effect upon Christian students. Quite often these students have previouslybeen encouraged to think of religion as a purely personal affair-not in the sensethat it is "private," but in the sense that religion has not been perceivedas a collective social enterprise subject to the same institutional factors asare other spheres of collective action. When seen as just one more institutionalizedactivity, religious faith can become (to use Max Weber's famous concept) disenchanted:i.e., it can lose its distinctive character. When the realm of the sacred fallswithin the analytical purview of the social scientist, the phenomenon itself mustinevitably be transformed from a unique aspect of human experience into just anothermundane human activity. The point here is to acknowledge that the Christian studentof social behavior is likely so find him or herself in a difficult position: thedetached sardonic observer is a tough role to integrate with that of committedbeliever. The result is quite often either anxiety and tension or an alterationof one or both of the roles, so that they can be played without enduring the cognitivedissonance involved. When the second option is exercised, the result will be apoor grasp of sociology's analytical purpose, the loss of some measure of religiouscommitment, or perhaps an alteration of the original religious world view. Closely related to this problem is the collectivistic orientation of sociologyand the typically individualistic nature of contemporary Christian faith. Oneof the distinct traits of Christianity-Protestantism in particular, and its evangelicalwings even more so-is its individualistic character. Christ may indeed have "diedfor the sins of the world" but evangelicals stress that the atonement musttake on a distinctly personal significance for the individual believer. Throughoutthe conversation of the typical Christian one notes an orientation focused onthe individual and not the corporate nature of social life: for example, the conceptof sin is normally thought of in individualistic terms. As God commands us tolove our neighbor, so those who hate are sinning-and are doing it individually.Similarly, the sinner is seen as reconciled to God through Christ as an individualand not in any corporate sense. (The "old dispensation" may have stressedthe social covenant, but the "new dispensation" does not). As a result,the idea that the church represents something more than the total number of individualsaints is certainly an uncommon notion for evangelical Christians today. Yet this"something more" thesis lies at the heart of what is known as the "sociologicalperspective." Society represents something over and above the sum total ofall the individuals -a social force not reducible to its component parts. This"some-thing more" is, of course, its institutionalized system of interactionwhich operates as an independent variable in its own right. Arthur Holmes, philosopher and evangelical Christian, claims that "Christiansbelieve that the source of evil is ultimately within a man, not without"and that "the nature of man undergirds his behavior and his institutions," 20But the sociological theories on criminal behavior, suicide, marital instability,economic inequality, prejudice, and so on all stress causal variables which lieoutside the individual. The image of the individual given in such "Durkheimian"theories is of a leaf before the wind-unaware of the causes of his behavior andtherefore not responsible for them. Thus, it is the social institutions whichshape the "nature of man" and not, as Holmes would have us believe,the other way around. This is the message which sociology is likely to leave withthe Christian student. The basic pedagogical purpose behind every sociology course is to clarify theanalytical connection between the students' individual biography and the socialsystem of which he or she is a member. It is therefore apparent that insofar asthe professor succeeds in doing just this, he or she threatens the epistemologicalfoundations of evangelical Christianity. 21 What, for example, is to be the conclusionof the student of sociology who discovers that American racism represents somethingmore than merely the sum total of prejudiced individuals: that racism representsan institutionalized system distributing the economic surplus unequally accordingto skin color-a system which continues to operate despite our "best"intentions and equalitarian laws? The student is either forced to compartmentalizehis or her thoughts into "sociological" and "Christian" areas,refuse to internalize the findings of sociology, or reformulate his or her religiousfaith--often with far-reaching and rather unsettling consequences. 22 Summary and Conclusion Before any argument can provide an adequate explanation, the component parts ofthat argument must be fully explicated. While there have been numerous previousattempts to explicate a "Christian sociology" or (more modestly) todemonstrate how Christianity and sociology can be intellectually integrated, therehave been few, if any, attempts to outline the specific areas in which Christianityand sociology contribute to the construction of mutually antagonistic world views. As we have noted, at least part of this incompatibility is due to the status ofsociology vis-a-vis the scientific method of inquiry. Other problems are due tosociological issues which arise from both its empirical findings and from itsgeneral theoretical approach. Both of these areas are introduced in most basicsociology courses and it is here where we typically see the most apparent (aswell as the first) evidence of the. sociology-Christianity debate. Several points must be carefully noted before this discussion is closed. First,the intensity of this "debate" will vary, depending upon the natureof both the students' faith and the presentation of sociology by the course instructor.For the student whose faith has been closely examined, or who is enrolled in asociology course in which the unique sociological perspective is not clearly presentedin an integrated manner, this encounter is not likely to be traumatic. But forthe student whose Christian faith is naive, and who encounters a rigorous andwell-integrated sociology course, this encounter can sometimes reach crisis proportions. Furthermore, the encounter-should it occur-is not likely to be a public event.More typically, the Christian student's struggle is a private affair: he or sheengages in the debate as a solitary combatant without the immediate aid of sympatheticpeers. Furthermore, the private nature of this situation undoubtedly accentuatesthe conflict: not only does the responsibility for an adequate apologetic fallsquarely on his or her (normally unprepared) shoulders, but the social situationof the classroom typically exacerbates the tension: everyone else seems to unmovedby all this apparent contradiction. Thus the issue of deviance and intellectualabnormality is sometimes added to the pressure already felt. To be troubled wheneveryone else is troubled is one thing: to be the only troubled soul within asea of complacency is quite another. Finally, the teacher may turn out to be quiteunsympathetic to any student's question if it appears to be based upon any epistemologicalfoundation other than relativistic empiricism. This scenario, of course, can be easily worked into a defense of Christian education.But the intent of those who participate in and defend the purpose of Christianhigher education mutt not be to simply remove the cause of all the anxiety. Adeliberately sociology-less Christian educational curriculum is deficient andpays no respect to either Christianity or education. Furthermore, constructinga sociology program around faculty who evidently lack the sociological imagination-regardlessof the purity and vigor of their faith contributes nothing towards the goal ofliberal education which most Christian colleges claim to support. In the wordsof Arthur Holmes, Christian higher education ". . . shuns tacked-on moralizingand applications, stale and superficial approaches that fail to penetrate thereal intellectual issues." 23 Ourtask as Christians involved in higher education is to seek a synthesis of faithand knowledge. But this task cannot he successfully undertaken as long as "thereal intellectual issues" remain improperly outlined and misunderstood.
References 1I would like to thank Gerry Fuller and Dale Hess of Westminster College for theirassistance in reading the first draft of this paper. 20f the empirical studies, perhaps the best known is Charles Y.Glock and Rodney Stark's in Religion and Society in Tension (Chicago: Rand McNally, 1965); cf. Chapter 14, "On the incompatability ofreligion and science." While the Glock and Stark essay is useful in observingthe effects of the religion-science clash it does not provide us with very manyinsights into why this clash develops. Nor does the essay take a peculiar positionvis-a-vis theology; their measurement of "religion" remains rather generalthroughout. The purpose of this essay will be to examine probable causes of theantipathy and to consider evangelical Christian presuppositions in particular.This is a task which has not as yet received very much attention. 3Even if we take into consideration the current meditation fad, the presumed growthof "Consciousness III," and the formation of Americanized eastern cults,the same general conclusion has to be drawn for our society taken as a whole. 4See, for example, David Lyon's Christians and Sociology (Downers Grove: Inter-VarsityPress, 1976); Jack Balswiek and Dawn Ward, "The nature of man and scientificmodels of society," Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, 28 (1976),181185. Most essays such as these center on the "nature of man" issue-a"heavy" philosophical problem which does (and should) concern intellectuals,but one which does not concern very many undergraduate students (except in superficialways) at least at the introductory level, where most students come in contactwith sociology. Therefore, the distinction between the essays cited above andthe one in hand is that this one is attempting to center on a few prominent issueswhich inevitably crop up in most introductory sociology courses- ones which arelikely to pose problems to the uninitiated Christian student. Since few of thesestudents are expected to read this essay, it is being directed at sociologistswho teach at Christian colleges where an integration of faith and learning isdesired and expected. As such, it constitutes a warning to undergraduate teachersof sociology of potential problems between Christian faith and sociology ratherthan an attempted integration of the two. 5Peter Berger, Invitation to Sociology (Garden City, New York: Anchor, 1965), p.38. 6Peter Berger, ibid., p. 35. 7Cf. The Social Sources of Denominationalism. Of course, Niebuhr acknowledged(as did Max Weher) that the causal schema runs both ways: that religious faithinfluences, as well as is influenced by, one's social location and social structurein general. See Neibuhr's Kingdom of God in America, and Weber's The ProtestantEthic and the Spirit of Capitalism. To a certain extent, this mode of analysis coincides with common sense; even themost fanatical advocate of religious determinism would have to concede that "religion"per se had very little to do with the original nineteenth century separation ofsouthern and northern brands of Methodists, Presbyterians, or Baptists. Why wouldone nineteenth century Baptist group have asserted with full sincerity that slaverywas ordained by God while another, equally sincere and emphatic, maintained thatslavery represented an absolute evil? It does not take a particularly sophisticatedobserver to conclude that in a ease such as this we must overlook all the piousrhetoric and investigate certain prominent economic and political forces-forcesthat neither group of true believers in the above example would wish to acknowledgeas pertinent. 8 Millhands and Preachers, (New Haven: Yale University Press, l942. 9Festinger, et al., When Prophecy Fails (New York: HarperTorchbooks, 1956). 10J D. Photiadis and A. Johnson, "Orthodoxy, church participation, and authoritarianism," American Journal of Sociology,69 (1963), 111-128. 11Milton Rokeaeh, The Open and Closed Mind (New York: Basic Books. 1960). 12R. Stark and Charles Y. Gloek, American Piety: The Nature ofReligious Commitment (Berkeley: University of CaliforniaPress, 1968); Glock, Ringer, and Babbie, To Comfort andChallenge (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967). 13Gordon Ailport, The Nature of Prejudice (Garden City: Doubleday and Co., 1954);R. L. Gorsuch and D. Aleshire, "Christian faith and prejudice: a review ofresearch," Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 13 (September, 1974),281-300. 14E. L. Struening, "Antidemocratic attitudes in a midwestern University," in Antidemocratic Attitudes in American Schools,edited by H. H. Remmers (Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1963). 15The point here is that findings such as those reported in the previously mentionedstudies are those which the student is likely to confront in a sociology class:the point is not that these studies represent all there is to say on the matter,or that they are free from any methodological defect. 16Thomas Pettigrew, Racially Separate or Together? McGrawHill (1971), p. 279, 17Peter Berger, op. cit., p. 96. 18Every sociology course, that is, which is worthy of the designation. It is recognizedthat some "sociologists" lack what Mills called the "sociologicalimagination" and whose courses, as a result, constitute nothing more theoreticallyrigorous than lectures on current events or "problems of democracy,"and whose discussions rarely go beyond what one could otherwise find on the sixo'clock news. In addition, I have the sneaking suspicion that such nonsoeiologiealsociologists have a way of finding their way into the faculties of Christian collegesat a rate which exceeds what would exist were recruitment due solely to chance.In other words, Christian sociologists--when taken as a group -appear to be lessoriented towards theoretical sociology than others in that their courses tendto substitute a discussion of otherwise unrelated concrete events for abstractsystems theory, as well as typically substituting a normative for an impsriealbasis of discussion. I readily admit that these conclusions are based on nothing more substantial thanimpressionistic observations. I would be greatly relieved to find out that theyare, in fact, untrue. 19The interested but intellectually uninitiated reader would do well to readPeter Berger's The Sacred Canopy (Garden City, New York: 1969), especially Chapter2, "Religion and world maintenance." 20 The Idea of a Christian College (Grand Rapids, Michigan: E. Erdman's, 1975),p. 47 and p. 52. The word "ultimately" in the sentence quoted obscuresthe issue somewhat. Even so, there is a tension between the "interior"causes proposed by conservative theology and the "exterior" causes proposedby the social sciences, especially sociology. 21I say this knowing that Christian behavioral and social scientists are dedicatedto the task of integrating the scientific perspective with that of Christianity(or vice versa). But the question we are addressing here concerns the tensionsinherent between sociology and Christianity, and not how successful Christianbehavioral scientists are in handling this tension in the classroom. This pedagogicalissue is, of course, quite importantand hopefully this and other essays on the subject will sponsor some comment infuture publications on how various members of A.S.A. deal with this problem inthe classroom. 22There is, of course, one additional reason which typically creates tension betweenChristian students and sociology relating neither to research nor theory. Sociologistsare, as a group, more politically liberal and radical than any other group oftheir academic colleagues. It is very likely that elements of this worldview becomeevident to their students, who come to college with political views considerablyto the right of those they meet in introductory sociology. Whether these liberalpolitical values are somehow inherent to sociology itself is a debatable point,but one which will not be taken up here. We are concerned in this paper with lesssubtle sources of tension between Christianity and sociology. On the political liberality of sociologists, cf. Seymour Lipset and Everett Ladd,Jr., "The Polities of American Sociologists." American Journal of Sociology,78 (1972), pp. 67-104. On the inherent liberal (and, simultaneously, conservative)political bias in sociology, cf. Peter Berger, "Freedom and Sociology", The American Sociologist, 6 (1971). pp. I-S. 23Arthur Holmes, op. p. 17. | 31,698 | 13,253 | 0.000076 |
warc | 201704 | The views and opinions expressed on this site and blog posts (excluding comments on blog posts left by others) are entirely my own and do not represent those of any employer or organization with whom I am currently or previously have been associated.
Academic Version: Applying my personal experiences and academic research as a professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies to provide a more complete understanding of political, economic, and cultural issues and current events related to American race relations, and Asia/Asian America in particular.
Plain English: Trying to put my Ph.D. to good use.
Below is a solicitation for respondents for an online survey about Southeast Asian American college students and recent graduates.
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Dear Dr. Le:
We are conducting a study on the lived experiences of Southeast Asian American undergraduate students and recent graduates to understand how they navigated to and through higher education. The insights gained from this research may have implications for how faculty, administrators, and policymakers create supportive environments for and improve student success among Southeast Asian American students in Massachusetts.
We are using criterion sampling to recruit and identify participants for individual interviews. Interviews will last approximately 2 hours. If you are a Southeast Asian American college student or recent graduate, please fill out this short questionnaire to find out if you qualify to participate in the study.
Participation is totally voluntary and your responses will be kept confidential. After you have completed the questionnaire, we will let you know if you will be selected for interviews. Participants who complete the interview process will be given a $20 gift card as an honorarium. Please email us with any questions or concerns.
As many colleges and universities start their spring semester this week and as part of Asian-Nation’s goal of disseminating academic research related to real-world issues and topics, the following is a list of recent academic journal articles and doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. Some abstracts were edited for length. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Jain, Sonali. 2011. “The Rights of ‘Return’: Ethnic Identities in the Workplace among Second-Generation Indian-American Professionals in the Parental Homeland.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 37(9):1313–1330.
Abstract: This article explores the salience of ethnicity for second-generation Indian-American professionals who ‘return’ from the US to their parental homeland, India. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 48 second-generation Indian-Americans in India, it examines when and how they adopt ethnic identities in the workplace. My findings suggest that, bolstered by their transnational experiences and backgrounds, returnees construct ethnic identities and utilise ethnic options that reflect the cultural and economic environments of their adopted homeland. At the same time, and often contemporaneously, work relationships, experiences and personal interactions with those they encounter in the parental homeland factor into their transnational identity constructions. Also proposed is a preliminary framework within which to explore the conditions that facilitate the construction and assertion of returnees’ ethnic identities in the workplace in India.
Shin, Hyoung-jin. 2011. “Intermarriage Patterns among the Children of Hispanic Immigrants.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 37(9):1385–1402.
Abstract: Utilising data from the 2005–07 American Community Survey Public Use Micro Sample (ACS-PUMS), this study investigates the intermarriage patterns of Mexican, Cuban and Dominican Americans who were born in the United States or came to the country as immigrant children. Using intermarriage patterns as an indicator of social relations, I examine how cultural and structural assimilation factors affect the marital assimilation process among the children of Hispanic immigrants. One of the major contributions of this study is the examination of diversity within the US census categorisation of ‘Hispanic’. Results from multinomial logistic regression analyses suggest that the marital assimilation process of Mexicans, Cubans and Dominicans varies across and within the groups according to their different individual characteristics and metropolitan context. My study is novel because it recognises that broad-sweep analyses of intermarriage patterns are overly simplistic renderings of racial/ethnic assimilation because they fail to reveal distinctive and noteworthy within-group diversity.
Cohen-Marks, Mara A., and Christopher Stout. 2011. “Can the American Dream Survive the New Multiethnic America? Evidence from Los Angeles.” Sociological Forum 26(4):824–845.
Abstract: Drawing from a survey conducted in Los Angeles, we examine perceptions of achievement and optimism about reaching the American dream among racial, ethnic, and nativity groups. We find blacks and Asian Americans less likely than whites to believe they have reached the American dream. Latinos stand out for their upbeat assessments, with naturalized citizens possessing a stronger sense of achievement and noncitizens generally optimistic that they will eventually fulfill the American dream. We discuss patterns of variation between the racial and ethnic groups as well as variation within each group. Notwithstanding interesting differences along lines of race, ethnicity, and nativity, we find no evidence that the nation’s changing ethnic stew has diluted faith in the American dream.
Portes, Alejandro, Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, and Donald Light. 2011. “Life on the Edge: Immigrants Confront the American Health System.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 35(1):3–22.
Abstract: Drawing from a survey conducted in Los Angeles, we examine perceptions of achievement and optimism about reaching the American dream among racial, ethnic, and nativity groups. We find blacks and Asian Americans less likely than whites to believe they have reached the American dream. Latinos stand out for their upbeat assessments, with naturalized citizens possessing a stronger sense of achievement and noncitizens generally optimistic that they will eventually fulfill the American dream. We discuss patterns of variation between the racial and ethnic groups as well as variation within each group. Notwithstanding interesting differences along lines of race, ethnicity, and nativity, we find no evidence that the nation’s changing ethnic stew has diluted faith in the American dream.
Oh, Sookhee, and Pyong Gap Min. 2011. “Generation and Earnings Patterns Among Chinese, Filipino, and Korean Americans in New York.” International Migration Review 45(4):852–871.
Abstract: By treating the 1.5 generation as a distinctive analytic category, this paper compares the effects of generational status on earnings among men of Chinese, Filipinos, and Korean descents in the New York metropolitan area. Our analyses of the 5 percent Public Use Microdata Sample data of the 2000 U.S. census show that all other background characteristics held equal, 1.5-generation Chinese and Filipino American workers make significantly higher earnings than second-generation workers. However, Korean American workers do not exhibit this 1.5-generation advantage. These findings support a segmented assimilation theory, the view that immigrant assimilation paths are not uniform across ethnic groups or generation status. Other findings suggest that bilingual ability would increase earnings only for the Chinese group.
Davis, Mary Ann. 2011. “Intercountry Adoption Flows from Africa to the U.S.: A Fifth Wave of Intercountry Adoptions?” International Migration Review 45(4):784–811.
Abstract: This article addresses whether there is the beginning of a fifth wave of intercountry adoptions (ICAs) from Africa to the United States (U.S.). ICAs function as a “quiet migration” of children. U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) data from 1971 to 2009 indicate that there were 421,085 ICAs to the U.S. Tarmann reported that in 2000, U.S. parents completed one ICA for every 200 births. In the past, top sending countries have followed flows from Europe, South America, and Asia. INS data are used to analyze the increase in the intercountry adoptees from Africa from 1996 to 2009. Similar Hague Convention data are used for the comparison of the number of ICAs from Africa to other top recipient nations. Demographic and economic data are used to support the suggestion that ICAs, similar to other migratory flows, are from developing to developed countries.
Mark, Noah P., and Daniel R. Harris. 2012. “Roommate’s Race and the Racial Composition of White College Students’ Ego Networks.” Social Science Research 41(2):331–342.
Abstract: We develop and test a new hypothesis about how the race of a college freshman’s roommate affects the racial composition of the student’s ego network. Together, three principles of social structure—proximity, homophily, and transitivity—logically imply that college students assigned a roommate of a given race will have more friends (other than their roommate) of that race than will students assigned a roommate not of that race. A test with data collected from 195 white freshmen at Stanford University in the spring of 2002 supports this prediction. Our analysis advances earlier work by predicting and providing evidence of race-specific effects: While students assigned a different-race roommate of a given race have more friends (other than their roommate) of their roommate’s race, they do not have more different-race friends not of their roommate’s race.
Herman, Melissa R., and Mary E. Campbell. 2012. “I Wouldn’t, But You Can: Attitudes toward Interracial Relationships.” Social Science Research 41(2):343–358.
Abstract: Using the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES), we study Whites’ attitudes towards dating, cohabiting with, marrying, and having children with African Americans and Asian Americans. We find that 29% of White respondents reject all types of relationships with both groups whereas 31% endorse all types. Second, Whites are somewhat less willing to marry and bear children interracially than to date interracially. These attitudes and behaviors are related to warmth toward racial outgroups, political conservatism, age, gender, education, and region. Third, White women are likely to approve of interracial relationships for others but not themselves, while White men express more willingness to engage in such relationships personally, particularly with Asians. However, neither White men nor White women are very likely to actually engage in interracial relationships. Thus, positive global attitudes toward interracial relationships do not translate into high rates of actual interracial cohabitation or marriage.
Benediktsson, Mike Owen. 2012. “Bridging and Bonding in the Academic Melting Pot: Cultural Resources and Network Diversity.” Sociological Forum 27(1):46–69.
Abstract: Understanding how cultural resources shape the formation of social networks is a methodological challenge as well as a theoretical objective, and both are yet to be met. In this study, sociability on college campuses is modeled as a process in which students’ prior cultural experiences and the current social structure of the student body work together, affecting the likelihood of friendships that take place within or across racial boundaries. Structural and cultural perspectives are surveyed to develop hypotheses concerning the determinants of interracial friendship, and these hypotheses are tested against a sample of 3,392 students from the National Longitudinal Study of Freshmen. The results suggest that religiosity, political activism, high arts participation, and athletic activities undertaken prior to college affect the diversity of social networks formed in the first year, but work in different directions. The effects of these cultural experiences may be explained by the racial organization of cultural activity on campus.
Shin, Jin Y., Emily D’Antonio, Haein Son, Seong-A Kim, and Yeddi Park. 2011. “Bullying and Discrimination Experiences Among Korean-American Adolescents.” Journal of Adolescence 34(5):873–883.
Abstract: The bullying experiences of Korean-American adolescents (N=295) were explored in relation to discrimination and mental health outcomes. Bullying experiences were assessed by the Bully Survey, discrimination by the Perceived Ethnic and Racial Discrimination Scale and depression by the Center for Epidemiological Studies — Depression Scale (CES-D). Those who reported being bullied (31.5%) as well as those who reported both being bullied and bullying others (15.9%) experienced a higher level of depression, which was elevated beyond the clinically significant level of CES-D. The results of a LISREL model suggest that the experiences of bullying among Korean/Asian-American adolescents and their related mental health issues need to be addressed in a comprehensive context of their discrimination experiences, acculturation, family and school environments.
Welburn, Jessica S., and Cassi L. Pittman. 2011. “Stop ‘Blaming the Man’: Perceptions of Inequality and Opportunities for Success in the Obama Era among Middle-Class African Americans.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 35(3):523–540.
Abstract: This paper builds upon work that has shown that African Americans exhibit a dual consciousness when explaining persistent inequality. We draw upon 45 in-depth interviews with middle-class African Americans following the 2008 election to explore how they explain persistent disadvantage for African Americans, the destigmatization strategies they employ, and the impact they believe the election of Barack Obama will have on opportunities for African Americans. Consistent with dual consciousness theory, we find that respondents explain persistent disadvantage for African Americans by citing structural and motivational factors. We also extend previous work to show that for the majority of respondents the use of individualistic de-stigmatization strategies reinforces their dual consciousness. These respondents are optimistic about Obama’s election because it supports their belief that African Americans should assume responsibility for improving their circumstances. A minority of respondents express more concern about the persistence of racial inequality, and consequentially are less optimistic about changes that Obama’s election may bring about.
Logan, John R., Sookhee Oh, and Jennifer Darrah. 2012. “The Political and Community Context of Immigrant Naturalisation in the United States.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 38(4):535–554.
Abstract: Becoming a citizen is a component of a larger process of immigrant incorporation into US society. It is most often treated as an individual-level choice, associated with such personal characteristics as duration of residence in the US, age, education and language acquisition. This study uses microdata from Census 2000 in conjunction with other measures to examine aspects of the community and policy context that influence the choices made by individuals. The results confirm previous research on the effects of individual-level characteristics on attaining citizenship. There is also strong evidence of collective influences: both the varied political histories of immigrant groups in their home country and the political and community environment that they encounter in the US have significant impacts on their propensity for naturalisation.
Riosmena, Fernando, and Douglas S Massey. 2012. “Pathways to El Norte: Origins, Destinations, and Characteristics of Mexican Migrants to the United States.” International Migration Review 46(1):3–36.
Abstract: In this paper, we describe how old and new migrant networks have combined to fuel the well-documented geographic expansion of Mexican migration. We use data from the 2006 Mexican National Survey of Population Dynamics, a nationally representative survey that for the first time collected information on U.S. state of destination for all household members who had been to the U.S. during the 5 years prior to the survey. We find that the growth in immigration to southern and eastern states is disproportionately fueled by undocumented migration from non-traditional origin regions located in Central and Southeastern Mexico and from rural areas in particular. We argue that economic restructuring in the U.S. and Mexico had profound consequences not only for the magnitude but also for the geography of Mexican migration, opening up new region-to-region flows.
Pih, Kay Kei‐ho, Akihiko Hirose, and KuoRay Mao. 2012. “The Invisible Unattended: Low‐wage Chinese Immigrant Workers, Health Care, and Social Capital in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley.” Sociological Inquiry 82(2):236–256.
Abstract: This study investigates the factors affecting the availability of health insurance, the accessibility of health care, and the dissemination of the relevant information among low-wage Chinese immigrants in Southern California by relying on the concepts of social and cultural capital. Using community-based research and in-depth interviews, our study suggests that a severe shortage in health care coverage among low-wage Chinese immigrants is influenced by the lack of employment with employer-provided health insurance within the Chinese “ethnoburb” community. Although the valuable social capital generated by Chinese immigrant networks seems to be sufficient enough to provide them with certain practical resources, the lack of cultural capital renders the social network rather ineffective in providing critical health care information from mainstream American society.
Diaz, Maria-Elena D. 2012. “Asian Embeddedness and Political Participation: Social Integration and Asian-American Voting Behavior in the 2000 Presidential Election.” Sociological Perspectives 55(1):141–166.
Abstract: Despite the abundance of electoral research, a recurring finding is that Asian-Americans in multivariate analyses are less likely to vote compared to all other Americans. Yet Asians have high levels of education and income, the strongest predictors of voting behavior. This article goes beyond individual-level characteristics and examines how the ways in which Asian-Americans are connected to communities moderate individual-level characteristics and influence their electoral participation. Using hierarchical generalized linear modeling, variability in Asian-American voting behavior is studied with 2000 Current Population Survey voting data and county data primarily from the 2000 U.S. Census. The main findings are that social integration, either by highly assimilating communities or through ethnic organizing, facilitates political incorporation and electoral participation. Where neither condition exists, Asian-Americans are less likely to vote.
Kiang, Lisa, Jamie Lee Peterson, and Taylor L. Thompson. 2011. “Ethnic Peer Preferences Among Asian American Adolescents in Emerging Immigrant Communities.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 21(4):754–761.
Abstract: Growing diversity and evidence that diverse friendships enhance psychosocial success highlight the importance of understanding adolescents’ ethnic peer preferences. Using social identity and social contact frameworks, the ethnic preferences of 169 Asian American adolescents (60% female) were examined in relation to ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, and language proficiency. Adolescents with same- and mixed-ethnic friends reported significantly greater ethnic centrality than those with mostly different-ethnic friends. Adolescents with same-ethnic friends reported significantly higher perceived discrimination and lower English proficiency than those with mixed- and different-ethnic friends. Open-ended responses were linked to quantitative data and provided further insight into specific influences on peer preferences (e.g., shared traditions, homophily). Results speak to the importance of cultural experiences in structuring the friendships and everyday lives of adolescents.
Yep, Kathleen S. 2012. “Peddling Sport: Liberal Multiculturalism and the Racial Triangulation of Blackness, Chineseness and Native American-ness in Professional Basketball.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 35(6):971–987.
Abstract: Deploying liberal multiculturalist discourse, the media depicts professional basketball as a post-racial space where all talented players, regardless of their race, can thrive if they work hard. An analysis of the construction of non-white players in the 1930s and in 2010 demonstrates sport as modulated by racially charged discourse. As part of a liberal multiculturalist frame, the coding of basketball players as hero, threat and novelty serve to privilege whiteness and replicate racialized and gendered images that can be traced to the 1930s. In doing so, the article highlights how liberal multiculturalism involves racial triangulation and the simultaneous processes of hyper-racialization and de-racialization.
Zonta, Michela M. 2012. “The Continuing Significance of Ethnic Resources: Korean-Owned Banks in Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 38(3):463–484.
Abstract: Mirroring the geographic expansion of the Korean population and Korean-owned businesses beyond long-established enclaves, Korean-owned banks can increasingly be found in areas where the presence of mainstream banks is more visible and competition is potentially stronger. Yet, despite competition, Korean banks continue to expand and thrive. By focusing on the recent development of Korean banking in Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC, this article explores the role of ethnic resources in the expansion of Korean banking outside their protected market. Findings suggest that ethnic resources and ties to ethnic enclaves are still important in supporting the ethnic economy in environments characterised by weaker ties and increasing competition by mainstream businesses.
Spencer, James H., Petrice R. Flowers, and Jungmin Seo. 2012. “Post-1980s Multicultural Immigrant Neighbourhoods: Koreatowns, Spatial Identities and Host Regions in the Pacific Rim.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 38(3):437–461.
Abstract: Recent trends in migration across the Pacific Rim have suggested that neighbourhoods have become important sources of community identity, requiring a re-evaluation of the relationship between urban places and immigrants. Specifically, we argue that the notion of ethnic enclaves may not fit well with some of the newer, post-1980s immigrant populations in Pacific Rim cities. Using data from the cases of Los Angeles, Tokyo and Beijing, we argue that Korean settlement in these cities represents a new kind of immigrant neighbourhood that links Korean migrants with other migrant communities, consumers in the broader region and local government interests to produce places that mitigate increasingly multicultural and multi-ethnic urban hierarchies in their localities. This role has become particularly important regarding real estate and economic development strategies.
Yoon, In-Jin. 2012. “Migration and the Korean Diaspora: A Comparative Description of Five Cases.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 38(3):413–435.
Abstract: The international migration and settlement of Koreans began in 1860 and there are now about 6.8 million overseas Koreans in 170 countries. Each wave of Korean migration was driven by different historical factors in the homeland and the host countries, and hence the motivations and characteristics of Korean immigrants in each period were different. The diverse conditions in and government policies of the host countries also affected the mode of entry and incorporation of Koreans. A contrast is drawn between the ?old? and the ?new? Korean migrations. The former consists of those who migrated to Russia, China, America and Japan from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century. They were from the lower classes, pushed out by poverty, war and oppression in the homeland. Few returned to the homeland but preserved their collective identities and ethnic cultures in their host societies. The new migrants to America, Europe and Latin America since the 1960s, however, come from middle-class backgrounds, are pulled by better opportunities in the host countries, travel freely between the homeland and host countries, and maintain transnational families and communities. Despite these differences, overseas Koreans share common experiences and patterns of immigration, settlement and adaptation.
Crowder, Kyle, Jeremy Pais, and Scott J. South. 2012. “Neighborhood Diversity, Metropolitan Constraints, and Household Migration.” American Sociological Review 77(3):325–353.
Abstract: Focusing on micro-level processes of residential segregation, this analysis combines data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics with contextual information from three censuses and several other sources to examine patterns of residential mobility between neighborhoods populated by different combinations of racial and ethnic groups. We find that despite the emergence of multiethnic neighborhoods, stratified mobility dynamics continue to dominate, with relatively few black or white households moving into neighborhoods that could be considered multiethnic. However, we also find that the tendency for white and black households to move between neighborhoods dominated by their own group varies significantly across metropolitan areas. Black and white households’ mobility into more integrated neighborhoods is shaped substantially by demographic, economic, political, and spatial features of the broader metropolitan area. Metropolitan-area racial composition, the stock of new housing, residential separation of black and white households, poverty rates, and functional specialization emerge as particularly important predictors. These macro-level effects reflect opportunities for intergroup residential contact as well as structural forces that maintain residential segregation.
As another followup to my earlier “part one” and “part two” posts, the following is a list of recent academic journal articles and/or doctoral dissertations from scholars in the cognitive sciences that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. The dissertations records are compiled by Dissertation Abstracts International and copies can be obtained through your college’s library or by contacting ProQuest at 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346, telephone 800-521-3042, or disspub@umi.com.
The research listed below focus on the cognitive sciences (parts one and two mentioned above focus on the social sciences and humanities), although many of the studies overlap with the social sciences. Some abstracts were edited for length. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents. Last but not least, congratulations to my new academic colleagues on being “Ph.inally D.one.”
Tran, Nellie. Using Color-Blindness to Understand the Effects of Discrimination on the Well-Being of Asian Americans. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 7784, 2011.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to bring awareness to the concept of color-blindness in the experiences of discrimination among Asian Americans. This study builds on literature pertaining to Asian American experiences of discrimination by considering the influence of color-blind racial beliefs on the relationship between discriminatory experiences and well-being for Asian Americans. Using web-based survey collection with 141 Asian American participants, results showed that high color-blind racial ideology exacerbates the effect of discrimination on both internalized racism and depression levels. High private regard protected Asian Americans from the negative effect of high exposure to discrimination on depression levels. Consequently, it appears that Asian Americans who believe that the U.S. has achieved a color-blind society may be protected against perceiving discrimination, but are paying the price through decreased psychological well-being. Color-blind individuals may not have the ability to externalize discriminatory experiences on the larger society in the same way that racially conscious individuals may. Therefore, they may internalize the discrimination and blame themselves for the negative experiences of discrimination.
Chan, Wing Yi. A Population-Specific Theory of Asian American College Students’ Civic Engagement. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 7779, 2011.
Abstract: This is an exploratory study of Asian American college students’ civic engagement. Using grounded theory analysis and a population-specific approach, this study discovered the meanings of civic engagement from the perspective of Asian American college students and developed a theory to explain Asian American college students’ civic engagement. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore whether family, school, and community would influence participants’ decision to participate in civic activities and whether Asian Americans’ collective historical, cultural, social, and political experiences would have an impact on their civic engagement. Findings suggest that Asian American college students defined civic engagement as community involvement for two different purposes: 1) to help those who are in need and 2) to create social and systemic change. The theory that I developed includes four categories of facilitators and barriers to Asian American college students’ civic engagement. The four categories are 1) structural factors, 2) social capital factors, 3) acculturation gap factors, and 4) identity factors. The theory also identifies five categories of consequences of Asian American college students’ civic engagement: 1) career-related skills, 2) leadership skills, 3) social and emotional skills, 4) sense of belonging to school, and 5) knowledge of social issues/commitment to civic engagement. By identifying how contextual factors (i.e. family, peers, school and community) interact with cultural and sociopolitical factors to influence Asian American college students’ pathways to civic engagement, the present study sheds light on the complexity of Asian American college students’ civic development and suggests that research needs to examine Asian American college students’ civic engagement across multiple ecological contexts and consider the cultural and sociopolitical experiences of Asian American college students.
Nguyen, Kathy. Intergenerational Conflict between Emerging Adults and their Parents in Asian American Families. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 7732, 2011.
Abstract: Due to a paucity of research, little is understood about the experiences of Asian American emerging adults as they navigate their relationship with their parents. The purpose of the current study was to investigate intergenerational conflict in Asian American families, specifically when emerging adults are living at home with their parents. Acculturation gap, generational status, birth order, gender, and language proficiency were examined as predictors or mediators of conflict. Participants consisted of 350 Asian American emerging adults who were currently living with their parents, who lived with their parents during certain times of the year (e.g., vacations), or who had once lived with their parents as adults. Intergenerational conflict was measured using the Asian American Family Conflicts Scale (Lee, Choe, Kim, & Ngo, 2000) and the Intergenerational Conflict Inventory (Chung, 2001). Acculturation was assessed using the Asian American Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (Chung, Kim, & Abreu, 2004). One-way between-subjects analysis of variance tests were performed to identify group differences in conflict across several demographic factors Correlational and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to study the relationship between the predictors, proposed mediator, and intergenerational conflict. Exploratory statistical analyses were conducted to investigate factors that may predict level of conflict when emerging adults return home after living away for an extended period of time (i.e., boomerang children). A gap in acculturation to White mainstream culture between emerging adults and their parents was found to be the most powerful and consistent predictor of intergenerational conflict and to mediate fully the relationship between generational status and intergenerational conflict. Overall, the findings highlight the multi-faceted and variable nature of intergenerational conflict as it occurs in Asian American families between emerging adults and their parents.
Rivera, Amanda L.Y. Development and Initial Validation of the Biracial Experiences of Discrimination Inventory. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7146, 2012.
Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation was to develop and initially validate an instrument that measures multiracial individuals with Asian and White descent experiences of discrimination. Results from the principal components analysis using data from a web-based sample of 185 multiracial individuals with Asian and White descent yielded a five-factor simple structure of the Biracial Experiences of Discrimination Inventory (B-REDI): Biracial Response to Monoracial Context (6 items), Racial Microaggressions (6 items), Confusion of Interracial Family Relations (4 items), Assumptions of Marginality (3 items), and Internalized Multiracial Racism (3 items). Initial evidences of internal reliability, convergent validity and known-groups validity were found. An evaluation of internal consistency suggested that the B-REDI reflected dimensions of multiracial racism and supported initial evidence of the reliability of the five factors that emerged. In support of convergent validity, multiracial experiences of discrimination were positively correlated with perceived general ethnic discrimination, Asian American racism-related stress, a universal-diverse orientation, awareness and acceptance of others similarities and differences, as well as awareness, sensitivity, and receptivity towards racial diversity and multiculturalism. Also in support of convergent validity, multiracial experiences of racism were negatively correlated with colorblind racial attitudes. Evidence for known-groups validity was demonstrated through statistically significantly higher levels of multiracial experiences reported among multiracial individuals with Asian and White descent (n = 184) than monoracial individuals (n = 325). However, multiracial individuals with Asian and White descent (n = 184) did not report multiracial experiences of racism at a statistically significantly higher level when compared to multiracial individuals of other ethnic backgrounds (n = 263). This finding suggests that having a mixed race background may represent a factor that exerts an overall greater impact compared to the specific ethnic group make-up of an individual. Study limitations as well as research and clinical implications are discussed.
Regalado, Gabriella Ann. Implicit and Explicit Identity, Attitudes and Acculturation among U.S.-Born and First-Generation Latinos and East Asians. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7146, 2011.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of place of birth upon implicit and explicit identity and ethnic attitudes of 119 U.S.-born and first-generation East Asians and Latinos. The relationships between acculturation, implicit and explicit identity, and attitudes as well as East Asians’ and Latinos’ explicit perceptions of how their ethnic group are regarded by others were also assessed. This study also analyzed whether first-generation groups, in comparison to U.S.-born groups, had positive implicit attitudes toward their ethnic groups which served as a protective factor against implicit out-group bias towards White Americans. Participants completed two timed Implicit Association Tasks: the Stereotype/Attitude IAT, which required participants to match positive and negative words with ethnic surnames as a measure of their ethnic attitudes, and the Identity IAT, which required participants to match American or ethnic cultural icons to personal pronouns as a measure of identity. Reaction times were measured to assess which pairing was more quickly associated. For identity, results indicated that first-generation and U.S.-born groups implicitly identified with their ethnic identity, but explicitly, first-generation groups significantly identified as more American than did U.S.-born groups. For implicit ethnic attitudes, first-generation groups had significantly more implicit positive attitudes toward their ethnic group than did U.S.-born groups. Acculturation showed no relationship to implicit identity or attitudes. Place of birth appeared to significantly affect one’s implicit attitudes and explicit American identity. Practical implications and direction for future research are discussed.
Tan, Edwin T. A Contextual Approach to Understanding Immigrant Asian Fathers’ Educational Involvement in their Children’s Lives. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7126, 2011.
Abstract: The present study examined work-family experiences of Asian immigrant fathers in relation to their personal well-being, their educational involvement, and their children’s school achievement and adaptation. Survey data was collected from 64 immigrant Asian fathers and from 25 teachers of the fathers’ 4th-6th grade children. Ten of the fathers also were interviewed. Fathers were predominately Korean, college-educated, and upper-middle class. Children were reported to perform well academically and be well-adjusted to school. Fathers perceived more work-family facilitation than conflict. Facilitation was related to fathers’ positive well-being and reports of children’s positive school achievement and adaptation. More conflict related to poorer well-being and reportedly poorer school adaptation. Fathers were moderately involved with their children. Greater homework and interpersonal involvement were related to more school enjoyment and better achievement, respectively. Greater direct school involvement was related to higher school anxiety for children. Less acculturated men were less likely to be involved with their children’s education and more likely to have less life satisfaction. Asian fathers are not homogenous in their attitudes or behaviors, and their specific cultural values and time in America should be considered when examining this population. Qualitative interviews revealed that, fathers’ wives were pivotal in facilitating or hindering their work-family balance by providing support. Fathers had desire to be involved and to mentor. However, they felt loss in the cultural pluralism that fails to provide them guidelines on fatherhood. Fathers’ sense of financial responsibility to their families motivated them to do well at work. Those that experienced work-family facilitation were likely to find fulfillment at their work, or learned to draw boundaries between work and family. Those that lacked boundaries often felt frustrated at their ineffective behaviors. Not all conflict was negative in nature, some was the result of intentional greater involvement with their families. Taken together, fathers that perceived work-family facilitation were more likely to be involved and have positive well-being, which were related to children’s achievement and adaptation to school. Additionally, less acculturated fathers may face challenges in defining their father role. Results have implications for educational and economic policies that address the lives of immigrant families.
Cale, Chris. A Case Study Examining the Impact of Adventure Based Counseling on High School Adolescent Self-Esteem, Empathy, and Racism. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7116, 2011.
Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of Adventure Based Counseling upon high school adolescents. The goals of this study were to (a) explore the effectiveness of ABC Counseling in increasing levels of self-esteem and empathy among adolescents; (b) study the efficacy of ABC counseling in reducing perceived racial discrimination, racist attitudes, or both; and (c) investigate the correlation between self-esteem, empathy, perceived racial discrimination, and racist attitudes as related to the effects of ABC counseling. In addition, the effects of ABC counseling on the school-related variables such as discipline, attendance, and academics, as well as possible outcome differences caused by demographic variables like gender and ethnicity were measured in relation to the effects of the ABC counseling treatment. Finally, this study also gathered descriptive data from participants through survey questionnaires regarding their prior knowledge and sensitivity to other races, their perception of racism occurring at the study site, and their experience in ABC counseling. . . . Results of the study found significant increases for the ABC counseling group in both self-esteem and empathy, and significant decreases in perceived racial discrimination and racist attitudes. In addition, a significant reduction in discipline referrals occurred from baseline to one-month follow-up. An ancillary analysis showed significance for the variables gender and ethnicity: males experienced a significantly greater increase in self-esteem and empathy as compared to females; Latina/os had the most significant decrease in racist attitudes and highest overall scores on the same measure; African Americans possessed significantly higher perceived racial discrimination scores than Caucasians or Latina/os. Limitations existed concerning the sample, instruments, and analysis. . . . Participating in the program also produced significant decreases in both perceived racism and racist attitudes. . . . In addition, the significant negative relationships found between self-esteem and perceived racism, and empathy and perceived racism verified the prediction that increases in self-esteem and empathy would correlate with decreases in racism.
Kanukollu, Shanta Nishi. Exploring Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse and Attitudes towards Help-Seeking among South Asian College Students. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7091, 2011.
Abstract: In this dissertation study, I examined perceptions of child sexual abuse (CSA) and attitudes towards psychological help-seeking held by South Asian college students living in the U.S. I conducted an online community survey (N = 349) among South Asian college-aged students (age 18-25) who self-identified as South Asian, South Asian-American or with any subethnic group falling under the South Asian category. More specifically, I examined the effects of Asian American Model Minority (MM) endorsement, idealized gender ideology, and acculturation on perceptions of CSA and attitudes towards help-seeking in a sample of South Asian college students across the United States. I found that MM Ideology was a significant predictor of certain types of CSA myths. Higher endorsement of MM Ideology predicted less Blame Diffusion, greater belief in Culture as Protective Factor (for CSA), and greater belief in Lay Theories of Coping. . . . Idealized gender ideology (AMI & AFI) alone was a significant predictor of attitudes towards help-seeking. Thus, a majority of my hypotheses were supported. Overall, the present research findings point towards the importance of cultural context when conceptualizing CSA amongst immigrants in the U.S. The results of this study have important implications for clinicians working with South Asian CSA survivors and their families, community members and organizations addressing issues related to gender violence, colleges interested in developing culturally competent services, and researchers in the areas of clinical and gender psychology.
Chang, Rita. Interpersonal Factors and Suicidal Ideation in Asian American College Freshmen. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7080, 2012.
Abstract: Despite high rates of suicide among Asian American college students, few studies have examined risk factors for the population. The current study focused on suicidal ideation in Asian Americans at a time of transition: the first year of college. The interpersonal changes (social support, social connectedness and family conflict) associated with freshmen year were expected to predict current ideation as well as ideation one year later. Two-hundred and twenty-four college freshmen (149 women and 75 men) participated at Time 1, and 94 of them (62 women and 32 men) returned usable data at Time 2. Results showed that although all three interpersonal factors at Time 1 predicted current ideation, none of them predicted ideation at Time 2. However, once participants were stratified into groups by acculturation levels, different patterns emerged: The suicidal ideation of highly acculturated individuals was more closely tied to feelings of social disconnectedness. The implications are discussed, along with possible strategies for counseling centers to better identify suicidal students.
Cook, Chyneitha A. Experiences and Perceptions of Racism among Minority Students in Doctoral Psychology Training Programs. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 7065, 2011.
Abstract: Research on minority students’ experiences of racism while completing their doctoral education in psychology is scant. This study explored the subjective experiences and perceptions of racism among racial and ethnic minority individuals currently enrolled in psychology doctoral programs in the United States (U.S.), as well as those of program graduates. A total of 14 participants who self-identified as racial and ethnic minority group members were selected for the study. . . . Through qualitative content analysis, themes emerged under the following seven categories: (1) general experiences of racism within everyday life, (2) experiences of racism within the education system, (3) general experiences within psychology doctoral programs, (4) aspects of psychology doctoral programs in which experiences of racism might possibly occur, (5) incidents of racism specific to psychology doctoral programs, (6) future and anticipated experiences within psychology doctoral programs, and (7) themes that transcend the categories of questioning. Findings indicated that racism does exist in psychology doctoral programs in the U.S., in several different forms. The results also suggest that incidents of racism in psychology doctoral programs may be related to participants’ experiences of everyday racism and their prior experiences with racism in the education system, prior to entering their doctoral programs. A discussion was offered, outlining possible ways to combat racism in psychology doctoral programs, to increase student and faculty awareness of the problem, and to create more of a supportive environment for students when completing their psychology doctoral degree programs.
Thikeo, Manivone. Cambodian and Laotian Americans’ Cultural Values and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Services. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 6686, 2011.
Abstract: Several studies have reported that Asian Americans, including Cambodian and Laotian Americans, tend to under utilize mental health services, both inpatient and outpatient although they display high levels of psychological problems related to significant psychological trauma experienced in their native land or while living in refugee camps. Underutilization may not be related to the lack of need but it may relate to cultural factors such as shame and stigma as well as acculturation and lack of health insurance. Although some Asian American research about help seeking exists, no previous research has specifically addressed this question with a Cambodian and Laotian population. This study was designed to investigate demographic and acculturation variables that might help understand why. This study used data from 108 Cambodians and Laotians adults (18+) living in Rhode Island. Participants completed (1) a demographic questionnaire sheet; (2) the Sin-Lew Asian Self Identity Acculturation Scale (AS-ASIA); (3) the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS). Results show that only one demographic variable, gender, demonstrated a robust relationship with help seeking, with females being significantly more likely than males to recognize the need for help, have less stigma about seeking help, be more open to discussing problems and more confident that professional services would be of assistance. In contrast, neither age, nor education having health insurance was significantly related to help seeking. Level of acculturation was strongly related to help seeking, contributing, in hierarchical regression analyses, unique variance over and above the set of demographic variables. Further, acculturation was related to two specific dimensions of help seeking (e.g., openness to discussing problems and confidence in professional help). A discussion of tailoring change efforts to these particular dimensions as well as females is offered as useful in engaging Laotian and Cambodian populations. Further, females are not only likely to seek help but they are also able to influence others, especially males, to seek help through their traditional role as a “wives and mother.” Limitations of this research are discussed and suggestions made for future research efforts.
Koresko, Heeyoung Jane. Korean American Cancer Narrative and Support Group Experience. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 09, pp. 5777, 2011.
Abstract: This study explored the experience of first generation monolingual Korean- American breast cancer patients participating in a Korean-language cancer support group. The principal goals were to identify culture-specific themes in participants’ cancer narratives and examine the applicability of an existing service model, which was based primarily on studies of white, middle-class, English speaking, unmarried women. The data were generated through narrative accounts of a five-participant case study utilizing semi-structured interviews and two supplemental questionnaires. Findings from the study indicate that older Korean-born immigrant women often have difficulty exercising agency in a medical context, and often did not recognize a need for basic information about their diagnosis and treatment. The language-specific support group served to dispel despair and isolation among the Korean-American women, but failed to address deeper psychological issues including the women’s passive behavioral response to the medical setting. Finally, participants of this study had extensively utilized the spiritual resources that are widely available in Korean-American communities for coping with their cancer. These results illustrate the influence of a traditional culture mindset that discourages questioning medical authority, the impact of language barriers in medical settings, and cultural resources of spirituality in coping with cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Yamada, Rika. Spirituality and Psychological Well-Being among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 09, pp. 5810, 2011.
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women across all races and ethnicities. Despite steady improvement of survival rates, disparity in survivorship persists in Asian American women, as does the understanding of their breast cancer experience. Although there is a growing body of literature showing positive associations between spirituality and psychological well-being, little is known of Asian Americans, particularly among its ethnocultural subgroups. In fact, studies involving Asian breast cancer survivors with sizable, distinctive ethnic subgroups for statistically meaningful comparative analysis are almost non-existent; and therefore, warranted. The present study examines the impact of spirituality, as well as its predictability on psychological well-being, among multiple ethnic subgroups of Asian breast cancer survivors in the United States. Two hundred and six women within 1-5 years of a breast cancer diagnosis and currently cancer free participated in a cross-sectional design utilizing mailed-in questionnaire or telephone survey in English, Korean or Mandarin. . . . Statistically significant between-group variation existed in almost all psychological well-being outcomes (p < .0001), and in relation to spirituality (p < .01). More importantly, Filipino Americans showed a statistical significance in the association between spirituality and psychological well-being (p < .05), which became insignificant when assessed in aggregate. The final model accounted for 42.0% of the total variance in psychological well-being, with acculturation, income, cancer stage, and number of comorbidities as statistically significant predictors (p < .05). Lastly, spirituality predicted psychological well-being, yet the probability was not statistically significant. The current study proffers significant clinical and research implications by demonstrating the importance of cultural and contextual distinction among Asian subgroups to ensure culturally congruent and sensitive efforts in increasing psychological well-being.
Kim, Chong Y. Examining the Influence of Relational Demography and Cultural Values on Leader Member Exchange in Asian American Employee and White Manager Dyads. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 09, pp. 5833, 2011.
Abstract: To gain a clear understanding of the factors that predict the most important relationship Asian American employees can have in the workplace, this study tested a comprehensive model of race as relational demography and LMX, with actual and perceived similarity in collectivism as the explanatory variable. Collectivism was hypothesized to influence the “other-interest” dimension of reciprocity, which was expected to predict the LMX of Asian American employees. Due to non-independence in the employee and manager responses, four multilevel models were conducted to test the actor partner interdependence model (APIM) using data from 51 Asian American employee-White manager (same race) and 73 White employee-White manager (different race) dyads. For same and different race dyads, perceived similarity in collectivism had a positive actor effect on both employee and manager reported LMX. For Asian American employees, perceived collectivism of their manager had an actor effect on their LMX. Since Asian American employees were significantly more collectivistic than their White counterparts, this suggests that the manager’s collectivism a however perceived a is a salient factor in determining the quality of the relationship. Contrary to hypothesis, LMX of same race dyads was not significantly higher than those of different race dyads. On the whole, the relationship quality of the sample was high. As for reciprocity, for same and different race dyads, mutual-interest had a positive actor effect on employee and manager LMX. For White employees, self-interest had a negative actor and partner effects on their LMX, while for managers of Asian American employees, there was a partner effect of mutual-interest on their LMX. Other-interest did not predict the LMX of Asian American employees, raising the question of the role that organizational context plays in reciprocity between employees and managers.
Vindua, Kristine I. The Relationship between Acculturation and Adherence to Cultural Values and its Effect on the Mental Health of Philippine-Born and U.S.-Born Filipino Americans. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 10, pp. 6455, 2011.
Abstract: This study examined the relationship between acculturation and adherence to cultural values and its effect on the mental health of Philippine-born and U.S.-born Filipino Americans. Socio-demographic information was gathered; and level of acculturation, adherence to Asian cultural values, and mental health were measured from a sample of 96 Philippine-born Filipino Americans (FAs) and 116 U.S.-born FAs. Pearson correlations were conducted to determine the relationship between selected socio-demographic variables, acculturation, adherence to cultural values, and mental health. A hierarchical regression was conducted to identify predictors of mental health. Results indicated that acculturation was not a predictor of mental health for both Philippine-born and U.S.-born FAs. However, adherence to cultural values of collectivism and emotional self-control were predictors of mental health for Philippine-born FAs, while educational level and adherence to the cultural value of conformity to norms were predictors for U.S.-born FAs. The clinical implications of this study’s findings are discussed along with suggestions for future research.
Grammas, Debbie L. Perfectionism, Societal Messages, Gender Role and Race as Correlates of Male Body Image. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 71, no. 10, pp. 6465, 2011.
Abstract: Many men experience psychological distress as they try to obtain the ideal body as constructed by society. . . . Research indicates that body dissatisfaction is increasing in males and even young boys are experiencing body image dissatisfaction. Men with body image concerns are at risk for low self esteem, eating disorders, use of steroids, anxiety and depression. Perfectionism and gender role socialization have been related to a drive for muscularity in men. In addition, viewing images of muscular men and reading fitness magazines have been linked to body dissatisfaction in men. While the relationships between perfectionism, internalization of ideal standards transmitted by the media, and gender role conflict have been examined with body image dissatisfaction in men, no studies have linked these variables together in a single model. . . . Results indicated that identifying as an Asian American, socially prescribed perfectionism, and internalization of societal messages were significant positive predictors of muscle dissatisfaction. Higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism and internalization of societal messages were related to higher levels of dissatisfaction with the amount of one’s body fat. None of the variables examined served as a predictor for height dissatisfaction. Gender role conflict did not serve as a moderator in the relationship between the variables and male body image dissatisfaction
Zhang, Yanyan. A Cross-Cultural Study of Crime Judgment. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 03, pp. 1843, 2011.
Abstract: The current research addressed three possible mechanisms through which culture shapes individuals’ crime judgments: beliefs about punishment functions (i.e., individuals’ motives in punishing), endorsement of moral foundations (i.e., individuals’ beliefs about what is morally right or wrong) and cognitive styles (i.e., individuals’ modes of thought and their social-cognitive tendencies). In two studies, the cultural effects on crime judgments were examined in four different ways: cultural priming, cross-ethnic comparisons, cross-country comparisons, and individual differences. In Study 1, bicultural Asian American (N=213) and European American (N=118) college students underwent cultural priming, performed computer-based cognitive tasks, read legal violation scenarios, and completed various surveys and questionnaires. Study 2 directly compared American college students (N=331) from Study 1 to Chinese (N=295) college students in China. . . . As hypothesized, Chinese held stronger negative attitudes toward the criminal if the victim was an ingroup member. American people, however, reacted more negatively if the victim was a stranger. The individual-differences approach also confirmed the above findings in that the interdependent self-construal was related to more negative attitudes toward crimes related to the “ingroup” moral foundation. In addition, as shown by moderated-mediation analysis, individual differences in crime judgments were explained by individual differences in endorsement of the “ingroup” moral foundations, especially when the crime involved an ingroup member. Finally, culture also influenced individuals’s crime judgments related to the “authority” moral foundation. Supporting my hypothesis, Chinese held stronger negative attitudes toward the criminal if the victim was an authority figure. Americans, however, reacted more negatively if the victim was a person sharing a similar social status.
Devdas, Neetha R. Child Sexual Abuse Myth Acceptance among South Asian American Men and Women. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 04, pp. 2458, 2011.
Abstract: In the present study, an attempt was made to determine whether differences existed between South Asian American men and women in their acceptance of child sexual abuse myths. Differences were examined based on gender, levels of acculturation, and past histories of child sexual abuse. The Child Sexual Abuse Myth Scale (Collings, 1997), the Suinn-Lew Asian Acculturation Scale (Suinn, Rickard-Figueroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987), and a demographic questionnaire were administered on an Internet survey website to participants recruited through advertising on a social networking website. One-hundred and forty-seven participants, including 93 women and 54 men, were included in the final results. An independent samples t-test showed significant differences between South Asian American men and women in their attitudes toward child sexual abuse. An independent samples t-test and a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient with a scatterplot showed no significant differences in acculturation and past history of child sexual abuse on child sexual abuse myth acceptance.
Obata, Stanley. Organization and Power: How Japanese Americans were Affected by the Internment Camp Experience. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 3101, 2011.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to find answers to questions of how the internment experience affected the Japanese American participants in their lives socially, economically, and psychologically. A qualitative research methodologically was used in this study, utilizing an interview approach, with the reporting of the results presented by the repeating ideas and themes. The interview guide was constructed to support each participant’s sharing of specific, personal internment experience. Each participant was given a detailed explanation of the research project. The interviews were scheduled and conducted in the participant’s home or a comfortable place that he or she selected. In some cases, the interviews were conducted by telephone. Approximately 20 to 25 participants were used to conduct this study. The review of the literature described many instances where the participants had been adversely affected in negative manners. A historical account of the internment experience through the eyes of the participants was revealed to show that they had, in fact, been victims of racial discrimination. During the period in United States history of World War II, wartime hysteria, negative propaganda, and anti-Japanese sentiment most definitely resulted in the ill- mannered effect that the participants experienced. The results of this study were found to correspond to the findings in the review of the literature, and the themes and ideas expressed by the participants were similar in nature. Some of the limitations of this study were the number of participants interviewed, defense mechanisms such as repression used by the participants to protect their emotional well-being, and the unwillingness to talk genuinely about a subject that had been a tragic reminder of their past. Many of the Japanese Americans who were placed into internment camps have passed away as well, so it would be impossible to recover their stories, except through second-hand sources.
Olmos, Natasha Thapar. Public Stigma towards Mental Illness among South Asians in the United States and India. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 3102, 2011.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine stigma towards depression and psychosis among South Asians in the U.S. and India (N=462). Two theoretical models were applied, the attribution model and a shame-based model. Univariate differences were examined for each variable in the models and path analysis was used to test model fit. Results indicated that in both countries, the models under study fit the data well. Additionally, shame may be a particularly salient construct among South Asians in the U.S. This study provides preliminary evidence of relevant stigma variables among South Asians.
Tiwari, Ashmi. A Comparison of the Parenting Perceptions of Indian Americans and Caucasian Americans. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 3107, 2011.
Abstract: The Parent Development Theory (PDT) was developed as a means to conceptualize the parenting perceptions of both parents and non-parents. The PDT, and related assessment instruments, identify six core characteristics that delineate behaviors that parents believe are important and one set of behaviors which are negative or not important. They consist of Bonding, Discipline, Education, General Welfare and Protection, Responsivity, Sensitivity, and Negativity. The present study assessed the parenting perceptions of 119 Indian Americans from the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Metropolitan areas and compared them with a group of 99 Caucasian Americans. . . . Significant differences in parent ratings on the Negativity subscale were found between Indian Americans and Caucasian Americans generally, as well as when generation and acculturation level were accounted for. No significant differences in responses were found between Indian Americans and Caucasian Americans on the Bonding, Discipline, Education, General Welfare and Protection, Responsivity, and Sensitivity subscales. Overall significant differences in parent ratings, based on gender, were found on the Responsivity, Sensitivity, and Negativity subscales. No significant differences were found in parent ratings, based on gender, on the Bonding, Discipline, Education, General Welfare and Protection subscales. Significant differences were found in parenting perceptions of the Education subscale were found between males and females when culture was accounted for. However, no significant differences in parent ratings were found between males and females when gender was accounted for on the subscales of Bonding, Discipline, General Welfare and Protection, Responsivity, Sensitivity, and Negativity. Overall, the present study has a number of implications for the field of school-clinical psychology. For example, this study may aid clinicians in understanding the culture of their client, how parenting perceptions of others may differ from their own, and how Indian Americans may value parenting skills relative to Caucasian Americans. In the end, cultural differences among clients and between clients and clinicians need to be fully appreciated by the professional community in order for services to be effective.
Gong, Fang, Jun Xu, Kaori Fujishiro, David T. Takeuchi. 2011. “A Life Course Perspective on Migration and Mental Health among Asian Immigrants: The Role of Human Agency.” Social Science & Medicine 73:11:1618-1626.
Abstract: The relationship between human agency and health is an important yet under-researched topic. This study uses a life course perspective to examine how human agency (measured by voluntariness, migratory reasons, and planning) and timing (measured by age at immigration) affect mental health outcomes among Asian immigrants in the United States. Data from the National Latino and Asian American Study showed that Asian immigrants (n=1491) with multiple strong reasons to migrate were less likely to suffer from mental health problems (i.e., psychological distress and psychiatric disorders in the past 12 months) than those without clear goals. Moreover, Asian immigrants with adequate migratory planning had lower levels of distress and lower rates of 12-month psychiatric disorders than those with poorly planned migration. Compared with migrants of the youngest age category (six or younger), those who migrated during preteen and adolescent years without clear goals had higher levels of psychological distress, and those who migrated during adulthood (25 years or older) were less likely to suffer from recent depressive disorders (with the exception of those migrating for life-improving goals). Furthermore, we found that well-planned migration lowered acculturative stress, and multiple strong reasons for migration buffered the negative effect of acculturative stress upon mental health. Findings from this study advance research on immigrant health from the life course perspective by highlighting the effects of exercising human agency during the pre-migration stage upon post-migration mental health.
Liang, Juily Jung Chuang. The Process of Decentering: A Phenomenological Study of Asian American Buddhists from the Fo Guan Shan Temple Buddhist Order. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 07, pp. 4323, 2012.
Abstract: The current study is an empirical exploration of the Buddhist phenomenon of decentering (letting go of the ego as described in the Four Noble Truths). The researcher explored decentering as a personal process of being open to change in one’s daily Buddhist practice, whereby a person learns to be less attached to worldly experiences, hence reducing suffering that comes with a conditioned mind. A psychological approach underscored by empirical and transcendental phenomenologies was utilized to describe the essence of decentering: 1) criterion sampling to select 6 members of a Buddhist temple in Southwestern United States, 2) in-depth interviewing, and 3) phenomenologically-grounded data analytic techniques. Results showed the process of decentering is a multifaceted experience. It paralleled millennia-old Buddhist training guidelines for achieving decentering: 3-fold training of morality, meditation and wisdom. Conation was an essential component that pervaded the entire process of decentering. Participants gradually reshaped their habitual schema to spiritual schema. Conation served to drive decentering’s mechanism of change, metacognition. Participants focused on changing the way they related to their thoughts over time rather than changing the contents of their thoughts. The pursuit of mental well-being through the use of decentering-related interventions has far-reaching implications for clinical research, training and practice.
Lee, Noelle. The Internalization of the Model Minority Stereotype in Asian American Adolescents and its Psychological Implications. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 07, pp. 4351, 2012.
Abstract: The Model Minority image cast upon Asian Americans, specifically Asian American youth today can create psychological implications for them, in that there is a huge discrepancy in what may be their harsh reality and then with what is expected fromthem. Some psychological implications can include but may not be limited to: mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety and may affect decisions for choices such as drug use and gang involvement. Within looking at this issue, we may find that for some of the youth, the Model Minority in combination with their cultural values such as bringing honor and pride for family, or the importance of education, may have beeninternalized and could potentially manifest itself in a psychological disorder. In order to understand Asian American families, particularly Asian American adolescents, it is important to consider issues related to immigration, generational issues, acculturation, conflict of ideas and values, language, identity development and racism.
Der Bing, Clifton Michael. The Influences of General Perfectionism, Chinese Cultural Values and Acculturation on Depression among Chinese-American College Students. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 6380, 2012.
Abstract: The present study investigated the influences of general perfectionism, Chinese cultural values and acculturation on depression among 122 Chinese-American college students at a state university located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The results from a linear multiple regression indicated that the three independent variables collectively and significantly explained 22% of depression. A step-wise regression revealed that general perfectionism was the strongest significant predictor for depression, while Chinese cultural values constituted the second highest significant predictor. Acculturation, by contrast, was not found to significantly predict depression. The current study contributed to cultural research by proposing that general perfectionism has a moderately strong significant influence on depression among Chinese-American college students, while Chinese cultural values has a significantly weak influence. The current research supports the importance of clinical psychologists being attentive to factors that may influence depression (e.g., perfectionism, Chinese cultural values) among this ethnic student population, while also respecting these students by providing culturally sensitive methods of counseling. The final section reviews the limitations to the current study as well as the future research possibilities.
Li, Robin. Assessing Racial Identity Attitudes in Asian American Adults: Exploring Factor Structure, Generational Differences, and Ethnic Differences. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 6391, 2012.
Abstract: Current racial identity development theories assume similar responses to cultural oppression across all non-dominant racial groups. Considering the unique racialization experiences of Asian Americans in the United States, one would expect that there would be some differences between Asian American racial identity development processes and those of other People of Color. Furthermore, because of the great diversity within the designation “Asian American,” one would expect to find important differences in racial identity development processes based on variables such as generational status and ethnic background. In an effort to refine racial identity theory and assessment as it pertains to Asian Americans, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the People of Color Racial Identity Attitude Scale (PRIAS) responses of 673 Asian American adults between the ages of 18-61. . . . In the exploratory factor analysis, four factors emerged These factors were roughly equivalent to the racial identity statuses represented on the original PRIAS scoring key, which seems to support the assumption that racial identity development processes are similar for most non-dominant racial groups regardless of racial group membership. There were also some discrepancies between the two factor structures, however, which may illustrate unique aspects of Asian American racial identity development. Results of the MANOVA and its post-hoc tests indicated that Racial Discomfort and Re-Examination attitudes differentiate Asian American adults across generational status, with immigrant Asian Americans experiencing lower levels of Racial Discomfort and Re-Examination than both American-born Asian Americans and 1.5-generation Asian Americans. These results suggest that Asian American racial identity development theories may be enhanced through further research on how immigrants’ experience of oppression may differ from those of other Asian Americans. No differences based on ethnic background were found in the present study.
Brozyna, Angelica. The Association of Acculturation with Perceived Patient-Centered Cultural Sensitivity and Patient Satisfaction among a National Sample of Ethnic and Racial Minorities. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 6411, 2012.
Abstract: The present study was designed to (a) explore the relationships among patient satisfaction, acculturation (i.e., level of identification with the dominant society and with one’s ethnic culture), and the three components of patient-centered culturally sensitive health care (i.e., patients’ perceived levels of patient-centered cultural sensitivity displayed by their health care providers, office staff, and the physical environment and policies at their health care site), and (b) examine whether these relationships differ in association with race/ethnicity, income, generation status, number of clinic visits in the past year, type of clinic utilized, and self-reported quality of health. Participants consisted of a low-income skewed sample of 1,036 health care patients who were part of a research project to assess patient-centered culturally sensitive health care at health care sites in different locations across the nation. This study provided evidence of significant positive relationships between patients’ level of identification with their ethnic culture and patient-centered culturally sensitive health care for Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White American patient participants. Significant positive relationships were also found between patients’ level of identification with the dominant society and patient-centered culturally sensitive health care for Asian American/Pacific Islander and non-Hispanic White American patient participants. Findings also indicated racial/ethnic differences in the components of patient-centered culturally sensitive health care that predicted patient satisfaction. . . . Therefore, findings from this study provide support for the importance of assessing acculturation and considering racial and ethnic differences when conducting culturally sensitive health care research. Conducting such research in private practice and hospitals settings seems particularly needed.
Yee, Curtis Kenmun. How Minorities Perceive and React to Interracial Relationships: Qualitative, Survey and Experimental Evidence from Asian-American Men. Dissertation Abstracts International: Sciences and Engineering, vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 6443, 2012.
Abstract: Asian-American women date and marry Whites about 3 times the rate of Asian-American men. Given this imbalance, I am interested in the perceptions and reactions of Asian-American men, a group that is “left behind.” From previous studies, I suggest that Asian-American men experience three kinds of threat: 1) The threat of competition (scarcity in the dating pool), 2) a threat to their culture (that they are subordinate to Whites), and 3) a threat to their masculinity (that they are not as manly or attractive as Whites). In this dissertation, I conducted focus groups to see if Asian-American men perceive this imbalance in terms of the three threats. In the survey portion, I looked at how their attitudes related to measures of group identity, racism, self-esteem etc. Finally, in the experiment portion, I found that Asian-American men experienced stereotype threat to their masculinity, in the form of doing fewer push-ups, after being exposed to interracial couples. Qualitative and quantitative support for the three threats was found. While interracial romance is a positive thing, the gender asymmetry may be an extension of existing racial inequalities, and that may cause resentment from the minority ethnic group, as well as social marginalization.
As a followup to my earlier “part one” post, the following is a list of recent academic journal articles and/or doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social/cognitive sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. The dissertations records are compiled by Dissertation Abstracts International and copies can be obtained through your college’s library or by contacting ProQuest at 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346, telephone 800-521-3042, or disspub@umi.com.
The research listed below focus on the social sciences and humanities (other research that will be presented separately focus on the cognitive sciences). Some abstracts were edited for length. Again, this list is “part two” of my earlier post. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents. Last but not least, congratulations to my new academic colleagues on being “Ph.inally D.one.”
Quintana, Isabella Seong-Leong. National Borders, Neighborhood Boundaries: Gender, Space and Border Formation in Chinese and Mexican Los Angeles, 1871-1938. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 03, pp. 1058, 2011.
Abstract: A study of the plaza area in the city of Los Angeles, this dissertation explores how national borders were mapped onto neighborhood geographies in the making of a racially segregated urban landscape. From the 1870s through the 1930s, the plaza area was home to Mexicans, Chinese and others who played varying roles in the formation of community. Places that came to be known as “Chinatown” and “Sonoratown” became not only sites of racial difference but also locations that were designated “foreign” districts; thus, they were located ideologically outside of the geopolitical borders of the U.S. nation-state despite their location within U.S. territory. I argue that the U.S. conquest of former Mexican territories, deportation campaigns, Mexican repatriation, and Chinese exclusion were simultaneous processes of border formation that affected the social relationships of Los Angeles residents. In the making of what I call the “urban borderlands,” multiracial social and spatial configurations of plaza area neighborhoods were shaped not only by the racialization of places known as “Chinatown” and “Sonoratown” but also by the shifting locations and meanings of U.S. nation-state borders, including at times immigration exclusion. Linking race, class, gender and nation, this study offers an understanding of community formation in the context of rapid industrialization and modernization. Plaza area residents made meaning of their local geography through conflicts over space, limited resources, exclusion and deportation movements, and industrialization. Through spatial and material culture analyses of public spaces, home spaces, and city geography, this thesis shows how architecture and street spaces might be used to understand the social relationships of Mexican and Chinese residents. In doing so, it examines the different and sometimes opposing spatial imaginaries of Mexican and Chinese residents, reformers, city officials, and city boosters. By examining both pivotal events in which Chinese and Mexican bodies were removed from urban space, and the everyday lives of these residents, this study contributes to a new understanding of not only working-class, immigrant and urban U.S. history, but also Chicana/o and Asian American Studies. In doing so, it illuminates how U.S. global imperialism took on local manifestations in places such as Los Angeles.
Moloney, Molly. Consuming Identities: Clubs, Drugs, and an Asian American Youth Culture. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 03, pp. 1085, 2011.
Abstract: Asian American youth are important and active members of many dance scenes and club cultures, yet their involvement in these has generally gone unstudied. This dissertation examines the experiences of young Asian Americans in the dance scenes in the San Francisco Bay Area. This diverse group of young people varies by ethnicity, class, education, gender, and sexual identity. Examining 250 in-depth interviews with participants in this youth culture, I focus on consumption, identity, and symbolic boundaries. This is not a monolithic youth culture, but one comprised of multiple scenes, including raves, underground dance parties, multi-ethnic dance clubs, as well as predominantly Asian dance clubs. These young Asian Americans describe their negotiations and constructions of identities vis-a-vis pan-ethnic Asian American cultural formations, ethnonational cultures, social class, and competing femininities and masculinities. I analyze drug consumption as one case study of the relationship between consumption and the construction of ethnic identities. Drug consumption and participation in the dance scenes are drawn upon in self-narratives to discuss their understanding of what it means to be an Asian American young person today. Three sets of narratives emerged. One discusses drug consumption as a natural outgrowth of the “in-between” position of being an Asian American. The second, which echoes model minority representations of Asian Americans, sees a disjuncture between being Asian American and consuming illicit drugs; respondents telling this narrative cast their own drug consumption as unusual. The third group sees nothing extraordinary about the prominence of club drug use in the Asian American dance scene and instead indicate normalized drug use in the scene. Drug consumption was not the only important form of consumption in the scene, however. Thus I also analyze how music, style, and fashion are drawn upon in establishing, highlighting and maintaining symbolic boundaries between social groups within the dance scenes, focusing particularly on intra-ethnic boundaries that separate different Asian American groups, as the young people attempt to distance themselves from “other” groups of Asian Americans including “FOBs,” “whitewashed” Asian Americans, “thugs,” “squatters,” and more.
Feliciano, Shannon Marie. Understanding Infant Feeding Choices among Hmong-American Women in Saint Paul, MN. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 04, pp. 1447, 2011.
Abstract: To understand infant-feeding patterns among Hmong women in St. Paul, MN, this qualitative study used a convenience sample of 21 Hmong mothers who had at least 1 child under the age of 2. Drawing on interviews and questionnaires, this researcher explored (a) how participants described their traditional and American cultural traditions, beliefs, and values, (b) their infant-feeding practices, and (c) how their infant-feeding practices are shaped by adaptations to traditional and American cultures. In this sample, those women who had recently immigrated to the United States were more likely to exclusively use formula. Interviews suggest that American norms of breastfeeding in public, hectic lifestyles in a new country, and lack of cultural knowledge about pumping and storing breast milk influenced 1st- and 1.5-generation participants to exclusively use formula. For 2nd-generation participants, the awkwardness of breastfeeding in public was also cited as an important influence on their decision to use formula. However, quite different from 1st- and 1.5-generation women, 2nd-generation women were more educated and more likely to be employed in less segregated and professional occupations, which exposed them to mothers of different backgrounds who were breastfeeding. This exposure to breastfeeding mothers appeared to influence breastfeeding initiation among 2nd-generation Hmong. This study also found that negative social support from participants’ mothers and mothers-in-law, and positive social support from sisters and sisters-in-law had a strong impact on their infant-feeding decisions. Unlike previous research among Hispanic immigrants, this study revealed that 2nd-generation Hmong immigrants were slightly more likely to include some form of breastfeeding in their infant-feeding method. This study also revealed the importance of social support and the role of the ethnic community in infant-feeding choices. More research is needed, however, to further clarify the relationship between acculturation and social support on breastfeeding initiation and duration among various immigrant populations.
Vengua, Jean. Migrant Scribes and Poet-Advocates: U.S. Filipino Literary History in West Coast Periodicals, 1905 to 1941. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 1650, 2011.
Abstract: Much of the earliest prose and poetry published by Filipinos in the United States appeared in the many periodicals published and edited by Filipinos from 1905 through the end of the Great Depression. Today, these periodicals function as historical “archives.” However, they also document U.S. Filipino literary heritage from the first half of the twentieth century, especially in forms of persuasive writing such as editorials and feature essays, and also in poetry, short stories, reviews, and literary criticism. The periodicals nurtured Filipino writers as they struggled to find their voice in the foreign nation that employed them as non-citizen workers, and had colonized and exploited the material resources of their homeland, the Philippines. A study of these texts may help to add breadth and depth to our research and understanding of Filipino writing in the U.S., both its literary production and history, as well as its contemporary forms. This dissertation is a preliminary survey of writing found in eight U.S. Filipino periodicals in the Western U.S. during the early 20th century. It articulates several broad functions of these newspapers and magazines in relation to the production and support of U.S. Filipino writing. While U.S. Filipino periodicals constituted their own social spheres, providing venues and reading constituencies for writers, the work they published also narrated and thus reinforced the formation of Filipino communities — both migrating or localized — as well as group and individual identities, although the effects varied, in terms of the writer”s gender. This study examines the historical and material contexts for this writing, exploring the lives of the writers themselves, as well as specific examples of texts that they produced.
Ferrera, Maria Joy. The Intersection of Colonial Mentality, Family Socialization, and Ethnic Identity Formation among Second Generation Filipino American Youth. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 1779, 2011.
Abstract: There is much evidence that profoundly challenges the Asian model minority myth that portrays Asians as problem free. One of them is the high incidence of depression among Filipino Americans, particularly second-generation Filipino American youth (Rumbaut, 1999). However, there is a dearth of information regarding the mental health of Filipino Americans and why the incidence of depression is so high (Araneta, 1993 & Uba, 1994). Literature on acculturation among ethnic minority youth asserts that a straight-line trajectory of assimilation is the most detrimental trajectory, while biculturalism, or integration, is the optimal trajectory (LaFramboise et al., 1993; Ward, 2001). With regard to ethnic identity, ethnic pride is found to have a positive effect on overall adjustment among immigrant youth within various ethnic groups (Phinney, 1993), and higher levels of Filipino ethnic identification is significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms among Filipino Americans (Mossakowski, 2003). In line with an ecological systems perspective, this study considers what is a salient context for Filipinos living in America their history of colonization. Scholars suggest that colonial mentality is commonly adopted among Filipino Americans and this contributes to a loss of a sense of heritage, or weakened ethnic identity (David, 2006). The purpose of this study was to examine the processes that may illuminate why Filipino American youth may be depressed, namely to: (1) gain an understanding of the role colonial mentality plays in the family socialization or enculturation of second generation Filipino Americans (SGFAs); (2) gain an understanding of the role colonial mentality plays on their ethnic identity formation; (3) and examine how the enculturation and ethnic identity formulations may impact their bicultural competence and overall mental and emotional well being.
Hong, Eunice. Understanding Intergenerational Korean American Church Splits. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 05, pp. 1788, 2011.
Abstract: Generational and cultural differences between the first and second generation Korean American church leaders have caused division, anxiety, and tension. Although much study has been dedicated to the immigrant church and to the second generation, little research has been done on the factors contributing to church splits in multigenerational Korean American churches. Though nearly all immigrant churches recognize the difficulties of embracing different generations and cultures, the lack of attention has resulted in frustration, bitterness, and ultimately, separation of the church. The purpose of the present study is to understand and explain key factors that contribute to church splits in multigenerational Korean American churches in the greater Los Angeles area. In order to explain the phenomenon of intergenerational church splits in the Korean American church, the present study has adopted qualitative methodology and the methodology of grounded theory in particular. Because the study aims to explain the factors contributing to church splits, it was necessary to look beyond a quantitative study and listen to the narratives of those involved in church splits. Seventeen second generation Korean American pastors were interviewed. These individuals were from the greater Los Angeles region. Though they were from different churches and various denominations, each participant experienced the same phenomenon of a church split. Characteristic of qualitative research, participants were asked open-ended questions about their experience with the church and more specifically about their experience with the church split. A careful analysis of the data yielded four themes (search for identity, power struggle, tension, and church split) that best reflected factors contributing to second generation Korean American pastors leaving the first generation Korean American church.
Thangaraj, Stanley Ilango. Playing Through Contradictions: Indo-Pak Basketball and Embodying South Asian American Masculinity. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 07, pp. 2462, 2012.
Abstract: This is a qualitative research project incorporating ethnographic methods alongside interviews. Through these qualitative research methods, I sought out how South Asian Americans attribute meaning to leisure activities of basketball and dance clubs. In particular, I examined the Indo-Pak Basketball North American circuit in general and the local Atlanta South Asian American basketball scene in particular. I looked at how South Asian Americans utilize the cultural practices in basketball, its respective pleasures and desires, to talk about belonging and citizenship at the nexus of masculinity, sexuality, race, class, and ethnicity. By examining these cultural practices of belonging, basketball presents a venue by which to provide a critique of US citizenship through South Asian American masculinity while inserting South Asian American-ness into the cultural logic of US citizenship. Sporting and leisure venues allow for such masculine pleasures and desires that contest hegemonic discourses of South Asian Americans as forever foreign — social interactions and consumptive practices of leisure allow for cultural citizenship. Yet, such counter-hegemonic practices exist in fields of power. Thus, this research project explores how South Asian American identity formation takes place in a dialectical relationship of power whereby acts of resistance and re-imagination of normativities does not do away with such fields of power. Rather, the moment of resistance also implicates other workings of power whereby these cultural parameters of South Asian American-ness, through leisure space, begin to exclude various Others — women and queer subjects. Therefore, contesting citizenship through South Asian American masculinity also leads to productions of various other normativities.
Park, Hien Ju. Twice Illegal: Ethnic Community, Identity and Social Networks among the North Korean Defectors in the U.S. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 08, pp. 2710, 2012.
Abstract: This study discusses the incorporation prospects of North Korean defectors in the U.S. by examining their survival toolkit which comes in two forms: Their precarious North Korean defector identity which elicits human rights concerns at the U.S. foreign policy level, and their North Korean identity which creates networking ties with Korean-Americans based on a common ethnicity. Hence, the main focus of this study is twofold: To provide contextual background against which policies for their refugee status can be discussed, and to describe and explain the social capital associated with their distinct Korean identity. Drawing from newspaper content analysis, five years of ethnographic research, and in-depth interviews with thirty-one North Korean defectors in the U.S., this study demonstrates how the Korean ethnicity, ethnic networks, and the Korean-American community and ethnic capital it shares, have been instrumental in North Korean incorporation. This study also ponders how such incorporation efforts — and the social capital they accumulated — would implicate policies of inclusion for North Korea.
Wong, Alina Siu. In Flux: Racial Identity Construction Among Chinese American and Filipina/o American Undergraduates. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 08, pp. 2710, 2012.
Abstract: This study examines the multiple understandings and meanings Chinese American and Filipina/o American students construct around their racial identities. Their dynamic and multilayered constructions of Asian American identities — as a political coalition; as shared experiences of racialization and racism; as unspoken bonds of community and comfort; and as simultaneous identities — created space for the myriad ways of being Asian American. Their narratives demonstrated the ways that identities are constantly in flux and in the process of being constructed, and how their identities are involved in simultaneous paradoxical dialogues between the individual-collective and the personal-social. That is, their identities internally formed through personal experiences while impacted by social relationships and politics. It is a constant process of negotiation, choice, and comfort while still holding on to some core sense of self. Students’ self-conceptions were constantly changing — often depending on immediate context, assumptions, comfort level, relationships, and interactions — even when they had a strong sense of their identities. What it meant, collectively and individually, to be Asian American (or Chinese American and Filipina/o American) was a dynamic process of constant re/negotiation and re/definition. The results of this study can be used to better inform policies, practice, and pedagogies in higher education, as well as to contribute to current understandings of race and identity. This study provides new perspectives to understand Asian American students as agents in educational contexts to negotiate, confront, and resist stereotypes and racism in higher education. This study also adds to the existing literature on Asian American undergraduate experiences by offering an alternative framework for understanding racial identities, and by centering their experiences in their own voices. I use a critical approach and a holistic framework for understanding Asian American racial identity are necessary to better illuminate the implicit assumptions of identity and race; as well as a social justice lens and framework grounded in critical theory that works within the intersections power, identity, and race. I hope to reframe the experiences of Asian Americans as another community of color struggling for power, agency, and place.
Solomon, Amanda Lee Albaniel. Managing the (Post)Colonial: Race, Gender and Sexuality in Literary Texts of the Philippine Commonwealth. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 08, pp. 2877, 2012.
Abstract: “Managing the (Post)Colonial” investigates a range of literary texts — from American newspaper articles to Philippine state-sponsored poetry — which circulated just before and during the Philippine Commonwealth period (1934-1946), when the islands were neither an official U.S. colony nor an independent nation. I argue therefore that the Commonwealth period was an ambiguous and contradictory political moment which I signify through the parenthetical use of “post” in “(post)colonial.” I thus call into question whether or not an entire nation and its subjects could be simultaneously colonial and yet not, for it is at the moment of seeming official separation from the U.S. that political, economic, cultural and social policies actually ensured U.S. hegemony under the guise of independence. Ultimately, I analyze cultural and literary texts of the period to show how sexualized and gendered representations of the Filipino subject were not only utilized in an attempt to reconcile this contradiction of the Commonwealth, but also to imagine alternative nationalisms and forms of social emancipation. Focusing on the queer moments in Bulosan and Villa’s texts, I trace how the relationships between race, gender and sexuality are not only inundated with power but are also productively contradictory, allowing one access to spaces and acts of freedom.
Love, Erik Robert. Confronting Islamophobia: Civil Rights Advocacy in the United States. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 08, pp. 2978, 2012.
Abstract: This dissertation integrates the history of Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian American civil rights advocacy organizations since 1980 into extant sociological knowledge about civil rights advocacy. Beginning with an introduction that reviews sociological thinking on race and racism, the dissertation then provides a background on so-called Islamophobia, racialized discrimination affecting a wide range of groups. This is followed by an analysis of current sociological theory on advocacy organizations and social movements. A chapter describing the multiple methodologies of the research follows, including details on the qualitative interviews, content analysis of documents produced by several nationally prominent advocacy organizations, and the creation of a custom database of information covering more than 400 advocacy organizations in places across the United States. Empirical data are presented in chapters five through seven. Chapter Five focuses on the important intersection between race and gender in efforts to confront Islamophobia. Among the findings presented is a surprisingly well-defined gendered division of labor — where one organization has a staff of almost exclusively women, and another organization has very few women — that appears in the Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian American organizations in the study. Chapter Six takes on the interplay between advocacy organizations and the state agencies toward which advocacy work is oriented. The chapter considers the roles of state agencies in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. I find that many state agencies have effectively assigned a racial category to Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian Americans. The Department of Justice and other agencies tasked with fighting discrimination have convened “Middle Eastern American” meetings that pull together advocacy organizations from disparate communities unified by racial identity. Chapter Seven considers whether this joint, “Middle Eastern American” racial identity served as a catalyst for coalition building among advocacy organizations. I find very little panethnic coalition work along these broad lines of a racial or identity-based alliance, although there is a great deal of ad-hoc coalition work that centers on specific issues. The concluding chapter suggests pathways for future research and revisits the themes of the introduction in light of the dissertation’s findings.
Gill, Jungyun. Forming, Doing, and Governing Adoptive Motherhood of Asian Children. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 2710, 2012.
Abstract: This research journey began with the question concerning what can be revealed when we move from the bio-centric conception of motherhood to the perspective of non-biological motherhood. In exploring this question one of my goals was to increase understanding of the rich diversity of women’s experiences of motherhood. This study examined white adoptive mothers’ experiences of raising a child from an Asian country, China, South Korea, or the Philippines, hoping to gain new insights into the intricate relationship between the public and private spheres since becoming a mother through adoption is in part a product of institutionalized practices. The central methodology used to explore the multi-dimensionality of adoptive motherhood in this study is institutional ethnography. This methodology allows the researcher to develop a comprehensive understanding of adoptive mothers’ motherhood experiences and mothering activities in the everyday world and discover how mothering activities in private and local settings are coordinated with the activities of others in extra-local settings. I pursued my research goals at multiple sites and through the use of several research methods. I interviewed thirty eight white adoptive mothers residing in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The information and insights I obtained from the interviews with adoptive mothers led me to investigate adoptive parenting magazines and books, adopted children’s books, adoption agencies’ booklets and websites, and international adoption regulations and policies as well as to interview a U.S. adoption social worker. I extended my research sites globally by conducting field research at a Korean adoption agency and formally interviewing Korean adoption social workers and informally interviewing Korean birth and foster mothers. The findings of this research reveal the multi-dimensionality of motherhood: motherhood as an identity, motherhood as an activity, motherhood as institutionalized, and motherhood as experienced.
Sekimoto, Sachi. The Materiality of the Self: A Multimodal, Communicative Approach to Identity. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3061, 2012.
Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation is to propose a multimodal approach as an alternative way of theorizing and researching identity. The multimodal approach utilizes four modes of interaction — multidirectional interpellation, spatiality, temporality, and corporeality — to explore the processes of interaction and engagement between an individual and his/her social worlds. The multimodal approach focuses on the materiality of lived experience and the process of interaction and engagement between an individual and his/her social worlds through which his or her identity materializes. I apply the multimodal approach to analyze two autobiographical texts in which the authors deal with Asian identity in different cultural and discursive contexts in Japan and Asian America. I focus on the idea of Asia and explore how it translates into and interacts with personal experiences of the autobiographical subjects to constitute not only their identities but also Asia itself. The primary focus of this dissertation is to shed light on the situated and embodied experiences of individual subjects whose identities and subjectivities materialize into existence through complex interactions among cultural significations, personal acts and interpretations, as well as multiple and competing ideological environments. With the emphasis on the lived and embodied experience, this study benefits from the philosophical tradition of phenomenology. Moreover, with the critique of totalizing social categories (race, gender, class, etc.) and the emphasis on the contested boundaries of discursively articulated differences, this study also takes a poststructuralist approach to identity theorizing. Combined together, what I propose as a multimodal approach takes into account both the subjectively lived experience (a living, thinking, acting, and intentional subject in the world) and the historically situated ideological and discursive environments (a subject as a contingent product of historical and discursive construction) in constituting one’s identity.
Goodman, Kathleen M. The Influence of the Campus Climate for Diversity on College Students’ Need for Cognition. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3133, 2012.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of the campus climate for diversity on learning within four racial groups of college students. I used multiple regression to analyze how structural diversity, the psychological climate for diversity, and behavior influence one facet of learning — the need for cognition — for African-American, Asian-American, Latino/a, and White college students in the first year of college. Three of the eight campus climate for diversity variables appeared to have no effect on need for cognition for any of the four samples: student heterogeneity, faculty heterogeneity, and discussion with faculty and staff whose opinions differ from the students. One variable, the student’s value of racial and cultural diversity, a psychological dimension of the campus climate for diversity, had an effect on need for cognition for all four samples. Four additional variables were significant within different samples. Believing the institution facilitates diverse interactions positively influenced need for cognition for Latino/a students. Taking a diversity course was positive for African-American students. Both interacting with diverse others and participating in a racial/cultural workshop were positive for White students. The findings also suggested that being a first-generation college student or coming from a low-income family moderates the influence of the campus climate for diversity on need for cognition. Suggestions for future research include creating research designs that ascertain how various racial and economic groups experience the influence of diversity on learning; seeking out new ways to distribute surveys and encourage survey-completion among students of color; looking for interaction effects among diversity experiences; and using hierarchical linear modeling, structural equation modeling, qualitative methods, and mixed methods. Suggestions for campus practice include maintaining programs designed specifically for students of individual racial groups, as well as low-income and first-generation college students; seeking ways to create a psychological climate that cultivates the belief that diversity is important to learning; providing more courses and workshops focused on racial and cultural diversity; and creating structured opportunities to introduce students to the varying political, religious, and social perspectives held by their peers.
Grice, Cheryl Denise-Roshell. Diversity Awareness Perceptions among Classified Support Staff Employed at a Large Midwestern Land Grant University. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3133, 2012.
Abstract: Diversity is recognized by acknowledging individual differences. The term diversity can refer to an array of descriptors such as, race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disabilities, sexual orientation, age, level of education, geographic origin, economic status, family status, appearance/physical size and skill characteristics. Although there are multiple definitions of diversity, many include at least one or all of the attributes listed above. This qualitative study examined perceptions of classified employees regarding the level of diversity awareness among their workforce at a large Midwestern land grant university. . . . Findings included a difference in perceptions about diversity awareness between Whites and People of Color. Whites fell into the following categories; 1) Many employees felt the current status of diversity awareness was sufficient, 2) an equal number of others felt that their needed to be an increase in diversity awareness initiatives among employees, 3) others felt as though diversity awareness was problematic or 4) the need did not exist for diversity awareness initiatives. The participants in the interviews disagreed, all claimed to have been the victim of discriminatory behavior.
Nissen, Jennifer Garrett. Exploring the College Experiences of Students Adopted from South Korea. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3138, 2012.
Abstract: This phenomenological study focused on the college experiences of students adopted from South Korea. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the college experiences of Korean adoptees related to their personal development and Korean cultural awareness while at a mid-sized Midwestern university. Eleven students at a land-grant institution in the Midwestern United States participated in this study. Data were collected using the three interview structure that Seidman (2006) outlined. The first interview focused on life history, the second meeting on details of their college experience, and the final interview on the meaning made of these experiences. . . . The themes that emerged in the youth and background experiences include strong connection to family, religion as an important part of childhood, and connection to Korean culture as a child. The majority of the text focused on the themes that emerged from the college experiences portion of the interviews. The major themes included interacting with others while in college, experiencing life as an Asian person, and exploring racial and ethnic identity while in college. In the final section, the theme focused on future plans and meaning making. The theme in this section was interest in learning about Korean culture. The findings reflected that, although the students did develop and change while in college, they did not necessarily explore their Korean culture or interact with Koreans and Korean Americans. Typically, they did not use campus support services or the campus environment to explore the Korean culture. The findings of this study have implications for parents of transracially adopted children, student affairs professionals, adopted individuals, and people who interact with these students. Recommendations for future research include studying students who were adopted from countries other than South Korea, interviewing students in different regions of the United States, and identifying a pool of students from urban areas to interview. It would be interesting to learn more about the college experiences of Korean adoptees as well.
Blackwell, Deanna Maria. Students of Color in White-Dominated College Classrooms: An Examination of Racialized Roles, Safety and Empowerment. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3214, 2012.
Abstract: This dissertation reports data I collected using qualitative research methods to investigate the racial dynamics that students of color experienced in predominantly White college classrooms. I used Black Feminist Standpoint Theory to analyze interviews I conducted with twelve students of color from diverse racial ethnic minority backgrounds including African American, Asian American, Chicana/o, Mixed Race, Native American, and Pacific Islander. Their testimonies revealed how racial tensions unfolded around exchanges between students, professors, pedagogy, and the curriculum in ways that often left students of color not only outnumbered, but outpowered in what can be more accurately referred to as White-dominated classrooms. Participants entered college classrooms hoping to experience an education that addressed people of color and race-related issues in humanized ways. Not only did they find that race-related topics were addressed in decontextualized and stereotypical ways, but also came to an understanding as to how they were often silenced, marginalized, and stigmatized from the academic process. In my study students of color discussed the strategies they used in college classrooms to create safety for themselves and other students. In several cases students of color debunked the idea that a White-dominated classroom could ever be safe for students of color. Also, research participants challenged the term “empowerment’ as used by radical educational theorists. They charged that they rarely if ever felt empowered, and questioned whether or not it was possible under the given circumstances of White-dominated college classrooms. Students redefined what counted as empowerment and instead described what I refer to as powerful experiences. These experiences spurred them on to achieve their educational and social justice oriented goals.
Ko, Jen-Li. Cultural representations and museums: The construction of ethnic identity in Chicago’s Chinatown. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3351, 2012.
Abstract: This study examines the cultural representation and ethnic identity of Chinese Americans in Chicago’s Chinatown through an analysis of ethnic exhibits in museums, issues related to the invention of traditions, and the politics of ethnic identity. Chicago’s Chinatown resembles a living museum in which Chinatown members negotiate their identity through cultural representations, interactions with outsiders, ethnic celebrations, and community museums. Case studies on Chinatown museums not only reflect the changing concept of Chinese ethnicity in social and historical contexts, but also indicate the current contradictions of transnational migration. While the Ling Long Museum (1933-1970s) featured ancient Chinese culture and history related to China, the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago (2005 — present) displays an ethnic Chinese American culture that has become part of the diverse American culture. This change in the portrayal of Chinese ethnicity in Chinatown museums mirrors the cultural practices in the community, including identity construction, immigrant trajectory, language change, ethnic boundaries, and community politics. It is these contesting social forces that shape the cultural representations of the Chinatown museums. Both Chinatown and the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago represent Chinese immigrants’ responses and resistance to mainstream society’s portrayal of the Chinese American. Chinatown museums function as a cultural symbol and increase the visibility of the Chinese community in a multicultural society. In order to demonstrate cultural uniqueness, Chinatown has maintained its classic Chinese characteristics and recreated an “Oriental” atmosphere. The traditional Chinese culture and nostalgia for early immigrants preserved in Chinatown are detached from the views of contemporary Chinatown residents. However, this representation of Chineseness has helped generate an exotic and Oriental ethnic image that satisfies the expectations of outside visitors.
Sinha, Cynthia Brown. Dynamic Parenting: Ethnic Identity Construction in the Second-Generation Indian American Family. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3528, 2012.
Abstract: This study explores Indian culture in second-generation Indian American families. For the most part, this generation was not socialized to Indian culture in India, which raises the question, how do parents maintain and teach culture to their third-generation children? To answer this question, I interviewed 18 second-generation Indian American couples who had at least one child. Rather than focus on how assimilated or Americanized the families were, I examine the maintenance of Indian culture. Instead of envisioning culture as a binary between “Indian” and “American,” second-generation parents often experience “Indianness” and “Americanness” as interwoven in ways that were not always easily articulated. I also explore the co-ethnic matrimonial process of my participants to reveal the salience of Indian-American identity in their lives. A common experience among my participants was the tendency of mainstream American non- Indians to question Indian-Americans about India and Indian culture. My participants frequently were called upon to be “cultural ambassadors” to curious non-Indians. Religion served as a primary conduit for teaching Indian culture to third-generation children. Moreover, religion and ethnic identity were often conflated. Mothers and fathers share the responsibility of teaching religion to third-generation children. However, mothers tend to be the cultural keepers of the more visible cultural objects and experiences, such as, food, clothing, and language. Fathers were more likely to contribute to childcare than housework. The fathers in my study believe they father in a different social context than their fathers did. By negotiating Indian and American culture, fathers parent in a way that capitalizes on what they perceive as the “best of both worlds.” Links to the local and transnational community were critical to maintaining ties to other co-ethnics and raising children within the culture. Furthermore, most of the parents in my study said they would prefer that their children eventually marry co-ethnics in order to maintain the link to the Indian-American community. Ultimately, I found that Indian culture endures across first- and second-generation Indian Americans. However, “culture” is not a fixed or monolithic object; families continue to modify traditions to meet their emotional and cultural needs.
Hoffman, Joy L. S. How Lived Experiences Affect Ethnic Identity Development for Transracial Korean American Adoptees: Implications for Higher Education Practice. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3634, 2012.
Abstract: The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore how lived experiences affect ethnic identity development of transracial Korean American adoptees raised by White parents with the intent of informing higher education practice. Participants included 12 recently college-graduated transracial Korean American adoptees who were raised in the Midwest, rural south, and on the west coast. An explanatory model that surfaced from data collection is presented, demonstrating the complexity of transracial Korean adoptee identity. Exploring identity emerged as the central phenomenon of the model, which included personal examination of adoptee identity, ethnic self-discovery, and Whiteness. Four themes interacted with the central phenomenon, illustrating life experiences that promote or hinder ethnic identity development: (a) environmental context; (b) systems of support; (c) missing pieces; and (d) healing.
Manning, Amy Lillian. Raping the Raced Body: Trauma in Asian North American Women’s Literature. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3746, 2012.
Abstract: This dissertation examines the representation of racial and sexual traumas in short fiction and novels by Asian American women writing post-WWII to the present. The central focus of this project is on Asian American literary representations of the lingering effects of physical, racial, and sexual traumas to Asian American women, specifically the nuances of narrating traumatic experiences. Each chapter explores various literary representations of post-traumatic psychological states of unrest, instability, and incoherence. Most importantly, this study examines the frequently simultaneous narrations of sexual trauma and racial awareness, of how personal narratives of trauma against the physical body become entangled with narratives about racial awareness, social status, and political identity. Through analysis of Hisaye Yamamoto’s “The High-heeled Shoes: A Memoir,” and “The Legend of Miss Sasagawara,” Joy Kogawa’s Obasan and The Rain Ascends, Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s Behold the Many, and Patricia Chao’s Monkey King, I examine a common trope within Asian American literature: the simultaneous narration of racial and sexual traumas.
Page, Amanda M. The Prisms of Passing: Reading beyond the Racial Binary in Twentieth-Century U.S. Passing Narratives. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3747, 2012.
Abstract: In “The Prisms of Passing: Reading beyond the Racial Binary in Twentieth-Century U.S. Passing Narratives,” I examine a subset of racial passing narratives written between 1890 and 1930 by African American activist-authors, some directly affiliated with the NAACP, who use the form to challenge racial hierarchies through the figure of the mulatta/o and his or her interactions with other racial and ethnic groups. I position texts by Frances E.W. Harper, James Weldon Johnson, and Walter White in dialogue with racial classification laws of the period — including Supreme Court decisions, such as Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), and immigration law, such as the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924 — to show how these rulings and laws were designed to consolidate white identity while preventing coalition-building among African Americans and other subordinate groups. In contrast to white-authored passing narratives of the time, I argue that these early African American passing narratives frequently gesture toward interracial solidarity with Native American, European immigrant, Latina/o, or Asian American characters as a means of challenging white supremacy. Yet, these authors often sacrifice the potential for antiracist coalitions because of the limitations inherent in working within the dominant racial and nativist discourses. . . . This study concludes with an examination of a contemporary passing narrative by an Asian American author. Brian Ascalon Roley’s American Son (2001) revises the form to challenge the continued marginalization of Latina/os and Asian Americans and thus suggests the need for a reconsideration of how we approach civil rights activism to accommodate new racial dynamics in the post-civil rights era.
Son, Elizabeth Won-Kyung. Performing Redress: Military Sexual Slavery and the Transpacific Politics of Memory. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3797, 2012.
Abstract: Performing Redress: Military Sexual Slavery and the Transpacific Politics of Memory is a transnational cultural study of political and artistic work relating to the social movement for redress among survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery. This institutionalized system of sexual slavery forever transformed the lives of an estimated 200,000 Asian girls and young women who were coerced into servicing Japanese troops (1932-1945). For fifty years, survivors kept their wartime experience a secret, but since the early 1990s activists have begun advocating on their behalf and shedding light on their history. From violence and silencing, a vibrant culture of activism and artistic intervention has emerged. This dissertation looks at how survivors, activists and artists utilize performances — embodied practices ranging from protests, tribunals, theatre and dance to testimonial acts — to stage their claims for redress in response to a marginalized and state-suppressed history. . . . The dissertation follows international collaboration among activists alongside the global movement of performance practices. . . . At the nexus of American studies, Asian American studies, performance studies, and gender and sexuality studies, this dissertation offers ways of re-imagining predominantly legal and political understandings of redress and cultural transmission in relation to Asian diasporic communities. It also investigates the relationship between memory and history, particularly how women’s performances attend to gaps in historical archives and national narratives.
Moon, Christina Harriet. Material Intimacies: The Labor of Creativity in the Global Fashion Industry. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3804, 2012.
Abstract: This dissertation explores the global fashion industry through Material Intimacies, the social relationships and intimate encounters of new classes of fashion workers in the material and immaterial making of fashion. Countering the impersonal forces of economics and anonymity that often characterize the global fashion industry, this dissertation illuminates the intimacies involved in the everyday work of fashion among new classes of fashion workers. While scholars continue to describe the emergence of the global fashion industry through its global commodity chains and circuits of consumption, this dissertation argues instead for the intimate realms of fashion production: in the affectations for fashion worlds and imaginaries, in the formation of new social relationships and practices which have connected vast garment industries with fashion worlds, and the socialization processes which have inspired new workers into fashion. These fashion workers have refigured the meaning of labor and creativity in their everyday work, the meaning of value in the things they make, and have powerfully shaped new material realities in their forming of new social and cultural worlds. In search of “the global fashion industry,” Material Intimacies locates it in the intimate encounters and social relationships which are the global connections that enact and drive the industry. Based on three years of ethnographic field research in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Guangzhou, and Seoul, and drawn from participant observation, interviews, and social and oral histories, this dissertation explores design studios, corporations, showrooms, factories, and schools to connect the experiences of fashion workers with new forms of creative practice and labor emerging from the global fashion industry. . . . Countering the impersonal forces of economics that reduce the global fashion industry to a world of buyers, sellers, producers and consumers, these fashion workers paint an intimate landscape of ongoing transnational social ties and cultural exchange, challenging the anonymity of how global capitalism operates.
Saysay, Karen-Lyn. A Qualitative Study on Pilipino American Students Relative to their High School Success and Career Choices. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3809, 2012.
Abstract: This research examines the pattern of career choices among first, 1.5, and second generation Pilipino students of immigrant heritage at a high school about eight miles from Downtown Los Angeles, California. This study reveals significant patterns that reflect their parents’ immigrant heritage, Ogbu’s cultural model of success and other folk theories of success that are shared between the same ethnic background and culture. The influence of the cultural model of success combined with literary works about Asian American students brings forth a better idea of how these immigrant-heritage Pilipino students view and shape their post-secondary plans. The purpose of the study was to examine the pattern of career choices among Pilipino high school students and demonstrate how that pattern reflects the following: 1) The cultural model of their immigrant parents about what success means will be marked through their children’s mindset; 2) How the school (environment and peers) is an identifier of academic engagement among and between Pilipino-heritage immigrant and non-immigrants; 3) How family values impact their career decision-making. . . . There was a recurring theme that examined the pattern of career choices among Pilipino high school students. First, the cultural model of their immigrant parents about what success means will be marked through their children’s mindset. Second, how the school (environment and peers) is an identifier of academic engagement among and between Pilipino-heritage immigrant and non-immigrants. Lastly, how family values impact their career decision-making. Through this research study, I found that participant rely heavily on their family’s decision. Students coped by following their parents’ advice. They also have to cope with an expectation of financially supporting the family upon completing their education.
Honma, Todd. Cartographies of Skin: Asian American Adornment and the Aesthetics of Race. Dissertation Abstracts International: The Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 72, no. 09, pp. 3809, 2012.
Abstract: Cartographies of Skin: Asian American Adornment and the Aesthetics of Race” examines the construction and performance of tattooed bodies as sites of circulating materialities: where art, labor, culture, and ideology converge to “color” our understanding of race and the politics of visuality. Focusing on Asian and Asian American tattoo practices in California and their relationship to the larger Asia-Pacific region, I incorporate interdisciplinary research methods, including archival research, ethnographic field work, visual and discursive analysis, and critical theory, to investigate three case studies: the transnational movement of labor and aesthetics between tattoo shops in San Francisco and Japan; the meanings of diaspora, temporality, masculinity, and post-coloniality within the context of tribal tattooing among Filipinos in the suburbs of Orange County; and the embodied ontologies and performative epistemologies of a Korean American tattooed drag queen and her queer aesthetics of adornment. Some of the key questions that my research addresses include: What are the intersections and transnational dimensions of race and tattooing, particularly when complicated by issues of class, gender, sexuality, and nationality? What type of (real or imagined) cultural heritage do Americans of Asian ancestry try to reclaim through the modification of the body? How do these meanings and symbols transform through the geographic, cultural, technological, and temporal displacement of these customs? By analyzing the body in relation to convergent ideologies and aesthetics of race, space, and place, I locate skin as the site in which to rethink how knowledge of the racial is constructed and transformed through corporeal perception. Ultimately, my project asks us to consider how all bodies are modified in some form or another, thereby destabilizing normativized notions of what is considered “natural” and “normal” forms of cultural and national belonging.
The following is a list of recent academic journal articles and/or doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social/cognitive sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration. Last but not least, congratulations to my new academic colleagues on being “Ph.inally D.one.”
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. The dissertations records are compiled by Dissertation Abstracts International and copies can be obtained through your college’s library or by contacting ProQuest at 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346, telephone 800-521-3042, or disspub@umi.com.
The research listed below focus on the social sciences and humanities (other research that will be presented separately focus on the cognitive sciences). As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Tao, Yu. The Earnings of Asian Computer Scientists and Engineers in the United States. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 70, no. 10, pp. 3919, 2010.
Abstract: While Asians are overrepresented in science and engineering (S&E), they receive limited scholarly attention in sociology of science. To fill the knowledge gap about this understudied group, this study examines the effects of race, nativity, degree origin, gender, field, employment sector, and national origin on the annualized earnings of Asian computer scientists and engineers working in the U.S. To understand the above effects, this study uses descriptive analyses and quantile regressions. Data are derived from the National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) conducted by the National Science Foundation. Overall, the findings partly confirm the structural arguments that some groups, notably women, racial/ethnic minorities, and immigrants, are disadvantaged in the U.S. workplace. The degree origin effect in 1993 could be due to the lower quality of degrees obtained from Asian higher education institutions and to the marginalized structural positions of Asian-educated immigrants in the American society. The disappearance of such an effect in 2003 could be due to the interactions between structural forces and human capital. The change of the effect of human capital has to be placed in a context of globalization and the resulting structural changes in various aspects, such as the improvement in higher education in Asia and changes in immigration policies in the U.S.
Hua, Linh Uyen. Reading Love: Race and the Political Economy of Affect. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 70, no. 11, pp. 4211, 2010.
Abstract: Adjoining a history of love to a history of racial violence, Reading Love begins at the height of the transatlantic slave trade when the nature of intimate exchange becomes irreparably sutured to the economic value of racial blackness. Employing the five senses as the analytic structure of its literary analysis, the dissertation investigates the ramifications of this global restructuring of love as accumulation for post-1914 American social and political culture. Focused on African American and Asian American texts from Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929) to Chang-rae Lee’s Native Speaker (1995), Reading Love reformulates the terms of call-and-response from the perspective of the Unlovable, an ideological and material orientation that disrupts compulsory participation in affective speculation by evidencing an ethics of anti-accumulation. Collectively, the chapters examine narrative and narrative interpretation, individual practice, and disciplinary formulation as crucial sights for reading love. The concerns of Reading Love are current to American Studies, which has seen exponential growth in scholarship on affect and intimacy in the last quarter century owing largely to the emergent institutional authority of queer theory, psychoanalysis, and gender and feminist studies. Reading Love contributes to this academic archive by reading love in twentieth-century texts through the transformative cash nexus of the transatlantic slave trade and liberal philosophy. The analytic framework of political economy — which includes the emergence of modern structures of public and private, liberty and love, and capital investments in citizenship — sustains the critical race and feminist interventions that characterize Reading Love’s agenda. The dissertation forces intra-racial (rather than inter-racial) accountability into the lexicon of American Studies and, in doing so, underscores its claim that critical investigations of assimilation and gentrification conventionally relegated to race and ethnic studies are symptomatic of a history of affective reformulation that is personal, national, global, and historic in its ramifications. The theoretical concerns of Reading Love remain faithful to the question of subjugated identities taken up in feminist scholarship and ethnic studies. The chapters telescope intra-community paralyses of ambivalence, sentimental intention, and assimilative distantiation symptomatic of a cultural logic that treats affect as a tacit form of economic and political speculation. The sum of this dissertation develops initial parameters for a theory of the Unlovable, a theory that emphasizes anti-speculative practice and anti-accumulative investment. It reformulates the call-and-response dynamic by turning responses into first order calls and diverges, in this way, from Gayatri Spivak’s caution against hegemonic appropriation of subaltern voices. Argued throughout Reading Love, an anti-speculative, anti-accumulative posture — a posture of Unlove — is possible and serves well as an element of radical reading and practice.
Park Nelson, Kim Ja. Korean Looks, American Eyes: Korean American Adoptees, Race, Culture and Nation. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 01, pp. 0236, 2010.
Abstract: This project positions Korean adoptees as transnational citizens at intersections within race relations in the United States, as emblems of international geopolitical relationships between the United States and South Korea, and as empowered actors, organizing to take control of racial and cultural discourses about Korean adoption. I make connections between transnational exchanges, American race relations, and Asian American experiences. I argue that though the contradictory experience of Korean adoptees, at once inside and outside bounded racial and national categories of “Asian,” “White,” “Korean,” and “American,” the limits of these categories may be explored and critiqued. In understanding Korean adoptees as transnational subjects, single-axis racial and national identity are challenged, where individuals have access to membership and/or face exclusion in more than one political or cultural nation. In addition, this work demonstrates the effects of American political and cultural imperialism both abroad and domestically, by elucidating how the acts of empire-building nations are mapped onto individuals though the regulation of immigration and family formation. My methods are interdisciplinary, drawing from traditions that include ethnography, primary historical sources, and literature. My dissertation work uses Korean adoptees’ own life stories that I have collected and recorded in three locations: (1) Minnesota, home to the largest concentration of Korean adoptees in the U.S.; (2) the Pacific Northwest, home to the many of the “first wave” of the oldest living Korean adoptees now in their 40s and 50s; and, (3) Seoul, Korea, home to hundreds of adult Korean adoptees who have traveled back to South Korea to live and work. In addition, I use Korean adoptee published narratives, archive materials documenting the early history of transnational adoption, and secondary sources in sociology, social work, psychology and cultural studies to uncover the many layers of national, racial and cultural belonging and significance for and of Korean adoptees.
Nguyen, Thanh-Nghi Bao. Vietnamese Manicurists: The Making of an Ethnic Niche. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 03, pp. 0992, 2010.
Abstract: The study provides a sociological analysis of the overrepresentation of Vietnamese immigrants in the manicuring business, and of the mechanisms through which the ethnic nail niche is sustained. The geographical focus is Boston, and elsewhere in New England. It is the most comprehensive study to date of the manicure sector and the role of Vietnamese in it. Vietnamese immigrants are shown to have been in a favored position to work in the niche, at a time when technological changes in the nail industry made manicuring more affordable and allowed for an expansion of service offerings. Vietnamese fitted the racial profile for low-skill manual service work in America, and were seen as deft in performing nail care. Also, they settled mainly in urban areas, where demand for nail services was greatest. Furthermore, they had extensive ethnic resources on which to draw. Through ethnic networks they acquired the necessary skills to perform the work, they secured employment, they pooled capital to go into business for themselves, and they found reliable workers in turn. Meanwhile, as poor immigrants, they were impressed with the earnings they could make as manicurists. The study makes use of historical and statistical sources, participant observation and key informants, and secondary sources. The data show Vietnamese domination of employment and ownership in an expanding manicure industry, and conflict and competition as well as cooperation among Vietnamese employed in the sector. Yet, Vietnamese prove to get disillusioned with work in the sector over the years, as a recession reduces demand for their services, as the growing supply of Vietnamese manicurists drives down earnings that can be made for their services, and as they are increasingly exposed to unhealthy chemicals in the course of their work. The findings have policy implications. With improved understanding of conditions in the sector government agencies can upgrade labor and health conditions in salons.
Almandrez, Mary Grace A. History in the Making: Narratives of Selected Asian Pacific American Women in Leadership. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 08, pp. 2943, 2011.
Abstract: The commitment of Asian Pacific American (APA) women to communities of color is not unique. However, their passions, experiences, and narratives have not been widely shared and are rarely considered in the study of leadership. Conventional notions of leadership as gendered, racialized, hierarchical, and individual-focused experiences do not necessarily reflect Asian Pacific American women’s leadership. This research inquiry calls for a paradigm shift where leadership is grounded in identity and being. This study employed a participatory inquiry protocol with an orientation in critical hermeneutics (Herda 1999) to account for the sociocultural complexity involved with Asian Pacific American women’s experiences. The data was created in a collaborative partnership between the participants and researcher. Data analysis drew upon the works of Ricoeur (1984, 1992), Kearney (1998, 2002), and Herda (1999) with specific focus on narrative identity, mimesis, and imagination. Through the exchange of stories and ideas, self-reflection, and continuous re-interpretation, both the participants and the researcher reached new understandings. The narratives of select Asian Pacific American women revealed four key findings. First, identity and being cannot be separated from leadership. Research participants revealed that founding events, cultural traditions, and relationships with others influenced the ways they led and served their communities. Second, Asian Pacific American women feel an ethical responsibility to carry on their legacies of leadership. They expressed a sense of responsibility to both honor the past and develop future leaders. Third, images of leadership can and do change over time. As Asian Pacific American women continue to share their stories, they provide educators, scholars, and communities with diverse images of leadership. Fourth, Asian Pacific American women place solicitude at the heart of ethical action. Participants considered recognition, reciprocity, and solicitude in their leadership. The appropriation of identity through the medium of leadership is rarely, if ever, considered by scholars. Understanding how identity informs leadership and leadership influences identity may provide insight on the varied ways that Asian Pacific American women lead and inspire their communities.
Yamauchi, Elyse M. Counterstories: Uncovering History within the Stories of Faculty of Color. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 09, pp. 3169, 2011.
Abstract: Through counterstorytelling (Solrzano & Yosso, 2002b), the methodological approach that is informed by critical race theory (CRT), an elegant platform and enlightening lens allows for the amplification of the narratives of faculty of color in predominantly White institutions of higher education (PWIs). Eight faculty of color, four women and four men, who identify as Chicano /a, Native American, Asian, and African American, were interviewed. They represented two institutions of higher education in a western state. Five of the counterstorytellers were tenured full professors, and the other three were non-tenured or tenure-track assistant professors. Their counterstories challenge the dominant master narrative that argues that in a post-racial and post-civil rights nation, issues of discrimination, racism, oppression, and White privilege have essentially been neutralized. However, their counterstories revealed painful historical experiences, legal decisions, and laws that have profoundly impacted their lives and scholarly pursuits. Their counterstories spoke to the racism that they have experienced where racism may not have been apparent to their White counterparts. From the powerful counterstories, the faculty of color revealed their perspectives and lived experiences of existing in divergent cultural worlds (Sadao, 2003), the cultures of their ethnic world and of the university. Their counterstories further reveal that faculty of color not only live in the borderlands between cultures, but often they face a separate reality in terms of mentoring, tenure, white privilege, and institutional racism. Finally, master narratives have an extensive and overarching historical and systemic impact upon their experiences at multiple levels.
Domingo, Ligaya Rene. Building a Movement: Filipino American Union and Community Organizing in Seattle in the 1970s. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 09, pp. 3324, 2011.
Abstract: The Asian American Movement emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, Antiwar Movement, Black Liberation Movement, and struggles for liberation in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Activists, including college students and community members throughout the United States, used amass linea tactics to raise political awareness, build organizations, address community concerns, and ultimately to serve their communities. While the history of the Asian American Movement has been chronicled, the scholarship has been analytically and theoretically insufficient -and in some cases nonexistent- in terms of local struggles, how the movement unfolded, and the role of Filipino Americans. This dissertation focuses on one, untold story of the Asian American Movement: the role of activists in Seattle, Washington who were concerned with regional injustices affecting Filipino Americans. I argue that this local struggle in the Pacific Northwest not only demonstrates the diversity of action and strategy within the Asian American Movement but also deepens our understanding of the broader movement as both local and transnational a unique in its local strategies yet closely aligned with the goals of the eraas social movements. Based on both historical and qualitative data, this dissertation uses a Gramscian framework to explore the possibilities and limitations of using civil society as instruments for social change. Specifically, I examine the efforts by a group of local activists in the 1970s to seek redress for the exclusion, discrimination and social dislocation experienced by Filipino Americans. I explore two local Asian American Movement case studies in which activists worked within two preexisting organizational formations of civil society, the Alaska Cannery Workeras Union and the Filipino Community of Seattle, to achieve their goals. Ultimately, the findings of this study challenge previous claims that the Asian American Movement was either reformist or radical. In this case study of Filipino American activists in Seattle, the data demonstrates that they were agents for social reform and also revolutionaries, not one or the other. The findings of this study point to the need for more nuanced and complex frameworks for understanding social change processes and organizing strategies.
Chunyu, Miao. A Comparative Study of Chinese and Mexican Immigrants’ Economic Incorporation in the United States. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 10, pp. 3809, 2011.
Abstract: This dissertation research is a comparative study of the economic incorporation of the unskilled Chinese and Mexican immigrants in the United States. This comparative approach is justified by the fact that these two groups share striking similarities in human capital, social networks, and immigrant flow patterns, whereas they also differ significantly in their migration cost, transnational practice, and reception in the U.S. labor market. This research investigates three specific aspects of their labor market experience: participation in self-employment, job transition, and earnings growth. Essentially I hope to find out whether these immigrants can achieve economic mobility over time and in what forms. To explain the variation in immigrants’ labor market performance, I examine the effects of a series of factors, including assimilation, transnationalism, and other factors pertaining to the contexts of exit and reception. One particular point of inquiry is immigrants’ job placement in nontraditional destination areas and the economic consequences associated with that movement. This is mainly a quantitative study, using data from the Mexican Migration Project (MMP) and the China International Migration Project (CIMP). Besides descriptive statistics I employ a series of multivariate methods in my analyses, including logistic regression, discrete-time logit model, event history proportional hazard model, and fixed-effects and random-effects models. In addition, I utilize the qualitative information collected from the in-depth interviews with select Chinese immigrants in New York City in order to corroborate and complement the quantitative results. This study finds many similarities between the two groups’ labor market experience. These include their occupational status, patterns of job transitions within the U.S., and the influence of pre-migration endowment on their entrepreneurial attainment in the host society. Furthermore, both groups show an increasing trend of working in their nontraditional destination areas, very likely due to the reduced job competition and higher wages there. But they differ vastly in their labor market niches, including participation in self-employment and employment by coethnics, which lead to important differences in their economic well-being. In addition, intensive transnational practice and exorbitant migration cost constitute unique forces in affecting the incorporation experiences of Mexican and Chinese immigrants respectively.
Fino, Michelle. Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Exercise Practices of College Students of Color. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 3916, 2011.
Abstract: Chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are the leading causes of death in the United States, with people of color experiencing higher rates than the general population. Like most adults, college students typically do not adhere to nutrition and exercise recommendations that are in place to reduce the risks of chronic illnesses and promote good health. With increasing numbers of students of color attending college today, colleges must address their health and wellness needs. The purpose of this dissertation was to study the exercise behaviors and fruit and vegetable intake of college students of color by determining if relationships exist between various characteristics of students of color and their health habits. This study used a subsample of 5,587 African American, Asian American, Latina/o and Native American college students of color from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment fall 2008 nationwide college health survey. The results of this study indicate African American, Asian American, Latina/o and Native American college students do not meet current exercise or fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, with female students in all groups exercising less than their male counterparts. The results also indicated that distinct factors predicted fruit and vegetable intake and exercise practices for African American, Asian American, Latina/o and Native American college students. This study proposes a research-based Healthy Campus Committee model designed to improve the nutrition practices and increase exercise activity among African American, Asian American, Latina/o and Native American college students.
Kamimura, Mark Allen. Multiracial College Students: Understanding Interpersonal Self-Concept in the First Year. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 3923, 2011.
Abstract: This purpose of this study was to explore the differences between mixed and single race students in the factors that contribute to an interpersonal self-concept. The data in this study are drawn from a national longitudinal survey, Your First College Year (YFCY), from 2004-2005 and includes mixed race Black and Asian students in comparison to their single race Black and Asian single race peers to explore interpersonal self-concept. The results suggest that mixed and single race Asian and Black students have different pre-college and first year experiences. Only mixed race Black students were found to develop a significantly higher interpersonal self-concept after their first-year than their single race peers. However, most importantly for mixed and single race students are their interactions with diverse peers. For all groups, both negative and positive interactions based on race within the college environment directly impact interpersonal self-concept. First-year college experiences (Positive Ethnic/Racial Relations, Racial Interactions of a Negative Quality, Leadership Orientation, Sense of Belonging, Campus Racial Climate, Self-Assessed Cognitive Development) were the most significant contributors to the development of an interpersonal self-concept in comparison to pre-college experiences. The slight differences between Black and Asian interpersonal self-concept are discussed. The findings in this study expand the literature on multiracial college students and provide empirical evidence to support institutional practices that aim to promote a positive interpersonal self-concept in the first college year.
Samura, Michelle A. Architecture of Diversity: Dilemmas of Race and Space for Asian American Students in Higher Education. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 3927, 2011.
Abstract: This mixed methods study examines the contradictory experiences of Asian American college students who are simultaneously experiencing the benefits of academic success, including socioeconomic mobility and, to a certain extent, social inclusion, yet are unable to escape racialization. Conceptually, this study both incorporates and challenges recent work on Asian American identity and racial politics. Empirically, this investigation examines the uncertainties and varying experiences of Asian American college students “from below.” That is, rather than assuming that Asian Americans students, and Asian Americans more generally, are already located within the contemporary US racial order, my perspective emphasizes their efforts to position themselves. Asian American college students’ experiences are examined in depth by using a unique combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, spatial theory, and visual sociology. A symbolic interactionist approach is employed to understand how they situate themselves within the rapidly changing dynamics of Asian American racialization today. Qualitative analysis of interviews and quantitative analysis of data from a large scale longitudinal survey of undergraduate students’ experiences, combined with analysis of student-created photographs reveal that many Asian American college students are grappling with a series of dilemmas and tensions. These dilemmas are a result of the conflicting messages they are receiving about the role of higher education in their lives and the fluctuating levels of salience of Asian American racial identity. Furthermore, membership within the pan-ethnic racial category of “Asian American” is not assumed for many of these students. In fact, a number of the participants in this study are unsure about the importance of their Asian American racial identity and frequently contesting, negotiate, and, in some cases, ignore (or at least attempt to ignore) their racial identifications.
Lim, Jeehyun. Between foreigners and citizens: Bilinguals in Asian American and Latino literature, 1960–2000. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 4024, 2011.
Abstract: The immigration reform of 1965 ushered in a tide of multiculturalism in the U.S. The new immigration changed the demographics of the U.S. as Asians and Latinos came to form the two largest groups of immigrants in the post-1965 era. The social debates on bilingualism between 1967, when bilingual education was first debated in Congress, and 1998, when Proposition 227 banned bilingual education from public schools in California, illustrate the negotiations around the incorporation of Asian Americans and Latinos into the national body. While the popular understanding of bilingualism in the 1960s viewed it as a disadvantage — a euphemism for linguistic handicap — the liberal approach to bilingualism tried to turn the liability of bilingualism into an asset. The two faces of bilingualism as liability and asset correspond to the oscillating position of Asian Americans and Latinos as racialized subjects and exemplary multicultural subjects in multiculturalism. In this dissertation, I place a number of well-known Asian American literary texts in dialogue with the debates on bilingualism to examine what the social discourse of bilingualism can offer for understanding of these texts and to see what the literary representations of bilinguals can show about the psychology and affective landscape of bilingualism that often go unnoted in the social discourse of bilingualism. I argue that the representation of bilinguals in Asian American and Latino literature shows the social negotiations around bilingualism that either result in the bilingual’s becoming an exemplary citizen-subject or her perpetual relegation to a realm outside the social norms. The writers I examine, including Maxine Hong Kingston, Helena Maria Viramontes, Richard Rodriguez, Chang-rae Lee, Julia Alvarez, and Ha Jin, show the depth and breadth of a literary imagination that reaches into the heart of the psychological and social experiences of bilinguals. In their writings, the bilingual characters ruminate on the meaning of language and belonging, negotiate their state of racialization in and between two languages, and configure the place of language between identity and commodity. The literary bilingual’s navigation of the various social values accorded bilingualism demonstrates the place of the Asian American and Latino subject within a managerial multiculturalism.
Schiff, Sarah Eden. Word of Myth: Critical Stories in Minority American Literature. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 4026, 2011.
Abstract: Since the 1960s, African American, Native American, Asian American, and Chicano/a literatures have captivated the national imagination. “Word of Myth” contends that minority authors’ pervasive use of myth has been foundational to this boom in literary production. Because it imposes order on the unknown and makes what is historically specific seem natural and timeless, myth has proven invaluable for minority authors to challenge master narratives while simultaneously reconstructing marginalized ones. Though myth is conventionally understood as a politically conservative narrative form, I argue that it can both conserve and liberate, sanction and qualify. In myth, minority writers found the means to transmit cultural values, intellectual traditions, and silenced histories while retaining an oppositional political stance. To map the ways crosscultural US literatures deploy myth, I draw on a broad spectrum of myth theory, from mid-century structuralists Carl Jung and Mircea Eliade to more recent scholars of religion and philosophy such as Paul Ricoeur and Wendy Doniger. Considering texts by contemporaneous authors across cultural divides, each chapter of my dissertation identifies formal dynamics by which US literatures of race and ethnicity forge symbolic space for alternate mythologies in order to confront the leviathan of American exceptionalism. Because myth appears in all cultures but demands cultural context to be understood, it proves to be an especially useful theoretical lens for comparative American literary studies. By making myth a central critical category, “Word of Myth” identifies literary strategies used in common by authors of disparate racial backgrounds, explains the significance of these connections in the context of national politics, and thereby revises the prevailing narrative of American literary history. Rather than a series of unconnected movements or an assortment of multicultural tokens, post-1960s US minority literature, through its emplotment of alternate origin stories, has fundamentally changed the imagination of Americans — both how we imagine and who we imagine Americans to be.
Li, Shijian. When Does Social Capital Matter for Health? The Moderating Roles of Ethnicity, Income and Gender. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 4181, 2011.
Abstract: Many empirical studies have suggested that social capital is positively related to health. However, little research has been conducted into how social capital is distributed and whether social capital matters for health uniformly or differentially across socio-economic statuses or racial/ethnic groups in the United States. This research seeks to address the gaps by examining the distribution of social capital across racial/ethnic, income, education and gender groups in the general population as well as among three Asian American subpopulations. It investigates whether social capital is associated with Asian Americans’ health, and, if so, whether such associations are moderated by ethnicity, income or gender. The research draws data from two nationally representative surveys: the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), and the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). Exploratory factor analysis is used to generate social capital indicators from respondents’ social networks and their subjective evaluations of family and neighborhood life. Dependent variables include both physical and mental health outcomes as well as health behavior. Findings reveal that Whites, females and individuals with higher incomes and more education have higher levels of social capital. Logistic regression analysis shows that while social capital, in particular structural social capital, is generally associated with better health outcomes, some dimensions of social capital are associated with an increased risk of smoking. More importantly, the study finds that social capital and health associations are moderated by ethnicity, income and gender, with Vietnamese and low-income individuals receiving higher returns from social capital. Additionally, the negative effect of social capital on smoking is much stronger for women than for men. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence for a new line of reasoning which views the value of social capital for health as contingent on social context. Future research should take social context into account when examining the health effects of social capital. Additionally, social work practitioners should consider tailored interventions for targeted populations in order to maximize the benefits of social capital while minimizing its negative effects. As empirical investigations in this field are relatively new, additional research is needed to advance theory, research and practice.
Lee, Sharon S. (Un)seen and (Un)heard: The Struggle for Asian American “Minority” Recognition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1968-1997. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4305, 2011.
Abstract: Are Asian American college students “minorities”? Using a measure of statistical parity of a student body compared to a state’s demographics, Asian Americans have often been excluded from minority student status because they are “overrepresented.” As a result, universities overlook their need for culturally and racially relevant curricula and support services. Unable to argue that they are underrepresented and depicted as the “model minority,” Asian American students have struggled to have their educational needs seen and heard. This dissertation examines the historical development of academic and support services for Asian American students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) from 1968 to 1997. UIUC is home to the largest Asian American Studies program and Asian American cultural center in the Midwest, products of years of activism by Asian American students who challenged university discourses that they were not minorities. By investigating archival and oral evidence, the complex and nuanced experiences of Asian American students are revealed, beyond misperceptions of their seamless integration in predominantly white universities and beyond model minority stereotypes. This study of Asian American students offers a broader concept of “minority status” that is currently limited by a statistical focus and a black/white racial lens.
Fung, Catherine Minyee. Perpetual Refugee: Memory of the Vietnam War in Asian American Literature. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4392, 2011.
Abstract: This dissertation investigates the ways in which the refugee provides a counternarrative to models of citizenship that privilege immigration and assimilation. I treat the refugee as a figure that is suspended between citizen and alien, and that is at once constructed by state apparatuses and deployed in order to reify or contest what the nation supposedly stands for. Refugee status is granted with adherence to specific laws and regulations set by the US and the international community. At the same time, the “success” or “failure” of refugees’ resettlement is often used to both rewrite the US’s involvement in past wars and justify its involvement in current ones. For example, the narrative of the “good refugee,” which valorizes capitalism and equates “freedom” with upward mobility, is now often used to fold the Vietnam War into the United States’ list of “good wars.” Rather than view the refugee as a mere byproduct of war, I argue for a method of treating the refugee as a rubric upon which the United States constructs its collective history. Thus Perpetual Refugee offers a critical examination of how the Vietnam War serves as a condition that allows for refugees to be represented, as well as of the terms of citizenship that the war negotiates. Chapter One examines Vietnamese American cultural production, focusing on the ways in which memoirs written by second-generation Vietnamese Americans channel memory of the war, and the loss that it produced, through tropes of wounding, which become the condition that grants visibility for refugees in the United States. Chapter Two expands upon this issue of nationalism and visibility through an examination of a refugee group that is “nation-less” and largely invisible: the Hmong who fought as allies to the U.S. during the “Secret War” in Laos and Cambodia. Chapter Three unpacks the category of the refugee as it is mediated through literary, psychological and legal discourses. Chapter Four challenges the genre of “Vietnam War literature” by reading Monique Truong’s The Book of Salt as a novel that relies on memory of the war in producing its meaning.
Zhou, Chao. Three Essays on the Economics of Racial and Ethnic Differences. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4497, 2011.
Abstract: The United States contains an enormous variety of racial and ethnic groups, many of which have faced discrimination, both historically and today. My dissertation studies how minority races and ethnic groups were (and are) treated differently and how these treatments affect economic outcomes from different angles, including income, education, employment and health. Historically, blacks were denied access to many hospitals because of their race. Chapter One uses a historical natural experiment — federally-mandated hospital desegregation — to study the impact of access on racial differences in deaths from motor vehicle accidents. Focusing primarily on Mississippi, I use detailed micro-data from the US Vital Statistics matched with race-specific hospital survey information. Combining this data set with a race-specific distance to the nearest hospital before and after integration, I find that, on average, distance to nearest hospital fell by 50 miles for blacks after integration. I also show that distance and accident mortality were positively correlated: increases in distance to the nearest hospital were associated with higher mortality. Chapter Two focuses on a contemporary issue — Racial and ethnic differences in medical utilization. I focus on the heart failure because it is the leading noncancerous diagnosis for patients in hospice care and the leading cause of hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries. In a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure, I find that blacks and Hispanics used hospice care for heart failure less than whites after adjustment for individual and market factors. Blending both historical and contemporary analysis, Chapter 3 studies a previously unnoticed trend — a secular decline from 1960 to 2000 in the relative likelihood that Asian-Americans worked in the public sector. In 1960 Asian Americans were nearly ten percentage points more likely to work in the public sector than were Whites, but by 2000 the gap had declined to two percentage points. I argue that this relative decline in public employment reflects relative improvement over time in labor market outcomes in the private sector for Asian Americans.
Carlisle, Shauna K. From Healthy to Unhealthy: Disaggregating the Relationship between Race, Nativity, Perceived Discrimination, and Chronic Health. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4565, 2011.
Abstract: There is a clear association between race and health outcomes in the United States. Needed is a systematic examination of the relationship between chronic health and race, ethnicity, nativity, and length of residency. Further, the role of perceived discrimination and health decline must be explored beyond broad racial categories with the inclusion of Caribbean ethnic subgroups. Utilizing the linked data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES), this dissertation addresses the gap in literature by examining differences in reports of chronic cardiovascular, chronic respiratory, and chronic pain conditions across three samples of Asian American (n=1,628), Latino Americans (n=1,940), and Afro-Caribbean American (n=978) respondents. Chapter 2 examines the ethnic subgroup variation in chronic health by comparing self-reports of chronic conditions across diverse subgroups of Asian American (Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese), Latino American (Cuban, Portuguese, Mexican), and Afro-Caribbean (Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian/Tobagonian) respondents. Chi square analysis reveals significant differences by race for chronic cardiovascular [c2 (2, n=4969) 16.77, p< .00001, respiratory [c2 (2, n=4975) 10.23, p<.0001], and pain conditions [c2 (2, n=4973) .22, p>.8]. Logistic regression revealed significant differences in reports of chronic conditions across nine ethnic subgroups Chapter 3 examines the nativity differences in reports of chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, and pain conditions between foreign-born (n=3,579) and native-born (n=1,409) respondents. Results reveal that native-born respondents were significantly more likely to report chronic respiratory [c2(1, n=4958) 30.78, p^,.05] and pain [c2(1, n-4958) 3.77, p^,.05] conditions than were their foreign-born counterparts. Logistic regression models reveal significant associations between chronic conditions, and other demographic factors known to influence immigrant health. Chapter 4 explores the relationship between chronic conditions, nativity, perceived discrimination, and length of residency among the three racial and nine ethnic subgroups. Afro-Caribbean subgroups were more likely to report perceived discrimination than Asian and Latino American subgroups were. However, a significant positive association with perceived discrimination was found only for Latino American respondents (b=.60; P^,01). An interaction term called “exposure” was created to estimate the effects of long-term exposure to perceived discrimination among foreign-born respondents in this study. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which groups within the model were more likely to report exposure effects.
Jain, Sonali. For Love and Money: Second-Generation Indian American Professionals in the Emerging Indian Economy. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4579, 2011.
Abstract: Against a background of shifting global economic dynamics, this dissertation explores questions raised when an emergent migration stream — that of high-skilled, second-generation Indian American professionals — “returns” to India, even as their parents continue to reside in the US. My analysis draws from qualitative interviews with 48 second-generation Indian Americans working in the Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, and I supplement the interviews with ethnographic data. I find that second-generation Indian Americans “return” to take advantage of economic opportunities in the emerging Indian economy and also to emotionally connect or reconnect to the ancestral homeland. Drawing on sociological frameworks of globalization and transnationalism, I examine the lived experiences of second-generation Indian Americans in three spheres in India: home, work and community. My analysis reveals that in the home sphere, even as respondents realize a deepening of their attachments to India, they struggle with the social and cultural realities of living in a “new” and globalized India. Their experiences are shaped in part by their location in a transnational social field spanning the US and India, which affords them the opportunity to constantly juxtapose and compare their lives in both countries. In the work sphere, I find that they strategically emphasize both Indian and American ethnicities. Ethnicity then becomes a powerful tool that respondents selectively deploy in order to accrue advantages in the workplace. As they adapt to life in India, many connect to the country on a more personal level, as manifested by their engagement in the civic sphere. Animated by a desire to contribute to “India”, respondents get involved in civic life in India in a variety of ways, facilitated in part by their embeddedness in transnational networks spanning the US and India. The findings from this dissertation point to the emergence of an important but under-recognized phenomenon in the transnational migration literature. At least for some second-generation immigrant groups, “return” to the ancestral homeland may be a growing phenomenon, with important implications for questions of transnational mobility, belonging and ethnicity.
Kang, Hyeyoung. Exploring Sense of Indebtedness toward Parents among Korean American Youth. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 4582, 2011.
Abstract: Korean American youth experience immigration-related parent-child challenges including language barriers, generational cultural divides, and parental unavailability. Despite these challenges, studies suggest their lack of negative effects on these youth’s global perception of their parents and an indication of positive relationships in Korean immigrant families. Evidence suggests the important role of Korean American youth’s positive meaning-making in their perceptions of their parents and past family challenges, as well as the salience of their perception of parental sacrifice in the process of positive meaning making. Thus this study proposed Korean American youth’s sense of indebtedness toward parents as an important concept that may be useful to understand the gap between parent-child challenges and their outcome among Korean immigrant families. Using symbolic interactionism theory and grounded theory methods, this exploratory qualitative study examined the role of Korean American youth’s sense of indebtedness toward their parents in understanding the process of positive meaning-making. The findings show that the majority of these youth developed their narrative sense of indebtedness toward parents, in which they incorporated SIP-related perceptions into their own narratives. However, only some youth internalized sense of indebtedness toward parents, making these perceptions integral part of their own beliefs by attributing personal and significant meaning to these perceptions. The findings suggest that Korean American youth’s internalization of sense of indebtedness toward parents may play a role as a protective factor against parent-child challenges by positively affecting the youth in cognitive, affective, and behavioural domain, through which it appeared to help youth overcome parent-child challenges and promote more positive parent-child relationships.
Chatterji, Miabi. The Hierarchies of Help: South Asian Service Workers in New York City. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 01, pp. 0248, 2011.
Abstract: Services are the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy and are sold to the working class as a source of sustainable employment that will replace manufacturing jobs. Drawing on ethnographic research with South Asian low-wage immigrant workers in three South Asian American commercial enclaves in New York City as well as their managers and Mexican and Central American coworkers, I challenge this vision of the service sector as a new haven of working-class stability. In-person service jobs are chronically contingent, insecure, and idiosyncratically managed, and contemporary urban services are largely unregulated, with weak enforcement of laws for worker protection. This environment leaves low-wage immigrant employees — the backbone of the industry — open to a wide range of abuses. Through analyzing my participants’ everyday conflicts with one another, their narrations of their dating and love lives, and their fraught interactions with their managers, this study shows how recent immigrants run a gauntlet of racialization, gendering, and the molding of class consciousness. In response, they fashion their own informal rules in order to make sense of their work world and define their positions within it. My analysis of their predicament, while extending the scholarship on urban immigrant communities, has critical implications for the politics of multiracial labor in the modern workplace.
Hall, Matthew S. From a World Away to Living Next Door: The Residential Segregation and Attainment of America’s Newest Immigrants. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 01, pp. 0379, 2011.
Abstract: As the immigrant population in the U.S. swells in size and expands across the geographic landscape, virtually every aspect of contemporary social life is being transformed, influencing natives’ job prospects, the challenges faced by local schools, and America’s ethnic mix and cultural identity. These and other issues are closely related to immigrant settlement patterns across U.S. neighborhoods. Understanding immigrants’ imprint on the residential landscape is thus central to broader debates over how immigration impacts American life and how immigrants fare in their new home. This dissertation seeks to address this important topic by providing a detailed, yet comprehensive account of new immigrants’ residential circumstances. Specifically, I use neighborhood-level data from Census 2000 and household-level data from the American Housing Survey to explore patterns and correlates of residential segregation and attainment for ten new immigrant groups. In sum, I find that the assimilation of new immigrants is clearly underway: Greater socioeconomic resources and acculturation are associated with greater proximity to native-born whites, lower residential isolation, higher-quality housing, and better neighborhoods. On the other hand, my research also points to a rigid racial/ethnic pattern with Asian immigrants being less segregated and occupying superior housing and neighborhood environments than Latin American and Caribbean immigrants. The extraordinarily high levels of segregation for black immigrants are especially disturbing and indicate the continued relevance of the principle of black exceptionalism. I also show that the fairly high levels of immigrant group segregation in established metropolitan areas are being reproduced in new and nongateway metropolitan destinations. Despite some of these troubling patterns, my analysis generally suggests that immigrant segregation does not translate into poor housing and neighborhood outcomes. While I do find that the odds of homeownership are lower for immigrants in segregated contexts, and that segregation is consistently detrimental for Mexican immigrants’ residential attainment, segregation tends to have no effect or exerts positive ones on other measures of housing and neighborhood quality. All in all, this research points not just to the challenges faced by new arrivals in American residential life, but also to the clear signs that new immigrants are participating in the American Dream.
Narui, Mitsu. A Foucauldian analysis of Asian/American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students’ Process of Disclosing their Sexual Orientation and Its Impact on Identity Construction. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 02, pp. 0554, 2011.
Abstract: In recent years, the number of traditional-aged Asian/American gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) college students has steadily increased. Despite this trend, this population has largely been neglected within the research literature. As a group, Asian/American GLB students are distinctively positioned within society, facing pressures from the Asian/American, White, heterosexual, and GLB communities. The purpose of this study was to better understand how and why Asian/American GLB students disclosed their sexual orientation to others during college and the impact of that disclosure on their construction of identity. Methodologically, a Fouaculdian analysis (particularly situational analysis) was conducted with the primary data sources being semi-structured interviews; secondary sources included documents (including blogs, Facebook posts, and personal essays), participant observations, and fieldwork. Overall, the goal of this study was to find out how disclosing one’s sexual orientation affected the study’s participants’ experiences in college.
Guerrero, Perla M. Impacting Arkansas: Vietnamese and Cuban Refugees and Latina/o Immigrants, 1975-2005. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 02, pp. 0636, 2011.
Abstract: This research considers the effects of the arrival of refugees from Vietnam and Cuba and Latina/o immigrants (mainly ethnic Mexicans) to the U.S. South. I use newspaper articles and state and federal archives to analyze how refugees and immigrants were racialized in the state. I examine each group’s racialization with attention to the historical moment in which they entered homogenously White, Protestant, and Republican northwest Arkansas and I find that contextual forces such as local history, U.S. foreign policy, national political context, social class status, and dominant racial discourses articulated in ways that drew on long-standing ideologies. The racialization of Vietnamese refugees in 1975 was affected by their placement in Arkansas at the end of the Vietnam War, in a moment when the nation was dealing with having lost an exceptionally contentious episode within the ongoing Cold War. Vietnamese were cautiously welcomed with a rhetoric of American values which opposed communism and had to make good on promises to help the United States’ former allies. Their reception was further shaped by their status as largely professionals, college-educated, and English-proficient, nonetheless, fear of “yellow peril” promulgated. In contrast to the Vietnamese, Cuban refugees arrived in 1980 amidst national and international accusations that Fidel Castro’s government had unleashed criminals, prostitutes, and the mentally ill. Given these circumstances, and that this cohort of Cuban refugees was largely working-class, gay, and of African descent, they were constructed as criminal and deviant and Arkansans and their politicians mobilized to remove them from the state. Latinas/os (immigrants and U.S.-born), particularly ethnic Mexicans, began arriving in the early 1990s during a significant economic regional reorganization which provided many of them with low-wage work. They were all quickly constructed as “illegal aliens,” with their behaviors in public and private spaces severely condemned and policed. The history and relationship between the State of Arkansas and the federal government also shaped the reception of the groups in important ways as local (city and state) versus extra-local (federal agencies) control became central to the debates over the changes occurring in northwest Arkansas. Generally, there were hostile reactions toward Vietnamese, Cubans, and ethnic Mexicans because Arkansans deemed the new groups a threat to their community, their way of life, and their country.
Willms, Nicole A. Japanese-American Basketball: Constructing Gender, Ethnicity, and Community. Dissertation Abstracts International: Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 72, no. 03, pp. 0997, 2011.
Abstract: This study explores the ways that an ethnic-based sports league organizes and understands itself in the context of larger racial /ethnic and gender hegemonies in sport. Using primarily qualitative data drawn from observations and interviews, augmented by archival and survey research, I analyze the social construction of gender, ethnicity, and community within Japanese-American basketball leagues and tournaments (“J-Leagues”) in the Los Angeles area using a three-level theoretical framework that examines social interactions, structural contexts, and cultural symbols. Japanese-American Basketball is an institution with a unique gender regime that provides a space for and is supported by cultural symbols and social interactions that differ from those typically found in mainstream sports. The core reason for this alternate pattern in gender relations is the importance of community-building for Japanese Americans. Girls and women in the leagues are a necessary component of community-building — their active participation is an important element for maintaining the expansiveness of the leagues. Successful women connected to the J-Leagues also provide symbolic resources for the Japanese-American community that help build ethnic solidarity and that are seen as comparable, if not superior, to those offered by male counterparts. Within this milieu, female athleticism is normalized, encouraged, supported and respected. Outside of the community, however, girls and women often face different reactions. The gender regime in the J-Leagues exists in the context of larger sociohistorical circumstances. Early discriminatory laws and practices punctuated by the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II created the settings, necessity, and desire for a strong ethnic community. These same circumstances also served to erode elements of patriarchy within the Japanese-American family. These structures influenced Japanese Americans to place a high value on institutions that promote community and to be open to active participation by women (particularly when it serves the goals of maintaining community). Furthermore, the enduring racialization of Japanese Americans in the United States as “Asian” involves controlling images that often portray women as small, weak, and feminine while also regarding them as foreign and unassimilable. This study reveals the ways in which engagement with a physical and all-American sport such as basketball contests both types of images. Participation by either sex — and especially successful participation in mainstream environments — feeds this counter-hegemonic project.
Below is an announcement about a research project and online survey in need of Asian American respondents. Usually, I add a disclaimer that the announcement is provided for informational purposes only and does not necessarily imply an endorsement of the research project. However, in this case, the researcher (Oiyan Poon) is a friend and colleague of mine and I have no doubt that her research will be an important contribution to understanding the Asian American community in more detail. I hope you will take a few minutes to participate in her survey.
Hello,
My name is Oiyan Poon, and I am a research fellow at the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I am currently conducting a research study to better understand how 1.5 and second generation Asian Americans (those who immigrated to the U.S. at age 12 or younger, or who were born in the U.S.) are informed about applying to and enrolling in post-secondary education. The project seeks to inform practice, policies, and future research on Asian Americans, inequalities, and college access.
This study is being supported by a research grant from the UMass Boston Asian American Student Success Program, which is funded through a U.S. Department of Education Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) grant.
In order to participate in the study, you must:
Be between the ages of 18 and 23
Not be enrolled in high school
Self-identify as a 1.5 OR 2nd generation Asian American
1.5 generation: Identify as an Asian American who immigrated to the U.S. before the age of 12
2nd generation: Identify as an Asian American who was born in the U.S. to at least one Asian immigrant parent
Below is an announcement about a research project and online survey in need of Asian American respondents. As always, this announcement is provided for informational purposes only and does not necessarily imply an endorsement of the research project.
Hello,
My name is Danielle Godon, and I am pursuing my M.A. in psychology at Mount Holyoke College. I would like to invite Korean adoptees to participate in a study that focuses on sense of belonging to one’s birth and adoptive groups.
Being a Korean adoptee myself, I know what it is like to look one way, but sometimes feel another way. For my thesis, I am exploring how we navigate between feelings of similarity and difference. Since past studies have indicated some Korean adoptees feel like outsiders amongst both White people and Korean people, I hope to discover factors that facilitate positive interpretations of difference.
I am looking for people who were adopted from Korea, by a White parent or parents, to participate in an online survey that takes about 30 minutes to complete. To compensate you for your time, at the end of the survey, you will have the option to be entered into three raffles for $50 each. Here is the link if you are interested: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QC2KXZ2.
Thank you very much for considering my request. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email me (godon22d@mtholyoke.edu). If you have children, friends, family, etc. who might be willing to complete this survey, please send them the link!
The following is a list of recent academic journal articles and doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Schlund-Vials, Cathy J. 2011. “Re-Seeing Race in a Post-Obama age: Asian American Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies, and Intersectional Pedagogies.” New Directions for Teaching & Learning 125:101-109.
Abstract: Focused on comparative ethnic studies and intersectionality, the author commences with a discussion about Barack Obama’s historic inauguration and the Asian American literature classroom. Such historical and educational frames foreground a deeper discussion about the possibilities and challenges associated with cross-cultural, cross-racial pedagogies within Asian American studies and ethnic studies.
DuongTran, Paul. 2011. “Coping Resources among Southeast Asian-American Adolescents.” Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 21(2):196-208.
Abstract: This study examines the relationships of gender and ethnic differences in the experiences of stressful life events, coping-specific responses, and self-reported depression. Seventy high-school aged respondents, 40 boys and 30 girls, responded to a self-reported questionnaire that asked questions on the perceived distress of related life events (i.e., person, family, peer, acculturation events), coping-specific responses, and depression. The findings provide important data on gender and ethnic variations in the ways Southeast Asian-American adolescents deal with life stress and depression. These findings have important implications for social work practice and future research on the psychosocial adjustment with both immigrant and ethnic children and adolescents.
Borrero, Noah E. and Christine J. Yeh. 2011. “The Multidimensionality of Ethnic Identity Among Urban High School Youth.” Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research 11(2):114-135.
Abstract: This study was designed to explore the associations of ethnic identity dimensions with collective self-esteem membership, school interest, student interest in learning, and community engagement among 406 ethnically diverse (Asian American, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, and multiracial) high school students. Using the Ethnic Identity Scale, this article presents the relationships between school and community variables with students’ perceptions of ethnic identity exploration, resolution, and affirmation.
Correlational analyses and post hoc t tests using Steiger’s modified z statistic show strong positive correlations between most school and community variables and students’ ethnic identity exploration and resolution. They also reveal a strong negative correlation between students’ school interest and ethnic identity affirmation. Results are discussed in terms of the emergent distinctions between student interest in learning and school interest as they relate to ethnic identity dimensions and collective self-esteem membership.
Okamura, Jonathan Y. 2011. “Barack Obama as the Post-Racial Candidate for a Post-Racial America: Perspectives from Asian America and Hawai’i.” Patterns of Prejudice 45(1 & 2):133-153.
Abstract: Okamura reviews the 2008 US presidential campaign and the election of Barack Obama as a ‘post-racial candidate’ in terms of two different meanings of ‘post-racialism’, namely, colour blindness and multiculturalism. He also discusses his campaign and election from the perspective of Asian America and Hawai’i given that Obama has been claimed as ‘the first Asian American president’ and as a ‘local’ person from Hawai’i where he was born and spent most of his youth.
In both cases, Obama has been accorded these racialized identities primarily because of particular cultural values he espouses and cultural practices he engages in that facilitate his seeming transcendence of racial boundaries and categories generally demarcated by phenotype and ancestry. Okamura contends that proclaiming Obama as an honorary Asian American and as a local from Hawai’i inadvertently lends support to the post-racial America thesis and its false assertion of the declining significance of race: first, by reinforcing the ‘model minority’ stereotype of Asian Americans and, second, by affirming the widespread view of Hawai’i as a model of multiculturalism.
Shin, Hyoung-jin. 2011. “Intermarriage Patterns among the Children of Hispanic Immigrants.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 37(9):1385-1402.
Abstract: Utilizing data from the 2005–07 American Community Survey Public Use Micro Sample (ACS-PUMS), this study investigates the intermarriage patterns of Mexican, Cuban and Dominican Americans who were born in the United States or came to the country as immigrant children. Using intermarriage patterns as an indicator of social relations, I examine how cultural and structural assimilation factors affect the marital assimilation process among the children of Hispanic immigrants.
One of the major contributions of this study is the examination of diversity within the US census categorization of ‘Hispanic’. Results from multinomial logistic regression analyses suggest that the marital assimilation process of Mexicans, Cubans and Dominicans varies across and within the groups according to their different individual characteristics and metropolitan context. My study is novel because it recognizes that broad-sweep analyses of intermarriage patterns are overly simplistic renderings of racial/ethnic assimilation because they fail to reveal distinctive and noteworthy within-group diversity.
Jain, Sonali. 2011. “The Rights of ‘Return’: Ethnic Identities in the Workplace among Second-Generation Indian-American Professionals in the Parental Homeland.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 37(9):1313-1330.
Abstract: This article explores the salience of ethnicity for second-generation Indian-American professionals who ‘return’ from the US to their parental homeland, India. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 48 second-generation Indian-Americans in India, it examines when and how they adopt ethnic identities in the workplace. My findings suggest that, bolstered by their transnational experiences and backgrounds, returnees construct ethnic identities and utilize ethnic options that reflect the cultural and economic environments of their adopted homeland.
At the same time, and often contemporaneously, work relationships, experiences and personal interactions with those they encounter in the parental homeland factor into their transnational identity constructions. Also proposed is a preliminary framework within which to explore the conditions that facilitate the construction and assertion of returnees’ ethnic identities in the workplace in India.
The following is a list of recent academic journal articles and doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Eckstein, Susan, and Thanh-Nghi Nguyen. 2011. “The Making and Transnationalization of an Ethnic Niche: Vietnamese Manicurists.” International Migration Review 45(3):639-674.
Abstract: The article addresses how Vietnamese immigrant women developed an urban employment niche in the beauty industry, in manicuring. They are shown to have done so by creating a market for professional nail care, through the transformation of nailwork into what might be called McNails, entailing inexpensive, walk-in, impersonal service, in stand-alone salons, nationwide, and by making manicures and pedicures de riguer across class and racial strata.
Vietnamese are shown to have simultaneously gained access to institutional means to surmount professional manicure credentializing barriers, and to have developed formal and informal ethnic networks that fueled their growing monopolization of jobs in the sector, to the exclusion of non-Vietnamese. The article also elucidates conditions contributing to the Vietnamese build-up and transformation of the niche, to the nation-wide formation of the niche and, most recently, to the transnationalization of the niche. It also extrapolates from the Vietnamese manicure experience propositions concerning the development, expansion, maintenance, and transnationalization of immigrant-formed labor market niches.
Cort, David. 2011. “Reexamining the Ethnic Hierarchy of Locational Attainment: Evidence from Los Angeles.” Social Science Research 40(6):1521-1533.
Abstract: Because of a lack of data, the locational attainment literature has not incorporated documentation status into models examining group differences in neighborhood quality. I fill this void by using the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey, which permits the identification of undocumented respondents, allowing a reexamination of the ethnic structure of locational attainment in this important immigrant-receiving city.
Results first suggest that while undocumented Latinos live in the poorest quality communities, blacks live in neighborhoods that are similar to native-born Latinos and better than foreign-born Asians and Latinos. Second, the effects of education are strongest for blacks, allowing the highly educated an opportunity to reside in communities that are of better quality than educated Latinos and Asians.
Thus, undocumented Latinos replace blacks at the bottom of the locational attainment hierarchy, allowing educated blacks in Los Angeles to reside in better neighborhoods than blacks in the nation at large.
Emeka, Amon. 2011. “Non-Hispanics with Latin American Ancestry: Assimilation, Race, and Identity among Latin American Descendants in the U.S.” Social Science Research 40(6):1547-1563.
Abstract: In the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS), 6% of respondents with Latin American ancestry answered ‘no’ when asked whether they were Hispanic themselves. Conventional definitions of the Hispanic population exclude such respondents as ‘not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino’ even though they are self-identified Latin American descendants. Since their exclusion may bias our assessments of Hispanic social mobility, it is important to know more about them.
Non-Hispanic identification is most common among Latin American descendants who (1) list both Latin American and non-Latin American ancestries, (2) speak only English, and (3) identify as White, Black, or Asian when asked about their ‘race.’ Ancestry and racial identity are considerably more influential than respondents’ education, income, place of birth, or place of residence. These findings support both traditional straight-line assimilation and a more recent “racialized assimilation” theory in explaining discrepant responses to the ethnicity and ancestry questions among Latin American descendants.
Conger, Dylan, Amy E. Schwar, and Leanna Stiefel. 2011. “The Effect of Immigrant Communities on Foreign-Born Student Achievement.” International Migration Review 45(3):675-701.
Abstract: This paper explores the effect of the human capital characteristics of co-ethnic immigrant communities on foreign-born students’ math achievement. We use data on New York City public school foreign-born students from 39 countries merged with census data on the characteristics of the immigrant household heads in the city from each nation of origin and estimate regressions of student achievement on co-ethnic immigrant community characteristics, controlling for student and school attributes.
We find that the income and size of the co-ethnic immigrant community has no effect on immigrant student achievement, while the percent of college graduates may have a small positive effect. In addition, children in highly English proficient immigrant communities test slightly lower than children from less proficient communities. The results suggest that there may be some protective factors associated with immigrant community members’ education levels and use of native languages.
Lee, Sharon M., and Barry Edmonston. 2011. “Age-at-Arrival’s Effects on Asian Immigrants’ Socioeconomic Outcomes in Canada and the U.S.” International Migration Review 45(3):527–561.
Abstract: Age-at-arrival is a key predictor of many immigrant outcomes, but discussion continues over how to best measure and study its effects. This research replicates and extends a pioneering study by Myers, Gao, and Emeka [International Migration Review (2009) 43:205–229] on age-at-arrival effects among Mexican immigrants in the U.S. to see if similar results hold for other immigrant groups and in other countries. We examine data from the 2000 U.S. census and 2006 American Community Survey, and 1991, 2001, and 2006 Canadian censuses to assess several measures of age-at-arrival effects on Asian immigrants’ socioeconomic outcomes.
We confirm several of Myers et al.’s key findings, including the absence of clear breakpoints in age-at-arrival effects for all outcomes and the superiority of continuous measures of age-at-arrival. Additional analysis reveals different age-at-arrival effects by gender and Asian ethnicity. We suggest guidelines, supplementing those offered by Myers et al., for measuring and studying age-at-arrival’s effects on immigrant outcomes.
The following is a list of recent academic journal articles and doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. The dissertation records are compiled by Dissertation Abstracts International. Copies of the dissertations can be obtained through your college’s library or by addressing your request to ProQuest, 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346. Telephone 800-521-3042, email: disspub@umi.com. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Yamashiro, Jane H. 2011. “Racialized National Identity Construction in the Ancestral Homeland: Japanese American Migrants in Japan.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. 34:9:1502-1521
Abstract: This article examines Japanese Americans in Japan to illuminate how ‘Japanese American’ – an ethnic minority identity in the US – is reconstructed in Japan as a racialized national identity. Based on fifty interviews with American citizens of Japanese ancestry conducted between 2004 and 2007, I demonstrate how interactions with Japanese in Japan shape Japanese Americans’ racial and national understandings of themselves.
After laying out a theoretical framework for understanding the shifting intersection of race, ethnicity, and nationality, I explore the interactive process of racial categorization and ethnic identity assertion for Japanese American transnationals in Japan. This process leads to what I call racialized national identities – the intersection of racial and national identities in an international context – and suggests that US racial minority identities are constructed not only within the US, but abroad as well.
Smith, Sandra Susan and Jennifer Anne Meri Jones. 2011. “Intraracial Harassment on Campus: Explaining Between- and Within-Group Differences.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. 34:9:1567-1593.
Abstract: Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen (NLSF), we examine both between- and within-group differences in the odds of feeling intraracially harassed. Specifically, we investigate the effects of colleges’ and universities’ racial composition as well as the nature of students’ associations with non-group members, including involvement in racially homogeneous campus organizations, ethnoracial diversity of friendship networks, and interracial dating.
Our findings suggest that although college racial composition appears to have little effect on experiencing intraracial harassment, the nature of students’ involvement with other-race students matters a great deal. For all groups, interracial dating increased odds of harassment. Among black and white students, more diverse friendship networks did as well. And among Asian and Latino students, involvement in any racially homogeneous campus organization was associated with increases in reports of intraracial harassment. Thus, we propose a baseline theoretical model of intraracial harassment that highlights the nature of students’ associations with outgroups.
Sakamoto, Arthur, Isao Takei & Hyeyoung Woo. 2011. “Socioeconomic Differentials among Single-Race and Multi-Race Japanese Americans.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. 34:9:445-1465.
Abstract: Using data from the 2000 US Census, this study investigates various groups of single-race and multi-race Japanese Americans in terms of their schooling and wages. The results indicate that all categories of Japanese Americans tend to have higher schooling than whites. Single-race Japanese Americans tend to have higher schooling than multi-race Japanese Americans, and 1.5-generation Japanese Americans tend to have higher schooling than native-born Japanese Americans.
With the exception of foreign-educated, immigrant Japanese Americans, most of the wage differentials are explained by schooling and a few other demographic characteristics. These results are rather inconsistent with traditional assimilation theory which posits rising socioeconomic attainments with increasing acculturation. Instead, the findings suggest a reverse pattern by which the groups that are more closely related to Japan tend to have higher levels of educational attainment which then become translated into higher wages.
Khattab, Nabil, Ron Johnston, Tariq Modood, and Ibrahim Sirkeci. 2011. “Economic Activity in the South-Asian Population in Britain: The Impact of Ethnicity, Religion, and Class.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. 34:9:1466-1481.
Abstract: This paper expands the existing literature on ethnicity and economic activity in Britain by studying the impact of religion and class. It argues that while the class location of the different South-Asian groups is important in determining their labour market outcomes, it does not operate independently from ethnicity; rather it is highly influenced by ethnicity in the process of determining the labour market participation of these groups.
We use data obtained from the 2001 UK Census on Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi men and women aged between twenty and twenty nine. Our findings confirm that class structure of the South-Asian groups is highly ethnicized, in that the ethno-religious background and class are interwoven to the extent that the separation between them is not easy, if not impossible.
Massey, Douglas and and Monica Espinoza Higginsa. 2011. “The Effect of Immigration on Religious Belief and Practice: A Theologizing or Alienating Experience?” Social Science Research. 40:5:1371-1389.
Abstract: Using data from the New Immigrant Survey, we examine the religious beliefs and practices of new legal immigrants to the United States. We find that Christian immigrants are more Catholic, more Orthodox, and less Protestant than American Christians, and that those immigrants who are Protestant are more likely to be evangelical. In addition to being more Catholic and more Orthodox than American Christians, the new immigrants are also paradoxically less Christian, with a fifth reporting some other faith.
Detailed analysis of reported church attendance at places of origin and in the United States suggest that immigration is a disruptive event that alienates immigrants from religious practice rather than “theologizing” them. In addition, our models clearly show that people who join congregations in the United States are highly selected and unrepresentative of the broader population of immigrants in any faith. In general, congregational members were more observant both before and after emigration, were more educated, had more cumulative experience in the United States, and were more likely to have children present in the household and be homeowners and therefore yield biased representations of all adherents to any faith. The degree of selectivity and hence bias also varies markedly both by religion and nationality.
Jasso, Guillermina. 2011. “Migration and stratification.” Social Science Research. 40:5:1292-1336.
Abstract: Migration and stratification are increasingly intertwined. One day soon it will be impossible to understand one without the other. Both focus on life chances. Stratification is about differential life chances – who gets what and why – and migration is about improving life chances – getting more of the good things of life.
To examine the interconnections of migration and stratification, we address a mix of old and new questions, carrying out analyses newly enabled by a unique new data set on recent legal immigrants to the United States (the New Immigrant Survey). We look at immigrant processing and lost documents, depression due to the visa process, presentation of self, the race-ethnic composition of an immigrant cohort (made possible by the data for the first time since 1961), black immigration from Africa and the Americas, skin color diversity among couples formed by US citizen sponsors and immigrant spouses, and English fluency among children age 8–12 and their immigrant parents.
We find, inter alia, that children of previously illegal parents are especially more likely to be fluent in English, that native-born US citizen women tend to marry darker, that immigrant applicants who go through the visa process while already in the United States are more likely to have their documents lost and to suffer visa depression, and that immigration, by introducing accomplished black immigrants from Africa (notably via the visa lottery), threatens to overturn racial and skin color associations with skill. Our analyses show the mutual embeddedness of migration and stratification in the unfolding of the immigrants’ and their children’s life chances and the impacts on the stratification structure of the United States.
Hersch, Joni. 2011. “The Persistence of Skin Color Discrimination for Immigrants. Social Science Research. 40:5:1337-1349.
Abstract: Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination in employment on the basis of color is prohibited, and color is a protected basis independent from race. Using data from the spouses of the main respondents to the New Immigrant Survey 2003, this paper shows that immigrants with the lightest skin color earn on average 16–23% more than comparable immigrants with the darkest skin color.
These estimates control for years of legal permanent residence in the US, education, English language proficiency, occupation in source country, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, race, country of birth, as well as for extensive current labor market characteristics that may be themselves influenced by discrimination. Furthermore, the skin color penalty does not diminish over time. These results are consistent with persistent skin color discrimination affecting legal immigrants to the United States.
Akresh, Ilana Redstone. 2011. “Wealth Accumulation among U.S. Immigrants: A Study of Assimilation and Differentials.” Social Science Research. 40:5:1390-1401.
Abstract: Data from the New Immigrant Survey are used to study wealth differentials among U.S. legal permanent residents. This study is unique in its ability to account for wealth held in the U.S. and that held abroad and yields several key findings. First, relative to immigrants from Western Europe, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (who have median wealth similar to native born non-Hispanic whites), other immigrant groups have lower levels of total wealth even after accounting for permanent income and life course characteristics.
Second, time in the U.S. is positively associated with the wealth of married immigrants, yet this relationship is not statistically significant for single immigrants. Third, differences in the means of measured characteristics between Western European immigrants and those from most other origin regions account for more than 75 percent of observed wealth disparities. However, for immigrants from Asia and from the Indian subcontinent, much of the wealth differential remains unexplained by these factors.
Lin, Ken-Hou. 2011. “Do Less-Skilled Immigrants Work More? Examining the Work Time of Mexican Immigrant Men in the United States.” Social Science Research. 40:5:1402-1418.
Abstract: Using data from the US Current Population Surveys 2006–2008, I examine the weekly work hours of Mexican immigrants. Mexican immigrant workers on average work 2–4 h less than non-Hispanic whites per week, which contradicts the popular portrait of long immigrant work hours. Four mechanisms to explain this gap are proposed and examined.
Results show that the work time disparity between non-Hispanic white and Mexican immigrant workers is explained by differences in human capital, ethnic concentration in the labor market, and selection process into employment. English proficiency has limited effect on work time after location in labor market is specified, while the effect of citizenship status remains robust.
Here are some more announcements, links, and job postings about academic-related jobs, fellowships, and other related opportunities for those interested in racial/ethnic/diversity issues. As always, the announcements and links are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of the organization or college involved.
In World War II, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was composed entirely of Japanese Americans, most of whom were initially imprisoned by the U.S. government after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Despite this racist and xenophobic treatment, these brave Americans volunteered to fight for their country and eventually became the most highly-decorated fighting unit of their size during WWIII.
Burt Takeuchi has devoted most of his life to honoring the bravery and sacrifices of the 442nd and has created “Valor With Honor,” an independent documentary film based on over 35 interviews of Japanese American veterans who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WW2. The 85 minute feature film describes the harrowing stories of 442nd’s battles in Italy, the Lost Battalion Rescue in France, the assault up Mount Folgorito, and witness to the holocaust at Dachau, Germany at the close of WW2. The film concludes with the vets bittersweet return home to America. The entire film is woven through stories told by the veterans themselves.
Valor with Honor will be shown August 13th and 14th, 2011 at the New Viz Theater in San Francisco’s Japantown (2-4pm). A 30-minute Q&A will follow the screening. DVDs will be sold after the show 25$ per copy. Free autographs. The Nihonmachi Street Fair is also that weekend, so you can enjoy the festival and attend one of screenings. Tickets for the August 13th and 14th (2-4pm) SF Japantown screenings at the New Viz can be purchased online.
Aloha,Burt TakeuchiTorasan Filmswww.valorwithhonor.com
I wanted to give you advance notice of an international event to inspire and empower Asian women around the globe. The Lotus Blossoming Telesummit would be of interest to your readers visiting the Women & Gender Issues section of your website. This free online event represents the new wave of female empowerment in the Asian community. It begins on August 8, 2011 (6pm PST) and runs for three weeks.
Asia Rising–And She Wears a Skirt
While the spotlight shines on Tiger Mom, an unreported uprising of Asian women is quietly taking place around the globe. There’s a new girl in town and she’s not the demure geisha or cantankerous dragon lady of past. She is the modern empowered Asian woman. While she comes from all walks of life, what she has in common with her yellow sisters is that she embraces her identity–both the good and the bad–and makes choices on her own terms regardless of cultural expectations.
Beginning August 8th, the world will hear her roar. This auspicious day marks the beginning of the first ever Lotus Blossoming Telesummit, a free online event featuring an international line-up of speakers who are on a mission to inspire and empower women around the world.
Each night of the event features a different amazing Asian woman sharing how she reached beyond what she was taught and became who she was destined to be. The Lotus Blossoming Telesummit is free to attend. People can listen in to the event broadcasts by phone or online.
Speakers and topics include:
LA-based solo performer, Kristina Wong, gives a behind-the-curtain peek on what it’s like to live a creative life and eschew a traditional career
Speaker and trainer, Murshidah Said, teaches the importance of self-love and self-respect for women
Award-winning blogger, Stacie Tamaki, shares how she embraces what makes her different to make a difference in the world
Holistic energetic healer, Kim Le, conducts an online healing mediation to cultivate inner and world peace
Relationship expert, Annie Lin, gives the scoop on how to find one’s soulmate by embracing one’s imperfections
Love advocator, Dr. Rose G.S., gives a Malaysian perspective on the Law of Attraction for Asian and Muslim communities–and beyond
Spiritual teacher, Marja West, activates the Divine Feminine Wisdom in listeners–both men and women
Generation Y tech evangelist, Sacha Chua, demystifies how to use social networking as a tool for self-discovery
Soul coach and fourth generation Chinese Canadian, Marielle Smith, kick-starts the creative rebel inside everyone
Ellen Shing, founder of specialty lingerie store, Lula Lu, speaks of finding the perfect fit in both a career and bra size
Holly Tse, creator and host of the Lotus Blossoming Telesummit, lets listeners in on how to use effortless action to make their dreams a reality
The Lotus Blossoming Telesummit runs for three weeks beginning Monday, August 8, 2011, 6pm PST. The event is free and open to everyone. To get the full event details, register at www.lotusblossoming.com.
About Holly Tse:Holly Tse is the embodiment of the new empowered Asian woman. She left a conventional career in the Internet industry to pursue her passions, which included being a dating coach, reflexologist, Certified Massage Practitioner, cook show host and pitchwoman, published writer and author, cat toy expert, environmental blogger, and full-time mom. She also rode a bicycle across Canada without knowing how to ride a bike. She is an Empress of Effortless Action and teaches people how to make their passions a reality.
I am a doctoral student at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California and am looking for help recruiting biracial individuals for my dissertation research. Specifically, I am looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:
Biracial of non-European heritage (e.g. biracial Black and Hispanic, biracial Asian and Native American, etc.)
Between the ages of 18-33
Born in the United States
Speak English fluently
Have grown up in a home with both parents
I’ll be conducting in-person or phone interviews lasting 1 – 1.5 hours and participants will receive a small token of appreciation. If you know anyone who might meet the criteria, I would appreciate it if you could pass on my email to them or send me their contact information.
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA) seeks a member of AmeriCorps for the New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland. Applications are due August 15th by 5pm!
MVMA is currently offering an AmeriCorps State position through the New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland (NACPM). The program, which will be starting its third year this September, focuses on providing Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) the necessary services to move forward through the citizenship/naturalization process. As an AmeriCorps member with MVMA your responsibilities will include (but not limited to):
Direct Services:
Coordinate workshops and intake clinics focused on naturalization, financial literacy and economic development, and access to public benefits
Assist LPRs in filling out the citizenship application
Teach and/or coordinate English and citizenship preparation courses
Work one on one with clients for tutoring purposes, when necessary
Client referrals to other agencies or individuals
Information Gathering/Education and Outreach:
Strengthen and develop organizational partnerships with existing community and faith-based organizations that serve immigrant communities in Maryland
Conduct needs assessments, community education within immigrant community
Inform LPRs about the naturalization process and benefits of citizenship
Write press releases for MVMA website and radio announcements
Assist with the publicity of the organization and services through community events and outreach
Community involvement/Volunteer Management:
Organize legal panels
Assist in the planning and hosting of MVMA events
Develop volunteer opportunities, as well as train and coordinate volunteers
Candidates would be required to meet the following qualifications:
Ability to perform all of the duties outlined above
U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (recent naturalized citizens encourage to apply)
At least 17 years old
A high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain one during the service year
Excellent English writing and language skills (bilingual in Vietnamese preferred, but not required)
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Highly organized and efficient, able to manage multiple ongoing projects, “can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail; high degree of initiative
Must be able to commit to 1700 hours of service between September 12th, 2011 and August 2012 (about 40 hours/week)
Excellent administrative, customer service and program management skills
Strong interest in working with adults from various cultural, educational, and ethnic backgrounds
Evening and weekend hours required
Access to personal transportation preferred
Benefits: Living stipend of $12,100, paid out bi-monthly for the duration of service term; health care coverage, childcare assistance, student loan forbearance, a $5,550 education award upon successful completion of program, and professional development training. Applications will be accepted from now through August 15th. The selected candidate will start September 12th.
Make sure to include Personal Statement and two references
Attach cover letter and resume
Email to info@mdvietmutual.org with “AMERICORPS APPLICATION” in the subject line
Incomplete applications will not be considered for review. Questions?Contact: Diane Vu, Executive Director301.588.6862 or info@mdvietmutual.org
Call for Contributions: Asian American Literature and the Legacy of Maxine Hong Kingston
With the aim of enlarging the proceedings of the first international author conference dedicated to Maxine Hong Kingston (successfully held in March 2011 at the Université de Haute Alsace Mulhouse, France), we are inviting further contributions to our essay collection. We aim to publish the volume in 2012 with an American publishing house (negotiations with presses are under way).
Prospective contributors are asked to submit a title and an abstract of ca 500 words by e-mail no later than September 1, 2011 to Prof. Sämi LUDWIG, UHA Mulhouse samuel.ludwig@uha.fr and Dr. Nicoleta Alexoae Zagni, Université de Paris Diderot nalexoae@yahoo.fr by September 1, 2011. Final papers are due December 31st 2011 at the latest.
The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) is a 501(c) (3) community-based legal organization that works with low income and limited-English proficient Asian immigrant communities across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The APALRC provides free legal assistance to low-income Asian immigrants who have limited English proficiency in a linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate manner. It operates a multi-lingual legal intake helpline, a legal interpreter project, and provides legal assistance in immigration, domestic violence and family law, tenants’ rights, and other areas. The APALRC works to improve Asian Americans’ access to the legal system and to address the systemic inequities faced by Asian Americans and immigrants in our region.
The APALRC seeks legal interns/externs for Fall 2011, as well as undergraduate or graduate students and recent graduates interested in working in local communities. Interns will have various responsibilities that include work on one or more of the following projects:
Asian American Multilingual Legal Helpline: (Legal)The helpline is the first point of contact for potential clients of APALRC. It has separate lines for Mandarin/Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Hindi/Urdu/Gujarati speakers. Helpline interns will take incoming calls, conduct initial intakes, work with the legal team to identify and outline next steps, conduct legal research, and work on cases under the supervision of a staff attorney.
Crime Victims’ Assistance Project: (Legal/Non-Legal)This project provides information and assistance to Asian victims of aggravated crimes to ensure that they can access law enforcement services and information about the D.C. Crime Assistance Fund. In addition, this project also works with immigrant victims of crime who may be eligible for T and U Visas. An intern in this project will assist with intake calls, filing applications with eligible community members, and work on the range of issues that a victim of crime may confront.
Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project: (Legal)This project provides legal assistance to victims of domestic violence in the areas of abuse prevention, family law and immigration law. Interns will work with staff attorneys and partnering social service organizations in conducting community outreach and education, legal research and case preparation to provide comprehensive legal assistance to assist victims of domestic violence to rebuild their lives.
Housing and Community Justice Project: (Legal/Non-Legal)This project focuses on unlawful evictions, substandard housing conditions issues, admission to subsidized housing, tenant organizations, and other local advocacy efforts. The ideal candidate(s) has interest and/or experience in housing, poverty law, and work with local immigrant communities. Undergraduate and graduate students in urban planning and Asian American Studies also encouraged to apply.
Fundraising Internship: (Non-Legal)The APALRC seeks an undergraduate or recent graduate intern with an interest in developing fundraising skills in a nonprofit organization committed to advancing social justice. Under the supervision and guidance of the Executive Director and development staff, the development intern will assist with fundraising tasks involving grant research, grant writing, marketing donor relations, and special event planning.
Communications Internship: (Non-Legal)The APALRC seeks an undergraduate or recent graduate with an interest or degree in journalism, public relations or marketing to apply for an internship to assist with various communications tasks including drafting media advisories and press releases, monitoring media coverage and maintaining media files, updating and maintaining media lists, and preparing marketing materials.
Ideal Candidates will have (for appropriate positions):
Written and oral communication skills
Initiative, ability to multitask and meet deadlines
Experience working with Asian or other immigrant communities
Interest and experience in nonprofit and/or community-based work
Fundraising or nonprofit communications experience
Experience working with interpreters
Oral and written proficiency in Bangla, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Urdu, and/or Vietnamese
To apply:Please send a single email with the following attachments in PDF format by September 9, 2011:
Cover Letter (1 page): listing the specific project(s) in which you are interested and explaining your interest in working in a nonprofit organization that serves the local Asian immigrant community
Resume (1 page max): include relevant course/clinical work, experience, all language skills
Writing Sample (up to 5 pages): that shows legal writing skills and/or ability to convey legal issues in plain English (for non-legal positions, please send a writing sample that demonstrates strong writing and critical analysis skills)
For general inquiries and internship application, please send an email to:Admin@apalrc.org. Internship application should mark in the subject line “Internship Application for Fall 2011.” No Phone Calls, please. We will contact all applicants via email regarding their application status. Candidates will be interviewed and offered positions on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. Not all applicants will be contacted for interviews, and incomplete applications will not be considered. The APALRC is an equal opportunity employer.
Are you interested in advocating on behalf of survivors of domestic violence? DVRP is currently recruiting bilingual and volunteer advocates! Bilingual advocates work with limited English proficient survivors, providing peer support, court accompaniment, interpretation/translation assistance and referral to social and legal services. Bilingual advocates must be fluent in at least one other language and are also required to be available on an on-call basis during regular business hours. Volunteer advocates also provide similar services but work mainly with English-speaking survivors and are not required to provide services during regular business hours.
All advocates must attend a 55 hour training prior to starting and be able to make a commitment of 1 year to the program. Advocates who speak at least one of the following languages are highly preferred: Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Mandarin, Mongolian, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Sinhala.
Advocates Program Training Dates (10am-5pm): 8/27, 8/28, 9/11, 9/17, 9/18, 9/24, 9/25, 10/1, 10/2
2012 Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Conference — Call for Proposal.
The 2012 Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, JCLC 2012: Gathering at the Waters: Celebrating Stories and Embracing Communities will take place from September 19-23, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. The mission of JCLC is to advance the issues affecting librarians of color within the profession and to also explore how best to serve the incredibly diverse and changing communities that use our libraries.
The Joint Conference of Librarians of Color is a conference for everyone and brings together a diverse group of librarians, library staff, supporters, trustees and community participants to explore issues of diversity inclusion in libraries and how they affect the ethnic communities who use our services. JCLC deepens connections across constituencies, creates spaces for dialogue, promotes the telling and celebrating of one’s stories, and encourages the transformation of libraries into more democratic and diverse organizations.
This groundbreaking event is sponsored by the five ethnic caucuses: the American Indian Library Association (AILA), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA). JCLC 2012 follows the first gathering in 2006 in Dallas, Texas.
We are now accepting session proposals! Please visit our website to learn more and to submit your proposal.
Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship In Asian-American Studies
Wellesley College invites applications for a two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Asian-American studies, to begin Fall 2012. Candidates should have received the Ph.D. within the past three years (ABD considered). Preference will be given to the fields of history, ethnic studies, American Studies, anthropology, and sociology.
The Fellow will be in residence at the Newhouse Center for the Humanities the first year and will be expected to take an active role in its intellectual community. In the first year year, the Fellow will teach one course, and in the second year one course each semester, including an introductory course in Asian American Studies. The Fellow will also be expected to advise students and participate in programming for American Studies. The fellowship includes support for research and travel.
Please submit only in electronic form the following: a letter of application, a c.v., a graduate school transcript, three letters of recommendation (the online application will request names/email address so that recommenders or dossier services may submit the letters directly), a brief statement of teaching experience and research interests, and a writing sample to https://career.wellesley.edu.
Applications must be received by October 15, 2011. If circumstances do not allow you to submit materials through our on line application system, please email us at working@wellesley.edu. Wellesley is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who believe they can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply.
The following is a list of recent academic journal articles and doctoral dissertations from scholars in the social sciences and humanities that focus on race/ethnicity and/or immigration, with a particular emphasis on Asian Americans. As you can see, the diversity of research topics is a direct reflection of the dynamic and multidimensional nature of people’s lives, experiences, and issues related to race/ethnicity and immigration.
The academic journal articles are generally available in the libraries of most colleges and universities and/or through online research databases. The dissertation records are compiled by Dissertation Abstracts International. Copies of the dissertations can be obtained through your college’s library or by addressing your request to ProQuest, 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346. Telephone 800-521-3042, email: disspub@umi.com. As always, works included in this list are for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of their contents.
Yasuike, Akiko. 2011. “Economic Opportunities and the Division of Labor among Japanese Immigrant Couples in Southern California.” Sociological Inquiry 81:353-376.
Abstract: Based on 36 in-depth interviews conducted with 18 Japanese couples who live in Southern California, this study examines the impact of differential economic opportunities on the division of labor among Japanese immigrant couples. Three main factors facilitate Japanese professional and businessmen’s mobility to and settlement in Southern California: (1) the gender-based stratification of the workplace in Japan; (2) U.S. immigration policies that favor foreign nationals with strong corporate ties and business experience; and (3) the strong presence of Japanese corporations in Southern California.
Whereas these conditions enable men to maintain their earning power, they do not benefit women in employment opportunities. The difference in economic opportunities encourages Japanese couples to preserve a breadwinner and homemaker division of labor, and women continue to do a bulk of housework and childcare even when women reenter the labor force later in their lives.
Xiea, Yu, and Emily Greenman. 2011. “The Social Context of Assimilation: Testing Implications of Segmented Assimilation Theory.” Social Science Research 40:965-984.
Abstract: Segmented assimilation theory has been a popular explanation for the diverse experiences of assimilation among new waves of immigrants and their children. While the theory has been interpreted in many different ways, we emphasize its implications for the important role of social context: both processes and consequences of assimilation should depend on the local social context in which immigrants are embedded. We derive empirically falsifiable hypotheses about the interaction effects between social context and assimilation on immigrant children’s well-being.
We then test the hypotheses using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Our empirical analyses yield two main findings. First, for immigrant adolescents living in non-poverty neighborhoods, we find assimilation to be positively associated with educational achievement and psychological well-being but also positively associated with at-risk behavior. Second, there is little empirical evidence supporting our hypotheses derived from segmented assimilation theory. We interpret these results to mean that future research would be more fruitful focusing on differential processes of assimilation rather than differential consequences of assimilation.
Thomas, Kevin J. A. 2011. “What Explains the Increasing Trend in African Emigration to the U.S.?” International Migration Review 45:3-28.
Abstract: In this study, data from the U.S. State Department on visas issued abroad and information from other sources are used to examine trends in African emigration to the U.S. The results suggest that, on average, moderate increases in African Gross Domestic Product between 1992 and 2007 had a buffering effect on emigration trends. Yet, emigration to the U.S. increased much faster from the poorest than wealthiest countries in Africa. Contrary to expectations, larger emigration increases were found in Africa’s non-English than English-speaking countries.
Despite the increasing overall trend, however, critical differences were observed in the impacts of specific types of flows. For example, overall trends were driven by increases in Diversity Visa migration, refugee movements, and the migration of immediate relatives. However, significant declines were observed in employment-related emigration from Africa to the U.S. The results further suggest that impact of trends in African fertility, urbanization, and phone use are circumscribed to specific contexts and types of migration flows. The findings, therefore, provide an empirical basis for concluding that the dynamics of African migration to the U.S. are becoming increasingly more complex.
Taylor, Marylee C., and Peter J. Mateyka. 2011. “Commuity Influences on White Racial Attitudes: What Matters and Why?” Sociological Quarterly 52:220-243.
Abstract: Tracing the roots of racial attitudes in historical events and individual biographies has been a long-standing goal of race relations scholars. Recent years have seen a new development in racial attitude research: Local community context has entered the spotlight as a potential influence on racial views. The race composition of the locality has been the most common focus; evidence from earlier decades suggests that white Americans are more likely to hold anti-black attitudes if they live in areas where the African-American population is relatively large.
However, an influential 2000 article argued that the socioeconomic composition of the white community is a more powerful influence on white attitudes: In low-socioeconomic status (SES) locales, “stress-inducing” deprivations and hardships in whites’ own lives purportedly lead them to disparage blacks. The study reported here reassesses this “scapegoating” claim, using data from the 1998 to 2002 General Social Surveys linked to 2000 census information about communities. Across many dimensions of racial attitudes, there is pronounced influence of both local racial proportions and college completion rates among white residents. However, the economic dimension of SES exerts negligible influence on white racial attitudes, suggesting that local processes other than scapegoating must be at work.
Son, Deborah, and J. Nicole Shelton. 2011. “Stigma Consciousness Among Asian Americans: Impact of Positive Stereotypes in Interracial Roommate Relationships.” Asian American Journal of Psychology 2:51-60.
Abstract: The present research examined the intrapersonal consequences that Asian Americans experience as a result of their concerns about appearing highly intelligent, a positive stereotype associated with their racial group. A daily diary study of Asian-American college students (N = 47) revealed that higher levels of stigma consciousness were associated with greater anxiety, contact avoidance, perceived need to change to fit in with a roommate, and concerns about being viewed as intelligent for Asian Americans living with a European-American (vs. racial minority) roommate.
Further, among Asian Americans with a European-American roommate, concerns about appearing intelligent partially mediated the relationships between stigma consciousness and the outcomes of anxiety and perceived need to change to fit in. In sum, these findings demonstrate that positive stereotypes about the group—not just negative stereotypes—may lead to undesirable intrapersonal outcomes.
Ruzek, Nicole A., Dao Q. Nguyen, and David C. Herzog. 2011. “Acculturation, Enculturation, Psychological Distress and Help-Seeking Preferences among Asian American College Students.” Asian American Journal of Psychology July 4, 2001.
Abstract: We examined the relationship between Asian American college students’ levels of acculturation, enculturation, and psychological distress. We also explored the methods Asian American college students prefer when seeking help for psychological concerns. The sample included 601 Asian American students from a large public university in Southern California. Respondents completed an online questionnaire, which included instruments assessing acculturation and enculturation levels as well as psychological distress and help-seeking preferences.
Regression analyses indicated that when Asian American students hold a greater degree of European values they are less likely to experience psychological distress. A repeated-measures ANOVA found that Asian American students prefer more covert approaches to mental health treatment. These findings both compliment and contradict previous studies of acculturation, enculturation, psychological distress and help-seeking among the Asian American college student population.
Hunt, Geoffrey, Molly Moloney, and Kristin Evans. 2011. “‘How Asian Am I?’ Asian American Youth Cultures, Drug Use, and Ethnic Identity Construction.” Youth & Society 43:274-304.
Abstract: This article analyzes the construction of ethnic identity in the narratives of 100 young Asian Americans in a dance club/rave scene. Authors examine how illicit drug use and other consuming practices shape their understanding of Asian American identities, finding three distinct patterns. The first presents a disjuncture between Asian American ethnicity and drug use, seeing their own consumption as exceptional. The second argues their drug consumption is a natural outgrowth of their Asian American identity, allowing them to navigate the liminal space they occupy in American society.
The final group presents Asian American drug use as normalized and constructs identity through taste and lifestyle boundary markers within social contexts of the dance scenes. These three narratives share a sense of ethnicity as dynamic, provisional, and constructed, allowing one to go beyond the static, essentialist models of ethnic identity that underlie much previous research on ethnicity, immigration, and substance use.
Howard, Tiffiany O. 2011. “The Perceptions of Self and Others: Examining the Effect Identity Adoption has on Immigrant Attitudes toward Affirmative Action Policies in the United States.” Immigrants & Minorities 29:86-109.
Abstract: While there exist several studies devoted to evaluating the political attitudes of US citizens, very little has been done to distinguish between the political attitudes of immigrants and citizens of the same racial or ethnic group. Using data from the Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, 1992-94, this study evaluates the role identity adoption plays in highlighting the distinctions which exist between the political attitudes of immigrants and those of US citizens from the same racial/ethnic group.
The results reveal that despite pronounced cultural distinctions between immigrants and US citizens, in many cases race and ethnicity are important unifiers on opinions regarding public policy issues, specifically that of affirmative action. This is an important finding because it suggests that there is some homogeneity of attitudes and public | 261,271 | 84,522 | 0.000012 |
warc | 201704 | 1Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland 2Helsinki Institute of Physics and University of Helsinki, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland 3Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, 18 Ülikooli Str., 50090 Tartu, Estonia 4Finnish Meteorological Institute, Research and Development, P.O. Box 503, 00101 Helsinki, Finland 5School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchestroom, Republic of South Africa 6Particle Technology Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Received: 20 Sep 2010 – Published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.: 19 Oct 2010 Abstract. This review is based on ca. 260 publications, 93 of which included data on the temporal and spatial variation of the concentration of small ions (<1.6 nm in diameter) especially in the lower troposphere, chemical composition, or formation and growth rates of sub-3 nm ions. This information was collected on tables and figures. The small ions exist all the time in the atmosphere, and the average concentrations of positive and negative small ions are typically 200–2500 cm
Revised: 14 Jan 2011 – Accepted: 16 Jan 2011 – Published: 26 Jan 2011 −3. However, concentrations up to 5000 cm −3 have been observed. The results are in agreement with observations of ion production rates in the atmosphere. We also summarised observations on the conversion of small ions to intermediate ions, which can act as embryos for new atmospheric aerosol particles. Those observations include the formation rates ( J 2[ion]) of 2-nm intermediate ions, growth rates (GR[ion]) of sub-3 nm ions, and information on the chemical composition of the ions. Unfortunately, there were only a few studies which presented J 2[ion] and GR[ion]. Based on the publications, the formation rates of 2-nm ions were 0–1.1 cm −3 s −1, while the total 2-nm particle formation rates varied between 0.001 and 60 cm −3 s −1. Due to small changes in J 2[ion], the relative importance of ions in 2-nm particle formation was determined by the large changes in J 2[tot], and, accordingly the contribution of ions increased with decreasing J 2[tot]. Furthermore, small ions were observed to activate for growth earlier than neutral nanometer-sized particles and at lower saturation ratio of condensing vapours. Citation: Hirsikko, A., Nieminen, T., Gagné, S., Lehtipalo, K., Manninen, H. E., Ehn, M., Hõrrak, U., Kerminen, V.-M., Laakso, L., McMurry, P. H., Mirme, A., Mirme, S., Petäjä, T., Tammet, H., Vakkari, V., Vana, M., and Kulmala, M.: Atmospheric ions and nucleation: a review of observations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 767-798, doi:10.5194/acp-11-767-2011, 2011. | 2,778 | 1,343 | 0.000768 |
warc | 201704 | Have you ever felt you're not getting through to the person you're talking to or not coming across the way you intend? You're not alone. That's the bad news. But there is something we can do about it. Heidi Grant Halvorson, social psychologist and best-selling author, explains why we're often misunderstood and how we can fix that.
Most of us assume that other people see us as we see ourselves and that they see us as we truly are. But neither is true. Our everyday interactions are colored by subtle biases that distort how others see us - and shape our perceptions of them. You can learn to clarify the message you're sending once you understand the lenses that shape perception:
Trust. Are you friend or foe? Power. How much influence do you have over me? Ego. Do you make me feel insecure?
Based on decades of research in psychology and social science, Halvorson explains how these lenses affect our interactions - and how to manage them. Once you understand the science of perception, you'll communicate more clearly, send the messages you intend to send, and improve your personal relationships. You'll also become a fairer and more accurate judge of others. Halvorson even offers an evidence-based action plan for repairing a damaged reputation.
This audiobook is not about making a good impression, although it will certainly help you do that. It's about coming across as you intend. It's about the authenticity we all strive for.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2015 Heidi Grant Halvorson (P)2015 Audible, Inc. | 1,646 | 876 | 0.001151 |
warc | 201704 | R. J. CederbergW. L. SiegmannM. J. Jacobson Rensselaer Polytech. Inst., Troy, NY 12180-3590 W. M. Carey Advanced Res. Projects Agency, Arlington, VA 22203-1714
In a previous study of predictability of relative intensity and horizontal wave numbers by the authors, parabolic approximations were used in range-independent shallow-water waveguides. Uncertainties in sediment properties were found to be the most significant factor limiting prediction accuracy. In this paper, models of bottom sound-speed profiles that take into account sediment consolidation are developed, and their effects on propagation model predictions in range-dependent environments are examined. Environmental parameters correspond to those near the site of a recent New Jersey Shelf experiment site. Using borehole density data and Biot--Stoll theory, a functional form for porosity in a homogeneous consolidated sediment is derived. Corresponding sound-speed profiles for different sediment types are then constructed. Predictions from models consisting of consolidated sediment layers throughout the bottom are compared with results from cases for which sound-speed is comprised of piecewise linear segments. In addition, bottom sound-speed range dependence was modeled with discrete as well as continuous changes between profiles for variations of the geophysical parameters in this area and no substantial difference was observed. Comparison of experimental data with model predictions incorporating range dependence are discussed. [Work supported by ONR.] | 1,537 | 832 | 0.001204 |
warc | 201704 | Whether you should call your auto insurance company if you strike a deer depends on whether you plan on paying for the damages yourself or if you need the insurance company to pay. You aren’t required by any auto insurance laws to report striking an animal.
Enter your zip code below and get free online auto insurance quotes right now!
If you are planning on paying for the repairs to your vehicle yourself, then there is no reason for you to report striking a deer to your insurance company. Part of the reason that you will want to avoid that is that many insurance companies raise rates for any filed claim; even if they don’t have to pay any money for the claim.
If, however, the damage to your vehicle is extensive, then you will want to consider getting your auto insurance company involved. After all, that is why you pay your insurance premiums every month.
I only have liability insurance, will my insurance pay if my car hits a deer?
In order to get your insurance company to pay on a claim, you have to have the coverage to pay for that claim. In the case of hitting a deer, you will have to have collision coverage on your vehicle. If you have liability coverage only, your insurance company will not pay for the damages to your car.
While it is true that collision coverage is more expensive than liability alone, if you have a vehicle with a higher dollar value, at least more than $1000, (at the very least), then you really should consider carrying collision coverage on your car or truck.
A good rule of thumb for determining whether or not you should carry collision is to consider the most expensive repair possible for your car, for example a cracked engine block. If your car has more value than that the cost of that repair, then it is worth maintaining more insurance.
If, however, the cost of collision insurance exceeds the value of your car, there is no need to maintain this type of auto insurance coverage. If you have the money, consider putting that amount into the bank every month and save for this purpose.
I didn’t hit the deer, it hit my car; will my liability only insurance pay for that?
It doesn’t matter if the deer hits your car or your car hits the deer, if you have liability only coverage, the insurance will not pay for the damages. Liability insurance is designed to protect you financially if you cause an accident.
The bottom line is that (aside from a Pixar film) you cannot sue the deer and the deer can’t sue you. As such, this type of accident doesn’t fall under the liability coverage.
Many people think that if they carry the state required minimum then they have all that they need. However, your liability insurance does not cover damages to your personal vehicle no matter what the cause of the accident might be, animal or person.
How much will my rates go up if I file a claim after my car hits a deer?
How much your rates increase will depend a great deal on how much damage there is to your vehicle. If your car is totaled then your rates will increase much more than if your car only needs a front left quarter panel replaced.
Depending on the extent of the damage and the reason the accident occurred in the first place your rates can increase anywhere from $10 a month to double your current premium. For example, if it’s disclosed that you were on your cell phone or texting then your rates will increase more than if a deer simply dove in front of your car at dusk.
If you are anticipating a large increase in your payments, then switching to another insurance company after your auto insurance claim is paid is something that you want to consider. The fact of the matter is that many insurance companies will charge you less if they aren’t the ones who had to pay the claim, especially considering the nature of the accident.
The easiest way to compare auto insurance rates is with a free quote tool like the one we offer below. This allows you to compare rates between several companies so that you can decide for yourself whether or not you should make a change.
Enter your zip code now and compare auto insurance rates between multiple companies! | 4,176 | 1,725 | 0.000588 |
warc | 201704 | While the current U.S. military
action in Afghanistan is popular and perhaps necessary to ensure our own
security, I believe it is important to point that regardless of the tragic
events of September 11, this campaign was inevitable, and it will result
in the creation of enormous amounts of new wealth. This is significant
because U.S. companies will be among the largest beneficiaries.
To understand why, a little geography lesson is needed. Afghanistan shares borders with a half dozen countries, but most remarkable among them is the nation of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan has estimated oil reserves of nearly 1.7 billion barrels, and that is interesting. They also have proven natural gas reserves of more than 100 trillion cubic feet, and that is very, very interesting. In the past, Turkmenistan has been forced to deal with the problem of getting its vast stores of natural gas to market in unsatisfactory ways. Historically they have had to rely almost exclusively on the Russian pipeline network and a pipe link to neighboring Iran to get any of their gas to lucrative foreign markets. These limitations have caused serious trouble for Turkmenistan, especially with the collapse of the Soviet Union; former Soviet states such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine often have been delinquent in payment, or could not pay fully in cash for the gas they received. In the late 1990s an ambitious idea was proposed by a new corporate consortium, the Central Asian Gas Pipeline group, known as CentGas. Smaller players in this group initially included South Korea's Hyundai and Russia's Gazprom; the two biggest were U.S.-based Unocal and Saudi Arabia's Delta Nimir Oil. The plan revolved around a pipeline which would move Turkmenistan's valuable natural gas to Pakistan's pipeline grid, from which point it could be sold to the West. The line would run from the Turkmen field near Dauletabad through the Afghanistan towns of Herat and Kandahar, down to Quetta in Pakistan and then on to the grid in Sui. The project was estimated to have a cost of around $2 billion, a tiny sum compared to the money to be made. The only problem was the fear that various tribal factions in Afghanistan would sabotage the pipeline, mostly because U.S. or Russian companies were involved. It was for this reason that the stabilizing effects of the new Taliban rule were embraced; in early 1998 the Taliban signed an agreement with CentGas which would net the ruling party $50 to $100 million each year as "transit fees". As the largest investor in CentGas, Unocal arranged for a Taliban delegation to visit Texas. To help push the project in Washington, they hired former secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Robert Oakley. But by August, U.S. public sentiment would no longer permit an American company to do business with the Taliban. The effects of the BBC special "Behind the Veil", a documentary showing the human rights abuses in Afghanistan, had combined with a U.S. missile strike south of Kabul to create a public relations nightmare for Unocal. As a result, they withdrew from CentGas and issued numerous press releases indicating they would have no business dealings with the Taliban. However, the CentGas consortium has not disappeared. Delta Nimir Oil retains its controlling interest, and the energy minister of Turkmenistan maintains a belief that the project could be revived if the stability of Afghanistan could be assured. Delta is currently partnered with several U.S. oil companies in projects throughout the world, most notably with Amerada Hess to develop the nearby Caspian region. According to the U.S. embassy in Turkmenistan, there are more that 50 U.S. companies "resident and conducting business" in that country. Among the more notable is oil industry giant ExxonMobil corporation, who holds a majority stake in Turkmenistan's best-producing oil and gas fields. Direct involvement with the Taliban is no longer necessary for U.S. corporations who wish to benefit from the natural resources of Central Asia. The U.S. government has made it clear that stability in Afghanistan is one of its central goals in the current military operation; I suspect it will become clear in coming weeks that the U.S. will require a similar stability in Pakistan, thereby closing the circuit of pipeline between Turkmenistan and the West. It can certainly be argued that a monetary windfall for U.S. companies numbering in the trillions of dollars represents a significant U.S. policy interest; however it seems imprudent not to question the loftier motives the current administration would ascribe to the "war on terror". | 4,673 | 2,279 | 0.00044 |
warc | 201704 | The hub and I will have been married 20 years on December 4. Even as I type it, that seems impossible.
When we got married, the average cost of a wedding was around $19,000. The hub and I got married at my family’s church (I have pictures of my great-grandmother getting married there), and then had a small party at my parent’s house. I didn’t wear a wedding dress (thank you, White House/Black Market for the threads!), and the hub didn’t wear a tux. I thought my wedding was perfect, and cost less than a quarter of the average at the time. (Although my father told me years later that he clocked the total at just under $11,000–which was only because he included the cost of gutting and redoing one of the bathrooms in the house. I didn’t realize that it was part of my wedding–I should have taken the toilet with me!)
Anyway, it’s twenty years later and I still believe that you can have a beautiful, special, and meaningful wedding on a budget. Apparently, CNN thinks that I know what I’m talking about, because they included some of my comments on a recent front page story on their site: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/13/living/matrimony-biggest-money-waste/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11.
My best advice to prospective brides is this: this is *your* wedding. Decide what is truly important to you and your fiance, and spend money in those areas. Everything else can be removed or scaled back in your plan. No one ever said “That would have been a lovely day, if only they had had more exotic flowers in the bouquets.” (Or “a seven tiered cake”, or “a designer gown”, or whatever it is that isn’t as important to you and your future hub).
You’ll save money, you’ll save yourself stress (they say the devil is in the details for a reason, you know!), and you’ll ultimately enjoy your day so much more!
Of course, if you are looking for a beautiful place for a wedding in St. Augustine–one that won’t break the bank–we’d be happy to help you plan your day! | 2,073 | 1,102 | 0.000964 |
warc | 201704 | An apparent contradiction in adopting person-centered planning is exemplified by the question «
If a system adopts person-centered planning, isn't it system-centered » ?
Such ambiguities are obvious to employees, who increasingly are being asked to consider more personalized ways of assisting people through person-centered planning.
Our premise in this article is that employees'reservations are well-founded and should be addressed in order to facilitate understanding and eventual reconciliation of unavoidable conflicts that emerge when person-centered planning is undertaken by agency employees.
Administrators who acknowledge the uncertainties accompanying person-centered planning and invite discussion about conceptual and practical difficulties inherent in its adoption are modeling a collaborative method of discovering ways to help people get what they need.
Examples of group solutions are presented.
Mots-clés Pascal : Service santé, Institution spécialisée, Arriération mentale, Qualité service, Organisation hospitalière, Santé mentale, Etats Unis, Amérique du Nord, Amérique, Homme, Déficience intellectuelle, Trouble développement Mots-clés Pascal anglais : Health service, Specialized institution, Mental retardation, Service quality, Hospital organization, Mental health, United States, North America, America, Human, Intellectual deficiency, Developmental disorder Notice produite par : Inist-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique Cote : 99-0284433
Code Inist : 002B18H05B. Création : 16/11/1999. | 1,627 | 878 | 0.001205 |
warc | 201704 | Hello gorgeous,
are you ready for another round of random ramblings? Here we go:
Are You A Trend Blogger?
As a beauty blogger, I am asked a lot of beauty questions. The one I dread the most, and that always leaves me stumped for words, is “what’s trending right now?”
Err… I don’t have a clue. I don’t follow trends. Never have. I never liked following the herd, doing what everyone else is doing, wearing what everyone else is wearing. How boring! I much prefer to do my own thing. That’s wearing what I like depending on the mood I am in and the occasion I’m attending. It’s more fun that way.
But, when I started blogging, I did try to keep up with trends. One of my first ever blog posts was about the summer trends for 2008. More recently, I blogged about new bronzers for contouring, a big trend this spring. And one you just can’t escape. Half the press releases I received in the past few months were about contouring, hence why I know about it.
But mostly, when I receive a press release about the latest makeup or hair trend, I just ignore it and forget all about it. I just find trend blogging too exhausting. Keeping up with the latest trends, what colours are in now, which celebrity is the new spokesperson for what brand is a full time job.
You have to be constantly on the lookout for trends so that you are the first to announce them. Wait a day or two, and it is already old news. If you can keep up with them, kudos to you. You have my full admiration.
But I could never do that. So, I don’t. And it’s ok. The beauty world needs all kinds of bloggers. Those who keep up with trends. Those who review the latest releases. Those who discover new, indie brands. Those who help us figure out what’s in our cosmetics. Those who teach us how to create beautiful makeup looks or hairdos. Those who blog about all of these things and then some.
The blogosphere is big enough for everyone. If you enjoy trends and want to blog about them, go ahead. But if you do it just to keep up wth the Joneses, don’t. You don’t need to. Just blog about what you are truly passionate about. It’s the only way to enjoy blogging.
Are you a trend blogger? Do you like keeping up with trends?
What I’m Reading Now Give Food a Chance by Julie O’Toole If you know a child or young adult with an eating disorder, give his/her parents this book immediately. Dr Julie O’Toole, founder of the Kartini Clinic, has been treating young patients affected by eating disorders for more than a decade. In this book, she explains to parents and professionals who care for children with eating disorders how to help them. O’Toole believes that eating disorders aren’t caused by poor parenting or control issues. Instead, they, and in particular anorexia, are highly heritable, and have therefore biological causes we aren’t fully aware of yet. This is important because it eliminates the stigma associated with this illnesses, which often gets in the way of appropriate and successful treatment. For a successful treatment, parental involvement is essential. Don’t allow your child’s doctor to send you away and keep you in the dark. That won’t help your child at all. Also, O’Toole stresses how gain weight is essential for recovery. If you don’t achieve that, you achieve nothing. And to achieve it, you need professional help. Helping your child to eat again at home is almost always an impossible feat. These are just some of the tips and insights offered by this book. There are many more that you’ll find very useful. Give it a chance. Available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. The Links
Non-vegan beauty ingredients – Lab Muffin
When You’re Feeling Uninspired About Your Beauty Stash And You Just Want To Shop -Beautyholics Anonymous
Saving Money When You Love Shopping – From Roses
How to choose the best Vitamin C product – Dr Cynthia Bailey
How Brands Break The Fakes – British Beauty Blogger | 4,059 | 1,973 | 0.000531 |
warc | 201704 | Potatoes 'reduce risk of stomach cancer' Published 28/11/2015
Scientists have found people who eat large amounts of white vegetables were a third less likely to contract stomach cancer.
The study, undertaken by Chinese scientists at Zhejiang University , found eating cauliflower, potatoes and onions reduces the chance of contracting stomach cancer but that beer, spirits, salt and preserved foods increased a person’s risk of the cancer, The Times reported.
Stomach cancer kills around 13 people every day in Britain and has just a 15 per cent 10 year survival rate.
Cabbage, kale and celery were also found to be preventives against the disease.
All of the vegetables are thought to contain vitamin C, commonly found in potatoes, which acts as an antioxidant against cellular stress in the stomach. Eating around 50mg of the vitamin every day brought the risk of developing the disease down by eight per cent.
Scientists estimated for every 100g of fruit eaten daily the risk of cancer decreased by an average of five per cent.
The research was drawn from 76 studies, involving 6.3 million people and almost 33,000 deaths from the death.
Independent
Online Editors | 1,183 | 659 | 0.001538 |
warc | 201704 | Luck is thought to happen by chance; it’s not thought to be something you can plan for or obtain by intention. Some say luck is decided by our fates, or believe that some fortunate souls are mysteriously born under a lucky star.
At quick glance, it might look like there is truth to that. After all, some people’s lives overflow with abundance, vitality, successful careers, and loving relationships. However, luck is not just a random event. Webster’s Dictionary defines luck as “a force that brings good fortune or adversity; a force that operates for or against an individual.” So, if luck is a force, you should be able to tap into it … at any time! After a great deal of research and experimentation, I am here to tell you that there are ways in which you can tap into positive force and improve your luck. Indeed, luck is the product of our own mental focus and attitudes. Imagine now that by changing your focus, you can intentionally increase the amount of luck you experience in all areas of life. Click for 13 ways to improve your luck. | 1,079 | 607 | 0.001699 |
warc | 201704 | ADHD symptoms from childhood may persist due to high levels of parental criticism. Generally, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) lessen with age, but for some children they do not as they may be reinforced by parental criticism.
Study lead author Erica Musser said, “Why ADHD symptoms decline in some children as they reach adolescence and not for others is an important phenomenon to be better understood. The finding here is that children with ADHD whose parents regularly expressed high levels of criticism over time were less likely to experience this decline in symptoms.”
The researchers sampled 388 children with ADHD and 127 without, along with their families, over the course of three years. The researchers measured changes in symptoms along with their parents’ level of criticism and emotional involvement.
Parents were asked to talk about their relationship with their child uninterrupted for five minutes while recorded, and experts evaluated these recordings by ratings of criticism and emotional over-involvement. Measurements were taken on two occasions one year apart. The researchers found that criticism was associated with continued ADHD symptoms.
Musser explained, “The novel finding here is that children with ADHD whose families continued to express high levels of criticism over time failed to experience the usual decline in symptoms with age and instead maintained persistent, high levels of ADHD symptoms.”
“We cannot say, from our data, that criticism is the cause of the sustained symptoms. Interventions to reduce parental criticism could lead to a reduction in ADHD symptoms, but other efforts to improve the severe symptoms of children with ADHD could also lead to a reduction in parental criticism, creating greater well-being in the family over time,” concluded Musser.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) set out new guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. The new guidelines now offer diagnosis for children aged eight to 14, allowing for a much broader scope that previously did not exist.
Because there is no definite test such as blood testing to diagnose ADHD, diagnosis can be far more subjective. Pediatricians thus use questionnaires to measure if a child meets the guidelines set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.
Children with academic or behavioral problems along with inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity should be screened for ADHD.
Furthermore, symptoms should not be caused by another condition, like anxiety or sleep apnea.
The new guidelines recommend that ADHD be recognized as a chronic condition that is child-specific and treatment should be individualized to improve function, relationships, and school performance, decrease disruptive behaviors, promote safety, increase independence, and boost self-esteem.
In some cases, medications for ADHD are ineffective, so it is stopped and the children are left to fend for themselves. The new guidelines suggest that doctors should reevaluate the initial diagnosis, use all appropriate treatments, ensure the child is adhering to the treatment, and try to uncover any coexisting medical issues.
Stimulant medication should be prescribed if the child is still having difficulties with hyperactive behavior, inattention, and impulsivity in case it was not prescribed initially. If a child does not handle the side effects well, an alternative stimulant medication should be considered.
The AAP reassures parents that side effects are typically short-lived and do not affect the child’s growth. The research to evaluate medications is continuously underway.
A new study has found that girls with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a higher risk of becoming obese than girls without the condition. The Mayo Clinic conducted the study with 1,000 girls to uncover their findings. They suggest that girls with ADHD have double the risk of becoming obese. Furthermore, the researchers did not find that ADHD treatment contributed to the risk. Continue reading…
Cerebral palsy, ADHD, autism, and epilepsy may overlap in older children. The study that uncovered the findings looked at over 700,000 children from Norway and revealed that ADHD, autism, and epilepsy had significant occurrences by 11 years of age. Cerebral palsy was also found in high occurrence in children over the age of four. Lastly, boys had a higher risk of these conditions compared to girls. Continue reading… | 4,552 | 2,002 | 0.000507 |
warc | 201704 | There has been an enormous amount of publicity surrounding the tobacco market. From advertising, to sales of these products in convenience and even grocery stores across North America, to where and when you can smoke tobacco, to around whom, the entire industry appears to be surrounded by nothing but trouble. And as with so many campaigns to quit smoking, and taxes and cigarette prices on the upswing, the marketing battle between the health conscious consumer, and the entire advertising industry is worthy of taking a look at.
The statistics on smoking are shocking, and continue to get worse, with smoking and tobacco use near the top of the list of dangerous pastimes, and abused substances. Smoking has detrimental health effects. It kills an average of 1200 people every single day across North America.
The real problems are heating up too as the big multi-billion dollar tobacco industry gets taken on in court. One federal judge has taken a stance that has turned heads, by re-emphasizing an earlier order that smoking and tobacco companies need to publish statements saying they weren’t truthful about the dangers of smoking cigarettes, and weren’t upfront about the ill health effects. What adds insult to injury and really sticks it to tobacco companies is that they are actually being told that not only will they need to issue the corrective statements, but they could need to pay for them too.
Every smoking ad that airs is told that they need to have full disclosure, and tell the public that not only is smoking dangerous, and each company was purposely misleading to the consumer, but that smoking in North America kills more people than murder, car crashes and death as a result of alcohol combined.
The original case that stated the need for these sorts of public statements go back several years, all the way back to 1999 in fact. One judge said that cigarette companies has been purposely deceptive by trying to hide the dangers of smoking from the public for many years and as a result it was only fair that they pay out of their own pockets for the ads to try and turn things around, or at least make an attempt at being more honest.
The statements Kessler chose included five categories: adverse health effects of smoking; addictiveness of smoking and nicotine; lack of significant health benefit from smoking cigarettes marked as “low tar,” “light,” etc.; manipulation of cigarette design and composition to ensure optimum nicotine delivery; and adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The dangers of smoking are vast, and most people find their strong addiction to nicotine to be the main reason why they done quit. The reasons why people should quit smoking are extensive, and include: | 2,770 | 1,317 | 0.00077 |
warc | 201704 | Uterine fibroids risk in women is influenced by elevated testosterone and estrogen levels. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow on the uterus. The findings were published in the
Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
By the age of 50, three out of four women will develop uterine fibroids. African Americans and overweight females are at a higher risk of developing uterine fibroids, compared to other ethnicities and those of normal weight. Fibroids can contribute to irregular bleeding, infertility, pelvic pain, recurrent pregnancy loss, and other reproductive complications. Common treatment for uterine fibroids is a hysterectomy along with some other options as well.
Testosterone belongs to the group of hormones known as androgens. Testosterone is commonly associated with men and has a larger effect in men, but women, too, have testosterone necessary for many functions. It’s important that testosterone levels remain low or else complications may arise.
Study author Jason Y.Y. Wong said, “Our research suggests women undergoing the menopausal transition who have higher testosterone levels have an increased risk of developing fibroids, particularly if they also have higher estrogen levels. This study is the first longitudinal investigation of the relationship between androgen and estrogen levels and the development of uterine fibroids.”
The study occurred over 13 years, examining hormone levels and incidences of uterine fibroids of 3,240 women. The women were followed up through their annual visits where they had their blood tested for estrogen and androgen levels. Women were also asked whether they had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids or not.
Of all participants, 512 women reported having a single incident of fibroids and 478 women had recurrent cases. Women with high levels of testosterone were 1.33 times more likely to have a single incident of uterine fibroids, compared to women with low testosterone levels. Women with high testosterone and estrogen were at an even greater risk of developing fibroids.
Author Jennifer S. Lee added, “Our findings are particularly interesting because testosterone was previously unrecognized as a factor in the development of uterine fibroids. The research opens up new lines of inquiry regarding how fibroids develop and how they are treated. Given that managing uterine fibroids costs an estimated $34.4 billion in annual medical expenditures nationwide, it is important to identify new ways to better treat this common condition.”
There are certain factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing uterine fibroids, including older age, family history of uterine fibroids, ethnicity, being overweigh or obese, and eating habits – consuming high amounts of red meat, for example.
Uterine fibroids can lead to pain, discomfort, and many reproductive complications, including a higher risk for a C-section delivery, breeched babies, labor failing in progress, placental abruption, and even pre-term deliveries.
Treatment of uterine fibroids depends on the severity of symptoms, whether you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant, the size of the fibroids, the location of the fibroids, your age, and how close you are to menopause.
Medications are commonly prescribed to treat symptoms related to uterine fibroids and birth-control pills may be prescribed to help slow down the growth of the fibroids.
Depending on severity of the uterine fibroids, there are many different surgery options, including myomectomy to remove the fibroids, hysterectomy to remove the uterus, endometrial ablation to remove the lining of the uterus, myolysis in which the fibroids are frozen and removed, and uterine fibroid embolization to block the blood supply to the fibroid.
Depending on your unique situation, you can discuss with your doctor which option is best for you.
Related Reading: | 3,939 | 1,773 | 0.000572 |
warc | 201704 | I was asked if I would blog about the ShopRite Partners in Caring program. I’m doing this as a part of Blog it Forward where bloggers are writing about charities and social issues to help raise awareness. The ShopRite Partners in Caring program is one that is taking on the problem of hunger in America. I’ve written a few blog posts about Hunger before including the Bloggers Unite for Hunger and Hope post and a post called 10 Ways to Support Charity Through Social Media. As a family we’ve given to charities like Heifer International. We’re actually saving $10 a month to make a donation in December to add to Eva’s Farm. Here is more information about the ShopRite Partners in Caring Program.
ShopRite Partners In Caring – How It Started
The ShopRite organization recognized the pervasive problem of hunger experienced by so many people right in the neighborhoods served by their stores. It’s a problem that not only exists during the holiday season, when attention is focused on charitable giving, but it also exists throughout the year. ShopRite had already been helping to fight the problem of hunger for more than 20 years through its support of the Feeding America network (formerly America’s Second Harvest) and through participation in the Checkout Hunger program, but wanted to do more.
In 1999, ShopRite conceived and began its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, a year-round, community based hunger fighting initiative. With the help of more than 50 manufacturers, the program is committed to helping to feed and meet the nutritional needs of families and the elderly who may otherwise go without. These generous companies are a major reason why ShopRite Partners In Caring has been such a success.
Today, the ShopRite Partners In Caring program supports 23 regional food banks and more than 1,400 charitable agencies with food or meal components. With a $2 million annual donation, more than $20 million has been donated since 1999 in the fight against hunger.
How It Works
Companies that have joined ShopRite in the fight against hunger are marked in stores with the ShopRite Partners In Caring shelf label. By choosing these products, ShopRite customers support manufacturers who contribute to the program.
Each of the 217 ShopRite stores in the six states that ShopRite serves (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland) selects qualified local organizations to benefit from the program. These local food charities use their designated funds to acquire supplies at a food bank.
Who Is Served
More than 36 million Americans go to bed hungry every night – 12 million of them are children. They could be your neighbors, people you know in the community or maybe somebody you said “hello†to this morning. ShopRite is committed to making a difference in the lives of its neighbors. That’s why ShopRite Partners In Caring dollars ultimately service a variety of organizations with feeding capabilities including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child care centers, battered women’s shelters, senior programs, drug rehab centers, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, after school programs and other organizations that support those in need in ShopRite communities.
Every time a customer purchases products with the ShopRite Partners In Caring shelf tag, they support the brands that support the fight against hunger. At ShopRite, customers are not just filling a grocery bag; they are helping to fill empty bowls for thousands of hungry families in your community.
ShopRite Partners In Caring is the Recipient of the Following Awards – among others:
• Good Neighbor Award – Food Marketing Institute (FMI)
• Retailer of the Year Award – America’s Second Harvest/Feeding America • Outstanding Achievement Award – Hudson Valley Food Bank • Crystal Toque Award – Philadelphia and South Jersey • Outstanding Spirit Award – Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank • Connecticut Food Bank – Bill Liddell Award • Corporate Excellence Award – Food Bank for New York City
For more on the program, visit www.ShopRitePartnersInCaring.org
In this special Blog It Forward program, bloggers were encouraged to talk about the ShopRite program and in return General Mills and ShopRite will donate one box of cereal to a food bank in ShopRite’s trading area for the first 30 people who comment on this post. That was ano brainer. I blog anyway so why not for a good cause. ShopRite is in a number of places in the Northeast part of the country there are stores in New York and Connecticut. There aren’t any near me but that is okay not everyone who read this blog lives near me either. One other thing, in January 2010 when you go and buy a box of General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios you might see my face along with 99 other bloggers on the box. It is a specail box for this very promotion.
I’d encourage you to leave a comment to help out these soup kitchens and food banks. Just look at the statistics on hunger in America alone:
Facts About Hunger in America
• More than 36 million Americans (11 percent of U.S. households) suffer from food insecurity
o Food insecurity is when you are unsure when or what your next meal will be
• Statewide food insecurity rates in the ShopRite area are:
o New Jersey – 7.7% o Delaware – 7.8% o Maryland – 9.5% o Connecticut – 8.6% o Pennsylvania – 10% o New York – 9.8%
• More than 12 million children are growing up hungry
• Nearly 2 million seniors suffer from food insecurity
• During 2007, nearly 18 million children received free or reduced lunch
• There are many complications of hunger, especially for children, including:
o Weakened immune systems o Cognitive and behavioral development problems; can cause irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating in younger children. Also proven to cause depression in some teenagers o Slow or unusual development in areas such as speaking, behavior and movement
• A $1 donation can purchase 10 pounds of food from a food bank
*Facts are as reported by Feeding America
So if you can help spread the word or leave a comment please do and help out this good cause.
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warc | 201704 | Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal Title of Article: Downward Price-Based Brand Line Extensions Effects on Luxury Brands Author(s): Marcelo Royo-Vela, Eileen Voss Volume: 6 Number: 3 Year: 2015 Page: 145-161 ISSN: 1309-2448 Abstract This study tries to examine the brand concept consistency, the self-concept congruence and the resulting loyalty status of the consumers in order to evaluate whether a downward price-based line extensions in the luxury goods market has any negative or positive effect on them. By conducting focus group and in-depth interviews it was tried to filter out how brand concepts of luxury brands are perceived before and after a line extension. Results revealed that a crucial aspect for the evaluation of downward price-based line extensions is the exclusivity variable. Additionally, the research showed different modification to the brand concept consistency after an extension depending whether the brand is bought for pure hedonic or emotional reasons or actually for functional reasons. As practical implications brands appealing to hedonic/emotional motivations need to be crucially differentiated to those brands appealing to functional/rational motivations. In the case of a mixed concept an in-depth segmentation of the target markets is needed in order to successfully reach the consumers’ needs.
Keywords: Brand concept, line extension, downward price, luxury market, qualitative, loyalty
JEL Classification: M30, M31 | 1,500 | 790 | 0.001274 |
warc | 201704 | Nola Recycles 2010 wants to clean up pre-election day street spam and promote a citywide recycling and waste management campaign. It suggests people pick up those signs, turn them inside out, silk-screen a campaign logo on them and plant them in your front yard.
Part guerrilla campaign, part diplomacy exercise, NOLA Recycles 2010 is organizing and, the group hopes, implementing a recycling platform for potential candidates in the 2010 mayor's race. Campaign organizers are asking each candidate to sign, before the election, a commitment to the NOLA Recycles 2010 plan — a six-point recommendation to resume curbside recycling services, enforce illegal dumping, promote recycling hazardous materials and develop programs to recycle demolition, construction and green waste. The plan also calls for a sustainability-focused sanitation coordinator in City Hall, as well as recycling made available within City Hall itself. Organizers recommend that instead of focusing on acquiring funds for these programs, the next mayor considers making efficient synergies within City Hall.
Kicked off in late October at a rally at Bridge Lounge in the Lower Garden District, the campaign gathered about 200 attendees voicing support and ideas, pushing largely for reinstituting a city-provided curbside recycling program, one that's been missing in post-Katrina New Orleans. The campaign has continued with a Web presence using Facebook, Twitter and a recently launched Web site (www.nolarecycles.com).
"We're continuing to build a network of folks who care about this issue and want to participate in the electoral process," says media coordinator Katie Del Guercio. "We want to be loud and clear that recycling is an important issue this election."
At the October rally, Del Guercio says the crowd thought the initial six-point plan for a pilot study on recycling in New Orleans was too conservative. "The response was, 'Forget about the study. Let's move,'" she says. "The enthusiasm is there."
Though the plan tackles sustainable waste management from all angles, the lack of curbside recycling is the campaign's impetus and "most glaring issue," Del Guercio says. Small companies and waste services providers like Phoenix Recycling and SDT Waste & Debris offer the service for a fee, but the lack of a city-provided program "is actually a turnoff to new New Orleanians and old New Orleanians alike," she says. "It just seems so symbolic of the stereotype of New Orleans being a backward place, and that's not the image we want to send to the rest of the world, especially post-Katrina. It's so out of line with where smart, innovative cities are going right now. It's a door opener to get the conversation going about all elements of the six-point plan, the other five of which people might not be as aware of, or perhaps wouldn't have cared as much about without curbside (recycling) being the conversation starter."
The next rallying event, which takes place after candidate qualifying, is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Academy Charter School. Participants will plan NOLA Recycles 2010's presence at places candidates will make public appearances, such as town hall meetings, debates and other forums, to continue the sustainability conversation.
"It's not as simple as 'We can't afford curbside, so that's it,'" Del Guercio says. "There needs to be a change in perspective."
Campaign coordinator Darryl Malek Wiley says the group has come to terms with the current administration's inability to restore curbside recycling.
"It's just not going to happen," he says. "To really make it happen, the next mayor needs to have this on his or her radar. We figured with the six-point plan, we might be able to get candidates to read three or four pages, but we wanted to have more information on the white paper. We have a committee working on that."
Liz Davey, environmental coordinator with the Office of Environmental Affairs at Tulane University, is part of the committee drafting the document, which follows the latest reports and studies on the state of recycling and sustainable waste management. Davey says the next administration needs to take a comprehensive look at recycling in post-Katrina New Orleans because it has changed around the country since the city's program ended. Not only have most major cities switched to single-stream recycling (the collection of recyclables in one container in the same trucks used for garbage collection), but the next mayor also will have an option in the New Orleans area to process the materials at Allied Waste Services (801 L & A Road, Metairie). "That means we can collect, it won't be as expensive to buy equipment, and we basically have a manufacturing facility in town for processing recyclables and selling them," Davey says. "That's the most important finding in the area of recycling."
The campaign also will recommend that the next mayor remain vigilant about illegal dumping and provide opportunities for residents to properly dispose of hazardous and green wastes.
"Green waste is a really big part of our trash," she says. "We want to see harmful materials not go to a landfill, but we also want to see materials reused and remade, processed and sold as much as possible to build up a recycling economy. Green waste can have a climate change impact if put in a landfill. It can form methane, and if that's released, it's contributing to climate change in the same way carbon dioxide is."
Daveys and Del Guercio say the campaign won't endorse a candidate or suggest a waste management facility for the city to use, but the group will provide candidates with the options available.
"What we're asking is for the city to issue a request for proposal — ask companies what services they can provide and how much they cost," she says (WHO?). "We're not saying any particular companies."
"We're working on raising money to take out ads in local media that say 'These candidates support it, make conclusions on your own,'" Del Guercio says. "We're not going to endorse any particular candidate, but we'll share information with the electorate about what they have to say." | 6,182 | 2,810 | 0.00036 |
warc | 201704 | A few months ago we wrote for the first time about the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit that the Obama administration passed as a part of the 2009 stimulus bill. The measure was aimed at helping to improve the real estate market that has taken such a huge hit over the past year. They wanted to get the market moving, and get first time homebuyers interested in buying a home instead of just sitting on the sidelines as they have been.
By and large the measure has gotten quite a few people back into the buying process, up to a 1/3 of all sales of existing homes in the past few months have been to first time buyers. Even so, there are still quite a few people biding their time trying to find the perfect house. But the time to claim the tax credit may be running out.
$8000 Tax Credit Expires December 1st 2009
The $8000 tax credit is a great deal for people who are first time home buyers. But let’s review the tax credit and it’s provisions:
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 – or 10% of the home’s value, whichever is less – on their 2008 or 2009 taxes. To qualify for the credit, the home must be purchased between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. You cannot have owned a house for the past three years to qualify as “first time” buyer. You also must live in the purchased house for at least three years, or you will be obligated to pay back the credit. To get the credit, homebuyers have to earn less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. If you make more than that you may qualify for a partial credit.
Getting the credit should be pretty easy, just claim it on your return. One caveat, however.
. That may sound like it’s a long way off, but in reality it’s coming You have to close on your new house by November 30th a lot faster than you think.
You may think that you’ll be able to close on your new home right before the November 30th deadline, but you’d probably be wrong. Consider this – according to themortgagereports.com the end of November 2009 will not be a good time to close on your new home:
This is when it starts to get messy. Check out the calendar. November 30, 2009 is the Monday after Thanksgiving Weekend. November 28-29, 2009 is a weekend. No closings on weekends. November 27, 2009 is the Friday after Thanksgiving — an unofficial holiday. November 26, 2009 is Thanksgiving — an actual holiday. No closings. November 25, 2009 is the day before Thanksgiving — a national “half-day”. So, that backs up the November 30, 2009 first-time home buyer tax credit deadline by 6 days to November 24, 2009 — a Tuesday.
The end of November is thrown for a loop because of the Thanksgiving holidays, and when you’re talking about trying to squeeze in a closing in all that madness, you had better be extremely lucky. Instead it is suggested that you try and schedule your closing for at least
the week of November 16th, just to give yourself some breathing room for things that can often come up in the buying process (problems with the final walk-through, mortgage documentation problems, etc).
Now when you think about closing on a home around November 16th, and considering that normally closings are done 60 days out by default (can be negotiated down in some cases), that means that
you would have to put in an agreement on a house by September 16th in order to close on your house in time – that’s only about 3 weeks away! 3 Weeks And Counting To Find Your House!
So this post is a cautionary one in case you’re still considering buying your first home using the first time homebuyers tax credit. It’s time to get cracking, time to find the house that you want to buy, and time to put in a purchase agreement. If you wait too much longer, you may find yourself with the short end of the stick and no $8000 tax credit!
Are you considering buying a home using the $8,000 tax credit? Did you realize that the time to find your new home was so short? Have you already bought your new house and filed for the tax credit? Tell us about your story in the comments! | 4,146 | 1,899 | 0.000544 |
warc | 201704 | Husbands' experiences of supporting their wives during childbirth in Nepal.
MedLine Citation:
PMID: 21129829 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: the husband's presence at childbirth is universally accepted in industrialised nations, but the concept is still new within the cultural values and norms of Nepalese society. Understanding the cultural context surrounding the feelings and needs of Nepalese husbands will help to initiate realistic maternity education programmes.
OBJECTIVE: to explore husbands' experiences of supporting their wives during childbirth.
METHOD: semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis.
SETTING: the Maternity and Neonatal Service Centre, a midwife-run birthing centre within a public maternity hospital in the capital of Nepal.
PARTICIPANTS: twelve first-time expectant Nepalese fathers who had supported their wives during childbirth were interviewed in July 2009, within seven days of the birth.
FINDINGS: six themes were identified to explain the mixed experiences of the husbands in the labour or delivery room: (1) being positive towards attendance; (2) hesitation; (3) poor emotional reactions; (4) being able to support; (5) the need to be mentally prepared and (6) enlightenment. Husbands reflected on their experiences positively, despite profound hesitation and overwhelming emotions.
CONCLUSIONS: the husbands' experiences revealed that Nepalese husbands tend to experience overwhelming emotional feelings in the labour or delivery room if they are allowed to attend the birth without prior preparation.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: counselling for couples and education from the start of the pregnancy may reduce negative emotional experiences and improve satisfaction with the childbirth experience for both husbands and wives.
Authors:
Sabitri Sapkota; Toshio Kobayashi; Miyuki Takase
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Publication Detail:
Type: Journal Article Date: 2010-12-03
Journal Detail:
Title: Midwifery Volume: 28 ISSN: 1532-3099 ISO Abbreviation: Midwifery Publication Date: 2012 Feb
Date Detail:
Created Date: 2012-01-17 Completed Date: - Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID: 8510930 Medline TA: Midwifery Country: Scotland
Other Details:
Languages: eng Pagination: 45-51 Citation Subset: N
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Health Development, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document:Quality considerations in midwifery pre-service education: Exemplars from Africa. Next Document:Time dependent spine stability: The wise old man and the six blind elephants. | 3,802 | 2,018 | 0.000503 |
warc | 201704 | IF YOU love your coffee don't miss this fabulous 78-minute documentary movie about how the beans are grown, sorted and traded.
More than that, it shows how the people who are involved at the production end are having to work for peanuts.
Step forward Tadesse Meskela, the likeable general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union.
Battling to save 74,000 struggling coffee farmers from bankruptcy, he wants more companies to deal direct and to pay more for the privilege.
Just sorting the beans is a job in itself, since we're told that a single bad bean would be the equivalent of one rotten egg in an omelette of 50.
But when some Ethiopian growers are only getting 25 cents a kilo for world class beans, it makes your heart melt to realise that if they could receive double that how much better off they would be without putting anyone out of business at this end of your frothy cappuccino.
Directed by British film makers Nick and Marc Francis, Black Gold is not just a story about coffee.
Showing at the MAC from Friday to Sunday, it also brilliantly sums up the gulf between the first and third worlds. | 1,131 | 684 | 0.001474 |
warc | 201704 | On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Veteran unemployment data for the month of October. The unemployment rate for all Veterans was 6.3 percent—well below the national average of 7.9 percent. For post-9/11 veterans, the rate was 10 percent. While there is more work to do, it is very clear that the unemployment rate among all Veterans—to include America’s newest Veterans—is headed in the right direction. The charts below help us see why.
In the first, we see the monthly unemployment rate for all Veterans since January 2010. The trend over nearly three years is clearly downward.
Because chunks of data are often better indicators of real movement, another way to view the trend is by looking at the moving (or rolling) average. Like the chart above, the chart immediately below captures 12-month averages for the periods ending each month since January 2010. What it shows is a modest—but definitive—decline in the unemployment rate of Veterans. The current 12-month average unemployment rate for Veterans is 7.2 percent—and this is the lowest figure we’ve seen during this administration. In fact, the 12-month moving average has fallen for six straight months—and it hasn’t risen from one month to the next in nearly a year and a half.
This is significant because the moving 12-month average is a far more conservative measure than the month-to-month data. When we see movement in the rolling average, we can be confident that the unemployment rate among post-9/11 Veterans is, indeed, changing—which it is.
Post-9/11 Veterans are also continuing to experience a downward trend in unemployment. For Iraq and Afghanistan-era Veterans (or Gulf War II-era Veterans), the monthly unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 10 percent in October. However, the chart below demonstrates the declining unemployment rate over time. Because the month-to-month figures for this demographic are highly volatile, the longer term trend is a more reliable measure that continues to show a consistent decline over nearly three years. This is the strongest sign yet of recovery in the area of Veteran employment following the worst economic recession since The Great Depression.
As expected, the falling unemployment rate among post-9/11 Veterans is reflected in the 12-month moving average. As we can see below, the rate has consistently fallen—modestly but definitively— throughout 2012. The rate over the past 12 months has now fallen to 10.2 percent—the lowest average unemployment rate during this administration.
While all the numbers above are encouraging, we know our work isn’t done—and that there’s still much to do. In this economy, too many Veterans still can’t find meaningful work, and we’re working every day to remedy that.
That’s why VA is collaborating with the White House and the Chamber of Commerce on hiring fairs across the country through the “Hiring Our Heroes” Program. It’s also why we’re urging Veterans to prepare themselves for the job market by taking advantage of programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP).
If anything, today’s figure reminds us that there’s still much work to be done. VA, in conjunction with the White House, remains committed to ensuring that the unemployment rate for all Veterans continues its downward path. | 3,455 | 1,561 | 0.000668 |
warc | 201704 | Pattern recognition versus bayesian approach for diagnosis in primary careBMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7542.646 (Published 16 March 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:646 John Fletcher, general practitioner ([email protected])1, Robin Fox, general practitioner1 1Bicester Health Centre, Bicester, Oxon OX26 6AT Correspondence to: J Fletcher
Our first thought on reading this case was, “That's just too unusual. We can't possibly send every 28 year old woman with a bit of chest pain off for echocardiography.”1 In thinking that, we were using pattern recognition—a common approach to clinical diagnosis. We assumed that a young woman could not have note-worthy ischaemic heart disease.
But is there more to this case? If we were to substitute a 28 year old woman for a 50 year old man in the same scenario, most clinicians would recognise a familiar …
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warc | 201704 | Not only are the towns of Erie and Lafayette in close proximity to one another, they share a great deal of history. Both communities owe their existence to the discovery of coal that fueled their early economies. The shafts of old mines still zig-zag just below the homes and businesses of these enclaves on the eastern plains.
Another common trait these communities have is that they are located on top of the Wattenberg field, a massive oil and gas play that covers much of Weld County and spills over into Boulder and Larimer counties as well. As a result, Erie and Lafayette are prime real estate for oil and gas companies looking to hydraulically fracture the shale and make millions of dollars from below their parks, schools and neighborhoods.
But there is at least one thing that many of the citizens of Lafayette have no intention of sharing with their neighbor to the north: a landscape decimated by drilling and hydraulic fracturing, with its dangerously high amounts of ground-level ozone, chemical spills and other potential air and water contamination problems.
Drilling and fracking was the issue of most interest among the citizenry at the Lafayette City Council meeting on Tuesday night, March 5. The first speaker of the night, Erie resident Rod Brueske, described his family’s plight to council.
“My family has been adversely affected,” said Brueske. “There are 124 cancer-causing agents flowing into my home.”
Earlier that same day, Brueske told
BW how his young son developed frequent, severe nosebleeds shortly after nearby drilling caused an older well across the street from his Erie house to begin emitting contaminants into the air. He claims his family now suffers from a variety of health issues, including headaches and gastrointestinal problems.
Brueske concluded by telling the Lafayette council members that Lafayette should not make the mistakes that Erie’s elected leaders made. He told council that the oil and gas rules written by the state were not written to protect people, but rather to protect the oil and gas industry’s profits. He added, “You should not hesitate to write your own rules.”
One speaker after another, many of whom were members of East Boulder County United, a group opposed to drilling and fracking in Lafayette and Louisville, warned the council of the hazards of oil and gas extraction within the community. Several speakers requested that the city provide maps showing where all the active and abandoned wells within and around the city are located (See map above).
This information is critical because loopholes in the state’s oil and gas regulations allow the industry to re-enter currently active and possibly even plugged and abandoned wells for the purpose of drilling horizontal wells, and fracking those wells, regardless of how close to a home or business these old wells may be.
It is not an exaggeration to assume that Lafayette, unless its city council and/or citizens take action to stop it, could become the next Erie or Frederick. Drilling activity maps like the one above clearly show that the industry is pushing southwest from Weld County straight towards the heart of the town. It is simply a matter of time.
Lafayette resident and East Boulder County United member Cliff Willmeng told members of the city council that if they did not take action, Lafayette would end up like Erie, where more than 300 wells now exist, with more being added every month, or, worse yet, like Frederick, where more than 500 wells now fill the town.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, whose actions of late have demonstrated support for the oil and gas industry, has stated his intention to sue any community that attempts to create its own oil and gas regulations to protect its citizens’ health and property values.
Should the Lafayette city council decide to stand up to the governor’s threat, or at least be willing to place drilling and fracking restrictions on the ballot so Lafayette residents can make their own decision, the town will not be alone on Hickenlooper’s hit list.
Longmont is already being sued by the state for its citizen-passed fracking ban, and on March 5 the Fort Collins City Council voted 5-2 to also ban fracking within that Front Range community. Presumably Fort Collins, Colorado’s fourth-largest city, will be getting sued any day now.
The Lafayette City Council has signaled that, at a minimum, it is willing to enact an emergency moratorium on drilling within the city as soon as an oil and gas company seeks a permit to drill. It is unclear, however, if this ploy would thwart a company from re-entering an existing well, and at best it is, by definition, a temporary solution.
Even so, any delay in drilling and fracking activity within Boulder County affords the science a chance to catch up to the drilling rigs whose owners are moving as quickly as possible to tap our resouces before environmental and health regulations can be strengthened at any level of government.
Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com | 5,089 | 2,379 | 0.000428 |
warc | 201704 | Sometimes we just feel stuck. Not that anything is really wrong, but more the sense that we're not going anywhere. That place where you sense that things are okay, but not great. Where it seems like you are just going through the motions. Dependable and reliable, yes. Consistent, absolutely. But not necessarily bringing your A-game.
I know the feeling. For me, this usually happens after an event is over. About 10 days-two weeks later. I usually just feel stuck at that point. I have a hard time being creative, being intentional, getting things done, moving the ball forward, and making decisions. I feel like I'm walking in knee deep mud at these points.
Another time of the year many of us feel stuck is early summer, right about now. You feeling it right now?
If so, here are a few things to do:
1.
Get out of your "normal" routine. Break up your schedule. Go on a trip. Visit someone you've wanted to see for quite a while. Hang out with people you don't know but want to learn from. The key on this is break up your "normal" with something that is out of place, out of context, or just simply breaks up the rhythm. Makes you see things from a different vantage point. For me, when I travel, it usually "unsticks" me.
2.
Go back to the Basics. Sports teams will go back to the basics to get out of a rut. In football it's back to "blocking and tackling" or in basketball it's back to "passing, dribbling, and shooting." For you, this could mean a number of things, but in essence, returning to the foundations of what you do, why you do it, and how you are uniquely designed to be doing what you are doing.
3.
Jump on the Inspiration train. When I get stuck, I usually take time to find some stories of inspiration, read some emails, watch some videos, and allow myself to be re-inspired and re-energized.
4.
Talk with someone who motivates you. I also like to make sure I find some time to spend on the phone or in person with people who inspire me, because they usually can pull me out of my funk that I'm in. Make sure you have some people in your life who are motivators and inspiration icons- when you are around them it just fires you up. Could be a friend, a boss, a mentor, or someone you don't know well. For me, I'll call Bob Goff. If you know Bob, you know what I mean!
5.
Keep it simple stupid. Kiss. Figuratively, not literally...! Start a new to do list with no more than 5 things on it. Get those done. Then move on to the next 5 things to do. Don't overwhelm yourself with a to do list that is unachievable and not reachable. Focus on simplicity and clarity.
6.
Hang around kids. Whether your own kids or someone else's. Children have a way of providing inspiration because of their imagination, childlike faith, and sense of amazement at everything.
7.
Exercise. Take a run, go swimming, work out, climb a mountain, jump on a bike, water ski, play basketball, or whatever activity fits you. | 2,944 | 1,521 | 0.000664 |
warc | 201704 | 1Effects of Sex in the Media
Where do men and women, boys and girls, learn about sex? What is the impact of those influences? Throughout childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood people learn about sex from many sources, including parents, schools, friends, siblings, and media outlets such as movies, television, magazines, song lyrics, videos, and the Internet. For example, we may learn about French kissing from an older brother’s stories, orgasms from a pornographic movie, oral sex from an erotic web site, and rape from a television movie.
Sexual themes in entertainment have been around as long as fiction itself. Many classics were often highly sexual in content, such as Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales or Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, all of which are filled with overtly sexuality and covert double entendres, some of which may be missed today due to the archaic language and the “classic” aura of these works. More broadly, sex has long been a part of popular culture. Roman gladiatorial contests sometime featured scantily clad women as combatants, and sex scandals, sexual entertainment, and young adults pushing the limits on acceptable dress and behavior have long diverted, and on occasion troubled, society.
According to a Time/CNN poll (Stodghill, 1998), 29% of U.S. teens identified television as their most important source of information about sex, up from 11% in 1986. Although the most-mentioned source (45%) was “friends,” only 7% cited parents and 3% cited sex education. In one study, 90% of Toronto adolescent boys and 60% of the girls (mean age =14) reported having seen at least one pornographic movie (Check & Maxwell, 1992, in Russell, 1998). Also, 29% of boys rated pornography as their most significant source of sex education, higher than schools, parents, books, peers or magazines (Check, 1995). Surveys of college men have shown that 35-55% report having consumed violent pornography in some form (Demare,... | 2,023 | 1,102 | 0.000928 |
warc | 201704 | When my wife and I came to the UK from Thailand, she asked me why English people say “please” and “thank you” so often. This happened after a bus ride. I got on and asked for “two to Birmingham please”. The driver replied, “five pounds please”. I gave him the money, and he said “thank you”. I took the tickets and said “thank you”. On leaving the bus, I said “thank you, driver”.
My wife asked me why there were so many “please”s and “thank you”s. After all, she explained, he had only done his job; there was no service performed above his usual day-to-day tasks.
In Thai, there is an equivalent of “thank you”, but there isn’t a similar way to say “please”. You can say “khor” as in “khor beer song khwat” (“may [I have] two bottles [of] beer”) but you can also easily say “khor hai aroi” which translates as “may [it] give deliciousness” (or “bon appetit”). To ask for something vehemently needs “karuna”, which is the Sanskrit word for “compassion” or “mercy”; that is, “I beg you”, which is stronger than English social “please”.
I’ve noticed that French and Turkish speakers say “please” and “thank you” regularly (those are the only other languages I speak), whereas Americans seem not to do so; they’re more like Thai speakers and only seem to use it when requesting or acknowledging something beyond what could generally be expected of the person they’re talking to, and not as absolutely necessary in general transactions. That is, in the US, you can say “I want a beer” rather than “a beer, please” and it’s still considered perfectly polite. My Mum woud have given me a clip around the ear if I didn’t say “please” (like saying “what?” which is polite in the USA but horribly rude in British English).
It seems to me that English in England is unnecessarily polite — but I couldn’t bring myself not to follow the rules. Do you say “please” and “thank you” so regularly in your language or culture? | 2,256 | 1,075 | 0.001099 |
warc | 201704 | A pair of government reports this morning (Dec. 12) painted a mixed picture of the U.S. economy, with the Commerce Department putting retail sales up 1.2% in November from October and 6.3% from November, 2006 and the Labor Department putting a damper on that news with estimates that wholesale prices jumped 3.2%, the fastest pace since 1973.
Commerce said that total retail and food service sales, adjusted for seasonal differences, were were $385.8 billion. Total sales for the September through November 2007 period were up 5.4 percent (+/-0.5%) from the same period a year ago. Analysts took the news to mean that consumer spending was holding up in the face of the housing and credit market slumps.
Not surprisingly, the retail advance was led by a 6.8% month-to-month increase in sales at gasoline stations, but consumer bellwethers such as electronics and appliance stores, clothing and clothing accessory stores and sport goods, hobby, book and music stores were also up strongly at 2.5%, 2.6% and 2.2% respectively.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department's Producer Price Index jumped 3.2% in November, led by the energy sector, which was up 14.1%, easily dwarfing all other categories. Two components of that sector, gasoline and heating oil, were up 34.8% and 32% respectively. Diesel fuel was up 35%. However, when food (which was essentially flat) and energy are excluded, the index was up only 0.4%.
Still, suggesting further price increases to come, the index for Intermediate Materials, Supplies and Components, rose 3.7%, which the Labor department said could be traced largely to rising prices for energy. | 1,622 | 901 | 0.001114 |
warc | 201704 | ....
Among all of the critical issues, this essay will address three that are essential to the future success of the market-based model, with special focus on the United States: 1) certain dilemmas in promoting crisis recovery and job creation now; 2) financial-system reform; and 3) the fundamental policy challenges the U.S. must meet for long-term success. The broader point here is that the market-based model must be combined with strong and effective government, nationally and transnationally, to deal with critical challenges that markets won't adequately address. The fundamental question is whether governing institutions will meet that test.
Government must also address the immediate need to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and protect people affected by the crisis, but that is a vital topic of its own.
To determine the lessons of the crisis and the necessary reforms, we must first understand what caused it. My discussion here relates to the United States. About four years ago, a well-known London investor said to me that the only undervalued asset in the world was risk. I had the same view, as did many others, and often said that markets, including credit, had gone to excess and that would probably be followed by a cyclical downturn—perhaps a sharp one—though the timing, as always, was unpredictable. But that's not what happened. | 1,374 | 760 | 0.00133 |
warc | 201704 | You may have employees who perform well but could do better—and you might have some ideas about how they can do that.
So at evaluation time, you rate them as good or even excellent employees and want to include some specific suggestions in the narrative part of the evaluation. But you also know that some employees are sensitive to criticism. What should you do?
Go ahead and include the constructive criticism. Courts don’t view such comments as adverse employment actions, making it unlikely that you will be found liable.
Recent case: Anthony Palermo, a white man, worked as a passport operations officer. His supervisor was a black woman. Palermo believed (without proof) that his supervisor favored fellow blacks.
When his boss rated him an excellent worker but included specific ideas for improvement on his performance evaluation, he sued. He claimed the supervisor was punishing him for his prior complaints he had made and was biased against him because of his race.
But the supervisor explained that constructive criticism was a routine part of all her evaluations, and was designed to help employees improve. In each case, she used specific examples from the past year to illustrate what the employee should do better.
The court dismissed Palermo’s case, concluding that mere criticism—especially constructive criticism—wasn’t an adverse employment action over which employees can sue. (
Palermo v. Clinton, No. 20-C-2050, ND IL, 2011) | 1,486 | 767 | 0.001339 |
warc | 201704 | Bleeding After C-Section?
Giving birth involves a lot of blood, whether it is through normal vaginal delivery or via caesarean section.
The body sheds off this vital fluid which was left over during birthing. The blood is usually from remnants of the placenta still attached to the uterine wall.
Bleeding after C-section is to be expected and this post-natal discharge is called Lochia. Mothers will have to cope with bleeding as they recover from surgery and go about caring for their baby.
The experience is understandably uncomfortable but is a necessary part of the birthing process. Heavy bleeding after C-section is normal during the first four to five days. The discharge is usually bright red in appearance. Eventually, the blood expelled will become pinkish in color until it is just a brownish-yellow substance.
The amount should also decrease until it stops altogether. Although bleeding after C-section can last from four to six weeks, often it should taper after 10 to 12 days. There is really no need to worry about bleeding after birthing because it is a normal occurrence. You can expect small blood clots because these are also left-over from the placenta. However, a woman should still be aware of her post-natal discharge pattern.
Most of the time, heavy bleeding after C-section beyond two weeks , whether continuous or intermittent, is a sign of overexertion. A visit to the doctor is recommended just to be sure it is nothing serious. Still, there are cases of bleeding after C-section when the discharge is a mass the size of a golf ball. Or, if the amount is enough to soak a towel in less than an hour or several maxi pads within the same period, then the situation is worrisome and needs immediate medical attention. Do not ignore these symptoms.
Childbirth always increases the risk of internal infection. And excess bleeding could be a sign of complications such as damage to major blood vessels. Determining the cause of the bleeding after C-section will tell the doctor what kind of treatment is needed. It may be as simple as prescribing medication that will induce contractions of the uterus to shed more blood for cleansing, or blood transfusion if the amount lost is more than 500 cc. Some cases may even require hysterectomy.
Giving birth is a wonderful experience. But because of the many physiological changes that happen to the body, special care is necessary to ensure both mother and baby are in good health. Recovery will vary depending on the activities undertaken after birthing. Rest and slowing things down from the usual routine before delivery are essential to avoid complications. Bleeding after C-section is nothing to be scared of because it is part and parcel of the experience.
Being mindful of what can and cannot be done to prevent excessive bleeding is crucial so that a woman will not be faced with a bigger burden other than caring for her child. Never put off seeing a doctor if there is something out of the ordinary that a mother is feeling. Immediate treatment will minimize the risk of more serious complications, including loss of life. Listen to your doctor and take his advice, especially as to the body’s readiness to go back to its usual routine. | 3,229 | 1,558 | 0.000645 |
warc | 201704 | Is There a Role for Octreotide in the Treatment of Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer? Is There a Role for Octreotide in the Treatment of Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer?
Normal and hyperplastic prostate glandular epithelium does not express somatostatin receptors. Neuroendocrine prostatic cells contain bioactive secretory products such as chromogranin A, serotonin, and neuron-specific enolase. The stromal smooth muscle cells around glandular epithelium and ganglion cells of the prostatic plexus are positive for somatostatin subtype 2 receptors (sst 2).[1] In prostate cancer, however, there is nonhomogeneous distribution of sst 1. In the peritumoral veins of prostate cancer, sst 2 receptors were found by Reubi et al in 14 of 27 samples.[2]
Neuroendocrine differentiation is a common feature of prostatic adenocarcinoma, although the prognostic value of neuroendocrine differentiation is controversial.[3] There are scattered clusters of neuroendocrine differentiated cells among the non-neuroendocrine malignant cells. The neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer results in an abnormal phenotype and an incomplete expression of neuroendocrine substances. This phenotypic shift generates cancer cells more adaptable to environmental changes. These cells tend to be androgen-independent rather than androgen-dependent.[3] Elevated chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase levels in the serum correlate with androgen independence, and distant metastases, but not with locally progressive disease.[4] For prostate carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, the serum markers of the chromogranin family are of more promising prognostic value than neuroendocrine tissue characterization.[5,6]
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is a general inhibitor ofneuroendocrine secretion and may inhibit neuroendocrine tumor growth. Imaging inhormone-refractory prostate cancer using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with
111In-pentetreotide (OctreoScan, Mallinkrodt Imaging) will often be positive at the site of theprimary tumor as well as at sites of bone metastases.[7] The presence ofsomatostatin receptors in tumors, determined using radiolabeled octreotideimaging, has prompted clinical trials with octreotide.[8]
In one trial, by Logothetis et al, 20 of 24 patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer were evaluable for efficacy.[9] Octreotide treatment was administered at a dose of 100 µg subcutaneously three times daily. In this trial, 14 of 20 patients reported subjective improvement in their pain. There was no evidence of objective tumor regression.
More recently, Acosta has treated 18 patients with progressive hormone-refractory prostate cancer using octreotide LAR depot (Sandostatin LAR Depot) at 30 mg/month.[10] Eleven of 18 patients had tumors positive for somatostatin receptors demonstrated by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. In 9 of 18 patients, there was a greater than 50% decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels. In 8 of 18 patients, there was a 50% reduction in the number of metastases visualized by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy.[10]
In conclusion, there are conflicting clinical results when octreotide has been used for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Further clinical studies are clearly needed in light of Acosta’s provocative findings. An intriguing question is whether other somatostatin receptors besides the sst 2 receptor may be relevant. When analogs of somatostatin such as SOM 230, which binds to somatostatin receptor subtypes 1, 2, and 3, as well as 5, become clinically available, they deserve evaluation in this challenging disease setting.
References
1. Reubi JC, Waser B, Schaer JC, et al: Somatostatin receptors in human prostate and prostate cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:2806-2814, 1995.
2. Reubi JC, Waser B, Schaer JC, et al: Somatostatin receptor sst1-sst5 expression in normal and neoplastic human tissues using receptor autoradiography with subtype-selective ligands. Eur J Nucl Med 28:836-846, 2001.
3. Abrahamsson PA: Neuroendocrine cells in tumour growth of the prostate. Endocr Relat Cancer 6:503-519, 1999.
4. Abrahamsson PA: Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic carcinoma. Prostate 39:135-148, 1999.
5. Yu DS, Hsieh DS, Chen HI, et al: The expression of neuropeptides in hyperplastic and malignant prostate tissue and its possible clinical implications. J Urol 166:871-875, 2001.
6. Ferrero-Pous M, Hersant AM, Pecking A, et al: Serum chromogranin-A in advanced prostate cancer. BJU Int 88:790-796, 2001.
7. Nilsson S, Reubi JC, Kalkner KM, et al: Metastatic hormon-refractory prostatic adenocarcinoma expresses somatostatin receptors and is visualized in vivo by [IIIIn]-labeled DTPA-D-[phe1]-octreotide scintigraphy. Cancer Res 55(suppl 23):5805S-5810S, 1995.
8. Vainas IG: Octreotide in the management of hormon-refractory prostate cancer. Chemotherapy 47(suppl 2):109-126, 2001.
9. Logothetis CJ, Hossan EA, Smith TL: SMS 201-995 in the treatment of refractory prostate carcinoma. Anticancer Res 14:2731-2734, 1994.
10. Acosta S: Somatostatin analogue treatment of patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer: First clinical results. Presented at the XVIth Congress of the European Associate of Urology, Geneva, April 7-10, 2001. | 5,273 | 2,339 | 0.00043 |
warc | 201704 | Career and Education Opportunities for Police Officers in Cape Coral, Florida
If you want to be a police officer, the Cape Coral, Florida area offers many opportunities both for education and employment. Currently, 7,740 people work as police officers in Florida. This is expected to grow 20% to 9,290 people by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for police officers are expected to grow by about 16.6%. Police officers generally conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.
Police officers earn about $28 hourly or $59,060 per year on average in Florida and about $29 hourly or $60,910 per year on average nationally. Compared with people working in the overall category of Police and Security, people working as police officers in Florida earn more. They earn more than people working in the overall category of Police and Security nationally. People working as police officers can fill a number of jobs, such as: investigator, vice/narcotics detective, and detective supervisor.
The Cape Coral area is home to eleven schools of higher education, including one within twenty-five miles of Cape Coral where you can get a degree as a police officer. Police officers usually hold a high school diploma or GED, so you can expect to spend only a short time training to become a police officer if you already have a high school diploma.
CAREER DESCRIPTION: Police Officer
In general, police officers conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.
Police officers furnish testimony as a witness in court. They also examine records and governmental agency files to discover identifying data about suspects. Equally important, police officers have to participate or help in raids and arrests. They are often called upon to record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants. They are expected to obtain evidence from suspects. Finally, police officers furnish data to lab staff concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.
Every day, police officers are expected to be able to evaluate problems as they arise. They need to articulate ideas and problems. It is also important that they think through problems and come up with general rules.
It is important for police officers to obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence. They are often called upon to examine crime scenes to obtain clues and evidence, such as loose hairs or weapons. They also organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as needed. They are sometimes expected to secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive. Somewhat less frequently, police officers are also expected to secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it before medical examiner's arrival.
Police officers sometimes are asked to summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical staff to take statements from them. They also have to be able to check victims for signs of life And finally, they sometimes have to analyze completed police reports to establish what additional data and investigative work is needed.
Like many other jobs, police officers must have exceptional integrity and be able to deal with stress and deal with situations calmly.
Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Cape Coral include: Chief of Police. Supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force. Correctional Officer. Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institution in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions. Criminal Investigator. Investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution. Customs Inspector. Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Fire Code Inspector. Inspect buildings and equipment to detect fire hazards and enforce state and local regulations. Fire Inspector. Conduct investigations to determine causes of fires and explosions. Police Records Officer. Collect evidence at crime scenes, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases. Policeman. Patrol assigned areas to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, and arrest violators. Sheriff. Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Police Officer Training Florida Gulf Coast University - Fort Myers, FL Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 Fgcu Blvd S, Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large university located in Fort Myers, Florida. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 10,217 students and an admission rate of 65%. Florida Gulf Coast University has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree program in Criminalistics and Criminal Science which graduated forty-three and one students respectively in 2008. CERTIFICATIONS Certified Medical Investigator: The spectrum of professions involved in forensic investigation has broadened dramatically over the past 20 years.
For more information, see the American College of Forensic Examiners website.
Certified Corrections Manager - Security Threat Groups: Individuals who head a Security Threat Group (STG) program in an adult or juvenile corrections facility, contribute to the development of agency policies/procedures pertaining to STGs, and are involved in the implementation of these policies/procedures.
For more information, see the American Correctional Association website.
Certified Fraud Examiner: The ACFE established and administers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation.
For more information, see the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners website.
Computer Forensics: The primary goals we have for our certification programs are to both assist law enforcement and organizations requiring highly skilled investigators in the identification of highly skilled individuals, and to promote the training and education efforts within the computer investigation, computer forensic and computer security industries.
For more information, see the Cyber Enforcement Resources Incorporated website.
Certified Cyber-Crime Expert: High-profile cases of corporate malfeasance and increased attention paid to cybercrime and cyberterrorism have elevated electronic evidence discovery to an indispensable component of any organization's security plan.
For more information, see the E-Business Process Solutions website.
LICENSES Police Detective
Licensing agency:
Fl. Department of Law Enforcement Address: P. O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: None
Website: Fl. Department of Law Enforcement LOCATION INFORMATION: Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is situated in Lee County, Florida. It has a population of over 156,835, which has grown by 53.3% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Cape Coral, 88, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Cape Coral are valued at $121,700 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, two hundred one new homes were constructed in Cape Coral, down from seven hundred sixty-seven the previous year.
The three big industries for women in Cape Coral are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is construction, accommodation and food services, and administrative and support and waste management services. The average travel time to work is about 25 minutes. More than 17.5% of Cape Coral residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 5.7%, is lower than the state average.
The unemployment rate in Cape Coral is 13.0%, which is greater than Florida's average of 11.3%.
The percentage of Cape Coral residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 38.2%, is less than both the national and state average. Coral Ridge Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Jehovahs Witnesses Cape Coral Congregation and Cape Coral Alliance Church are some of the churches located in Cape Coral. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of God.
Cape Coral is home to the Old Bridge Square and the Pine Island Plaza. Shopping centers in the area include Northshore Shopping Center, Coral Gate Shopping Center and Coral Pointe Shopping Center. Visitors to Cape Coral can choose from Casa Loma Motel On the Waterfront, Cape Coral Accommodations and Banyan Trace Community for temporary stays in the area. | 9,274 | 3,967 | 0.000253 |
warc | 201704 | Nominated by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for the Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, the India Today group has consistently undertaking different initiatives. Following are the details:
Construction of more than 1000 family toilets for poorer sections of the society, undertake studies to understand issues & challenges related hygiene and sanitation through Care Today Fund – a CSR initiative of the group using donations raised from participants of 13th edition of India Today Conclave in 2014 and TV Today Newtwork Limited Regular coverage of issues related to hygiene and sanitation through its publications Launch Safaigiri awards for different categories and widely publicize call for nominations through publications and electronic media Identify reputed personalities to be on the jury for selection for Safaigiri awardees Hold Safaigiri Singathon an event to enhance awareness on sanitation & hygiene
Responding to the Government of India’s Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, and encouraged by the success of Clean Toilet Project activities, the T V Today Network Limited donated Rs 93,25,955 (ninety three lacs twenty five thousand nine hundred and forty four rupees) in February 2015 and directed Care Today Fund to undertake activities aligned to health & sanitation.
Care Today Fund is currently pledged grants worth Rs 59,45,000 out of the donations received to construct 325 toilets and to undertake a feasibility of cleaning the Shahadra Drainage flowing through NOIDA. Care Today is working in partnership with U-Respect Foundation, Nageshwara Charitable Trust and SSR Ecotech Private Limited.
Nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India Today Group launched the Safaigiri, which will identify champions, whether individuals or institutions, in 13 categories who will be awarded for their inspiring work. We invite you to send your nominations and be part of the nationwide movement. Categories up for nomination: Cleanest Beach Town, Cleanest Ghat, Cleanest Hill Station, Cleanest Market Place, Cleanest Monument, Cleanest Park and more
In this year's Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Swachh Bharat's biggest brand ambassadors. Here is what he said: ''You may not have paid heed to it, but try to remember what happened in your family? There are crores of such families in India, whose children are in the age group of five, ten and fifteen and they have become the greatest ambassador of "Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan". These children prevent their parents from littering in their homes and ask them to avoid spreading filth and rubbish here and there. In case, any father is addicted to consuming gutka and whenever the father opens the windows of the car to spit, his son prevents him to do so on the plea of keeping India clean. The success of this programme is due to those little children.'' In keeping with this spirit, Safaigiri SIngers will be going to the least clean areas of India and motivating school children to use hygiene kits, which they will distribute.
Research shows that while work on toilets is proceeding on course, with 18 lakh toilets expected to be built by early next year against Prime Minister's target of 25 lakh toilets by March 2016, use remains a problem, as in many parts of India there is no understanding of the connection between good health and use of toilets. So although according to NSS data, 60 per cent of rural households do not have access to toilets, even 2 per cent of rural households which have access to toilets do not use them. Another study by Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (RICE) says 7 per cent of households with access to toilets were not using them. Safaigiri Singers will work methodically and continuously to overcome this mindset in the most affected parts of India, making children their brand ambassadors by distributing these kits in schools.
Start Date:September 2014 Total Funds:Rs 1,14,24,584 Donors:Participants from India Today Conclave. | 4,029 | 1,942 | 0.000518 |
warc | 201704 | By Jean H Charles
President Bill Clinton, the world’s president, may have taken a vow to improve his health to continue his mission of saving this world after his two mandates as president of the United States. He has engaged lately in a rigorous diet that excludes all meat and dairy products from his daily intake to nourish his body. As such, when I saw him at his most recent visit to Haiti, I had to ask him personally for his recipe, because he was lean and svelte, looking twenty years younger. He was pleased to share his newly found good health formula.
Jean Hervé Charles LLB, MSW, JD, former Vice-Dean of Students at City College of the City University of New York, is now responsible for policy and public relations for the political platform in power in Haiti, Répons Peyisan. He can be reached at: jeanhcharles@aol
President Clinton is also excited about his latest mission to Haiti. Each one of them, including the fourth one, has been around a specific theme such as education, tourism or commerce. This one is focused on agriculture. I have been a constant attendee of the Clinton Global initiative Conference in New York but this is my first encounter with the Clinton initiative in Haiti, albeit I was present recently at the inauguration of the Caracol industrial park, where President Clinton was a host along with his wife, Hillary.
For most Haitian political pundits, the conclusion of Pierre Corneille, the French mogul writer about Cardinal Richelieu fits very well with President Clinton. He has done too much good for Haiti to say bad things about him. He has also done too much harm to Haiti to say good things about him. Those who hated the turbulent years of the Lavalas regime under President Jean Bertrand Arisitide blame President Clinton for supporting the embargo against the country that destroyed its ecology and for engaging 20.000 American troops to bring the so called despotic priest president back to Haiti.
Some also blame him for facilitating the destruction of the national rice industry with the vast imports of the Arkansas rice that replaced the Haitian diet that now includes rice for breakfast, rice for lunch as well as rice for dinner. Last but not least, he is also blamed for a poor performance and outcome of the billion dollars collected under the reconstruction fund appeal after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
I was defending President Clinton’s conversion with a group of Haitian politicians when I could not get any more arguments to win my case. But later in a presentation by a travel agent with a large business in Europe, especially in France, he has repeated, without my collusion or information sharing, the same argument I was defending some minutes earlier.
Haiti is now the world laboratory for transforming the country into a Switzerland of the Caribbean, where the Haitian peasants would enjoy remaining in their idyllic hamlets dotted with good infrastructure and sane institutions.
That was the conclusion of President Bill Clinton at the end of his agricultural tour in the country. To repeat a mantra dear to the American Ambassador Mrs Pamela White, Haiti is too rich to be poor. The press conference at the end of the visit was in the yard of the Heineken plant that recently bought Prestige beer, the proud product of Haiti, winner of two gold medals. It must have been so, because the party that came with President Clinton departed with the Haitian Prestige beer as one accumulates a precious commodity or illegal product without sanction.
I told Mr John Nicolson, the British-born regional president of Heineken, to put Prestige on the back of Heineken so it can be introduced to the fine beer connoisseurs of the world. He snapped right back: you must first increase your production!
Indeed this is the story of Haiti. It cannot produce enough of those fine Haitian products that the world is desirous of, such as its succulent Francis mangoes, its world renowned Barbancourt rum, its beautiful bags made with sisal designed with voodoo motives, its coffee that gave taste to the lesser brands of the rest of the world, its art so diversified and so original that it is recognized even when plagiarized.
Before his arrival in Haiti, President Clinton stopped in Florida to highlight his initiative of luring retired NBA basketball players to engage into fundraising for education in Haiti.
On this trip, President Clinton brought along a plane full of entrepreneurs interested in the area of agriculture. He got John Nicolson to have Heineken International to commit $40 million to upgrade its plant in Haiti and outsource most of the ingredients in the fabrication of the beer from the country. Heineken will also invest $10 million to help Haitian farmers to grow enough sorghum that will be used in the fermentation of the beer.
The Clinton Foundation partnered with Virgin Group and with the Muhamad Yunus social business network to transform 22,000 hectares of Haitian land into virgin forests. A purse of $700,000 dollars from the Foundation was distributed to several institutions including:
• $150,000 to Smallholders Farmers Alliance to develop nurseries for trees and produce
• An amount of $150,000 to fund a Coffee Academy in Thiotte, the largest coffee growers in the country. This academy has for its mission to improve the quality and the quantity of the premium Haitian coffee.
• $100,000 dollars for solar electric pumps for agriculture purposes, enabling farmers to produce quality vegetables even in arid land.
• $100,000 dollars for the production of briquettes of coal made of cane sugar residues to replace the precious wood used in Haiti now for the production of cooking charcoal. President Clinton, as a true globetrotter, called on Haiti to follow the Guyanese model that has adopted this formula to maintain its pristine ecology.
President Clinton also visited two companies that represent the strongest muscle for the propulsion of the economic development of Haiti. Coffee Rebo is staged to become the next Starbuck’s of this world, if only it can get out of Haiti to let fine coffee connoisseurs of the world taste the delicate texture and aroma of the Haitian coffee.
He stopped at Sisalco, an indigenous company that revived the production of sisal, destroyed in the country some fifty years ago after the American company closed its doors. Sisalco is transforming processed sisal into cords, which are now the only export product from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. It is also transforming the sisal into magnificent bags for the grande dames of the world. His young entrepreneurs Pierre-Yves Gardere and Gilbert Hippolyte represent the new breed of Haitian industrialists who are not afraid of going global with the Haitian brand.
I was moved yet disappointed at the visit to the agricultural school and farm run by the Episcopal Church near Mirebalais, Haiti. Moved because of the manicured farm, well irrigated through drip-water provided with funding from the Clinton Foundation, but disappointed because steps away the peasant farms in the surrounding areas were faltering because of the dry season.
And this is the crux of the problem of Haiti. The endemic poverty of the people of Haiti should be measured not in the thousands but in the millions. President Clinton will have to endorse the zeal of Paul converted from Saul to help transform the lives of 9 million peasants who live either in the rural countryside of Haiti or the slums of Port au Prince and Cap Haitien into fully active citizens, engaged into husbandry, agriculture and art-crafts, transforming Haiti into an export oriented nation delivering its unique goods to Asia, Europe and the United States.
With a majority of the populace uneducated and unsophisticated, the project of “Haiti is open for business” is not well suited for the Haitian genre (I may have been instrumental in pushing forward in 2007 the slogan: Haiti is open for business and Bahamas is the first one to knock at its door). It should be transformed into the brand of “Haiti is seeking business” for the products of husbandry, agriculture and art-crafts produced by its creative population.
It might be anathema to link President Clinton to Hugo Chavez, but Haiti will be transformed into a rich nation if only it knows how to make good use of the resources brought into the country either by the Bolivarian revolution or by the Clinton Foundation. | 8,507 | 3,883 | 0.00026 |
warc | 201704 | Posted by
Oliver Po
Century 21 In Town Realty
In Downtown Vancouver
Cell 778-898-5153
Kim Pemberton, Vancouver Sun
As a first-time homebuyer Cynthia Barros is excited about owning her own place, although worried about getting the timing right.
Barros and a friend plan to co-own a home, their way of possessing that first rung of the property ladder.
And while the two women have saved enough money for a down payment and figure they can get a townhouse or apartment in Burnaby, New Westminster or Coquitlam for $400,000 or less, there is one drawback.
Barros has just finished university, but has to wait until she has a full-time job before she's eligible for a mortgage. Her friend already has a full-time job.
"I'm happy prices are going down. It helps people like us who couldn't afford a place before the market crashed," Barros says.
"I definitely want to get into the market now because I know it's going to recover."
Barros, although unable to buy currently, is an anomaly among first-time buyers because if she could she would take the plunge.
Most first-time buyers today are hesitant and will end up waiting too long before getting into the market, David Watt of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says.
The irony is they are in a much better situation now in a buyer's market with low interest rates. But they will wait until it's a seller's market before making a purchase, Watt says.
"It's human nature. Buyers love to buy when everyone else is buying and that is typically a seller's market," he says.
Watt adds he talked recently with a mortgage lender from one major charter bank in Vancouver who reports there's a huge inventory of pre-qualified "people who are just sitting on the fence."
"It takes more courage to go against the crowd and buy in a buyer's market."
Others in the housing field agree it's unusual more first-time buyers are not jumping into the market, considering the benefits. These include lower interest rates and the ability to shop around to negotiate the best deal possible without worrying they will end up in a bidding war or have to forgo the home inspection clause.
"People will buy but they just need to know they have a really good deal. The problem is they don't know it's a good deal and that insecurity breeds inaction," Cam Good of Mac Real Estate Marketing Solutions says.
Good believes the time is right now, particularly for first-time buyers because of the affordability.
"It's as good as it gets now in terms of affordability. It's been a long time coming."
Clayton Aelbers, a first-time buyer in Burnaby, knew a good deal when he saw one.
The 25-year-old steel fabricator bought last February and paid $255,500 for an apartment listed for $279,000 across the street from Central Park. The owner had died and her sister in Australia wanted a quick sale so he was able to "scoop in" before the first open house and buy the place.
"I had looked at over 100 places and was on the computer every night searching," says Aelbers.
His only negative was an earlier pre-approved interest rate of three per cent for three years had run out and he ended up with a four per cent rate. Still a good rate, he says, so he doesn't have much to complain about.
- - -
The days of standing in line overnight to get first dibs on a condo appear to be over at the moment and buyers have the luxury of shopping around for the best deal.
"The panic has been taken out of the purchase," says Peter Simpson, of the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders' Association.
"Before people would line up overnight to buy a condo and they felt if they didn't buy right then and there the guy behind them would. Now they can take their time to get the right place in the right location. But they need to know what's involved."
Catherine Reid, 31, who is a single professional, bought her first home -- a two-bedroom apartment in New Westminster -- for $250,000 in October.
Thanks to the market switching from a seller's market when she first started looking four years earlier to a buyer's market she was able to take her time.
"There was a lot of talk of the market changing and I thought I'd take advantage of that," says Reid.
"I had more time to consider places. Before I didn't have any time and I couldn't put any subjects into the contract. I felt a pressure to make an offer right away," she says.
Wanting to take a break from that pressure cooker, Reid at one point took a break from looking for 18 months when prices climbed too high.
She began her search in earnest in August when it was evident the market was becoming a buyer's market.
The wait worked out for Reid, who feels she benefited from lower prices.
The home she ended up buying, after only two months back on the search, was originally listed for $30,000 more than she paid.
Her return to the market and the decision to act quickly is typical of young single female buyers, says David Watt of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
"As a rule, they are quicker to do it. They're serious about long-term investing. They don't talk about flipping. They're real believers in the long term and controlling their own destiny. Any realtor on the street will tell you that," says Watt, adding that unfortunately the information is only anecdotal.
Cameron Muir, the B.C. Real Estate Association's chief economist, says he believes buyers today not only have more time to investigate their choices but they have the ability to negotiate an attractive price.
"The irony of markets is that there's no shortage of buyers when prices are near a peak and a scarcity of buyers when prices are near a trough," he says.
"Affordability is much better today than it has been for two years. This bodes well for the first-time buyers, particularly when you look at low interest rates. . . . Unfortunately some buyers are sitting on the fence anticipating even lower prices."
Muir says he doesn't expect prices will make any further significant drops. And he anticipates, once buyer-confidence returns, a "modest increase" in sales by the spring.
"My advice would be to secure your financing, get the lowest (interest) rate and then take your time. You don't have to rush in and take the first home that is acceptable" he says.
First-time buyer Dan Robison and his wife bought his three-bedroom townhouse in Coquitlam two weeks before getting married last July. He is 48 years old.
The couple paid $369,000 for a home he estimates was under market value. A similar townhouse next door sold for $10,000 more. Robison credits a first-time homebuyer seminar he took through the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association with giving him the knowledge to buy with confidence.
"It was a huge help. I should have a badge -- I attended 10 shows for 10 years," says Robison.
"When it came time to buy I had a lot of information I learned from the experts (speaking at the seminar panel)."
Robison says he was so confident he bought a home offered by an owner and went without a realtor himself for a further cost savings.
He remembered a piece of advice from one of the seminars and that was to ensure the paperwork was in order so the seller couldn't opt out of the deal or keep his down payment.
Robison says this advice was critical for him because after the deal was signed the seller had 10 other calls from others wanting to buy the home for a higher price.
"You hear horror stories of people losing deposits. But we did our homework. This is a life-time investment and if things go wrong with the property there's not a lot of recourse after it's bought," says Robison.
His advice to other first-time buyers is to educate themselves by taking a course, make sure they get a home inspection, and don't pay more than what they can afford.
Source: http://www.househunting.ca/buying-homes/story.html?id=5bf45104-1bfa-4400-9d41-b1b5f181d9c9&p=3 | 7,918 | 3,665 | 0.000276 |
warc | 201704 | Scientists have found a simple but functioning community of bacteria and micro-organisms thriving in the lakes and soils of the Dufek Massif region in Antarctica. These are the southernmost terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems ever described on Earth, less than 800km from the South Pole.
The ecosystems were found in glacial lakes, ponds and soils in the Davis and Forlidas valleys, part of the Dufek Massif at 82°S latitude. The lakes are covered by ice for most of the year, but in some summers the ice melts around the edges.
British Antarctic Survey biologist Dr Dominic Hodgson led a scientific expedition to the site in December 2003. This was only the third visit to the Davis and Forlidas valleys since their discovery in 1957. 'Our aim was to do a bit of traditional descriptive science to find out what is there, and combine this with some of the latest techniques in molecular biology,' he says.
The team collected samples of the water and the mats of blue-green algae in the lakes and soils. 'In the lakes the mats are surprisingly abundant covering most of the lake floors, whereas on the soils the mats look like dried lettuce; they grow very large there because there are no grazers eating them,' says Hodgson. They also photographed a few pin-head sized lichens, so small and rare that sampling was impossible.
The team didn't find any evidence of the roundworms or arthropods (invertebrates with external skeletons, like crabs) common in other Antarctic ecosystems, and identified only one diatom shell – a type of phytoplankon – which was likely brought to the lake by the wind. They found six species of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), one type of green algae and 32 different bacteria. The only animals living in the area are some small aquatic creatures called rotifers and three species of tardigrade, a group of microscopic invertebrates common in aquatic environments. And that's it.
'The list is incredibly limited and it fits on a normal sheet of paper,' says Hodgson, who reported the findings in
Polar Science. 'If you would apply the same analytic methods to samples from anywhere else, you would get pages and pages listing hundreds of species.'
Hodgson says that the community found in the lakes and soils of the Dufek Massif is a functional ecosystem, but 'this is as simple as ecosystems get,' he adds.
The Dufek Massif is a cold desert with a harsh climate and isolated by its remote location, which probably explains the extreme lack of biodiversity encountered by the scientists. So how do these species relate to organisms found elsewhere?
Genetic analysis revealed that the Dufek Massif's blue-green algae are similar to the strains found in other extreme environments. But the local tardigrade species, the lichen and some bacteria aren't found anywhere else.
The discovery of Antarctic endemic species, which evolved locally in such harsh conditions, suggests that Antarctica may not be as barren as we thought. 'The evidence suggests that the some elements of the Antarctic fauna and flora have evolved in ice-free areas, throughout all the glacial cycles, since the time of Gondwana,' says Hodgson. | 3,168 | 1,511 | 0.000668 |
warc | 201704 | Prescription medications have the power to increase the length and quality of life. However, that same power possesses danger when medications are used in the wrong way. 70% of those 12 and older who abused pain relievers got them from family or friends.
ElderStyle Valparaiso will host a free community presentation "Safeguard Your Meds, Safeguard Your Family" on Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. The event will be held at Valparaiso Nazarene Church located at 2702 E Glendale Boulevard, Valparaiso.
Todd Willis, Porter-Starke Services, will walk you through the steps you can take to advocate for yourself when your doctor prescribes medications, how to store them safely and how to properly dispose of them. A question and answer time will be provided at the conclusion of the formal presentation.
A resource fair will be held in conjunction with the program and refreshments will be served. Reservations are not required for this handicapped accessible event. The presentation is free and open to the public.
ElderStyle Valparaiso is an initiative between the City of Valparaiso, Pines Village Retirement
Communities and other community organizations and volunteers that work to create a community of choice for older adults so that they can live well. For more information about this event or ElderStyle Valparaiso follow facebook.com/ElderStyleValpo. This item was posted by a community contributor. To read more about community contributors, click here. | 1,482 | 808 | 0.001245 |
warc | 201704 | Our boys have had a lot of fun swimming in the river behind our house this summer. There are all kinds of things to look at and explore, so many creatures to discover.
This year my boys discovered crawdads for the first time. They look like little crabs, but you can find them in even tiny rivers like ours. They are really fun to try to catch, some people even eat them!
It is really easy to make a trap to capture crawdads.
Supplies needed:
2-liter pop bottle Exacto knife String Canned clams
The first thing you need to do to create the trap is cut the top off of the bottle. Using the exacto knife, carefully cut the top third of the pop bottle off. You want to cut it at the top of the center portion of the bottle, right where the bottle begins to narrow.
Turn the part you cut off upside down and place it inside the bottle, so that the cut edges meet and the top of the bottle is now inside of the bottle, near the bottom of the bottle.
Use the knife to cut two slits at the top of the bottle, one on each side. Cut a long piece of light rope or string and string it through the two holes, tying it at the top. This gives you a hanger to hang the bottle from.
Place about half a small can of clams down through the hole, to the bottom of the bottle.
Your crawdad trap is all ready to try out! Hang the bottle from a tree branch or other secure place with the bottle entirely submerged in the water. You can place a few small rocks in the bottom of the bottle to help keep it in the water.
Have your kids check the trap every day and see if they caught any crawdads! And if you are brave enough, do a search to find out how to cook them and eat them.
Copyright 2015, Christian-Parent.com. This article may not be reprinted.
My boys have liked playing with slime for years. It’s really easy to make your own from just a few simple household ingredients. I recently saw an idea for a new twist on the recipe–glow in the dark slime!
How fun! It’s really simple to make your slime glow in the dark. All you need is a small bottle of glow in the dark paint that you can find in the craft section of Walmart.
Ingredients:
4 oz. white school glue
3-4 tbsp. glow in the dark paint 1/2 c. water Neon food coloring 1 tsp. borax* 1 c. warm water
*You can find borax in the laundry section at the grocery store. It comes in powder form.
In a bowl, mix together glue and 1/2 c. water. Stir in glow in the dark paint and the food coloring. The food coloring is optional, but it will give the slime a brighter color.
In another bowl, mix together borax and 1 c. warm water. Slowly pour the glue mixture into the borax solution, and stir to combine.
As the mixture starts to thicken, let your kids use their hands to knead the slime until it becomes thick and easily handled.
Store the slime in a ziploc bag. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator.
Copyright 2015, Christian-Parent.com. This article may not be reprinted.
My boys are always telling me they are bored and don’t have anything to do. It isn’t easy keeping three boys busy all day.
For Easter their grandma gave them a paper airplane kit called Fold N Fly Paper Airplanes Kit. It comes with 18 sturdy colored papers and instructions on how to make six different styles of paper airplanes:
Phoenix Gamma Racer Stealth Glider Sky Shark Nighthawk Spider Flyer
The kit says it is for ages 6 and up. My 10-year-old boys could make some of the paper airplanes by themselves, but they needed help from their dad to figure out a couple of the instructions.
Overall, this kit is really inexpensive and a great way to pass an afternoon. The instructions come in a nice little booklet that you can keep and use to make more paper airplanes later.
This kit is available at stores and also at Amazon.
Copyright 2015, Christian-Parent.com. This article may not be reprinted.
Follow my homeschooling board on Pinterest.
I found the idea for this neat pop bottle bird feeder in a science kit I am doing with my boys. The project was to recycle a plastic pop bottle by making it into a bird feeder.
All you have to do is purchase this pop bottle bird feeder kit, and in just a few minutes you have a bird feeder to hang up for the birds to enjoy.
You assemble the bird feeder by cutting two small holes, one on either side of the top of the bird feeder (the bottom of the bottle). The kit includes a plastic handle to insert into the two holes so that you will have a hanger to hang the bird feeder.
The kit also includes a plastic piece that screws in to the top of the pop bottle (the bottom of the bird feeder). It provides a perch for the birds while they are eating.
That’s all there is to it. We have really enjoyed trying to identify the birds that come to our bird feeders. We have some house finches, as well as juncos (a type of sparrow). We also identified chickadees. You can identify birds from a bird field guide.
We also found a neat app for iPhones that lets you type in some information about the bird you are looking at and it tells you what the bird may be. It even has recordings of bird calls to help identify birds. The app we are using is the Merlin app from Cornell University.
The science kit we are using is the Birds, Astronomy, Magnetism kit from Home Science Adventures.
Copyright 2015. This article may not be reprinted.
Follow my homeschooling board on Pinterest.
If you are looking for a fun, educational activity for your children, then you might consider origami. I found this fun book called Easy Origami by John Montroll on Amazon, and my boys have really been having fun with it.
Even my almost 6-year-old can do some of the simple projects with help. My 10-year-old’s can do some of the simple projects themselves, and some of the harder projects with help. My boys really got a kick out of making a cup out of paper that could actually hold water!
Here are some of the things you can make from this book:
Sailboat Horse Fish Rabbit Cat Star Candy Box Swan Pin Wheel Water Bomb Frog
There are more than 30 easy projects in all. I looked at several different books, and this one seemed to have the simplest instructions and best variety of projects for beginners. And the best thing about it is the price…it is less than $3.
I have even had fun doing some of these projects myself. It’s nice to have books like this laying around when your kids are bored and are looking for something to do. We will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it.
Copyright 2015, Christian-Parent.com. This article may not be reprinted.
Follow my Kid Stuff board on Pinterest. | 6,637 | 2,877 | 0.000353 |
warc | 201704 | February 13/14 No Greater Love
Perhaps the most intense love and protective instinct in the experience of mankind is that of parents toward their children. There is little that most mothers or fathers wouldn't do for a baby. If a truck posed a threat to the little one, it wouldn't surprise us if they jumped in front of the moving vehicle without a second thought.
Wouldn't you like to be cared for with this kind of intensity? You are. In fact, the Lord's love toward you is far deeper and more secure than that of even the most caring, tuned-in human parent. And what God did for us is proof. Romans 5:8 says that while we were living in disobedience, He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us.
Think about a father giving up his child for people who choose to rebel against him. What a tremendous sacrifice and cost! Jesus' death took the place of the punishment that we deserved. If we accept this gift and decide to follow God, He no longer sees us as guilty. Rather, He justifies us, makes us righteous, and changes our ultimate destiny: instead of facing everlasting separation from Him, we will enjoy His presence eternally. What's more, almighty God adopts us as His children forever. Our heavenly Father guides, protects, and counsels us as we walk through life—and promises us that we are secure in Him throughout eternity.
How incredible that the Creator of the universe would love you and me in this way! Do you know and experience the security and sweetness of His care? Gratitude and praise should flow from your heart. In turn, love others deeply out of thankfulness for the love that you have received.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org. Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved. | 1,820 | 1,024 | 0.000986 |
warc | 201704 | Are You Using the right Measurement when Comparing Storage Methods? A case for the more realistic measure of "cost per pallet through" measurementsAsk an Expert Don't let the illusion of “cost-per-pallet-position” overcome more complex and accurate ways to measure the true cost of storing a pallet
A common business discussion between players in the pallet-handling arena is the use of the "cost per position" measure. This exchange occurs between vendors and customers, customers and consultants, and consultants and vendors. The measure works well when examining identical or nearly identical technologies, but becomes meaningless when diverse technologies are involved. The more useful measure – "cost per pallet through" the system – is one that isn't simple, which means that its use is limited.
Ultimately, value is created when facility or warehouse processes are made more efficient or eliminated altogether by the type of storage method employed. When comparing automated pallet handling methods such as AS/RS (automated storage/retrieval systems) or HDDS (high-density dynamic storage systems) to standard rack or drive-in rack methods, the entire discussion is typically reduced to a capital basis. Little or no consideration is given to the ongoing operating costs or potential capital avoidance.
A reason people like to use "cost per position" when discussing storage methods may be that it is easier to talk about equipment as a simple unit of measure. However, using "cost per position" is not always a complete measurement. What needs to be considered is the entire operation using a total system view, taking into account all the process elements incorporated and their associated costs.
A significant area in a comparison between the automated pallet handling and manual methods is the one-time facility costs of the land and building. It can be argued that the capital avoidance in the building footprint and related costs such as land purchase can be as much as 50%, depending on the automated pallet handling technology employed. In addition, equipment such as fork trucks and dock doors can also be reduced by as much as 50%.
Operating costs have a similar relationship to value creation, and the potential to increase the productivity of shipping and receiving activities via automation can be as high as 300%. The manual storage, replenishment and staging functions in many cases can be completely eliminated. Other pertinent operating savings exist; reduced damage from multiple handling, lower utilities including the high cost of refrigeration in freezers, and even ancillary areas such as drop-lot costs can be reduced in the faster-turn automated environment.
The unit measure of comparison for warehousing alternatives should not be oversimplified by the "cost per position" approach. Both capital and operating cost information must be analyzed so that the more realistic measure of "cost per pallet through" can be compared. The bottom line difference can be substantial. | 3,046 | 1,438 | 0.000705 |
warc | 201704 | On July 1st the Virginia ABC Store in Berryville will open it’s doors for the first time on a Sunday. A new law passed in the Commonwealth of Virginia allows the Crow Street location to join the ranks of other ABC stores across the state that will begin the sale of liquor on Sundays.
Changes to Virginia’s “blue law” started in 2004 when select ABC stores in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and areas of Northern Virginia began selling alcohol on Sundays. It was expanded to stores in large cities in 2008. The new legislation that was passed by the General Assembly in February removed the population restrictions and will now allow all ABC stores to sell alcohol on Sundays as of July 1 where local ordinances do not prohibit it.
Current laws already allow consumers to buy beer or wine at grocery stores on Sundays and order hard liquor drinks at bars and restaurants.
While the freedom to purchase alcohol from ABC stores on Sunday is a plus for consumers, the real winner is the State of Virginia as the extended hours add up to more sales that will generate more money for the state’s general fund. Last year’s ABC report shows Sunday store sales were up 9.6% from 2010, putting $1.8 million more into the state’s pocket.
After the new law goes into effect, the state plans to monitor the 200 ABC stores that will be affected. After six months, the sales figures from the stores will be reviewed for profitability and a decision will be made whether or not to keep the new hours.
The Sunday hours will be from 1:00p.m. till 6:00 p.m. | 1,574 | 813 | 0.001264 |
warc | 201704 | Word that Goldman Sachs is encouraging its junior investment bankers to take weekends off initially prompted scoffing.
"I think it's a typo. They meant 'take a weekend off.' Like once a year," an analyst at a rival firm texted me this morning.
Matt Levine at Bloomberg is even more derisive:
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha "Goldman Pushes Junior Investment Bankers to Take Weekends Off." "Sorry boss, I'd love to put together that pitchbook, but the junior banker task force encouraged me to go see a show this weekend." Junior investment bankers are famously useless -- they don't know anything or see clients -- but they make up for it by working like dogs and being available at all hours to make their senior bankers' lives a bit easier. (That's also how they earn their salaries, and justify them to themselves. "Well if you consider my hours I'm practically making minimum wage" is an untrue thing you sometimes hear.) If they work nine to five what is their value proposition?
When I worked in law and finance, I heard a version of this all the time. If you complained about the hours or the quality of your life, you were told that your willingness to sacrifice everything for the job was "why you earn the big bucks."
This was never really true. The reason anyone earns "the big bucks" is because the market has priced their labor at a high level.
Which is why Goldman's move isn't really as nuts as it sounds to Levine and other veterans of Wall Street.
Junior investment bankers may be a bit useless but that doesn't mean they are worthless. At least some of them eventually become senior investment bankers, with the potential to earn a lot of money for their firm. That potentiality is valuable—which is one reason investment banks pay kids straight out of college six figures (once you count bonus and salary). | 1,847 | 995 | 0.001019 |
warc | 201704 | For some people, the term “dropout” conjures up images of students who are lazy, unmotivated, and unwilling to put in the time and effort necessary to complete high school. But a new report recently released by America’s Promise Alliance paints a much more complex picture.
Titled “Don’t Call Them Dropouts,” the report is based on research conducted by the Center for Promise at Tufts University. Researchers conducted interviews with 200 young people and surveyed 3,000 people ages 18 to 25, making it the largest study of its kind about dropouts.
Roughly 20% of American students who enter high school fail to graduate—which translates into a graduation rate that ranks the United States at 22nd out of 27 developed countries. “Don’t Call Them Dropouts” examines why those students are dropping out and what can be done to stymie this highly problematic trend.
Here’s an overview of the study’s findings:
Multiple factors play into a student’s decision to drop out
There is rarely one single reason why a student decides to leave high school, but rather several interrelated reasons. Study participants cited various combinations of 25 different factors that played into their decision to drop out, including:
Lack of support and guidance from adults Incarceration Death in the family Health challenges in the family Gangs School safety School policies Peer influences Becoming a parent Students who drop out are often living in toxic environments
Participants in the study’s group interviews described living in “toxic” environments in which they experienced violence, health problems, or “unsafe, unsupportive, or disrespectful school climates and policies.” Many participants talked about being physically and emotionally abused—both at home and at school, sadly. Others reported that they had been homeless, served time in juvenile detention, or had to serve as their family’s primary caretaker or wage-earner—all factors that can make high school completion a seemingly impossible challenge.
Young people search for supportive connections (for better or worse)
The study found that young people seek supportive connections from adults, and if they fail to find them, they often end up making poor decisions. On the other side of the coin is the fact that they may find the connections they’re looking for in peers or other individuals who don’t have their best interest at heart, such as gangs or drug users.
On a more positive note, however, the study also found that 41% of respondents cited “someone encouraged me” as their reason for returning to school—meaning “once a dropout, always a dropout” doesn’t have to be the case.
Dropouts are resilient, but they need support
Dropping out isn’t necessarily indicative of a student’s lack of grit. On the contrary, the study found that many dropouts are especially resilient and that “persistence, personal agency, courage, and optimism about the future shone through in the interview participants’ stories.” But they need the help of supportive individuals in order to succeed.
So what can you do to help students stay in (or return to) school? The report ends with several insightful recommendations:
Listen.Take the time to truly understand what they’re going through. Surround the highest-need young people with extra supports.Communities (and schools) should develop early warning systems to help identify the students who are going to need extra attention and support in order to graduate. Create a cadre of community navigators to help students stay in school.Many students lack the support of their parents or other family members, so communities and schools should find ways to step in and give them the guidance they need. Follow the evidence.Do some research, find out what has worked for other communities and schools, and follow suit. And once you find something that works for your students, spread the word. Place young people in central roles in designing and implementing solutions that will work for their peers.Young people are highly impressionable and easily influenced by one another. Give your students a sense of purpose by creating opportunities for them to share their experiences and participate in efforts to boost graduation rates. For an eye-opening look at some real-life dropouts, watch the video below, then share your thoughts on this important topic in the comments. You can also continue the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NotDropouts. | 4,631 | 2,181 | 0.000478 |
warc | 201704 | College Policies: Humble Beginnings in Ohio
According to a report on WhiteHouse.gov, one of the first companies to reap the benefits of this fund is ABS Materials. The company has produced an absorbent material dubbed "Osorb," which soaks up organic contaminants like a sponge to help clean up oil spills and polluted waterways. The company has begun generating revenue from their idea in just two short years, providing economic stimulus and jobs to this Ohio community along the way.
About Jared Loughner
When Loughner released a YouTube video that called the college a "scam" and associated it with genocide, school officials told Loughner and his parents that he was no longer able to return to his classes. He would also need to obtain a report from a psychiatrist attesting to his mental health before coming back to the school campus again. Loughner never returned to Pima.
Using
About the Professor
The Complaint Wittington's Service
Charles Wittington was in the army infantry in Iraq from October 2005 to June 2007, according to a report at CNN. During that time, Wittington survived three attacks from improvised explosive devices, and he had to be medevaced out of Iraq in 2007. After Wittington's discharge, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. He also lost a finger in one of the attacks. Currently, Wittington is on medication and receiving counseling to help him cope with the aftermath of his war experience.
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Outsourcing can lead to a more efficient and higher quality education. Standardized curriculum offers consistency in quality. A competitive market usually means higher quality of product and service. There are cost savings between hiring additional faculty and outsourcing teaching services. Profit-making industries present conflict of interest with public goals of colleges. Outsourcing could undermine tenure-based employment system. Quality of teaching could be lower. There is lack of control by faculty over curriculum and course design. Remedial Courses from the Private Sector | 2,097 | 1,125 | 0.000895 |
warc | 201704 | When Adobe was hit with a break-in to one of its code-signing servers last September, chief security officer (CSO) Brad Arkin used the crisis to drive security change and improvement.
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Attackers exploited an insecure configuration on a server in the company and initiate code-signing requests for malicious software to infiltrate the corporate network.
The attack was quickly detected and shut down, but it revealed weaknesses in the security processes which Arkin set about changing, using a five-step plan.
“Rapid, dramatic change is most quickly achieved through a crisis,” Arkin told the Security Development Conference 2013 in San Francisco.
The plan is based on the view of French political economist and one of the founding fathers of the European Union, Jean Monet, that people accept change only when faced with necessity, and recognise necessity only when a crisis is upon them.
Preparation
The first step, said Arkin, is to be prepared before a crisis hits. This involves building a network of people in the organisation that know and trust you as an information security professional.
He recommends building a formal network of people, who can influence change when required; and an informal, social network of people, who will tell you what is really going on in a crisis.
Read more about incident response Government launches cyber incident response scheme Security incident response below par at most firms, says Guidance Software Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) Developing an incident response plan of attack in the data age How to comply with updated NIST incident response guidelines Incident response template for effective incident response planning Royal Holloway 2012: An incident response process for armoured malware Incident management systems vs. emergency notification systems
“It is also very important to understand the business, business goals and what influences decisions, because if you don’t, you can’t give good advice when the business starts listening to you,” said Arkin
Another important part of preparation, he said, is to run through crisis scenarios facing other organisations and ask what your organisation would do in similar circumstances.
“This is useful in identifying gaps in your security and where you need to invest,” said Arkin.
Similarly, organisations should force themselves to “think big” by drawing up “magic wand plans” of what could and should be done, given unlimited resources.
Finally, as part of the preparatory stage, organisations should define the behaviour they are trying to drive and develop metrics so that they can track progress over time.
“Metrics are hard and tricky, they also take time to develop, so this can’t wait until you are faced with a crisis,” said Arkin.
“We eventually realised that counting vulnerabilities did not correlate to safety of users, and that it was real-world exploits that really mattered.”
Business overview
When a crisis hits, Arkin believes it is important for information security professionals to speak the language of the business by saying how it affects them in real terms, and to start with the facts.
“Let go of the details, say what is going on and more importantly tell people what to do to move forward with clear recommendations, but resist the temptation to dive deep,” said Arkin.
Implementing the plan to recover and move forward involves people, process and technology. It also requires someone who is good at project planning.
“If you are not that person, step aside and find someone who has the skills needed,” said Arkin.
Typically this stage involves a training programme aimed at improving “security IQ” for each team involved, to enable each member to make better decisions.
Arkin recommends building and using automation tools to ensure remediation can be done quickly, consistently and at scale.
“Use existing management infrastructures, deputise people who are used to telling teams what to do to get thing done, rather than creating new crisis management structures,” he said.
Drive change
Finally, ensure momentum is maintained, said Arkin, by exploiting the crisis to drive change and evolving the crisis plan into a longer term security roadmap, with longer term metrics.
This is the five-point plan Adobe followed with the code signing incident that involved re-signing 76 products by 3,000 people within 12 days.
According to Arkin, the plan worked well in helping to drive change and identifying areas where more work needed to be done to ensure any future crises would be even more beneficial in this way.
One of the biggest lessons learned was the importance of consolidating ownership for security processes to ensure there were no gaps.
“We learned the importance of remaining vigilant for gaps in risk ownership,” said Arkin.
In practice, the best way to communicate with the business was through regular updates at set intervals, rather than allowing new intelligence and progress to “leak” out in a haphazard way.
Deputising individuals to solve specific problems also helped to get thing done quickly and efficiently.
Exploiting focus on security crisis is an effective way to change specific behaviours and to enable the adoption of an improved set of best practices company-wide, said Arkin.
“And of all the steps, the most important was clearly being prepared,” he said. | 5,680 | 2,576 | 0.000402 |
warc | 201704 | Asked and AnsweredThe seller is a foreign citizen and does not have a social security number. Does that prevent the seller from selling the apartment?
Not necessarily. As a foreign citizen (that is, someone who is not a citizen of the United States), the seller may not have a social security number, but that will not be required to complete the closing documentation and consummate the closing. What can cause a problem is the IRS requirement to withhold ten percent of the purchase price as a “withholding” payment by the "foreign person" (that is a foreign citizen who does not have a green card and who not a resident alien), to cover any capital gains recognized by the seller when the apartment is sold. That withholding payment has to be made at closing and forwarded by the buyer’s attorney to IRS. Foreign sellers can have the amount of the actual capital gains payment that is due calculated in advance (which is usually done if the estimate is less than the ten percent withholding), but that requires planning by the seller’s attorney. If the payment due the IRS has not been calculated in advance, the ten percent withholding must be collected at closing and paid. To avoid the problem entirely, the seller can deliver a "FIRPTA" affidavit, by which the seller certifies that the Seller is not a foreign person, within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code. If the seller is a foreign person, obviously, that's not a solution.
In addition, if the seller is not a resident of New York State, or does not qualify for one of the exemptions, an estimated capital gains tax payment must also be made by the seller at closing to New York State. | 1,699 | 786 | 0.001294 |
warc | 201704 | The concluding volume of
Social Structure and Forms of Consciousness is an important defence of the Marxist dialectical method applied to history, showing that only this approach leads to revolutionary possibilities.
István Mészáros,
Social Structure and Forms of Consciousness, volume 2: The Dialectic of Structure and History (Monthly Review Press 2011), 509pp.
It is a necessary starting point for any serious social analysis to be able to contrast the froth of events and personalities, things the pure empiricist would present as being merely ‘the facts’, with more meaningful structures which shape and guide individuals and events. Yet, while a necessary concept, the word ‘structure’ itself carries unhelpful associations. A structure suggests permanent and unmovable objects, rather than the constantly shifting social relations that are renewed and remade in cycles.
Structure calls to mind most concretely the great infrastructures of a society, its buildings, its roads, earthworks, canals or railways. And these certainly can have a long-lived and persistent impact upon social change. Yet human society is always in flux, and every relationship that constitutes it must be renewed and remade, whether on a generational, yearly or even daily basis. What then are ‘social structures’? They can partake of fairly permanent things. A network of roads is not just something that the state renews as it becomes potholed, but a structure around which much else that is a long term resource has been built. In Britain there are a fair number of main roads that go back thousands of years, even to long before the Roman era. So, society can be built around long-lived ‘structures’ of this kind, and yet change out of all recognition. Another way to conceptualise structure is to remove it from the physical arena altogether and to find it expressed in the binaries of language and culture. This was the approach of the French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, whose ‘structuralism’ has been enormously influential over the last fifty years, spawning various schools of ‘structuralist’ Marxism, ‘post-structuralism’ and kindred approaches. If to reduce structure to the physical realm represents one unfruitful extreme, the Lévi-Strauss position could be said to represent the other pole. Early on in this second volume of Social Structure and Forms of Consciousness, István Mészáros makes clear that his concluding critique of Lévi-Strauss, and by implication all those whose thought is built upon his, is a major aspect of the work (p.12). The central aspect of Mészáros’ argument is the impossibility of understanding structure except through history. Furthermore, the denial of history (which is more or less explicit in structuralism and its progeny) is the necessary result of a failure to understand the dialectic of structure and history. Associated with this problem are a whole range of issues, first of all of course, the use of the Marxist concept of base and superstructure. There are also such matters as the relationship between individual and society, as exemplified, in a problematic sense, in Jean-Paul Sartre’s attempts to reconcile existentialism and Marxism. While both Sartre’s and Lévi-Strauss’ work is seen ultimately in terms of failure, Sartre is regarded with considerable respect. In contrast, Mészáros has little patience with Lévi-Strauss, for whom history in itself was a problem. Lévi-Strauss complained that historical knowledge is, of its very nature, ‘discontinuous and classificatory’ so that ‘alleged historical continuity is secured only by dint of fraudulent outlines’ (quoted at p.12 from The Savage Mind, all italics Lévi-Strauss). The ‘fraudulent outlines’ would be any attempt to move beyond ‘cataloguing the elements of any structure whatever’ in order to grasp the moving totality of history. Thus, Mészáros objects to this ‘mechanical reductivist’ approach to history, arguing that it makes it impossible to explain any social change whatsoever. Indeed, Lévi-Strauss seems to be saying that all that historical knowledge can achieve is to assign bits of data into pre-existing categories, perhaps with such labels as ‘class’, ‘hierarchy’ or ‘religion’. An understanding of how societies create their own structures in the course of social activity is impossible within the terms laid down by Lévi-Strauss. This refusal of any attempt at a dialectical analysis of society in history means that, for Mészáros, the concept of structure itself is reduced to ‘an equally mechanical definition’ (p.13). Without this dialectic of structure and history, the book’s subtitle, it is impossible to explain social development, and social thought is reduced to an ahistorical game of static and mechanistic categories. The book ranges over a great deal of philosophical ground, but Mészáros returns frequently to the underlying perception that in an age where capitalism is in its ‘descending phase of development’, social and philosophical thought that retains basic bourgeois assumptions (explored in full in the first volume), are going to have to deny the real import of history. Thus the familiar attempts to claim that capitalism simply reflects the laws of nature, or at least of human nature, become ever more strident. Here, Mészáros catches Friedrich Hayek in an obvious irrationality: ‘He insists that “the creation of wealth ... cannot be explained by a chain of cause and effect” ’ (p.18). This really is to shroud capital in its own ahistorical mythology. Mészáros’ case is that capitalism can no longer provide any positive development for humanity. Worse, its contradictions have reached such a destructive and irrational impasse that we are fast approaching the point where capitalism must cede to another social system of production, or, failing that, humanity will be plunged into a very grim ecological crisis. Consciously or unconsciously, thinkers who remain bound within the assumptions of the capitalist social system must deny the real substance of historical change to avoid perceiving these consequences. In the course of sustaining the conclusion that capitalism has run out of progressive capacity, Mészáros makes some particularly interesting comments on the impact of technology in capitalism. A mechanical Marxist approach would be to assert the transition to socialism will occur when the technological forces of production have made a society of abundance possible. However, this cannot ever be the case within capitalism, since it produces scarcity as a condition of its continued existence. Technology, its development and its impact, is therefore always contradictory, in that on the one hand it promises improvement, new and better forms of prosperity, but in practice it must always create new forms of scarcity. As a result it appears as if the possibility of a society based upon abundance is an ever-receding prospect (pp.76-7). Moreover, our liberation from capitalism will not come from the arrival of any particular technology. Within capitalism, any new technology will produce its own deleterious effects (socially and ecologically), reinforcing the existing system and working against any of its potentially-liberating aspects. This dialectical understanding of technology and society underlines the point that the abolition of capitalism by social revolution is not an inevitability. We face the prospect of socialism or barbarism, and as Mészáros insists, that barbarism has an increasingly ecological dimension. The role of technology is also of conceptual importance in the book’s pervasive concern with the problem of base and superstructure. One of the most serious errors that has undermined Marxist thought is the conflation of the social forces of production with technology. The assumption that follows is that at the determining core of the ‘base’ is technology as such, whether the iron plough or the computer chip. A society’s social structures then simply unfold naturally from the technological premise. Once again, Mészáros’ concern is that without a properly dialectical understanding of base and superstructure, the dialectic of structure and history cannot itself be understood, and bourgeois thinking wins through again. Some have argued that the ‘base and superstructure’ metaphor is so hopelessly compromised by reductive and mechanical interpretations, that it would be best abandoned altogether. Mészáros’ discussion here is a good antidote to that intellectual counsel of despair, showing the real dialectic involved in the model, while noting that the paired concepts must not be understood as literally as mechanical interpretations tend to do; they are only ‘similes’ (p.54). Thus also, Mészáros exposes the limitations of the standard formula that seeks to rescue the mechanical reading, where the superstructure is said to react back upon the base, or some ‘reciprocal action’ is envisaged. One clarification that ought really to be held in mind is that while the dialectic of ‘social being’ and ‘social consciousness’ parallels ‘base and superstructure’, these two oppositions should not be conflated (pp.112-13). Otherwise, some of the crudest parodies of Marxism result, whereby ‘thoughts’ as such are somehow ‘superstructural’ alongside, say, universities and monarchies. In fact, ‘social consciousness’ is crucial in the real social relations that constitute the economy itself. The publications of a Lévi-Strauss or a Mészáros, unimaginable in their present form without the whole historical complex of academic institutions, are superstructural. Also classically superstructural is the state, which, however, does not merely ‘react back’ upon the base, but under capitalism is fundamental to the whole system’s ability to reproduce itself. The nature of the state is constituted by the base, but thereby it is deeply entangled in maintaining particular social relations (pp.180-4, 218-20). Here is where the architectural resonances of ‘structure’ obscure the dialectic Mészáros is pursuing. A mechanical understanding of base and superstructure can lead to an appearance that the Marxist approach to history has serious limits. For example, it can appear unable to analyse pre-capitalist societies effectively, where it is sometimes held that the superstructure dominates the base and not the other way round. In refutation, Mészáros develops a detailed argument demonstrating how superstructural ‘law’ emerges from ‘customs’ and ‘traditions’ which themselves help to constitute the social metabolism (pp.116-17). This argument, developed from an extended passage in Marx on the genesis of rent ( Capital, vol.3, pp.773-4, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1959), is a formal analysis of how a society transforms itself from an egalitarian, customary society, to one with class, property and law. The lack of historical specifics in Mészáros’ argument here should not imply to the reader that the analysis could not be born out in a real case. The perception, that custom constitutes part of the relations of production in a society without a class-based superstructure, is a powerful one. It could, for example, be used to explain the re-establishment of class societies in northern Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The imposition of Christian belief and custom was not some independently ‘superstructural’ intervention which transformed society by itself. Rather it constituted the means by which class and property were intruded into those customary relations of production in post-Roman societies, which had, at least partly, reverted to egalitarian and communal forms. The conversion of barbarian kings to Christianity was not a series of unaccountable individual movements of conscience. It was instead the more predictable discovery on the part of warrior elites that they could turn the precarious and partial domination of their localised societies into a fully-expressed class system, with the help of the social institutions which came with the new religion. A society, with customs congealing through constant reproduction (p.116), is ripe for a transformation into a law-based class society. Yet this is no mechanical process, as it implies the activity of various social agencies attempting to turn the contradictions of their society this way or that. Pre-capitalist societies often can appear dominated by superstitions and magical belief, in a way that suggests to some that ‘superstructural’ elements, that is to say belief systems, form and rule society. One can then rail against religion, abstractly understood, as being the entity that held (and holds) societies back from the advances gained by bourgeois rationality. However, once these ‘superstitions’ are understood as expressions of the social consciousness that regulated peasant relations, the harvest and the general rhythms of agriculture, for example, then they can be understood in terms of the social antagonisms and solidarities they really were. ‘Ideas’, abstracted from the social relations whence they arise, are not capable of moving history, or changing structures. However a social consciousness embedded in certain specific social relations can do so. It is this dialectic that Marx had in mind when he wrote that ‘theory itself becomes a material force when it has seized the masses’, in coming to his understanding of the revolutionary potential of the proletariat. The complexity of the dialectic between structure and history here highlights why notions that the ‘superstructure’ can ‘react back upon the base’ miss the mark. Left at that, this sort of approach only maintains the mechanical understanding of the metaphor and then undermines Marx’s original analysis. Mészáros’ exploration of base and superstructure is therefore important and fruitful, yet it is certainly not an introductory analysis (a very important discussion that is nonetheless a suitable way into the subject is Franz Jacobowski, Ideology and Superstructure in Historical Materialism. Mészáros seeks to show how this dialectic unfolds through the way it is embedded in the decline into destructive absurdity of capitalism as a social system. Without the revolutionary logic of this understanding of base and superstructure, history and structure, and one might add, agency and structure, those that Mészáros critiques are led unavoidably into a frozen conception of these categories. Thus they deny history in rejecting the necessity and possibility of revolutionary change. Hence the closing sections of the book end with critiques of two thinkers whose operating assumptions deny or forego the dialectical insight Mészáros has outlined. Earlier, he points out that structuralist (and post-structuralist) discussions tend to make the mistaken assumption that Marx’s concepts are to be understood as ideal types in the Weberian sense, rather than as historical processes (p.88). That is to say, that ‘class’ exists as an abstract category into which real data can be sorted, rather than that class is a relationship that is formed in time, and emerges through developing patterns of social action. To perceive Marx’s concepts through fixed categories rather than through their dialectical aspect, argues Mészáros, means that it becomes impossible to envisage revolutionary social change. Structures conceived using ahistorical terms, logically will not be subject to change. Not only does this exclude socialism as a reasonable possibility in practice, it also makes it difficult to deal with history in any satisfactory manner, since revolutionary social change has in fact happened repeatedly in the past (pp.90-1). It may be observed that those who, ultimately, followed Lévi-Strauss’s lead, the postmodernists, did indeed have considerable difficulty in accounting for change in history, and were broadly hostile to it as an intellectual endeavour (see Richard J. Evans, In Defence of History (Granta 1997). It is however possible for a thinker to grasp the importance of history in a way very sympathetic to Marxism, and yet for his social thought to be fatally curtailed by the acceptance of bourgeois methodological premises. This is the judgement on Jean-Paul Sartre, and his two-volume Critique of Dialectical Reason. The posthumously published second volume was ultimately a failure, but for Mészáros a very valuable one. Sartre held to certain premises, such as scarcity being a permanent feature of human history, and retained the atomised individual as the methodological point of reference. These starting points made it impossible for him actually to implement a dialectical approach to history. In particular, the atomistic treatment of individuals, and Sartre’s failure to grasp the mediations that overcome such separations to create organic social entities, leads to his perception of an unbridgeable gap between individual existence and the group or collective. Similarly, the lack of mediation in Sartre’s use of the dialectic means that history cannot form a coherent whole. This is why the second volume, focused on history itself, was never finished in his lifetime. Sartre thus becomes a case study of an honest, even heroic, attempt to grasp history, philosophically and practically, starting from the methodological assumptions of bourgeois thought. Sartre’s ultimate failure here is therefore the real culmination of Mészáros’ own two volume assault on social philosophy under capitalism. The failure to find a workable dialectic between individual and group, the failure in fact to grasp the reality of the social individual, becomes in the end a failure to grasp history. This is an inherent tendency of all bourgeois social thought, despite early efforts, represented by Vico for example, to grasp historical change. The more that capitalism enters its ‘declining phase’, the more history has to be suppressed, and a gloomy universalism concerning the tragic limitations of human nature must take over. None of this is merely academic, and Mészáros makes sure to emphasise the unpleasant political consequences of working within the limitations of bourgeois philosophical premises. Sartre’s life was an attempt to make his philosophy and politics come to a fruitful totality, and perhaps this is one reason why he gains Mészáros’ critical admiration. Lévi-Strauss is dealt with much more harshly, evidently due to the reactionary consequences of his conception that historical knowledge is ‘discontinuous and classificatory’. As a consequence of this assumption, Lévi-Strauss is able to make ‘exchange’ a supra-historical category that flattens history and eternalises capitalism. Mészáros likens this move to the ‘characteristic role to which it [the concept of ‘exchange’] is put in the aggressively anti-socialist crusade by Friedrich von Hayek’ (p.406). Lévi-Strauss has other toxic associations also, since his inability to conceive of an end to capitalism means that options to solve the ecological crisis become limited and reactionary. Ultimately, he mixes pure despair for humanity (‘its own worst enemy’) with a Malthusian agenda (p.402). Without Marx’s historical dialectic as a guide, it becomes impossible to account for historical change itself, and as a result, political action equally becomes impossible. Mészáros, throughout the two volumes of Social Structure and Forms of Consciousness, is scathing about the intellectual passivity of bourgeois thought. Standing in contrast is the dialectical method, which Mészáros offers as a challenging, but revolutionary alternative.
Dominic Alexander is a member of Counterfire, for which he is the book review editor. He has been a Stop the War and anti-austerity activist in north London for some time. He is a published historian whose work includes the book
Saints and Animals in the Middle Ages, a social history of medieval wonder tales More articles from this author Imperialist rivalries and the First World War - the world of the Russian Revolution: A festival of re-distribution: the real spirit of Christmas The Leveller Revolution: Radical Political Organisation in England 1640-1650 Race and Class: The Colour of Struggle 1950s-1980s A Hidden History Of The Cuban Revolution: How the Working Class Shaped the Guerillas' Victory Wall Street’s Think Tank The Lords of Human Kind | 21,294 | 8,490 | 0.000124 |
warc | 201704 | Today, with President Nicolás Maduro more than one year in office, the situation in Venezuela seems rather bleak for the left. The right-wing opposition believes it’s hot on the trail of a wounded quarry. That is why they conspire in Miami and Washington and why they cleverly combine forms of pacific and violent struggle. Like Lenin in the autumn of 1917 (though with a completely different purpose) these pro-imperialist forces ask the question:
Can the post-Chávez government retain state power? Can it last for years or even months? They believe it cannot last long.
Deciding the issue of the government’s longevity is not easy, but what is clear is that the riddle of contemporary Venezuela, for both the political left and right, is unanswerable without appealing to history. One can look squarely in the face of the current political situation, condemn Maduro’s government for its mediocrity, and prescribe
ad nauseam that he rectify its course – as do such leftist commentators as Roland Denis and Toby Valderrama – but an understanding of Venezuela’s current quandary requires winding back the clock. This is because the future of the Bolivarian Republic, if that future is socialist, implies not going forward but going back… to a forking of paths that emerged some seven years ago.
The Bolivarian Process is hard to periodize. At first blush, the key watershed appears to be between the Chávez period (1998 to 2013) and the Maduro one (from 2013 forward). In favor of this breakdown, one can enumerate some obvious differences between these two periods. First, the Chávez years were characterized by powerful and innovative leadership, whereas Maduro’s thirteen months show dispersion and vacillation. Second, Chávez advanced with the masses (“talked and acted”), whereas Maduro retreats and negotiates (“merely talks”). Finally, Chávez lobbied for socialism, but Maduro opts at best for a Chinese-style mixed system.
Yet this superficial periodization falls apart in view of the many continuities between Chávez and Maduro. After all, did not the founder of the Bolivarian Process explicitly name Nicolás Maduro as his successor, referring to his “firm, irrevocable and absolute opinion” that the people should elect his second-in-command as the next president? More important, all of those who are now governing in Venezuela (including Diosdado Cabello, Jorge Arreaza, Elías Jaua, and Rafael Ramírez) were long part of Chávez’s team and schooled in his way of doing politics. These continuities lead us to a surprising conclusion: the current political crisis in Venezuela dates not from early 2013 with Maduro entering the presidency, but rather from 2007 when Chávez was apparently at the height of his power.
We should look closely at that crucial moment. In December of 2006, Chávez won his second-term elections (in which he had boldly announced socialism to be his future program) with a sweeping majority. Yet during the upcoming year his government faced serious blows from which its political project would never fully recover. In May of 2007, Chávez made good on his declaration that he would not renew the concession to RCTV, a television station which grouped right-wing commercial and political interests. This brought the middle-class university students out to the streets to protest. Though a new channel (TVES) replaced RCTV as planned, the right-wing emerged from this struggle with renewed confidence and vigor.
This meant that although the opposition had taken a real hit in the summer, it would successfully rally in the fall to defeat Chávez’s constitutional reform, which aimed to provide a legal framework for Bolivarian Socialism. Probably just as important and simultaneous with these external blows, the Chavist movement failed in its effort to develop an organizational structure that would allow it to build socialism hand-in-hand with the masses. That structure might have been the PSUV – the United Socialist Party of Venezuela that Chávez ushered hurriedly into existence in the course of 2007-8 – but it turned out to be an empty form.
A number of factors contributed to this failure, including the vested power of the cadres in Chávez’s existing MVR (Fifth Republic Movement), his military officer’s native distrust of spontaneity, and the chaotic nature of a society in which productive work is scarce. Whatever the reasons, the first PSUV congress in early 2008 saw the then vice-president Jorge Rodríguez squelching internal party democracy with the verticalist slogan:
What Chávez says goes! ( ¡Lo que diga Chávez!). From this point forward the party would be an increasingly hollow giant. Though it includes nearly seven million militants in its registers, the PSUV is barely an electoral apparatus and is far from being the type of party that can take on the construction of socialism.
For the rest of his presidency and life, Chávez acted like an exemplary widow who, though he had been bereaved of the means to carry forward his project, did everything to keep up appearances. To be sure, the late President continued to talk enthusiastically about socialism and even went on making advances in its theorization. Yet without an organizational structure or organic popular movement, his project became increasingly mystified and messianic. Chávez either
could not or would not return to the problem that the 2007 crossroads presented to him: how to construct a socialist mass movement.
Maduro inherited this problem and – true to the example of Chávez’s last seven years – he works mainly to maintain appearances. Contrary to what some pessimists believe, it is unlikely that Maduro has lost any significant number of Chávez’s supporters, who may have become more apathetic but have not changed political color. Hence, if hegemony consists of securing first the support of allies and second the passive consent of enemies, it is only the latter that has changed. That is to say, in contrast with Chávez’s years, the Venezuelan opposition today no longer accepts its subordination: it is no longer “neutralized.”
In Maduro’s favor, one might adduce that he seems to be aware of a need to retrace steps and this is shown by his new discourse about “productive forces.” Presumably, a positive outcome of the recent negotiations with the local bourgeoisie is the concerted project to build productive forces in Venezuela that could some day issue into socialism. Hence it might be argued that Maduro is stepping back to create this necessary condition for socialism: “Socialist accumulation.” But the error here is to forget that during the transition to socialism the political must dominate the economic. That is to say, the construction of productive forces (with either a NEP or Chinese model) is senseless in the absence of an organized socialist movement, and this by no means exists in Venezuela.
The real crossroads to which revolutionary Venezuelans must return is the
political confrontation with the opposition in 2007. A dilemma which resonates with the confrontations of that year takes place now almost daily in the streets of Venezuela (a bit like an unresolved psychological trauma). The right-wing youth occupies the streets – “resists” in their mock heroic language – and who will remove them? This is the problem that Pepe Mujica recently alluded to, and it is equivalent to the question of who will respond to the “whip of the counterrevolution.” As long as the response comes primarily from the government or the National Guard and not from a socialist movement, there will be no real steps to socialism.
Of course, the question of how to create a modern socialist movement is by no means obvious. Arguably, now that so many parties of the Lenin-Lassalle tradition have run aground, the prospect of socialist organization is just as spectral today as it was in 1848 (when Marx and Engels wrote the famous opening lines of the Communist Manifesto). That is the bad news. The good news is that the left is in a better position than ever to overcome the fetishes that have hamstrung its projects over the years. Indeed, what better context to restore Marxism to its original spirit of creative activism, enemy of dogmas and absolutes, than in the active, vastly innovative processes in Latin America? In this continent, even the fight against the nationalist fetish that has so long beleaguered Marxism has the force of a two-hundred year project called Bolivarian integration.
. Chris Gilbert is professor of Political Science in the Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela | 8,879 | 4,119 | 0.000252 |
warc | 201704 | Search engine optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization, or SEO is the process of ensuring that a site is accessible to a search engine and has a chance being found by the search engine, by improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via algorithmic search results.
Usually, the higher a website is presented in the search results, the more searchers will visit that site. Search engine optimization can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines.
Search engine optimization is used as a marketing strategy to increase a website’s presence and relevancy. Search engine optimization considers how search algorithms work and what people search for. It involves a website’s coding, presentation, and structure, as well as search engine indexing programs.
Search engine optimization spans a number of items related to the optimization a web site for better search ability by search engine spiders, higher rankings in search results listings and an overall better user experience.
Involving the targeting of specific keyword phrases for each page, search engine optimization is the practice of comparing and analyzing top ranking web sites in search results and making changes to specific pages on a web site to elevate its rankings in search results.
Search engine optimization also takes into account extraneous text on a web page, information not considered to be related to the targeted keyword phrases for the page, and overall quality of the information being presented.
It also includes adding unique content to a site, and making sure that the content is easily indexed by search engines and also appeals to the reader or browser.
The term ‘Search engine optimization’ refers to a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who perform search engine optimization services in-house.
Search engine optimizers may offer ‘SEO’ as a stand-alone service or as a part of a broader marketing campaign. Because effective search engine optimization may require changes to the HTML source code of a site, and may be incorporated into website content, development and design.
A webpage based on search engine optimization includes, title tag, meta keywords tag, and description tags. The body copy of the webpage must have keyword phrases, which must be repeated as needed throughout the copy. The keyword phrase must feature prominently in headers and making it bold or italics.
Search engine optimization has become a specialization today and a vital tool in web marketing.
Author Bio | 2,714 | 1,170 | 0.000869 |
warc | 201704 | For the best overview of Crime in the United States and links to recent reports, see Crime Over Time-Crime in America. See FBI charts at the bottom of this page. Author Leonard A. Sipes, Jr. Thirty-five years of speaking for national and state criminal justice agencies. Former Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention for the Department […]
Violent crime increased for all categories during the first six months of 2015 per the FBI. What follows is part editorial and part news. Editorial: The fact that violent crime would increase in 2015 was easily foreseen. This is what we wrote on this site after the FBI released their full report on crime in the […]
The FBI released details on more than 5.4 million criminal offenses reported via the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2014 (latest data available). The information is an example of the kind of better, more comprehensive and complete crime data that the FBI is compiling. NIBRS, 2014, provides a diverse range of information about victims, […]
The FBI released details on more than 5.6 million criminal offenses reported via the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2013. The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s latest report, NIBRS 2013, provides a diverse scope of information about victims, known offenders, and relationships for 23 offense categories (including sex offenses). It also presents arrest data […]
The FBI released Hate Crime Statistics, 2013. The bias categories of gender (male and female) and gender identity (transgender and gender nonconforming) have been added to the other bias categories of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Other new aspects of the report include the presentation of age categories to indicate whether hate crimes […]
Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) Scam Alerts This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams. Social Network Misspelling Scam During December 2010, the IC3 discovered misspellings of a social network site being used as a […]
Congressional Testimony Kevin L. Perkins, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI Anthony P. Placido, Assistant Administrator for Intelligence, DEA Statement Before the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control May 5, 2010 Chairman Feinstein, Co-Chairman Grassley, and distinguished members of the caucus, on behalf of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart and Federal […]
Most internet offenders came from: California, Florida, New York, The District of Columbia, Texas and Washington. Crime News by CrimeinAmerica.Net Considering that virtually every category of crime is down, we were asked what categories of crime were up. This is the second post in that series. The first was female offender arrests and incarceration. Additional […]
Congressional Testimony Timothy J. Healy Director, Terrorist Screening Center Federal Bureau of Investigation Statement Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs March 10, 2010 Good morning Chairman Lieberman, Ranking Member Collins, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) and its role […]
Robert S. Mueller, III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary January 20, 2010 Good morning Chairman Leahy, Senator Sessions, and members of the Committee. I am pleased to be here today. As you know, we in the FBI have undergone unprecedented transformation in recent years, from developing the […]
Holiday Shopping Tips This holiday season the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI) is reminding people that cyber criminals continue to aggressively create new ways to steal money and personal information. Scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims including fraudulent auction sales, reshipping merchandise purchased with a stolen credit card, and sale of fraudulent […] | 4,160 | 1,971 | 0.000517 |
warc | 201704 | Entering market gets easier
Analysts cite slashed minimums by e-brokers, a reopening of closed funds
NEW YORK — If you've been thinking about getting back into the stock market, now may be the time, given an increased willingness by many financial providers to help get you aboard.
If, for example, you found minimum entry levels to open an online brokerage account too high a few months back, look again. The price- cutting appears to be just getting under way - but could become a real trend.
Many firms are slashing initial-investment requirements by 25 to 50 percent.
At Ameritrade, the minimum to open an account is now $500 - down 75 percent from the $2,000 required a year or so ago. In addition, you can get up to 25 commission-free trades for the first 30 days. At E-Trade, the minimum is $1,000. But if you go online, says a customer service representative, you will find frequent promotions that require less.
"The Internet discount brokers seem to be getting more generous in terms of their promotions," says Kenneth Michal, who tracks the firms for the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII), in Chicago.
Promotions are varied, ranging from lower minimums to higher interest earnings on some cash accounts to free or low-cost trading.
The lower charges and promotions are "definitely tied to what's going on in the stock market," with its recent downturn, Mr. Michal says.
Not all investment firms may be as amenable as Ameritrade or E-trade. Some discount traders, in fact, have raised fees. Case-in-point: Buy & Hold, an Internet trading firm, will hike its monthly trading charge from $9.99 to $14.99 for unlimited trades, effective June 1.
But with a little scouting around, investors will find it is now generally easier than at any time in the past few years to enter the world of stock investing, longtime market-watchers say.
They point out, for example, that many prominent mutual funds, closed to new investors in recent years, are once again throwing their doors open to newcomers, having lost some investors in the recent downturn.
Some 19 distinct funds that were formerly closed to new investors have reopened since the market peaked in March of 2000, according to information firm Morningstar Inc., based in Chicago. Some are well known, including Putnam New Opportunities, Van Wagoner Micro-Cap Growth, and Fidelity's Contrafund and Growth and Income fund.
In addition, even if funds are closed off, "you can usually find a way to get in if the fund is part of your company's retirement plan," says a Morningstar spokesperson.
Many mutual-fund firms are reluctant to lower initial investment charges, because they find smaller accounts to be costly for them over the long term, says Peter DiTeresa, an analyst with Morningstar.
Small accounts are typically discouraged at many firms. Morningstar, for its part, does not track minimums in its computer database. Still, at least one fund group, the Security Capital Group, lowered its share minimums just last week.
The Security Capital US Real Estate Fund dropped its minimum initial investment to $1,000 from $2,500, apparently to gain more investors, according to Mr. DiTeresa. Another fund, the Security Capital European Real Estate Fund, has also lowered its minimum from $2,500 to $1,000. It is currently traded in only six states, however.
Those with only a small amount to invest in mutual funds can turn to Pax World Funds in Portsmouth, N.H. "We require a minimum of $250 to set up a plan. But once you do that, then you can send in as little as $50 a month, or $50 a quarter, or nothing, ever again. It's up to you," says the spokeswoman.
TIAA-CREF will let you in for as little as $25 a month. And many firms, such as T. Rowe Price, will allow you to start up an automatic- installment program with as little as $50 a month.
Other fund minimums remain fairly high, however, according to Morningstar, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 at most major funds.
Exotic trading funds, such as hedge funds, can be much higher, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.
Whatever the cost of getting into the market, some analysts say now may be a good time to do so.
There's definitely going to be a "kick" for equities in the second half of this year, says Richard DeKaser, chief economist for National City Corp. in Cleveland.
For 2002, Mr. DeKaser expects modest returns of about 7 percent on the S&P 500, but also promising returns from Treasury bonds and corporate bonds, in the 6 percent to 7 percent range, respectively.
But reenter with care, market experts say. "At the end of the past decade, we forgot about the importance of prudent, long-term investing," says Chuck Kadlec, managing director and chief investment strategist with mutual fund firm J. & W. Seligman & Co. in New York.
Investors, he says, need to get back to basics. That means allocating your holdings in stocks, bonds, and cash; making certain your portfolio is well diversified among different types of stocks (including growth and value stocks, international holdings, and large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies); and then investing on a consistent basis over time - what some analysts call "dollar-cost averaging."
Also, "you need to have a clear idea about your objectives," says Tim Schlindwein, who heads financial consulting firm Schlindwein Associates in Chicago.
Schlindwein reinforces the oft-stated importance of matching your investing strategy to your long-range goals.
The younger you are, he says, the more aggressive you can be with stocks. The closer to retirement you are, the more attentive you need to be to safety of principal. Bonds - often overlooked - can become as important as stocks.
(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Monitor | 5,774 | 2,789 | 0.000362 |
warc | 201704 | And that is why I thought to begin in the middle.
“I wonder which I am,” she tendered.
I tendered back, “Which do you want to be?”
She is in a middle place, having already lived something to this point (in her case, perhaps the life of a writer). But she is not sure what she has lived, and her question is very much a middle question:
here I am, having begun, but where do I fit and where do I prefer to end?
My question, in return, is also a middle question. It assumes she has some experience, some basis from which to process the question, and it asks her to decide on an ending she still has the power to choose.
Middle places can be unsettling. I wrote a whole novella I now look upon as a “middle” book. I wrote it at the same time I was fiddling with beginnings. And, oddly enough, I started the novella with the words, “The End.”
The End is a logical place to begin when you are middling. I asked a dear friend once — a person whose life I did not comprehend at the time — “How are you?” She was standing in the hallway with her spouse, and her face was tight and sad. “Fair to middling,” she said. What a fascinating phrase, and I wish I had been more understanding, regarding the end she must have been considering.
It is the rare person, I think, who is comfortable with another person’s middling. We are taught to celebrate the excitement of beginnings. To a lesser degree, we are taught to handle the nature of endings (though, in our culture, we probably more often skip the opportunity for closure by eclipsing our experience and simply choosing a new, distracting beginning).
I was angered the other day when my father sent me a book about some woman whose life he clearly admires (she is apparently a kind of missionary). At first, I had paged through the text with mild interest. Not my kind of book, but it didn’t matter. I was pleased he had thought of me, had taken the time to pack the book and send it along, until I saw the inscription, which included: “You have lived inside yourself long enough. [Insert his solution here.]”
I threw the book away.
My father does not really listen to, nor seek to understand me, though at some level we surely love each other. I can’t even imagine what he had in mind by saying what he said, especially since he lives at a distance and does not see the life that is mine day to day. I have learned that to ask is to invite more non-listening—good as his intentions to communicate seem to be. I will live without knowing precisely his meaning.
Midlife crisis once seemed to be myth, to me. Then I entered midlife. In midlife we have some basis from which to process any number of questions—from relational to professional to lifestyle and so on. We made beginnings in the past, which we are now living with, and maybe we start to ask, “I wonder which I am?” Which spouse, standing in the hallway. Which word person (writer or recreational word-play). Which parent, which friend, which gardener. And which do I want to be.
Of course this is simplification—of the concepts of beginnings and middles and ends. Life is not that easy to break down and categorize, and even our beginnings and middles and ends have myriad subsections of…beginnings and middles and ends. Still, I find it useful to consider the concept of middling.
If my father is right in any way, that would be okay. If I have lived inside myself, if I have stood emotionally plastered to the wall, saying to passersby, “Fair to middling. Fair to middling,” (while I created some space I needed), that would be okay.
What is not okay to me anymore is: “insert his solution here.” Call it a choice with a certain end in mind. Call it a bid to “middle” in peace and not be compelled to live in crisis because of someone else’s view. Call it an undeniable need to
be.
To begin this piece of writing in the middle was (and is) to affirm that the middle is an important place to exist for a while. It does not mean we leave each other uncaringly alone. It might mean gently asking questions that don’t contain our proposed answers for each other, regardless of how
right our answers ultimately may prove. Silence could be in order. While we let the other person be, and come to be. | 4,382 | 2,058 | 0.000507 |
warc | 201704 | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (June 27, 2013) -- For smokers and former smokers, the risk of getting lung cancer is much higher than for non-smokers. But high-risk smokers can breathe a sigh of relief with a program at Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) that diagnoses lung problems at the earliest possible stage.
NCH's Early Lung Cancer Screening program enables patients to find out if their lungs are cancer-free by taking a quick and painless, low-dose CT scan, which enables doctors to search for signs of cancer at an earlier stage -- when lung cancer is most treatable.
Traditional X-rays provide a 2-dimensional view of the chest, showing not only the lungs, but the heart, bone and soft tissue -- all of which can mask abnormalities. Low-dose CT lung scans create a detailed, 3-D image, giving doctors a clearer, unobstructed view of the lungs -- and the ability to detect tiny nodules that would often not be visible on a chest X-ray.
An eight-year national benchmark study by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the National Cancer Institute showed a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality in current or former heavy smokers whose cancer was detected with a low-dose CT scan, compared with those whose cancer was detected with a chest X-ray.
Because radiation is involved in all imaging, patients must meet the following criteria to qualify for NCH's Early Lung Cancer Screening program:
• Age 50 to 74
• Smoked a pack a day for 30 years, or 2 packs a day for 15 years, OR
• Smoked a pack a day for 20 years, or 2 packs a day for 10 years - along with an additional risk factor such as an immediate family member with lung cancer
• Either currently smoking or quit within the past 15 years
• No chest CT scan in the past year
• No history of lung cancer
• No signs or symptoms of lung cancer
Patients who are eligible for the screening will receive quick and painless scanning and a review of the scan by a board-certified radiologist who will look for lung nodules, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and calcified coronary arterial disease. Patients also will receive basic lung function testing by a respiratory therapist with review by a board-certified pulmonologist. For current smokers who are looking to quit, counseling classes and support groups are provided onsite an NCH.
For more information about NCH's Early Lung Cancer Screening, visit nch.org or call 847.618.3700.
# # #
About Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH)
Serving Chicago's northwest suburbs since 1959, NCH is a comprehensive, patient-centered system of care that serves more than 350,000 outpatients each year, as well as nearly 30,000 inpatients treated annually at the 496-bed acute care hospital in Arlington Heights. The award-winning hospital holds the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence, is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval in 2011, and was awarded the Leapfrog Group's designation as one of the nation's Top Hospitals based on quality and safety criteria. NCH has four Immediate Care locations in the northwest suburbs and operates a FastCare Clinic in Palatine. NCH has a medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians, which includes the board-certified primary care doctors and specialists of the NCH Medical Group. For more information or to find a doctor on the NCH Medical staff, visit www.nch.org. | 3,470 | 1,680 | 0.000604 |
warc | 201704 | The Bonner Bridge Replacement: Long Bridge Is The Safest, Most Reliable, Least Expensive Option In The Long Run MEMO TO: North Carolina Editorial Page Editors, Columnists and Reporters FR: Defenders of Wildlife DT: August 4, 2006 RE: The Bonner Bridge Replacement: Long Bridge Is The Safest, Most Reliable, Least Expensive Option In The Long Run
It's time for North Carolina to replace the aging bridge connecting Bodie and Hatteras Islands in the Outer Banks. There are several options on the table for accomplishing this, but local refuge and transportation planning officials have clearly stated that a long bridge that bypasses the sensitive Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is the best option because it is
safer, more reliable, more cost-effective and environmentally sound. The long bridge is safer and more reliablebecause NC 12 − the main thoroughfare running through the refuge and across the current bridge -- is built on a rapidly eroding shoreline. As such the road needs continuous upkeep to battle erosion and overwash from storms. This approach often leaves residents and tourists with no or limited access via NC 12, posing a real threat to their safety in the event of a hurricane evacuation. A long bridge wouldn't be closed or washed out by storms and would avoid the problems caused by a rapidly receding shoreline. A long bridge would therefore be a safer more reliable evacuation route during storms and hurricanes. .
Further illustrating this point is a safety report issued June 2006, by the firm of Parsons, Brinckenoff, Quade, and Douglas entitled "NC-12 Replacement of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, Long Bridge Operations and Safety Study Report." The report debunks the two biggest safety issues of long bridges put forth by the opposition: accidents and wind. In fact, the report finds there are comparatively few accidents on long bridges and that getting emergency vehicles to those locations has rarely been a problem. The report also says that long bridges are safer than average roads, primarily because there are no intersections and crossing traffic patterns. And finally, the report found that complete closure of long bridges does not begin until gale force wind speed is achieved, which is also when travel on any roads are restricted by authorities. Moreover, the stated goal of Dare County is to complete the evacuation process before winds of this speed arrive.
The long bridge is more cost-effectivebecause it would require much less annual maintenance and would not be closed down every season because of storm over wash, as would NC 12. While the upfront cost of the long bridge is higher than replacing the existing short bridge, the maintenance cost savings make it the smart choice economically in the long term.
Estimated Cost of Longer bridge - $425,000,000 (NCDOT draft cost estimate from April)
In Sum:
Estimated cost of shorter bridge with NC-12 beach maintenance costs
$ 683,000,000 (NCDOT, which cut in half the project life when faced with the NCSU estimate below)
Estimated cost of shorter bridge with NC-12 beach nourishment $1,121,000,000 (Original NCSU estimate)
In reality, the costs of maintaining NC 12 for decades to come will require hundreds of millions of dollars more in removing over-washed sand, repairing pavement, and spanning so called "hotspots" with additional bridges.
The long bridge is more environmentally sound because it would completely bypass the refuge, an important nesting site for sea turtles, piping plovers and other shore birds. The long bridge would consume only four acres of wetlands whereas the short bridge alternative and the re-alignment of NC 12 necessitated by this option would destroy over seventy-eight acres of wetlands. Indeed, because relocating the road would have such severe impacts on the refuge, it cannot legally be authorized. H. Dale Hall, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, testified to Congress two weeks ago: "There is no way we could legally find moving the road compatible (with the refuge’s purpose)." Opponents have also said that construction of a long bridge will cut off access to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge for tourists, birders, fishermen and surfers. Not true. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to the refuge and has gone on record pledging as much. The bottom line is that the long bridge alternative was deemed not only a reasonable alternative, but the preferred option by 13 state and federal agencies including the NC Department of Transportation and the Federal Highways Administration just a year and a half ago. In fact, in a June 2003 letter to the Chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, the Secretary of NCDOT Lyndo Tippett described the short bridge as "no longer viable due to recent trends in shoreline erosion, ocean overwash of NC 12, and other changes in the setting of the project." And with official approval all but done, construction on the long bridge was slated to begin August 2006 -- that is, until local officials began to work to scuttle the plan.
The long bridge is the safest, most reliable, most economically and environmentally sound option for the state of North Carolina. Construction should begin right away.
Read more at http://www.defenders.org/peaisland/.
For more information, contact: William Lutz, Defenders of Wildlife: 202.772.0269
###
Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
William Lutz, (202) 772-0269
Contact(s): | 5,629 | 2,612 | 0.000385 |
warc | 201704 | Mike and Linda Parkowski: Home in Kent County, Delaware The Parkowskis are living their dream at bucolic Walnut Hill.
The Parkowskis enjoy the view from their spacious terrace.
The winding lane that leads to the big brick house at Walnut Hill is a mile long, from the mailbox on the main road to the sweeping stairs of the front porch, a pleasant ride by car, bicycle or pickup truck through unspoiled countryside.
Walnut Hill is home to Linda and Mike Parkowski, who share a deep and abiding appreciation for the natural beauty of Kent County. She is the director of the Delaware Office of Tourism. He is director of Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze, a leading environmental law firm, and drafted the legislation that created the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation, the public body that purchases development rights to preserve farmlands.
“When I get to the end of the driveway, I know I’m home,” Linda Parkowski says. “This is our dream house, our last house.”
The farm stretches over 225 acres, a blend of rolling green and wetlands that provides a natural habitat for waterfowl.
In deciding where to build their nest, the Parkowskis chose a large, level plot set far back from a rural byway, a location that provides them with bucolic views from every vantage point.
“Mike is very analytical,” Parkowski says. “He looked and looked at the property until he knew exactly where the house should go.”
Building a Vision
The couple also had a clear vision for how they wanted their home to look and feel. Among the must-haves was plenty of room for their blended family of four adult children, who are frequent visitors. An in-law suite for Linda’s mom also was a priority.
“Because we love the outdoors, we wanted our home to have a little bit of a lodge feeling,” she says. “I also am drawn to the colors and style of Tuscany and the timeless look of homes in Europe.”
Starting from scratch opens up a world of opportunities—and a galaxy of choices.
The Parkowskis began with an ambitious wish list that included every amenity they could possibly want in their dream home, with the intention of gathering competitive bids for the project.
“We found out that building a house could be far more expensive than we had ever imagined,” Parkowski recalls.
So they started fine tuning their list, intent on maintaining a realistic budget.
But how to make the wisest choices? The Parkowskis turned to value engineering to decide which elements would most enhance their home—and what amenities would not contribute to the quality of the property.
A Value Proposition
Value engineering—VE for short—is a systematic method for improving the value of a product by balancing its function and cost. The concept was rolled out by General Electric during World War II, when materials were scarce and the company was looking for cost-effective substitutes. The principles of VE can be adapted to just about any project, including building a house.
A proposed slate roof with a jaw-dropping price tag was the first item trimmed from the wish list.
“It would have been beautiful but slate isn’t any more effective than any other material in doing what a roof is supposed to do,” Parkowski says. “Value engineering helped us to see that clearly.”
A sumptuous master suite with a luxury bathroom and walk-in closets stayed firmly on the list. Ditto for recessed lighting and a surround-sound music system. Those amenities enhance daily life for the homeowners and also add to the property value.
Other niceties can wait. The billiards room has been deferred. But the infrastructure is in place, a plumbed and wired lower level that will be outfitted for recreation in a future project.
The Parkowskis kept track of their choices on an Excel spreadsheet, creating a detailed list of features and materials.
“There was the appliance tab, the wood tab, the cabinet tab and so on,” she says. “When we met with the builders, they knew exactly what finishes they would be bidding on.”
Worth the Wait
After two years of planning and construction, the results are spectacular, a blend of rustic warmth and grand expanses.
“Our goal was to have a home that feels welcoming and cozy but with plenty of room for people to get together,” Linda Parkowski says.
The heart of the home is a gathering room with a dramatic stone fireplace flanked by expanses of glass that offer a vista of the outdoors. The soaring height of the space, a full two stories high, includes a gallery for trophies captured by Mike, who has hunted game around the world from the frosty reaches of the Canadian Arctic to the mountains of New Zealand.
There’s a large seating area for conversation or watching TV. In that space, Mike’s priority was his leather club chair, worn to the perfect state of comfort after 15 years.
“The entire palette was centered around Mike’s chair,” she recalls.
She started with the pale tan of the chair, and then added sofas and chairs upholstered in a relaxed mix of light and dark leathers, accented with masculine nailhead trim. The floors are Brazilian cherry.
The couple went to an Amish sawmill west of Dover to select wood for the mantel. At Walnut Hill, there could be no other choice than black walnut. They found a slab, cut from a single massive tree, which was kiln-dried and set into the stone.
Keeping a merry blaze crackling on wintry nights requires a steady stream of split logs and kindling. The backs of the large wood storage bins on either side of the fireplace are actually doors that open to the outdoor terrace, which makes loading wood a much easier—and less messy—task.
The kitchen is open to the gathering area, a warm and inviting space with cherry cabinets stained in deep, rich mahogany tones and dark, shimmering granite countertops.
“I wanted a full-bodied color scheme in the kitchen, like a great Cabernet,” she says.
For the kitchen floor, she chose ceramic tile that gives the space an Old World flavor. The cherry on top: Tile is a snap to maintain. Installing extra large, 16-inch tiles instead of standard 12-inch flooring yielded double benefits. First, there are fewer grout lines. And bigger tiles offer the visual trick of making the floor appear more expansive.
A U-shaped bar, outfitted with an ice maker, beverage fridge and wine chiller, bridges the kitchen and gathering room and is ideal for large parties.
Because the couple enjoys entertaining, a formal dining area was a priority. The Parkowskis also wanted to architecturally define the space without cutting it off from the rest of the gathering area.
In keeping with that spirit, walls would not do. Columns would break the sight line between the dining area and the gathering room. The solution was to create a half wall you can see through, custom made from turned, wrought-iron spindles topped with a wooden railing.
Friends and Family
With 7,800 square feet, there is plenty of room to accommodate family and friends. There are guest suites for the kids and a two-bedroom apartment for Linda’s mother.
“It’s wonderful having my mom with us in a way that enables her to enjoy her own space,” she says.
The focal point of the couple’s master bath is a freestanding soaking tub surrounded by four stately columns. The super-size shower turns out to be the perfect place to wash the family’s Labrador retriever.
Outdoors, a terrace wraps around the back of the house. In the warmer months, it’s a great place for alfresco entertaining. When there’s a nip in the air, the Parkowskis gather around the firepit.
In planning the terrace, Linda envisioned a smooth expanse of stone. Nothing choppy or bumpy. “I didn’t want pavers,” she says. “I wanted something that would be set on concrete and then grouted.”
The couple went to a stone yard in Pennsylvania to explore their options. They settled on sandstone, with undulating bands in shades that vary from buff to umber. The stone looks as if it might have been quarried in the American southwest but came from much further afield.
“When we asked why it would take so long to be delivered, we found out it’s from India,” Linda recalls.
There also is a smaller, more intimate open-air dining space located off the kitchen, with tranquil sylvan views. Retractable screens concealed in the framing don’t obstruct the vista but keep the bugs at bay.
“They are called phantom screens,” Linda says. “It’s a wonderful invention, the one thing we would never want to be without.”
Let the land speak to you.Walnut Hill encompasses 225 acres and Mike Parkowski evaluated the entire landscape in siting the house in the precise spot that would provide sylvan views from every room. The earthy bricks on the exterior are in harmony with the outdoors.
Think logistically.Exterior doors allow the couple to load firewood directly from the outdoors into storage bins on either side of the fireplace. A ramp allows easy access to the terrace.
Be a savvy shopper.Linda Parkowski found a massive pair of custom front doors she loves at a price she could easily embrace by comparison shopping with both brick-and-mortar and online suppliers. Her savings: 50 percent.
Fine tune your wish list.The Parkowskis established a list of must-haves, such as a spacious master suite, as well as things they can live without, like a slate roof.
Invest in pragmatic solutions that enhance your enjoyment of your home.Retractable screens on an open-air porch keep the bugs at bay, allowing the family to dine outdoors and drink in a pastoral view. | 9,818 | 4,570 | 0.000227 |
warc | 201704 | Give credit where credit is due: The Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force faced a tremendously complex chore under a terribly tight deadline and yet succeeded.
In finishing its work this week, the task force is giving lawmakers, for the most part, a solid set of recommendations as they begin to consider how to regulate the growing and sale of marijuana.
We don’t agree with every recommendation, as we’ll explain, but many of the ideas are sensible attempts to comply with the intent of Amendment 64 while minimizing the possibility of diversion of marijuana to minors.
Thus the task force suggests outlawing the “gifting” of marijuana in return for a donation — a scam already underway — as well as any pot smoking at bars or even special social clubs set up for that purpose. The language of Amendment 64 clearly never contemplated such clubs, no matter what their supporters say.
We also believe the task force was right to say that sales to people visiting from out of state should be permitted. Trying to suppress such trade not only would be difficult, it goes far beyond any provision in Amendment 64.
We don’t have room to list the many other recommendations that appear sound, but we do want to highlight several concerns. The first has to do with taxes, which the task force discussed this week. In addition to a 15 percent excise tax, the task force recommended a special sales tax for marijuana, mentioning 25 percent as an example.
Supporters of such high taxes point out that the fees imposed on medical marijuana have not been sufficient to fund adequate state oversight, and they’re right. But on the other hand, lawmakers need to be careful not to pump up the retail price of marijuana to the point that it drives consumers back into the black market.
One of the major purposes of Amendment 64 was to dry up the black market and its associated ills, and yet that won’t happen unless the price of retail marijuana is competitive with the drug on the street.
We also question the task force’s concessions to the medical marijuana industry, first by giving those businesses a monopoly on retail licenses for the first year and then mandating that they grow the bulk of what they sell — as is the case today — for a transitional period of three years.
Both these provisions — and especially vertical integration — threaten to stifle competition at the expense of consumers and are simply not needed for effective regulation.
And are lawmakers really likely to let vertical integration lapse in 2016 even if it proves counterproductive given the forces that will be arrayed on behalf of the status quo by then?
The best way to serve competition in the long run is to enshrine it at the outset. | 2,792 | 1,357 | 0.000759 |
warc | 201704 | ome time ago, I posted a blog entry entitled, "Refactor as you Develop." I did so because a buddy of mine out in Chicago was stuck in
Refactor hell
, as he put it. Now, Eric (my buddy's name) and I share a lot of design ideas and techniques so I know his comment [and term] came from the frustration he was feeling at that moment. However, it was not the first time I heard the term refactor used in a negative connotation so I thought it merited some comments.It's very rare that any project ends up exactly as the original design intended, at least from a code perspective. Nowadays, with buzz words swarming our industry like a locust plague, many forget the fundamentals of software development. The eagerness of many developers to have the "perfect" architecture laid out and the proper library of design patterns all set up in the class models has extended the "pre-code" period to an unnecessary length of time
But don't misunderstand the above paragraph. Architecture and design are extremely important stages of any project. In fact, as a consultant I am sometimes called strictly for the initial architecting in order for another team to then take over the development. Such cases call for more detailed initial work to be done due to my absence afterward. But most projects I do tend to involve me from beginning to end, and indeed those are the ones I enjoy most. I have found that such projects require initial architecting and design but I also tend to push into the coding stage a little sooner rather than later.Sure I design and lay out my initial object models, but even those typically start out as ORM models corresponding to some database layout. I don't feel it necessary at this stage to figure out what pattern I need to used and where I will inject it. Nor do I find the need to plan out extreme code reuse from the very beginning. I am a big supporter of object oriented programming and design pattern use, and the end results of my projects show that, but I don't get this detailed in the very beginning. Such over-architecting delays the time you start putting code together, and chances are you're going to wind up changing the design anyway. It can also bloat your design to a point of complexity that can further delay the start of the coding cycle. I'm not trying to lay out the model for agile development because, in fact, there are some points of Agile or Extreme programming that I am not a fan of (pair-programming comes to mind); nor am I saying that you don't need to have any idea of what your app is going to needthat would be ridiculous on my part. I'm just raising the altitude from where I see a project at the beginning from 1,000 feet to 10,000 feet.
I'm talking about a constant looking-back at the code you've written at several "milestone" levels, usually points of functional achievement.
Your project may call for a lot of abstraction due to future enhancement requirements or need for a more open "plug-in" design. If you know this up-front, good; keep it as your goal throughout your development cycle, but don't feel like you have to have your inheritance hierarchies down perfect and your strategy pattern all ready to go and put into play from the beginning. Get your functionality going using concreteness instead of abstraction. When you have a part of an application or a component working like you want, you can then go back and see what you can abstract or pull out into base classes for better reuse. In fact, a lot of this will almost snap out at you once you have a working piece of code.I'm not recommending that you develop an entire application then go back and look at what you can change; that would be the other extreme. I'm talking about a constant looking-back at the code you've written at several "milestone" levels, usually points of functional achievement. There's nothing wrong with writing a couple of classes in your model, then later noticing that they share a lot of code which you should not have to maintain twice. You can then refactor that code into a base class. You could repeat his simple refactor many times throughout the development of your project where your end result would be a nicely laid out object model with inheritance hierarchies that have grown throughout your development as the need has arisen. You can apply this simple example to Windows form visual inheritance, as well as the application of any pattern.
Programming using concreteness initially, then refactoring to abstractions, can get you started faster, get you to your goal faster, and achieve all of this while maintaining my favorite pattern of all, consistent throughout the projectthe K.I.S.S. pattern. (I'll let you look that one up.) | 4,722 | 2,130 | 0.000471 |
warc | 201704 | Red Meat on the Chopping Block What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Several studies have suggested that eating too much red meat is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, researchers typically only measure red meat consumption at a single time point. That strategy may be flawed because the eating habits of individuals are known to change over time, so a single measurement at the start of a study may not reflect red meat consumption over the years.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to see whether type 2 diabetes is linked to changes in red meat consumption over time to either support or refute the theory that red meat can raise the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Who was studied?
The researchers included 26,357 men and 48,709 women from one study, and 74,077 women from another study.
How was the study done?
The researchers asked participants to fill out food frequency questionnaires every 4 years over a couple of decades. They also monitored the participants' health over that period.
What did the researchers find?
Increasing red meat intake over a 4-year period by half a serving a day was associated with a 48 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes during the following 4 years, relative to keeping red meat intake constant. Reducing red meat intake was associated with a 14 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Accounting for changes in weight reduced, but did not eliminate, the link between red meat and diabetes.
What were the limitations of the study?
This study strengthens the link between red meat and diabetes, but still cannot prove that red meat causes type 2 diabetes.
What are the implications of the study?
Limiting red meat in the diet may help lower the risk for developing type 2 diabetes | 1,846 | 850 | 0.001186 |
warc | 201704 | Doctors Lounge - Hematology Answers
"The information provided on www.doctorslounge.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician."
Back to Hematology Answers List
MOM2PALPJL - Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:48 am My 13yo son had labs on 5/20 w/ RDW 15.6, Monocytes 11%. At this time WBC was 4.7 & Neutrophils 51%. Dr suggested iron & b-12 supplements & repeat labs. Bought b-12 sublingual methylcobalimin 1000mcg's & chewable vit w/iron & w/in 10 days my child looked better than he had in years. He had been very tired, run down, always w/ dark circles, could be very irritable but also 13... also underweight, 62" & 84lbs. He has always been skinny though. Anyway, we were going to repeat labs in 3 mo. We were back at dr's for my daughters annual visit, and she also was amazed at the remarkable improvement in his appearance, ordered more labs, this time to r/o celiacs and check for specific levels of iron & b-12. He has also had stomach pains, leg & joint pains, just very tired. This all improved too & his weight was also up to 89. Labs done on 6/30 all negative for anything celiacs related, RDW still 15.6, Monocytes still 11%, but WBC now 4.0 and Neutrophils 41% w/ absolute neutrophils at 1640. Vitamin b-12 847, Folate serum 16.5 & Ferritin 19. Dr also suggested crohn's as possibility. Seems like he was not absorbing nutrients but unsure - just looking for understanding as to what our next step should be. Thanks so much in advance. Dr.M.Aroon kamath - Mon Aug 09, 2010 3:16 am Hi, The high RDW helps in determining if there is only a B12 and/or folic acid deficiency (with normal RDW showing the red cells are mostly the same size) or with concomitant iron deficiency (a high RDW due to small and large red blood cells). The normal reference range for an absolute monocyte count is 40 - 950/µL. A value >950/µL is called as Monocytosis. Monocytosis is seen in some of the following disorders, - recovery phase of many acute infections, - chronic infectious disorders (tuberculosis), - chronic inflammatory bowel disease, - rheumatic diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), - malignant processes (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), - granulomatous diseases: sarcoidosis, histiocytosis X,syphilis, brucellosis, Crohn's disease etc) - storage diseases (Niemann–Pick disease,Gaucher's disease), - Parasites (malaria),& - drugs (methsuximide, griseofulvin, and haloperidol). The slightly increased monocyes in a differential count in the case of your son, indicate need for an absolute monocyte count. As your doctor suspects, Crohn's disease can be one of the possibilities. Many children with myelodysplasia syndrome(MDS), may exhibit monocytosis. Most of these cases will also have blasts(>5%), without an excess of blasts in the bone marrow.The presence of blasts in the blood may lead to this condition being labeled as juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia(JMML). Your son has indeed responded to vitamin B12 and folic acid. However, other tests to assess the iron status such as transferrin saturation may be needed as the ferritin value, although seemingly within range(closer to the lower limit of normal), may still be associated with depleted iron stores. You next step, at least as far as this forum is concerned, should be to provide us all the test results of your son (the complete blood count, reticulocyte count, absolute monocye count, ESR, peripheral smear examination etc), so that it may be possible to narrow down the differential diagnoses. Best wishes!
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Join the Doctors Lounge online medical community Editorial activities: Publish, peer review, edit online articles. Ask a Doctor Teams: Respond to patient questions and discuss challenging presentations with other members. Doctors Lounge Membership Application | 3,883 | 2,066 | 0.000487 |
warc | 201704 | Category:Family Medicine | WebScout Health Highlights: Oct. 22, 2012Last Updated: October 22, 2012.
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
FDA Investigating Role of Energy Drink in Five Deaths
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed Monday that it is investigating whether Monster energy drinks might have played a role in the deaths of five people.
According to
Bloomberg News, FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said the victims cited in the five reports had all consumed the energy drink before they died, but she stressed that the claims in the reports are only allegations at this point.
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died after drinking the energy drinks is using the reports in a lawsuit it has filed against the maker of the drinks, Monster Beverage Corp. of Corona, Calif., according to
Bloomberg.
The high levels of caffeine in these energy drinks has prompted public concern as emergency room visits involving these drinks increased tenfold between 2005 and 2009, and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has asked the FDA to consider caffeine limits on energy drinks,
Bloomberg reported. The agency has said it is working on draft guidelines to guarantee energy drinks do not pose a danger to those who consume them.
Monster, which sold $1.6 billion worth of energy drinks in 2011, defended its product,
Bloomberg reported.
"Over the past 16 years Monster has sold more than 8 billion energy drinks, which have been safely consumed worldwide," the company said in a emailed statement. "Monster is unaware of any fatality anywhere that has been caused by its drinks."
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Banana Boat UltraMist Sunscreen Recalled After Users Catch Fire
Nearly two dozen types of Banana Boat UltraMist spray-on sunscreen are being recalled after reports of people catching on fire after applying the lotion, says product maker Energizer Holdings.
In the last year, there have been four reports of in the United States and one report in Canada of people catching on fire after applying the sunscreen and getting close to open flame,
CBS News/Associated Press reported.
More than 20 million units of the 23 UltraMist products have been sold since being introduced in 2010.
"Energizer believes that this issue is associated with the product delivery system, specifically the size of the spray valve opening on the affected products," the company said in a statement,
CBS/AP reported.
"The spray valve opening on the affected products dispenses more than is typical in the industry for continuous sun care sprays. As a result, the product is taking longer to dry on the skin than is typical with other continuous sprays. If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite," Energizer explained.
For more information, consumers can phone the company at 1-800-723-3786.
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Diet, Exercise Fail to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Patients: Study
A U.S. study examining whether diet and weight loss can prevent heart attacks and strokes in overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes was halted two years earlier than scheduled because it found no benefits.
The study of more than 5,100 patients compared outcomes among those in a control group who received general health information and those in an intervention group who did at least 175 minutes a week of moderate exercise and consumed either 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day (those weighing less than 250 pounds) or 1,500 to 1,800 per day (those weighing more),
The New York Times reported.
After 11 years, the control group and intervention group had nearly identical rates of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. The data is currently being analyzed and will be published in research papers.
"I was surprised," said Rena Wing, the study's chairwoman and a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University's medical school,
The Times reported.
Like many, Wing believed that diet and exercise would help these patients, partly because short-term studies showed that those approaches lowered blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Despite the study results, experts say there are many benefits to diet and exercise even if they did not lower cardiovascular disease risk in people with diabetes,
The Times reported.
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Bone Marrow Transplant Pioneer Dies
An American researcher who received the 1990 Nobel Prize in medicine for his work to perfect the bone marrow transplant died Saturday at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
E. Donnall Thomas, 92, had heart and lung problems, according to his wife and longtime research collaborator Dottie Thomas, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
Bone marrow transplants have saved tens of thousands of patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis and a number of autoimmune diseases.
Thomas also helped found the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center nearly four decades ago,
WSJ reported.
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