text
stringlengths 1.15k
635k
| id
stringlengths 47
47
| dump
stringclasses 8
values | url
stringlengths 15
2.44k
| date
stringdate 2013-05-18 04:54:34
2022-05-29 13:23:28
| file_path
stringlengths 125
141
| language
stringclasses 1
value | language_score
float64 0.65
1
| token_count
int64 455
147k
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
These wise words from Tolstoy seem even more relevant 100 years on.
Matt Ridley has published a great essay in WIRED SCIENCE today. Ridley nails an issue that has plagued humanity since time immemorial. Some supposedly intelligent human beings become so convinced that Doomsday is upon them that nothing will persuade them to the contrary. Ridley’s essay is a must read for everyone interested in Doomsday predictions that have failed to materialise and why we should dump the Climate Scare in the same basket.
When the sun rises on December 22, as it surely will, do not expect apologies or even a rethink. No matter how often apocalyptic predictions fail to come true, another one soon arrives. And the prophets of apocalypse always draw a following—from the 100,000 Millerites who took to the hills in 1843, awaiting the end of the world, to the thousands who believed in Harold Camping, the Christian radio broadcaster who forecast the final rapture in both 1994 and 2011.
Religious zealots hardly have a monopoly on apocalyptic thinking. Consider some of the environmental cataclysms that so many experts promised were inevitable. Best-selling economist Robert Heilbroner in 1974: “The outlook for man, I believe, is painful, difficult, perhaps desperate, and the hope that can be held out for his future prospects seem to be very slim indeed.” Or best-selling ecologist Paul Ehrlich in 1968: “The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s ["and 1980s" was added in a later edition] the world will undergo famines—hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked on now … nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate.” Or Jimmy Carter in a televised speech in 1977: “We could use up all of the proven reserves of oil in the entire world by the end of the next decade.”
Predictions of global famine and the end of oil in the 1970s proved just as wrong as end-of-the-world forecasts from millennialist priests. Yet there is no sign that experts are becoming more cautious about apocalyptic promises. If anything, the rhetoric has ramped up in recent years. Echoing the Mayan calendar folk, theBulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock one minute closer to midnight at the start of 2012, commenting: “The global community may be near a point of no return in efforts to prevent catastrophe from changes in Earth’s atmosphere.”
APOCOHOLISM IS GROWING
Over the five decades since the success of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 and the four decades since the success of the Club of Rome’s The Limits to Growth in 1972, prophecies of doom on a colossal scale have become routine. Indeed, we seem to crave ever-more-frightening predictions—we are now, in writer Gary Alexander’s word, apocaholic. The past half century has brought us warnings of population explosions, global famines, plagues, water wars, oil exhaustion, mineral shortages, falling sperm counts, thinning ozone, acidifying rain, nuclear winters, Y2K bugs, mad cow epidemics, killer bees, sex-change fish, cell-phone-induced brain-cancer epidemics, and climate catastrophes.
So far all of these specters have turned out to be exaggerated. True, we have encountered obstacles, public-health emergencies, and even mass tragedies. But the promised Armageddons—the thresholds that cannot be uncrossed, the tipping points that cannot be untipped, the existential threats to Life as We Know It—have consistently failed to materialize. To see the full depth of our apocaholism, and to understand why we keep getting it so wrong, we need to consult the past 50 years of history.
Ridley takes the reader through a modern day analogy of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
The classic apocalypse has four horsemen, and our modern version follows that pattern, with the four riders being chemicals (DDT, CFCs, acid rain), diseases (bird flu, swine flu, SARS, AIDS, Ebola, mad cow disease), people (population, famine), and resources (oil, metals). Let’s visit them each in turn.Read it all here | <urn:uuid:39cd3ba2-0f3d-47b0-b89f-dee9760eeaa2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://austeaparty.com.au/web/the-end-is-not-nigh-but-many-of-us-just-dont-get-it/ | 2013-05-18T08:08:49Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93762 | 909 |
Seattle Seahawks: Did Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner Deserve ROY Awards?
Over the weekend, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly won the NFL's Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, while Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson finished in second and third place respectively in the voting done by the Associated Press.
As the Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil reported:
Seattle’s draft class was panned in April. In January, though, Seattle had two of the top six rookies according to Associated Press ballots.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner was runner-up in Defensive Rookie of the Year to Luke Kuechly of Carolina, the No. 9 overall pick. Kuechly received 28 first-place votes, Wagner 11. Green Bay cornerback Casey Hayward finished third with six first-place votes.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was third in votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Robert Griffin III of Washington won the award, receiving 29 of 50 votes. Andrew Luck of Indianapolis received 11 votes, Wilson received 10.
The balloting by 50 designated voters concluded before the start of the postseason. Voters selected one winner. There were no second and third-place votes in balloting.
While I'm not shocked that RG3 won the offensive award, I was a little surprised Kuechly beat out Wagner. In both votes what really has me scratching my head is the margin by which RG3 and Kuechly won.
On the offensive side of the coin the competition was fierce between not only the No. 1 and No. 2 selections in the April draft, but the man chosen 70-plus spots following them.
If you're a fan of the underdog, you will be hard-pressed to find a better story than Russell Wilson this season or most others. The undersized third-round draft choice took the city of Seattle and the NFL by storm in a story that now reads like a cheesy Hollywood script.
The fact of the matter is that it was really a fairly lengthy process that began last spring and took shape over the better part of the season. Wilson painstakingly won over his coaches, teammates, fans and eventually the entire league by taking on all comers and proving the critics wrong every step of the way.
Yet choosing among RG3, Andrew Luck, and Russell Wilson isn't as easy as you might imagine.
Who deserved the Offensive ROY Award?
As much as I love Wilson, I can understand the appeal of RG3 and how voters were amazed by him from the very beginning to the very end.
Who could forget RG3's Week 1 performance when he went to New Orleans and won with a dazzling display of dominance by attacking through the air and on the ground. Fast-forward to the regular-season finale at home against the Cowboys with the division title up for grabs when Griffin once again got the job done with the help of fellow rookie Alfred Morris at running back.
By the way, where were the ROY votes for Morris? A sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic rushes for 1,613 yards with 13 touchdowns while helping his team to the playoffs and his teammate wins in a landslide while he doesn't get a single vote from the 50 writers?
It all leads me to believe that Griffin's knack for drama is what has the media and fans spellbound. It also leads me to believe it's part of why he stayed in the wild-card game against the Seahawks well past the point he should have.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Wilson, on the other hand, perhaps because he has been reminded throughout his life about his limitations, seems to have a solid grasp of what he should and shouldn't do on the field of play.
That maturity came through against the Redskins as he rallied the 'Hawks back on the road and leads me to wonder how many voters would have changed their vote if they had the chance now?
On the defensive side, Wagner was a second-round pick joining an already solid defense, but asked to help shore up what was arguably the team's weakest point at linebacker.
Following the departure of veteran David Hawthorne via free agency, Wagner was drafted with the hopes of taking over the middle linebacker spot after the top middle linebacker in the draft was selected just a few spots ahead of the Seahawks' first-round pick.
Whether the 'Hawks would have drafted Luke Kuechly is something we will probably never know, but with the Carolina Panthers grabbing him at No. 9, the brain trust of head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider adjusted accordingly and eventually found their man in the middle in Round 2.
A position that going in to the season looked like a potential liability soon became a strength, with Wagner always at the center of the action while leading the team in tackles playing alongside second-year man K.J. Wright and veteran Leroy Hill.
With that said, did Wagner deserve to win given his contributions to the Seahawks this season?
Who Deserved the Defensive ROY Award?
In Carolina this season Kuechly posted 165 tackles and took over the middle linebacker spot after veteran Jon Beason went down for the season with an injury early in the season.
At the same time I don't see how Kuechly got 28 first-place votes versus only 11 for Wagner.
At times like these I can imagine some fans crying about an East Coast bias within the media, but I'm not sure how much I buy that here given the fact that the Seahawks had four first-team All-Pro selections this year.
Perhaps in both cases Wilson and Wagner's success was seen as a byproduct of an already solid roster built by Pete Carroll and John Schneider?
Once again, we will probably never know, but by now Wilson and Wagner are likely accustomed to the critics looking past them. Either way I like to think both slights will be stowed away and some day used as motivation for Wilson and Wagner, who seem the kind of players who may forgive but will never forget.
Winning rookie of the year may be nice, but I hope that both men have their sights set on something far more grandiose over the course of time, while helping lift the Seahawks to a level that no one will be able to deny them with a popular vote...a Super Bowl championship.
What is the duplicate article?
Why is this article offensive?
Where is this article plagiarized from?
Why is this article poorly edited? | <urn:uuid:ba9ed54e-b45e-4214-8bd7-ff5123fcd5fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1516181-seattle-seahawks-did-russell-wilson-and-bobby-wagner-deserve-roy-awards | 2013-05-18T06:02:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977403 | 1,328 |
- Year Published: 1866
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Russia
- Source: Dostoyevsky, F. (1866). Crime and Punishment. Moscow, Russia: The Russian Messenger.
- Flesch–Kincaid Level: 7.2
- Word Count: 7,803
Dostoyevsky, F. (1866). Part 3, Chapter 5. Crime and Punishment (Lit2Go Edition). Retrieved May 18, 2013, from
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. "Part 3, Chapter 5." Crime and Punishment. Lit2Go Edition. 1866. Web. <>. May 18, 2013.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "Part 3, Chapter 5," Crime and Punishment, Lit2Go Edition, (1866), accessed May 18, 2013,.
Raskolnikov was already entering the room. He came in looking as though he had the utmost difficulty not to burst out laughing again. Behind him Razumihin strode in gawky and awkward, shamefaced and red as a peony, with an utterly crestfallen and ferocious expression. His face and whole figure really were ridiculous at that moment and amply justified Raskolnikov’s laughter. Raskolnikov, not waiting for an introduction, bowed to Porfiry Petrovitch, who stood in the middle of the room looking inquiringly at them. He held out his hand and shook hands, still apparently making desperate efforts to subdue his mirth and utter a few words to introduce himself. But he had no sooner succeeded in assuming a serious air and muttering something when he suddenly glanced again as though accidentally at Razumihin, and could no longer control himself: his stifled laughter broke out the more irresistibly the more he tried to restrain it. The extraordinary ferocity with which Razumihin received this “spontaneous” mirth gave the whole scene the appearance of most genuine fun and naturalness. Razumihin strengthened this impression as though on purpose.
“Fool! You fiend,” he roared, waving his arm which at once struck a little round table with an empty tea-glass on it. Everything was sent flying and crashing.
“But why break chairs, gentlemen? You know it’s a loss to the Crown,” Porfiry Petrovitch quoted gaily.
Raskolnikov was still laughing, with his hand in Porfiry Petrovitch’s, but anxious not to overdo it, awaited the right moment to put a natural end to it. Razumihin, completely put to confusion by upsetting the table and smashing the glass, gazed gloomily at the fragments, cursed and turned sharply to the window where he stood looking out with his back to the company with a fiercely scowling countenance, seeing nothing. Porfiry Petrovitch laughed and was ready to go on laughing, but obviously looked for explanations. Zametov had been sitting in the corner, but he rose at the visitors’ entrance and was standing in expectation with a smile on his lips, though he looked with surprise and even it seemed incredulity at the whole scene and at Raskolnikov with a certain embarrassment. Zametov’s unexpected presence struck Raskolnikov unpleasantly.
“I’ve got to think of that,” he thought. “Excuse me, please,” he began, affecting extreme embarrassment. “Raskolnikov.”
“Not at all, very pleasant to see you… and how pleasantly you’ve come in…. Why, won’t he even say good-morning?” Porfiry Petrovitch nodded at Razumihin.
“Upon my honour I don’t know why he is in such a rage with me. I only told him as we came along that he was like Romeo… and proved it. And that was all, I think!”
“Pig!” ejaculated Razumihin, without turning round.
“There must have been very grave grounds for it, if he is so furious at the word,” Porfiry laughed.
“Oh, you sharp lawyer!... Damn you all!” snapped Razumihin, and suddenly bursting out laughing himself, he went up to Porfiry with a more cheerful face as though nothing had happened. “That’ll do! We are all fools. To come to business. This is my friend Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov; in the first place he has heard of you and wants to make your acquaintance, and secondly, he has a little matter of business with you. Bah! Zametov, what brought you here? Have you met before? Have you known each other long?”
“What does this mean?” thought Raskolnikov uneasily.
Zametov seemed taken aback, but not very much so.
“Why, it was at your rooms we met yesterday,” he said easily.
“Then I have been spared the trouble. All last week he was begging me to introduce him to you. Porfiry and you have sniffed each other out without me. Where is your tobacco?”
Porfiry Petrovitch was wearing a dressing-gown, very clean linen, and trodden-down slippers. He was a man of about five and thirty, short, stout even to corpulence, and clean shaven. He wore his hair cut short and had a large round head, particularly prominent at the back. His soft, round, rather snub-nosed face was of a sickly yellowish colour, but had a vigorous and rather ironical expression. It would have been good-natured except for a look in the eyes, which shone with a watery, mawkish light under almost white, blinking eyelashes. The expression of those eyes was strangely out of keeping with his somewhat womanish figure, and gave it something far more serious than could be guessed at first sight.
As soon as Porfiry Petrovitch heard that his visitor had a little matter of business with him, he begged him to sit down on the sofa and sat down himself on the other end, waiting for him to explain his business, with that careful and over-serious attention which is at once oppressive and embarrassing, especially to a stranger, and especially if what you are discussing is in your opinion of far too little importance for such exceptional solemnity. But in brief and coherent phrases Raskolnikov explained his business clearly and exactly, and was so well satisfied with himself that he even succeeded in taking a good look at Porfiry. Porfiry Petrovitch did not once take his eyes off him. Razumihin, sitting opposite at the same table, listened warmly and impatiently, looking from one to the other every moment with rather excessive interest.
“Fool,” Raskolnikov swore to himself.
“You have to give information to the police,” Porfiry replied, with a most businesslike air, “that having learnt of this incident, that is of the murder, you beg to inform the lawyer in charge of the case that such and such things belong to you, and that you desire to redeem them… or… but they will write to you.”
“That’s just the point, that at the present moment,” Raskolnikov tried his utmost to feign embarrassment, “I am not quite in funds… and even this trifling sum is beyond me… I only wanted, you see, for the present to declare that the things are mine, and that when I have money….”
“That’s no matter,” answered Porfiry Petrovitch, receiving his explanation of his pecuniary position coldly, “but you can, if you prefer, write straight to me, to say, that having been informed of the matter, and claiming such and such as your property, you beg…”
“On an ordinary sheet of paper?” Raskolnikov interrupted eagerly, again interested in the financial side of the question.
“Oh, the most ordinary,” and suddenly Porfiry Petrovitch looked with obvious irony at him, screwing up his eyes and, as it were, winking at him. But perhaps it was Raskolnikov’s fancy, for it all lasted but a moment. There was certainly something of the sort, Raskolnikov could have sworn he winked at him, goodness knows why.
“He knows,” flashed through his mind like lightning.
“Forgive my troubling you about such trifles,” he went on, a little disconcerted, “the things are only worth five roubles, but I prize them particularly for the sake of those from whom they came to me, and I must confess that I was alarmed when I heard…”
“That’s why you were so much struck when I mentioned to Zossimov that Porfiry was inquiring for everyone who had pledges!” Razumihin put in with obvious intention.
This was really unbearable. Raskolnikov could not help glancing at him with a flash of vindictive anger in his black eyes, but immediately recollected himself.
“You seem to be jeering at me, brother?” he said to him, with a well-feigned irritability. “I dare say I do seem to you absurdly anxious about such trash; but you mustn’t think me selfish or grasping for that, and these two things may be anything but trash in my eyes. I told you just now that the silver watch, though it’s not worth a cent, is the only thing left us of my father’s. You may laugh at me, but my mother is here,” he turned suddenly to Porfiry, “and if she knew,” he turned again hurriedly to Razumihin, carefully making his voice tremble, “that the watch was lost, she would be in despair! You know what women are!”
“Not a bit of it! I didn’t mean that at all! Quite the contrary!” shouted Razumihin distressed.
“Was it right? Was it natural? Did I overdo it?” Raskolnikov asked himself in a tremor. “Why did I say that about women?”
“Oh, your mother is with you?” Porfiry Petrovitch inquired.
“When did she come?”
Porfiry paused as though reflecting.
“Your things would not in any case be lost,” he went on calmly and coldly. “I have been expecting you here for some time.”
And as though that was a matter of no importance, he carefully offered the ash-tray to Razumihin, who was ruthlessly scattering cigarette ash over the carpet. Raskolnikov shuddered, but Porfiry did not seem to be looking at him, and was still concerned with Razumihin’s cigarette.
“What? Expecting him? Why, did you know that he had pledges there?” cried Razumihin.
Porfiry Petrovitch addressed himself to Raskolnikov.
“Your things, the ring and the watch, were wrapped up together, and on the paper your name was legibly written in pencil, together with the date on which you left them with her…”
“How observant you are!” Raskolnikov smiled awkwardly, doing his very utmost to look him straight in the face, but he failed, and suddenly added:
“I say that because I suppose there were a great many pledges… that it must be difficult to remember them all…. But you remember them all so clearly, and… and…”
“Stupid! Feeble!” he thought. “Why did I add that?”
“But we know all who had pledges, and you are the only one who hasn’t come forward,” Porfiry answered with hardly perceptible irony.
“I haven’t been quite well.”
“I heard that too. I heard, indeed, that you were in great distress about something. You look pale still.”
“I am not pale at all…. No, I am quite well,” Raskolnikov snapped out rudely and angrily, completely changing his tone. His anger was mounting, he could not repress it. “And in my anger I shall betray myself,” flashed through his mind again. “Why are they torturing me?”
“Not quite well!” Razumihin caught him up. “What next! He was unconscious and delirious all yesterday. Would you believe, Porfiry, as soon as our backs were turned, he dressed, though he could hardly stand, and gave us the slip and went off on a spree somewhere till midnight, delirious all the time! Would you believe it! Extraordinary!”
“Really delirious? You don’t say so!” Porfiry shook his head in a womanish way.
“Nonsense! Don’t you believe it! But you don’t believe it anyway,” Raskolnikov let slip in his anger. But Porfiry Petrovitch did not seem to catch those strange words.
“But how could you have gone out if you hadn’t been delirious?” Razumihin got hot suddenly. “What did you go out for? What was the object of it? And why on the sly? Were you in your senses when you did it? Now that all danger is over I can speak plainly.”
“I was awfully sick of them yesterday.” Raskolnikov addressed Porfiry suddenly with a smile of insolent defiance, “I ran away from them to take lodgings where they wouldn’t find me, and took a lot of money with me. Mr. Zametov there saw it. I say, Mr. Zametov, was I sensible or delirious yesterday; settle our dispute.”
He could have strangled Zametov at that moment, so hateful were his expression and his silence to him.
“In my opinion you talked sensibly and even artfully, but you were extremely irritable,” Zametov pronounced dryly.
“And Nikodim Fomitch was telling me to-day,” put in Porfiry Petrovitch, “that he met you very late last night in the lodging of a man who had been run over.”
“And there,” said Razumihin, “weren’t you mad then? You gave your last penny to the widow for the funeral. If you wanted to help, give fifteen or twenty even, but keep three roubles for yourself at least, but he flung away all the twenty-five at once!”
“Maybe I found a treasure somewhere and you know nothing of it? So that’s why I was liberal yesterday…. Mr. Zametov knows I’ve found a treasure! Excuse us, please, for disturbing you for half an hour with such trivialities,” he said, turning to Porfiry Petrovitch, with trembling lips. “We are boring you, aren’t we?”
“Oh no, quite the contrary, quite the contrary! If only you knew how you interest me! It’s interesting to look on and listen… and I am really glad you have come forward at last.”
“But you might give us some tea! My throat’s dry,” cried Razumihin.
“Capital idea! Perhaps we will all keep you company. Wouldn’t you like… something more essential before tea?”
“Get along with you!”
Porfiry Petrovitch went out to order tea.
Raskolnikov’s thoughts were in a whirl. He was in terrible exasperation.
“The worst of it is they don’t disguise it; they don’t care to stand on ceremony! And how if you didn’t know me at all, did you come to talk to Nikodim Fomitch about me? So they don’t care to hide that they are tracking me like a pack of dogs. They simply spit in my face.” He was shaking with rage. “Come, strike me openly, don’t play with me like a cat with a mouse. It’s hardly civil, Porfiry Petrovitch, but perhaps I won’t allow it! I shall get up and throw the whole truth in your ugly faces, and you’ll see how I despise you.” He could hardly breathe. “And what if it’s only my fancy? What if I am mistaken, and through inexperience I get angry and don’t keep up my nasty part? Perhaps it’s all unintentional. All their phrases are the usual ones, but there is something about them…. It all might be said, but there is something. Why did he say bluntly, ‘With her’? Why did Zametov add that I spoke artfully? Why do they speak in that tone? Yes, the tone…. Razumihin is sitting here, why does he see nothing? That innocent blockhead never does see anything! Feverish again! Did Porfiry wink at me just now? Of course it’s nonsense! What could he wink for? Are they trying to upset my nerves or are they teasing me? Either it’s ill fancy or they know! Even Zametov is rude…. Is Zametov rude? Zametov has changed his mind. I foresaw he would change his mind! He is at home here, while it’s my first visit. Porfiry does not consider him a visitor; sits with his back to him. They’re as thick as thieves, no doubt, over me! Not a doubt they were talking about me before we came. Do they know about the flat? If only they’d make haste! When I said that I ran away to take a flat he let it pass…. I put that in cleverly about a flat, it may be of use afterwards…. Delirious, indeed… ha-ha-ha! He knows all about last night! He didn’t know of my mother’s arrival! The hag had written the date on in pencil! You are wrong, you won’t catch me! There are no facts… it’s all supposition! You produce facts! The flat even isn’t a fact but delirium. I know what to say to them…. Do they know about the flat? I won’t go without finding out. What did I come for? But my being angry now, maybe is a fact! Fool, how irritable I am! Perhaps that’s right; to play the invalid…. He is feeling me. He will try to catch me. Why did I come?”
All this flashed like lightning through his mind.
Porfiry Petrovitch returned quickly. He became suddenly more jovial.
“Your party yesterday, brother, has left my head rather…. And I am out of sorts altogether,” he began in quite a different tone, laughing to Razumihin.
“Was it interesting? I left you yesterday at the most interesting point. Who got the best of it?”
“Oh, no one, of course. They got on to everlasting questions, floated off into space.”
“Only fancy, Rodya, what we got on to yesterday. Whether there is such a thing as crime. I told you that we talked our heads off.”
“What is there strange? It’s an everyday social question,” Raskolnikov answered casually.
“The question wasn’t put quite like that,” observed Porfiry.
“Not quite, that’s true,” Razumihin agreed at once, getting warm and hurried as usual. “Listen, Rodion, and tell us your opinion, I want to hear it. I was fighting tooth and nail with them and wanted you to help me. I told them you were coming…. It began with the socialist doctrine. You know their doctrine; crime is a protest against the abnormality of the social organisation and nothing more, and nothing more; no other causes admitted!...”
“You are wrong there,” cried Porfiry Petrovitch; he was noticeably animated and kept laughing as he looked at Razumihin, which made him more excited than ever.
“Nothing is admitted,” Razumihin interrupted with heat.
“I am not wrong. I’ll show you their pamphlets. Everything with them is ‘the influence of environment,’ and nothing else. Their favourite phrase! From which it follows that, if society is normally organised, all crime will cease at once, since there will be nothing to protest against and all men will become righteous in one instant. Human nature is not taken into account, it is excluded, it’s not supposed to exist! They don’t recognise that humanity, developing by a historical living process, will become at last a normal society, but they believe that a social system that has come out of some mathematical brain is going to organise all humanity at once and make it just and sinless in an instant, quicker than any living process! That’s why they instinctively dislike history, ‘nothing but ugliness and stupidity in it,’ and they explain it all as stupidity! That’s why they so dislike the living process of life; they don’t want a living soul! The living soul demands life, the soul won’t obey the rules of mechanics, the soul is an object of suspicion, the soul is retrograde! But what they want though it smells of death and can be made of India-rubber, at least is not alive, has no will, is servile and won’t revolt! And it comes in the end to their reducing everything to the building of walls and the planning of rooms and passages in a phalanstery! The phalanstery is ready, indeed, but your human nature is not ready for the phalanstery—it wants life, it hasn’t completed its vital process, it’s too soon for the graveyard! You can’t skip over nature by logic. Logic presupposes three possibilities, but there are millions! Cut away a million, and reduce it all to the question of comfort! That’s the easiest solution of the problem! It’s seductively clear and you musn’t think about it. That’s the great thing, you mustn’t think! The whole secret of life in two pages of print!”
“Now he is off, beating the drum! Catch hold of him, do!” laughed Porfiry. “Can you imagine,” he turned to Raskolnikov, “six people holding forth like that last night, in one room, with punch as a preliminary! No, brother, you are wrong, environment accounts for a great deal in crime; I can assure you of that.”
“Oh, I know it does, but just tell me: a man of forty violates a child of ten; was it environment drove him to it?”
“Well, strictly speaking, it did,” Porfiry observed with noteworthy gravity; “a crime of that nature may be very well ascribed to the influence of environment.”
Razumihin was almost in a frenzy. “Oh, if you like,” he roared. “I’ll prove to you that your white eyelashes may very well be ascribed to the Church of Ivan the Great’s being two hundred and fifty feet high, and I will prove it clearly, exactly, progressively, and even with a Liberal tendency! I undertake to! Will you bet on it?”
“Done! Let’s hear, please, how he will prove it!”
“He is always humbugging, confound him,” cried Razumihin, jumping up and gesticulating. “What’s the use of talking to you? He does all that on purpose; you don’t know him, Rodion! He took their side yesterday, simply to make fools of them. And the things he said yesterday! And they were delighted! He can keep it up for a fortnight together. Last year he persuaded us that he was going into a monastery: he stuck to it for two months. Not long ago he took it into his head to declare he was going to get married, that he had everything ready for the wedding. He ordered new clothes indeed. We all began to congratulate him. There was no bride, nothing, all pure fantasy!”
“Ah, you are wrong! I got the clothes before. It was the new clothes in fact that made me think of taking you in.”
“Are you such a good dissembler?” Raskolnikov asked carelessly.
“You wouldn’t have supposed it, eh? Wait a bit, I shall take you in, too. Ha-ha-ha! No, I’ll tell you the truth. All these questions about crime, environment, children, recall to my mind an article of yours which interested me at the time. ‘On Crime’... or something of the sort, I forget the title, I read it with pleasure two months ago in the Periodical Review.”
“My article? In the Periodical Review?” Raskolnikov asked in astonishment. “I certainly did write an article upon a book six months ago when I left the university, but I sent it to the Weekly Review.”
“But it came out in the Periodical.”
“And the Weekly Review ceased to exist, so that’s why it wasn’t printed at the time.”
“That’s true; but when it ceased to exist, the Weekly Review was amalgamated with the Periodical, and so your article appeared two months ago in the latter. Didn’t you know?”
Raskolnikov had not known.
“Why, you might get some money out of them for the article! What a strange person you are! You lead such a solitary life that you know nothing of matters that concern you directly. It’s a fact, I assure you.”
“Bravo, Rodya! I knew nothing about it either!” cried Razumihin. “I’ll run to-day to the reading-room and ask for the number. Two months ago? What was the date? It doesn’t matter though, I will find it. Think of not telling us!”
“How did you find out that the article was mine? It’s only signed with an initial.”
“I only learnt it by chance, the other day. Through the editor; I know him…. I was very much interested.”
“I analysed, if I remember, the psychology of a criminal before and after the crime.”
“Yes, and you maintained that the perpetration of a crime is always accompanied by illness. Very, very original, but… it was not that part of your article that interested me so much, but an idea at the end of the article which I regret to say you merely suggested without working it out clearly. There is, if you recollect, a suggestion that there are certain persons who can… that is, not precisely are able to, but have a perfect right to commit breaches of morality and crimes, and that the law is not for them.”
Raskolnikov smiled at the exaggerated and intentional distortion of his idea.
“What? What do you mean? A right to crime? But not because of the influence of environment?” Razumihin inquired with some alarm even.
“No, not exactly because of it,” answered Porfiry. “In his article all men are divided into ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary.’ Ordinary men have to live in submission, have no right to transgress the law, because, don’t you see, they are ordinary. But extraordinary men have a right to commit any crime and to transgress the law in any way, just because they are extraordinary. That was your idea, if I am not mistaken?”
“What do you mean? That can’t be right?” Razumihin muttered in bewilderment.
Raskolnikov smiled again. He saw the point at once, and knew where they wanted to drive him. He decided to take up the challenge.
“That wasn’t quite my contention,” he began simply and modestly. “Yet I admit that you have stated it almost correctly; perhaps, if you like, perfectly so.” (It almost gave him pleasure to admit this.) “The only difference is that I don’t contend that extraordinary people are always bound to commit breaches of morals, as you call it. In fact, I doubt whether such an argument could be published. I simply hinted that an ‘extraordinary’ man has the right… that is not an official right, but an inner right to decide in his own conscience to overstep… certain obstacles, and only in case it is essential for the practical fulfilment of his idea (sometimes, perhaps, of benefit to the whole of humanity). You say that my article isn’t definite; I am ready to make it as clear as I can. Perhaps I am right in thinking you want me to; very well. I maintain that if the discoveries of Kepler and Newton could not have been made known except by sacrificing the lives of one, a dozen, a hundred, or more men, Newton would have had the right, would indeed have been in duty bound… to eliminate the dozen or the hundred men for the sake of making his discoveries known to the whole of humanity. But it does not follow from that that Newton had a right to murder people right and left and to steal every day in the market. Then, I remember, I maintain in my article that all… well, legislators and leaders of men, such as Lycurgus, Solon, Mahomet, Napoleon, and so on, were all without exception criminals, from the very fact that, making a new law, they transgressed the ancient one, handed down from their ancestors and held sacred by the people, and they did not stop short at bloodshed either, if that bloodshed—often of innocent persons fighting bravely in defence of ancient law—were of use to their cause. It’s remarkable, in fact, that the majority, indeed, of these benefactors and leaders of humanity were guilty of terrible carnage. In short, I maintain that all great men or even men a little out of the common, that is to say capable of giving some new word, must from their very nature be criminals—more or less, of course. Otherwise it’s hard for them to get out of the common rut; and to remain in the common rut is what they can’t submit to, from their very nature again, and to my mind they ought not, indeed, to submit to it. You see that there is nothing particularly new in all that. The same thing has been printed and read a thousand times before. As for my division of people into ordinary and extraordinary, I acknowledge that it’s somewhat arbitrary, but I don’t insist upon exact numbers. I only believe in my leading idea that men are in general divided by a law of nature into two categories, inferior (ordinary), that is, so to say, material that serves only to reproduce its kind, and men who have the gift or the talent to utter a new word. There are, of course, innumerable sub-divisions, but the distinguishing features of both categories are fairly well marked. The first category, generally speaking, are men conservative in temperament and law-abiding; they live under control and love to be controlled. To my thinking it is their duty to be controlled, because that’s their vocation, and there is nothing humiliating in it for them. The second category all transgress the law; they are destroyers or disposed to destruction according to their capacities. The crimes of these men are of course relative and varied; for the most part they seek in very varied ways the destruction of the present for the sake of the better. But if such a one is forced for the sake of his idea to step over a corpse or wade through blood, he can, I maintain, find within himself, in his conscience, a sanction for wading through blood—that depends on the idea and its dimensions, note that. It’s only in that sense I speak of their right to crime in my article (you remember it began with the legal question). There’s no need for such anxiety, however; the masses will scarcely ever admit this right, they punish them or hang them (more or less), and in doing so fulfil quite justly their conservative vocation. But the same masses set these criminals on a pedestal in the next generation and worship them (more or less). The first category is always the man of the present, the second the man of the future. The first preserve the world and people it, the second move the world and lead it to its goal. Each class has an equal right to exist. In fact, all have equal rights with me—and _vive la guerre éternelle_—till the New Jerusalem, of course!”
“Then you believe in the New Jerusalem, do you?”
“I do,” Raskolnikov answered firmly; as he said these words and during the whole preceding tirade he kept his eyes on one spot on the carpet.
“And… and do you believe in God? Excuse my curiosity.”
“I do,” repeated Raskolnikov, raising his eyes to Porfiry.
“And… do you believe in Lazarus’ rising from the dead?”
“I… I do. Why do you ask all this?”
“You believe it literally?”
“You don’t say so…. I asked from curiosity. Excuse me. But let us go back to the question; they are not always executed. Some, on the contrary…”
“Triumph in their lifetime? Oh, yes, some attain their ends in this life, and then…”
“They begin executing other people?”
“If it’s necessary; indeed, for the most part they do. Your remark is very witty.”
“Thank you. But tell me this: how do you distinguish those extraordinary people from the ordinary ones? Are there signs at their birth? I feel there ought to be more exactitude, more external definition. Excuse the natural anxiety of a practical law-abiding citizen, but couldn’t they adopt a special uniform, for instance, couldn’t they wear something, be branded in some way? For you know if confusion arises and a member of one category imagines that he belongs to the other, begins to ‘eliminate obstacles’ as you so happily expressed it, then…”
“Oh, that very often happens! That remark is wittier than the other.”
“No reason to; but take note that the mistake can only arise in the first category, that is among the ordinary people (as I perhaps unfortunately called them). In spite of their predisposition to obedience very many of them, through a playfulness of nature, sometimes vouchsafed even to the cow, like to imagine themselves advanced people, ‘destroyers,’ and to push themselves into the ‘new movement,’ and this quite sincerely. Meanwhile the really new people are very often unobserved by them, or even despised as reactionaries of grovelling tendencies. But I don’t think there is any considerable danger here, and you really need not be uneasy for they never go very far. Of course, they might have a thrashing sometimes for letting their fancy run away with them and to teach them their place, but no more; in fact, even this isn’t necessary as they castigate themselves, for they are very conscientious: some perform this service for one another and others chastise themselves with their own hands…. They will impose various public acts of penitence upon themselves with a beautiful and edifying effect; in fact you’ve nothing to be uneasy about…. It’s a law of nature.”
“Well, you have certainly set my mind more at rest on that score; but there’s another thing worries me. Tell me, please, are there many people who have the right to kill others, these extraordinary people? I am ready to bow down to them, of course, but you must admit it’s alarming if there are a great many of them, eh?”
“Oh, you needn’t worry about that either,” Raskolnikov went on in the same tone. “People with new ideas, people with the faintest capacity for saying something new, are extremely few in number, extraordinarily so in fact. One thing only is clear, that the appearance of all these grades and sub-divisions of men must follow with unfailing regularity some law of nature. That law, of course, is unknown at present, but I am convinced that it exists, and one day may become known. The vast mass of mankind is mere material, and only exists in order by some great effort, by some mysterious process, by means of some crossing of races and stocks, to bring into the world at last perhaps one man out of a thousand with a spark of independence. One in ten thousand perhaps—I speak roughly, approximately—is born with some independence, and with still greater independence one in a hundred thousand. The man of genius is one of millions, and the great geniuses, the crown of humanity, appear on earth perhaps one in many thousand millions. In fact I have not peeped into the retort in which all this takes place. But there certainly is and must be a definite law, it cannot be a matter of chance.”
“Why, are you both joking?” Razumihin cried at last. “There you sit, making fun of one another. Are you serious, Rodya?”
Raskolnikov raised his pale and almost mournful face and made no reply. And the unconcealed, persistent, nervous, and discourteous sarcasm of Porfiry seemed strange to Razumihin beside that quiet and mournful face.
“Well, brother, if you are really serious… You are right, of course, in saying that it’s not new, that it’s like what we’ve read and heard a thousand times already; but what is really original in all this, and is exclusively your own, to my horror, is that you sanction bloodshed in the name of conscience, and, excuse my saying so, with such fanaticism…. That, I take it, is the point of your article. But that sanction of bloodshed by conscience is to my mind… more terrible than the official, legal sanction of bloodshed….”
“You are quite right, it is more terrible,” Porfiry agreed.
“Yes, you must have exaggerated! There is some mistake, I shall read it. You can’t think that! I shall read it.”
“All that is not in the article, there’s only a hint of it,” said Raskolnikov.
“Yes, yes.” Porfiry couldn’t sit still. “Your attitude to crime is pretty clear to me now, but… excuse me for my impertinence (I am really ashamed to be worrying you like this), you see, you’ve removed my anxiety as to the two grades getting mixed, but… there are various practical possibilities that make me uneasy! What if some man or youth imagines that he is a Lycurgus or Mahomet—a future one of course—and suppose he begins to remove all obstacles…. He has some great enterprise before him and needs money for it… and tries to get it… do you see?”
Zametov gave a sudden guffaw in his corner. Raskolnikov did not even raise his eyes to him.
“I must admit,” he went on calmly, “that such cases certainly must arise. The vain and foolish are particularly apt to fall into that snare; young people especially.”
“Yes, you see. Well then?”
“What then?” Raskolnikov smiled in reply; “that’s not my fault. So it is and so it always will be. He said just now (he nodded at Razumihin) that I sanction bloodshed. Society is too well protected by prisons, banishment, criminal investigators, penal servitude. There’s no need to be uneasy. You have but to catch the thief.”
“And what if we do catch him?”
“Then he gets what he deserves.”
“You are certainly logical. But what of his conscience?”
“Why do you care about that?”
“Simply from humanity.”
“If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake. That will be his punishment—as well as the prison.”
“But the real geniuses,” asked Razumihin frowning, “those who have the right to murder? Oughtn’t they to suffer at all even for the blood they’ve shed?”
“Why the word ought? It’s not a matter of permission or prohibition. He will suffer if he is sorry for his victim. Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth,” he added dreamily, not in the tone of the conversation.
He raised his eyes, looked earnestly at them all, smiled, and took his cap. He was too quiet by comparison with his manner at his entrance, and he felt this. Everyone got up.
“Well, you may abuse me, be angry with me if you like,” Porfiry Petrovitch began again, “but I can’t resist. Allow me one little question (I know I am troubling you). There is just one little notion I want to express, simply that I may not forget it.”
“Very good, tell me your little notion,” Raskolnikov stood waiting, pale and grave before him.
“Well, you see… I really don’t know how to express it properly…. It’s a playful, psychological idea…. When you were writing your article, surely you couldn’t have helped, he-he! fancying yourself… just a little, an ‘extraordinary’ man, uttering a new word in your sense…. That’s so, isn’t it?”
“Quite possibly,” Raskolnikov answered contemptuously.
Razumihin made a movement.
“And, if so, could you bring yourself in case of worldly difficulties and hardship or for some service to humanity—to overstep obstacles?... For instance, to rob and murder?”
And again he winked with his left eye, and laughed noiselessly just as before.
“If I did I certainly should not tell you,” Raskolnikov answered with defiant and haughty contempt.
“No, I was only interested on account of your article, from a literary point of view…”
“Foo! how obvious and insolent that is!” Raskolnikov thought with repulsion.
“Allow me to observe,” he answered dryly, “that I don’t consider myself a Mahomet or a Napoleon, nor any personage of that kind, and not being one of them I cannot tell you how I should act.”
“Oh, come, don’t we all think ourselves Napoleons now in Russia?” Porfiry Petrovitch said with alarming familiarity.
Something peculiar betrayed itself in the very intonation of his voice.
“Perhaps it was one of these future Napoleons who did for Alyona Ivanovna last week?” Zametov blurted out from the corner.
Raskolnikov did not speak, but looked firmly and intently at Porfiry. Razumihin was scowling gloomily. He seemed before this to be noticing something. He looked angrily around. There was a minute of gloomy silence. Raskolnikov turned to go.
“Are you going already?” Porfiry said amiably, holding out his hand with excessive politeness. “Very, very glad of your acquaintance. As for your request, have no uneasiness, write just as I told you, or, better still, come to me there yourself in a day or two… to-morrow, indeed. I shall be there at eleven o’clock for certain. We’ll arrange it all; we’ll have a talk. As one of the last to be there, you might perhaps be able to tell us something,” he added with a most good-natured expression.
“You want to cross-examine me officially in due form?” Raskolnikov asked sharply.
“Oh, why? That’s not necessary for the present. You misunderstand me. I lose no opportunity, you see, and… I’ve talked with all who had pledges…. I obtained evidence from some of them, and you are the last…. Yes, by the way,” he cried, seemingly suddenly delighted, “I just remember, what was I thinking of?” he turned to Razumihin, “you were talking my ears off about that Nikolay… of course, I know, I know very well,” he turned to Raskolnikov, “that the fellow is innocent, but what is one to do? We had to trouble Dmitri too…. This is the point, this is all: when you went up the stairs it was past seven, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” answered Raskolnikov, with an unpleasant sensation at the very moment he spoke that he need not have said it.
“Then when you went upstairs between seven and eight, didn’t you see in a flat that stood open on a second storey, do you remember? two workmen or at least one of them? They were painting there, didn’t you notice them? It’s very, very important for them.”
“Painters? No, I didn’t see them,” Raskolnikov answered slowly, as though ransacking his memory, while at the same instant he was racking every nerve, almost swooning with anxiety to conjecture as quickly as possible where the trap lay and not to overlook anything. “No, I didn’t see them, and I don’t think I noticed a flat like that open…. But on the fourth storey” (he had mastered the trap now and was triumphant) “I remember now that someone was moving out of the flat opposite Alyona Ivanovna’s…. I remember… I remember it clearly. Some porters were carrying out a sofa and they squeezed me against the wall. But painters… no, I don’t remember that there were any painters, and I don’t think that there was a flat open anywhere, no, there wasn’t.”
“What do you mean?” Razumihin shouted suddenly, as though he had reflected and realised. “Why, it was on the day of the murder the painters were at work, and he was there three days before? What are you asking?”
“Foo! I have muddled it!” Porfiry slapped himself on the forehead. “Deuce take it! This business is turning my brain!” he addressed Raskolnikov somewhat apologetically. “It would be such a great thing for us to find out whether anyone had seen them between seven and eight at the flat, so I fancied you could perhaps have told us something…. I quite muddled it.”
“Then you should be more careful,” Razumihin observed grimly.
The last words were uttered in the passage. Porfiry Petrovitch saw them to the door with excessive politeness.
They went out into the street gloomy and sullen, and for some steps they did not say a word. Raskolnikov drew a deep breath. | <urn:uuid:842792ff-9ed5-4959-9a6a-526b7eed61ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/182/crime-and-punishment/3410/part-3-chapter-5/ | 2013-05-18T06:34:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975755 | 10,724 |
Front Page Titles (by Subject) OF GIVING THE LIE - Essays of Montaigne, vol. 6
The Online Library of Liberty
A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
OF GIVING THE LIE - Michel de Montaigne, Essays of Montaigne, vol. 6
Essays of Montaigne, vol. 6, trans. Charles Cotton, revised by William Carew Hazlett (New York: Edwin C. Hill, 1910).
Part of: Essays of Montaigne, in 10 vols.
About Liberty Fund:
Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.
The text is in the public domain.
Fair use statement:
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.
OF GIVING THE LIE
WELL, BUT some one will say to me, this design of making a man’s self the subject of his writing, were indeed excusable in rare and famous men, who by their reputation had given others a curiosity to be fully informed of them. It is most true, I confess and know very well, that a mechanic will scarce lift his eyes from his work to look at an ordinary man, whereas a man will forsake his business and his shop to stare at an eminent person when he comes into a town. It misbecomes any other to give his own character, but him who has qualities worthy of imitation, and whose life and opinions may serve for example: Caesar and Xenophon had a just and solid foundation whereon to found their narrations, in the greatness of their own performances; and it were to be wished that we had the journals of Alexander the Great, the commentaries that Augustus, Cato, Sylla, Brutus, and others left of their actions; of such persons men love and contemplate the very statues even in copper and marble.
This remonstrance is very true; but it very little concerns me:—
“I repeat my poems only to my friends, and when bound to do so; not before every one and everywhere; there are plenty of reciters in the open market-place and at the baths.”
I do not here form a statue to erect in the great square of a city, in a church, or any public place:—
“I study not to make my pages swell with empty trifles; you and I are talking in private:”
’tis for some corner of a library, or to entertain a neighbor, a kinsman, a friend, who has a mind to renew his acquaintance and familiarity with me in this image of myself. Others have been encouraged to speak of themselves, because they found the subject worthy and rich; I, on the contrary, am the bolder, by reason the subject is so poor and sterile that I cannot be suspected of ostentation. I judge freely of the actions of others; I give little of my own to judge of, because they are nothing: I do not find so much good in myself, that I cannot tell it without blushing.
What contentment would it not be to me to hear any one thus relate to me the manners, faces, countenances, the ordinary words and fortunes of my ancestors? how attentively should I listen to it! In earnest, it would be evil nature to despise so much as the pictures of our friends and predecessors, the fashion of their clothes and arms. I preserve their writing, seal, and a particular sword they wore, and have not thrown the long staves my father used to carry in his hand, out of my closet:—
“A father’s garment and ring is by so much dearer to his posterity, as there is the greater affection towards parents.”
If my posterity, nevertheless, shall be of another mind, I shall be avenged on them; for they cannot care less for me than I shall then do for them. All the traffic that I have in this with the public is, that I borrow their utensils of writing, which are more easy and most at hand; and in recompense shall, peradventure, keep a pound of butter in the market from melting in the sun:—
“Let not wrappers be wanting to tunnyfish, nor olives; . . . and I shall supply loose coverings to mackerel.”
And though nobody should read me, have I wasted time in entertaining myself so many idle hours in so pleasing and useful thoughts? In moulding this figure upon myself, I have been so often constrained to temper and compose myself in a right posture, that the copy is truly taken, and has in some sort formed itself; painting myself for others, I represent myself in a better coloring than my own natural complexion. I have no more made my book than my book has made me: ’tis a book consubstantial with the author, of a peculiar design, a parcel of my life, and whose business is not designed for others, as that of all other books is. In giving myself so continual and so exact an account of myself, have I lost my time? For they who sometimes cursorily survey themselves only, do not so strictly examine themselves, nor penetrate so deep, as he who makes it his business, his study, and his employment, who intends a lasting record, with all his fidelity, and with all his force. The most delicious pleasures digested within, avoid leaving any trace of themselves, and avoid the sight not only of the people, but of any other person. How often has this work diverted me from troublesome thoughts? and all that are frivolous should be reputed so. Nature has presented us with a large faculty of entertaining ourselves alone; and often calls us to it, to teach us that we owe ourselves in part to society, but chiefly and mostly to ourselves. That I may habituate my fancy even to meditate in some method and to some end, and to keep it from losing itself and roving at random, ’tis but to give to body and to record all the little thoughts that present themselves to it. I give ear to my whimsies, because I am to record them. It often falls out, that being displeased at some action that civility and reason will not permit me openly to reprove, I here disgorge myself, not without design of public instruction: and also these poetical lashes:—
“A slap on his eye, a slap on his snout, a slap on Sagoin’s back,”
imprint themselves better upon paper than upon the flesh. What if I listen to books a little more attentively than ordinary, since I watch if I can purloin anything that may adorn or support my own? I have not at all studied to make a book, but I have in some sort studied because I had made it; if it be studying to scratch and pinch now one author, and then another, either by the head or foot, not with any design to form opinions from them, but to assist, second, and fortify those I already have embraced.
But whom shall we believe in the report he makes of himself in so corrupt an age? considering there are so few, if any at all, whom we can believe when speaking of others, where there is less interest to lie. The first thing done in the corruption of manners is banishing truth; for, as Pindar says, to be true is the beginning of a great virtue, and the first article that Plato requires in the governor of his Republic. The truth of these days is not that which really is, but what every man persuades another man to believe; as we generally give the name of money not only to pieces of the just alloy, but even to the false also, if they will pass. Our nation has long been reproached with this vice; for Salvianus of Marseilles, who lived in the time of the Emperor Valentinian, says that lying and forswearing themselves is with the French not a vice, but a way of speaking. He who would enhance this testimony, might say that it is now a virtue in them; men form and fashion themselves to it as to an exercise of honor; for dissimulation is one of the most notable qualities of this age.
I have often considered whence this custom that we so religiously observe should spring, of being more highly offended with the reproach of a vice so familiar to us than with any other, and that it should be the highest insult that can in words be done us to reproach us with a lie. Upon examination, I find that it is natural most to defend the defects with which we are most tainted. It seems as if by resenting and being moved at the accusation, we in some sort acquit ourselves of the fault; though we have it in effect, we condemn it in outward appearance. May it not also be that this reproach seems to imply cowardice and feebleness of heart? of which can there be a more manifest sign than to eat a man’s own words—nay, to lie against a man’s own knowledge? Lying is a base vice; a vice that one of the ancients portrays in the most odious colors when he says, “that it is to manifest a contempt of God, and withal a fear of men.” It is not possible more fully to represent the horror, baseness, and irregularity of it; for what can a man imagine more hateful and contemptible than to be a coward towards men, and valiant against his Maker? Our intelligence being by no other way communicable to one another but by a particular word, he who falsifies that betrays public society. ’Tis the only way by which we communicate our thoughts and wills; ’tis the interpreter of the soul, and if it deceive us, we no longer know nor have further tie upon one another; if that deceive us, it breaks all our correspondence, and dissolves all the ties of government. Certain nations of the newly discovered Indies (I need not give them names, seeing they are no more; for, by wonderful and unheard-of example, the desolation of that conquest has extended to the utter abolition of names and the ancient knowledge of places) offered to their gods human blood, but only such as was drawn from the tongue and ears, to expiate for the sin of lying, as well heard as pronounced. That good fellow of Greece said that children are amused with toys and men with words.
As to our diverse usages of giving the lie, and the laws of honor in that case, and the alteration they have received, I defer saying what I know of them to another time, and shall learn, if I can, in the meanwhile, at what time the custom took beginning of so exactly weighing and measuring words, and of making our honor interested in them; for it is easy to judge that it was not anciently amongst the Romans and Greeks. And it has often seemed to me strange to see them rail at and give one another the lie without any quarrel. Their laws of duty steered some other course than ours. Caesar is sometimes called thief, and sometimes drunkard, to his teeth. We see the liberty of invective they practised upon one another, I mean the greatest chiefs of war of both nations, where words are only revenged with words, and do not proceed any farther. | <urn:uuid:c49a59d2-e707-47d7-9c0e-006cae733e6c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1747&chapter=91264&layout=html&Itemid=27 | 2013-05-18T06:34:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97343 | 2,423 |
Historic Sites in Journalism
Postmark deadline for nominations: March 20
Download nomination form
Click here to download the nomination form.
Complete List of Historic Sites
The Silverton Standard & the Miner
Read press release
White Hall, Eastern Kentucky University
University of Mississippi
Hubbard Broadcasting and KSTP-TV
Denver, Co., Denver Press Club
Milwaukee , WI., Milwaukee Press Club, oldest continuously operating press club in the Americas.
Los Angeles, Calif., KTLA, leading radio news in the Los Angels community since becoming the first commercially licensed station in LA.
Washington, D.C., American News Womens Club
Chicago, Chicago Bee Building
Tombstone, Ariz., The Tombstone Epitaph
Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Recorder.
Montpelier - Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Washington, D.C., The Senate Press Gallery in honor of Anne N. Royall(1769-1854), the first Capitol Hill news woman
New York City, the Algonquin Hotel, initial site of the Overseas Press Club, a meeting place for foreign correspondents.
San Francisco, awarded to the San Francisco Chronicle in honor of the founders Michel H. de Young and Charles de Young. The brothers founded the Daily Dramatic Chronicle which appeared as the Chronicle in 1868.
Memphis, Tenn., at the Beale Street Baptist Church, in honor of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, editor of the Memphis Free Speech, a Black newspaper.
New York City, to The Amsterdam News, the oldest Black newspaper in New York City. Edited by James L. Hicks, first Black journalist accredited to cover the Korean War and the United Nations.
Montpelier, VA., the Virginia estate of James Madison.
Baltimore, The Sun, in honor of one of the newspapers founders, A. S. Abell.
Greenville, Ohio, birthplace of Lowell Thomas, radio and television broadcaster
Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss., marks the site of the personal and professional papers of William Turner Catledge, late editor of The New York Times.
New York City, accepted by the Magazine Publishers Association and the American Society of Magazine Editors in honor of Ida Tarbell, muckraking journalist of the turn of the century.
Washington, D.C., National Press Club, site of many world news events.
Red Wing, Minn., upon occasion of 100th anniversary of founding of National Newspaper Association.
Annapolis, Md., at site of Revolutionary War newspaper, Maryland Gazette, published by Jonas Green and his wife, Catherine Hoof Green.
New York City, Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971), one of Americas best-known photojournalists.
Kansas City, Mo., the Roy Wilkins site at the Kansas City Call, marked by the Kansas City Professional Chapter in recognition of Roy Wilkins editorship there between 1923 and 1931. The Kansas City Association of Black Journalists was a co-sponsor of the dedication.
Washington, D.C., United Press International, upon its 75th.anniversary.
New York City, Freedoms Journal, the first Black newspaper published in America.
Akron, Ohio, Akron Beacon Journal, in honor of John S. Knight, builder of the Knight-Ridder Newspapers Company.
Philadelphia, Richard Harding Davis, one of the most adventurous war correspondents of his time who was known for his colorful reportage during six wars.
Boston, The Christian Science Monitor, founder Mary Baker Eddy and long-time editor Erwin D. Canham.
Newburyport, Mass., William Lloyd Garrison, founder of the Liberator, anti-slavery journal.
Atlanta, W. A. Scott II, founder of the Atlanta Daily World, oldest continuing Black owned and controlled daily newspaper in the United States.
Charleston, S.C., Elizabeth Timothy, first woman publisher of an American newspaper.
Milwaukee, Christopher Latham Sholes, chief inventor of the first practical typewriter.
Memphis, Tenn., the Christian Index, the second oldest Black religious newspaper in the nation.
Philadelphia, Cyrus H. K. Curtis, who played a major role in consolidating Philadelphia newspapers and founded the Ladies Home Journal.
Toledo, Ohio, David Ross Locke (Petroleum Vesuvius Nasby), who created the Nasby Letters and was a forerunner of the muckrakers.
Milwaukee, H. V. Kaltenborn, pioneer radio news analyst who was known for his analysis of World War II.
New York City, The Wall Street Journal.
Richmond, Va., John Mitchell, one of the Souths leading Black reform journalists and editor of the Richmond Planet.
Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser, the first successful daily newspaper in the United States and first to publish the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution.
Rochester, N.Y., Frederick Douglass, founder in 1847
of the North Star, which with its successor newspapers under Douglasss direction was the leading Black journal in the United States in the antebellum period.
Canton, Ohio, Donald Ring Mellett, publisher of the Canton Daily News, who was gunned down in front of his home after editorializing against Cantons lawless elements and city officials ineptness.
Worcester, Mass., Isaiah Thomas, American revolutionary editor, printer, pioneer press historian and co-founder and first president of American Antiquarian Society.
New York City, The Nation, oldest opinion magazine in the United States.
Pittsburgh, John Scull, first editor to transport type and a press across the Alleghenies to establish journalism west of the peaks; founder of Pittsburgh Gazette in 1786.
University of Alabama, Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black, eloquent and effective for the principle of a free and untrammeled press.
Chicago, the Chicago Defender, for pioneering and continuous leadership and strength in the Black press.
Gathland State Park, Md., Townsends War Correspondents Arch, a memorial to Civil War correspondents of the North and the South.
Augusta, Ga., the Augusta Chronicle, the Souths oldest newspaper presently publishing.
Chicago, the Chicago Tribune.
Oologah, Okla., the Will Rogers Home, birthplace of Will Rogers.
Philadelphia, Sarah Josepha Hale and Godeys Ladys Book, first major womans magazine of mass circulation published from 1830-1882.
Baraboo, Wis., Ansel N. Kellogg and the first newspaper syndicate developed in 1861.
Chillicothe, Ohio, the Chillicothe Gazette, oldest newspaper in continuous publication west of the Allegheny Mountains, published since 1800.
Chicago, the Chicago Daily News and the nations oldest foreign news service operated by a newspaper.
San Francisco, William Randolph Hearst and the San Francisco Examiner.
Calhoun, Ga., the Cherokee Phoenix, the Indian-language newspaper of the Cherokee Nation.
Sacramento, Calif., the Sacramento Union, oldest daily in the West, founded in 1851.
Madison, Wis., the Wisconsin Press Association, oldest continuing state press association in the nation, existing since the 1830s.
Des Moines, Iowa, J. N. (Ding) Darling and the Des Moines Register and Tribune. Darlings cartoons catapulted him into national prominence and were a factor in enhancing the great prestige of his newspaper in the first half of the 20th century.
Hannibal, Mo., 206 Hill Street, boyhood home of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and site of the Hannibal Journal, which started Twain on the way to fame as one of Americas great writers.
Lexington, Va., Reid Hall, the journalism building on the campus of Washington and Lee University. Here the first formal instruction in journalism in the history of education was initiated by General Robert E. Lee in 1869.
Atlanta, Henry Woodfin Grady (1850-1889), and the Atlanta Constitution, leaders in creating a more comprehensive, interpretative journalism in the South.
Gunston Hall, Va., home of George Mason, author of Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), which gave the first expression of a free press its binding, legal form.
Boston, James Franklins New England Courant, first newspaper published in the United States without license or authority. Washington, D.C., the Washington Globe (1831-1845), published by Francis Preston Blair and John C. Rives.
Cincinnati, The Centinel of the North-Western Territory, marking the 175th. anniversary of the first newspaper in the Northwest Territory, published in 1793.
Philadelphia, and Baltimore, Richard Hoe and Ottmar Mergenthaler, for invention of the rotary press in 1847 and the linotype machine in 1886, respectively.
New York City and Washington, D.C., the Associated Press. Establishment of the worlds first private, leased wire for news transmission (1875).
Carmel, Calif., Lincoln Steffans (1866-1936), foremost exponent of journalistic crusaders known as muckrakers, whose exposes of corruption and injustice aroused the public conscience.
Greencastle, Ind., DePauw University, where Sigma Delta Chi was founded, April 17, 1909.
Little Rock, Ark., John N. Heiskell and the Arkansas Gazette, oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi.
New York City, News department, Columbia Broadcasting System. Leadership in founding independent radio news system; distinguished reporting and interpretation exemplified by H. V. Kaltenborn and Edward R. Murrow.
Washington, D.C., National Intelligencer (1800-1865). Vital force in nations political force and set high standards of journalistic responsibility.
New York City, Adolph S. Ochs, largely responsible for the revival of The New York Times.
Louisville, Ky., Henry Watterson, outstanding editorialist.
Kansas City, Mo., William Rockhill Nelson, founder, Kansas City Star.
Hartford, Conn., the Hartford Courant, oldest newspaper of continuous publication in the United States.
New York City, James Gordon Bennett.
New York City, Horace Greeley, one of the most influential newspaper editors in American history.
Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin, statesman and newspaperman.
Charlottesville, Va., Thomas Jefferson.
Cleveland, Edward Wyllis Scripps and the Cleveland Press. Publisher, founder of the Cleveland Press and chain of newspapers, plus United Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association.
New York City, the trial of John Peter Zenger.
Baltimore, H. L. Mencken, author and newspaperman.
Columbia, Mo., Walter Williams and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. First school of journalism in the nation.
Pittsburgh, Radio Station KDKA. Reported Hardings election in 1920. First radio coverage of a national event.
New York City, Henry J. Raymond, co-founder and the first editor, The New York Times.
Bloomington, Ind., Ernie Pyle, editor, columnist, war correspondent for Scripps-Howard newspapers.
Alton, Ill., Elijah Parish Lovejoy, editor, The Observer, and a militant abolitionist assassinated by his enemies.
New Orleans, George Wilkins Kendall, co-founder of the New Orleans Picayune, first war correspondent to achieve fame as a regular reporter of military actions.
Boston, Mass., The Boston Gazette, second regularly-published paper in the nation.
Emporia, Kan., William Allen White, editor and publisher, the Emporia Gazette.
Montgomery, Ala., Grover Cleveland Hall, editor, the Montgomery Advertiser. He fought the Ku Klux Klan.
St. Louis, Mo., Joseph Pulitzer, founder, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
San Francisco, Calif., James King of William, founder, editor and publisher, the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin. He fought corruption in municipal government and was assassinated by a politician after many threats on his life.
A contribution was made to Peter Zenger Memorial Fund.
Bennington, Vt., Anthony Haswell, editor and publisher, the Vermont Gazette. He was jailed for fighting the Sedition Act.
The Societys Historic Sites in Journalism program honors the people and places that have played important roles in American journalistic history. The program dates back to 1942.
The sites were originally marked with a bronze marker, and some honorees include: World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle; Benjamin Franklin; William Randolph Hearst; The Associated Press offices in Washington and New York City; Freedoms Journal, the first Black newspaper published in the United States; and Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black.
Nominations are open. Self-nominations are permitted.
Nomination form should be accompanied by a letter(s) of recommendation that reflects the nominees national historic significance in journalism and why the nominee is deserving of this national recognition.
Submit all nomination materials unbound on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Additional supporting materials are welcomed and should be limited to 10 pages.
Nominations should also include an indication of the specific location (i.e. building, street address, inside or outside installation) where a bronze plaque would be placed and the name of a person to be contacted to supply additional information if necessary.
Nominators should contact the rightful authorities (such as owner of the building) to ensure that they are amenable to placement of a plaque.
Only one historic site may be chosen each year. However, if one of the nominated sites is not selected, it may be resubmitted for future consideration.
Winner Announcement and Presentation
Honorees will be announced and honored at a special celebration event. A bronze plaque is displayed at the location marking it as a Historic Site in Journalism.
Nominations must be postmarked on or before March 20. Nominations should be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
Historic Sites in Journalism
Society of Professional Journalists
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
For More Information
Contact the Director of Awards at 317/927-8000 or [email protected] | <urn:uuid:88630209-54c2-41f0-b587-e9fc3af452c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://spj.org/a-historicsites.asp | 2013-05-18T06:55:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.885783 | 2,963 |
Jim Jennings, (703) 295-6406, (540) 272-1452, jjennings@asceorg
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
New data released today by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and TRIP show the deteriorating conditions of the surface transportation infrastructure system in Ohio is worsening, and drivers and businesses continue to feel the impact. Closing the investment gap in the state’s surface transportation infrastructure will grow Ohio’s economy, save jobs and protect personal income.
“Failing to invest in Ohio’s roads, bridges and transit systems has a dramatic negative impact on the state and national economy,” said Andrew W. Herrmann, P.E., president of ASCE. “This data underscores the need for state and national policymakers to make smart, long-term investments in infrastructure.”
By 2020, ASCE projects the consequences of these conditions will cost the U.S. economy $897 billion in lost Gross Domestic Product and $28 billion in exports as transportation costs rise. The recent surface transportation bill adopted by Congress addresses spending in only the next two years, and it doesn’t fill the current funding gap.
“While addressing Ohio’s need for a safe, efficient and well-maintained transportation system will require a significant boost in investment, failing to act will result in even greater costs,” said Will Wilkins, executive director of TRIP. “Smart investments in transportation policies relieve traffic congestion, improve road and bridge conditions and enhance economic productivity.”
Due to the underinvestment in transportation in the Great Lakes region, data from ASCE shows that by 2020 productivity losses will cause the region to underperform by $104 billion and 102,000 jobs will be lost resulting in a drop in personal income of almost $108 billion if no action is taken.
“Ohio’s roads, bridges and transit systems keep our economy moving,” said Chris Runyan, President, Ohio Contractors Association. “Investing in key projects not only improves highway conditions in our state, but also creates good paying jobs.”
The latest information from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows pavement has severe deterioration in Ohio, and the effects of the conditions are acute:
- Vehicle travel on Ohio’s highways increased by 29 percent from 1990 to 2010. Ohio’s population grew by seven percent between 1990 and 2010.
- Forty-five percent of Ohio’s major urban highways are congested, and
- 42 percent of Ohio’s major urban roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
- Driving on roads in need of repair costs Ohio motorists $2.5 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – an average of $315 per motorist.
- Twenty-four percent of Ohio’s bridges (6,381) are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
“Our highways, roads and bridges are real economic drivers for the state,” said Kevin Carpenter, director at WD Transportation, an inter-disciplinary engineering firm that provides services for Ohio government agencies, municipalities and counties. “Having worked on over 100 infrastructure projects in Ohio, I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of investing in our transportation system.”
Bad roads mean big problems for businesses in Ohio considering 78 percent of the $563 billion worth of commodities delivered annually from sites in Ohio is transported by trucks on the state’s highways, and an additional 12 percent is delivered by parcel, U.S. Postal Service or courier, which use multiple modes, including highways.
“Investing in high quality roads and bridges is important to our state’s quality of life,” said David Pritchard, civil engineer and consultant. “Our roads and bridges connect businesses to commerce and people to their loved ones as they move across our state and throughout the country.”
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 140,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. For more information go to
Founded in 1971, TRIP is a nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. TRIP promotes transportation policies that relieve traffic congestion, improve road and bridge conditions, improve air quality, make surface travel safer and enhance economic productivity. | <urn:uuid:46eb3a09-c4a8-4065-970b-292ad11fe78f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.asce.org/Press-Releases/2012/New-Data-Finds-Closing-the-Surface-Transportation-Infrastructure-Investment-Gap-Will-Keep-Ohio-s-Economoy-Growing,-Save-Jobs-and-Protect-Personal-Income/ | 2013-05-18T07:20:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928801 | 918 |
C.F. Martin & Co. Announces the Promotion of Amani Duncan to Vice President of Brand Marketing
NAZARETH, PA Recognized by her peers as one of the most dynamic marketing executives in the music business, Amani Duncan was today named Vice President of Brand Marketing for C.F. Martin & Co. Duncan was originally hired in January 2011 as Director of Promotional Marketing, making this the first time that a Martin executive has been promoted to the company's internal Senior Core Team after only one year with the company. Amani is responsible for establishing the company's Global Marketing direction and plays a major role in the achievement of the company's domestic and international sales objectives.
"Amani was chosen to round out the Core Team at Martin for her creative thinking and great enthusiasm," said Keith Lombardi, President and COO. "In her short tenure at Martin Guitar she has completely overhauled our marketing efforts, providing a vibrant, youth-oriented approach while still staying true to our heritage and culture. We are very lucky to have her on the team."
A 17-year music industry veteran, Duncan was chosen for her dynamic contributions to the music industry, with experience that runs the gamut from artist relations to visual marketing, campaign creation and partnership negotiations. Her illustrious career has included positions at some of the most iconic companies in the music industry. Past achievements include serving as Chief Marketing Officer of Sean Combs Enterprises.
As Senior Vice President of Marketing, Video Production & Content for the Capitol Music Group, Duncan empowered consumers and entrepreneurial Artists by leveraging brands in an increasingly contracting music industry. Her marketing stewardship during a delicate consolidation of Virgin and Capitol Records helped to re-brand two of the industry's most formidable labels. Armed with her own proprietary "success mission", Duncan helped deliver substantial new revenue streams through third party alliances that included Myspace, Champion apparel, Chase, and Southwest Airlines among others. Under her tutelage, superstar Lenny Kravitz garnered his highest Billboard entry in two decades, with "It Is Time For a Love Revolution" debuting at #4 on the "Billboard Top Albums Chart". She also reallocated assets to strengthen the label's digital presence, partnering with Myspace for Kravitz' "Get On The Bus With The Love Revolution Tour", utilizing her considerable visual expertise to generate other digital and mobile content from the CMG roster to garner new platforms of exposure for their artists.
Prior to the 2007 consolidation of Virgin and Capitol into a single unit, the Capitol Music Group, Duncan was Vice President of Video Promotions for Virgin America from 2002 to 2006. In this position she was tasked with forging partnerships with franchise brands such as MTV and the NFL to promote Janet Jackson's 9th studio album, "Damita Jo". Duncan also worked behind the scenes to create the first-ever MTV2 $2 Bill Tour called "Welcome to the Universe", also dubbed "The Environmen-tour" due to its forward-thinking eco messaging. Duncan also oversaw the video promotional campaign for the UK band Gorillaz and their album "Demon Days", helping the band attain their highest U.S. chart debut ever, achieving the #6 spot on the "Billboard Top Albums" chart in 2005.
The most formative period of Duncan's career was gleaned during her tenure with the Island Def Jam Music Group from 1995 to 2002 where she started out as West Coast Office Manager before convincing Def Jam executive Kevin Liles that she deserved a shot at the Big Apple. Once there, Duncan made it a point to "drop in" regularly at the BET offices to cultivate relationships that would ultimately prove beneficial to Def Jam artists, proving that she was right to ask for the transfer to New York, which subsequently led to her being named Promotions Manager, then National Director of Visual Promotions. Most importantly for Def Jam, it also led to BET sponsorships of one of the most successful tours in the history of hip hop - Jay-Z's "The Hard Knock Life" Tour. Duncan was also instrumental in securing a 2001 "MTV Unplugged" showcase for Jay-Z, only the second hip hop artist of the entire previous decade to garner the coveted MTV platform; and a partnership with Jay-Z and BET executive Stephen Hill on BET's flagship Marquee program "Blueprint" named after Jay-Z's award-winning album. All of these elements led to Def Jam regaining its dominant position in the hip-hop sector, and spawning the hugely successful Roc-A-Fella Empire.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Duncan spends her spare time donating her services to support mentoring Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, a non-profit provider of after-school programs in New York City.
About Martin Guitar & Strings
C.F Martin & Co. (www.martinguitar.com) has been creating the finest instruments in the world for over 175 years. It continues to innovate, introducing techniques and features that have become industry standards including X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar and the “Dreadnought” size.
One of the world’s leading acoustic instrument makers, Martin guitars are hand-made by skilled craftsmen and women, who use a combination of new design and techniques along with those introduced by the company founder.
The company is also known for producing high-quality, popular acoustic guitar strings. These include the Martin SP® LIFESPAN™ line - the fastest-growing treated string in the industry, and the Martin SP line - which uses an industry leading core wire to hold tunings better.
Martin guitars and Martin Strings are the instruments and strings of choice for musicians around the world, from the icons of rock, country, folk and bluegrass to those just beginning their careers. They can be seen across all segments of pop culture, from television (Glee, Psych, Raising Hope and American Idol) to the movies; on Broadway and in books, online, and gracing the covers of popular magazines on newsstands everywhere. Connect with Martin and Martin Strings on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube and via www.martinguitar.com and www.martinstrings.com.
DKC for Martin Guitar | <urn:uuid:5143f355-8554-4085-b616-29405452acfc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.martinguitar.com/news/37-main-site/press-release-archive-2012/720-cf-martin-a-co-announces-the-promotion-of-amani-duncan-to-vice-president-of-brand-marketing.html | 2013-05-18T07:13:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956548 | 1,281 |
The publication and republication of (offensive) caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed provided, to many, an opportunity to revisit the contours of the right to freedom of speech and expression. Without consciously taking sides in the debate as it unfolded in On Line Opinion and elsewhere, let me introduce to the discussion some more dimensions based on another controversy. The controversy is about Internet censorship in China which was reignited by Google’s recent decision to censor search results.
Apart from the censor, the Chinese Government, there are four main corporate players in the censorship saga. Beginning in 2003, Yahoo provided electronic details of cyber-dissidents to the Chinese authorities which lead to their incarceration. Learning from Yahoo, Microsoft adopted a soft approach and shut down an Internet blog of a Chinese journalist hosted at its MSN Spaces for discussing politically sensitive issues. Microsoft has now opened up this censored blog, but only outside China.
Most recently, Google agreed to self-censor search results of its new Chinese site: www.google.com.cn. The popular search engine will block results that include terms such as “free Tibet”, “democracy”, “human rights”, “Tiananmen massacre”, and “Falun Gong”. Finally, Cisco Systems is accused of facilitating such censorship by selling routing devices to China.
Some may ask what the big deal is. Censorship, with or without the Internet, is common in China (pdf file 2.02GB) and rights are severely restricted. Chinese citizens - irrespective of whether they have access to the Internet or not - do not enjoy any meaningful freedom of speech in any case. Such a contention, however, misses an important point regarding the efficacy of the Internet. Among others, because of its trans-border base and reach, the Internet was believed to nullify, to a large extent, the power of repressive states to control and censor the free flow of ideas within their municipal boundaries. However, the current controversy indicates that powerful states could prevail over the might of even the Internet, at least for now.
This is, however, not to suggest that Internet service providers are not (or should not be) subject to certain restrictions. Like many other rights, the right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to seek, receive and impart information, is not absolute. It could be reasonably restricted, say, on the ground of public order, health, morality, or the rights of others. For this reason, even corporations that are providing Internet services have to facilitate the freedom of speech, or of press, within such applicable limitations. For example, a corporation should not turn a blind eye to its website being used for inciting terrorism, promoting genocide, spreading social hatred, selling slaves, or facilitating music piracy for that matter.
The China factor
One natural question to ask is whether these giant corporations would have behaved elsewhere in the same way as they behaved in China. For example, would they have bowed to the censorship pressure of the governments of Myanmar or Zimbabwe? I very much doubt it. The reason is not difficult to identify; it is about commercial opportunism. One has to merely look at the speed at which the Internet market is growing in China. According to a survey report released by the Internet Society of China at the end of year 2005, China had 110 million Internet users (second only to the US), up from 103 million in 2004. In 2005, the total revenue from Internet users was about 186 billion Yuan, which is expected to rise at the rate of 52.5 per cent.
This perhaps explains why Yahoo, Microsoft and Google chose to follow the path of, as they put it, lesser evil. Apart from anything else, it also makes business sense not to annoy or pull out of China.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
CSR is the new mantra attracting the attention of almost everyone, from corporations to investors, consumers, media, NGOs, researchers, governments and international institutions. In addition to special corporations that have been constituted to do only CSR consultancy, there are specialised websites, journals and research centres devoted to exploring CSR issues. Despite all this, there is still a lack of consensus on what these “social” responsibilities of corporations are, how they could be balanced, if at all, with the primary objective of profit maximisation and how best they might be enforced.
It may, therefore, be interesting to examine the CSR commitment of the four corporations that allegedly helped China in censoring people’s freedom of speech. The four US corporations - Cisco, Yahoo, Microsoft and Google - are market leaders in their own fields and are generally seen as good corporate citizens. Cisco “strives to be a good citizen worldwide” and pursues a strong “triple bottom line”: profits, people and presence.
Yahoo takes prides in its “Yahoo! For Good” campaign and is “committed to making a difference in the world by empowering [its] users … with products and services that inspire them to make a positive impact”. Similarly, Microsoft “is committed … to help advance social and economic well-being and to enable people around the world to realise their full potential”. Additionally, the commendable initiatives taken by the Gates Foundation should not be forgotten.
Google, on the other hand, claims to make money “without doing evil”. It was, however, surprising not to find the names of Yahoo, Microsoft and Google in the list of Global Compact participants.
How do corporations explain the gap, as in this case, between their declared policies and practices? To begin with, it is safe to pass on the responsibility to states. The Joint Statement of Microsoft and Yahoo to the US Congress Human Rights Caucus illustrates this: “we think there is a vital role for government-to-government discussion of the larger issues involved” because in acting alone their “leverage and ability to influence government policies in various countries is severely limited”. Admittedly, states have the primary responsibility to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights, but this does not derogate whatever responsibility corporations have. If corporations have human rights obligations only subject to their profits, such obligations hardly serve any useful purpose.
Surya Deva is Lecturer at School of Law, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. He recently completed his PhD at the Sydney Law School. Surya has published widely in law journals also blogs at Glocal Canvas. | <urn:uuid:8e6c29bb-3219-4587-ae5a-eaf95bdd248a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4178 | 2013-05-18T05:18:37Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950497 | 1,337 |
THE JOCKEY CLUB’S TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF USE FOR REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM.
BY ACCESSING OR USING REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM OR THOROUGHBREDCONNECT.COM, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, YOU MAY NOT
ACCESS OR USE REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM. THE JOCKEY CLUB MAY MODIFY THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME, AND SUCH
MODIFICATIONS SHALL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON POSTING OF THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT ON REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM.
YOU AGREE TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENT PERIODICALLY TO BE AWARE OF SUCH MODIFICATIONS AND YOUR CONTINUED ACCESS OR
USE OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM SHALL BE DEEMED YOUR CONCLUSIVE ACCEPTANCE OF THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT.
1 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
1.1 The Jockey Club (“TJC”)
provides you with The Jockey Club Interactive Registration™, registry.jockeyclub.com,
subject to these Terms and Conditions of Use. There Terms and Conditions apply to
the website thoroughbredconnect.com and when used herein, all references to
“registry.jockeyclub.com” within these Terms and Conditions also include
thoroughbredconnect.com. As noted above, TJC may change these Terms and
Conditions of Use from time to time without providing you with notification
of any such changes. You can always obtain the most current version of these
Terms and Conditions of Use here. Additionally, when using any particular
service on registry.jockeyclub.com, you may be subject to special guidelines
or rules posted in connection with any such service; all such guidelines or
rules are hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms and Conditions
1.2 You understand that, except for
information, products or services clearly identified as being supplied
by TJC, TJC does not operate, control or endorse any information, products
or services on registry.jockeyclub.com in any way. Except for TJC-identified
information, products or services, all information, products and services
offered through registry.jockeyclub.com or on the Internet generally are
offered by third parties. You also understand that TJC cannot and does
not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through
registry.jockeyclub.com will be free of infection or viruses, worms,
Trojan horses, spyware or other code that manifest contaminating or
destructive properties. You are responsible for implementing sufficient
procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for
accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external
to registry.jockeyclub.com for the reconstruction of any lost data.
1.3 TJC provides the capability to search and
display horse names, along with other indicative information for horses, to
facilitate the running of registry.jockeyclub.com. Use of this service for
reasons other than as required by breeders and owners or their agents to conduct
registration-related business with The Jockey Club is strictly prohibited and
shall be considered a material breach of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
TJC also provides the capability to search and display horse tattoo and microchip
numbers to facilitate the identification of horses. Use of this service for
reasons other than identifying a horse based on its tattoo or microchip number
is strictly prohibited and shall be considered a material breach of these Terms
and Conditions of Use. Through Thoroughbred Connect, TJC also allows you to
attach your contact information to a Thoroughbred you are interested in providing
aftercare or other assistance for (“Aftercare”) in the event that Thoroughbred
is in need of such care, or to request contact information for persons interested
in providing Aftercare for a Thoroughbred in your possession or supervision. Use
of Thoroughbred Connect for reasons other than for facilitating Aftercare for
Thoroughbreds (including, but not limited to, attempts to harass, humiliate or
disparage a specific individual, individuals or entity), is strictly prohibited
and shall be considered a material breach of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
TJC explicitly disclaims any responsibility for the content or availability of
information contained in TJC’s search indexes or directories. TJC also disclaims
any responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of any directory or search
1.4 In connection with your use of registry.jockeyclub.com,
you agree you will not:
(a) Transmit any
message, information, data, text, software or images, or other content ("Material") that
is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar,
obscene, libelous, or otherwise objectionable or that may invade another's right of
privacy or publicity;
(b) Impersonate any person or entity,
including, but not limited to, a TJC official, or falsely state or otherwise
misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
(c) Post or transmit any
Material that you do not have a right to reproduce, display or transmit
under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as,
but not limited to, nondisclosure agreements);
(d) Knowingly post or transmit
any Material that contains an infection or viruses, worms, Trojan horses
or other code that manifest contaminating or destructive properties;
(e) Delete any author attributions,
legal notices or proprietary designations or labels that you upload to any
(f) Take any action that
imposes, or may impose, in TJC’s sole discretion, an unreasonable or
disproportionately large load on TJC’s infrastructure and/or that
adversely affects the availability of its resources to other users;
(g) Post or transmit any
unsolicited advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail", "spam,"
"chain letters," "pyramid schemes" or any other form of solicitation
or any non-resume information such as opinions or notices, commercial
(h) Violate any applicable local,
state, national or international law;
(i) Upload or transmit any
Material that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other
proprietary rights of any party;
(j) Delete or revise any Material
posted or transmitted by any other person or entity without their expressed
(k) Manipulate or otherwise
display, database, modify, frame, create derivative works from or otherwise
distribute any content of registry.jockeyclub.com either electronically
(l) Register, subscribe,
attempt to register, attempt to subscribe, unsubscribe, or attempt to
unsubscribe, any party for any TJC product or service if you are not
expressly authorized by such party to do so;
(m) Use any robot, spider,
scraper, automated query program, web crawler, scripts, inquiries or
any other automated means, by whatever name known, to post, transmit
and/or access registry.jockeyclub.com for any purpose without TJC
expressly providing, in an authorized writing, such permission;
(n) Bypass measures we may use to
prevent or restrict access to registry.jockeyclub.com, or;
(o) Otherwise violate the limited
scope of permission hereby expressly granted
1.5 TJC may, from time to time,
audit the activities of users of registry.jockeyclub.com to detect patterns
of abuse and non-compliance with these Terms and Conditions of Use and TJC
has the right to suspend or terminate your use of registry.jockeyclub.com
and refuse to you any and all current or future use of registry.jockeyclub.com
if, in the sole judgment of TJC and without notice to you, such abuse or
non-compliance with these Terms and Conditions is detected.
2 DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
provides users with access to a rich collection of Thoroughbred registration
data and services. Some services we offer gratis and others are provided for
a fee. Registry.jockeyclub.com is intended for the exclusive use of conducting
registration-related business with The Jockey Club, confirmation of identity
of Thoroughbreds via the use of markings officially recorded by The Jockey Club
or via tattoo numbers or microchip numbers or the facilitation of Aftercare
arrangements for Thoroughbreds via Thoroughbred Connect. Any other use of
registry.jockeyclub.com is prohibited, including obtaining pedigree information
or other registration-related information from registry.jockeyclub.com.
Registry.jockeyclub.com includes advertisements; these advertisements are
necessary for TJC to provide you with registry.jockeyclub.com. Unless specifically
noted to the contrary, any new features or enhancements to registry.jockeyclub.com
shall be subject to these Terms and Conditions of Use. You understand and agree
that registry.jockeyclub.com is provided to you on an "as is" basis and TJC
assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery or
failure to store any information.
2.2 As a user of registry.jockeyclub.com
you understand that you are responsible for obtaining access thereto and that such
access may involve third party fees, such as Internet service provider fees. You
understand that you are responsible for these fees. Additionally, you understand
that it is your responsibility to provide for all of the necessary equipment and
software in order for your computer to be able to access registry.jockeyclub.com.
2.3 TJC reserves the right at any time
and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently,
registry.jockeyclub.com (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree
that TJC shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification,
suspension or discontinuance of registry.jockeyclub.com.
2.4 The information returned by the Tattoo
Identification Service is based upon a comparison between the expected tattoo number
as indicated by our registration records and the tattoo information submitted by each
user of the service. In some cases, such as in instances of tattoer error, international
horses, and other less common circumstances, the information returned by the service may
not reflect the actual tattoo number on the upper lip of the horse in question.
2.5 Thoroughbred Connect is
provided as a service to owners and breeders to assist in facilitating the
provision of Aftercare to Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their
racing and/or breeding careers. THE JOCKEY CLUB DOES NOT SCREEN POTENTIAL
OWNERS LISTED IN THOROUGHBRED CONNECT TO DETERMINE SUITABILITY OR APPROPRIATENESS
FOR THOROUGHBRED OWNERSHIP OR FOR PROVIDING AFTERCARE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE CURRENT OWNER TO DECIDE WHICH, IF ANY, POTENTIAL OWNERS OR PROVIDERS OF
AFTERCARE TO CONTACT FROM THE THOROUGHBRED’S LISTING IN THOROUGHBRED CONNECT
AND TO INVESTIGATE SUCH PERSONS AND ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE HOMES FOR THE THOROUGHBRED.
The Jockey Club makes no warranties or guarantees related to or arising out of
Thoroughbred Connect or the use thereof, including, but not limited to, (i) that a
current owner will contact a name in a listing, (ii) that an individual or entity
attached to a horse in Thoroughbred Connect will be suitable, willing or able to
take the horse, or (iii) that the horse will be made available for free.
3.1 If you purchase products and/or
access information or services on registry.jockeyclub.com, you agree to:
a. Provide true, accurate,
current and complete information as required by registry.jockeyclub.com’s
registration form ("Registration Information"); and
b. Maintain and promptly update
the Registration Information to keep it true, accurate, current and complete.
3.2 If you provide any information
that is known to you to be untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated or if TJC
has reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate,
incomplete, or outdated or if you are otherwise in material breach of these Terms
and Conditions of Use TJC has the right to suspend or terminate your use of
registry.jockeyclub.com and refuse to you any and all current or future use
3.3 Upon registration you will receive
a username and password, both of which will be chosen by you or assigned to you,
in accordance with parameters set by TJC. You are responsible for maintaining the
confidentiality of your username and password, and are fully responsible for all
activities that occur under your username and password. You agree to:
your username and password in strict confidence.
notify TJC of any unauthorized use of your username and/or password or any
other breach of security; and
(c) Ensure that you log off from
your account at the end of each session.
3.4 You agree that TJC, in its
sole and absolute discretion, may terminate your username and/or password
at any time and for any reason, including, without limitation, for lack of
use or if TJC believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with
the letter or spirit of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
3.5 TJC cannot and will not be
liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with
3.6 Your username
and password may be stored in a cookie on you personal computer. Any functionality of
your browser that permits usernames and/or passwords to be auto-completed or
automatically retained should be rendered inactive when accessing registry.jockeyclub.com.
with respect to registry.jockeyclub.com see our full Privacy Notice.
5 SPECIAL ADMONITIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL USE
the global nature of the Internet, you agree to comply with all local rules, including,
without limitation, rules about the Internet, data, email, and privacy. And all other
rules regarding online conduct. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable
laws regarding the electronic transmission of data.
6 NO RE-DISTRIBUTION OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
Without having first obtained TJC's
written permission to do so, you agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell,
(a) any information obtained from registry.jockeyclub.com,
(b) use of registry.jockeyclub.com,
(c) access to registry.jockeyclub.com.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may print and download material from the
different areas of registry.jockeyclub.com as it relates to and is consistent
with the intended use of registry.jockeyclub.com as described in
7 YOUR DEALINGS WITH ADVERTISERS ON REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
Your participation, correspondence
or business dealings with third parties, including but not limited to advertisers,
or participation in promotions of third parties found on or through
registry.jockeyclub.com, including payment and delivery of related goods or
services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated
with such dealings, are solely between you and such third parties. You agree
that TJC shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort
incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of
such third parties on registry.jockeyclub.com.
Registry.jockeyclub.com may provide, or
third parties may provide, links to other Internet sites or resources. Because
TJC has no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that
TJC is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources,
and you acknowledge that TJC does not endorse and is not responsible or liable
for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available
from such sites or resources. You further acknowledge and agree that TJC
shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage
or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or
reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any
such site or resource.
9 PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
9.1 You acknowledge and agree that registry.jockeyclub.com
and any necessary software used in connection therewith ("Software") contain
proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual
property and other laws. You further acknowledge and agree that information
contained in sponsor advertisements or information presented to you through
registry.jockeyclub.com or its advertisers is or may be protected by copyrights,
trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws.
Except as expressly authorized by TJC or advertisers, you agree not to modify,
rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on
registry.jockeyclub.com or the Software, in whole or in part.
9.2 TJC grants to you a personal, non-transferable,
non-exclusive and terminable right and license to use the object code of its
Software on a single computer; provided that you do not (and do not allow any
third party to) copy, modify, create a derivative work of, reverse engineer,
reverse assemble or otherwise attempt to discover any source code, sell, assign,
sublicense, grant a security interest in or otherwise transfer any right in the
Software. You agree not to modify the Software in any manner or form, or to
use modified versions of the Software, including (without limitation) for the
purpose of obtaining unauthorized access to registry.jockeyclub.com. You
agree not to access registry.jockeyclub.com by any means other than through
the interface that is provided by TJC for use in accessing registry.jockeyclub.com.
9.3 Domestic and international copyright and
trademark laws protect the entire contents of registry.jockeyclub.com.
The owners of the intellectual property, copyrights and trademarks are TJC,
its affiliates or other third party licensors. UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED
ON DIFFERENT AREAS OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM, YOU MAY NOT MODIFY, COPY,
REPRODUCE, REPUBLISH, UPLOAD, POST, TRANSMIT, OR DISTRIBUTE, IN ANY MANNER,
THE MATERIAL ON REGISTRY.JOCKEY.COM, INCLUDING TEXT, GRAPHICS, CODE AND/OR
SOFTWARE. You may print and download portions of material from the different
areas of registry.jockeyclub.com provided that you agree not to change or
delete any copyright or proprietary notices from the materials.
9.4 You agree to grant to TJC
a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sub licensable, perpetual license,
with the right to sub-license, to reproduce, distribute, transmit, create
derivative works of, publicly display and publicly perform any materials and
other information (including, without limitation, ideas contained therein for
new or improved products and services) you submit to registry.jockeyclub.com
or by e-mail to TJC by all means and in any medium now known or hereafter
developed. You agree that you shall have no recourse against TJC for any
alleged or actual infringement or misappropriation of any proprietary right
in your communications to TJC.
10 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 You understand that by using
registry.jockeyclub.com, you are agreeing that TJC will not, under any
circumstances, be liable in any way for any information contained therein,
including, but not limited to, for any errors or omissions in the information,
or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any
information contained therein.
10.2 TJC and its licensors shall
not be responsible or liable for the accuracy, usefulness or availability
of any information transmitted or made available via registry.jockeyclub.com,
either directly or indirectly, and shall not be responsible or liable for
decisions made based on such information. For the avoidance of doubt, TJC
does not make any covenants, representations or warranties regarding the
individuals or entities which offer to take a Thoroughbred horse through
Thoroughbred Connect and TJC shall not have any liability arising out of
or related to a horse being placed with an individual or entity listed
in Thoroughbred Connect.
10.3 You acknowledge that TJC is
not responsible for notifying you of any upgrades, fixes or enhancements to
registry.jockeyclub.com or for any compromise or loss of data transmitted
across computer networks or telecommunications facilities, including, but not
limited to, the Internet.
10.4 YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND
AGREE THAT TJC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR
LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER LOSSES (EVEN IF TJC HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR
THE INABILITY TO USE REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT
OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION
OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED
INTO THROUGH OR FROM REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR
ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY
THIRD PARTY ON REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM; (v) THE USE OF THOROUGHBRED CONNECT;
OR (vi) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM.
10.5 You agree to
indemnify and hold TJC, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents,
co-branders or other partners, and employees, harmless from any claim or demand,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising
out of (a) your use of registry.jockeyclub.com, (b) your connection to
registry.jockeyclub.com, (c) your violation of these Terms and Conditions of
Use, or (d) your violation of any rights of another.
10.6 TJC shall, at it sole option,
have the right to reprocess information to correct any errors of which it is or
11 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT:
(a) YOUR USE OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM IS PROVIDED TO YOU ON AN "AS IS" AND
"AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. TJC EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
(b) TJC MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT
(i) REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (ii) REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM
WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (iii) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (iv)
THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR
OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB COM WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND
(V) ANY ERRORS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED.
(c) ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED
OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM IS DONE
AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR ANY LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM
THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.
(d) NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION,
WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM TJC OR THROUGH OR FROM
REGISTRY.JOCKEYCLUB.COM SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN
THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE.
12 EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OF SECTIONS 10
AND 11 MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Notices to you may be made via email.
Registry.jockeyclub.com may also provide notices of changes to these Terms
and Conditions of Use or other matters by displaying notices or links to
notices to you generally on registry.jockeyclub.com.
14 TRADEMARK INFORMATION
The Jockey Club®, Interactive RegistrationTM and Thoroughbred
ConnectTM and other trademarks and service marks, and other TJC logos and product
and service names are trademarks of The Jockey Club ("TJC Marks"). Without TJC’s
prior permission, you agree not to display or use in any manner, the TJC Marks.
15.1 These Terms and Conditions of
Use constitute the entire agreement between you and TJC with respect to the
subject matter covered herein and govern your use of registry.jockeyclub.com,
superceding any prior agreements between you and TJC with respect thereto.
You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply
when you use affiliate services, third-party content or third-party software.
These Terms and Conditions of Use and the relationship between you and TJC shall
be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts
of laws rules thereof. You and TJC agree to submit to the personal and exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of New York, in the State
of New York.
15.2 TJC reserves the right to
release current or past user information if TJC believes that a user’s account
is being used to commit unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed and/or
if TJC deems it necessary and/or appropriate.
15.3 The failure of TJC to exercise
or enforce any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions of Use shall
not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
15.4 If any provision of these Terms
and Conditions of Use is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to
the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions
of these terms and Conditions of Use remain in full force and effect.
15.5 You agree that regardless
of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising
out of or related to use of registry.jockeyclub.com or these Terms and Conditions
of Use must be filed within one year after such claim or cause of action arose or
be forever barred.
15.6 The section titles in these Terms
and Conditions of Use are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual
15.7 You may terminate this Agreement at any time for
any reason by calling TJC at 800-444-8521 Monday through Friday between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The provisions of Sections 9
through 15 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
15.8 THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, USA, APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS
EXECUTED AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE, SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY,
INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT. IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED TO
BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AND ANY OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS SEEKING TO
UTILIZE THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR HEREUNDER, THAT ANY LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST
TJC SHALL BE COMMENCED AND ADJUDICATED ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK OR IN NEW YORK STATE COURTS LOCATED IN
NEW YORK COUNTY | <urn:uuid:b32dad8b-96a4-4020-a2b4-c23801f6c282> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/registry.cfm?page=dotIRTermsOfUseAgreement&CFID=113486625&CFTOKEN=99193161 | 2013-05-18T06:49:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.818582 | 6,515 |
ROBERT DEWITT: ‘Bear’ can rest a little bit more peacefully now
Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 7:14 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | When I think back on that winter and spring 30 years ago, the image that always comes to mind is bleakness.
I was living in a basement level apartment with gun-slit windows that seemed perpetually cold. Very little light got in, anyway, and what did seemed to get absorbed into the dark, sheet-paneled walls and ugly green carpet.
Campus always goes through a transformation from fall to winter. What was once lively and colorful suddenly seems drab and lifeless. Bare branches frame everything. Instead of lingering in sunny spots between classes wearing colorful clothing like songbirds looking for a mate, students take direct lines between buildings, tightly clad in drab, heavy winter coats.
It seemed particularly bleak on that late January day when I stood on the curb in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium and watched the hearse roll past. I don’t know why every Alabama fan in America didn’t want to stand exactly where I was on that day. But there was plenty of room.
Of course, the news cameras wanted to shoot pictures of the hearse rolling past the stadium where Coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant had spent so many successful Saturday afternoons. So you can see me in a good many of the video and photo images, standing there in my L.L. Bean overcoat with the fur collar, my hand over my heart.
I didn’t know what else to do with my hands, and I didn’t have a hat to take off and hold over my heart. So I’m standing there looking like I’m saying the pledge of allegiance with no flag anywhere to be seen.
I’m not crying like a lot of the people you see in the videos. I’d done that the night that I found out he died, embarrassingly in front of my roommate. I’d been fine when he handed me a straight shot of whiskey and told me the news. But when I called my parents to tell them the news, the tears came.
It’s not like I knew him personally. The two up-close encounters I’d had with him certainly left no impression on him. The first was as a freshman during the annual melee that was called “registration.” Students swarmed what was then called “Memorial Coliseum” trying to secure their classes for the coming semester. They jostled and pushed and gave ground to no one.
And yet suddenly they parted as miraculously as the Red Sea before the Israelites. I heard a hushed muttering, saw the people stepping back so that he could pass and then he strode past me, giant-like, taller than everyone else with a big smile that a 35-6 licking of Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl had put on his face.
The other was when I interviewed him in his office. Everything about the experience made me feel inadequate. I felt like the baby-blue Izod sweater I wore made me look like a sissy. I couldn’t get my hand around his enormous, hard, calloused farmer’s paw to properly grip it for our handshake. I overstayed my welcome and he got annoyed. Listening to the tape of the interview years later and comparing notes with other reporters, I found out my experience was par for the course — not nearly as bad as I thought.
No matter how distant he was, he seemed close to us who loved Alabama football at that time. I felt vaguely responsible for what had happened, almost as if I had abandoned my post at a critical moment. I moved to Louisiana in 1982 for my first real job, and while I was gone, the entire Alabama football empire came unraveled. And within a month of my return to graduate school, the emperor was dead.
People who don’t belong to our particular football fraternity don’t really understand how we felt about him and why losing him affected us the way that it did. Some think we’re like the South American Indians who carried the mummified remains of their fiercest king into battle before them. Pat Dye once exhorted his Auburn team not to be in awe of Alabama, that the team wasn’t magic. Then he added that there had been magic but it had died with “Coach Bryant.”
It did seem that way — that he was more than a great football coach; that he could actually conjure victories. And when he adopted the wishbone offense it was like that was his incantation.
But there was something else, too, maybe connected to that magic, maybe not. I recently watched a DVD of an old “Bear Bryant Show” from the 1970s. And it was as if a piece of what I’m talking about was trapped in that DVD. It came though from that hokey show with the glass bottles of Coca Cola, and Dub Taylor cackling on the commercials about Golden Flake having “Southern fried crunch” and, of course, in Bryant’s mumbled digressions.
There was something in it that was comforting to those of us who love Alabama football. It was like going to your grandparent’s house and everything that was there, the furnishings, the food and especially the people, made it the best place to be in the world. Then, after he died, it was like going back to that house after the people were dead and gone and everything is still in the same place, but the life essence of it is gone.
That was what we missed from Alabama football after he was gone. It took us a long time to figure out that it was never going to be the same. We had to get used to the idea that it was going to be different. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t be good.
And now, 30 years later, we realize that it can be different and still be really good — great, in fact. Those of us who remember him will always miss him. But I think we’ve reached a point where we can let him rest a little bit more peacefully.
Robert DeWitt is senior writer for The Tuscaloosa News. Readers can email him at robert.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | <urn:uuid:2d6b0b85-7f01-4c9c-b639-7f506218cd6f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130206/NEWS/130209880/0/TOPIC0379 | 2013-05-18T06:59:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983691 | 1,385 |
April 6th, 2011
Four thousand people attended the largest annual conference of left and progressive intellectuals in the world over the weekend of March 18-20, 2011. It was the 7th annual Left Forum, at Pace University in lower Manhattan. A thousand speakers, 300 workshops, panels and dialogues on international politics, class war, social justice issues, corporate abuse of power and the ravages of financial deregulation attracted academics, anti-capitalists, socialists, artists, journalists, activists and anarchists to forge bonds of solidarity for social change. They had their choice of up to 45 panel discussions per seven program periods, plus two stellar plenary presentations covering the conference theme “Towards a Politics of Solidarity”.
Internationally known presenters such as Richard Wolff, Stanley Aronowitz, Cornel West, Laura Flanders, Barbara Ehrenreich, Francis Fox Piven, Benjamin Barber, John Nichols and The Yes Men, keen-sighted and eloquent in their analyses and reportage of problems, activists working for change, graced the conference mainstage.
So why were only a few presentations really strong on inspiration and insight for how to foster growing unity among progressives, how to build consensus on outlook and method to bring unity of action to fruition?
For the most part, I heard the need for solidarity answered with a call for solidarity, a need for a new paradigm with a call for a new paradigm. In the face of mounting world catastrophes and collapses, this is just a little like singing, “100 bottles of beer on the wall” together.
I suspect even right-wing spies who no doubt sat among us were underwhelmed by such tautologies. What could they report back that the leftists were planning to do? Top secret: They say they’re going to get together and take down power systems, make demands for multiracial, multicultural harmonious living, end top-down ersatz democracy, rid societies of oppression and exploitation, create equal opportunity and abundance for all . . . .
But there we all were, “together” at the conference, and if there were any coherent plans for how this vast harmonious concert of united humanity is to subsume current power structures and create a better world, I didn’t catch wind of them. Maybe I just went to the wrong rooms.
Because, in fact, I witnessed several quite bristly moments of disharmony, one among panelists on stage and one among audience members, the latter threatened physical aggression, with me shouting “stop!”
And throughout the weekend, there was more accord on explicating societal ills and defining authoritarian power structures than on fresh orientations or practical strategies for building a just and fair society.
Also, to my chagrin, I did not hear discussed what is actually the most significant divide among progressives, the rift between secular atheists and spiritually-oriented progressives. The latter were tellingly under-represented in the Left Forum programming. It appears the two groups do not break bread together, nor smoke the peace pipe around the same campfires.
And, of course, there are those progressives who wouldn't be caught dead or alive at either the Left Forum or at a gathering of, say, the Institute of Noetic Scientists, whose conference attracts the “conscious evolutionary” progressives.
And so the palpable spiritual desertification of our culture, if we could even be said to have a culture at all here in the US, was not considered a key part of the discussion of political, economic or social problems at either of the two Left Forums I’ve attended (2010 and 2011).
But I wonder if spiritual poverty and spiritual heartbreak is of central and essential relevance to our movement and to the urgent global problems so eloquently elucidated and enumerated at the Left Forum.
There were only a couple of classroom panels focusing on spiritual topics. One featured three Christian ministers speaking to a relatively small audience about the radical nature of their congregational work. Another panel, which I did not attend, featured Gary Null, et. al., who may have approached some of the issues I am pointing to here.
The very fact that the spiritual left and the academic left do not, for the most part, speak to each other in public (and that this fact was not deliberately brought forth in the widely attended plenary talks at this year’s Left Forum) speaks volumes about just how intractable a problem achieving solidarity really is among progressives.
How can we speak about solidarity or lack thereof without coming to grips with this glaring dissonance? Not only was this, our biggest rift, left unaddressed as a central topic in any panels I attended, I heard no direct conversation about any of the perennial divisions among progressives—all the little fractures and slices of worldview from Marxists to progressive democrats, to Green Anarchists—and so, where could be the insightful analyses of what human needs give rise to strong ideological identifications and encampments or how such divisions might be transcended? And without such understanding, how are we to begin to approach a more global vision for connecting with those who are not the least bit progressive at this time?
Instead, the need for solidarity was addressed through kudos for Egyptian and Wisconsin demonstrators, through applauding these truly heroic examples and models of solidarity for social justice and regime change, but at a time when neither of these groups have lasting victory to show for their efforts, the kind of social progress that can deal with human greed, aggression, power, supremacy . . . .
There were accolades and strong applause for the solidarity represented by pizza orders called in to feed Madison, WI demonstrators, from unknown ideological comrades watching Madison protests via internet and TV around the US and the world.
Yes! hot pizza pies are significant and meaningful gestures of solidarity, and yet eerily disappointed was I that radicals at the Left Forum did not dig up and chew on the roots of what lasting solidarity really is, the metaphysical elements of brotherhood and sisterhood and what gives rise to them beyond the common enemy, those intangibles that provide persistent courage and energy to power through and prevail in the face of destructive forces that oppose the best in us.
In my experience of the conference only Cornel West went there and so it thrilled me when he said, in speaking of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan: “We actually love those brothers and sisters. And isn’t it something that to believe that is to be radical.” That’s it; that’s right! He actually used the L-word, the seemingly forbidden word that represents a force that knows no bounds or divisions and no obstacles, a force more powerful than all the evils in our way. Bravo, Cornel West! The audience exploded with applause for him.
Why not speak of this in depth and more often? Why the separation of intellect and soul? Can't we get over this?
Is it because this is what gets you good and killed if you start talking about it as an unmediated birthright (Lennon, MLK, Jesus . . .) and start speaking of its lack as the root cause of social injustice?
Other than West’s statements, the general disengagement from the L-word and its meaning as the clarifying, fundamental aspect of life that we must exercise, strengthen and engage in ourselves and each other to full capacity, is the daunting fact that left me bereft, because only by addressing the lack of love amongst progressives and others will we be set to balance and transform our stagnation and galvanize a metaphysics of solidarity. This is how to arrive at a resolute set of actions, with strong and flexible bonds of brotherhood, with loving care and tenderness as our foundation; this is what's necessary for us to overcome rampant toxicity at every level—all of this was crystalized for me by what was lacking at the conference, an understanding of just why progressives are in their perennial underdog position in the struggle for justice.
Are we embarrassed or afraid to love big, bold and colorful? Are we ashamed to speak of abiding love as the energy of our bonds? Are we all just too depressed, anxious and desiccated inside? Can we wholeheartedly live up to taking care of ourselves and each other? Are we too heartbroken by life experience to let love flow and overspill, to beam love in the direction of the future where we will pioneer into 21st Century and excite all those around us to do the same? Are we paralyzed by the evil we have witnessed and continue to witness every day around us? All I can say is that if love is flowing in our hearts and nervous systems, let it not be confined, disguised, or kept too private now; we need it now more than ever.
I am listening for it, looking for it (the L), and yet I hear rampant cynicism, depression and despair. Love is lively, confident and bright. I appreciated the moment when Joel Kovel said in his presentation that “you need faith if you’re going to transform the world.” This is correct. But what is faith?
Faith is not religion, emotion or belief. Faith is a basic trust in life and the forces of existence, a trust in one’s organic sense of what is real and correct, and a trust in the underlying forces and processes of a universe of implicate law and intelligence, exceeding our feeble comprehension. We have to reawaken our capacities to listen, intuit and trust in life's true essentials.
Investigative journalism, accurate assessments and indictments, as well as multiple forms of resistance are surely needed, but we also need more time to be quiet, to be outdoors in wild places, to welcome our own changes, to be creative and make mistakes, to refresh ourselves and to get over our pasts, so that we’re not projecting personal rage from offenses of long ago onto current outrageous situations. Because all that makes for is conflagration, not skillful, creative and radical means that can show the way to the unwise.
The super-communicators of this year’s Forum were Cornel West and John Nichols. The old adage that “it’s not what you say, it’s the way you say it,” reasserted itself fully in the delivery of these orators. They activated bonding forces of solidarity, speaking emphatically with grace, rousing emotion, tempered to below the boiling point.
And yetl, did we not still long for gifts of real imagination at this conference? The cutting-edge is dull, getting perennially stuck at a horizon all too familiar, with too many conflicting views and goals, too much in-fighting. What will cut through to a higher order, to overcome dysfunction in our world.
Lip service is often given to the role of artists and creatives, but were there any artists on the Left Forum plenary panels? No!
At the scale of global society, with nearly seven billion people on the planet now, and with enormous challenges and forces in play, why are all these brilliant thinkers not entirely engaged with just how human beings will function, seven billion strong, as the current imperialist and plutocratic structures are disabled and dismantled, as we would like them to be?
The most clearly desirable practical ideas mentioned were worker cooperatives and relocalization, breaking up of multinational conglomerate financial systems, such as the IMF and the World Bank, reregulating investment banks, decentralizing governments into smaller regional entities and a global redistribution of wealth and power.
These are all ideas in common currency on the left. For those of us not invited to the table at progressive think tanks, it would be galvanizing to us to get feasible pictures of how the society we ideologically want would actually work, how things would be different in our daily lives and how those differences would make dangers we now face shrink back and resolve, how the redistribution of wealth and power would actually be achieved.
And if the answer is that nobody really has such things worked out, even in in their own minds, then how smart is it, really, to convene at this time, to have all these people burning all this fossil fuel to come together just to criticize the yellow brick road and the men behind the curtain? Shouldn’t we all be working locally and personally to open up our visionary capacities so we can see the way forward and then get together to share views and arrive at plans?
The word revolution was certainly in the air at the Forum, but it takes a whole lot more than a word to convince significant numbers of people to revolt. Combat revolutions require sacrifices of lives and materials; and history has shown that even successful people's revolutions can be followed on by regression to old ways.
This is exactly why “the spiritual left” calls for inner revolution, for psychological change, for freedom from addiction, for personal authority and integrity, so that social progress springs from authentic habits of holistic thinking and living, from the resolution of inner conflicts, and freedom from the irritation, discontent and wanting of the immature human spirit.
Everywhere on the Left we are inundated with daunting facts rather than energizing tactics. Facts about the toxicity of what we breathe, drink and eat, stats on the alarming rate of wealth being sucked up the ladder, rallying calls for the redistribution of wealth – So where is the unified, coordinated redistribution-of-wealth strategy? "Tax the rich"? Is this it?
Did anyone at the Left Forum say international general strike? I didn’t hear it. How much personal and moral authority would it take for, say, 25% of people around the world to shut down the global economy and governments and take charge of every aspect of their own lives, as a group, in solidarity? We could do this, just as soon as we are actually ready to handle it.
But how do unemployed people living on government checks strike? Are they going to refuse to pick up their government checks? Are they really interested in bringing down the government that is the teat they’re attached to for food and drink?
And what about employed people or entrepreneurs, up to their eyeballs in debt, kids, cars . . . what would get them to step out of line to bring down the system and build a new world? What do you think? That going to happen if we have no solidarity or plan that encourages these people to drop out of this way of life and stand together?
In which rooms at the conference were they talking about all this?
There were many details given about corporate abuses of power and how Citizens United will effect elections and bring even more corporate power to lawmaking and military authority, more evidence that we are being strangled and poisoned notch by notch, that while we hem, haw, dilly and dally, Fascism is taking hold and tightening its grip.
We were also privy to many specifics and particulars of the escalating environmental devastation of our biosphere and the denial of corporate/governmental power to recognize the urgency and respond. To be environmentally responsible means abandoning a legacy of exploitation and greed with biblical underpinnings, as well as high-stakes investments in growth and expansion of businesses based on extraction, domination and exploitation of natural ecosystems. To be truly environmentally responsible would mean that predatory capitalist system would be finished and the elite standards of living that everyone in the Left Forum audience is used to would be cut way, way back. Ready to rally for that? Just how many people would be put out of work in that scenario? Even if workers were to take over those businesses as coops, how would they run such businesses if they weren’t going to exploit land or other people?
We want to end the wars, close nuclear power plants, stop hydrofracking and tar sands operations, stop offshore drilling. Are you ready to live without fossil fuels? Ever gone hiking and camping? Ever live like a monk or a nun? No? Do these things now and then let's have a radical conversation.
We were told that Fox News is the most watched television news program and that the Wall Street Journal is the most read newspaper; that the messengers on the Right are ever-so-disciplined, consistent and pervasive in their backward messaging.
But isn’t it also true that Republicans are divided on many issues? We were told that half of Republicans identify as Tea Party supporters and the other half poll more like Democrats on the subject of social programs. So, the truth is that they don’t know what to do either and they don’t agree with each other or stand together on a lot of issues. There are pro-choice, pro gay marriage, fiscal Republicans, for example.
So why were there not concentrated analyses of just what our central messages are and why we are so unclear, undisciplined, inconsistent and ineffectual? Why were we not looking judiciously at ways to create lasting solidarity across platforms, across aisles, across all the blurred and shifting lines of the masses of suffering humanity? Why can’t we think bigger and more holistically than we do?
Artists, spiritual elders, and futurists are the visionary systems thinkers with big-picture capacity, long-range vision, and inner resources of satisfaction, but there were no artists or futurists on the plenary stage. Why not?!
Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, prodigious minds of erudition and passion, where was the much-needed attention to remedying ideological territorialism, which so afflicts the movement for justice and for sanity? Are we to remain defined primarily by what we are not, by what we oppose, by our anti-corporate and anti-capitalist rage, slogans and declarations?
Must it be our destiny to be in the role of yelping underdogs, fighting with our softie-hearted kid gloves in a class war that is totally rigged, where nothing can be done without capital and where we are perennially undercapitalized and forced to fight a losing battle, when in fact we are lovers not fighters? Why was there not more talk along these lines?
I say we've got to change the game in our own lives and who wants to hear that?! Let us no longer recognize the value of paper currency! Let us be defined by our creative vision and leadership, making obsolete, in both word and deed, the shackles of unwholesome societal projects! Disengage! Pull out! Disobey! Divest yourself of everything you've got sunk into the toxic, unreal world. Occupy the land. Leave the cities and get with the land to learn from and work with those who know how to live in harmony with the land.
Laura Flanders said something very important at the conference. She said, “Reality is what we need to grapple with.” This is truly of the essence. And it’s the same reality for progressives, as it is for those on the right. Dissociation from reality is the most pervasive human problem we are called to overcome now, in every social class, at every age, and in every culture and country on Earth.
Our true unity is actually found in our ignorance and weaknesses, in the pain of our confusion, ineptitude, psychological immaturity and disengagement from the Earth, in our not knowing what to do. The energetic network for mass solidarity is actually the shared experience of modernity and industrial civilization and its discontents, its craziness, its falsities, and our shared struggles of being neither here nor there.
Meanwhile everyone is pretending to know more than they do know and to be stubbornly right in that! We are together in our hidden existential pain. We will be strong when we can present a viable structuring of society that gives everyone the time and resources to address their dissociation from reality, to deal with hurt and the possibility of deep healing for future generations, to approach reality afresh, as ones who have learned a great deal since the start of the industrial era, with only perhaps a few elements of it worth keeping. Let us be eclectic about what we have learned; let's keep gems of wisdom and abolish all our many errors of ways and means.
No one can do this while they are on a rat-wheel “workin’ for the man,” when they are caught up in competition, envy and fear. And “the man” can’t do it either, not when he’s in domination mode, waging war, exploiting underlings, setting policies that don’t serve the universal needs of people, scarring the land and pillaging seas for profit. These are people sadly out of touch.
All too few of us can approach and stay engaged with reality if we are living within today’s world structures, which are so very damaging to the spirit. This is why monks and nuns are given protection to be reclusive; they are doing the work of inner alignment with reality. More and more of us could disengage from academia and all forms of institutional and establish work and turn inward to contact reality, living very simply and without fanfare. As we do, we need less and less of what the techno-monopoly world has to offer, seeing it as a sorrowful waste of the gift of life. All people might be touched by reality and therein find rest, peace.
Are we willing to lay down our careers, positions and possessions if that’s what needs to be done to reach our most cherished goals?
Imagine if 85% of the world’s population were highly educated and psychospiritually mature. Anarchy might work. It would not be such a chaotic situation. But if 85% of the world’s population is ignorant, dependent and immature, anarchy is completely untenable, because people cannot self-manage and they will not be trustworthy to look after each other and other forms of life.
A favorite slogan of the Situationists during the European social upheavals in 1968 was "Be Realistic. Demand the impossible.”
Reality itself is demanding that we transcend, create, surpass former limits and that is the natural way of the universe anyway, with or without us. What seems “impossible,” out of reach, is so because our psychospiritual development and its conditions are too undeveloped to live up the moral sense or the creative potential that is ours, but which is very intimate. This demand for alignment with intimate reality is knocking inside all of us but the most severely crippled souls, those very people who so often find their way into positions of power. When are we going to answer to the intimate truth instead of to the magnetic psychopaths who dominate and manipulate through ignorance and lies?
The growth humanity needs now has nothing to do with the growth of an economy or the provision of “creature comforts,” nor with rallies and the fall of governments. It is about deepening and strengthening of our capacity to meet reality and be wholeheartedly aligned with it, to be realized people, working with natural law as our law.
Can we imagine that the basis of our entire global culture is to achieve what is generally considered “the state of enlightenment,” but which is simply alignment with reality?
Will the academic left get with this? If so, you might just be out of a job, professors. How would you like to build a cob house with a bunch of us and put in some gardens and greenhouses?
And, will “the spiritual left” please leave off with the UFOs and aliens, crystals and runes, drug trips, crop circles, reptilian humans, astrology, mystery cults, power of attraction workbooks, drum circles, fortune tellers, pagan rites . . . and meet with intellectuals and just folks around the campfire for some practical architecture?
Now, will the evangelists and the rednecks, addicts, doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, gangsters, secret agents and casino owners turn away from false doctrines, false flags, guns and poisons? What? No? Will you be ransacking our brand new mud and straw villages? Really?
Don’t you want to admit that the native peoples were the advanced minds, the wisdom figures, and that the Europeans were the neurotic, puerile savages?
Can we get a wee bit smarter and more radical now?
Making our demand Life’s demand, taking this upon ourselves as a species, across all borders, boundaries and divisions, is deeply political in nature and also deeply spiritual: these go together. Once you’re fully involved in reality, you won’t have time anymore for consumer business or celebrities, nor will you harbor a shred of interest in the circus of electoral politics.
Bio-psycho-social-spiritual integration and development, dynamic growth, holistic health and clear mind-sight into and through the old and the present has the potential to bring not only the fractured left together, but humanity as a whole.
The imperative for reality changes the human project entirely. We simply cannot go back to sing Jack and Jill, play musical chairs and Ring around the Rosy now. We simply cannot sing anthems, run marathon rat races or have the fruits of our love and work go to war and waste.
The whole stage-set will be dismantled when we are over the silly stories of this theater! All of us, together, over it, over it now! Dull, ditzy, dusty old stories!
Victor Hugo famously said "Greater than the tread of mighty armies is an idea whose time has come." And the time as come, fellow human beings, to acknowledge that when enough of the human race grows up and perceives reality, the seemingly endless cycles of invasion, exploitation and domination of peoples and planet will be obsolete.
There are not enough jails, money or uniformed men to contain, hold back and push down an idea whose time has come.
It is the whole construct of reality that is crumbling and dying around us. Goodbye. Good night. Good luck. Awaken.
©2011 Jari Chevalier
March 11th, 2008
The question, where is your money invested? is experienced by many as a violation, a pointed finger jabbing at them. Well, this gets our backs up precisely because this is where we have compromised our hearts, where we really don’t want to look and listen, where the worm of hypocrisy squirms. It’s what we really don’t want to feel, talk about, and possibly be moved to address. Why?
Because it is still, generally speaking, more financially profitable (higher returns, less risk) in the short term to put money into the coffers of established companies and profiteers, engaged as they may be in disregard of land, people, health and wisdom, and every creature of the Earth.
And so we think we have our money working for us?! We give over our money, which, along with our work, is our most powerful instrument, voice and vote, to this portfolio of doom and Armageddon. And, the game is set up so that the players rationalize and justify detrimental business practices on the basis of having to satisfy their stockholders with high returns. This is a game where profit is the highest value in consideration. So, there you have it.
I was at the Whitney Biennial contemporary art show on preview day and it was a spiritual wasteland, very disappointing. The show mirrors a society that is imbalanced, disgusting, disordered, epically ugly, mad, stupid, broken, mean-spirited and sick. On the audio tour, Ellen Harvey, one of the artists whose work stood out to me, said: “You can’t win, so let’s just start off by failing as extravagantly as possible,” in speaking of her art process. A fitting line for our times. There was hardly a hint of transcendence or visionary attitude in that entire show; instead, despair and hurt and self-indulgence. Is this the best we can do? One wonders about the selection of this uninspired psychic display and what the mindset is there, the agenda.
The proverb “money is the root of all evil” in these materialistically driven times might just as well be “money is the root of all good”. Our money is what we get for the life energy we have expended and both our energy and our money can be put to good, evil or neutral work in the world.
Our money actually does invest us in that which we have invested, even though we are not always willing to look at it that way or to do the real math from a holistic perspective. So then, are we living behind our own backs? Are we content to be strangers to ourselves and each other? Are we actually saying: yes, here, do more of this with our world, kill it, destroy and decimate it, kill it all, just give me another cushion, don’t take away my addictions, and throw in the health insurance.
We have the power, if we have the will, to reform our civilization very quickly, and we can do it with our energy and our money, much more effectively than with our political votes.
If you haven't seen the movie Zeitgeist yet, you can get to it through these links. It's screening at non-mainstream theaters across the country this Saturday. The second link displays those theaters. Part three of this movie gives a historical view of the financial world that you might want to have a look at. I invite your comments on this.
Streaming Zeitgeist movie
Big Screenings on March 15th
Article by Javier Sierra, Sierra Club, "How to Tell Greenwashing from Real Corporate Responsibility"
©Jari Chevalier, 2008 | <urn:uuid:44647ad1-9013-423c-927a-b63150aa908d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jari.podbean.com/category/economy/ | 2013-05-21T10:13:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956277 | 6,154 |
The Roosevelt, located at 623 N. 25th Street in Richmond, VA, and nestled in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, is definitely a new Richmond restaurant you should check out, people. Now, we went for Sunday Brunch, and good gravy! This Southern Charm is sure to impress. Go whole hog, y'all!
The Roosevelt is co-owned by Kendra Feather and Chef, Lee Gregory (no relation to me). When you walk in, you immediately feel like you have walked into a southern, quaint room. Yes, I said room. You can definitely throw a rock in this place. I think there are about 12-14 tables in this plantation-like establishment. My husband loved the old-time photography that adorns the walls. He instantly became very ecstatic about giving me a "Virginia history lesson" as we sat there that Sunday afternoon. I, being from Texas and quite frankly never being interested in history, actually did listen. With full ears, too. For me, the black chandelier, over the bar area, kept catching my eye as it solidified the whole ambiance of this fabulous restaurant. The walls are lined with wooden booths with throw pillows for table seating. The other side of the tables have simple wooden chairs. There is also seating nestled in the middle of the wall-lined tables. The bar probably had about 10 seats, as well.
So, we ordered our drinks. Me, a Bacon Vodka Bloody Mary and my husband, coffee. Yes, that is right. B-A-C-O-N Vodka. House-made Bacon Vodka, at that! Now, I am NO fan of bloody marys that make you feel as if you are sipping soup through a straw. This cocktail was perfect! It was blameless, actually. So blameless that my husband pushed the coffee aside to order one himself.
So, we looked over the menu and I ordered the fried chicken thigh (I am a thigh girl in more ways than one) with cast iron potatoes, a slow cooked egg and sausage gravy. I also had to order the side of cornbread with the vanilla butter. Of course! Misplaced Texan is the name here! ;) My husband ordered the fried oyster omelet with a bacon hollandaise.
As we waited for our food, that is where the history lesson was professed and after the quick teaching from my husband, I began to people watch. The couple next to us were talking about how they were getting married and moving in with each other in May. I think. It was odd. They mostly talked about the fact they both knew they needed a washer and dryer. And this was where I shook my head. You ready for it? She spoke of her laundry skills, or something of the sort, and then he actually proceeded to say, "Yeah, it'll be nice to have you around." Oh my. That was all I could eavesdrop in on that one! I was there for the food, not to hear some man say some crap like that to some young girl. Ha!
Additionally, one of the tables that lined the middle of the room was a four-top, and it was sat with 2 young couples. I swear one of the young men at that table was having a 20 minute food-gasm over the bacon. Wow! He was in total ecstasy. Eyes closed, head leaned back and all. Damn, Chef Gregory! I hadn't even indulged in any of the food yet, and I was seeing eyes roll in the back of some blonde, yuppie dude's head in the middle of your restaurant as he professed his love for your bacon...to another dude. OK, maybe we should just go back to the history lesson? But in all reality, that is Richmond. There are all walks of life, and whether it is washers & dryers or bacon...to each his own.
Now, back to the food. Unfortunately, my husband had to change his order because they ran out of oysters that day. That kind of broke my heart, too. I was excited to steal one off his plate and then still be able to eat my fried chicken thigh on my own plate! Best of both my favorite worlds! Reluctantly, my husband changed his order to the Brunch special for that day; potato, mushroom, sausage hash with two slow cooked eggs and topped with a salsa verde. Soon after, our food arrived and yes, I had to stare for a bit. Stunning! My egg was staring at me with pure allurement. I couldn't wait.
We dined and damn, that was some scrumptious stuff, I tell ya! As my Oklahoman Grandpa would say, "That's some good grazin'!" My fried chicken thigh was like "O.M.G." Moist and the crispiness and lightness of the fried crust was phenomenal! The potatoes were seasoned well and I was happy for that. The gravy was a little more runny for this Texan (wasn't made for a fork by any means at all), so in the back of my mind, I knew I had that cornbread to try and sop up what was left at the end.
Now, for the cornbread. Sorry. It was dry. Maybe if it was warmed up it would have been a little more moist, but I couldn't even sop up the gravy due to the dryness/crumbling. The vanilla butter tasted like frosting. It was an interesting combination. I might have enjoyed it a little more had it not been so dry, but I just might be a picky Texan.
Since my husband was left with a hankerin' for a tad bit more, we ordered the coffee cake at the end of our meal. Wonderful! No dryness there. Super moist and a perfect wrap up to an almost flawless experience. I was only going to have a bite, but a bite turned into just a few more.
I encourage you to go! For real. If it is for dinner, you better make reservations. They take them by phone only (804.658.1935), and it's best to do so after 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and cannot wait to head there for dinner soon! Love me some southern food! I felt the food was greatly priced and they even had humor while ringing it up... | <urn:uuid:03a83046-4817-49fa-bf93-0fecd84fab94> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://misplacedtexaninva.blogspot.com/2012/01/roosevelt-restaurant-review.html | 2013-05-21T10:21:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987177 | 1,339 |
It is that time again summoners. Yea, I am a day late, but I've been busy and didn't get a chance to post this last night when the list came out, was too busy sleeping at the time. But, I digress, it is that time of the week where champions join the rotation of free-to-play, allowing those not skilled in using them to try them out for free, to both their amusement and their teams pain. This is also the week where Darius makes his appearance for the first time in the rotation, making those who don't know how to counter him yet, yell at the heavens saying he is too OP, when really, they just didn't shut him down.
As always, I pick which champions out of the week are my favorites, and say a little why on a couple of them, I then ask you what your favorites are, and why. Why do I ask? I'm a curious person, and it sates part of that curiosity. Out of this weeks champs I like: Darius, Kassadin, Vayne, Gangplank, Galio, Wukong, and Urgot (Despite him being fugly). The ones I will explain why on are: Darius, Kassadin, and Galio.
Darius, I actually bought during the double IP weekend, where my goal was to get him and Shyvana, I only got him since I wasn't home long enough to play any more than that. (I already saved up most for him anyhow). Even after getting him, I still stand by him not being OP. Yes, he can seem that way, but when a team knows what they're doing, or if the guy playing Darius doesn't know what he is doing, he is rather easy to shut down. I know some people like to build him rather tanky, I actually prefer a bit more in the AD than tank, usually going for Trinity force first, then building towards items like ghost blade, zeke's harald, and depending on if the team is ad or ap heavy Maw or Cleaver. Why those? Well, his cooldowns are a bit of a pain, especially for his pull which starts at over 20s for the initial cooldown, and items like Zekes and Ghostblade help ease that a bit. I also like to worth with his already passive armor pen to compliment that a bit more, which really helps take out the heavy hitters on their team. It does leave me a bit less tanky, than others I have seen play with him do, but he is a fighter/melee, not a tank. After playing him for the past few days, he is fairly fun, but I do agree with the nerf they're giving his ult. I didn't realize before using it, that it does give you a second or two grace period to kill an enemy if the ult didn't do it to refresh it, which can be a bit much, considering that it should require a bit more paying attention/skill on the players part to really get that down.
Kassadin, I don't really see that many people playing him, despite how well he can actually do. He is a bit gimped in the melee/mage department, since he has a low scale with HP and AD, making him fairly useless on that front, but when it comes down to silencing the right people, slowing other, and just picking off runners, he is a fairly good anti-mage, or just plain mage. He does take a bit to get used to and master, as I have seen more fail Kassadins than those who actually know what to do with him.
Galio, I originally got him when he was released on another of my accounts (when I was flaky/wanted a name change per month), and he is quite fun. Though I love to play mostly the DPS sort of champions, I don't mind playing him once in awhile, and I am almost always to have on on my side. I say almost because I had a few that ult too late, or ult and just miss half the targets, doing it at the wrong time. But when he does it right, he can give you the time to really screw over the enemy team, giving you enough time to do heavy damage, and keep them in check enough for those low on your team to get away. I don't think he should ever really solo lane, as he is best suited with a good AD/heavy AP partner to take advantage of his support skillset.
Okay, those are my favorites for the week, with some on the why for a few of them. I did ramble on a bit on Darius, but that is since he is new and I have a bit more to say on him in that regard. So as I said earlier, I also want to know what champions you guys like for this week? Or hey, which don't you like, and just say why. | <urn:uuid:2803d869-9d53-4255-9f91-5d91b4a837c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://my.mmosite.com/1495693/blog/item/new_free_champion_rotation_season_two_week_28.html | 2013-05-21T09:59:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990826 | 1,018 |
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
If you are seriously thinking about quitting smoking, you will want to keep this important tip in mind. Research shows that those who are the most successful at giving up tobacco are people who didn't try to do it all on their own. You will greatly improve your chances of winning the battle if you take advantage of one of the support programs available. And it is easier than ever now to do that with the free mobile apps that have been created.
So don't hesitate to turn for help. The resources below will get you started. Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you will ever do. You deserve to give yourself the best chance at a healthier you!
Quit Smoking: 5 Steps to START (MedlinePlus Magazine)
Quitters Can Win! (American Heart Association)
Smoking and How to Quit (Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Smoking: Tips on How to Quit (ADAM)
For Young People
For Teens: How Can I Quit Smoking? (Nemours Foundation)
For Teens: Smoking and How to Quit (womenshealth.gov)
Quit Smoking: 3 Tools to Help You Quit (MedlinePlus Magazine)
Quiz: Do You Need Help to Quit? Take the Stop Smoking Quiz (American Cancer Society)
Withdrawal Quiz (National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch)
SmokefreeTXT is a free mobile service designed for young adults across the United States. Receive 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help you stop smoking for good.
QuitGuide is a free mobile app to help you prepare to quit smoking and support you through the hard times in the days and weeks after you quit.
FDA 101: Smoking Cessation Products (Food and Drug Administration)
Medication Guide (National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch)
Quit-Smoking Products: Boost Your Chance of Quitting for Good (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Smoking Cessation: Treatment Options (MedlinePlus)
Smoking - Medicines to Help You (Food and Drug Administration)
Varenicline (Marketed as Chantix) Information (Food and Drug Administration)
Where to Get Help
For support in quitting, including free quit coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials, and referrals to local resources, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669); TTY 1-800-332-8615.
Lung HelpLine (American Lung Association)
Talk to an Expert (National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch)
Where to Get Help When You Decide to Quit Smoking (National Cancer Institute)
Know a pregnant smoker? Reach Out and Offer Her a Helping Hand (smokefree.gov)
Overcoming Addiction (National Institute on Aging)
Quitting Smoking (National Institute on Aging)
Stop Smoking Before Surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists)
Success Stories: You Can Do It!
You Can Quit Smoking: Here's How (MedlinePlus Magazine)
Quit Smoking: Keep Trying! (MedlinePlus Magazine)
Share Your Story (womenshealth.gov)
Our Experts Respond
Quit Smoking (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Smoking and Tobacco Use (CDC)
Smoking Cessation (MedlinePlus)
Surgeon General Reports on Tobacco and Smoking (Office of the Surgeon General)
Secondhand Smoke (womenshealth.gov)
Secondhand Smoke/"Light" Tobacco/ Smokeless Tobacco (MedlinePlus Magazine)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Smoking Cessation (National Institutes of Health)
This article is a NetWellness exclusive.
Last Reviewed: Jun 08, 2012
Mary Ellen Wewers, PhD, MPH
Professor of Health Behaviors & Health Promotion
College of Public Health
The Ohio State University | <urn:uuid:d592fb4a-f0bf-4f36-9345-71384ece50d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://netwellness.org/healthtopics/smoking/quitresources.cfm | 2013-05-21T10:27:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.868258 | 868 |
A week ago, talk about Nebraska's running game centered on its stable of talented running backs. Now, you have to throw the quarterback into the mix as well. After redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez gashed Western Kentucky for 127 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries last Saturday, the Huskers' ground attack became even more dangerous that it already was to begin with.
Considering NU faces an Idaho defense that gave up 148 rushing yards to I-AA North Dakota last week, Martinez and backs Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson should once again put up some big numbers on the ground this week.
NU Pass Offense vs UI Pass Defense
With Martinez getting the start once again today, it will be interesting to see if he's able to do a little more through the air against a Vandal defense that ranked 116th nationally in pass defense last season. Last week, Martinez completed some nice passes, but he also got away with some risky throws that arguably should have been picked off.
Idaho held North Dakota to just 122 passing yards and picked off two passes last week, but then again, it was against North Dakota. Nebraska's wide receivers will be some of the biggest the Vandals' secondary will face all season, and there's really no reason why the Huskers can't be a little more aggressive against such a physically inferior defensive backfield.
UI Rush Offense vs NU Rush Defense
The 155 yards and a touchdown Western Kentucky's Bobby Rainey put up against Nebraska last week were definitely reasons for concern, especially considering NU didn't give up that many yards against any of the talented backs it faced all last season. However, the players and coaches have insisted Rainey's big day was more a result of communication and alignment issues on their part and not because they were physically beaten up front.
The good news for the Husker defense is that Idaho doesn't present nearly the challenge WKU was in the run game. Sure, they rushed for nearly 150 yards and three touchdowns against UND, but the Vandals still lost four starting offensive linemen from last season, and their pass-first mentality doesn't necessarily do much for the running game either. Also, word is that sophomore Eric Martin will get the start at linebacker over Alonzo Whaley, so NU should be even more physical against the run.
UI Pass Offense vs NU Pass Defense
If there's one area where Nebraska should genuinely be concerned about going into today's game, it's how they're going to handle Idaho's explosive passing attack led by quarterback Nathan Enderle. The Huskers' secondary is considered one of the biggest strengths of the defense, but it certainly wasn't tested much at all last week.
That definitely won't be the case today, as there's no doubt that the Vandals will come out slinging the ball all over the place. Enderle and Co. passed for 399 yards and three touchdowns last week, but the passing game definitely wasn't perfect. North Dakota racked up four sacks in the first half alone and also added an interception.
Special Teams, What If's and The X-Factor
As usual, Nebraska gets the edge on special teams primarily because of senior kicker/punter Alex Henery and punt returner Niles Paul. Henery didn't really have to do much last week, and Paul came oh-so-close to breaking a couple of punt returns. In addition, kickoff specialist Adi Kunalic and kickoff returner Tim Marlowe did excellent jobs. Kunalic put two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, and Marlowe averaged 34.5 yards per return. Idaho return man Justin Veltung is a threat on kick returns, but Kunalic should be able to make him a non-factor.
Nebraska Will Win If:
It continues to dominate in the run game and finds a way to put pressure on Enderle all game. Though Idaho's offensive line weighs in at an average of roughly 340 pounds, Nebraska's defensive line is much faster and more athletic, and it should be able to put some serious heat on Enderle and at least throw him off his rhythm. And if Martinez pulls off another performance like he did last week, then it's pretty much game over right there.
Idaho Will Win If:
It can force Nebraska to pass the ball and create some turnovers while also putting up some points through the air. Enderle is one of the better quarterbacks in the country right now, and if he can get enough time in the pocket to go through his reads he should be able to find some holes in NU's coverage, especially considering the inexperience at linebacker and safety.
There's no question that the one element Nebraska has that Idaho doesn't is a natural playmaker like Martinez. What he lacks in experience and his sometimes questionable decision making he more than makes up for with the ability to score every time he takes a snap. Add in Idaho's recent defensive struggles, and Martinez could be in for another highlight reel performance, which will only further separate himself from the rest of the pack as clear cut starter at quarterback. | <urn:uuid:04e33fa0-23c2-4de1-a4d2-8ecba512086d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nfldraft.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1124611 | 2013-05-21T10:05:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97206 | 1,048 |
Amazon.com (AMZN) will have a difficult time meeting analyst expectations this quarter given its several significant headwinds. The two most prominent headwinds relate to revenue, namely the imposition of state sales taxes on Amazon e-commerce revenue and the large increase in federal taxes impacting consumer demand. There is another additional key headwind that is rarely discussed in relation to Amazon, but has and will continue to have a significant impact on operating income - the price of gasoline. While it should be no surprise that gasoline impacts shipping costs, this article enables the reader to accurately predict the impact of gasoline price changes on gross margin, operating income and earnings per share.
While Amazon is quite stingy in the investment information it releases to investors (missing are tablet units, impact of sales tax, streaming users, 3P total merchandise value, AWS COGS, etc…), they do let us know their gross and net shipping expenses. Figure 1 charts gross shipping expense as a percentage of e-commerce revenue against average US gasoline prices in the quarter (regular unleaded, average of all formulations and areas). The chart illustrates that shipping expense had increased steadily from about 7.5% of revenue to 8.6% - 8.9% during 2012. This occurred while Amazon was spending billions of capital on tens of new fulfillment centers closer to the customer to reduce shipping expenses. In order to understand this divergence, I dug a little deeper to determine what is driving the much faster than revenue increases in shipping expense even as shipping distances are being reduced.
Figure 1: Amazon Gross Shipping Cost as a % of E-Commerce Revenue and Average US Gasoline Prices
Through regression analysis of Amazon and government data, I built a shipping expense growth model that demonstrates high correlation to two obvious independent variables: The price of gasoline and what Amazon refers to as "Paid Units Sold" (Amazon defines "Paid Units Sold" as "physical and digital units sold" that "are paid units and do not include units associated with certain acquisitions, rental businesses, web services or advertising businesses, or Amazon gift certificates"). The Coefficient of Determination (R2) of this regression was a convincing 0.98, displaying that these two variables alone account for the variation in shipping expense growth. As a note, I thought paid unit growth of 1P units only would be a better predictor as not all 3P units are shipped by Amazon, but the total paid units had a better R2, so I stuck with that.
What does the Statistical Analysis Tell Us?
Here is the key takeaway: Every 2% increase in gasoline price reduces Amazon's overall gross margin by 10 basis points (BPS). At $16 billion in revenue, every 10 bps of margin reduction results in a $16 million reduction in operating income, or about 2.5¢ in earnings per share reduction. While 10 bps may not sound like a lot, 2.5¢ represents 28% of the analysts $0.09 consensus estimate for Q1. So a minor 2% shift up in gasoline costs can shift earnings lower by 28% in Q1.
Let's look at this in the wider context of future earnings potential. Amazon bulls like to point to 2009 Q4 as a shining example of Amazon profit potential as they achieved 4.0% net margin and $0.85 per share of earnings. They claim that once all of the current investments subside, Amazon will either return to or exceed those peak margin levels on much higher revenue. Here is a dose of reality for the bulls: If gasoline prices per gallon in 2009 Q4 were what it is today, Amazon would have earned a measly $0.02 per share instead of $0.85! That means given today's energy environment Amazon faces nearly 4.0% net margin headwinds from its prior peak performance.
Has The Fulfillment Center Build Out Strategy Had Any Positive Impact At All?
There is one other interesting result of the analysis to note: the model generated an additive constant term of negative 8.8%. That means that with zero unit growth and no gasoline price change, Amazon shipping expense would shrink by 8.8% Y/Y. This is the positive impact of the distributed fulfillment center strategy and is already baked into the current numbers - you just can't see it in Amazon's financial results due to higher gasoline prices and much higher unit shipments than revenue growth over the past four years. The end result is that although Amazon management recognized they need to do something to stem these two major headwinds, they have only lost ground. While they have increased fulfillment expense as a percentage of revenue by 270 bps, shipping expense has increased 120 bps as a percentage of revenue, thus reducing net margin by 400 bps over the past four years. Based on these trends it seems Amazon will need to continue to invest heavily in fulfillment expenses over the next several years just to return to 2009 shipping expense percentage levels of e-commerce revenue.
Is There Hope For Gasoline Prices to Return to 2009 Levels?
This is highly unlikely as the global financial crisis scared the energy markets into a severe dip (60% drop) at the end of 2008/early 2009. Gasoline prices have begun an exponential run up over the past few weeks and have well surpassed both the prior quarter and year ago quarter's level seven weeks into the quarter (Figure 2). Oil prices tend to lead gasoline prices by 4 to 6 weeks, so look for gasoline prices to continue to rise significantly into the end of Q1 to near all-time high levels ($4.11/gal) as oil continues to print new 9-month highs. That could mean all time high shipping expense as a percentage of e-commerce revenue for Amazon in Q2. The current White House Administration's tough policy approach on fossil fuels coupled with the Fed's QE infinity program should continue to pressure oil prices higher through at least 2015, leading me to wonder why Amazon is considered a "risk-on" trade with its strong inverse earnings sensitivity to oil prices. Not only does an increase in gasoline cost increase Amazon's shipping expense, it also lowers consumer's discretionary income, thus providing an additional headwind to revenue - a true double whammy.
Figure 2: Weekly US Gasoline Prices for Q/Q and Y/Y Comparisons
Core to Amazon's value proposition is the convenience of shipping product directly to your door. That service currently reduces operating margin by 870 bps (up from 750 bps three years ago) and is directly correlated to the cost of gasoline. For every 2% increase in gasoline cost, Amazon gross margin declines by 10 bps. This relation has reduced Amazon net margin by 400 bps to zero over the last four years. While spending billions on new distributed fulfillment centers has attempted to reduce the impact of soaring gasoline prices, shipping expenses as a percentage of e-commerce revenue continues to climb as Amazon paid units shipped far outpace revenue growth and gasoline price increases continue to override any Amazon efficiency gains. In the current money printing and political environment, energy costs are skyrocketing, thus having a direct and meaningful impact on Amazon profit potential for 2013 and beyond.
Note: Additional information on the model, data and analysis can be made available through my consulting practice.
Disclosure: I am short AMZN. | <urn:uuid:c6c03e75-ef3c-4e66-80ce-d937222af5e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seekingalpha.com/article/1220891-amazon-is-getting-gassed | 2013-05-21T10:30:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947175 | 1,484 |
By Jack Rikess
Toke of the Town
Northern California Correspondent
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he will “work with states” to clarify the Department of Justice’s position on medical marijuana. This is what I’d like him to say…
11. Marijuana is no longer a Schedule I drug.
The Good News: Marijuana will finally be reclassified as having medical value.
Bad News: Big Pharma doesn’t like to share…
10. Everyone can grow!
For states that have Medical Marijuana, patients will be allowed to grow six plants each. Why not?
Most everyone is doing it already. That way, the Man (and Woman) can’t control our stash.
9. Arizona, you have medical marijuana, get over it!
It would be great if the highest attorney in the land, Eric Holder reaffirmed that if the highest voters passed medical marijuana, they have spoken. This goes for any state that doesn’t like democracy and the right of voters.
I’m also looking at you, Big Sky.
8. We’re only busting deals over 50 pounds.
Until legalization happens, commerce shall continue. Fifty elbows can be divvied up pretty quick, especially if it’s the amazing Purps or some of that Solar Diesel making the rounds.
I think 50 pounds and under is a fair amount that one should be able to travel with for commercial purposes, within state lines of course.
7. There won’t be any lists of medical marijuana patients or growers recorded anywhere.
Doctors don’t give the State or the Feds lists of their patients who are on Viagra or Ritalin, (and who wouldn’t want to know who gets a little sketchy if they’re not on their meds?)
Why should they give the medi-jane patients up? In the Time of Grey Markets, we’ll come out, but don’t make us tell you where we live.
6. States need to get their acts together.
There are 58 counties and a whole lot of unincorporated towns (think Deadwood) in California. Unless two adjoining counties have the same laws, ordinances and restrictions, you’re going to have graft, corruption and more of the same.
We need consistent and common-sense regulations within the states, left up to each state what that would be, but for the love of all that is sane, let’s have cultivation, commerce and transportation laws that make sense and work.
5. Amsterdam is over.
The Dutch no longer want the sounds of the Grateful Dead gracing their canals. For some crazy reason (actually, the Flemish blew it for everyone) foreigners will not be allowed entry into the hash bars without a visitor’s permit.
This is the United States’ chance for a big toe into the lucrative world of the ganja-turistas. For Las Vegas whose fountains suck the blood of a vanishing economy everyday and then spit it out in a multicolor symmetry five times a day to a couple of tourists dressed in cut-offs, and other destination cities that are having hard times. Here’s your chance!
It’s time for these sinkholes to reinvest in the American Dream and open our own hash bars. Once Las Vegas discovers marijuana, munchies, and cotton-mouth, food and beverage directors everywhere will have a new lease on life. This model could be replicated everywhere.
4. If you’re in jail because of cannabis, pack your bags…
It is just time to stop. As correctional officials nationally figure out ways to release the least violent and aggressive inmates into our society. Why are non-violent, first-time marijuana offenders going to prison at all?
Because somebody says it is illegal.
3. Users are immune from federal prosecution.
From this point on, it will be left up to the state you’re in for the rules and regulations governing marijuana. One of the reasons it is easy to get a job in Oklahoma City is because people are leaving there because of draconian weed laws. You took a chance on gambling and casinos, alcohol and guns.
Trust me, after all of that, you’re going to love marijuana. We’re a lot less hard to handle.
2. Movies are better when you’re stoned.
I don’t know, I just think it would be cool if the Attorney General of the United States came out and said, “You know, I saw Ghostbusters straight the first time, then I saw it high.
“Man, it’s a lot funnier when you’re baked. I’ll take your questions now if you have any.”
1. I am sorry.
These last few weeks have been very tense for many of us in the medical marijuana movement. Dispensaries have been threatened with closures. Banks that do business with the cannabis industry have been told to open their drawers. Proposition 19 in 2010 had a pretty good chance of passing until Eric Holder came out the week before the vote and said, “no matter what happens with the vote, the Feds will still bust pot smokers.”
In fact, Eric Holder and then candidate Obama pledged to back off medical marijuana patients and make marijuana a low priority in terms of prosecution. At a time when Big Pharma seems to be making strides and advancements, patients and medical marijuana doctors are being deterred, harassed and even jailed.
Some days it is like a bad game of ganja musical chairs. We’re never sure where to sit.
It would be nice to hear someone say, “Sorry for the inconvenience. We hear you. We won’t smile nor smirk when asked if marijuana has medicinal value. We will take medical marijuana patients and their input seriously, realizing that they’ve been the only true governing body that has driven the medical marijuana movement since it started.
“I am sorry.” | <urn:uuid:d0808d99-4eea-4a71-9582-39d70d467075> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://valetudocafe.wordpress.com/tag/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/ | 2013-05-21T10:27:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93773 | 1,274 |
Dirs. Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni
Set during the early Seventies, at a time when society was reeling from the Manson Family murders and the brutal end of the Summer of Love, The Fields is a thoughtful, atmospheric and quietly powerful film. At its core is a rumination on the end of innocence - the young protagonist’s rites of passage unravels during a time when social unrest and the backlash of the Manson murders shook society to its foundations. Hippies were demonised and their ideologies lambasted and tarnished. Due to the setting and circumstances, the hippies in the film are actually portrayed in quite a sinister way. Their behaviour doesn’t sit right, their motives are ambiguous. This is the only horror film I can think of that actually presents the Love Generation in such disquieting light. The Fields explores how society changed in the wake of the Manson family killings. Paranoia was rife. People became all too aware of the fact that human monsters moved amongst them. Telling the story from a child’s perspective allows the filmmakers to address such notions and ideas from a middle ground. They also show how society can influence children and shape who they become - for better or worse - through its attitudes and prejudices.
Horror in this film really stems from broken homes, dark (though realistic) family secrets, changes in society and a young child’s active imagination, sparked to morbid effect when he hears of the bloody Charles Manson massacre on the radio. The boy’s father (Faust Checho) is a Vietnam vet and suffers from PTSD. His mother (Tara Reid) is an alcoholic. They send him to stay with his paternal grandparents when he witnesses an argument that ends when his father holds a gun to his mother’s head.
“You should be more afraid of the living than the dead.”
As the audience is invited to see the world through the eyes of a child, there are moments of fearful fancy and childhood terrors such as the darkness beneath the bed or the slightly ajar closet door which are deftly executed to induce quiet chills. The titular fields surrounding the house take on a sinister quality as Steven (Joshua Ormand) explores them against his grandparents wishes. Stealthy point of view camera shots stalk through the imposing rows of corn and the emphasis on sound to create an eerie atmosphere is key throughout these moments. Autumnal scenery underpins the idea of change in society at the time, and the sense of loss and grief people felt.
The grandparents house highlights their simple lives as farming folk; it is cosy and lived-in, but during the night it takes on a creepy atmosphere, fuelled by Steven’s imagination. The grandmother is something of a horror fan and she’s often glimpsed watching old horror films on TV, including Carnival of Souls and Night of the Living Dead. At one point she is chastised by her husband for letting Steven watch them with her. The films she watches are now considered to have socio-political commentaries that considered the unrest and turmoil in society at the time. These films also seem to inspire Steven’s imagination, as shortly after he sees Carnival of Souls, he wanders around a deserted funfair that seems to be situated somewhere beyond the cornfields. Again, because we see things from his point of view, we can’t be sure if the terrors he encounters there are real or the product of his imagination.
Naturalistic conversations and the banter of the family flesh out already believable characters. Domesticity mingles with real life horror - highlighted in the scene where Steven and his grandmother are discussing what to have for dinner as they also chat about how her brother died - delving into those moments when children first begin to realise that death is part of life. Weighty issues such as race are tackled with the introduction of the grandmother’s sister’s partner, an African American. This throws light on the attitudes of ordinary folk at the time, and as they’re presented to us from Steven’s perspective, they remain objective. An almost Lynchian scene unfolds when Steven and his grandparents visit his disabled great aunt, complete with flashing light bulbs and the sight of the grandfather taking his teeth out at the dinner table. Of course these moments are all benign, but the way they’re shot - from Steven’s naïve and inquisitive vantage point - renders them weird and unsettling. Things become increasingly nightmarish when Steven wonders into the dark and cluttered basement and meets his great aunt’s grown children playing in the dark. They obviously have learning difficulties and while they’re presented in a slightly off kilter way (again, as Steven sees them), the film does manage to highlight the plight of such individuals and how society treated them in the late Sixties, early Seventies - hidden away from the world as matter a fact as you like.
The performances are all uniformly strong, particularly those of Bev Appleton and Cloris Leachman as the grandparents. Even Tara Reid impresses as the frustrated Bonnie who uses alcohol to cope with her unhappy home-life.
The Fields is subtle, unassuming and thought provoking. While its pace may not be to everyone’s taste, it nonetheless slow-burns its way to a satisfying climax which, at the very last moment, threatens to undo the film’s lyrical approach to the horror of growing up, by introducing an ambiguous, possibly supernatural angle. Aside from this, The Fields is perfect for those who like their horror with heart. | <urn:uuid:ada917e9-bff1-4484-b783-bc00caef7052> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://watchinghorrorfilmsfrombehindthecouch.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-fields.html?showComment=1344856937476 | 2013-05-21T10:14:14Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963073 | 1,143 |
Visiting China at what he called a “very important moment” for the U.S.-China relationship, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Sept. 19 his meetings with key Chinese leaders here have been both substantive and productive.
In a discussion with Chinese reporters and media representatives traveling with him, Panetta reviewed his meetings over two days with Chinese leaders including Vice President Xi Jinping, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Caihou and Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie.
Key discussion points throughout the meetings, the secretary said, included territorial disputes, ballistic missile defense and North Korea, and cyber attack and intrusions. The overarching topic, he added, was the U.S.-China relationship in the context of the U.S. strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.
Panetta drew a parallel in describing his advice to Chinese leaders over a territorial dispute simmering between China and Japan – which, he noted, he also tendered to Japanese senior government officials when he visited there earlier this week – and Chinese advice to him over North Korea. Each side urged the other to seek peaceful, diplomatic solutions to their differences, he noted.
The secretary said he has some understanding of the deep feelings and long-standing differences between China and Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea. But, he added, “it’s really important that we not be trapped by the past and that we move forward.”
Panetta said his message on the topic is consistent to any country claiming disputed territory in the East China Sea or South China Sea: while the United States doesn’t take sides in territorial disputes, “we strongly urge the parties to exercise restraint and to work together to find a peaceful resolution to these issues.”
The secretary added that he also strongly urges the Asia-Pacific nations to form a multilateral forum to resolve regional conflicts according to agreed-upon principles.
Panetta said his meetings here gave him the impression that the Chinese are looking for a good format in which to try to resolve these issues for the future. “They, too, have a concern that these issues can’t just be resolved on the fly – that there’s got to be a process to try to deal with them,” he added.
Both Japanese and Chinese leaders signaled this week that they “recognize that it’s important not to let this kind of dispute get out of hand,” Panetta said.
China’s leaders similarly urged that the United States exercise restraint in its approach to North Korea, Panetta acknowledged. China, along with Russia, is one of North Korea’s principal allies.
U.S.-North Korea differences came to the fore this week when, during his stay in Japan, the secretary announced the United States and Japan are discussing expansion of Japan-based ballistic missile defense radar systems. Panetta emphasized the X-band radar, which detects ballistic missiles early in their flight and provides precise tracking information for targeting systems, is intended solely for defense against North Korea.
The secretary told reporters that North Korea threatens the United States, its forward-deployed forces and its allied and partner nations as it continues to test nuclear weapons and delivery systems and to enrich uranium in defiance of international law.
During his meetings with China’s leaders, Panetta said, he urged Chinese officials to try to persuade North Korea to engage with the United States to work on resolving these issues through diplomacy. In turn, he added, the Chinese leaders strongly recommended that the United States try to resolve its issues with North Korea peacefully.
Both sides noted that the recent change in North Korean leadership has produced some signs of softening in Pyongyang’s stance, he noted. “We agreed that there are changes that are taking place and that we have to keep track of those changes,” the secretary said.
Panetta said he also raised concerns about threats in the cyber domain, which he called the “potential battlefield for the future.”
Cyber technology “has the potential to cripple a country, paralyze a country … [and is] being used in order to exploit information – important economic information – from one country to the next,” he said.
Panetta said the United States “has concerns about what China has been doing, in terms of exploiting information,” and that during his meetings here he stressed the importance of the United States and China having a dialogue regarding cyber.
“I think we do have to make the effort to try to sit down with China and with other countries to discuss how we can approach cyber,” the secretary said. He added that cyber is a growing threat in China as well, and that “there was concurrence” during meetings that the topic is worthy of strategic discussion.
“There was a sense that there has to be an effort to look at the larger picture here and whether or not we can develop international rules and standards. … I thought that was a very good step to … at least beginning the discussion about dealing with this issue,” Panetta said.
The secretary has maintained throughout his comments to reporters this week that the chief focus of his visit to China was to strengthen military relations between the two countries and to seek Chinese response to the U.S. strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.
“What I hope this visit has made clear is that engagement with China is a critical part of [the rebalance],” he said. “And I believe we’re making real progress towards building a military-to-military relationship with China that is, in fact, healthy, stable, reliable, and continuous.”
China and the United States will not always agree, Panetta acknowledged. But he said the key to the relationship, as to any relationship, is open communications and the ability to express views candidly. “That, almost more than anything else, is what can lead to improved relations between the United States and China,” he said.
The “candid and frank discussions” he has had here bode well for the future, he added.
Concerning the U.S. rebalance in the Asia-Pacific region, Panetta said, Chinese leaders acknowledged that they don’t view it as a threat. “They viewed it as important to the future prosperity and security of the Pacific region,” he told reporters.
Their key concerns, he added, are that the United States develops and strengthens its presence in conjunction with developing a strong U.S.-China relationship, and that both nations work together to develop the capabilities of other countries and develop security for the region. | <urn:uuid:cb928042-1af6-43b5-8e88-dab3827d185f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aerotechnews.com/news/2012/09/21/panetta-calls-beijing-meetings-substantive-productive/?feedsort=more | 2013-05-21T10:20:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972127 | 1,396 |
Seanad Éireann - Volume 21 - 21 July, 1938
Extension of Vocational Organisation.
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That, in the opinion of the Seanad, a small commission should be appointed by the Government to examine and report on the possibility of extending vocational organisation by legislative or administrative action.—Senators MacDermot and Tierney.
The Taoiseach Eamon de Valera
The Taoiseach: I was very sorry I was not able to be here to listen to the speeches delivered by the proposer and seconder of the motion, and if other Senators wish to speak on the motion I should prefer to wait and hear what they have to say.
Mr. Douglas Mr. Douglas
Mr. Douglas: The difficulty is that we understood that the Taoiseach would have an opportunity now, so as not to take up his time, and those of us who intended to take part in the debate were reckoning on its taking place after the Bills on the Order Paper had been disposed of.
The Taoiseach Eamon de Valera
The Taoiseach: So far as I am concerned, it is simply a question of saying that I am in favour of the motion, because, whatever view may be taken of it, I cannot see that any harm can be done in having a commission set up to examine the question. It does not commit anyone in advance to any particular viewpoint or to any of the findings, because we have no idea what they may be. The resolution, as it stands here, is “That, in the opinion of the Seanad, a small commission should be appointed by the Government to examine and report on the possibility of extending vocational organisation by legislative or administrative action.” The only question is whether it should not be somewhat wider in its terms of reference than it is—whether there might not be some other methods of encouragement. I am sure, however, that whatever methods of encouragement might be adopted by the Government could be included in the two terms “legislative” or “administrative.” Personally, I have no objection, and no member of the Government, so far as I am aware, has any objection to such a commission being set up. It would be of great importance that this matter should be examined home to see how far the fundamental ideas are capable of being applied in our country and in what direction they might be best applied. If it is simply a question of our view, we have no reason at all to object to this motion being passed, and, if it is passed, we will implement it.
Mr. Hayes Mr. Hayes
Mr. Hayes: Could the Taoiseach give us any idea as to what type of commission he thinks would be suitable? I think that only one of the speakers on the motion made any suggestion on the matter. In the absence of any statement to the contrary, it seems to me that what is contemplated is that the Government should appoint a commission. I take it that is what the Taoiseach understands from it and I wonder what kind of a commission either the movers or the Taoiseach have in mind.
Sir John Keane Sir John Keane
Sir John Keane: My difficulty about the motion is that the mover, and probably to some degree the seconder, hung this on to the question of a better Seanad. I do not think that is implicit in the motion itself. It was suggested— I may be wrong—that it is due to the defects of our vocational organisation that the Seanad is not of the character some people would like to see it. I do not agree with that. I think, so far as vocational organisation is concerned, that there is no serious fault to be found in its approach to a Seanad. It is the method of election that has been at fault. The vocational organisations put on the panel quite a lot of what I personally considered satisfactory candidates, but in many cases they could not survive the process of election.
On the general question of vocational organisation, that is another matter and it opens up a very big question indeed which will require a lot of thought and, I suggest, a very big change in public opinion before it can take practical form. If I might suggest it, the best example we have of the full operation of vocational organisation is that in the Church of Ireland. There is no doubt that the peculiar conditions there lend themselves to cohesion. But, in that body, you have certain powers of legislation very much in the sense of a self-governing vocational body. I see great difficulties in extending that to the agricultural industry, but so far as the approach can be made, it is along those lines I think that you should try to work, to build up a vocational organisation of such a form that a large number of questions within the sphere of agriculture could be referred to what you might call an agricultural Parliament, no doubt with overriding powers and veto by the Dáil. The same with industry. Of course, as we all know, that is very remote. We can only work to that in a very slow and tentative manner, but that would be the ideal at which we should aim. So far as a commission could help in thinking out all that, it would be all to the good.
Mr. Douglas Mr. Douglas
Mr. Douglas: One reason I did not wish to speak until we had some indication of the view of the Government was that, if they were not prepared to accept the general idea of a commission, alternative suggestions might be made. I am glad that the Taoiseach indicated that, at any rate, the idea would be favourably considered. It seems to me that Senator Tierney was quite right when he said that the two questions, the question of extending vocational organisation in the country, and the question of a Seanad which might be elected more or less on vocational lines were two distinct questions. I would not like to see them mixed up in the reference to any commission. I read very carefully the two speeches made and was particularly impressed by the line taken by Senator Tierney. I, at any rate, did not get his ideas as clearly from listening to him as from reading carefully his speech, which I think is worthy of study whether you agree with it or not.
There are considerable practical difficulties, almost insurmountable difficulties, but if a suitable commission was prepared to give time to study the problem, apart from the question of a vocational Seanad, I think it might be of considerable value. At any rate, having regard to the general ideals which were accepted fairly well by all sides in this country some 15, 16, 17, 18 years ago, it seems to me that there is a duty upon us to consider the problems put forward in this resolution, and more particularly in the speeches on the resolution. I would hope that, so far as possible, persons like most of us here who have taken an active part in politics, if not excluded from the commission, would be very definitely in a minority, because I think it is a matter on which we would have to get entirely away from politics as we have known them in the last 15 years. We have a number of divisions which seem to be largely unnatural.
I should like to see those of us who may happen to be here after the next election appointing a committee of our own to consider amendments or improvements in the method of election, which was referred to by Senator Sir John Keane. I think that that would be a thing apart, and that it would not be necessary to wait in respect of it until you had a detailed report from a commission of this kind. That is one of the reasons why I should like to see the two things kept distinct. An expansion of vocationalism would have to be brought about by a policy carried over a considerable number of years. There would be a lot of difficulties to be surmounted, and I do not think you should necessarily wait until that is achieved before making an attempt to rectify the things which have not worked very well in connection with the election of the Seanad. I am glad that the Government is prepared to accept the principle of this resolution, and I think that the Seanad should approve of it without a division.
Mr. O'Callaghan Mr. O'Callaghan
Mr. O'Callaghan: The extension of vocational organisation is very desirable. It may, or may not, give us a better Seanad. It may, or may not, give us a better Dáil. If carried to its logical conclusion, it may deprive this House of the services of the proposer and seconder of this motion. That, of course, would be a step in the wrong direction. What I propose to say, I want to direct to two vocational organisations in connection with agriculture —the Dairy Shorthorn Breeders' Society and the Beetgrowers' Association. I shall first deal with a small portion of the work carried on by the Dairy Shorthorn Breeders' Society. Anybody going through the City of Dublin will see the tramcars and buses decorated with “drink more milk” slogans.
That was brought about by representations made to the Minister for Agriculture by the Dairy Shorthorn Breeders' Society. The drink-more-milk campaign will have a very great effect on the health of the nation. It will do away with patent medicines and doctors' bills. People will have more money to spend and they will be more cheerful. It may even bring about the setting up of a milk bar in Leinster House where, under the influence of milk cocktails, Party bitterness will entirely disappear and a new spirit will supplant the old. I am just relating this small section of the work of the Dairy Shorthorn Breeders' Society to illustrate the good that an association of that kind might do for the State and for the people.
There is, then, the Beet Growers' Association, which some people seem to overlook. It has a membership of 30,000 beet growers and speaks for some thousands of grain growers. Most of the beet growers in the West of Ireland are small farmers. The average acreage is about one and a half per grower. It is a little more in other areas. I tell you that to illustrate the fact that the labour used is family labour; not paid labour. In the other areas, the acreage is a little bit greater but not much. Seventy-five per cent of the beet grown in this country is grown by family help. The difficulty with the beet growers is the question of price and not the setting up to guilds or organisations of any kind. The Beet Growers' Association have had considerable difficulty in getting a price to which they would be agreeable. Some experts seem to have advised the Government that sufficient acreage would be got at the price which is being offered. That advice was wrong and it has done considerable harm to the industry. There is a shrinkage of 12,000 acres in this year's beet crop and, unless the crop is a very bountiful one this season, it will be very difficult to get beet for 1939.
I am glad that the Taoiseach is here because we have not had an opportunity of telling him what the position is. The powers that be say that the man who lends his money is entitled to his due reward. They say that the factory worker is entitled to get what he gets. They say that the cost of sugar must not be increased to the public and that the State cannot give any further help. They say that, after full provision is made for depreciation and reserves, the beet grower can get the rest. The position is an anxious one for the beet grower who is anxious to get the industry going. He finds himself at the wrong end of the stick. We have been discussing the formation of guilds and several ways and means of getting a price that will induce the farmer to grow beet. We have in the current issue of the Beet Growers' Journal an article from a very distinguished churchman on the formation of guilds in connection with the Beet Growers' Association. That journal was sent to 30,000 or 35,000 growers and was read by them and their families. In that way, we have done a lot to educate public opinion about the formation of vocational bodies. A motion will be discussed at the annual meeting in connection with this matter and any member of this House who cares to go and listen to it will be provided with a seat in the distinguished strangers' gallery. Three factors, in my view, govern the sugar industry. One is the man who lends his money—in other words, the capitalist. I do not call him a capitalist because plenty of small men lent small sums for the setting up of the industry. Then, there is the factory worker and, then, the beet grower. A vocational body composed of these three factors would seem to be a desirable way of controlling the industry but the difficulty the beet grower has is that he will be coming in as the underdog. He regards the other people as being well away and he does not regard himself as being on the same plane. The only difficulty we have in connection with the setting up of that guild to control the sugar industry is the question of price. I hold that the beet grower is the backbone of the industry and that he should not play second fiddle to any of the other component parts.
The setting up of a commission may not be the right means of developing vocational organisation. I know the way the Dairy Shorthorn Breeders' Society was set up. It was got going by half a dozen people who put their backs into the work. If we had sufficient civic spirit, and if we had a little more national pride, there might not be any need of a commission to deal with vocational organisation. Vocational organisation is very desirable, but whether or not the setting up of a commission is the proper means of approaching it, I leave the House to judge.
Mr. Quirke Mr. Quirke
Mr. Quirke: I find myself largely in agreement with Senator Sir John Keane, so far as this motion is concerned, in so far as he says that too much stress was laid on the system of electing the Seanad. This question of a system of election for this House was under discussion for several months. During that time, very little in the way of suggestion that was of any use came from any quarter. As always happens, the best hurlers are on the ditch. If anybody can suggest a better method than the method which has been in operation up to now, I am sure the Government will be quite pleased. The present system is far from perfect, but I believe that it is the best system that could be found under existing conditions. I am not against the setting up of a commission, for the reason that I believe that the discussion of this motion will create a better atmosphere so far as the development of vocational organisation is concerned. With all due respect to the proposer and seconder, I think that the motion is not properly worded. I do not believe that vocational organisation can be developed by legislative means. I believe that it will have to be a natural growth. The atmosphere at present is more favourable to this purpose than it has ever been for the simple reason that vocational organisation should be the natural outcome of the activities of a native Government. As a result of this commission and as a result of the activities of some of the Senators who have been sent here by vocational bodies, that atmosphere will spread and, even within the next year or two years, even if we did nothing further about the matter, we should have considerable development in that direction.
I think that there was very little of value in the speeches made by the proposer and seconder of the motion. They rambled from the subject. I believe that a commission can do very little of itself to achieve our purpose, but that the setting up of a commission, combined with the discussion we have had, will induce people to talk about the matter. They will find that useful work has been done by some of the Senators sent here by various bodies and they will realise that it is up to them to organise themselves into groups and send men here who will look after their interests. At the same time, some of the men sent here would be well advised to keep away from politics. Political speeches in this House by men sent here by vocational bodies will have a tendency to prevent development of opinion in the direction which we seek.
Mr. Condon Mr. Condon
Mr. Condon: I consider this a most fascinating subject, particularly as we can all talk with extraordinary wisdom about it, seeing that few people know very much concerning it. So far, the speeches have been good. There was, certainly, a shock for all of us in the proposing of the motion. We are used to shocks in this House after the major shock of the dissolution of the Dáil, which meant that we, as a body, were about to be dissolved before we were familiar with the upholstery of the place. After that, we can get over any shocks. The seconder of the motion ought to have got a shock when he heard all that was said by the proposer as to what he considered the gravamen of the resolution. It seemed to me as if Senator MacDermot wanted the mountain to go into labour to produce a mouse—a new mouse. He was much distressed about the character of this House. Evidently, sensitive people, with high vocational qualifications, could not bring themselves to do the ordinary, vulgar things that have to be done to become members of this House. They could not be expected to go out in public and canvass or do anything like that.
If I am a member of the electoral college, I can see, and so can Senator MacDermot, circulars on my table every morning from some of these vocational experts, these people who were so busy and so remote from the people, so removed from the ordinary vulgarities of life. Anyone who receives these circulars will note how these very remote people can speak of their own exceptional qualifications and hold forth on the benefit it would be to the nation to have them elected to this Seanad. If Senator MacDermot had read some of these circulars he might, perhaps, change his mind. I tell the Senator that these people are not at all so remote from the ordinary vulgarities of life as has been suggested. I know they are very valuable people, but there is no doubt that if there is any possibility of their getting here by any means then they will get here. But these are the men that the Senator had in mind when he was speaking of a vocational Seanad. That is really what it means, the mountain in labour and it produced a very trifling thing.
Senator MacDermot's speech was very discursive. I think in that speech he dealt with all subjects. Indeed he omitted very few things. He did not touch on bimetallism nor on the breeds of poultry but he dealt with nearly every other subject one could think of. He touched on the Pope, and I was afraid for a time that he was going to take serious action with regard to His Holiness. However, in the end he was very nice to the Pope, and I am sure His Holiness will be very glad when he hears about it. We have been told that the Pope's Encyclicals have been very widely read, but that they had been misunderstood. Anyone who had not read these circulars and was not acquainted with what was in them would begin to think that they were such mysterious things that the ordinary man could not possibly understand them. Now the fact is that the Pope's Encyclicals were entirely inspired by concern for the people. They were written in such a way that even the common people could understand them —they were so immensely clear. In these Encyclicals the Pope said really necessary things, and he said them in a plain way. I have read them and I am familiar with them. There is nothing in them that an ordinary person could not understand.
When the first Encyclical was published over 40 years ago it received as much attention that time as if it had been written by me. Then the world had not broken the skin of the Dead Sea fruit. The world had not known the Great War. The world had not understood how wretched the organisation of society was and what terrible possibilities for evil lay in society as it then existed. As I say at that time the world had not broken the skin of the Dead Sea fruit, and this great Encyclical was almost wholly ignored. It required a further Encyclical from the present Pope, Pius XI, to draw further attention to it. He suggested that the vocational organisation of society might be remedied. He drew attention to some of the dreadful things that were about us. If one turns from the fashion parades in Grafton Street or George's Street, examines the position in the slums and inquires into the life that obtains there, he will understand something about the Pope's Encyclicals. The conditions are bad in our slums but they are a thousand times worse and more infamous in countries that are very much richer than ours. In some of those very rich countries people are born into conditions that are certain to ensure that they will be maimed in mind, body and morals for the rest of their lives. Hundreds and thousands and even millions are born into such conditions as these all the time while we have been preaching Christianity.
Senator MacDermot's concern seemed to be with getting ideal electors. I do not know where these ideal electors are to be got except down in the Kildare Street Club. But when we get these ideal electors the Labour Party will not exist any longer. That appears to me the big thing that he sees in this motion. The Labour Party and the Farmers' Party will disappear. I think that in itself would be a disaster. No matter what vocational conditions obtain human nature will not change. There will always be greed and avarice in the world. Once we had the Guild system. The Guilds became vicious, so that greed and avarice and other abuses grew up in them, and they needed correction. It may be just the same with this vocational organism that we hope to see established in the future.
I think it is absolutely necessary that society should organise itself on absolutely different lines from the present. Most of the people to-day are simply living under serf conditions or in slave conditions. The people who are depending on casual labour are in a slave condition. Let us consider the position of these people, and if we do we will find their position is really worse than that which existed under the old slave conditions. I remember it was a shock to us all when we read long ago that John Mitchel had taken the part of the Confederates in the American Civil War. In that Civil War John Mitchel was on the side of the South. He wanted to maintain the slavery system. Now, Mitchel was an enlightened man and a great lover of freedom, but he gave his reasons for the stand he took up on the American Civil War. He said:—
“Here you have a mass of black labour which at present represents so much chattels to the men who own it. These new people in the North who discovered that slavery is such a dreadful thing want the slave owner to free his slaves in order that they are to be thrown into an already over-crowded labour market where the slave will have no value except that when he is worn out he will be replaced by another man.”
John Mitchel's reasoning on that occasion was borne out subsequently by John Ruskin. In that matter John Mitchel showed himself a man of extraordinary vision.
To-day you have in the world much worse conditions than the slave conditions of the American negroes. Now, in this State of ours we have a wholly undeveloped country. In anything that we have to decide to do in the future it would be well that we should remember that the normal development of Ireland had been obstructed for centuries. As G.K. Chesterton described it, the whole trouble was that we had no government here. It was not a case of having a bad Government or a good Government. What we suffered from was really the determination of another people to annihilate and wipe out our people. That was their policy for centuries and that policy had had its reactions. In a hundred years our population had been reduced by something like 50 per cent. We have counties like Meath that I represent with a population of half what it was 50 years ago. Now that country is wholly undeveloped.
Every month one can read in one of the most useful publications published here in Ireland a series of articles showing the difference between the use we make of our land and the use that Belgium is making of its land. Belgium has something like 7,000,000 acres of land. It has over 1,000,000 holdings. We have 17,000,000 acres of land, that is 10,000,000 acres more than Belgium, and we have 230,000 holdings. We have one-quarter of the number of holdings and 10,000,000 acres more land. What is really happening in the country is that extremely little use is being made of our natural wealth. But we need not turn in an emergency way to vocationalism or anything else to remedy that. We have, I know, big leeway to make up. As I say we have prime land practically undeveloped. We are producing only one-quarter of the wheat which we require for our people. Yet we have something like 100,000 people unemployed and the people from the rural parts are crowding into the towns. We were told yesterday that the country workers are crowding into the towns. There is for that a very good reason and that is that the people who hold the land have no intention of employing labour on it. Their whole purpose seems to be something on the principle that obtained in the consolidation of farms, 80 or 100 years ago when village after village was wiped out and the land laid out in such a way that cattle could be turned on to it and need not be seen more than three times in the course of a year. That is the use that is being made of our land.
The first thing I would ask the National Government to deal with is to see that the whole land of Ireland be put to the service of the people; that the people should be put back on it and should be given a chance of living a normal life in the country places. We have no normal life in the country places. Take the education of our young people. Most of the young people go to the elementary schools until they are 14 years of age. Just then when they are in a position to learn something, when they are just trained in the technique of learning they are taken away from the schools. From that until the very end of their careers there is not a soul to bother about them. That is true of 99 per cent. of them. There is a shameful wastage of the best of material. This sort of thing is, in a large measure, the cause of the wrongness of mind of so many of these people. These unfortunate people develop on entirely wrong and wretched lines. They have wretched sources for their development. There are so many injurious papers and then there is the wireless business that is utterly unhelpful to these people. They are abandoned at the age of 14 to become ignorant slaves and certainly not getting much of an opportunity to live virtuous lives. That is a problem on which this nation should concentrate.
We have heard a lot about vocational education or technical education, Senator Tierney was alarmed for fear we should take his resolution as meaning technical education. Technical education was one of the things that were introduced into this country many years ago. Ninety per cent. of the people associated with it were shams. Such things as lace-making and sprigging were taught and things that were utterly wasteful. That was really of no service to the country and it touched only a very slight fraction of our people. It did not touch at all the people who leave our elementary schools at the age when they should be taken up by a Government and made into useful citizens. These young people were really abandoned; there is no doubt about that. I am interested in this proposal in one respect. We are said to be in need of a different Seanad from the one we have got. Now the one we have is an admirable one but I am sure it will be changed in a few weeks' time.
What we really want are correctives to the present organisation of society under which a big number of our people are simply committed or condemned to lives of shame, misery and suffering. There is no doubt about that. That is the horror the Pope foresaw when he suggested that correctives be applied 40 years ago. If the world had listened to him then things might have been different. Instead he was treated with contempt. Then the full horror came along; the masses of the people revolted and we have these terrible scenes which we hear of nowadays, these terrible conditions that obtain in Spain and Russia, which were brought about by popular revolt but which the originators of the revolt never foresaw. They started out with the idea of securing freedom for the people who had been ground to the dust. These horrors may possibly be in store for us in Ireland if we ignore our trust and our duty.
I certainly think that this subject should be examined in the fullest possible way, examined in every possible detail, to see if it is at all possible to spare our country from the horrors which other countries have suffered. We must remember that the masses of the people were ignored as dirt. There was absolutely no concern for them. In recent years some little concern has been shown. We have got down to the matter of the minimum wage for agricultural labourers but still we have people quarrelling about it. We have got down to the question of looking after widows and orphans and there are people quarrelling about that, describing it as an unspeakable burden. We have shown a little bit of humanity in our government but we have heaps of protests. Well, we have an example of the unspeakable horrors which have been brought about in other countries by the fact that the sufferings of the people were ignored. The fact that this reorganisation of society has been recommended by His Holiness should give us a lead, for His Holiness has centuries of wisdom, a tradition of wisdom, behind him in these matters, and his lightest word is worthy of consideration. I do not want to enter into the various considerations so singularly ably put forward by Professor Tierney but I think it will be generally agreed that we should have an exhaustive enquiry into the possibilities of the reorganisation of society along some other than the present system, under which the masses of the people are simply being exploited to the advantage of a few.
Professor Johnston Professor Johnston
Professor Johnston: I agree with the proposer of this resolution that the question of promoting vocational organisation in this country is quite separate from the question of the best method of constituting this Seanad. At the same time, I cannot help feeling that if the existing vocational bodies were given the right to elect, as well as the right to nominate to this House, nothing would contribute more effectively to the growth of vocational organisation in the country. I remember as an example of that, in connection with the recent elections to the Seanad, I heard for the first time of the existence of a body known as the Limerick Cottiers' Association. It was brought into existence not because it was given the right to elect, but because it was given the right to nominate to this body. I think on that analogy that when a smaller right than the right to elect, the right to nominate, produced such an effective result, the right to elect would produce even more effective results in inducing professional and other bodies to attempt vocational organisation. I think that a vocational body, if it had the right to elect, would be likely to use that right in a somewhat less partisan manner than is inevitable when the right to elect is given to an electoral college in which the elements of Party organisation are necessarily present. Mind you, I am not deprecating in any way the existence of Party organisation because I think Party action is a necessary adjunct to the machinery of democratic government. When you have a democratically-elected machine functioning you are bound to have Party organisation and a Party spirit and it is so necessary to the working of democratic government that I would not regard it as an evil. But everything reacts in accordance with its nature. There is an Irish proverb which says: “What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?” What can you expect from a democratic popular assembly, given the right to form an important part of the electoral college, but that when they come to elect Senators, they are bound to be influenced by Party considerations, and that they are not likely to choose precisely the same people as the vocational body itself would choose?
I think most people outside of this House would agree that it is desirable that the element of Party spirit, which is necessarily strong in the other House, should be kept as far as possible out of this House. In a democratic assembly the various sections of the community there represented engage in a struggle in which the interests commanding a majority, generally speaking, get their own way. If it so be that the interests which triumph are also the interest of the nation as a whole, it is well, but it is quite conceivable that the interests which triumph in that democratic assembly may not be exactly coincident with the interests of the nation as a whole. It is, therefore, desirable that there should be a corrective to that spirit, and I think no better idea for correcting that partisan spirit has been arrived at than the idea of developing the vocational spirit which, as I say, is quite separate and distinct from the partisan spirit.
The object of vocational representation is not that the people represented should further their special interests or should attempt to get away with anything which is in their sectional interest and is not in the interests of the nation as a whole. The object is that they should contribute their specialised knowledge to the deliberations of the Seanad; that they should seek, as far as possible, to enlighten public opinion and the Oireachtas as a whole, as regards the lines along which national interests must be pursued as against interests which are clearly partisan. I have nothing but admiration for the personal relationships which exist between us in this part of the House and you on the other sides of the House, but, at the same time, I cannot help wishing that the Party spirit was rather less evident. Occasionally it breaks out, although we may strive to restrain it. If the Party spirit were rather less evident, and the vocational spirit rather more evident, then the general tone of this assembly would be improved. Sir, I do not want to appear to be reading a lecture, but I do want to urge that we should consider the question of attempting vocational organisation, and, at the same time, not lose sight of the possibility of improving the general lines along which this House is at present constituted.
Mr. Hughes Mr. Hughes
Mr. Hughes: I am not inclined to oppose the setting up of this commission, but I must say that I am not of opinion that there is any practical solution for this great problem of vocational organisation. Senator Douglas, to my mind, got very near to the kernel of the situation when he said that it was not possible to get away from political questions in public life. References have been made to trade unions and to their place in vocational organisation. Trade unionism was founded for a certain purpose, and it did achieve a large amount of good. It has, as some people are inclined to put it, taken the workers up off their knees, but is it not strange to find that, as it developed and as time went on, quite a small number of people could use the organisation, formed for the purpose for which it was, for purely political purposes? I am saying that because I believe that it is absolutely true. Other organisations formed for other purposes will undoubtedly be used in the same way under present circumstances in this country, because we cannot at this stage get away from political matters. Perhaps, in some years to come, in ten or 20 years' time, we shall have reached a stage when a practical solution can be found. As I say, I am not opposing the setting up of a commission, but I believe that such a commission would find itself up against difficulties and snags, and that it will have to realise the difficulty of developing vocational organisations here to any great purpose.
If, in this country, the people as a whole, had a similar attitude to national questions as the people in other countries, England, for example, if we had the whole people here giving unswerving loyalty to their own country, that loyalty which supersedes every other consideration, then I would say that it would be quite an easy matter to find a solution of this problem and to have vocational organisation in a real, practical way but I say that you have not the whole of our people giving that unswerving loyalty and devotion to their country which is necessary for that purpose. Senator Johnston mentioned that there was a possibility that vocational bodies might be less partisan. I should like to think that that were possible but I am afraid for the reason that I have stated that it is not possible. When we reach the stage where loyalty to the country will be the first consideration, then we will be nearer to the period when the people who are interested in this subject will realise their ambitions. I do not wish to oppose the motion. I should be glad to see this commission working although I have not very great hopes for success in that direction at the present time.
Mrs. MacWhinney Mrs. MacWhinney
Mrs. MacWhinney: This motion I feel is not happily worded. I think it would be more acceptable if it suggested that the Act as it now exists might be examined with the object of including amongst the nominating bodies vocational bodies which have not the right to nominate now. I am thinking of one or two vocational bodies that have been in existence for a very long time. For example, there is the nursing council which was established in 1919. It is a statutory body, and I think that it is, without exception, the best organised vocational body in Ireland to-day. Yet, for some reason it has not the right to nominate. It has a membership of 16,000. From the moment that a nurse starts her training to the day she leaves it, she is under the supervision of that vocational body. Her examinations, her registration and everything is looked after. We have a body like that with no right to nominate. Against that you have a veterinary vocational body with the right to nominate. It seems strange to me, at any rate, that the people who look after the animals of the country are regarded as being more important than the people who look after human beings.
You have other bodies, in which I am interested that have not the right to nominate. You have the Amalgamated Society of Social Services. This society of women is representative of quite a big number of social service bodies. They have not the right to nominate. Against that you have the Mount Street Club which has the right to nominate.
Listening to all the speeches that were made on this motion my only regret is that some of them were not broadcast so that we could have them discussed afterwards. If the speakers had written out their speeches and issued them in advance, I think I would have enjoyed them more than I did listening to them. If the commission which it is suggested should be appointed were given power to include in the scope of its inquiries the vocational bodies that should have the right to nominate, then I think we might get a Seanad more representative of the vocational bodies of the country than the one we have at the moment.
Cathaoirleach: Senator MacDermot to conclude.
Mr. MacDermot Mr. MacDermot
Mr. MacDermot: I should like first to express my gratification that the Taoiseach is prepared to accept this motion and to consider the appointment of a commission. Senator Hayes inquired what kind of a commission was contemplated. As far as I am concerned, I have already said that I would like to see the commission a small one, and to see it very largely composed of enthusiasts for the vocational idea. As the Taoiseach said, nothing that such a commission suggests commits us in any way, but the people who have gone most deeply into the subject are the people, I think, on whom the burden should be in the main laid to suggest a practical application of their ideas. I think there are several distinguished men in this country, several of them clerics, such as Father Coyne, the well-known Jesuit, who have written on the matter with great ability and thought on it very deeply. I would put such men on the commission. I would appoint with them a good lawyer and a good practical business man, and a man or woman familiar with labour conditions and perhaps someone else who is more of a general politician. Thus you would have four men who are not experts on this particular subject who would address their minds to it from a practical point of view, and with them you would have perhaps six or seven men who have thought on it very deeply, who are enthusiasts about it and wish to see their ideas applied. This is going to give them the opportunity of putting their ideas into practice.
Senator Condon has accused me of having rambled over too wide a field in the speech in which I introduced the motion. Looking back over it, I find that it is not a very long speech though it may have seemed so to the unhappy Senators listening to me. I occupied less than half an hour in speaking, and I personally cannot find one single irrelevant word in the speech. Of course, it may be considered that I devoted too large a proportion of it to the effect of this vocational idea on the Seanad. That is a matter on which we can afford to differ, but, as I have said, I cannot find anything irrelevant in it. I had to listen to Senator Condon discuss negro slavery in America, the blighting effect of British rule in this country, our present land system and the need for a drastic reform of it, and finally, the necessity for completely changing our educational system. Listening to him, I began to wonder what exactly is the standard of relevance that Senator Condon is in the habit of applying.
The same Senator took me to task for having suggested that Papal Encyclicals receive a good deal more praise in this country than they do serious consideration, and for having ventured the opinion that rather more might have been done than has been done to give them practical effect. I am unable to see how anybody can seriously contest a word advanced on that subject. There has been immense praise for the ideas in these encyclicals, and abuse of other countries—France, England and Europe in general—for not having taken sufficient notice of them. I ask what notice have we taken of them here in Ireland except to praise them, and even to-day I find Senators, a good many of them, lukewarm about the mere proposition to set up a commission to examine the possibility of giving them any practical effect. Surely that is the very least we ought to do if we mean a word of our praise of Papal Encyclicals or of our condemnation of the world as a whole for not paying sufficient notice to them. Perhaps some Senators take the view that there is nothing in these matters that can be done by Government action; that these vocational bodies must grow up spontaneously from the soil or not come into being at all. I can see no reason for taking that view. I certainly do not think that the Government can force them on the country like a straight jacket, but I do think that the Government can do something perhaps by legislation, perhaps by administrative action, or perhaps by encouragement and propaganda.
As I pointed out, in our original Constitution 16 years ago, we went to the trouble of putting in a provision saying that the Oireachtas may set up vocational councils representing branches of the social and economic life of the nation, and that possibly some powers of the Parliament might be delegated to such councils. Again, we went to the trouble in our present Constitution of repeating that almost verbatim. If there is any sense at all in putting such things into our Constitution surely it is time that we gave them some sort of sequel such as is now suggested by Senator Tierney and myself by setting up this commission to examine the subject. Surely there is nothing extravagent or visionary in such a proposal. It is not a proposal that should have been listened to with the scepticism, if not hostility, with which it apparently has been listened to by some Senators.
As regards the bearing of this Motion on the question of the Seanad, I quite agree that the composition of the Seanad is, in a sense, a separate subject, and that the composition of the Seanad, if it needs to be dealt with by legislation, could be dealt with without any such Commission as this being set up; and possibly it may be so dealt with even during the course of this Commission's sitting. I venture to draw attention once again to Article 19 of our new Constitution, that Article that many Senators seem to overlook. It says:—
Provision may be made by law for the direct election by any functional or vocational group or association or council of so many members of Seanad Eireann as may be fixed by such law in substitution for an equal number of the members to be elected from the corresponding panels of candidates constituted under Article 18 of this Constitution.
Now, that is in our Constitution, and what is the sense of suggesting that it is some sort of a plot emanating from the Kildare Street Club, as I think Senator Condon indicated, to propose that something should be done about that? Some of the Fianna Fáil Senator do not seem to be familiar at all with the policy of their own Party. They do not seem to realise that the Minority Report of the Second Chamber Commission, which recommended the adoption of this idea, was accepted in principle by the Fianna Fail Government. I have no desire to do more than to contribute what I can to the making of the Fianna Fail policy a reality, and to bring it more perfectly into effect in these matters than it has yet been brought into effect. Obviously, if a Commission is set up to consider the question of extending the Vocational Organisations, that will have a bearing on the Article in the Constitution which says that in the future such Vocational Organisations may be given the right or direct representation.
I said frankly enough that perhaps may principal interest in this motion was to lay a firm foundation for a vocational Seanad. I also agreed that it had wider aspects, and apparently I said more about those wider aspects than some Senators seem to like; but to those who are enthusiastic about those wider aspects, and who rather deprecate any talk of the bearing of this motion on the constitution of the Seanad, I would say that surely they ought to think it a great help for one to go even a little way on the right road with them and to show a desire to tread that road. There is room for difference of opinion as to how far it will turn out practicable here in democratic Ireland for Parliament to delegate powers of more or less legisative character to Vocational bodies. There is room for great difference of opinion about that, and I personally have an open mind about it. I do not know whether we can succeed in making this complete re-organisation of society that Senator Tierney, for instance, has in mind.
But, whatever view we take about that, whether we are optimistic or pessimistic about it, at any rate it ought to be regarded as helpful to go a little way along the road and it will not take any very extraordinary or enormous development of the vocational idea to provide a firm foundation for a vocational Seanad. If we get as far as that, then we can consider going still further and giving larger powers to vocational bodies. As Senator Johnson said, the mere fact of giving direct representation to such bodies would certainly have a tendency to encourage them to come into being and would also, I think, have a tendency to get rid of some of the undesirable duplication that exists in certain departments of our life, because, as I said the other day, while there are branches of the national life where no vocational bodies exist, there are some others where too many exist and where the difficulty would be to reconcile their conflicting claims to send representatives here to the Seanad.
I do not want to go into the question of how far the present system of electing the Seanad is satisfactory or not. I said a certain amount on it the other day but I would like to stress the point that I did not use the word “vulgarity” in connection with that as I think Senator Conway rather implied that I had. I did say that some men of the vocational type were not suited to electoral campaigns, and I do not think anybody can deny that that stands not only for electoral campaigns on public platforms but for electoral campaigns in the corridors of Leinster House. I do not think that the present Seanad Electoral Act is a good Act; I had not an opportunity of taking part in the discussions on it because I did not happen to be a member of the Legislature when it was under consideration; but I do not think it is a good Act and I think that there are dangers inherent in it which might become in the future very formidable.
I think that anyone who reflects for a little bit on what could take place will say that it opens the door to corruption. It would be quite possible for unscrupulous men to get themselves elected by bribery when it is only a question, say, of needing to purchase half-a-dozen votes to enter the House. I am, however, far from saying that such a thing would be conceivable at the present moment, but I do think that we ought not to rest content with a system that makes corruption easy and that is one of the objections to the present system. I will say no more about the Seanad.
I submit that the ideas which are referred to in this motion are of such fundamental and world-wide importance that we have been guilty of neglect of duty in not having done more about them. The excuse can be offered that we have been occupied with other matters very vital to this country, and that one has not got time to think of everything and do everything; but now that some of the burning topics have been put out of the way, and that, pacé Senator Hughes, we are, throughout the country united in our loyalty to the State, I feel that the time has come when we ought to turn our hands to seeing what can be done to carry out these ideas or put them, at any rate, to the test.
Question put and agreed to.
Seanad Éireann 21 Extension of Vocational Organisation. | <urn:uuid:0d958ea8-52ae-47fb-b240-f42ff19da80b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/S/0021/S.0021.193807210003.html | 2013-05-21T10:29:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983451 | 10,539 |
It’s been two years. Two years since our collective shock and awe over the worst environmental disaster in American history.
Horrified we watched for three long months as hundreds of millions of gallons of oil relentlessly bled into the Gulf of Mexico.
BP pr handlers and Obama spokespeople asked America to trust that this corporation and our government were seriously responding to the crisis and would do everything possible for future prevention of another such catastrophe.
Here is a stack of resurrected revelations and new revelations about the disaster that we must not let disappear into a national memory hole.
Eleven men died when BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig exploded. (Robert Weissman)
The blowout spewed nearly 5 million barrels of oil and more than 6 billion cubic feet of natural gas into the Gulf of Mexico. (Common Dreams)
BP made a conscious decision not to install a $500,000 safety device that could have prevented the blowout. (Robert Weissman)
As a cleanup strategy, BP flooded the Gulf with nearly 2 million gallons of chemical dispersants. BP claims the dispersants broke up the oil. Some scientists insist they simply made the oil less visible while poisoning even further the food chain. (Jordan Flaherty)
“To this day, however, not a single executive—from BP, rig owner Transocean, or rig contractor Halliburton—has been held criminally responsible.” (Andre Damon)
After imposing a brief moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf, the Obama administration continues to do business with BP, continues to give BP lucrative governmental contracts. BP is one of the Pentagon’s largest fuel suppliers. (Robert Weissman)
BP has yet to pay any fines to the US government. (Andre Damon)
“BP is pulling in bumper profits. The company posted a $26 billion profit in 2011, erasing a $4 billion loss the year before. BP anticipates even higher profits in the coming years, with oil prices on the rise and new drilling projects in the offing.” (Andre Damon)
“Last November, the Coast Guard approved drilling for BP's first offshore oil well since the spill, located 250 miles southwest of New Orleans and 1,000 feet deeper than the Macondo Prospect, the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The company has stepped up its efforts to drill in even more remote areas, including the Arctic.” (Andre Damon)
Dolphins are sick and dying, deepwater fish species are stricken with lesions, oyster reefs are gone, sport fish have disappeared from traditional locations. (Common Dreams)
Shrimp are born without eyes, crabs with holes in their shells. Tarballs continue to wash up on beaches. There are mass deaths of deepwater coral, dolphins and killfish. (Jordan Flaherty)
The focus on the Gulf of Mexico after the disaster illuminated the problems of that area over a generation. Land and population loss from grossly excessive oil company drilling. The insane amount of poisoning pollution from treatment plants across the state, especially “cancer alley”, a lineup of industrial facilities along the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge. (Jordan Flaherty)
"On Wednesday, BP finalized a $7.8 billion settlement with some 100,000 fishermen, hotel owners and others whose livelihoods and health were affected by the spill. The deal puts an end to any speculation that BP might be made to pay the full $20 billion it set aside for damages." (Andre Damon)
"Under the Clean Water Act, the company is liable for up to $17 billion in fines to the government. Confident that it will be made to pay far less than this, the company has put aside just $3.5 billion for this purpose."( Andre Damon)
Both Bush and Obama administrations “fast-tracked” BP’s Deepwater Horizon drill plan. It proceeded without doing an environmental impact study. Obama’s secretary of the interior, Ken Salazar, intervened to oppose a ruling that would have delayed the operation. BP execs cut costs and safety when the operation fell behind schedule and government regulators “turned a blind eye” to accommodate the rush to profit-making. They gambled with the lives of their workers and the welfare of the environment and the many human, animal and plant lives dependent upon it. (Andre Damon)
The White House left the responsibility for cleanup and recovery in the hands of BP, the main perpetrator of the disaster. BP tampered with and destroyed evidence. The US Coast Guard served the needs of BP, as BP dictated activities along the Gulf coast in the months following the spill. (Andre Damon)
The Obama regime asserted that this disaster would not impact expansion of offshore oil drilling.Three days after the 11-death explosion, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs cavalierly and “pragmatically” told the media,“We need the increased production … I doubt this is the first accident that has happened and I doubt it will be the last.” (Andre Damon)
A campaign of disinformation followed the explosion. The government and media were uncritical of BP. They enabled BP to spread false and gross under-estimates of the scope and nature of the environmental crisis. Concerned scientists and engineers were prevented from mobilizing and taking emergency measures to contain the disaster. (Andre Damon)
“The government's response to the BP disaster was analogous to its response to the financial crisis.” Continue to reward as well as trust the perpetrators to do the "right" thing at the expense of the national welfare. Money buys impunity. (Andre Damon)
So, we have undergone the worst financial crisis in American history. We have undergone the worst environmental crisis in American history.
And the aftermaths? The perpetrators of both continue to be green-lighted to greater heights of greed and depths of disaster by our pimped-out betraying government representatives and their media lackeys.
A bit of a slap on the wrist rhetorically for the bad boys and girls and after a nominal bit of check writing (what a lot of financial bang for the buck) they are all back to the business of destroying the planet and all that live upon it.
Profits uber alles.
No, we and the earth deserve better than to let all of this slide into a national memory hole!
[cross-posted at correntewire and sacramento for democracy] | <urn:uuid:024e4096-4d91-49bf-8229-0b827be8ce43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.open.salon.com/blog/libbyliberalnyc/2012/04/21/yanking_the_bp_disaster_out_of_the_american_memory_hole | 2013-05-21T10:28:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946177 | 1,319 |
As always, Sporting News’ Field of 68 is a projection of what the NCAA Tournament selection committee would do based on what’s happened so far this season.
Bubble watch: So many teams wasted opportunities this week. UMass hosted a stumbling Butler squad Thursday but never really challenged the Bulldogs in an 11-point loss. ... Kentucky has lost back-to-back games on the road; the 10-point loss at Georgia on Thursday was the Wildcats’ worst of the season, in terms of RPI. ... Virginia’s early season losses can’t be explained away and downgraded any more, not after their fifth road defeat against an ACC team not even remotely in the at-large conversation (Florida State on Thursday, added to Clemson, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Wake Forest). ... Alabama had a chance to show it could win on the road against a solid team Tuesday but spent most of its game at Ole Miss trailing by double-digits.
Best week (so far): Ohio State. The Buckeyes had a solid tournament profile heading into this week, but a lack of road victories kept them from “elite” status. Safe to say, a win at Indiana on Tuesday changed that. In that contest, Aaron Craft became the secondary scorer the Buckeyes sorely needed, and Thad Matta’s team stood up down the stretch in a way it hasn’t away from home. If Ohio State can beat Illinois on Sunday and avoid an upset in the Big Ten Tournament, a spot on the 3-seed line is possible.
Worst week (so far): Miami. The Hurricanes were still in position to contend for a spot on the No. 1-seed line, but Wednesday’s home loss to Georgia Tech knocks them out of that conversation. That’s now two losses to teams with triple-digit RPIs, while the team is fully healthy. At this point, even an ACC Tournament title that includes wins against Duke and either North Carolina or N.C. State probably wouldn’t be enough to snag a No. 1 seed.
One-bid league spotlight: Big Sky. This has been a rough season of injuries for Montana. Will Cherry has been limited to only 18 games because of foot issues but is supposed to return for the Big Sky Tournament. And now leading scorer Mathias Ward is out for the season with a foot injury. Ward, a 6-7 junior, averaged 14.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies have spent the year in first place and will host the conference tournament if they beat Northern Arizona on Saturday. But with Ward out and Cherry coming back after missing a handful of games, it opens the door for Weber State to grab the NCAA automatic bid.
THE FIELD OF 68
Note: Automatic bids, listed in parenthesis, are given to the team with the best conference record (through Thursday’s games), with overall record used to break ties:
1. Duke, Indiana (Big Ten), Gonzaga (West Coast) and Kansas (Big 12).
2. Louisville (Big East), Georgetown, New Mexico (Mountain West) and Florida (SEC).
3. Miami (ACC), Michigan, Michigan State and Kansas State.
4. Arizona, Ohio State, Marquette and Syracuse.
5. Oklahoma State, Saint Louis (Atlantic 10), UNLV and Butler.
6. Pitt, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and VCU.
7. Oregon (Pac-12), Missouri, Illinois and UCLA.
8. Colorado State, N.C. State, North Carolina and Minnesota.
9. San Diego State, Creighton (Missouri Valley), Memphis (C-USA) and Colorado.
10. Cal, Oklahoma, Temple and Villanova.
11. Cincinnati, La Salle, Wichita State and Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt).
12. Iowa State, St. Mary’s, Boise State, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Dakota State (Summit).
13. Akron (MAC), Belmont (Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot) and Louisiana Tech (WAC).
14. Davidson (Southern), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Valparaiso (Horizon) and Niagara (Metro Atlantic).
15. Long Beach State (Big West), Princeton (Ivy), Robert Morris (Northeast) and Charleston Southern (Big South).
16. Stony Brook (America East), Northeastern (Colonial), Mercer (Atlantic Sun), Montana (Big Sky), Norfolk State (Mid-Eastern) and Texas Southern (SWAC).
Newbies this week: None.
Dropped out: None.
Bubble boys (in alphabetical order): Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Iowa, Maryland, Ole Miss, Stanford, UMass and Virginia.
Big East (8 teams): 2. Georgetown, 2. Louisville, 4. Marquette, 4. Syracuse, 6. Pitt, 6. Notre Dame, 10. Villanova and 11. Cincinnati. On the outside: St. John’s.
Big Ten (7): 1. Indiana, 3. Michigan, 3. Michigan State, 4. Ohio State, 6. Wisconsin, 7. Illinois and 8. Minnesota. On the outside: Iowa.
Atlantic 10 (5): 5. Saint Louis, 5. Butler, 6. VCU, 10. Temple and 11. La Salle. On the outside: UMass.
Big 12 (5): 1. Kansas, 3. Kansas State, 5. Oklahoma State, 10. Oklahoma and 12. Iowa State. On the outside: Baylor.
Mountain West (5): 2. New Mexico, 5. UNLV, 8. Colorado State, 9. San Diego State and 12. Boise State. On the outside: Air Force.
Pac-12 (5): 4. Arizona, 7. UCLA, 7. Oregon, 9. Colorado, 10. Cal. On the outside: Stanford and Arizona State.
ACC (4): 1. Duke, 3. Miami, 8. N.C. State and 8. North Carolina. On the outside: Maryland and Virginia.
SEC (4): 2. Florida, 7. Missouri, 12. Kentucky and 12. Tennessee. On the outside: Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
Missouri Valley (2): 9. Creighton and 11. Wichita State. On the outside: None.
West Coast (2): 1. Gonzaga and 12. Saint Mary’s. On the outside: None. | <urn:uuid:436c9368-6de5-494c-bd93-ce6ed61eeab5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2013-03-08/ncaa-tournament-2013-bracket-projection-no-1-seeds?modid=recommended_2_3 | 2013-05-21T10:00:58Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.883992 | 1,357 |
|About Us||Holy Land Sites||Holy Land Tours||Photos||Christian||Community||Travel Tips||Easter 2013|
Tags - sukkoth
‘Lets walk the Mikvah in the city of the King' - City of David and Hezekiah's tunnel
Walking in tunnels are exhilarating story reads and with a flashlight in hand, it feels like a Discovery or National Geographic. City of David and the Hezekiah's tunnel became a physical as well as a non-physical reality, for reasons, I learnt eventually.
Then again, the reason had a season. And this was during my fourth visit to Israel. Past three visits, I have walked past the City of David admiring its entrance and even taking photographs with the golden harp, but never ventured within. This time with the group I was with had Ir David in the itinerary. Being the last day of the Sukkoth holiday and there was also a planned prophetic Wedding Feast to attend on return to the hotel.
King David has been one of my heroes and his war strategies have never ceased to amaze me, beginning with knocking down Goliath. And now, here we were in the King's city considered to have been the original Jerusalem. According to our guide the story is as old as 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel.
Our visit began at the observation point overlooking Jerusalem. As I stood there overlooking the excavated site, I felt transported in the timeline, way back to the days of Abraham when the foundations of the city were first laid to present days excavations that made me relive King David's conquest of the Jebusite city. The tour-walk moved down the hillside stone stairs heading underground to some of the newer archeological excavations.
As we walked down the steps to an area marked ‘G' - The Royal Acropolis Water System (Warren's Shaft), we were reminded of Charles Warren's discovery of the ancient underground water tunnel outside the walls of the old city from the Western Wall. Apparently, this was recognized to be similar to the underground water tunnel or ‘gutter' as described in 2nd book of Samuel 5. The stepped wall on this hill in the area is believed to be the retaining wall that many archeologists believe to be the ‘Citadel of Zion' mentioned as King David's conquest of the city (2 Samuel 5:9)
The walking down tour ended at the Gihon Spring. This was the major water source of Jerusalem for over 1,000 years and where, according to the Bible, King David's son, Solomon was anointed king.
Somewhere in between the walk down Pat tugged me impatiently, ‘I have to go to the mikvah. Please come?' I looked at her and shook my head. How did she know that I too was curious about the ‘bath'? I had seen the baths in nearly every excavation site I visited, but a real one? How would one experience that? Still baffled, she tugged me along to the ticket counter for the Hezekiah's tunnel walk. That was the mikvah she wanted to walk and I complied, immediately. As with every ‘planned' visit, we were the last ones, after which the ticket counter shut!
There is an interesting fact about this tunnel, mentioned in the 2nd Book of Chronicles 32:30 of how the city was defended from the Assyrian army. King Hezekiah protected the water system by diverting its flow deeper into the city with a tunnel system. This tunnel was built by digging a 1,750 foot tunnel into the mountain. An ancient stone describes this incredible operation.
This stone reminded me of David Van Koevering's key to Quantum Leap ‘All matter has memory - your words are recorded', in which he narrates Joshua 24:27, ‘And Joshua said unto all the people, ‘Behold this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words often LORD which He spake unto us. It shall therefore be a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.'' And then there was Habakuk (2:11) and Yeshua (Luke 19:40) who said the same thing of stones witnessing. So, were the stones listening at the time? Every word, action and deed done in flesh has been recorded, according to the quantum theory.
Trekking this tunnel has today become a highlight for visitors and for Pat, Shalin, Gabriele and me a sense of duty - the Mikvah. How timely was this? After this we had the Wedding Feast of the Lamb to attend.... I enjoy half-planned last minute head-on programs! ADONAI perfectly plans HIS surprises...
The entrance was more like a cave that was well lit and gave the place a golden glow. We bought our little key-chain torches. I was a little disappointed, thought they would be flashlights, like the days of yore. But the excitement didn't wane. We arrived at to our destination - the 2,700 year old water tunnel one of the wonders of early engineering.
The water was cool and rose knee-high as we walked in, barefoot. The air within was cool; it was very dark; the space between shoulders narrowed as we walked forward, bending in some places. How so natural!.. And so well preserved! There was something about these walls -white lime portion of the wall - that seemed to reflect a golden color and it seemed to say something. It was instant - I allowed Quantum physics to let me hear and the Holy Spirit to pave the way of my thoughts. I allowed my left hand to run through the wall and impulsively pressed my ears, as if to hear something.
The walk was a silent one, with only sound of our feet splashing the water, everyone ‘soaked' in their own thoughts. I wonder if anyone thought as loud as I did... In time, we reached the end that opened into the Pool of Shiloach. Fragments of pillars are seen in the pool, which are remains of the Shiloach Church that was built here. We waited for a while watching children play in this pool and decided to do the same, wondering when would this happen again.
As we were leaving, we were self-introduced to a man who took us around to an ongoing excavation from here that showed us a huge wall painting - an artist's impression of the temple steps; shared Baron Edmond de Rothschild leading philanthropic role in acquiring property in the Land of Israel for rebuilding the Jewish Yishuv (Community); and took us to a nearby area where excavation of steps is yet underway, which he said, may probably have been the way that the Holy Priest would have taken during Sukkoth from the Pool to the Holy Temple for the water libation.
We were curious. Who was this man? He says that he was part of the excavation team.. and he too, wasn't sure why he was there. Looks like he owned a shop there, but there was no forceful sales made.
This was more than I had ever imagined or expected from being obedient to my call from my Abba for this Sukkot trip! History, experience and learning for real are a package deal that only Israel could give me till date in my life! Today when I go through challenges and feel blocked in a dark tunnel, I know now that there is a healing Pool of Shiloach at the other end.
‘Let's walk the Old City Ramparts..
Walk about Zion, go round about her,
number her towers, consider well her ramparts,
go through her citadels;that you may tell the next generation that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
He will be our guide for ever.(Psalm 48:12-14)
.. and see where King David's soldiers stood and what they saw from their vantage points', is what we - Pat, Gabriele, Shalin and I - wanted to do following the ‘water-walking' experience at the Hezekiah's tunnel, all immersed, even in our own memories.
We walked up and down the road from the City of David to the Jaffa Gates and got our tickets. It was a tiny Entrance fee. There seemed to be just a handful of visitors at the time with our little group of four. Adventurous and prepared, were we, all with walking shoes and some water - there was this guide tip - Be prepared for a lot of stone-stairs in varying levels.
One part of the Ramparts Walk begins just outside Jaffa Gate. The entrance is a bit hard to find. Before going through the gate into the Old City, head to the enclosure to the right of Jaffa Gate, as you face the Old City. You'll be walking between two stone walls on a stone path. Follow the signs or ask someone - the entrance is a bit of way down, around a corner to the left. This section takes you from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate and lets you off near Dung Gate, not far from the Western Wall Plaza and the Jewish Quarter. It offers a stunning view of Old City rooftops, Sultan's Pool, Yemin Moshe, Mt. Zion and the Mt. of Olives. You can also access the ramparts from Damascus Gate follow them to Lion's Gate.
Near the Entrance, there is a stone sit-out. While sitting there, waiting for Shalin to finish her sandwich, I looked around and a thought crossed my mind ‘we are about to walk another piece of Bible history!' What a fun way to get the overview of Jerusalem in the 21st Century, by climbing the olden ramparts (the watch-points, I say) of the Old City and circle the city above. There were moments I wondered what must have passed by the minds of the soldiers standing guard in the varying time periods. Walking on top of the Old City is exhilarating and gives you wonderful view over the new city of Jerusalem through the arrow slits on the turret walls and/or over them.
There are places that I had never seen in my earlier visits, like the cloistered Armenian compound, an old hospital... from each vantage point; we could see the day-to-day Old city life and the exuberance of Sukkoth. The hubbub of city life in this holiday season was worth capturing on film and just drinking in the sight from where each of us stood - bustling markets, sheets hanging on washing lines, a vendor frying falafels, festive dancing on temporary platforms....
The walls of Jerusalem that we see today were built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century when he restored the ancient city walls that served as military fortifications. During 1948-1967, the Jordanian snipers used the ramparts as a vantage point. Multiple bullet holes stand witness to this shooting position on old buildings facing the Old City. Today, the ramparts serve a more peaceful purpose as a choice destination for school field trips, tourists and Jerusalem enthusiasts, I understand.
The walk is about 4 kilometres. You can't circumnavigate the entire Old City in one shot, since access to the ramparts of the Temple Mount is closed off, and the road bisects the walls at Jaffa Gate. We had to descend at the Lion's or Dung Gate and resumed from the Damascus Gate.
It is not advised to walk alone or after dark. Should you wish to experience the Rampart Walk, go for it! And again, the tip to heed: the walk requires a lot of stair climbing and descending. Make sure you're wearing comfortable walking shoes, and that you have enough water with you - once you're on the ramparts, there's no getting off until the end and no refreshment kiosk or bathroom along the way. While this is fun for adults and older kids, avoid taking little children, those fearful of heights and people who have trouble walking.
I have visited and traveled the Holy Land, no better description, for pilgrimage, a tour and even for a Bible feast and have yet not had enough. It is so true when people say, 'The Bible comes alive' - every stone talks here! | <urn:uuid:974a355c-1605-48a6-83d3-68a019d193d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.travelujah.com/blogs/posts/Irene/tag/sukkoth | 2013-05-21T10:07:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971733 | 2,564 |
A backyard mechanic identified by police this week as the Grim Sleeper serial killer had a lengthy criminal history stretching over four decades but was never sent to prison despite calls by law enforcement officials for tough sentences, according to Los Angeles County court records released Friday.
Probation reports show that Lonnie David Franklin Jr. repeatedly cycled through the county's justice system years before he was charged this week with killing 10 women in South Los Angeles.
Franklin was arrested at least 15 times for car theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, assaults, firearms possession and other crimes, the records show. In most cases, he avoided prosecution or was sent to jail and placed on probation even as law enforcement officers called him a serious criminal and urged prison terms.
Franklin allegedly killed seven women between 1985 and 1988, when his crimes seemed to abruptly stop, authorities say. The slayings resumed with three more between 2002 and 2007, police said.
In 2003, Los Angeles probation officers wrote that Franklin — then 50 — had admitted spending three decades as an active criminal and was back to his old ways when he was caught driving a luxury SUV stolen from the Glendale Galleria.
"If at this age the defendant is still engaging in criminal activities … the community can best be served by imposing the maximum time possible in state prison," one probation officer wrote.
Franklin faced up to three years in prison after pleading no contest to receiving stolen property. As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, however, he was sentenced to jail for 270 days.
Once he entered jail, Franklin again benefited from Los Angeles' overburdened justice system. Sheriff's officials were releasing inmates early to ease overcrowding in the county's jails. Franklin was released in May 2003, more than four months early, according to jail data obtained by The Times.
Two months later, when he should still have been behind bars, Franklin allegedly killed again. In July 2003, a crossing guard in the Westmont area of the city stumbled across the lifeless body of Valerie McCorvey. The 35-year-old had suffered trauma to her neck, police said.
Franklin was only recently identified as a suspect in the case when a "familial search" of state DNA records indicated that a convicted felon was probably related to the killer. Franklin is the felon's father.
Franklin's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Regina A. Laughney, declined to comment, saying she had yet to review all of the evidence in the case.
Despite his numerous contacts with police, Franklin, now 57, was never entered into the state's DNA database because his crimes were never considered serious enough. In 2004, voters approved a measure that required DNA be taken from every person convicted of a felony, but Franklin's last conviction was a year earlier.
LAPD Det. Dennis Kilcoyne, who heads the LAPD task force investigating the killings, said he was not surprised by Franklin's criminal record. Serial killers, he said, often turn out to have relatively low-level arrests that did not raise police suspicions.
"He's a classic of what we've seen in the past," Kilcoyne said. "He's danced to the raindrops for a long time without getting wet."
Franklin's crimes, he said, did not involve the type of violence against women that would have drawn police interest at the time.
Probation reports offer more details about the man who neighbors said was known for helping the elderly with car trouble but also spoke about his visits to prostitutes.
Franklin told one probation officer that he graduated with a certification in welding after attending Los Angeles Trade Technical Community College for two years. He said he served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1976, earning an honorable discharge, records show.
Franklin was first arrested at the age of 16 on suspicion of car theft. He was arrested twice more as a juvenile, once for car theft and once for stealing property from a car, and was placed on probation, the reports said.
Police picked him up four more times between 1971 and 1984 on suspicion of theft, burglary and carrying a loaded firearm. The arrests resulted in only one misdemeanor conviction — for possessing a concealed weapon in 1974.
He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, according to court records.
During the height of the Grim Sleeper's killings, between 1985 and 1988, Franklin avoided police attention. But the next year, he was arrested twice and was convicted of possessing burglary tools.
He was placed on probation.
Franklin found himself in regular trouble with the law during the 1990s, earning convictions for assault, battery and receiving stolen property.
In 1993, Los Angeles police officers caught him working on a stolen car in his backyard and found another stolen vehicle and several parts of more vehicles, including four engines, records said. | <urn:uuid:0de9b430-2777-4879-b15d-cb7aa6f0027e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/10/local/la-me-grim-sleeper-record-20100710 | 2013-05-23T18:54:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982012 | 985 |
*** Republican Senator flies the hand eagle middle finger to the unemployed, families, children and a reporter who asked for his comment about how to explain his wrong action to families in need.
*** UPDATE after the video:
From Denny: Kentucky Republican Senator Jim Bunning blocks extension of unemployment benefits to 400,000 - literally taking food out of the mouths of hungry children whose parents are depending upon the extension of unemployment benefits. The economy is equal to the time of The Great Depression when 20% of the country was unemployed. Today we call it underemployed; the underemployed figure is far higher, explaining the reason for bankruptcies across the nation. He's acting as a one man blockade by placing a hold on a short term $10 billion spending bill he doesn't like.
This year, because of his years of bizarre behavior, even his own Republican Party begged him NOT to run again; he did against their wiser objections. In 2006 Time Magazine named him five of the worst Senators in America. His reputation in the Senate is that of an arrogant, vicious man of mean temper, certainly not suited to the role of governing as a "cooler heads should prevail" Senator as the Founding Fathers originally intended for the Senate.
Because of his action: over 2,000 federal department of transportation workers are furloughed without pay, drunk driving programs, highway projects and extension of unemployment benefits to over 400,000 people are stopped and now expired. Work projects across the nation are affected by his action. What are these people supposed to do to pay their bills?
What else has been triggered by his action? A 21% decrease in Medicare fees paid to doctors for one. Even though his action can only last a few days at best, the long term effects are lingering for the unemployed as they try to catch up on their bills. The federal government spends more too - so his claim of watching spending is a joke.
One man affects the lives of thousands of people who now can't pay their bills or house notes and may end up in foreclosure as a result of his selfish act. How is that? The unemployed will not receive their unemployment monies from the days lost to this Senatorial hold by Bunning. So, if it goes on for 10 days then the unemployed lose one third of that month's benefits. This is one dastardly Republican strategy for sure.
He claims he's interested in talking about how to pay for this bill. The reality is he's cavalier with people's lives. This bill could not have gotten this far into the process unless the funds were there. So, his claimed reason is nonsense.
UPDATE: 2 March 2010 - Fellow Senators and a jittery Republican Party convinced Senator Bunning to release his hold late tonight. The hold was in effect almost a week, far longer than the usual three days.
Several fellow Republican Senators like Senator Susan Collins of Maine who urged Bunning to end his holdout stance, reconsidering his demands. Sensing the public outrage and karmic backlash, Collins remarked on the Senate floor, "I hope that we can act together for the American people."
Senator Bunning struck a deal with Senate Majority Leader, Senator Reid, to end his blockade. The bill has proceeded with a 30-day extension of unemployment benefits. That much is good news.
However, we could end up back here on the same Ground Hog Day time loop scenario with Senator Bunning. He has promised to filibuster the bill unless the Senate makes spending cuts elsewhere to supposedly pay for it. If that were true, then why all the drama? He could have allowed the bill to reach this point and then filibuster. Why the two step drama? Can you tell I don't trust what his lips are saying?
For now the bill also included COBRA subsidies for health insurance gap coverage of the unemployed as they look for jobs, authorization for higher pay for Medicare doctors and funding for federal highway programs. The vote passed on an astounding score of 78 - 19.
What's the deal Senator Reid struck with Senator Bunning to get this vote moved along? He agreed to allow a vote on a measure to offset the bill's $10 billion cost by slashing other programs. It's believed this off-set measure will fail, causing the unemployment extension to not get properly funded.
So where does a sore loser go? Senator Bunning's newest misery project to force taxpayers to pay more for so-called scaled down government is to, well, hold up the workings of the government - again.
This time his sticky fingers are placing holds on ALL of President Obama's several dozen presidential nominations. I guess the Republicans find this drama to be equally as funny as the last one. They have one sick sense of humor.
As it is, the result of this current Senator Bunning temper tantrum has already created nasty consequences for thousands of people who did not receive their unemployment benefits in time. A case in point is Joung Moon, an unemployed microbiologist in Texas. Her benefits just expired, and, with no unemployment check she is now forced to move out of her house.
"I don't know what's the next step," Moon grimaced as she told an ABC News reporter.
While there is the lag time of the bill waiting to be signed by the President, there are still people across America facing choices like Moon where there no longer are any choices. They can thank the Republican Party and their cavalier obstructionist darling, Senator Bunning, for kicking them when they were already down.
*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, feel welcome to drop a comment, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers - and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
politics, political news, Democrats, Republicans
Republican political strategies, breaking news, news
political news, political opinion
Senator Jim Bunning, Senator Kyle
partisanship, Senate, Senate hold, Senate rules
unemployment benefits, Medicare payments, health care, poverty, government programs | <urn:uuid:36b2fa34-8ad6-4d22-aeb9-22ef54fe7fac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dennysglobalpolitics.blogspot.com/2010/03/update-republican-senator-flips-off.html | 2013-05-23T18:52:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9729 | 1,235 |
“Like the rest of Washington, the CIA had fallen in love with technology. The theory was that satellites, the internet, electronic intercepts, even academic publications would tell us all we needed to know about what went on beyond our borders” (Robert Baer). I first read this quote in Robert Baer’s memoir, See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA’s War on Terrorism. The book chronicles the former case officer’s career in the Middle East when the area was not yet a priority in US politics. Ultimately, Baer goes on to critique the changes he noticed in the CIA’s infrastructure. He noticed increased federal and military involvement in the civilian organization’s infrastructure, and thus an increase in bureaucracy and a shift from HUMINT (human intelligence) to SIGINT (signal intelligence).
Baer’s critiques are ones that I have taken to heart when I think about how the US organizes its wars. We have developed a love for bureaucratic systems and technological intelligence. The reality is that wars no longer resemble Clausewitz’s “Trinitarian” model and battles are no longer a matter of who holds the superior technology. These are lessons learned broadly from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to more detailed outlines provided by Roger Trinquier. In order to adapt to the post-Trinitarian model, there must be a return to HUMINT and strategic flexibility that is not provided in bureaucratic systems. Essentially, the United States is stuck in a bureaucratic system that promotes the use of technology, which is what prevents the military from developing creative solutions and thoroughly understanding the enemy.
First, to explain the problem with the modern military, I’d like to explain how the military and the subsequent branches working for it are bureaucratic. Sociologist Wolf Heydebrand defines bureaucracy as “a formally rational system of administrative control based on technical knowledge [with] a fixed hierarchical structure with long-term career paths and closely guarded borders.” Considering that a top-down hierarchy is the basic structure of militaries with decisions made by a “chain of command,” I would think it’s fair to say that are elements of a bureaucratic system. Rank and promotion dictates everything within the military, top positions given to those with the most experience.
During the 1970s, the United States underwent a renaissance of liberal thought dubbed neoliberalism. This represented a shift in public desires from organized bureaucracy and stability to dynamic expressionism and individualism. While businesses were taking advantage of this dynamic shift in thought, the government proved slow to change. Michel Foucault noticed that the shift did not completely dismantle bureaucratic systems but brought in a new illusionary liberalism: “Neoliberal governmentality.” As Heydebrand notes: “Neoliberal supply-side policies and practices either transformed the remnants of formal-legal bureaucracy or gave rise to new, imaginative and experimental ways of organizational governance, including subcontracting, outsourcing, project teams, the use of casual, contingent, freelance and temporary labor, and the incipient decline of organized labor.”
The problem here is that the illusion of absolute freedom and innovation is given, but there still exists bureaucratic systems in place that control many aspects of how work is produced. In the case of the military, innovative thinkers tend to have some say in how warfare is organized, but there still exists remnants of bureaucracy and social rules in place in this hierarchical system that cannot give full freedom of expression. As we enter a “post-Trinitarian” model of warfare, our military thinkers and strategists must be flexible, as Sun Tzu wrote, we must be able to shift through unknown terrain like “water.”
Tradition and bureaucracy stifles development of thought. Humans have a history of relying upon technology and technological developments to act for us, and to an extent, I think it has been a great motivator for innovation and social progress. However, “Over the past 300 years, people have long since become accustomed to blindly falling in love with the new and discarding the old in the realm of technology, and the endless pursuit of new technology has become a panacea to resolve all the difficult questions of existence” (Unrestricted Warfare).
Although originating in China, where the communist social structure and different history has created a very different system of thought that my Western-centric thought has difficulty grasping, the question of the limits of technology has stirred my mind. When I look at each new predator drone being built, a new missile system, or a new plane developed for military use, I often think to myself “what’s the point?” If I think about these tools of war being developed from a pragmatic standpoint, I can’t think of any good reason. After entering the “post-Trinitarian” model, the use of planes and tanks are hardly practical. They are extremely inefficient in fighting guerilla adversaries, which as Trinquier proposes, are the future enemies of warfare. An ostentatious presence prevents the homogenized military from winning over the population that terrorist cells embed themselves within.
However, the development of these technologies makes sense when I think about them in terms of the bureaucracy that the US military is stuck in. There was a time when Keynesian investment in military technology stimulated the economy, providing jobs and endorsing companies. The United States fights asymmetrically because it is still beneficial to these companies. Aside from this economic standpoint, the reliance on technology reinforces the idea of a hierarchical military, legitimizing the bureaucracy of warfare.
Planes and tanks that will never be put to practical use are very expensive and require a complex system to ensure that they are protected. These are complex technologies that need to be monitored by a chain of command in order to ensure their safety. Training exercises require that they be taken care of by a variety of people, properly shipped to different base locations around the world, and put into training exercises under strict supervision. The maintenance of these tools requires a complex bureaucracy, and thus the military is put into a cycle. Tradition and bureaucracy ensures the manufacturing of these weapons, and the complex nature of the weapons enforces the bureaucratic nature of the system that created them in the first place.
So now that I’ve explained the traditional hierarchy of bureaucracy in the military, how this bureaucracy develops useless technology, and how this developmental process legitimizes itself, I would like to conclude this essay with how this all prevents what I think is the key to evolving into van Creveld’s “post-Trinitarian” warfare: the acquisition of HUMINT. I began this essay with a quote from Robert Baer, who explains that the primary intelligence gathering arm of the US, the CIA, has been stifled in developing due to a reliance on technology and limitations in innovative thought. In short, what Baer is trying to explain is that the US has rendered itself incapable of truly knowing its enemies. Baer’s critique comes from the fact that it’s easy to justify full-scale military action when a satellite image is placed into the hands of a policy-maker. Either data gathered from the depths of the internet or from a satellite image can provoke aggression. Depending on the scale of the threat, either the military is deployed, as it had been in Afghanistan and Iraq, or we rely further on technology and send drones to “surgically remove” key targets in the war against an idea.
These tactics are ineffective because we are not opening our ears, we are not listening to others, we are not learning what others want, and we do not attempt to understand a different society. The US seems to operate under the assumption that human beings can easily adapt from a dictatorial social structure to a democratic model with ease. However, when we attempt to make that shift, we forget to listen to the needs and desires of others. For instance, the main source of income for Afghani farmers would be heroin produced from poppy fields, a direct conflict of interest with the US. How would the US ensure the relative economic stability provided by the Taliban without forfeiting American societal mores?
As professor Corradi explains in The Dream of Sun Tzu or How to Lose a War, “it did not cross their minds to consult sociologists and anthropologists, who could have explained to them that in Iraq, the primary loyalty is to the clan rather than to the nation.” There is no preemptive attempt to understand whom we plan to fight; policy-makers did not listen to sociologists or anthropologists and continue to make this mistake. Eventually, the situation in Iraq became so dire that the US military employed something that I believe to be conceptually brilliant, but too little too late: Human Terrain Teams. Groups of anthropologists go to the battlefield and interact with local populations, attempting to understand their wants and needs. Why did we wait so long to try this? If we are engaged in a nation-building policy, why not attempt to build a nation based on the social structures of the people and not our own standards? If the United States wishes to move forward in the way we think about war, we have to start trying to understand the people. This will require diplomacy, HUMINT gathering by actually deploying personnel on the fields, and academic understanding of who we plan to help or fight, and why.
I fear that war with Pakistan or Iran could be looming around the corner, always hinted at, and yet again, we have not asked ourselves why Iran pursues a nuclear program or why Pakistan has been supporting the Taliban. In order to fight properly, the US needs to abandon asymmetrical warfare, its reliance on technology, and traditional methods. | <urn:uuid:74b51272-7608-4e73-b2d5-0b0813e036c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lalapaloser.tumblr.com/tagged/war | 2013-05-23T18:38:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950815 | 2,005 |
"Kissine offers a new theory of speech acts which is philosophically sophisticated and builds on work in cognitive science, formal semantics, and linguistic typology. This highly readable, brilliant essay is a major contribution to the field."
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 12:02:10 +0100 From: Cornelia Tschichold <[email protected]> Subject: World Englishes
AUTHORS: Melchers, Gunnel; Shaw, Philip TITLE: World Englishes SERIES: The English Language Series PUBLISHER: Arnold YEAR: 2003
Cornelia Tschichold, Institute of English, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
INTRODUCTION This book is a recent addition to the growing number of textbooks on varieties of English around the world. In the preface, the two authors, both from Stockholm University, describe the intended audience of the book as readers familiar with the basics of linguistics and phonetics, thus typically undergraduate students after their first year at a department of English, with English either as their native or a second or foreign language. The book has an accompanying CD, which is sold separately and therefore does not figure in this review.
SYNOPSIS Chapter 1 is a very short chapter on the history of English from 450 to the beginnings of Modern English. The development of the language is illustrated mainly through the most accessible aspect, its loanwords.
Chapter 2 covers the more recent history of English, when the language spread around the globe, first to the so- called 'inner circle' countries, later to the 'outer circle' and finally to the 'expanding circle'. This three- circle model by Kachru is adopted as the organizing principle for the book. The chapter also introduces the distinction often made between English as a second and English as a foreign language, while drawing attention to the problems of terminology and those of differing political viewpoints involved.
Chapter 3 discusses basic terms in language variation and provides the framework for the classification and description of the many varieties discussed in chapters 4 to 6. The authors divide variation into the areas of spelling, phonology, grammar and lexicon, and give a brief overview of the main types of variation in each area. For the description of phonology, Wells' standard lexical sets are introduced. The section on rhythm and intonation explains the concept of stress-times vs. syllable-timed rhythm and mentions high-rising terminals as the most striking phenomena in the area of intonation. The sections on lexis and on the historical origin of varieties introduce a large number of technical terms such as 'heteronymy' or 'substratum'. Other dimensions of classification mentioned include the political stance of some of the more prominent authors in the field, the degree of standardization for varieties and for texts, and the position of a country in the three-circle model.
Chapter 4 portrays the inner circle varieties of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Liberia and the Caribbean. With some exceptions, each of these sections follows the pattern of first giving a brief overview of geography and population, then an account of the general linguistic situation, before the variety itself is described in terms of spelling, phonology, grammar and lexicon. Where appropriate, important internal varieties are briefly touched on as well, such as the main differences between Southern and Northern dialects in England, the two ethnic varieties African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Chicano English in the USA, and Aboriginal English in Australia.
Chapter 5 opens with a discussion of the political questions of language prestige and then tries to identify some common linguistic features of the varieties spoken in these countries. Among the features mentioned are consonant cluster and vowel system simplifications, a trend away from clearly stress-timed rhythm, and more syntactic variety. The countries in this chapter are then discussed in geographical groups, following a similar pattern to that in chapter 4, but giving rather more historical background and extra sections on style and pragmatics. The first variety is South Asian English, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as its main countries. The second major variety is African English, with South Africa making a second appearance due to its higher number of speakers who have English as a second language. Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore are dealt with in the group of countries where South East Asian English is spoken. The last section in this chapter very briefly deals with a number of countries with a colonial past: Gibraltar, Malta, and Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, the Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Guam in the Pacific, without however giving linguistic descriptions of the English spoken there.
Chapter 6 abandons the geographical perspective in favour of the functions English can be seen to have taken over in the expanding circle from the 18th century onwards. Among the domains where English is making inroads the authors mention global politics and economy, tourism, the education system, the mass media and popular culture, advertising and subcultures. On the more strictly linguistic level, the authors see no trend toward standardization, and argue instead that speakers of lingua franca English need a high communicative competence for dealing with the mixture of non-standard features and the large amount of pragmatic variation found in much intercultural communication. The authors then briefly consider the influence of English on the local languages and the choices involved in choosing a variety of English for education.
In Chapter 7, Melchers and Shaw take a look at the likely developments in the near future and identify US power, globalization and information technology as the most important factors favouring the further spread of English across the globe. They posit that the high visibility of unedited English found in computer-mediated communication could have a destandardizing effect on international English, but that the still considerable influence of the school systems might counterbalance this trend.
Finally, Appendix 1 gives a list of the speakers on the accompanying CD, and Appendix 2 contains a number of pre- and post-reading questions for each chapter.
CRITICAL EVALUATION Everyone teaching a course on the varieties of English around the world probably has their own idea of what the ideal textbook for such a course should cover. One of the authors has taught just such a course for many years, and the book under review is proof of this. Many sections read more like lightly edited lecture notes than a textbook meant to be studied by undergraduate students. The authors include a number of anecdotes in the text, a feature that often works well in class, but much less well in a textbook, and they have the rather irritating habit of writing one-sentence paragraphs, something which many university teachers try to eradicate from their students' essays.
It is clear that balancing the content of such a short book is a difficult task, and the authors should be praised for trying to combine most of the relevant sociolinguistic aspects with a large number of linguistic descriptions of individual varieties in a relatively small book. Apart from the style, most of my criticism therefore relates to details of content. A number of sections in the book seem to be the result of compromises of various kinds: One might argue, for example, about the usefulness of a very short chapter on the roots of English, or whether such a a book is the best place for contemplating the influence of English on other languages via borrowing. Possibly these pages might have been put to better use.
One of my quibbles concerns the notoriously difficult problem of the translations or glosses, which have not received the necessary attention to detail. Dialectal variation is illustrated with a Geordie poem ("A hev gorra bairn / an a hev gorra wife / an a cannit see me bairn or wife / workin in the night"), where the word 'gorra' is claimed to stand for the local pronunciation of 'got to' (p.13).
Generally, the maps in the book are often not very useful as they do not show all areas mentioned in the text and do not distinguish between cities and provinces. To give just one example, among the dialects of England discussed in the text are those of Leeds, Derby, West Wirral and Norwich, but only Leeds can be found on one of the maps. One might also wonder about the necessity of listing statistics on area, population and capital for the countries discussed, given that such data can easily be found elsewhere and is of questionable relevance in this context.
Within the descriptions of the individual varieties, spelling, a very accessible aspect, is not systematically commented on, e.g. South Asian English is said to be "spelt in the British style", but British English does not have a section on spelling. In the more extensive section on phonology most of the comparisons of the lexical sets are clearly useful and could have been extended, e.g. it would have been interesting to see the Australian vowels compared not just to RP, but also to American English vowels. In addition to the concept of lexical sets, much of the data used by the authors comes from Wells as well, which often seems a needless repetition, especially where even the examples are taken straight from Wells (1982), a study in three volumes based on data which is now more than a generation old. On the other hand, a number of sections (Liberian English and AAVE, Caribbean English) are so short, they seem more like appetizers than any kind of solid information. In the sections on the lexicon, the authors' use of the word 'tautonym' to refer to words having different meanings in different varieties seems somewhat idiosyncratic.
The references given in the book are not consistently placed in the further-reading sections, but appear either there (sometimes with comment, sometimes without; sometimes with full bibliographic details, sometimes as author plus year only) or embedded in the text. Sharp (2001) is referred to, but missing in the references. Appendix 2 contains a number of pre- and post-reading questions, which - according to the preface - are meant to remind readers of what they know and to check their new knowledge. This generally is a good idea, but one would expect the pre- reading questions to be clearly easier than the post- reading questions. Some questions sound more like activation questions for a seminar group than questions meant to check on the reader's knowledge.
Comparing the book under review to other books on the market that might be considered as textbooks for courses on world Englishes, one could mention Trudgill and Hannah (1994), a book that gives considerably more linguistic detail on the varieties discussed, but devotes only very little room to varieties in the expanding circle (an aspect which is of much interest to students in potentially expanding-circle countries in Europe) and does not cover the sociolinguistic and political perspectives. The latter aspect can be found in Crystal (1997) to a certain extent, or more thoroughly in Brutt-Griffler (2002). Crystal (1995) provides an widely available source for maps, statistics and historical background. Bauer (2002) is mostly limited to varieties of the inner circle. Jenkins (2003) is very useful as an overview for the debate on the sociolinguistic and political aspects, but does not give linguistic descriptions. Cheshire (1991) and Allerton et al (2002) finally are edited collections of papers that provide accessible further reading on a range of subtopics on world Englishes.
Writing a relatively short textbook of such a scope is a very big bite to chew, and while I would like to congratulate the authors on their choice of content, I wish they had chosen a different style for the book and spent more time on revision and ensuring internal consistency.
REFERENCES Allerton, D.J., Skandera, P. and Tschichold, C., eds. (2002). Perspectives on English as a World Language. Basel: Schwabe.
Bauer, L. (2002). An Introduction to International Varieties of English. Edinburgh University Press.
Brutt-Griffler, J. (2002). World English: A Study of its Development. Multilingual Matters.
Cheshire, J., ed. (1991). English around the world: Sociolinguistic perspectives. Cambridge UP.
Crystal, D. (1995). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge UP.
Crystal, D. (1997). English as a Global Language. Cambridge University Press.
Jenkins, J. (2003). World Englishes: A resource book for students. Routledge.
Trudgill, P. & J. Hannah (1994, 3rd ed.). International English: A guide to the varieties of standard English. Arnold.
Wells, J.C. (1982). Accents of English, vols I - III. Cambridge University Press.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Cornelia Tschichold teaches English linguistics at
Neuchâtel University. While her research interests focus on
English phraseology, computational lexicography and
computer-assisted language learning, she teaches a wide
range of courses in English linguistics, including courses
on sociolinguistics, the history of English, and varieties
of English around the world. | <urn:uuid:eb43ea76-2540-45c2-ae23-dc27a6a5300d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://linguistlist.org/pubs/reviews/get-review.cfm?SubID=20284 | 2013-05-23T18:31:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930054 | 2,754 |
Montreal is one of the most beautifully gardened cities I've ever seen. The city's plantings are not the safe geranium-begonia-petunia-impatiens sort of stuff that saps my will to live.
Nope, those big cement planters at metro stations, the medians between lanes of traffic, anywhere the city plants, it plants unusual stuff such as ornamental grasses, perennials and unique annuals.
(Imagine picture here--c'mon, you KNOW you can do it. My camera's software does NOT want to install on my kid's computer, so I can't download my pictures until I get home.)
For those of you keeping track, this makes the score Technology 1, Marn 0
The skies were heavy and gray all day yesterday, but it only sprinkled a few times for the hours we were at the Botannical Gardens, which is the holy land for someone like me.
It's just exquisite this time of year. The beds have filled out and are incredibly lush, it's as if the plants know that frost is just seconds away and by crikey they're gonna party.
The koi (exotic Japanese fish that come in a kazillion colours) in the big ponds are HUGE and completely tame. They come right up and lazily eyeball you in that "Hey, are you something I could eat?" way that makes fish so darned appealing.
There's a big Chinese lantern show installed now, and the only word for that is magical. (Insert Marn photos of everything from four massive water spouting illuminated silk dragons floating in one of the ponds at the Chinese pavillion to a live duck sitting with a big silk frog lantern floating in another pond.)
See, a picture really IS worth a thousand words!
Jess and I ended the visit in the greenhouses as we always do, cracking up over the cactii which all look like something out of Star Wars.
Yes, I KNOW how weird cactus humour is. There's no need to rub my nose in it, 'kay?
And there it was, the name of the mystery plant, in both latin AND English, no less. As you can imagine, small tears of gratitude pooled at the corners of my eyes. I felt a distinct lump forming in my throat because now, through a random act of senseless kindness, I know how to address the latest addition to my garden family.
You will note that I have not coughed up the name of the mystery plant. Why? BECAUSE YAHOO IS DOWN AS I WRITE THIS AND MY FREAKIN' YES YOU CAN GET YOUR E-MAIL ANYWHERE ACCOUNT IS NOT WORKING!
Which somewhat defeats the purpose of having a yes you can get your e-mail anywhere net mail account, don't you think?
For those of you keeping track, this bumps the score to Technology 2, Marn 0.
Anyhow, now that my ears have stopped ringing from the over-the-top decibels at Club Unity, the kids and I have decided to hit a movie. Some sensitive auteur type movie by an obscure foreign director playing at an art cinema?
I am dying to see Godzilla 2000, a movie Paul refused to attend on the grounds that it was Too Stupid. TOO STUPID? As any thinking person knows, ANY movie that involves Godzilla is by definition Too Stupid and you go for just that reason.
A rubber Japanese monster that squishes cars underfoot, walks around with a severe case of toe jam from all the people it's creamed AND said hunk of rubber wonderfulness can breathe fire?
Where do I sign up?
P.S.--When Yahoo resumed its e-mail service I found Ford identified The Mystery Plant as Houttuynia cordata variegata or chameleon plant. For you gardening types, it's a bog plant that's only hardy to Zone 6, which is much, much warmer than around here, so Cornelia must have mulched it well.
Want to delve into my sordid past?
She's mellllllllllllllting - Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 - Back off, Buble - Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 - Dispersed - Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 - Nothing comes for free - Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 - None of her business - Friday, Nov. 04, 2011 -
.:Adventures In Oz:.
.:12% Beer:. .:Links:. .:Host:. .:Archives:.
This template is a riff on a design by the truly talented Quinn. Because I'm a html 'tard, I got alot of pity coding to modify it from Ms. Kittay, a woman who can make html roll over, beg, and bring her her slippers. The logo goodness comes from the God of Graphics, the Fuhrer of Fonts, the one, the only El Presidente. I smooch you all. The background image is part of a painting called Higher Calling by Carter Goodrich which graced the cover of the Aug. 3, 1998 issue of The New Yorker Magazine. Kids, don't try viewing this at home without Netscape 6 or IE 4.5+, a screen resolution of 800 X 600 and the font Mead Bold firmly ensconced on your hard drive.
©2000, 2001, 2002 Marn. This is me, dagnabbit. You be you. | <urn:uuid:95af606c-b891-4b96-925e-8fc4658d8da2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://marn.diaryland.com/rubbermon.html | 2013-05-23T18:51:36Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933806 | 1,141 |
Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Antidepressants for Low Back Pain
|Generic Name||Brand Name|
How It Works
Low doses of tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressant medicine increase the level of certain brain chemicals, which may affect how the brain perceives pain. They may also help you sleep.
Why It Is Used
Low doses of antidepressants are often used to treat people who have chronic pain.
Higher doses of antidepressants are used to relieve depression.
When these drugs are not used
- Some of these medicines are not given to older adults, because the medicines cause too many severe side effects.
- Cyclic antidepressants usually are not given to people who have certain heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats or low blood pressure.
How Well It Works
Research has shown that cyclic antidepressants reduce chronic low back pain for some people.1 They are not recommended for sudden and severe (acute) low back pain. Other antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) do not appear to help people who have low back pain.2
All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
- Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
- Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
- If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:
- Trouble breathing.
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor right away if you have:
- Thoughts of suicide.
- Agitation and restlessness.
- Fast heartbeat.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Common side effects of this medicine include:
- Dry mouth.
- Weight gain.
FDA advisory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when the doses are changed.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Never suddenly stop taking antidepressants. The use of any antidepressant should be tapered off slowly and only under the supervision of a doctor. Abruptly stopping antidepressant medicines can cause negative side effects or a relapse of your condition.
Antidepressants are started at low doses, and the dose is increased gradually to reduce the severity of side effects. You may need regular blood tests to check the amount of the medicine in your blood. Too much of this type of medicine in the bloodstream can be dangerous.
You may start to feel better in 1 to 3 weeks of taking antidepressant medicine. But it can take as many as 6 to 8 weeks to see more improvement. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines or if you do not notice any improvement by 3 weeks, talk to your doctor.
People who have seizures (epilepsy), difficulty urinating (urinary retention), glaucoma (an eye disease), or heart conditions may notice that antidepressants make these symptoms worse.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Antidepressants can interact poorly with certain heart medicines—digoxin (for example, Lanoxin)—and/or with other medicines, such as those used to treat seizures—phenytoin (Dilantin).
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Advice for women
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant, do not use any medicines unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines can harm your baby. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. And make sure that all your doctors know that you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
- Chou R, Huffman LH (2007). Medications for acute and chronic low back pain: A review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine, 147(7): 505–514.
- Chou R, et al. (2007). Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: A joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Annals of Internal Medicine, 147(7): 478–491.
Last Revised: May 14, 2012
Author: Healthwise Staff
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. | <urn:uuid:0a33ae93-a825-42ed-8d3d-a735649448e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cheshire-med.com/health_wellness/health_encyclopedia/hw56294 | 2013-05-23T19:06:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908021 | 1,228 |
All our Tours include the highest level of service in the travel industry. The main difference is in the lodging. There are smaller differences in vehicles used, as well as a small number of inclusions. Please CLICK HERE for detailed descriptions of the Tour Levels.
Currently, Easy Tours of India includes only one Festival as part of the itineraries in our First Visit Collection. This is the Pushkar Camel Festival and a two day experience is available in both Small Group Tours and Independent Travel. There are a lot of other great festivals in India and we can include those in your travel plans. This can be done by working with a Small Group Tour and scheduling the Festival(s) before and/or after your tour; or by designing an independent tour that includes your choice(s) of festivals.
The Pushkar Camel Fair is a fascinating spectacle that occurs once a year in the small town of Pushkar, Rajasthan. It is a visitor’s finest opportunity to experience rural India in its organic form; you can interact with villagers that have never seen a tourist in their lives and have traveled for weeks to bring their cattle to the fair.
The Fair is scheduled between late October and November (determined by the Lunar calendar), and villagers bring over 100,000 cattle (including 50,000 camels) to trade & sell. It also includes a plethora of activities such as horse shows, camel races, camel and cow beauty contests, acrobatics, camel safaris and much more.
The Pushkar Camel Festival is arguably the most colorful gathering of humanity and livestock on this planet, and attracts large numbers of international and Indian tourists. The Rajasthan government hosts a number of ethnic cultural events (such as Rajasthani dances) to coincide with the Fair.
We are the pre-eminent luxury agency at the Pushkar Fair - ask someone who has been at the Fair and seen our guests enjoying the best facilities, the best lodging, the best seats (including available camel back seating to give you a better view!) for the events.
99% of the agencies that advertise the Camel Fair have never had a staff member set foot in Pushkar! You are assisted by one local agent who is handling hundreds of clients while using inadequate lodging and other facilities.
In 2013 'Easy Tours' will have our small groups at Pushkar on the nights of November 12th & 13th and the major cattle fair events are scheduled for the 12th.
Here is what Judy B. & Paul D. (Pushkar Fair + Independent Tour), one couple out of nine thousand plus guests that are willing to be our references, have to say. "This was the best trip of our lives (and we travel frequently!). Easy Tours delivered exactly as promised. All of your suggestions were right on target, and we will be delighted to book with Easy Tours again". Reference Available.
Here is what Cassandra C. (Pushkar Fair + First Visit Tour) has to say, "Thank you for arranging my trip to India! I had an amazing experience and memories that I will treasure forever. The culture was fascinating, the guides acted as great liaisons, and the drivers were efficient and timely. We had the personal attention unequaled by previous traveling tours. Again, this was an incredible trip and I am glad that I got to go with Easy Tours. Overall, this trip exceeded my expectations". Reference Available.
Pushkar Fair Schedule – 2013:
Nov 9th through Nov 13th: Cattle Fair. This is when all the activities with the villagers, camels and other cattle will take place - the cattle trading, camel races, as well as various shows and competitions etc. The best days are going to be the 12th and 13th, so we have designed most of our tour itineraries to be in Pushkar during these days.
Nov 14th through Nov 16th: Cultural Fair. This is when all the government sponsored cultural activities will take place. There will be folk dance shows, music performances, and other similar activities. Please bear in mind that you will get to experience (much more comfortably) similar performances at a number of the hotels we use during your exploration of India. Most agencies take you to the Fair on these dates despite the fact that a majority of the cattle and villagers have already left Pushkar.
Nov 17th:The Holy Day of the Fair. This is when thousands of Hindu pilgrims take a dip in the lake at Pushkar.
This is how we do things at Pushkar -
We reserve the best rooms and the best luxury tents at the two best year around resorts at Pushkar.
We are not a tour wholesaler with no knowledge of Pushkar or India. The locals recognize us as the pre-eminent luxury agency operating at the Fair and our guests get privileges that are the envy of all other tourists at the Fair - we have hundreds of referrals that will be happy to verify this for you.
Our competitors hand you over to local agency who use one staff member for 500 visitors. At the 2013 Fair, we will have more than one Tour Director/Guide per 10 of our guests.
We don't nickel & dime you for things like entrance fees and camel cart rides. Our tours are pretty much all inclusive, and all three Tour Levels are full board while at Pushkar, with shared Tour Director services.
We have our own hospitality desk, as well as our own camel carts that take you to the fair and the village when you want to go.
An individual camel back safari in the desert is included, and you can ask for more than one.
DID YOU KNOW THAT MOST TENTS AT THE PUSHKAR (DESERT) CAMPS -
HAVE NO HOT OR COLD RUNNING WATER, OR EVEN DECENT BATHROOMS?
ARE PACKED TIGHTLY AMONG HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR TENTS FAR AWAY FROM THE FAIR?
HAVE NO AIR-CONDITIONING. YOU ARE IN THE DESERT - IT GETS HOT IN THE DAY, & COLD AT NIGHT.
HAVE SOUP KITCHEN STYLE MEALS THAT WILL BE AMONG THE WORST FOOD YOU EAT IN INDIA?
REQUIRE LONG WAIT TIMES FOR CAMEL CARTS TO TRAVEL BACK & FORTH FROM THE FAIR? YOU PAY FOR THIS - NO CARS ARE ALLOWED IN THIS AREA
OUR TENTS & SUITES
HAVE PLUMBING WITH HOT & COLD RUNNING WATER AND WESTERN STYLE BATHROOMS.
ARE IN EXCLUSIVE RESORTS WITH HILL & CAMEL FAIR VIEWS, LUSH GARDENS, AND AROUND THE CLOCK SERVICE FROM A TEAM OF DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS.
HAVE YEAR AROUND DINING HALLS WITH RESIDENT CHEFS THAT SERVE YOU INDIAN & WESTERN CUISINE, AND THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICING.
HAVE OUR OWN CAMEL CART SHUTTLE SERVICE THAT IS COMPLIMENTARY AND RUNS ALL DAY.
INCLUDE A LOCAL RAJASTHANI ESCORT FOR EVERY SEVEN OR EIGHT GUESTS. THESE ESCORTS KNOW THE FAIR AND THE AREA, AND THEY WILL FACILITATE ALL YOUR NEEDS AT THE FAIR. | <urn:uuid:82bb82c7-9c0b-42c6-9a14-f07ff0d25bc6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.easytoursofindia.com/us/group_tour.php?page=Festival&level=2 | 2013-05-23T18:58:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942641 | 1,522 |
Adopting a New Flight Plan Whooping Crane Migration Route Shifted West into Safer Air Space
By LEN WELLS Courier & Press correspondent (618) 842-2159 or [email protected]
The route of the annual 1,250-mile migration of endangered whooping crane juveniles, led by an ultralight aircraft, has been shifted this fall to a more westerly route because of concerns about pilot and bird safety.
The route, from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to a closed area of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge on the west coast of Florida, will bring the birds through parts of the Tri-State.
It will take the birds the entire length of Illinois and across Western Kentucky, with overnight stops in Wayne County, Ill., and Union County, Ky.
“The route was shifted west because the easterly route was pretty scary,” said Liz Condie, director of communications for Operation Migration, the group that works to ensure the birds’ survival.
“Going over the Cumberland Ridge, there was no place to set down to retrieve a bird if there had been a problem,” she said.
Officials hope, too, for better weather along the westerly route by picking up more favorable winds.
“For the safety of the birds, we
cannot divulge the exact location of each stopover other than down to the county level,” Condie said. “At each stop, the birds will be housed overnight in portable pens to protect them from predators and to keep them far away from human contact.”
While the stopover locations are kept secret, Operation Migration officials try to schedule gathering sites for local residents to catch a glimpse of the birds as they lift off to continue their southerly trek.
“A few days before the scheduled stopover, we try to alert the local residents of where they can congregate to watch a flyover,” Condie said.
Because of fluctuating weather conditions, those interested in tracking the birds should check Operation Migration’s Web site at www.operationmigration.org for a more specific date and time.
The whooping crane chicks that take part in the reintroduction project are hatched at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md. There, imprinting begins with the chicks still inside their eggs being exposed to ultralight aircraft sounds. Once hatched, the young chicks are reared in total isolation from humans.
To ensure the impressionable cranes remain wild, each handler and pilot wears a crane puppet on one arm that can dispense food, or by example, show the young chicks how to forage as would their real mother.
At 45 days of age, the young birds are transported by air, in individual containers, to the reintroduction area at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.
Because of differing age ranges, the birds usually are moved in three shipments and housed at three separate locations within a closed area of the refuge. Over the summer, the Operation Rescue crew of pilots, biologists, veterinarians and interns conditions the birds to follow the aircraft, which, along with its pilot, has been accepted as a surrogate parent.
Once the birds’ dominance structure has been established and their endurance is sufficient, the migration begins, typically in October. Using four ultralight aircraft, Operation Migration’s pilots, along with a ground crew consisting of biologists, handlers, veterinarians and drivers, cover up to 200 miles a day, depending on weather conditions.
This year’s migration to Florida has been scheduled to begin Oct. 17. The shortest migration has taken 48 days to complete. The longest, 97 days, was recorded last year.
Because of destruction of habitat and overhunting, whooping cranes were on the verge of extinction in the 1940s when their population was reduced to only 15 birds. Since falling under the protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the only naturally occurring population of migrating whooping cranes has grown to more than 200 birds.
Named for their loud and penetrating unison calls, whooping cranes live and breed in wetland areas where they feed on crabs, clams, frogs and aquatic plants.
An adult whooping crane stands 5 feet tall, with a white body, black wing tips and a red crest on its head.
Anyone encountering a whooping crane in the wild is asked to avoid approaching it, staying back at least 600 feet. In all cases, officials ask that people remain concealed and not speak loudly enough for the birds to hear them. Especially during the migration, residents are warned not to trespass on private property in an attempt to view the cranes.
(c) 2008 Evansville Courier & Press. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:1fea6546-1d45-4f80-b956-022db1d4eed7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1559276/adopting_a_new_flight_plan_whooping_crane_migration_route_shifted/ | 2013-05-23T19:00:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945375 | 1,012 |
April 3, 2006
To: Advisory Committee Members
I am a CPA with over 12 years of public accounting experience with one of big 4s and over 15 years of industry experience as CFO with private and public companies. The following are my views on the proposal exempting small cap public companies from compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX):
I. Has SOX been an effective legislation and improved financial reporting for public companies?
I believe there is no doubt in minds of parties interested in SOX implementation (i.e. Investors, SEC, management and external auditors of public companies) that SOX implementation has been a very important legislation, which forced public companies and their auditors to pay careful attention to the importance of internal controls in order to improve confidence and reliance on financial reports. I have personally witnessed that a number of small cap companies were able to avoid significant financial statement reinstatements/misstatements by remediaiting material internal control weaknesses uncovered during SOX implementation. I am sure there are many examples like these that we do not hear about them.
The small cap companies are more prunes to existence of errors in their financial reporting process than larger cap public companies due to their limited resources and higher influence of top executives over the financial reporting process of such companies.
Any effort by SEC to nullify the effect of this legislation is a misguided public policy and should be avoided.
II. Can SEC have a discriminatory policy toward protecting investors?
SEC should follow and implement the spirit of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) and not to go against the legislation approved by both Congress and the Senate after many public hearings.
There is no logic in differentiating investors in large cap versus small cap companies. SEC is to protect all investors and not discriminating certain groups of investors versus others. I believe investors in small cap companies deserve the same level of protection as offered to large cap companies
The question is that why SEC is even willing to consider a discriminatory proposal of only protecting investors in large cap public companies and not investors in small cap companies. Under the current proposal exempting approximately 80% of the public companies is like indicating, it is okay for small cap companies:
Have inadequate internal controls
Report erroneous /fraudulent financial statements
Spend huge amount of money in litigation costs and paying damages in a class action suits
Have many reinstatement of their financial statements
Cause their valuations drop due to investors lack of confidence in their financial reports as a result of restatements.
III. Cost of SOX Implementation
The Issue of costs whether from large or small cap companies needs to be looked at it from many perspectives, which can be summarized as follows:
a) Risk Driven Implementation Approach
Recent recommended PCAOB approach to focus on key risk areas (i.e. top down risk assessment) will, over time, reduce the cost of compliance with Section 404. Management of the company and its external auditors should work together to accomplish this. The key to this approach is for the management and the external auditors to reach an agreement on the key risk areas. The audit committee and management of the company must play an active role ensuring the focus of section 404 compliance is on key risk areas to reduce the cost of section 404 compliance and in turn the audit fee. If the companies and their external auditors adopt this approach properly, we will expect to see significant reduction in Section 404 compliance cost for smaller companies.
b)Proper Execution of Risk Driven SOX Implementation.
If the Risk Driven Implementation Approach is properly executed, the cost of SOX implementation for small companies will definitely be substantially lower than current levels. These companies have far less significant risk areas. In some cases it may be impractical to have effective internal controls due to limited personnel inhibiting the company from instituting proper segregation of duties. In such cases, a disclosure in the public filing that due to scope limitation/inability that the company cannot implement a proper internal control system should be an acceptable disclosure to SEC.
c)Litigation Cots versus SOX Implementation Cost for Small Cap Companies:
The cost of compliance to small companies should be measured against investors potential losses due to reinstatement of financial results of the Small Cap companies. The market cap losses of investors in small companies due to reinstatements have been many times more than the cost of compliance with Section 404 of SOX. Investors have lost millions of the value of their portfolio companies defendiing these litigations as a result of poor internal controls of the small cap companies. Strong internal controls, for sure, will reduce the number of material errors in financial statements and reinstatements and in turn cost of defending litigations.
IV. Will the cost of SOX Implementation go down if SEC exempts the small Cap Companies?
The auditing firms now after first phase of SOX implementation learned that they couldnt ignore the importance of evaluation of internal controls in their audit approach. This has now become an integral part of their annual audits. If SEC exempts the small companies from compliance with SOX, such companies still are expected to pay substantial portion of the cost of SOX implementation in audit fees. Please bear in mind that without management assessment of the internal controls, such evaluation will be performed by auditing firms that will be a lot more costly than the assessment performed by the management. SOX Act of 2002 has forced auditing firms to go back to the auditing standards that they were using 20 years ago. Based my own personal auditing experience, the Evaluation of Internal Controls was an initial phase of audit approach in the past. Based on the strength of the internal controls we used to decide on the level of validation audit approach. We all now leaned that without proper assessment of internal controls, we cannot perform an effective audit detecting material errors and misstatements in financial statements. | <urn:uuid:95d849e0-c7a2-4393-8890-144e803370b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sec.gov/rules/other/265-23/sshahabi9781.htm | 2013-05-23T18:32:50Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950777 | 1,198 |
UNION — A proclamation issued by city and county officials urges the public to educated themselves about hospice and palliative care services available to persons of all ages in the community.
The proclamation was signed Monday morning by City of Union Mayor Harold Washington and Union County Supervisor in a ceremony attended by Penny Adamo, community relations liaison for Hospice Care of South Carolina. It declares November as “National Hospice and Palliative Care Month” in Union County and the City of Union and urges the public to “increase their understanding awareness of care at the end of life.”
Hospice and palliative care are described by the proclamation as offering “the highest quality of care to patients and families and bring comfort, love and respect for all those they serve in communities across the nation and in Union.” It states that “hospice and palliative care providers take the time to ask what’s important to those they are caring for — and listen to what their patients and families say.” Hospice and palliative care professionals, a category which includes “physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, and clergy,” provide “comprehensive and compassionate care that make the wishes of each patient and family a priority.”
The proclamation states that “through pain management and symptom control, caregiver training and assistance, and emotional and spiritual support,” patients are allowed to “live fully until the final moments, surrounded and supported by the faces of loved one, friends, and committed caregivers.
It further states that “provision of quality hospice and palliative care reaffirms our belief in the essential dignity of every person, regardless of age, health or social status, and that every stage of human life deserves to be treated with the utmost care and respect.”
The proclamation points out that every year 1.6 million Americans with “life-limiting” illnesses and their families receive care from hospice’s programs in communities throughout the United States; that “more than 468,000 trained volunteers contribute 22 million hours of service” to hospice programs annually; and that “hospice and palliative care providers encourage all people to learn more about options of care and to share their wishes with family, loved ones, and their health care professionals.”
Sinclair said his own experience with family members with conditions requiring hospice and palliative care as well as a growing demographic reality has taught him the importance of those services.
“Personal experience with relatives has shown me how hospice and palliative care is needed in any community,” Sinclair said. “As the Baby Boomer population ages, the need will increase. In fact, Harold and I have talked about the increased need in the future for nursing care for the aging population of Union County. I see this as an area of city-county cooperation.”
Thompson called on the public to support hospice and palliative care services in the community.
“I think it is a service that is well-needed in this area,” Thompson said. “I fully support it and hope more people will find out more about it.”
Adamo thanked Sinclair and Thompson and the county and the city for their support and discussed the services provided by Hospice Care of South Carolina.
“Hospice Care is the first and largest hospice in South Carolina,” Adamo said. “We specialize in crisis care as well as pediatric hospice programs. We are the only hospice that has pediatric programs. We also have national and state certified and licensed nurses and staff. The 12 people we have employed, including our medical director Dr. Robert Wentz, have over a hundred years of experience between them.”
Adamo described palliative care as designed to enable the patient to stay in their home and receive the care they and their families and caregivers need. She said hospice offers physical, emotional, mental and spiritual services to the more than 30 patients it is currently services in Union County.
The need for hospice and palliative care services continues to grow, but Adamo said the services provided by her organization is not only for the elderly or others at the end of life.
“There is a growing need for hospice and palliative care services and it’s not just for the elderly, but for anyone,” Adamo said. “It’s not just for the terminally, but for the chronically ill as well. We provide crisis care when the patient is at the point of death but we also provide services for many years to patients who are chronically ill.”
Adamo added that if a patient has insurance Hospice Care of South Carolina bills the insurance company for the services they receive. If, however, the patient does not have insurance, they still receive those services.
“No one is turned away,” Adamo said.
For more information about Hospice Care of South Carolina call 429-4827. Hospice Care of South Carolina is located at 408 N. Duncan Bypass, Suite 6, Union.
Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:f366cb04-2a53-48ee-80d3-43ca88bd6eb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uniondailytimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-November+is+National+Hospice+and+Palliative+Care+Month%20&id=20654862 | 2013-05-23T18:46:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970337 | 1,117 |
Maryam Safai's 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom colonial in Mahwah, N.J., has been on the market for a year, even after three reductions in asking price.
"I'm not going to give in to the market," said Safai, 44, a dentist. "I'm not selling below our current asking price" of $1.69 million.
Like Safai's northern New Jersey neighborhood, housing markets around the nation are cooling, mostly as the result of the Federal Reserve's drive to push up interest rates.
That has slowed price increases in most of the country and reduced demand for risky types of financing that caused former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan to worry about "froth" in the housing market.
Sales of new homes fell 10.5 percent in February, the biggest drop since 1995, and sales of existing homes slipped in five of the last six months, leaving a record 3 million unsold houses on the market.
Sales will fall further this year and price gains will slow, predicts the Washington-based National Association of Realtors. High-end properties and markets that had the biggest increases during the boom years are cooling the most.
"The markets that were the high flyers over the past couple of years have more adjusting to do," said Jeff Lyons, general manager of RealEstate.com, a consulting firm in Charlotte, N.C. "Entry-level buyers are still strong, while buyers looking to step up to bigger houses are becoming more cautious."
Signs of the cooling market aren't hard to find on Bradford Street in Boston's South End, where Victorian townhouses are listed for as much as $4.5 million.
"Last year, houses were snapped up as soon as they were put on the market, so you never even saw a sign," said Kenneth Kinna, 41, a film producer who owns a townhouse in the neighborhood. Now there are three "For Sale" signs on his block.
The trend is most pronounced in affluent neighborhoods in the Northeast, where prices soared the most during the real estate boom. Median prices for existing homes in the Northeast were up 5.2 percent in February from a year earlier, compared with almost 18 percent in the previous 12-month period, according to the Realtors group.
Price growth slowed to about 4 percent in the Midwest in February, down from 7.7 percent the previous year. Growth in the West has remained in the 12 to 14 percent range, with New Mexico and Arizona gaining while the California market slows. Prices increased in the South at a year-over-year rate of nearly 12 percent in February, from 6.5 percent the year before.
The Fed, which last May warned that easier credit was fueling home price speculation, has since increased short-term interest rates seven times, most recently on March 28.
Buyers of houses in the $1 million to $4 million range are "particularly sensitive to interest rates because the monthly payments on houses in that range are substantial," said Anthony Hsieh, chief executive officer of LendingTree.com, a mortgage provider Web site based in Charlotte.
While damping price growth the most at the high end of the market and in the Northeast, rising rates have also reduced demand for riskier forms of financing and begun a shift of power from sellers back to buyers, economists and brokers say.
In a sign that buyers are starting to gain the upper hand, pre-sale home inspections are back in vogue in Montgomery County, Maryland, said Meg Finn, a Long & Foster agent based in Bethesda.
Just a year ago, buyers who insisted on inspections jeopardized their chances of getting a house in a bidding war, she said.
In Montgomery County, which includes the affluent Washington suburbs of Bethesda and Potomac, unsold homes were on the market an average 58 days in February, compared with 37 days a year earlier, according to Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. The 3,030 homes for sale in the county in February were almost triple the 1,190 listed a year earlier.
Economists still expect 2006 to be a strong year for housing.
David Berson, chief economist at Washington-based Fannie Mae, the nation's largest buyer of mortgages, expects sales of existing houses to fall 9.2 percent to 6.4 million, and new home sales to fall 7.4 percent to 1.19 million. Sales in both categories would be the third-best on record.
"The greatest proportion of the decline in home sales we're looking at this year will come from investors," he said.
Fed Governor Susan Bies says that's an outgrowth of Fed policy.
"The carrying cost of doing these investments is getting higher as we've pushed rates up," she told reporters after a speech in Charlotte.
That will remove one source of the "froth" in the housing market of which Greenspan warned. Partly as a result of the Fed's 15 consecutive increase in interest rates, adjustable-rate and interest-only loans, closely tied to short-term rates, are on the decline. Such loans were popular with buyers trying to stretch their dollars and with speculators seeking to minimize the cost of buying property for short-term profit. | <urn:uuid:e137660a-04f9-4ffc-a04e-fb14eb08a718> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-04-08/news/0604080128_1_housing-market-rates-seven-times-interest-rates | 2013-05-26T02:50:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975264 | 1,079 |
Tech Empires Aren't Good For Shareholders
Larry is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
The corporate titans of today’s tech world would be better off in parts rather than as wholes. The job of management is to generate shareholder value, not to build massive integrated empires with cash that yields one and a half or two percent. Rather than acquiring more divisions, these massive companies should spin divisions off into leaner, more agile companies.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is one company that has done quite a bit of mergers that stray from its core business. Some have fared better than others, certainly. But as many studies have shown, a lot of this merger activity actually destroys value. Microsoft today has just three divisions that make money while the rest of them just drag them down. My experience is corporate restructurings, spinoffs, or divestitures are usually value creation vehicles, especially if the leaders of the companies have clear reasons for undertaking a break up of a larger enterprise. There are plenty of consultancies out there whose job it is to identify underperforming divisions of companies and recommend getting rid of them.
Here is why spinning off divisions can help each division create shareholder value and compete in the marketplace.
First of all, Microsoft is, quite obviously, big. The company made a profit of $21.763 billion on $73.723 billion in revenue in its fiscal year 2012. For a company like that to grow 10%, it has to generate another $7.3 billion in sales. Of course, this is not easy. It’s especially difficult to pull that off when the company is supporting a zombie Online Services Division that lost over $8 billion over the course of that year.
Let’s say for example, they spin off just the Server and Tools division. On its own, this service books nearly $20 billion in sales. It’s much more likely that this spun-off division will find another $2 billion in revenue next year than Microsoft as we know it making another $7 billion. Also, as its own company, Server and Tools would be unencumbered by the lagging segments. It can hire its own management and it would also have a currency (their own stock) to make acquisitions. They might even be able to rid themselves of the disastrous “stack ranking” management system that ex-employees so often say stifles innovation at Microsoft.
Some might point out that there are advantages to scale. Bigger tech companies have to be able to fight lawsuits, lobby the government, and provide for losses and write downs when things aren’t going very well. They also have to be able to do technical research to stay ahead of the curve. But even if Microsoft’s Windows's, Servers, Business, and Entertainment were all separate companies, they would each be rather large-scale businesses able to support all of these things.
IAC/Interactivecorp (NASDAQ: IACI) under Barry Diller is practically a case study in spinning off even very profitable units to create shareholder value. Originally, IAC owned Expedia, Trip Advisor, LendingTree, Ticket Master, the Home Shopping Network and Integral Leisure Group.
At the time that they were spun off from IAC, those units accounted for the lion’s share of the parent company’s revenue. Working independently, however, these units have grown more profitable and brought sizable returns to shareholders after the general market improved. Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE), for example was spun off from IAC in the summer of 2005. Since then, the company’s share price has gone from $46.74 to $55.07, but with a 1:2 split. Expedia even started giving dividends to shareholders in 2010.
IAC itself was able to focus more on its core business of Internet content and its share price has gone up nearly 200% since its own stock split in August, 2008. Contrast this with the middling returns that Microsoft delivered while it chased all sorts of new businesses like Bing.
Also, size alone doesn’t necessarily result in returns for shareholders. Take for instance Sony (NYSE: SNE). Without a doubt, it’s big and has it has presence in tons of markets, but that hasn’t protected it from falling behind rivals and performing badly in the market.
As for Microsoft, there is no real sign that the company is considering spinning off or downplaying its money-bleeding Online Services Division. In its latest quarter, it did give in and wrote down $6.19 billion in goodwill for aQuantive, an online advertising platform that it acquired in 2007 to compete with Google. Microsoft’s partnership with Nokia and integration of acquired technologies such as Skype and Yammer into its portfolio of products gives it a toehold in growth businesses outside of the stagnant PC market, but again, it isn’t creating shareholder value.
The caveat for investors is trying to find situations where management actually considers a break up, versus just building a larger empire. The large technology companies have yet to actually break themselves up, yet if they ever decided to go that route, it would prove strategically very wise. Stay on the lookout for these kinds of potential situations, both announced and unannounced.
Interested in More Analysis?
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched their company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand new premium report on Microsoft Fool analysts explain that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. Also provided are regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.
AdviceIQ has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google and Microsoft and is short Sony (ADR) and has the following options: long JAN 2013 $22.00 calls on Sony (ADR). Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fool’s blog network, click here for information. | <urn:uuid:8184d6b3-132f-47ba-ba31-3b206a336827> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beta.fool.com/adviceiq/2012/09/18/tech-empires-arent-good-shareholders/12012/?source=TheMotleyFool | 2013-05-26T02:42:32Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956935 | 1,355 |
The bus stops in front of Bikaner House.
Its almost midnight.
Way past the ‘decent hour’ for any woman to be out in the city.
I alight after a thoroughly enjoyable 7 hours of journey from Jaipur. Right behind follow my almost-6-year-old daughter and my mother.
We walk a few steps looking around for the best mode of transportation that would safely take us home. We have barely made it to the exit-gate, in comes a herd of auto-rickshaw drivers encircling us..offering us to drop us home. “Madam, kahan jaana hai?” “Auto mei baith jao”
We have another 20-25 kms of travel yet to cover to finally reach home.
Each of them has his eyes firmly fixed on us.
Right then, a flurry of thoughts come hitting me like a curse,“So which one of them would end up molesting us tonight?”…
“What if one of them drags us to a deserted land and rapes us?”..
“Which one of them would eventually succeed in looting us..and killing us?”
No sooner do these thoughts creep into my mind than I clutch my child tightly and hold on to my mother protectively.
I look around to see whether I can find a cab for us instead. Yet again the crippling thought seeps in.
‘What if the cab-driver ends up knocking us off?’
“Dont be crazy”, I tell myself. There has been no untoward action by any of the auto-rick drivers that drives me towards such thoughts.
Each one is merely doing his job of convincing us, persuading us to sit in his vehicle so he can earn his bread & butter.
Then why worry?
Brushing those thoughts away, I, along-with my mother and daughter get into an auto. My mother, the firebrand that she is begins to argue with the driver about the outrageous fare he quotes.
Paranoia hits me yet again and I urge her to stop provoking him lest he harms us in any way. I keep chiding her,” Stop it Ma, this is not a safe time and place for two women to get into scuffle with a man. We still have a long way to reach home”. Of course I tell her this in Malayalam. I dont want his ears to get what I am saying lest he thinks we are helpless and an easy prey.
All through the auto-ride I am alert.
The auto-driver is driving at the perfect speed. He is cautious and minds his own business.
Yet. Every time there is a sharp turn or a delay in taking a turn my heart skips a beat.
Every time we reach a dimly lit road my heart skips a beat.
In my own crazy head I prepare and plan to fight him in case he brings the auto to a stand still in those unlit roads and tries to come at us.
Nothing of that sort happens.
We, then, reach a well lit road. Vehicles plying either side continuously. But not a single soul in sight.
I wonder out loud to my mother about cities like Mumbai where people freely move around till past midnight with no fear of safety. Or so I have heard, correct me if I am wrong.
Wistfully, I wonder if I can even imagine a similar scenario in my own city. I wonder if I ever will get to associate my city with safety and security without a shudder or cringe.
On the way I spot two girls standing at the side of a road, perhaps waiting for a cab.
Our auto-driver swiftly turns to give them a look.
And my scary thoughts go on an over-drive again.
“What did that look convey?” “Did he see prospective passengers in them?”. “Did he hope to fetch them and earn some more money and retire for the day with a content heart?”. Or. “Did he have any lustful intentions brewing in his mind?”
As these thoughts play havoc in my mind, I realize that the auto-wala has safely brought us home. I pay him and walk in to the safe confines of home with my daughter and mother.
All of this sets me thinking….
Is this what my city has come to mean? Is this the city where I was born? The city that brought me up, made me stand up on my feet? The city where I didnt care what I wore, but today I stand the risk of being blamed for my dressing if I get attacked? The city where I didnt have to think twice before venturing out, irrespective of the time or day, but today I have to keep my guard up even in broad daylight? Is this MY city where I stand the risk of being blamed for getting molested because I went to the bar? Because I wore a skimpy dress? Is this MY city where I am forbidden to move around after 8 PM lest I get raped?
Is this MY city where I dont even have the freedom to walk freely as I please?
Never have I felt so helpless and unsafe in my own city.
Happy Independence Day BTW | <urn:uuid:e6c6a31e-01bd-4baa-99fe-839a5e8a5e29> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deepsspeakingup.wordpress.com/tag/delhi/ | 2013-05-26T02:42:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963396 | 1,109 |
Photo: Nature's Crossroads
Local Seeds For Local Gardens
Every garden starts with seeds. For folks who are interested in local living, it only makes sense that you’d seek out seeds that were grown locally as well.
Art Sherwood of Nature’s Crossroads Seed Company is here to help. Sure, he wants to be your local seed man, but for him, it’s more about recruiting new gardeners. “If you have to buy your seeds from Wal-Mart, go buy them from Wal-Mart. Whatever. Don’t let ideology get in the way of growing great plants in your backyard. Better than lawns.”
Nature’s Crossroads partners with LIFE Certified Organic Farms to grow organic and earth-friendly seeds. This means using all-natural pesticides and fertilizers, and their seeds have absolutely no genetic-modification. Their goal is to have 70 percent of their seeds be local in seven years. They are at 40 percent after three years, so they’re right on track.
More: Read more about the various local seeds offered by Nature’s Crossroads.
Raising Carrots In Raised Beds
Now let’s go to the garden and get our hands dirty.
Throughout the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking with a number of farmers (both urban and rural) to see how they get everything started in the spring. First stop is at Swainway Urban Farm just north of downtown Columbus, Ohio. This place specializes in growing a rare gem of summer farmers markets: fresh-from-the-garden carrots.
“If you only have one or two farmers at your market who are selling carrots, you can pull a pretty good penny,” says farmer Joseph Swain, “because people absolutely love fresh garden carrots. They’re simply delicious, and (taste so much better than) a carrot sent from California.”
Of Swain’s 3,000 feet of growing space in his backyard farm, 25 percent is dedicated to growing carrots.
The dozen or so raised beds take up the majority of the garden.
He has a long list of reasons why building raised beds for your garden is so beneficial. First of all, you have control over the quality of the soil by adding amendments, compost, and organic material directly to that specific growing area. For the raised beds that house his carrots, he created a potting soil of sorts, which includes peat, perlite, green sand, kelp and general fertilizer.
Raised beds also provide a lush 6-8 inches of growing depth for the plants, which is key for a successful carrot crop. This way the plants can spread their roots farther down before hitting hard pan. As a result, you can plant your crops closer together because the roots then aren’t expanding horizontally.
He hopes to be selling his first batch of carrots by the middle of June. He’ll then plant two new rows of carrots every two weeks, so he should be well-stocked for the rest of the summer market season.
More: Listen to next week’s podcast to hear how Joseph Swain preps his beds in no time at all, using three simple tools and with minimal elbow grease.
A Simple Red Bud Dessert
Morel mushroom hunters see the blooming of the red bud trees as an indication that their coveted mushrooms are now in season. But these beautiful little pink flowers aren’t just nice to look at. You can also eat red buds.
They’re a member of the legume family right along with beans and peas. They have little pods, and if you pick them when they’re young and tender, you can use them in stir fries.
But we’re eating dessert today! This dish features red buds with yogurt, berries, and meringues.
- Meringue cookies (recipe follows)
- Plain yogurt (if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own)
- Fresh berries (whatever is seasonal, we used blueberries and blackberries)
- Local honey
- Blueberry compote (recipe follows)
- Red bud flowers (rinsed)
- Place meringues in the middle of a plate (make a few large flat ones as the base for your dessert)
- Top meringue with plain yogurt and some fresh berries
- Drizzle with local honey and blueberry compote (you could also use blueberry jam or any other kind of berry sauce you like)
- Top with a little more yogurt and sprinkle the red bud flowers over the top.
- 3 large egg whites
- 3/4 cup superfine sugar
- food coloring (optional)
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In an electric mixer, beat egg whites until they hold soft peaks.
- Add sugar a bit at a time until the egg whites hold stiff peaks and the texture is no longer gritty (the sugar should be fully dissolved).
- Form meringues using spoons or a pastry bag and then bake for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, rotating the baking sheet halfway through to ensure even baking. Leave meringues in the oven to finish drying overnight and then store in an airtight container.
A compote is basically a mixture of sugar and fruits that you cook down and season with spices. It’s an easy way to preserve fruit.
- 2 cups blueberries
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, etc. – your favorites)
- dash of lemon juice
Combine ingredients and cook in a saucepan over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Stored in a jar, your compote will last 2-3 weeks in the fridge. The same method can be used with other berries or fruits. | <urn:uuid:0f3f911a-3140-433a-a9ce-6c0befad7dec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/garden-party/ | 2013-05-26T02:51:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932246 | 1,243 |
Is Change Control Killing Your Business?
Change control can sound good on paper, but it can also be used to shut down change entirely. Here's the process controls you'll want to implement to make sure innovation stays alive and keeps you (and your employer) happy.
More and more of today's businesses are adopting change-control and IT-management frameworks. There are great reasons to do so; after all, change is the leading cause of problems and failures in IT, so putting some brakes on change -- and properly managing it -- can help add a lot of stability to an environment.
However, as I work with customers on consulting projects, I often see change control being used as a hammer to shut down change entirely. "Oh, you want a new virtual machine spun up, do you? Well, that's going to have to go through the [insert spooky voice] change-control process! Bwa ha ha!"
Why Use Change Control?
Typical change management processes look like this -- at least on paper:
- Someone in the business asks for a change in the environment.
- IT has to review the change and prioritize it.
- Someone else in IT develops the change, and a third person in IT might review it for accuracy.
- A final person in IT approves the change for deployment, and the change is implemented.
This process has three important components: First, changes are scheduled, meaning they're happening at a known time, presumably when there will also be time to deal with unforeseen negative consequences that may arise. Second, changes are deliberate, meaning one or more people think about them and what might go wrong, and try to implement the change in a way that won't break anything. Finally, changes are documented, so if something negative does happen, there's a written trail of what might have caused it.
Let's face it: We in IT have always used our superior technical knowledge to repress our users. If we could get away with wearing burlap robes with rope belts, chanting Latin in the datacenter, you know we'd do it. We know that some of the stuff our businesses ask of us is annoying and inefficient, and we just don't want to do it.
Change control, unfortunately, provides a wonderful shelter when IT just doesn't want to do something. We shunt users through endless forms and query cycles.
I recall one example, where a client of mine wanted a virtual machine (VM) that would host a Web site. After six months and back-and-forth with IT and its change-management process, the business unit paying for the VM decided to get a hosted server at GoDaddy. It was cheaper, and it was running in a couple of hours. That's a horrible thing for IT to drive the business to do.
Kinder Change Control
The solution is to put some controls on change control. While change control is absolutely beneficial, it shouldn't be stopping the business from getting what it needs. Consider adopting a "Business Bill of Rights" that outlines some key protections that the business can use to override spurious change-control objections such as this:
- The change-control process will be as smooth and as easy as we can make it for the business, and it will not consume time without a tangible reason that can be mapped to a business benefit.
- If the business is willing to pay for it, then the business can have it in a timely fashion.
- When IT tells the business how much something will cost, IT will use real numbers based on actual costs -- not made-up numbers that reflect IT's unwillingness to do the work.
- Security risks by themselves are no reason not to do something. Dig to find the underlying business reason, such as, "We can't expose that kind of data because we'll be fined by the government." Then let business decision makers pit the competing business requirements against each other.
Today's businesses need to wring more and more out of IT, and sometimes IT resents it. Don't: The more work you're doing, the more you're needed and the safer your job is. Never say "never," and never use change control as a way of saying "no" without saying it.
Don Jones is a 12-year industry veteran, author of more than 45 technology books and an in-demand speaker at industry events worldwide. His broad technological background, combined with his years of managerial-level business experience, make him a sought-after consultant by companies that want to better align their technology resources to their business direction. Jones is a contributor to TechNet Magazine and Redmond, and writes a blog at ConcentratedTech.com. | <urn:uuid:4882ac70-2de1-4990-97fc-67f304351bfa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://redmondmag.com/Articles/2010/07/01/Is-Change-Control-Killing-Your-Business.aspx | 2013-05-26T03:11:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963164 | 956 |
A collection of news and information related to Rosemarie DeWitt published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 36 » View courant.com items only1 2 3 Next >
Seattle TimesIn addition to "Her Aim Is True," "Barzan" and "Evergreen: The Road to Legalization in Washington," the following films make up the Northwest Connections section of SIFF. Many of these screenings will feature special guests; see http://www.siff.net for...
Much as he had Ben Affleck as a colleague in both writing and acting in the Oscar-winning "Good Will Hunting," Matt Damon has a similar peer in John Krasinski ("The Office") in this drama about fracking, the effort to find and market natural gas from...
brightcove.createExperiences(); The director Lynn Shelton has built a career on small human moments, looking at interpersonal dynamics in the ways that they’re really lived. In “Humpday” she captured male boastfulness and insecurity;...
VarietyIndependent production company Vanishing Angle is set to produce its first feature film "The Call," a dramedy that will mark the feature directorial debut of Upright Citizens Brigade and Funny or Die alum Scott Rodgers, who wrote the script with co-star...
Tags: Kat Foster, Sean Astin, Pablo Schreiber, Riki Lindhome, Movies
Click here to download TV listings for the week Dec. 30, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2012 in PDF format This week's TV Movies -------------------- Good Morning America (N) 6 a.m. KABC CBS This Morning New Year's Day. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Singer Colbie...
In the new eco-drama "Promised Land," co-writers and co-stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski take on the hot-button issue of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," through which chemicals are pumped into the ground to extract natural gas. Damon plays an...
"Promised Land" certainly sounds promising. It's got a strong cast and an intriguing premise that has the added bonus of real-world relevance. But, good intentions and good work aside, the film flounders before it reaches its conclusion. The film, which...
Click here to download TV listings for the week Dec. 16 - 22 in PDF format This week's TV Movies -------------------- CBS This Morning David Letterman. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Cee Lo Green; the winner of “The Voice”; Leslie Mann. (N)...
Sundance unveils 2013 competition lineup: Sexuality a major theme in dramatic slate; documentaries, NEXT also announcedVarietyFilms devoted to exploring the myriad forms of human sexuality have an unusually prominent place in the 2013 Sundance program, festival director John Cooper noted as he unveiled the fest's competition slates on Wednesday. Citing titles slotted into the U....
VarietyIndependent film Goliaths strode tall at Tuesday's nominations for the 28th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, but a few Davids were still able to slingshot their way to success. "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Silver Linings Playbook" led the way with five...
"Nobody Walks" is one of those fishbowl films: An idea is tossed in like a crumb, then we wait and watch what happens. This dark story unfolding in sunshine wonders what might happen to a beautifully blended but bored California family when a pretty...
Odd, indeed - and also somewhat magical - is the life of the title character in this Disney-studio drama, a youngster (CJ Adams) who appears to have grown out of the garden planted by a couple (Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton) unable to conceive a child....
May 12, 2013 |Story| McClatchy-Tribune
Mar 22, 2013 |Story| Zap2It
Jan 20, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Jan 15, 2013 |Story| Tribune Media Services
Dec 31, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Dec 28, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Dec 27, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Dec 19, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Nov 28, 2012 |Story| Tribune Media Services
Nov 27, 2012 |Story| Tribune Media Services
Nov 8, 2012 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Nov 2, 2012 |Story| Zap2It
Original site for Rosemarie DeWitt topic gallery. | <urn:uuid:4d850b1f-5aa0-4625-b33a-1ccb84f39529> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.courant.com/topic/entertainment/rosemarie-dewitt-PECLB0000008439.topic?page=1&sortby=docdatetime%20descending | 2013-05-26T03:03:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921323 | 937 |
|Navigation » Global Information Technology (UK) Ltd. » download EarthMediaCenter online music radio free|
Multimedia > Video > Digital tv & radio
EarthMediaCenter online music radio 1.0
EarthMediaCenter: 150 music radio stations in over 30 languages worldwide.
Use this security logo:
EarthMediaCenter online music radio manufacturer description
EarthMediaCenter: 150 music radio stations in over 30 languages worldwide.
Includes a variety of radio genres (pop, rock, rap, jazz, r'n'b, classical music, electronic music and many others).
The number of on-line-TV channels is by several orders bigger than any satellite television package can offer, even the most expensive one. Thousands of channels - from many countries, in many languages - are available online. And it is the viewer, not the provider of satellite TV service that makes up the list of channels. The same with internet radio – not a single radio receiver will pick up such a great number of channels, as it is possible to find online, and the sound in online radio is clear, without any radiointerference. And what's more, there is no additional license fee.
If you are going to watch on-line-TV regularly, you can download a very small file, and an icon will appear on the desktop. Just click on it and select a TV channel or radio station.
EarthMediaCenter - software for receiving on-line TV programs, Internet of radio, images from webcams - advantageously differs from other products of that kind, namely:
-No additional software is required
-No additional setting is required
-No additional hardware is required
-You needn't have administrator privilege to install and use it
-Automatic updates are provided
-Live TV broadcast is supported
-Full-screen mode is supported (double click on the screen)
-Unlimited number of virtual television and/or radio sets can be opened at the same time
-High-quality picture and sound
-You can switch between TV and radio mode
Free download EarthMediaCenter online music radio 1.0
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee.
EarthMediaCenter online music radio video tutorials
Tutorial not found. Let know us about any useful video tutorial.
EarthMediaCenter online music radio categories
radio music, web radio, on line radio, free music online, radio station, online radio, rock radio, free radio, live radio, internet radio, listen music online, streaming radio, fm online, free internet radio, internet radio stations
What is new in 1.0 changeinfo log
Given stickers for EarthMediaCenter online music radio & download buttons
NOTE: move cursor over buttons to get html sources.
||This award means that EarthMediaCenter online music radio is an Editor's pick.
||DownloadAtlas.com guarantees that EarthMediaCenter online music radio was tested by antivirus program and is absolutely clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including computer viruses, adware, trojans, spyware, rootkits, badware and other malicious and unwanted software.
radio-music.zip - CLEAN
radio-music.zip » ZIP » License.txt - CLEAN
radio-music.zip » ZIP » Earth Media Center Mini 2.0.exe - CLEAN
Do you like EarthMediaCenter online music radio ? Move mouse cursor over the buttons and just copy one of those links, paste the code you copied right where you want on your blog or website.
EarthMediaCenter online music radio permissions
SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION IS FREELY
End user agreement for EarthMediaCenter online music radio
Freeware License Agreement
EarthMediaCenter® is owned by Global Information Technology (UK)
Limited and its owners. EarthMediaCenter® is a freeware program.
You are granted a non-exclusive license to use EarthMediaCenter®
on your computer.
This license agreement only applies to the free version of this
EarthMediaCenter® may be freely distributed, if provided
distribution package is not modified. No person or entity may
charge a fee for the distribution of EarthMediaCenter® without
written permission from the copyright holder.
Terms and Conditions
BY DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING, USING, TRANSMITTING, DISTRIBUTING
OR COPYING THIS SOFTWARE ("THE SOFTWARE"), YOU AGREE TO THE
TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AND
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY) WITH GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK)
LIMITED THE OWNER OF ALL RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF THE SOFTWARE.
PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ANY OF THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE THEN DO
NOT DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, USE, TRANSMIT, DISTRIBUTE OR COPY THE
SOFTWARE.THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUES A LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE
ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPEARING BELOW. The Software is
licensed to you without charge for use only upon the terms of
this license, and Global Information Technology (UK) Limited
reserves all rights not expressly granted to you.
Global Information Technology (UK) Limited retains ownership of
all copies of the Software.
You may use the Software without charge. You may distribute
exact copies of the Software to anyone.
Global Information Technology (UK) Limited reserves the right
to revoke the above distribution right at any time, for any or
YOU MAY NOT MODIFY, ADAPT, TRANSLATE, RENT, LEASE, LOAN, SELL,
REQUEST DONATIONS OR CREATE DERIVATE WORKS BASED UPON THE
SOFTWARE OR ANY PART THEREOF. The Software contains trade
secrets and to protect them you may not decompile, reverse
engineer, disassemble or otherwise reduce the Software to a
humanly perceivable form. You agree not to divulge, directly or
indirectly, until such trade secrets cease to be confidential,
for any reason not your own fault.
This license is effective until terminated. The License will
terminate automatically without notice from Global Information
Technology (UK) Limited if you fail to comply with any provision
of this License. Upon termination you must destroy the Software
and all copies thereof. You may terminate this License at any
time by destroying the Software and all copies thereof. Upon
termination of this license for any reason you shall continue to
be bound by the provisions of Section 2 above. Termination will
be without prejudice to any rights Global Information Technology
(UK) Limited may have as a result of this agreement.
4. Disclaimer of Warranty, Limitation of Remedies
TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GLOBAL INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED HEREBY EXCLUDES ALL CONDITIONS AND
WARRANTIES, WHETHER IMPOSED BY STATUTE OR BY OPERATION OF LAW OR
OTHERWISE, NOT EXPRESSLY SET OUT HEREIN. THE SOFTWARE, AND ALL
ACCOMPANYING FILES, DATA AND MATERIALS ARE DISTRIBUTED "AS IS"
AND WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED DOES NOT WARRANT,
GUARANTEE OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE
RESULTS OF THE USE, OF THE SOFTWARE WITH RESPECT TO ITS
CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS OR OTHERWISE.
THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. GLOBAL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN
INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(UK) LIMITED,IT'S DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES SHALL CREATE
A WARRANTY, AND YOU MAY NOT RELY ON ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall
be construed as excluding or modifying any statutory rights,
warranties or conditions which by virtue of any national or
state Fair Trading, Trade Practices or other such consumer
legislation may not be modified or excluded. If permitted by
such legislation, however, Global Information Technology (UK)
Limited liability for any breach of any such warranty or
condition shall be and is hereby limited to the supply of the
Software licensed hereunder again as Global Information
Technology (UK) Limited at its sole discretion may determine to
be necessary to correct the said breach.
IN NO EVENT SHALL GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED BE
LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF
BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, AND THE LOSS OF
BUSINESS INFORMATION OR COMPUTER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF GLOBAL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED OR ANY GLOBAL INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN ADDITION, IN NO EVENT DOES
GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED AUTHORISE YOU TO USE
THE SOFTWARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE TO
PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN A PHYSICAL
INJURY, OR IN LOSS OF LIFE. ANY SUCH USE BY YOU IS ENTIRELY AT
YOUR OWN RISK, AND YOU AGREE TO HOLD GLOBAL INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS OR LOSSES
RELATING TO SUCH UNAUTHORISED USE.
5. Advertising policy
EarthMediaCenter® will from time to time display third party
advertisements using an embedded web browser. Some of these
advertisers may use technology such as cookies and web beacons
when they advertise on our EarthMediaCenter®, which will also
send these advertisers (such as Google through the Google AdSense
program) information including your IP address, your ISP, the
browser you used to visit our site, and in some cases, whether
you have Flash installed. This is generally used for geotargeting
purposes (showing New York ads to someone in New York, for
example) or showing certain ads based on specific sites visited
(such as showing cooking ads to someone who frequents cooking
sites). Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by
All rights of any kind in the Software which are not expressly
granted in this Agreement are entirely and exclusively reserved
to and by Global Information Technology (UK) Limited. This
agreement contains the entire Agreement between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior agreements and/or understandings (oral or
written). Failure or delay by Global Information Technology (UK)
Limited in enforcing any right or provision hereof shall not be
deemed a waiver of such provision or right with respect to the
instant or any subsequent breach. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be contrary to law, that provision will be enforced to the
maximum extent permissible and the remaining provisions of this
Agreement will remain in force and effect.
Installing and/or using EarthMediaCenter® signifies acceptance
of these terms and conditions of the license. If you do not
agree with the terms of this license you must uninstall and
remove EarthMediaCenter® files along with the setup package
from your storage devices and cease to use the product.
| || | | <urn:uuid:212fcd76-3138-490e-92ec-e20168786eda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.downloadatlas.com/freeware-c642ac4c.html | 2013-05-26T02:56:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.768746 | 2,600 |
Sign Up | Log In
BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL
Cameron explains things and begins to bond with River.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 972 RATING: 9 SERIES: FIREFLY
Fan fiction. Done for fun, not profit.
The Plot Bunnies are beating on me again. After watching the final episode of Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, I had a weird idea for a Firefly/Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles crossover fic. No Rayne this time either. Set shortly after the BDM. Ignores the upcoming movie and travels in a wholly new direction with many continuity errors from the movies and TV Show. I am not as knowledgeable of the T:TSCC universe as I am with the Firefly/Serenity 'Verse. Please don't throw things.
AN: I'll be taking Cameron in new directions. With her hanging out with River, she will develop more of her human side. Although skewed slightly due to River's condition. I also see her becoming an integral part of the crew in later chapters. Also some fun will ensue as well due to her being essentially River's twin.
Jayne groaned and picked himself back up off the deck. Seeing the 'thing' that looked like Moonbrain overrode his caution and with a roar, he charged.
And struck the deck half a second later, out cold.
“Thanks, Albatross,” the Captain muttered, still keeping an eye on whatever it was standing in the middle of his cargo bay.
With infinite grace, River walked around the Terminator, examining her from every angle. Cameron showed similar curiosity.
Mal cleared his throat, “Kaylee... Why don't you go scoot to River's bunk and fetch one o' her dresses for our... guest.”
With a quick nod, Kaylee sprinted from the room. Zoë still kept her weapon pointed at the thing that had called itself Cameron.
Simon took a step forward to get a better look at the bullet hole in Cameron's chest. She eyed him carefully.
“You mind repeating that go-se about saving mankind?” Mal asked.
Mal gulped as Cameron's gaze locked with his own. After a moment she spoke, “I was tasked to make sure that after humanity left Earth. Machines like myself were not to be allowed to rule over mankind. Humans fought too hard to destroy Skynet for that to happen again.”
“Hold on now... humans left Earth because of overpopulation and environmental damage,” Mal stated.
“It didn't happen that way,” Cameron said simply.
River stepped in front of the Captain and pushed his pistol down, “She could have killed us in moments if she meant us any harm.”
“She? Thing said it was a machine.”
“Fully self aware. A person. Born from technology but conceived in love. A sister once. Will be again.”
“River...” Mal said as the teen stepped closer to Cameron. River ignored him and wrapped her arms around Cameron, “Always wanted a sister.”
Kaylee returned and squeaked as she saw River embracing the... whatever it was. She was astonished when Cameron returned the hug.
Simon was still in shock. His sister had reached out and hugged whatever this girl... machine was. And it had hugged her back.
Zoë slowly lowered her mares leg, “So that bullet didn't hurt... you?” She asked Cameron.
“I don't feel pain as you do. The round did not damage any internal systems. My epidermal outer covering will heal within forty eight hours on it's own. With sutures, in less than twelve.”
Simon's jaw dropped, “Heal?”
“My covering is synthetically produced, artificial living tissue. I am by definition, A Cyborg. Part machine and part organism.”
“No one has technology like that...” Simon whispered, “Even the love bots like Mr. Universe's were not this... realistic.”
“Back to my question,” Mal growled, “I ain't never heard of a machine like you before. No way in hell there are machines running the 'Verse.”
“Tell me this,” Cameron began, a slight smile on her lips that made Mal uncomfortable, “If you saw me walking down the street, rather than emerging from a stasis crate, would you know I wasn't a real person?”
Mal opened his mouth to speak and then suddenly closed it again.
“I think that just answered my question,” Cameron smirked.
Kaylee stepped forward, “I got this for you to wear,” the mechanic said hesitantly.
Cameron smiled, “Thank you.”
Zoë was amazed as she watched Cameron slip the dress over her head. The... cyborgs musculature moved perfectly. There was no way a person could tell this Cameron from River. Other than the machine looked a little older. Maybe twenty two instead of River's eighteen.
Simon was looking intently at Cameron, “The resemblance is uncanny,” the doctor muttered.
“If I may ask. What is your family name, River?” Cameron asked.
Cameron smiled, “That may explain the resemblance.”
“I don't understand,” said Simon.
“The woman I was constructed to resemble was named Allison Young. She became the wife of John Connor. The leader of the resistance against the machines. They had a daughter named Sarah. Before I was given my tasking, John explained that he planned to not join the exodus himself. He gave his daughter to one of his assistants, Gabriel Tam so he could raise her as his own during the journey.”
Simon's jaw dropped, “Gabriel is River and I's father's name.”
“Family tradition. Carried through the generations of the Tam family,” River stated.
“So... the woman you were... patterned after,” Inara began, “Was one of Simon and River's ancestors?”
“It is possible,” Cameron replied.
Inara studied this young woman. There was life in her movements. Even her eyes looked alive. As Simon said, it was uncanny. A groan from the floor brought Jayne's returning consciousness to the forefront. Simon knelt down next to the big man.
“How do you feel Jayne?”
“Like yer gorram sister kicked me in the head,” Jayne mumbled as he moved to a sitting position.
“That's because she did,” Simon smirked.
Jayne growled and tried to get to his feet. As his vision cleared, he couldn't tell at first which was the machine and which one was River. He blinked a couple of times and his vision cleared. He took a step towards River, “Moonbrain...” he threatened.
River giggled and stepped behind Cameron, who looked amused.
“Stand down, Jayne,” Mal ordered.
“She kicked me, Mal,” The merc whined.
“And if she hadn't a done it on her own I would have told her to, so shut it.”
Jayne closed his mouth but didn't look happy.
“Sir... perhaps we can move this to the galley?”
“Good idea, Zoë,” The Captain replied.
River took Cameron's hand and began to lead her up the stairs. Sharing looks, the rest of the crew followed.
“Time travel?” Simon asked incredulously.
“The physics of time travel are allowed by Einstein in certain circumstances,” River said, still looking at her twin.
“Mighty wild tale, I admit,” Mal stated. “How many times have you... time traveled?”
“In this body... never,” Cameron replied, “My previous body did twice. Once to 1999 and then forward with Sarah and John Conner to 2007.”
“Who is Sarah Connor?” Inara asked, “Alison's Daughter?”
“Not exactly. John named his and Alison's daughter after his mother. In the future time I came from, I was programed by John to act as his protector in the past when he was a teenager. After finding him, I then used a hidden time displacement unit built by someone who had also traveled into the past to transport John and his mother to the near future.”
“This is all really confusing,” Jayne mumbled.
Mal rubbed his eyes, “Not wrong there Jayne.”
“You said, not in this body...” Zoë trailed off.
“A new AI program using a terminator body called John Henry took my chip and traveled forward in time. Leaving my first body in the past. Caroline Weaver, another Terminator and John traveled forward as well. This altered the time line from the established 'norm'. After Skynet was defeated, and after Allison's death, John had me constructed. John Henry downloaded my previous memories into a new chip and gave it to John. Resulting in my... rebirth.”
“I'm getting a headache I think,” Kaylee muttered.
“Getting late,” Mal observed, “That brings me back to you...Cameron. We need some rest. Do you... sleep?”
“And If I lock you in a room, I reckon you could break out anyway... right?”
“That is correct.”
“I still say we space it,” Jayne rumbled.
“Jayne!” Kaylee exclaimed.
“Hard vacuum would not 'kill' me. It would only severely damage my skin.”
“She can stay with me,” River stated.
“River...” Simon began.
Cameron smiled, “I would like that.”
“Now hold on,” Mal sputtered, “We need to think about this first.”
“I will not harm River. My processors have finished their analysis of her DNA. She is a descendant of John Connor. The primary instructions in my programming are to protect anyone in John Connor's family.”
Simon's jaw dropped, “You analyzed her DNA? How?”
“I obtained her DNA when she hugged me,” Cameron stated, “All terminators have this ability. It assures that we have the proper target.
“And you are all my friends and family,” River grinned, “Cameron will protect us.”
Simon shook his head in wonder, “What else can you do?”
“My ocular sensors allow me to see in the visible, infrared and ultraviolet spectrums. My other sensors allow me to compute what a humans emotional state may be. I can tell if someone is lying or their general emotional state from things like pulse rate, respiration and bio-electrical signals.”
“Wuo-de-ma,” Mal muttered.
“My physical strength is approximately ten times greater than even someone like him,” Cameron said as she indicated Jayne, “I am proficient with all firearms and as a computer myself, I can hack almost any computer system. And as you have already seen, mere firearms cannot really harm me.”
Kaylee spoke up, “What makes you run?”
“I have a compact nuclear power source in my chest. I will continue to function for several decades. In that time I should be able to fabricate a new power supply from current day technology.”
Kaylee grinned. It was almost like she had a new toy to play with, “I think she's shiny!”
Mal groaned. Between River's insistence that Cameron stay with her in her room and Kaylee suddenly realizing Cameron was something to tinker with. He knew he was in trouble. Even Zoë and Inara were warming to the idea.
“Gotta admit, Sir. Having someone around with those kind of abilities would be mighty handy,” Zoë observed.
“It's kinda like having a... super River,” Kaylee grinned.
“How we gonna tell em' apart?” Jayne asked. “Next to each other I's can tell but just the one beyond a few yards and it will be damn hard.”
“We can figure that out later Jayne.”
“So, we're keeping her?” Kaylee asked, hopefully.
“For the moment, Lil' Kaylee,” Mal sighed.
Cameron tilted her head in a very River like way, “I don not know what you mean by shiny.”
“It's slang term for good, fine or excellent,” River explained.
“Thank you for explaining,” Cameron replied.
River led Cameron down the ladder into her bunk. Since she was now the ship's pilot, She had convinced Mal to let her have the unused crew bunk, closest to the bridge. Upon reaching the bottom of the ladder, Cameron looked around. “This is your room?”
“It is,” River replied.
“I have much to learn about this century,” Cameron noted.
“You can use Simon's portable encyclopedia in the morning,” River said with a smile.
“That would be welcome.”
River sat on the edge of her bed, gazing at her twin, “Did Simon do a good job on the sutures?”
“He is a skilled physician,” Cameron observed.
“He's a good brother even if he is a boob.”
Cameron actually snickered, “Isn't that a brother's job?”
River grinned, “He does it very well.”
“Do you need any underwear? I have extra and yours looked a bit tattered earlier,” River inquired.
River went to her small dresser and removed a pair of panties and a bra then paused.
Is there something wrong?” Cameron asked.
“The bra wont fit. You're... bigger than I am.”
“You are seven kilograms under weight,” Cameron said, “Once you gain that weight, it will be difficult to tell us apart.”
River grinned, “Are you saying I am too skinny?”
“Yes,” Cameron smiled back.
Cameron easily dodged the pillow thrown at her. With a giggle, River quickly undressed for bed, dropping a nightgown over her head. Sitting back on the bed she patted the mattress next to her. Cameron sat down. River noted how much the mattress compressed under her twin.
“What do you mass?” River asked.
Cameron looked at River and smiled, “It's not nice to ask a girl how much she weighs...”
River smirked back, “So says someone who said I was skinny,”
“I mass approximately one hundred twenty seven kilos.”
“More than Jayne,” River giggled.
“This is so qu-ti. It is like I am speaking to myself,” River said.
“Qu-ti?” Cameron asked, with perfect enunciation.
“Mandarin for strange.”
“Thank you for explaining. Is Mandarin a common language now?”
“It is,” River replied, “Will that be a problem?”
“I will need to see language texts to learn. I speak Spanish, French, Russian and Japanese in addition to English.”
“So do I,” River grinned.
You do?” Cameron asked, surprised.
“I am a genius,” River stated.
“My IQ is over two hundred. The official term is, profoundly gifted. And then of course, I'm not quite right either.”
“Not quite right?”
“It's a good thing you don't sleep and I'm not tired yet. This will be a long story.”
Stifling a yawn, Mal walked into the galley, as usual, finding Zoë awake and already sipping her coffee, “Mornin, Zoë”
“Morning, Sir,” She replied, still staring at her coffee cup.
Grabbing a cup himself, Mal sat at the table, “Something bothering you?”
“Our cargo, Sir.”
“What part? The part that is stuff from Earth that was or the part that's walkin and talkin?”
“I'm right uncomfortable with having something like that on board my ship. Not rightly sure what could be done if this... Cameron took it in it's head to turn on us.”
“Ain't quite what's botherin me, Sir. I'm reckonin that Haymer is expectin to find somethin in that crate when we deliver it.”
“That does present a problem.”
“No it doesn't,” River chirped as she entered the galley, followed closely by Cameron.
Mal did a double take. River had dressed Cameron in her own clothes. Both wore flowy dresses and combat boots. River had even brushed her hair to be like Cameron's. Both took seats near the Captain and first mate. Each having the same pleasant smile on their faces. It was damn hard to tell who was who.
“You have some insight on how we are gonna fix this little problem, Albatross? I mean part o' our cargo is now walkin all over the ship and dressin like you...”
“We need to make a stop first.” River said.
“Where, little one?” Zoë asked.
River's face fell, “Mr. Universe's moon.”
Zoë's face grew hard and Mal nearly spit out his coffee. It hadn't been even a year yet and River wanted to go back?
“Why?” Zoë asked tersely.
“Len... you mean Universe's love bot?”
River nodded. All the while, Cameron watched the interplay between them quietly.
“What the hell do you need with that?”
“To take Cameron's place in the crate.”
“Haymer is gonna know a late model love bot from... whatever Cameron is.”
“This is true,” Cameron said, breaking her silence, “But from what I have gathered from River... This Mr. Haymer does not know exactly what is in all of the cargo. For all he knows, the crate is empty.”
River continued, “Haymer knows of our situation. A love bot is very expensive. He would not believe we would have the resources to lay our hands on one. Therefore, he will assume that someone else took his... cargo.”
“What about her... it... whatever,” Mal sputtered.
Cameron cracked a grin, unnerving the Captain, “I will assume the role of River's twin sister. No one will be the wiser.”
“You don't know a thing about our time...” Mal trailed off as River gave him her most venomous 'boob' look.
“I am adaptable and learn very fast. A few hours with Simon's encyclopedia and I will be able to fit in. That is my primary function. To infiltrate.”
“She's got a point, Sir,” Zoë observed.
“Gotta call her something. The term 'it' kinda stands out. And since she at least looks female...”
“I get it, “ Mal said as he rubbed his eyes. After a moment's consideration he looked at his pilot, “How long?”
“Stopping at Mr. Universe's will delay us less than a day.”
“Fine... set course. It'll just be me Jayne and River goin in to get... Lenore.”
“Cameron too,” River insisted.
“Fine... Cameron too.”
“Thank you Captain.”
“Now that we got that settled, who's turn is it to make breakfast?”
“Simon's...” River giggled.
Zoë lifted an eyebrow and Mal sighed, “Albatross... you mind?”
“Yes I will cook. Ge-ge's culinary skills violate his Hippocratic oath.”
“That's for sure,” Zoë chuckled.
“Come, shuang bao tai. You can help,” River said as she got to her feet and headed for the kitchen.
Cameron rose with equal grace, “I would be glad to.”
Mal looked over at Zoë who watched the pair begin pulling out pots and pans. Suddenly Zoë grinned.
“What is it, Zoë?”
“Just had a thought. If the Academy ever comes back after River, I say we give em' Cameron then stand back n' watch the fireworks.”
Mal chuckled, “Might be a bit humorous at that.”
Translations: shuang bao tai is the closest I could come to twin sister.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 11:04 AM
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 12:52 PM
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 2:22 AM
Thursday, May 28, 2009 1:10 AM
Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:24 PM
You must log in to post comments.
OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR
All FIREFLY graphics and photos on this page are copyright 2002-2012 Mutant Enemy, Inc., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox.
All other graphics and texts are copyright of the contributors to this website.
This website IS NOT affiliated with the Official Firefly Site, Mutant Enemy, Inc., or 20th Century Fox. | <urn:uuid:0cd9ef53-fd03-4cbc-aa4e-a07e81671e29> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=22028 | 2013-05-26T02:48:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97088 | 4,862 |
This article is part of our Rising Star Portfolios series.
Like it or not, the world needs oil, and oil companies need to add reserves if long-term demand from emerging markets like China and India are to be met. Since the financial crisis in 2008, spending on exploration has dried up, but now after two years of lackluster capital spending, oil is firmly above $80 a barrel, and I expect oil companies to aggressively begin spending on exploration. In my portfolio, I am taking a 6% position in the largest oilfield services company, Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) , which provides the picks and shovels for oil and gas companies.
An oncoming surge in oil exploration spending is what led me to my first pick, seismic company ION Geophysical (NYSE: IO ) , which has worked out quite well thus far. In the past month as I patiently perused the market, I kept coming back to Schlumberger, despite its recent rally, as a stock that everyone should own as another wave of exploration spending is set to begin.
Schlumberger is the clear leader in oilfield services in terms of size, scope, and technology, and it's in a superior position to its competition to benefit from a ramp up in oil exploration spending. The company's size -- which dwarfs its nearest competitors: Halliburton (NYSE: HAL ) , Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI ) , and Weatherford (NYSE: WFT ) -- makes it a key companion for some of the largest oil companies in the world and helps produce the most attractive profit margins when business booms.
National and major public integrated oil companies will likely be aggressive investors in the next spending cycle, which I expect to occur in international oilfields and deepwater drilling. This scenario puts Schlumberger in the sweet spot with its one-stop shop convenience and close ties to national oil companies. Schlumberger is one of the few companies with the ability to integrate technology from seismic all the way to well completion in one integrated package, which attracts large oil companies.
Further, the company's focus on international operations will be a catalyst as customers ramp up spending; international rig counts recently reached an all-time high. Schlumberger's geographical reach, which put it at a disadvantage to competitor Halliburton over the past year as spending heated up in North America, should reverse as the exploration focus shifts overseas. With more than 40% of sales coming from exploration stage and 75% from international markets, Schlumberger is poised to grow its share of oil services revenue.
Schlumberger's size has also let it differentiate itself from its peers because of its clear technological lead -- thanks to a research and development budget that's larger than its three closest competitors combined.
The bulk of service and equipment spending over the past year came from gas shale plays in North America, where independent exploration and production companies spent primarily based on equipment price versus quality. This will likely reverse as Schlumberger's major customers -- the largest players -- beef up spending in harder to reach places like the deep waters off the coasts of West Africa and Brazil. Oil is not getting any easier to find, and Schlumberger's strong technological lead will be key in the next spending cycle.
3 critical elements to the thesis
- The price of oil does not need to reach $140 a barrel again for this investment to work out. All we need is stability above $75 a barrel for oil companies to bring exploration spending back online.
- Schlumberger brings in three-fourths of its revenue from international markets, which are at an all-time high in terms of rig counts. International exploration spending typically lags that in North America at the beginning of a cycle. Brazil, the Middle East, and Africa are key regions where activity is expected to be robust and growing.
- Margin expansion: Schlumberger's strongest margins come from its international business, which I expect will expand in the coming years. As an added kicker, margins in North America should rebound after the company has reorganized its fragmented operations domestically, and the wave of mergers and acquisitions recently will bring larger players to North America – Schlumberger's primary customer base.
What could go wrong?
It's highly likely that Schlumberger will gain market share and expand its profit margins as exploration spending heats up. Economic growth from emerging markets like China and India should also support oil demand, but a major economic meltdown would curb the spending cycle or at least shorten the duration. The broader economy will need to play nice to get the biggest bang for our buck as spending grows over the next five years.
Political and operational risk is always high as we all witnessed with the Maconda oil spill. Also, Iraq is a key region in the Middle East as it boosts production and is expected to absorb a good deal of capacity. This will be a key component of margin expansion internationally. Growth overseas may also be held up as projects that were put on hold in 2008 take longer than expected to restart.
The Foolish bottom line
Schlumberger is up 50% since September, which would usually keep me from jumping on board, but I expect earnings per share to surpass its prior peak in 2008 and break above $5 a share by 2012. Schlumberger is the most leveraged major services company to exploration, international growth, and the difficult deepwater and unconventional plays. All these areas of expertise make it a solid pick as we head into 2011 and beyond.
For earnings updates and buy, sell, hold advice on all of my stock picks, follow my discussion board here. | <urn:uuid:e6b81240-e6e1-4f23-8be9-48c95d58450f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/01/07/rising-star-buy-schlumberger.aspx | 2013-05-26T02:35:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962723 | 1,142 |
The Weekly Standard
January 7, 2013
by Lee Smith
An explosion in southern Lebanon last week destroyed what is believed to have been a Hezbollah weapons depot. This latest in a series of mysterious "accidents" in Hezbollah-controlled precincts proved, as one Israeli official wryly remarked, that those who "sleep with rockets and amass large stockpiles of weapons are in a very unsafe place." With the Party of God's overland supply route through Syria choked off by the 22-month-long uprising against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and Israel virtually in total control of the maritime route, Hezbollah's stockpile is being systematically degraded.
Yet the arsenal of Iran's other regional proxy force, Hamas, is growing. The Israeli Defense Forces' campaign against Hamas last month in Gaza targeted Iranian missiles, including the Fajr-5, capable of reaching Tel Aviv and other points north, and destroyed most of them within the first hours of the conflict. But Hamas is already rearming, and it's not clear that Israel or even Muslim Brotherhood-governed Egypt, which is ostensibly capable of controlling the Sinai tunnel networks through which Hamas receives its arms, can do much about it.
Israel's next war with Hamas—a further confrontation is almost inevitable—may well feature not only Iranian missiles smuggled through Sudan, but NATO-quality small arms and shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles that come by way of Hamas's most recent weapons supplier, post-Qaddafi Libya.
Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense also zeroed in on Hamas commanders, most notably Ahmed al-Jabari, Hamas's chief of staff, responsible for the group's military operations. It was Jabari who replaced Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, assassinated in a Dubai hotel room almost three years ago in an operation usually attributed to Israel. In a sense, then, Pillar of Defense began back in January 2010 in that most profligate of the United Arab Emirates—which is also a veritable weapons bazaar.
"It's the Casablanca of the Middle East, with all sorts of shady characters, money laundering, and arms deals," says Michael Ross, a former Mossad operations officer. "With the Mabhouh assassination, the UAE authorities had all this video feed of what were allegedly Mossad operatives moving in and out of Dubai, but what they didn't show was footage of Mabhouh meeting with a banker, then with his contact from the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps]." According to Ross, Mabhouh's briefcase was a treasure trove of information detailing what items Hamas procured from the Iranians and the logistics of getting them to Gaza.
Arms smuggling was a problem in Gaza long before Hamas took control, says Major (Res.) Aviv Oreg, formerly in charge of the al Qaeda and global jihad desk in Israel's military intelligence service and now head of a private consulting firm specializing in terrorism, CeifiT. "In the past, there was a maritime route via Syria or Lebanon, and when the smugglers approached the location they'd put the weapons in large flotation devices with the hope that the current would take it ashore," says Oreg. "Sometimes it got tangled up in fishermen's nets."
When the Israeli Navy interdicted the Karine A freighter in 2002 and stopped a large cache of Iranian-made weapons from reaching Gaza, it not only turned George W. Bush against Yasser Arafat for good, it also signaled that Israel had closed Iran's maritime route to Gaza once and for all. And yet as Israel's 2005 disengagement from Gaza cleared the way for Hamas's 2007 takeover, the outfit sought more sophisticated weapons, and Iran's support. The question for Tehran was how to get arms to their Palestinian clients.
"The ships usually start in the port of Bandar Abbas," says Oreg. "They come through the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, around the Arabian Peninsula, and crossing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, docking in Port Sudan." Occasionally the Iranians will dock in Eritrea, "just to mix things up," but their preferred point of entry is Sudan.
Sudan is critical, agrees Michael Ross. "This is where the parts for Iranian weapons are assembled. The guys in Gaza aren't too swift in putting together complicated systems like the Fajr-5. Some assembly may be required when it hits Gaza, but the more complicated, high-tech aspects of the weapons systems are assembled in Sudan by Iranians, who have a large presence in Khartoum, at places like the al-Yarmouk factory."
In October, an operation widely credited to Israel destroyed this key Iranian weapons depot. Other attacks on Sudanese soil attributed to Israel, such as the spring 2009 series of strikes on weapons convoys, have left some wondering what the government in Khartoum has to gain from painting a big target on its head for the IDF.
Money is part of it, says Matthew Levitt, director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who points to extensive economic cooperation between Iran and Sudan. "But there are also ideological reasons. These are radical Islamists, they've been angry at the world since their president, Omar al-Bashir, was indicted for war crimes, and they don't like Israel."
Even if it were possible to convince Khartoum to sever ties with Tehran, says Oreg, "the Iranians would find a replacement without too much difficulty, Eritrea or Somalia, both places where the central government is incapable of extending control over its territory." In any case, the real problem is Egypt.
Sudanese smugglers, mostly from the Rashaida tribe, transport the weapons from Port Sudan in trucks across the Nubian Desert to the Egyptian border, all the way through Egypt's Eastern Desert along the Red Sea, and through the Suez Canal deep into the Sinai Peninsula. "The easiest way to cut off Hamas's weapons supply," says Ross, "would be to shut down the shipments coming out of Sudan, at the source, rather than in Sinai. The routes are limited, and this could easily be accomplished if the Egyptian military made an effort. But the army has always been the problem. While Mubarak was president, it was the intelligence service under Omar Suleiman that stopped shipments, kept radical elements at bay, and cooperated very closely with Israel. The military looks the other way and just doesn't care."
In fact, since the August jihadist attack in the Sinai that killed 16 Egyptian border guards, the army has been more vigilant, recognizing that its own security, and not merely Israel's, is at stake. The proliferation of foreign fighters in the Sinai, some of them aligned with Egypt's Salafist movement, moreover, poses a big political risk for Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. Judging by his actions during Pillar of Defense, Morsi believes that keeping the peace with Israel is in the national interest. That still leaves plenty of room for him to be outflanked on his right by the Salafists and armed fighters whose prestige rests precisely on the fact that they are fighting Israel. The problem, then, is that if Morsi closes the tunnels, affecting both Hamas and the Sinai jihadists, the latter will turn on him; if he doesn't, the jihadists will eventually come for him anyway.
In any case, he has an excuse for the United States and Israel ready at hand: Practically speaking, it's almost impossible to shut down the entire network of tunnels between Sinai and Gaza—and for that, he can lay some of the blame at Mubarak's feet.
"The nomadic tribes in the Sinai were neglected by the government for years," says Oreg. "There are no roads, no employment, and their main source of income became smuggling—not only weapons into Gaza, but routes into Israel also, smuggling drugs and women." The Tarabin tribe, he explains, is the most dominant—and the wealthiest. "In Sinai, the biggest and most expensive houses belong to smugglers. For one AK-47, a smuggler gets $1,000."
Besides the profit motive for smuggling, there are also geographical issues that make it difficult to close the industry. "With the high mountains in the Sinai," says Oreg, "it's easy for the smugglers to move around, and not even the Egyptian Army can do much about it."
The Gaza side of the border is even more economically dependent on the tunnel networks that, since Hamas took over, have become highly regulated. "After the blockade of Gaza," says Oreg, "everything went through tunnels. All of Gaza's international trade is conducted through the tunnels, thousands of them. Hamas has basically institutionalized the tunnel industry, requiring registration for tunnels and imposing taxes on them. You can make up to $50,000 a month on a tunnel."
Not surprisingly, Libyan entrepreneurs now want a piece of the action. The supply line, according to Oreg, is the same—via Sudan. "But eventually," says Oreg, "they will likely build smuggling networks through the Libyan desert into Egypt." What's different, says Ross, is the materiel. "For instance, they've got FN F2000s, a Belgian-manufactured military assault rifle. The Europeans, in their infinite wisdom, treated Qaddafi like just another client. And so after Qaddafi, people found warehouses full of munitions, and if you're sitting on a stockpile, it's not too tough to make contacts with middlemen and facilitators. What a wild west that's become."
Israeli officials might be worried about the Sinai turning into an Afghanistan on their border, but with Hamas, they're looking at a garrison equipped with Iranian missiles and European small arms. "We saw how much Hamas had at its disposal with Operation Pillar of Defense," notes Ross. "There was no ground incursion this time around, but you'd have seen them breaking out all sorts of stuff, like NATO-quality small arms. We've come a long way from the First Intifada and 8-year-olds throwing rocks."
Lee Smith is a visiting fellow at Hudson Institute and is the author of The Strong Horse: Power, Politics and the Clash of Arab Civilizations (Doubleday, 2010).
Home | Learn About Hudson | Hudson Scholars | Find an Expert | Support Hudson | Contact Information | Site Map
Policy Centers | Research Areas | Publications & Op-Eds | Hudson Bookstore
Hudson Institute, Inc. 1015 15th Street, N.W. 6th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.974.2400 Fax: 202.974.2410 Email the Webmaster
© Copyright 2013 Hudson Institute, Inc. | <urn:uuid:e465f78a-a404-4aad-84e5-ca8680a86c08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=publication_details&id=9449 | 2013-05-26T02:55:05Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966302 | 2,202 |
- » Spiced Plum
Spiced Plum Recipes
Enjoy our collection of spiced plum recipes submitted, reviewed and rated by ifood.tv community. Meet people who are looking for spiced plum recipes.
Spiced Purple Plum
The spiced purple plum is a gelatin and blue plum mold. Spiced with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, this spiced purple plum is sweet to taste and may be served at the end of the meal or as a side with heavier courses. I love to serve this with meats. - 36.8092
Spiced Plum Puree
Cut plums in half, discard seeds and put in a medium-size saucepan with sugar, cinnamon and water.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Press through a sieve into fondue pot.
In a small bowl blend cornstarch with wine.
Stir into plum puree and cook over medium heat... - 32.5633
Spiced Purple Plums
Peel, pit and quarter plums.
Combine water, clove, bay leaf, cinnamon and sugar replacement in saucepan.
Bring just to boiling; add plums.
Bring back to boiling, reduce heat and cook 5 minutes.
With a slotted spoon, remove plums to heated serving dish. - 30.9094
Wash plums and prick with a fork or large needle.
Boil remaining ingredients together 5 minutes.
Pour boiling sirup over plums.
Let stand 3 days, then lift out plums, boil down sirup until quite thick, add plums and heat to boiling.
Pour into hot sterilized... - 26.4941
Hot Spiced Red Plums
Drain the plums, reserving the juice.
Heat the plum juice, cinnamon stick, allspice, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Add the plums just before serving.
Heat through. - 25.63
You May Also Like!
Cinnamon Spiced Stewed Fresh Plums
Combine sugar, water, salt, and lemon juice in saucepan.
Add cinnamon stick and bring to boiling point, stirring constantly.
Cut plums into halves and place in boiling syrup.
Boil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender.
Remove from heat and chill. - 29.2473
Spiced Plums In Wine
Wash firm, slightly underripe red plums.
Prick them all over with a sterilized needle.
Combine wine, honey and spices and bring to a boil.
Turn heat down and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add plums and bring slowly to a simmer using medium-low heat.
Remove from... - 37.6362
Spiced Plum Or Plum And Tomato Sauce
Put all the ingredients into a large pan and bring slowly to the boil.
Simmer gently for up to 2 hours, until the mixture is a sloppy pulp.
Cool a little then strain through a colander to remove the stones and skins.
You can then sieve the puree if you prefer... - 41.0199
Spiced Plum Crumble
Toss the first five ingredients together and spread in a greased deep 8-inch bake pan or dish.
Rub the remaining ingredients together to form a crumbly mixture and spread over the plums.
Cover and bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
Uncover and bake until brown,... - 25.3052
Pears In Wine
Place pears in slow cooker.
Combine sugar, wine, lemon, and spices.
Pour over pears.
Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
Cool and serve with whipped cream. - 25.8875
Spiced Plum Pie
1) In a large bowl, place plums and dredge lemon juice over plums.
2) In a bowl, mix together sugar with tapioca, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3) Mix in the plums and toss lightly to combine.
4) Allow to stand for 15 minutes.
5) Preheat oven to... - 45.027
Red And Purple Plums In Spiced Wine
Red And Purple Plums In Spiced Wine is an irresistible mouth watering dessert recipe which you would love to serve to your loved ones. Try this Red And Purple Plums In Spiced Wine; I bet you will have a huge fan following for this. - 39.6454
Spiced Plums In Port
Heat reserved plum syrup, the port, cloves and cinnamon stick to boiling.
Reduce heat; simmer uncovered about 15 minutes.
Remove cloves and cinnamon stick.
Add plums and orange slices. - 21.9533
Wine Spiced Plums
Boil the first 5 ingredients together for 5 minutes.
Add a few dashes yellow vegetable coloring.
Prick plums in 2 or 3 places and press a clove into blossom end.
Drop into hot syrup.
Stir and allow plums to heat through without cooking.
Pack into sterilized... - 35.4506 | <urn:uuid:a3147743-2c71-40c7-b8f6-091e93bcd7e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ifood.tv/network/spiced_plum/recipes | 2013-05-26T03:04:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.847163 | 1,051 |
Did a Comet Really Chill and Kill Clovis Culture?
A 130-foot-meteor created the mile-wide Meteor Crater in Arizona. The comet proposed to have impacted life in North America was significantly larger, but no crater indicating its collision has been found.
CREDIT: Dan Durda
A comet crashing into the Earth some 13,000 years ago was thought to have spelled doom to a group of early North American people, and possibly the extinction of ice age beasts in the region.
But the space rock was wrongly accused, according to a group of 16 scientists in fields ranging from archaeology to crystallography to physics, who have offered counterevidence to the existence of such a collision.
"Despite more than four years of trying by many qualified researchers, no unambiguous evidence has been found [of such an event]," Mark Boslough, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, told LiveScience.
"That lack of evidence is therefore evidence of absence."
Almost 13,000 years ago, a prehistoric Paleo-Indian group known as the Clovis culture suffered its demise at the same time the region underwent significant climate cooling known as the Younger Dryas. Animals such as ground sloths, camels and mammoths were wiped out in North America around the same period. [Wipe Out: The 10 Most Mysterious Extinctions]
In 2007, a team of scientists led by Richard Firestone of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California suggested these changes were the result of a collision or explosion of an enormous comet or asteroid, pointing to a carbon-rich black layer at a number of sites across North America. The theory has remained controversial, with no sign of a crater that would have resulted from such an impact.
"If a four-kilometer [2.5-mile] comet had broken up over North America only 12.9 thousand years ago, it is certain that it would have left an unambiguous impact crater or craters, as well as unambiguous shocked materials," Boslough said.
Boslough, who has spent decades studying the effects of comet and asteroid collisions, was part of a team that predicted the visibility of plumes from the impact of the 1994 Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet with Jupiter.
"Comet impacts may be low enough in density not to leave craters," Firestone told LiveScience by email.
He also points to independent research by William Napier at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom that indicates such explosions could have come from a debris trail created by Comet Encke, which also would not have left a crater.
A large rock plunging into the Earth's atmosphere may detonate in the air without coming into contact with the ground. Such an explosion occurred in Siberia in the early 20th century; the explosive energy of the so-called Tunguska event was more than 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
"No crater was formed at Tunguska, or the recent Russian impact," Firestone said.
But Boslough said this math doesn't add up. The object responsible for the Tunguska event was very small, about 130 to 160 feet (40 to 50 meters) wide, while the recent explosion over Russia was smaller, about 56 feet (17 meters). The proposed North American space rock linked with the Clovis demise is estimated to have been closer to 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) across.
"The physics doesn't support the idea of something that big exploding in the air," he said, noting that the original research team doesn't provide any explanation or models for how such a breakup might occur. [The 10 Greatest Explosions Ever]
If such a large object crashed into the Earth, the resulting crater would be too large to miss, particularly when it was only a few thousand years old, Boslough said. He pointed to Meteor Crater in Arizona, which is three times as old and formed by an object "a million times smaller in terms of explosive energy."
"Meteor Crater is an unambiguous impact crater with unambiguous shocked minerals," Boslough said. If a 2.5-mile comet had broken into pieces, it could have made a million Meteor Craters, he added.
Firestone argued that water or ice could have absorbed the impact, possibly leaving behind no crater.
Boslough disagreed. Even if the comet had plunged into the ice sheet covering much of North America, the crater formed beneath it would still be sizable. "We wouldn't be able to miss that right now — it would be obvious," Boslough said.
The arguments and evidence against the impact were published in the December 2012 American Geophysical Union monograph.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"
Powerful impacts are Boslough's field, but the other 15 scientists working on the paper offered up other sources of counterevidence for the existence of a collision.
"We all independently came to the conclusion that the evidence doesn't support a Younger Dryas impact," Boslough said. [Asteroid Basics: A Space Rock Quiz]
"We all came to this based on our own very narrow piece of the puzzle."
For instance, the initial team studying the event announced the discovery of a carbon-rich black layer, colloquially known as a "black mat," at a number of sites in North America. Containing charcoal, soot and nanodiamonds, such material could be formed by a violent collision.
But this isn't the only possible source.
"The things they call impact markers are not necessarily indicators of high-pressure shocks," Boslough said. "There are other processes that potentially could have formed them."
Speaking of the black mat found in central Mexico, Firestone said, "Boslough is correct that there are other black mats, but these are dated to 12,900 years ago at the time of impact." He points to independent research published this fall that located hundreds to thousands of samples.
However, radiocarbon dating of one of the sites in Gainey, Mich., suggested its samples were contaminated.
Melted rock formations and microscopic diamonds found in a lake in Central Mexico last year were also suggested as evidence for the collision, but Boslough's team disagrees with the age of the sediment layer in the region.
Boslough said the standard for indicating a strong shock occurred is pretty high in the impact community, and the findings by the original team don't meet them. Nor do they offer up any physical models that propose how an impact or airburst would have occurred — and the ones Boslough has run just don't pan out.
"It's really a stretch to claim that there was this large impact event with no crater and no unambiguous shock material, because large impacts are such rare events," Boslough said.
"When somebody is making a claim that something extraordinary happened, something out of the ordinary and with a very low probability, and they have ambiguous evidence, then the default is that it didn't happen," he continued.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."
Firestone stands firm.
"All the evidence has now been confirmed by others," he said.
"Boslough has no data supporting his arguments, and ignores the counter arguments of Bill Napier."
MORE FROM LiveScience.com | <urn:uuid:f3aa90d9-f56f-428a-a0b4-cef450a9b830> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.livescience.com/27565-did-comet-kill-clovis-culture.html | 2013-05-26T03:02:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969198 | 1,523 |
COPS ATTEND KINDERGARTEN KID'S GRADUATION
Kindergarten graduation is supposed to be a really fun time for a kid. But little Tatum Raetz's graduation came just three days after her police officer father was killed while investigating a drunk driving case. So the 5 year old had some stand-ins for daddy: nearly 300 uniformed officers lined the sidewalk at her school. When the little girl and her mom got out of the car they saw a sea of blue: officers cheering and applauding, just there to support her. The photos are WONDERFUL.
HILLSBORO STUDENTS HIT BY SUV
Here we go, into the most dangerous time of year for kids. Two Hillsboro High School students were hit by an SUV as they crossed the street at Hillsboro and Abbott Martin yesterday morning. They girls are going to be okay, but admitted they crossed against the light. You're going to have to remember that children do NOT always pay attention like they should, and as a driver, you'll need to watch out for them if you can.
MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL: INCREASED SECURITY ON THE ROAD
This weekend is considered the start of the summer driving season, so there'lll be a lot of extra traffic on the roads and at the airport. THP and local police will have roadblocks and checkpoints through Monday night.
METRO NASHVILLE SCHOOL IS OUT
This is the final day of school for Metro Nashville. Please be aware the kids will be out at times you don't normally see them today.
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND IN NASHVILLE
With the extra time off this weekend, you may be looking for something to do with the family, so here are some options.
Tonight (Friday night) is Zoovie Night at the Zoo. They're showing Monsters Vs Aliens at 6, the Flea Market is at the State Fairgrounds this weekend, and this is the last weekend of the Renaissance Festival. Nashville's Memorial Day Blues Festival is Monday in Centennial Park, 10 to 6, admission is free.
KIDS WITH ASTHMA BETTER WITH SWIMMING
Nashville Shores opens this weekend, and community pools are starting to. And as they do, health officials are reminding you that swimming is a great way to get kids to exercise and socialize. It's also been shown that kids with asthma have fewer symptoms when they swim regularly. When does your Metro community pool open?
CARRIE UNDERWOOD DONATES TO RED CROSS
Carrie Underwood is donating a million dollars to the Red Cross to help with tornado relief in Oklahoma. She says she used to ride her bike through some of the neighborhoods hit.... and just wants to help.
BOY SCOUTS MAKE DECISION
Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to allow openly gay boys to join scouting. They say everyone can agree that kids are better off when they are scouting.
BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN WASHINGTON STATE
Investigators in Washington state are trying to figure out what caused a section of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit [[ SKA-jit ]] River to collapse, plunging two vehicles into the water below, and injuring three people.
IRS OFFICIAL ON LEAVE AFTER REFUSING TO TESTIFY
IRS official Lois Lerner is on administrative leave. The move comes just a day after she took the Fifth while testifying on Capitol Hill in the IRS scandal. The agency has come under fire for placing conservative groups under extra scrutiny while applying for non-profit status.
Prosecutors in Phoenix, Arizona plan to keep trying to see Jodi Arias sentenced to death, even after yesterday's hung jury decision. She's been convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend in 2008.
CHARLES RAMSEY, WHO HELPED FREE KIDNAP VICTIMS, GETS BURGERS FOR LIFE
And remember Charles Ramsey, who helped free the Ohio Kidnapping victims? Well, since he did mention he interrupted his burger meal to go help, more than a dozen Northeast Ohio restaurants are offering him a free burger anytime he wants to stop in and eat.
BROKEN ARM ONE DAY AFTER SIX YEAR HEALING PROCESS
A man in England has to have surgery. Again. After breaking his arm. Again.
Tim Blackburn fell off a ladder in 2007 and broke his arm so badly it required surgery, and then special treatments. The DAY AFTER his last bone-mending treatment, he tripped over his dog and fell down the stairs, breaking the same arm. Tim said, "I just gotta laugh, or I'll cry about it."
THE NEW WAVE FOR LIBRARIES? TEXAS TO OPEN PAPERLESS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Do you still go to the library? Ever? That's why officials in San Antonio are trying out an electronic, paperless library. You go to the library and you can either use a computer station or check out an e-reader, and they already have a starter selection of ten-thousand digital books. You can also check them out online.
OTHER PAPERLESS LIBRARIES
NINE YEAR OLD TAKES ON MCDONALD'S
A nine-year-old girl takes McDonald's CEO Don Thompson to task for targeting kids with food that's not healthy. Thompson was confronted by Hannah Robertson during Thursday's annual shareholder's meeting. She asked, "Mr. Thompson, don't you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and healthy life?" Thompson said, "We don't sell junk food." | <urn:uuid:53e94e3b-2de3-46be-b54d-daaf2550559e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mix929.com/news/anna?page=%2C54%2C7%2C4%2C1 | 2013-05-26T02:51:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957774 | 1,173 |
Washington apprised American security officers John Ford and Joe Bezjian of the situation at their base of operations at the American Embassy in Paris, France. Both gentlemen were security professionals but Joe was the technical expert. The embassy invited them to come to Moscow to see if they could solve the mystery. Like the allied search team, they turned up nothing and determined that the Soviets had removed the device. This occurrence added fuel to the concern that the Soviets possessed a new technology that could effectively evade western search equipment and techniques. This was further compounded when an American military attaché, Major Van Latham, stationed at the Mohkavaya building (the American Embassy Chancery building at that time) overheard the ambassador’s voice while monitoring his radio. A frantic search ensued but once again, nothing was found.
In September, Joe and John returned to Moscow to perform another search of U.S. facilities. They searched U.S. Embassy facilities thoroughly and turned up nothing. Joe suspected that his search may have been compromised but decided to make one last effort. As with Ambassador Kennan, he was aware that the renovation of Spaso House presented an opportunity for the KGB to introduce something technical – he just didn’t know what. Discussing the matter with the Ambassador they worked out a plan. The plan included surreptitious delivery of Joe’s search equipment to the house and a bogus classified dictation session by the Ambassador in his study. Joe moved all of his personal effects into a guest room at Spaso House and took up the life of a house guest for several days. He invited people over for dinner, played bridge in the evening, and quietly watched the normal routines of the house and its occupants.
On September 12, the embassy personnel officer, Sam Janey, brought Joe’s disguised search equipment to the house. The two men hid the equipment in a residence safe. According to plan, Ambassador Kennan called his longtime secretary, Ms. Dorothy Hessman, to perform dictation in the ambassador’s study. The ambassador dictated from an old embassy dispatch. The dispatch consisted of an unclassified portion of published diplomatic correspondence and to the uninformed ear could well sound worth collecting.
Soon after Ms. Hessman arrived, Joe and Sam carried the equipment from the safe to the attic. Almost as soon as the equipment warmed up Joe spun his dial and heard Ambassador Kennan’s voice and Ms. Hessman’s typing. Joe’s attentions snapped onto his receiver and a surge of adrenalin sharpened his focus, but he controlled his excitement and continued his quiet hunt using the radio strapped to his chest like a concessionaire at a ball game. Hearing the ambassador’s voice “on the air” Joe sent Sam down to the study with a note to the ambassador. Sam passed the note to Ambassador Kennan and then implored him, via sub-vocal whispers, to “keep on, keep on.” The room charged with an unknown presence lurking beyond the shadows.
Joe carried his equipment slowly down the stairs, entered the study, and started parsing the room, searching for the signal’s origin. He lowered his whip antenna, diminishing the receiver’s sensitivity, and quietly treaded from corner to corner. Ambassador Kennan continued dictating but held his eyes riveted on Joe as he fiddled with his dials and antenna. Using the meter on his receiver and the shifting audio in his headset, Joe tracked the signal to the study’s left rear corner. A corner table displayed many small things including a Zenith radio. Joe pointed to Sam to remove the radio and then in turn pointed at different items for him to remove from the table. Joe heard no effect on the device’s audio as the ambassador continued to read. Above the table hung a large wooden replica of the U.S. Great Seal. After Sam removed all the items from the table Joe’s eyes fixed on the Seal. He approached it delicately, suspecting that it might be covering up something planted in the wall.
Placing his receiver down, Joe picked the Great Seal off the wall gingerly and placed it on an overstuffed chair at the room’s center. The signal dropped off and just as suddenly returned. Joe returned to examine the wall. He slowly scanned back and forth with his eyes and ran his finger tips across the plaster surface seeing and feeling nothing. He slowly turned and fixed his gaze on the Great Seal. He went back to the chair where it sat and began examining it closely. He ran his receiver back and forth across where the Great Seal lay on the chair confirming that the signal emanated from behind the bald eagle’s head. In his excitement, he bumped the wooden Seal and the signal disappeared once again. Fearing that his search had been discovered, Joe told Ambassador Kennan that he had lost the signal but it undoubtedly came from inside the Great Seal. The signal suddenly returned a few moments later but then went off the air – forever.
The ambassador looked at Joe and quietly asked about leaving the device in place to feed prepared information back to the Soviets in a misinformation campaign. Joe assured the ambassador that the Russian operator undoubtedly knew that the search effort was compromised. He felt sure they were listening to his activities and quite probably knew of his discovery of their intelligence operation. Joe advised the ambassador that the device needed to be studied to determine its capabilities. Further, Joe contended, the considerable U.S. effort to discover the device required that it be secured to keep the Soviets from “recovering” it, denying western governments the opportunity to understand and protect themselves from the new technology.
Joe, eager to examine the device, remained uneasy because of the possibility that the device contained a booby trap that might explode and destroy its secrets as well as hurt the person opening the device or the people standing nearby. Joe instructed Ambassador Kennan, Sam, and Ms. Hessman to leave the study. But he was also driven by his curiosity to see what was inside of the wooden carving, enough curiosity to overrule his caution. He carefully examined the Seal and noted a seam in the edge. With a sharp-edged masonry hammer he slowly, deliberately cracked the seal open, splitting the plaster circumference ring and having the seal fall into its front and back pieces. Nothing self-destructed. Hidden within a large carved cavity inside the seal the disassembly revealed a cleverly hidden device called a cavity resonator. The device required no internal power source and uses the basic physical principles of resonance to steal audio from its surroundings. It had no electronic components, just a nonferrous microphone and an antenna crafted to resonate at the appropriate frequency. Much as a diva can explode a piece of glass with her voice resonating until the excess energy causes it to shatter, a cavity resonator can modulate (change) an externally supplied radio signal and use its clever combination of radio-frequency resonance and audio modulation to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. The resonator gave the Soviets a tactical and strategic edge in the battle for Cold War supremacy.
An anonymous Russian had given the wooden replica to Ambassador Averell Harriman as a personal gift sometime in 1945. Initially, Ambassador Harriman did nothing with the seal. It was during the war and his time was limited. After several months in storage, someone hung the seal in the Ambassador’s study. Ambassador Harriman did not remember when, nor who hung the seal. When asked some 15 years later, all Ambassador Harriman remembered was that when leaving his assignment in the USSR the large size of the seal prevented it from being packed into his personal effects. He left it hanging on the wall of the house’s study for his successor.
Following Ambassador Harriman was Ambassador Walter Bedell Smith, soon-to-be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He remembered the seal quite well. The ambassador remembered only one time throughout his entire Moscow tenure when the seal did not hang in the study. He noticed that a crack had appeared in the Seal’s rim and ordered it repaired prior to the arrival of the Secretary of State, George Marshall, who used the study as his bedroom. Ambassador and Mrs. Smith wanted the room to be as tidy as possible for the Secretary. A Russian handyman took the seal and kept it for approximately a week. The seal reappeared in excellent shape with no indication of a crack on any of its edges, well before Secretary Marshall’s arrival to negotiate with the USSR.
The Seal, apparently, had hung in the study from 1945 until Joe discovered it on September 12, 1953. State Department Security Engineers had examined the Seal twice in 1951 with a metal detector. The detector indicated the presence of the obvious metal screws and studs on the reverse side but nothing in the middle – fooled by the nonferrous brass construction of the resonant cavity. After Joe’s successful technical search, he continued his inspection with hand tools. He and Sam performed a destructive search destroying the wall on which the Seal had hung for so long. They found nothing: no cables, no power source, no indications at all. After they demolished the wall and finished searching for any associated devices at 3 A.M., they posted a Marine Guard in the study.
Joe placed the cavity resonator under his pillow and placed the Great Seal under the bed and settled in for a couple of hours of restless sleep. The next morning he accompanied Ambassador Kennan in his limousine to the Chancery heading directly towards the Kremlin on the way to the embassy. At the chancery, Joe photographed multiple angles of the cavity resonator and the Seal. He carefully packed the seal and resonator in boxes and hand carried them to the communications vault and packaged them in a diplomatic pouch. The next pouch shipment sent them to the Department’s Regional Security headquarters in Paris. Once the pouch reached Paris, Security Engineer Fred Snyder repacked the pouch and hand carried the Seal and the resonator to Washington, D.C. In D.C., it rapidly made its way to Secretary Acheson’s office, who immediately arranged to show it to President Truman. The President ordered the Seal given to the FBI lab for reverse engineering. State Department Security Officer Robert Eckert hand carried the seal and device to the FBI lab for analysis.
President Truman tasked the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to develop countermeasures for cavity resonators. The NRL developed several passive and active devices for revealing resonant cavity devices and sent them to Moscow to be used. Despite diligent searches, no further devices utilizing this technology were discovered. It’s likely the Soviets removed any other devices after Joe made his discovery in order to maintain operations security over their other successes. The U.S. made several copies of both the cavity resonator and the Great Seal for various briefings to Congress and other Agencies. | <urn:uuid:381783c9-a8f1-4889-a5e5-c123787d876f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.securitymanagement.com/article/a-trojan-seal-006971?page=0%2C1 | 2013-05-26T03:06:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97499 | 2,240 |
Larry Kim, Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Larry Kim founded WordStream in 2007. He bootstrapped the company by providing internet consulting services while funding/managing a team of engineers and marketers to develop and sell software for search engine marketing automation. In August of 2008 he secured a 4M Series A investment from Sigma Partners.
Today he serves as company CTO and is a contributor to both the product team and marketing teams. Larry practices photography in his spare time.
Larry's background has been in software engineering, software product management, and Internet Marketing (particularly PPC, SEO and Social Media Marketing), for several widely-used software productivity tools over 10 years. Larry's prior roles include:
- Director of Marketing, DataDirect Technologies.
- Director of Marketing, Altova.
- Various Software Engineering & Search Engine Marketing Consulting Jobs
Additionally, Larry is the author of 4 Award-Winning Books on Software Development, and a blogger for the SEOmoz blog, the Wordstream Blog, Search Engine Journal, Marketing Profs, Search Engine Watch, Small Biz Trends, Search Engine Land, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Online Marketing Institute, and dozens of other business, technology, and internet marketing publications.
Larry received a B.Sc. Electrical Engineering (Honors) from the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Canada.
Larry is a frequent speaker at search marketing industry conferences including the following recent and upcoming events.
- May 15, 2013 - Interactivity Digital
- April 8, 2013 - PPC Hero Conference
- March 11, 2013 - SMX West 2013 Search Marketing Expo
- December 8, 2012 - Media Post Search Insider Summit
Search Marketing Thought Leadership
Larry writes frequently about Paid Search, Organic Search, Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Software Development topics. The following is a partial list of interviews and articles that Larry has worked on.
MemeBurn (May 22, 2013) - Undervalued Display Ads, mobile; How Tumblr Will Earn Yahoo Billions
Interactivity Digital (May 21, 2013) - 25 Quotables from #ID2013 Conference
The Wall St. Journal (May 21, 2013) - Tumblr’s $1.1 billion sale to Yahoo
Search Engine Land (May 20, 2013) - Try Your Luck at Winning the AdWords Jackpot
Unbounce (May 10, 2013) - 10 Quality Posts That Will Help Boost Your PPC Quality Score
Storecoach (May 10, 2013) - Coach’s SEO Highlight Reel
Jeff Jordan's Blog (May 9, 2013) - Godzilla vs. Mothra, The Sequel
Search Engine Land (May 8, 2013) - How To Use the New Keyword Planner
The Wall St. Journal (May 6, 2013) - The Search For Mesothelioma Clients Intensifies on Web
Small Business Trends (May 1, 2013) - The Top Secret Way to Save 50% on AdWords
Hodges & Company (April 27, 2013) - What You Should Know About Quality Score
Clarity Ventures (April 26. 2013) - Google AdWords Copywriting - Every Word is Important
Search Engine Journal (April 25, 2013) - The Importance of Quality Score in 2013
MarketingProfs Daily Fix Blog (April 22, 2013) - The Poorly Run AdWords Account: An eBay Case Study
Portent (April 9, 2013) - Better Quality Score = Better Results?
TheDrum (April 4, 2013) - As six EU countries target Google over its data policy - should Google be nervous?
Marketing Magazine UK (March 26, 2013) - eBay Paid Search Fails to Hit the Mark
Social Media Today (March 26, 2013) - How Does Google Make Money From Mobile
SEOmoz (March 26, 2013) - 5 Mobile SEO Tips from the Google AdWords Team
eCommerce Times (March 25, 2013) - Marin Software Rocks Wall St.
MediaPost (March 25, 2013) - Combining Real-Life Events With Search Marketing Without Ruining Quality Scores
Rimm-Kaufman Group (March 22, 2013) - What eBay’s Test Results Teach Us
Quartz (March 20, 2013) - Are search ads a waste of money? Why eBay’s controversial study doesn’t matter that much
Koozai (March 20, 2013) - Over 100 Game Changing PPC Strategies From 12 Experts
Small Biz Trends (March 19, 2013) - 5 Lessons You Can Learn from eBay’s AdWords Disaster
Seer Interactive (March 18, 2013) - Looking for a Good Response to eBay’s Paid Search Opinions?
Search Engine Journal (March 16, 2013) - Grading Google’s Top 20 Mobile Products
Search Engine Journal (March 15, 2013) - How Not to Run a PPC Campaign, Inspired by eBay’s AdWords #Fail
ECommerce Bytes (March 15, 2013) - Google Defends Ad Program in Response to eBay Report
AdExchanger (March 15, 2013) - AdBlock Blocked; More Mozilla Cookies
Search Engine Roundtable (March 14, 2013) - Clearly eBay Needs New AdWords Specialists
Search Engine Land (March 14, 2013) - AdWords “Ineffective” Says eBay, Google “Meta-Pause Analysis” Contradicts Findings
Adotas (March 13, 2013) - Google Shopping Goes Mobile
Bloomberg (March 11, 2013) - Google Benefits as Priceline Outspends Expedia on Web Ads: Tech
The Big Picture (March 11, 2013) - Google's Mobile Business
Web Analytics World (March 11, 2013) - How does mobile make Google money?
Small Biz Trends (March 12, 2013) - Time For Small Businesses to Take Mobile Seriously
State of Search (March 12, 2013) - How Google Makes its Mobile Money
Marketing Profs (March 9, 2013) - Google's Top 20 Mobile Products (and How It Monetizes Them)
PPC Hero (March 8, 2013) - Infographic: How Google Makes Money From Mobile
ValueWalk (March 8, 2013) - How Google Inc. (GOOG) Monetizes Mobile
Business Insider (March 8, 2013) - iOS Dominates Android Among Airline Passengers
Search Marketing Standard (March 8, 2013) - Five For Friday
B&T (March 7, 2013) - Google Gets Serious About Mobile
Search Engine Land (March 7, 2013) - Google’s Mobile World, From Ads To Apps To Android
Inc. Magazine (March 6, 2013) - Google's 10 Best Mobile Apps
MemeBurn (March 6, 2013) - Check Out How Google Makes Money From Mobile
The Inquisitr (March 6, 2013) - Google Mobile And The Money Machine: How Search And Platform Development Earns Billions
MediaPost (March 6, 2013) - Mapping Google's Apps, How They Make Money
Kelsey Group (March 6, 2013) - Unpacking Google's Mobile Ad Options
Adotas (March 6, 2013) - How Google Makes Money from Mobile
VentureBeat (March 6, 2013) - The 20 Ways Google Makes Money from Mobile
IntoMobile (March 6, 2013) - Infographic: How Google Monetizes off of Mobile
TheDrum (March 6, 2013) - Google’s mobile profit streams charted
Everything PR (March 6, 2012) - How Google “Won’t” Be Killed Off by Mobile Search
Marketing Pilgrim (March 6, 2012) - Infographic Gives Google’s Mobile Push High Marks
Search Engine Land (March 4, 2013) - How Adwords Enhanced Campaigns Can Be Used To Promote Your Mobile App
WebProNews (March 1, 2012) - Google Launches New Mobile App Download Ad Format
MediaPost (Mar. 1, 2012) - Google's Motorola Hires Former Apple Exec Kawasaki
Search Engine Journal (Mar. 1, 2012) - Are Search Engine Marketers Warming Up to Enhanced Campaigns
Search Engine Land (Feb. 28, 2012) - The Real Reason Why Google Is Dropping The Tablet vs. Desktop Distinction
Small Biz Trends (Feb. 28, 2012) - 5 Surprising Mobile Search Statistics and Facts
Online Marketing Institute (Feb 26, 2012) - How to Use the New Google Offer Extensions in AdWords
Small Biz Trends (Feb, 25, 2012) - Are Google AdWords Offer Extensions Right for Small Businesses?
Web Pro News (Feb. 22, 2013) - The Latest In Google’s Plot Against Groupon
MediaPost (Feb. 22, 2013) - AdWords Enhances Campaigns: Teams Coupons, Search Ads
Search Engine Watch (Feb. 22, 2013) - 3 Essential Mobile Ad Extensions to Get More Clicks from Mobile Devices
Memeburn (Feb. 22, 2013) - Adwords Offer Extensions Google’s plan to kill Groupon
TheDrum (Feb. 22, 2013) - Google integrates Daily Deal offer into AdWords in bid to kill Groupon
Business Insider (Feb. 22, 2013) - Google Is Making Moves To Seriously Disrupt Groupon
Search Engine Land (Feb. 22, 2013): Google Quietly Rolls Out New Offer Extensions in AdWords
Dow Jones Newswire (Feb. 21, 2013) - Google Showing More Deal Offers Inside Search Ads
VentureBeat (Feb. 21, 2013) - Google’s Offer Extensions rolling out within a week, integrating deals with search
Portent (Feb. 20, 2013) - AdWords Enhanced Campaigns – PPC Hangout
Inc Magazine (Feb. 15, 2013) - Reality Check: 5 Entrepreneurial Myths Busted
PPC Hero (Feb. 14, 2012): Are Enhanced Campaigns Going to Ruin Your PPC Accounts?
Performance Marketing Insider (Feb. 13, 2013) - Google Finds a Fix for Mobile CPC Dilemma with Enhanced Campaigns
Forbes (Feb 12, 2013) - Google: How They Just Fixed Their Mobile CPC Problem
aimClear Blog (Feb 11, 2013) - 25 SRSLY Clutch Google AdWords Enhanced Campaign #PPC Blog Posts
Search Engine Land (Feb. 11, 2013) - Making The Case In Favor Of Enhanced Campaigns
Boston Globe (Feb. 11, 2013) - 5 steps to paid search marketing success
Rethink Wireless (Feb. 11, 2013) - Google upgrades AdWords for mobile
BusinessInsider (Feb. 8, 2013) - Here's The Real Reason Google Changed Its Mobile Search Rules
VentureBeat (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google announces ‘biggest change to AdWords in 5 years:’ mobile is now baked in
ClickZ (Feb. 8, 2013) - PPC Pro - You're Being Replaced
Wired Magazine (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google Upgrade Is a Tidal Wave for Advertisers
PC World (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google rolling out AdWords management for multiple devices
Search Engine Watch (Feb. 8, 2013) - AdWords Enhanced Mobile Campaigns: 5 Things PPC Marketers Need to Know
InformationWeek (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google Updates AdWords For Mobile Era
WebProNews (Feb. 8, 2013) - What Google’s Enhanced Campaigns Mean For Small Businesses
TGDaily (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google courts mobile campaigns with AdWords changes
ComputerWorld (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google rolls out AdWords management for multiple devices
International Business Times (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google Devises New Mobile Click Ad Concept For Itself As Well As Yahoo
InsiderMonkey (Feb. 8, 2013) - A Google Inc (GOOG) Change that is Going Unnoticed
Ecommerce Times (Feb. 8, 2013) - Yahoo, Google Buddy Up for Display-Ad Deal
ITWorld (Feb. 8, 2013) - Google plans to upgrade all AdWords campaigns in mid-2013
Search Engine Journal (Feb. 7, 2013) - Google Announces Big Changes to Mobile Campaign Management
Forbes (Feb. 7, 2013) - In Big Shift, Google Aims To Boost Mobile Ad Campaigns - And Its Own Revenues
Small Biz Trends (Feb. 7, 2013) - New AdWords Enhanced Campaigns: 5 Things Small Businesses Need to Know
Business Insider (Feb. 7, 2013) - Google Just Blasted Away The Wall Between Desktop And Mobile Ads
Search Engine Land (Feb. 7, 2013) - The Big AdWords Update: Enhanced Campaigns Puts The Focus On Mobile
Marketing Profs (Feb. 7, 2013) - Mobile Search Advertising Just Got Way Easier: AdWords Enhanced Campaigns
Washington Post (Feb. 7, 2013) - Google’s changes to mobile advertising could fix company’s major problem
Wall St. Journal (Feb. 7, 2013) - Google Acts to Raise Mobile-Ad Prices
MediaPost (Feb. 7, 2013) - New Google Tool Combines Desktop, Mobile Ads
Adotas (Feb. 7, 2013) - Today’s Burning Question: Google AdWords Enhanced Campaigns
GoMoNews (Feb. 7, 2013) - WordStream comments on Google’s new Enhanced Campaigns
Smart Company (Feb. 7, 2013) - Changes to Google AdWords "a big win" for small business
Screenwerk (Feb. 7, 2013) - Google Responds to Rise of Multiscreenwelt with AdWords Campaign Enhancements
Search Engine Land (Feb. 5, 2013) - Live @SMX West: Forget What You Know About Paid Search
Marketing Profs (Feb 1, 2013) - Four Seasonal Keyword Research Tips
Search Engine Journal (Feb 1, 2013) - Buffalo Chicken Dip Wins the Search Engine Super Bowl by a Landslide!
Business Software (Jan 28, 2013) - WordStream Helps You Breathe New Life into Your Search Marketing
MediaPost (Jan. 28, 2013) - BlackRock Sinks $80 Million Into Twitter
Bank of America Small Business (Jan 24, 2013) - E-commerce Best Practices: How to Maximize Online Sales
Business Insider (Jan 23, 2013) - 5 Ad Execs Tell Us What They Really Think Of Facebook's Graph Search
eCommerce Times (Jan. 23, 2013) - Google Posts Gangbuster Growth in Q4
TheDrum (Jan 23, 2013) - Despite first $50bn year, Google sees ad revenue growth slow during Q4
MemeBurn (Jan 23, 2013) - Google Q4 results completely crush analyst expectations
MediaPost (Jan. 18, 2013) - Online Landscape: Marketers Should Watch Google, Macro Trends
USA Today (Jan. 16, 2013) - Facebook's Graph Search is in search of ads
Fox Business (Jan 16, 2013) - Will Graph Search Actually Help Facebook?
The Guardian (Jan. 16, 2013) - Facebook Graph Search: how the industry rates it
The Drum (Jan 16, 2013) - Reaction to Facebook's Graph Search announcement - what does it mean for Facebook?
Marketing Charts (Jan 16, 2013) - 1% of US Google Advertisers Generate 80% of Clicks; Study Methodology Questioned
Adotas (Jan. 16, 2013) - Reaction to Facebook’s New Search Feature
CiteWorld (Jan. 15, 2013) - How Facebook's new search tool could also help businesses
WebProNews (Jan 15, 2013) - No New Ads With Facebook Graph Search, But Sponsored Results Aren’t Going Away
Boston Business Journal (Jan. 8, 2013) - Fast-growing WordStream aims to make SMBs shine on Google ads
Search Engine Watch (Dec. 31, 2012) - 10 Reasons Why Public Relations is a ‘Must-do’ for SEO in 2013
MediaPost (Dec. 28, 2012) - 2013 Predictions From Online Ad, Marketing Experts
Search Engine Watch (Dec. 17, 2012) - Estimating the Impact of iOS 6 Organic Search Data Loss & Relabeling
TopRank Blog (Dec. 12, 2012) - B2B Lead Gen & Social Media Marketing Wins with Sequenced Content
Daily Titan (Dec. 5, 2012) - Bieber Lost Top Spot to Psy
American Banker (Dec. 1, 2012) - Pouring Money Into Google Ads
Search Engine Journal (Nov. 30, 2012) - Top 10 SEO Blockbusters on Twitter this November
PPC Hero (Nov. 29, 2012) - The 8 Metrics That Matter For PPC
AdAge (Nov. 28, 2012) - 'Gangnam' Close to Billion Views; China Takes Down Artist Ai Weiwei's Version
Social Media Today (Nov. 28, 2012) - The Top 22 Viral Marketing Tactics You Need in 2013
Horse Talk (Nov. 26, 2012) - Psy’s horse dance video days away from 1 billion mark
Fast Company (Nov. 26, 2012) - Oppa! South Korean Rapper Psy's Gangnam Style Ousts Justin Bieber's Baby
PopCrush (Nov. 26, 2012) - Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ Video Breaks Justin Bieber’s YouTube Record
TechSpot (Nov 26, 2012) - Psy's 'Gangnam Style' video sets multiple records on YouTube
Zap2It (Nov. 25, 2012) - 'Gangnam Style': Psy breaks Justin Bieber's record for most watched YouTube video in history
CNET (Nov. 24, 2012) - 'Gangnam Style' slays Bieber, becomes most-watched vid
memeburn (Nov 24, 2012) - Gangnam Style overtakes Bieber, is most watched video in YouTube history
Business Insider (Nov. 24, 2012) - Should Advertisers Be Angry When Facebook Sells Their Fans To The Competition?
Search Engine Journal (Nov. 24, 2012) - Social Magic: How Psy’s Gangnam Style Beat Justin Bieber on YouTube
Forbes (Nov. 24, 2012) - PSY's Gangam Style Tops Bieber's Baby To Become Most Viewed YouTube Video Ever
Film Industry Network (Nov. 24, 2012) - World record: PSY Gangnam style is the biggest music video ever
memeburn (Nov. 15, 2012) - How Google Made Their Ad Money
MediaPost (Nov. 14, 2012) - A View of Clicks and Conversions
Top Rank Blog (Nov. 9, 2012) - Online Marketing News: The Google Economy, Google Moving Search Options
Inc. Magazine (Nov 7, 2012) - How Google's Page Redesign Could Affect Your Business
WebProNews (Nov 8, 2012) - Google Changes Up The Search Results Page
Internet Retailer (Nov. 7, 2012) - Google redesigns its search engine results pages
MediaPost (Nov 7, 2012) - Analyzing Google's Search Results Page Changes
Washington Post (Nov 6, 2012) - Can search results, online advertising, likes and follows predict an election?
Search Engine Watch (Nov 6, 2012) - Google, Bing & Yahoo Tracking the 2012 Presidential Election Results
Search Engine Land (Nov. 6, 2012) - Can Search Queries And Social Data Predict The Presidential Election Outcome?
The Guardian UK (Nov. 5, 2012) - Does Google really need news media content?
MediaPost (Nov 5, 2012) - Will Search, Online Sentiment Predict Obama's Reelection?
Marketing Profs (Nov. 2, 2012) - The Google AdWords Economy: CPCs, CTRs, Ad Impressions, Conversion Rates
State of Search (Nov. 2, 2012) - Where Does Google’s 100 Million $ Per Day Come From?
Hotel Marketing (Nov. 2, 2012) - Google AdWords in Travel: High CTR but Lower Conversions
Search Engine Land (Nov. 1, 2012) - Data: Only 5 Percent Of Search Advertisers Follow Mobile Best Practices|
Unbounce (Nov 1, 2012) - 24 Hours in the Google Economy – 2012 Stats
Hubspot (Nov. 1, 2012) - An Industry Breakdown of Google's $100 Million Per Day Advertising Revenue
SEOmoz (Nov 1, 2012) - 5 Killer SEO Insights from Analyzing a Billion Dollars in AdWords Spend
Travel News (Nov. 1, 2012) - Google AdWords gets stronger, but travel keywords struggle with conversion
CMSWire (Nov. 1, 2012) - Google's AdWords Bringing in $100 Million Per Day
ValueWalk (Nov. 1, 2012) - Silver Lining In Google’s “Disappointing” Q3 Earnings Numbers
Mashable (Oct. 31, 2012) - University of Phoenix, Ask.com Are Google’s Biggest Advertisers [STUDY]
Huffington Post (Oct. 31, 2012) - University Of Phoenix Is Google's Biggest Advertiser [Report]
Smart Company (Oct. 31, 2012) - Businesses Paying Less for Search Marketing
MediaPost (Oct 30, 2012) - How To Determine A 'Good' Google Conversion Rate
Business Insider (Oct. 30, 2012) - These Are Google's Biggest Advertisers, Ranked By Dollars Spent Daily
Daily Mail UK (Oct. 30, 2012) - Revealed: Google's biggest advertiser is the University of Phoenix
Beyond PR - Official PR Newswire Blog (Oct. 29, 2012) - Content Marketing Case Study: It Sure Looks Like PR to Me
Search Engine Watch (Oct. 26, 2012) - How Google Rakes In Over $100 Million in Search Advertising Daily [Infographic]
Bryan Eisenberg Blog (Oct. 26, 2012) - Google Adwords Conversion Rates by Industry
Wired Magazine (Oct 25, 2012) - How Google Still Makes Billions From Tiny Text Ads
VentureBeat (Oct 25, 2012) - How Google makes $100 million a day
VentureBeat (Oct. 25, 2012) - 30 billion times a day, Google runs an ad (13 million times, it works)
Search Engine Land (Oct. 25, 2012) - Google Bringing In More Than $100 Million Per Day Via AdWords
Web Pro News (Oct 25, 2012) - Google Ads Earning Over $100 Million Per Day
Web Analytics World (Oct. 26, 2012) - Reducing Adwords Costs
Biz Report (Oct. 26, 2012) - Google's disappointing Q3 Earnings Good News for Advertisers
Advertisement Journal (Oct. 26, 2012) - Google Runs Ads 30 Billion Times Per Day
SEOmoz (Oct 22, 2012) - How I Got a Link from the Wall St. Journal
Forbes (Oct. 15, 2012) - 100 Founders Share Their Top "Aha" Moments
AdWeek (Aug 6, 2012) - Beyond Words - Public Relations Embraces Visual Storytelling
Wow Internet Blog (Sept. 26. 2012) - Improving Your Keyword Analysis With WordStream
SEOmoz (Sept 26, 2012) - Using AdWords Data for SEO: Unlocking the Ultimate Keyword Research Treasure Trove (Arrrgh!!)
CIO (Sept. 11, 2012) - 15 LinkedIn Tips to Improve Your Job Search
100k Blueprint (Aug. 26, 2012) - The Death of SEO
Shopatron (Aug. 23, 2012) - What You Can Expect from Google’s New Shopping Changes
PPC Hero (Aug. 23, 2012) - Two Tips to Make the Most of Google’s Latest Results Page Change
Interactivity Marketing (Aug. 21, 2012) - Google Decreases 1st Page Organic Results
Social Marketing Forum (Aug. 18, 2012) - Display Advertising on Facebook versus Google: Who Wins?
MediaPost (Aug. 16, 2012) - SEOmoz Acquires Twitter Tool, Confirms Social-Search Alliance
Koozai Blog (Aug. 15, 2012) - PPC Click Rate Study – How Click Rate Deteriorates Depending on Ranking
The Small Business Authority (Aug. 14, 2012) - An Adwords Performance Grader for Small Business
Forbes (Aug. 14, 2012) - How to Improve Your Online Advertising Campaign
Online Marketing Institute (Aug 13, 2012) - The Future of Search: 10 Questions with Larry Kim of Wordstream
SEO Theory (Aug. 13, 2012) - How Realistic and Successful is Low Maintenance, Long-term SEO?
TechWyse Inernet Marketing Blog (Aug. 10, 2012) - Which Content Network is Better, Google or Bing?
American Express Open Forum (Aug. 6. 2012) - 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Online Advertising
Rocky Mountain Search Academy (Aug. 6, 2012) - The War Between Organic and Paid Search
Business Insider (Aug. 6, 2012) - Facebook vs. Google Ad Platform Battle
SalesChase Blog (Aug. 5, 2012) - Why Pay-Per-Click Ads Make Marketing Sense for High Commercial Intent Keywords
SEOmoz (Aug. 3, 2012) - Does SEO Even Work for Small Businesses?
Ghost Blog Writers (Aug. 2, 2012) - Paid Clicks Top Free Clicks for Commercial Keywords
Kairay Media Adwars (Aug. 2, 2012) - Google vs. Facebook!
PPC Associates Blog (Aug. 1, 2012) - is Google Your Biggest Competitor?
Inc. Magazine (Aug 1, 2012) - Can God Call You to Start a Business?
iStudio (Aug. 1, 2012) - Is there a War on Free Clicks?
Bristol SEO - (July 31, 2012) - WordStream Interview; Larry Kim Shares Highlights
Unbounce (July 30, 2012) - Paid Google Ads Punch Organic Search in the Face
TrendHunter (July 27, 2012) - The 'War On Free Clicks' Reveals Hidden Secrets to Traffic
GetBusy Media (July 26, 2012) - Organic vs Paid Traffic Explored
KISSmetrics (July 26, 2012) - The Inexpensive Marketing Plan
ProBlogger (July 26, 2012) - Facebook Ads or Google AdWords: Which One’s for You?
Marketing Tech Blog (July 24, 2012) - Is Paid Search Overtaking Organic Search?
Marketing Profs (July 20, 2012) - Paid vs. Organic Search: Are PPC Ads Winning the Google Click Wars?
Small Business Trends (July 20, 2012) - Google Ads May Be More Valuable Than You Thought
TheDrum (July 19, 2012) - How pay-per-click ads are taking over Google results
ValueWalk (July 19, 2012) - Click Through Rates Could Be Deciding Factor In Google’s Q2 Report
Brafton (July 19, 2012) - Paid search and SEO thrive when paired together
Search Engine Land (July 17, 2012) - Study: Clicks On Google Ads Are Double Organic Clicks For Commercial Searches
VentureBeat (July 17, 2012) - Google and sponsored search results: is there a “war on free clicks?”
Search Engine Journal (July 17, 2012) - How Google Is Killing Organic Search
Business Insider (July 17, 2012) - How Up To 85% Of Google Search Results Are Actually Paid Ads
TheNextWeb (July 17, 2012) - Google ad clicks outnumber ‘normal’ search results by 2:1 for some commercial keywords
PPC Hero (July 21, 2012) - Are PPC Ads Beating Organic Listings for Clicks?
Boy Genious Report (July 17, 2012) - Google declares war on free clicks
Yahoo News (July 17, 2012) - Trend Shifting Toward PPC in the U.S.
Fox Business (July 2, 2012) - Should Your Small Business Advertise on Facebook?
Boston Product Management Association (June 21, 2012) - How to Get your Software Product to Market
Official Microsoft Bing Ads Blog (June 21, 2012) - Yahoo! Bing Network Help Online Farm-Equipment Directory Hit Target
Dowicher Designs Blog (June 21, 2012) - In an Advertising Battle Between Facebook and Google, Who Wins?
KooZai Blog (June 20, 2012) - Facebook vs Google Display Network
Motley Fool (June 20, 2012) - Google: A Growth Company Masquerading as a Value Stock
Content Marketing Institute (June 14, 2012) - How to Build a Content Marketing Tool Set
Search Engine Watch (June 13, 2012) - Paid & Subscription-Based Keyword Research Tools
Hausman Marketing Letter (June 11, 2012) - Google Adwords: How Adwords Creates Online Success|
The Entrepreneur Blog (June 10, 2012) - Get a Free AdWords Campaign Evaluation!
Site Trail (June 6, 2012) - Google Ads Are Clicked 10 Times More Often Than Those On Facebook
Aer Icon (June 5, 2012) - The 5 Core Principles of Revenue Performance Management
Distilled (June 5, 2012) - Get Better At The Internet: 17 Pro Tips For Every Industry
Motley Fool (June 3, 2012) - Facebook: To Buy or Not To Buy?
Software Magazine (June 1, 2012) - 5 Tips for Taking Your Software Product from Prototype to Production Quality
ClickZ (June 1, 2012) - Online Advertising in the Age of Agility
Top Rank Blog (June 1, 2012) - Online Marketing News: Facebook vs. Google Ads
Motley Fool (May 30, 2012) - Where's the Beef, Facebook?
SEOmoz (May 29, 2012) - Oops, I ruined the Facebook IPO!
Marketing Land (May 29, 2012) - Facebook Should Keep Ignoring (Some) Advertisers
Ecommerce Times (May 26, 2012) - Beyond the Blame Game: Can Facebook Be Fixed?
CMS Wire (May 24, 2012) - Facebook vs Google Display Network Online Ad Smackdown: Who Comes Out On Top?
Yahoo Finance News (May 23, 2012) - How does Facebook make money?
Revenue Performance (May 23, 2012) - Facebook Ads: Not Cheap, Not Effective
Reuters (May 22, 2012) - China diversified dot-coms avoid Facebook pitfalls
Adsolut Blog Italy (May 22, 2012) - Pubblicità su Google o Facebook?
ValueWalk (May 22, 2012) - Facebook vs. Google: The War of Ads
T3N Germany (May 22, 2012) - Facebook vs. Google: Duell der Ad-Giganten
NewsTex (May 21, 2012) - Facebook Advertising vs. Google Display Network
Website Magazine (May 21, 2012) - Report Puts Facebook, Google Ad Values on Display
Technology Spectator (May 21, 2012) - The Facebook-Google Ad War
Website Magazine (May 21, 2012) Report Puts Facebook, Google Ad Values on Display
Lonely Brand Blog (May 21, 2012) - Wall Street LOLs at Facebook IPO
Internet Marketing News Watch (May 21, 2012) - Report Puts Facebook, Google Ad Values on Display
Information Week (May 21, 2012) - 4 Ways Facebook Can Woo SMBs
MediaPost (May 21, 2012) - The Search Expert Who Bought And Sold Facebook Stock
Celt Digital (May 21, 2012) - After last week’s IPO, Facebook advertising – does it work?
c:rae-tive (May 21, 2012) - Are Facebook Ads Effective? One Would Second Guess
Trend Hunter (May 20, 2012) - The 'Facebook IPO: Can it Beat Google?'
CBC - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (May 18, 2012) - Facebook closes just above $38 IPO price
CNN (May 18, 2012) - Google y Facebook pelean por anunciantes. El producto eres tú
Bulldog Reporter (May 18, 2012) - Does Facebook Advertising Actually Work? WordStream Shows Google Offers More
MSN (May 18, 2012) - Facebook goes public at $42
Vator News (May 18, 2012) - Facebook closes debut day just pennies above IPO price
Wall St. Cheat Sheet (May 18, 2012) - Facebook, What Happened?
Wall St. Cheat Sheet (May 18, 2012) - Why GM Opted Out of Facebook - Should You?
Billboard (May 18, 2012) - 5 Reasons Why Facebook Won't Spend its IPO Money on the Music Business
The Register (May 18, 2012) - WordStream: Facebook Ads are Very Boring and not Very Imaginative
Wealth Daily (May 18, 2012) - Facebook IPO Hype: Buy When the Sky is Falling
Information Week (May 18, 2012) - Facebook's History: From Dorm To IPO Darling
Financial Times (May 18, 2012) - Facebook IPO in numbers
Huffington Post (May 18, 2012) - Facebook goes public any minute
Motley Fool (May 18, 2012) - Psst! What if Facebook shares are actually cheap?
Metro Newspaper (May 18, 2012) - GM pulls facebook advertising (South Africa)
PC World (May 18, 2012) - General Motors dejará de pagar por publicidad en Facebook (Mexico)
Xinhua - Official News Agency of China (May 17, 2012) - Facebook身未動價已漲 股東賺瘋 -
ABC News (May 17, 2012) - Facebook prices its IPO at $38, could raise $16 billion
Jalopnik (May 17. 2012) - GM Will Remove $10 Million Worth Of Ads From Facebook
Branding & Marketing (May 17, 2012) - When Should You Advertise on Facebook Over Google?
Being Your Brand (May 17, 2012) - Who Has the Better Ad Network? Facebook Vs. Google
TechJournal (May 17, 2012) - Why did GM drop its Facebook advertising?
The Star Tribune (May 17, 2012) - Google Totally Blows Facebook Away
Examiner (May 17, 2012) - Was GM's Facebook ad failure GM's or Facebook's fault?
Huffington Post (May 17, 2012) - Facebook Ads: Can They Beat Google?
Reuters (May 17, 2012) - GM Pulled Ads From Facebook After Social Network's Failed Pitch: Report
State of Search (May 17, 2012) - Facebook IPO: Can It Beat Google?
WebProNews (May 17, 2012) - More Arguments That Facebook Ads Are Shoddy
The Takeaway (May 17, 2012) - Facebook vs. Google: The Ad Model Cage Match
More About Advertising (May 17, 2012) - Wordstream research reveals why GM pulled $10m adspend from Facebook
WebRazzi (May 17, 2012) - Borsa arefesindeki Facebook’un reklam performansı ne durumda? (Turkey)
StayWyse (May 17, 2012) - Facebook Advertising VS Google Advertising
Business Spectator (May 17, 2012) - GM ad withdrawal casts shadow over Facebook IPO
Vator News (May 17, 2012) - Analysts still find Facebook doesn't match up with Google's Ad Network, Spells Trouble
Washington Post (May 17, 2012) - Is Facebook really a good business?
TheDrum (May 16, 2012) - Facebook Research illustrates advertising underperformance
Computing.co.uk (May 16, 2012) - Facebook advertising failing to click with users, According to new Study
CIO Magazine (May 16, 2012) - Why Facebook Marketing Doesn't Work
Les Affaires (May 16, 2012) - GM porte un dur coup à Facebook (France)
ABC News (May 16, 2012) - Facebook's IPO, From an Adman's Perspective
French Web (May 16, 2012) - Publicité Online : Facebook vs Google, le Match! (France)
Lupa: (May 16, 2012) - GM přestal inzerovat na Facebooku (Czech Republic)
VentureBeat (May 16, 2012) - Are Facebook Ads Really that Bad?
Adverblog (May 16, 2012) - Google Beats Facebook Media
IDG News Service (May 16, 2012) - GM Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook - Because They Don't Work
Radio Taiwan International (May 16. 2012) - 臉書IPO在即 驚傳通用擬撤廣告
Performance Marketing Insider (May 16, 2012) - Facebook vs Google Ads
Financial Times Deutschland (May 16, 2012) - Facebook verliert großen Werbekunden
In Auto News (May 16, 2012 ) - GM ad Withdrawal puts Facebook in Dilemma
Forbes (May 16, 2012) - Facebook: Facing the Facts
Fox Business (May 16, 2012) - Time for Facebook to Grow Up
Minyanville (May 16, 2012) - Should Investors Be Concerned If More Advertisers Abandon Social Networks?
PC World (May 16, 2012) - GM Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook - Because They Don't Work
USA Today (May 16, 2012) - Facebook must change after IPO
The Week UK (May 16, 2012) - Facebook worth $105bn? Not if you Believe Advertisers
The Economist (May 16, 2012) - Facebook's Flotation The final Countdown
New Zealand Herald (May 16, 2012) - GM to pull ads from Facebook - Report
PC Advisor UK (May 16, 2012) - Do Facebook ads work? Apparently, not Really
PC Magazine (May 16, 2012) - After GM Loss, Can Facebook Compete in the Ad Game?
Search Engine Journal (May 16, 2012) - Why Did GM Drop Facebook Advertising?
Silicon Republic (May 16, 2012) - Facebook can’t beat Google at the Advertising Game
PC World (May 16, 2012) - Why Facebook Marketing Doesn't Work for GM
Washington Post (May 16, 2012) - Why Facebook ads are Different
Network World (May 16, 2012) - Facebook Ads Don't Work
ComputerWorld (May 16, 2012) - OOPS! GM drops Facebook ads: They don't work
ABC News (May 16, 2012) - Facebook's IPO Means What For You?
News24 (May 16, 2012) - GM pulls ads from Facebook
Web Analytics World (May 16, 2012) - Targeting Marketing
The Register UK (May 16, 2012) - Why GM slammed the brakes on its $10m Facebook ads
The Guardian UK (May 16, 2012) - Five reasons not to buy Facebook shares
Marketing Land (May 15, 2012) - Ahead Of IPO, GM Drops Facebook Ads; Forrester Warns Other Companies May Follow
Mashable (May 15, 2012) - Can Facebook Ads Ever Beat Google?
CNN (May 16, 2012) - Ad War: Google versus Facebook
Wall St. Journal (May 15, 2012) - Google Ads Seen as More Effective Than Facebook’s
The Atlantic (May 15, 2012) - People Click on About One of Every 2,000 Facebook Ads They See
Mashable (May 15, 2012) - Can Facebook Ads Ever Beat Google?
Tech Economy (May 15, 2012) - Facebook vs Google, sfida sull’advertising (Italy)
MediaPost (May 15, 2012) - Facebook Needs Open Ad-Targeting Formats To Succeed
Daily Finance (May 15, 2012) - Psst! What if Facebook Is Actually Cheap?
TheNextWeb (May 15, 2012) - GM to drop Facebook advertising, citing poor results
BizReport (May 15, 2012) - Forecast: Social Media Revenues to reach $9.8 billion but will ROI measure up?
Adotas (May 15, 2012) - Can Facebook Ads Beat Google?
Boston Herald (May 15, 2012) - Study: Google ads work better than Facebook Ads
Business Insider (May 15, 2012) - DATA: Google Totally Blows Away Facebook On Ad Performance
USA Today (May 15, 2012) - GM to stop buying ads on Facebook?
Wall Street Journal (May 15, 2012) - Google Ads Seen as More Effective Than Facebook’s
AFP Agent-France-Presse (May 15, 2012) - GM to pull ads from Facebook
International Business Times (May 15, 2012) - Analysts Urge Facebook To Satisfy Advertisers More Amidst IPO
ValueWalk (May 15, 2012) - Study: Google Inc (GOOG) Ads Crush Facebooks’
WebProNews (May 15, 2012) - Facebook or Google: Who Wins at Advertising?
The Atlantic (May 15, 2012) - People Click on About One of Every 2,000 Facebook Ads They See
Fast Company (May 15, 2012) - Social Ad Spending To Reach $10B Soon, But How Much For Facebook?
Whole Brain Marketing Blog (May 10, 2012) - Walker v. Barrett: Can Social Media Activity Predict The Winner
PPC Blog (May 4, 2012) - 5 AdWords Tips from PPC Masters
CMS Wire (Apr. 25, 2012) - Navigating WordStream's Internet Marketing 150
Fast Company (Apr. 19, 2012) - The Environmental Impact Of Your Googling
Shoe String Venture (Apr. 5, 2012) - WordStream: Automating AdWords Expertise for Small and Mid-sized Businesses
Search Engine Land (Mar. 16, 2012) - Using Wordstream’s AdWords Performance Grader For An Instant Audit
The Guardian UK (Mar. 16, 2012) - Total US newspaper industry's revenue less than Google's alone
Intuit Small Business Blog (Feb. 29, 2012) - Should Your Small Business Buy Pay-Per-Click Advertising?
Search Engine Watch (Jan. 30, 2012) - AdWords Performance Grader Tool Touts More Accurate PPC Data Reports
CNET (Jan 24, 2012) - Google's biggest AdWords customers might surprise you
Search Engine Watch (Jan. 23, 2012) - How Google Made $37.9 Billion in 2011
Wall St. Journal (Jan 23, 2012) - Google Leans on Rivals for Revenue
American Express Open Forum (Jan 18, 2012) - Why Small Businesses Should Care About SOPA | <urn:uuid:07f0d7eb-c5f6-4de5-b87d-ffedbc8204de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wordstream.com/larry-kim | 2013-05-26T02:42:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.779449 | 8,990 |
Windows licensing got more and more and complicated over the years. With Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP1, Microsoft changed the rules again. In this post, I summarized the most important facts about Windows licensing, KMS 1.1 (Key Management Services) and VAMT 1.1 (Volume Activation Management Tool). And of course, I couldn’t help myself but complain again about the extra work Microsoft imposed on us.
Product key groups
Product Keys for KMS and MAK are associated with a so-called product key groups which are arranged in a hierarchy (see diagram). A product key of a certain group can activate the operating systems that belong to this group as well as lower key groups. There are four product key groups: Vista VL: Windows Vista (the lowest group), Server Group A: Windows Web Server 2008, Server Group B: Windows Server 2008 Standard and Enterprise, Server Group C: Datacenter and Itanium-based systems.
KMS 1.1 (Key Management Services)
To activate Server 2008 via KMS, you have to install version 1.1. If you already have KMS 1.0 installed, you can update it by launching the WindowsServer2003-KB948003-x86-ENU.exe which is part of the KMS 1.1 download. Note that KMS is platform and language-dependent. If you want to activate Server 2008 machines, KMS has to run on a server. You won’t be able to activate Server 2008 if your KMS is installed on a Vista box.
Determining your KMS version
After the update, it is difficult to figure out which KMS is actually running. “Add and Remove Programs” in the Control Panel doesn’t display the version and the KMS command slmgr doesn’t display it either. However, the help screens are different for KMS 1.0 (left) and KMS 1.1 (right). KMS 1.1 has more options. Check out the screenshots to see the differences.
KMS activation thresholds
KMS only starts activating its Vista clients if at least 25 physical Vista machines are in the network environment. A Server 2008 installation can be activated if at least 5 servers contacted the KMS. KMS can activate virtual Windows installations, but they don’t count for the threshold.
VAMT 1.1 (Volume Activation Management Tool)
VAMT 1.1 has also been released recently. Like KMS 1.1, its main enhancement is the support for Windows Server 2008. I have reviewed VAMT 1.0 a while back. I played a little with VAMT 1.1 and didn’t find significant differences. You can use VAMT to get an overview of the licensing status of your Vista and Server 2008 machines and you can also use it to deploy MAK keys.
Basically, there are five license states for Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP1:
- Licensed: After activation
- Initial Grace: After the installation of the OS
- Out-of-Tolerance Grace: Hardware changes make re-activation necessary
- Non-Genuine Grace: If genuine activation failed when you try to download software from Microsoft.
- Unlicensed: When any of the grace periods (30 days) expires, the system will enter a notifications-based mode of operation.
One of the improvements of Service Pack 1 for Vista is that it abolishes Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM). So Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 will just enter a mode where the desktop background turns black and where notifications in the lower right corner over the system tray tell you that your copy of Windows isn’t genuine.
The fact that Microsoft gave up on RFM is certainly a step into the right direction. However, I am still unhappy with the current situation. My main complaint is that KMS is a much too simple tool for such an important task. I want a central licensing tool that logs all activation attempts, displays all machines with their last known license states, allows me to push activation for clients who had problems and so on. And, of course, I want a GUI for KMS.
VAMT is nice for deploying MAKs, but it is more or less useless if you want to get an overview of the license status of your whole network. VAMT is only able to scan the network to gather the license states of your Windows machines. Computers that are not online during the scanning process won’t be included.
I want to be able to get the exact licensing status of my whole network with just a mouse click. If Microsoft imposes extra work on us because they want to sell more licenses, they should at least give us the tools to manage licensing without hassle. | <urn:uuid:382ab7f2-a63b-4696-b12e-0262099f6bd1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://4sysops.com/archives/windows-server-2008-and-vista-sp1-licensing-essentials-kms-11-vamt-11/ | 2013-05-18T17:48:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90919 | 991 |
Hospital on search for CEO...again
by C.F. David
For the fifth time, in just over a year, the Board of Control for Cimarron Memorial Hospital is searching for a CEO.
Sharon Cox, who arrived in February and worked on a 90-day contract, vacated the position as of April 30.
Cox followed Jo Pierce, Alan Bird, and John Smith at the helm of Cimarron Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home. Another applicant, Larry Knetzer, received a green light for hire, and would have succeeded Smith; however, Knetzer had been relieved of his duties at Memorial Hospital in Dumas and could not sign a contract with Cimarron Memorial due to legal tangles.
Cox had, before her departure, presented the board a proposal whereby she would work until July then sign another contract for the duration of one year. The board chose not to respond to the offer.
Board chairman Allen Shields, answered “Yes.” When asked if the reason for Cox's leaving was that the board disagreed with her vision of where the hospital needed to be going.
However, the board did investigate and act on some of Cox's advice. Cox had advised that the board consider:
H Outsourcing Physical Therapy; this recommendation was accepted and Michael Griffith was terminated.
H Terminate Home Health and Hospice Services; this recommendation was also accepted.
The following five recommendations by Cox were not acted upon:
H Expand the Rural Health clinic into Urgent Care; close the ER and Acute care services; and evaluate adding skilled beds to the Cimarron Memorial Nursing Home. (Which would have effectively closed the hospital.)
H Financial/Business systems intervention including charge master review. (Potentially raise prices for services)
H consider Reorganization/Debt Relief options
H Explore the possibility of an ad valorem property tax. (Establish a Hospital District.)
H Evaluate the potential of VA residents in the nursing home.
Cox had told the board that the critical issues facing the hospital were:
H Cash flow- for payroll and supplies.
H Maintaining regulatory and licensing compliance.
H Liability insurance, (The facility faces a potential increase on it's premiums of $44 thousand by July 1.)
H The 2003 Cost report estimate- $20 thousand is due from the hospital. (Monies owed to Medicaid for overpayment.)
Cox concluded her report, and said that: “With careful planning, cost effective medical services can be maintained in Cimarron County.”
Cox, at the April 30 meeting told the public and the board that the hospital was as of April running $165,152 in the red; however, some of the loss had been slowed from a trend on its way to what could have been a deficit of more than $200 thousand.
Tammy Swinburne, the hospital's CFO told the group that the hospital had debts to vendors of nearly one-quarter-of-a-million dollars.
Swinburne had resigned her position, but is now reconsidering, since being asked by the hospital board to stay.
Referring to the bleak numbers, Cox said, “I don't look at these numbers dispassionately. I know they are sad numbers.'
Cox continued by saying that the trend of an aging county population was a reason for the low patient numbers, (less than three per month average for 2004).
Cox then therorized that of the county's population of just over 3 thousand, the hospital's service demographic was probably nearer 2,100 due to medical facilities nearby in Elkhart, Clayton and Guymon
In response to Cox's recommendations, the board of control released a memo to their employees and to The Boise City News.
To: All Employees
From: Cimarron Memorial Hospital Board of Control April 30, 2004
We would like to address the discussions about possible closure of the hospital or nursing home. After talking with our consultant, Cypress Health Systems, our hospital is not in a crisis. We are very viable, a going concern and will continue to operate despite a cash strapped position.
We have developed a four (4) point strategic plan which we have begun implementing today to continue the operation of the entire facility.
We, as a board, are passionate about continuing the medical services to the residents of Cimarron County now and in the future.
We want to thank the employees, County Commissioners and citizens for their support. Especially the citizens for their support by the passing of the sales tax.
Signed- Cimarron Memorial Hospital Board of Control, Alan Shields, Linda Burns, John Smith, Richard Hitchings.
The only one of the four strategic points Shields would discuss at this time, was the search for a new CEO.
Boise City News | <urn:uuid:a0c74de5-84ec-47ae-9a1f-b16ac16c6be9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://boisecitynews.org/stories/5_5_2004/hospital_searching_for_CEO_again.htm | 2013-05-18T17:18:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974734 | 1,000 |
Originally posted by John Metzer on Fri, Dec 03, 2010 @ 12:06 PM
The logistics involved in getting our ducklings and goslings to you are fascinating. But first I want to give you a little history.
Until about twelve years ago the United States Postal Service (USPS) had its own planes and flew much of the mail throughout the United States. This was their Eagle Service system. But then the USPS decided they could do it cheaper by tendering all of the mail to commercial airlines (Delta, United, Northwest, Continental, etc.), so they got rid of all their planes. This worked fine for most mail but not for day-old birds. There are two problems with live, day-old birds: 1) the carriers are paid by weight and a box full of letters weighs more than a box full of chicks or ducklings and 2) they have to make sure the temperature and ventilation in the hold is sufficient for live birds. Though it was in their contract to do so, some airlines stopped carrying live birds because of these problems and shipping became a problem nationwide.
At this point the Bird Shippers of America was formed by mail order hatcheries and associated companies and customers. A lobbyist was hired and we made some headway. But the situation continued to deteriorate. It was so bad in the spring of 2005 that it changed from week to week on where we could mail our birds. We could take orders but we never knew if we could mail there on hatch day. Luckily in the fall of 2006 FedEx signed a contract with the USPS to haul day-old poultry on their planes. FedEx took this very seriously and I was soon visited by three national FedEx managers to better understand the hatchery business and ensure the system they set up would work. Since that time, shipping has been very consistent and relatively trouble free.
But back to my story. Where do the ducklings and goslings go when they leave our hatchery? We mail them in the local town of Chualar, population 600, Monday afternoons. My father started mailing ducklings there on the way to work 40 years ago and we have continued ever since. USPS trucks pick up the shipments there and take them to Salinas, a nearby distribution center and then on to San Jose. Some are flown from San Jose but most go to San Francisco or Oakland airports. They are transferred to FedEx late Monday evening.
FedEx has a Day Turn and a Night Turn. Day Turn are those birds going by Priority mail. They leave early in the morning and are sent to one of two FedEx sorting centers for live poultry: Oakland by truck or Memphis by plane. At this hub they are sorted and transferred to the plane going to your nearest, major airport and usually arrive by late afternoon Tuesday.
Night Turn are for Express Mail packages. They travel at night and arrive at the destination airport the next morning. The only way we can ensure Express Mail packages travel on Monday's Night Turn is by delivering them to the San Francisco airport Monday afternoon. But even by our doing this, there is no guarantee they will arrive the next day to your Post Office.
Once they arrive at the destination airport, FedEx transfers the birds back to the USPS. Sometimes the USPS distributes from the airport post office and other times they are transferred to a regional distribution center. That evening and early the next morning the USPS has trucks taking the mail to all the individual post offices in the area. Most arrive at your local post office between 4:00am and 8:00 Wednesday morning. Some larger post offices have a second delivery later in the day.
You can always drop by your local post office to learn their procedure but 99% of the time they will phone you early that morning to ask you to come get your birds. It is better for you to go pick them up so your birds get water and food as soon as possible – and don't travel with your mailperson all day before they deliver your mail. Make sure you give the hatchery the most appropriate phone number for you to be contacted in the morning.
FedEx carries most of our birds but some of the other major airlines, including Continental, Northwest (now Delta) and American, also carry day-old poultry for the USPS. It is an excellent system that works very well the vast majority of the time and is envied by hatcheries and their customers in Canada and most of the European countries. | <urn:uuid:5628fadb-4181-465b-9022-8445436342f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-do-our-ducklings-and-goslings.html | 2013-05-18T17:17:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973352 | 903 |
Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- From: Urbin <urbin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 7 Jan 2011 09:35:01 GMT
On Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:22:10 +0000, Catriona R wrote:
* All guild banners now reward bonus reputation in addition to
honor and experience.
Does this mean that you earn more guild reputation when having the banner
out? Or does this apply to all reputation? In any case, more work on
* Level 85 players can now choose any normal dungeon via the
Dungeon Finder. Choosing Random Dungeon will still not add these
lower-level dungeons into the rotation.
Ah, finally! Though I have since found a group to run Throne of Tides, so I
have those quests completed.
The Vortex Pinnacle
* The wind direction and fun coefficient of the Cyclones that
appear in Heroic difficulty during the Altairus encounter have
Thank god. We knew wind direction played a role but had no clue how to tell
what it was. That wiped us, which in turn locked us out of the dungeon at
the start of the week.
* Archaeology fragments now have a hard cap of 200 per race.
Players will not be able to collect additional fragments until they
complete artifacts to take them down below 200 fragments. Players with
more than 200 fragments will not lose additional fragments in 4.0.6,
but in a future patch we may remove any fragments above 200.
Why would you keep so many? I didn't solve any until I had reached 100
skill, but after that, what is the advantage of not assembling an artifact
as soon as you had enough fragments?
* New meta gems have been added: Agile Shadowspirit Diamond
(Agility/3% critical damage)
These new recipes are unbound and can drop from any Cataclysm creature.
cool, so if they drop for any of my chars, I can send them on to the JC and
don't need to randomly farm with my priest.
* The Reputation Pane now saves which reputation categories are
expanded or collapsed.
Hm, might give me more work with Factionizer, at least if I want to add this
feature as well :)
* Console commands have been added to the login screens:
ExportInterfaceFiles art, ExportInterfaceFiles code.
So we no longer need the seperate tool for this. Nice, but not something
that was desperately needed. I didn't even know there was a console on the
login screen :)
Quests & Creatures
Tol Barad Peninsula
* Quest turn-in NPCs have been added to Baradin Base Camp and
Hellscream's Reach in Tol Barad Peninsula for the Tol Barad bonus
quests. This will allow players to turn in these quests if the
original quest givers in Tol Barad are not available.
Nice. So even if we can't hand in quests during the last 15 minutes before a
battle at least we can then hearth out, take the portal back and hand them
in without waiting for Tol Barad to belong to us again.
* Kill credit for the Tol Barad bonus quest bosses will now be
granted to players who have helped attack them, even if they are not
in the same group. These bosses include Problim, Archmage Galus,
Warden Silva, and Svarnos.
Lovely! No more queueing for those respawns.
Dun Morogh-EU (PvE) | Juran (65), Druid
Urbin (85), Hunter | Surana (70), Mage | Greeta (62), Rogue
Mymule (80), Warlock | Kordosch (75), Deathknight | Gera (26), Paladin
Sunh (80), Priest | Taalas (73), Shaman | Vargal (14), Warrior
- Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- From: Catriona R
- Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- Prev by Date: Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- Next by Date: Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- Previous by thread: Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes
- Next by thread: Re: PTR 4.0.6 Patch Notes | <urn:uuid:76b90de2-37b5-4a56-805d-941a92c7f8e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.games.warcraft/2011-01/msg00440.html | 2013-05-18T18:07:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908101 | 927 |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joe Biden stepped forward Thursday as Barack Obama’s chief character witness, link to middle class voters and potentially the most biting critic of Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Speaking candidly about his front-row seat to Obama’s presidency, Biden used his speech to Democrats’ convention to paint his friend as a gutsy leader who helped the nation turn the corner on its dour economy. He pointed to the decisions to bail out Detroit’s auto industry and to dispatch Navy SEALs into Pakistan for a fatal raid on al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s compound.
“Conviction. Resolve. Barack Obama,” Biden shouted to delegates watching in the convention hall and millions more watching at home.
Biden, the sometimes off-script but always fiery vice president, praised Obama’s hardest decisions. He deviated from his prepared remarks at times to include some of his signature rhetorical flourishes but stayed focused on the arguments Obama needs him to make to white, working-class voters.
Want to Keep Up With NewsOne.com? LIKE Us On Facebook!
“This man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart and steel in his spine,” Biden said, drawing the crowd to its feet. “And because of all the actions he took, because of the calls he made, because of the grit and determination of American workers, and the unparalleled bravery of our special forces we can now proudly say what you’ve heard me say the last six months: Osama Bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.”
See Vice-President Biden’s DNC acceptance speech below, beginning at 2:31:35:
In the crowd, several delegates held up bumper stickers with versions of that slogan.
But with stubbornly high unemployment and the economy the driving factor in the presidential race, Biden acknowledged many Americans were not yet feeling things had improved since Obama won the White House in 2008. He asked for patience.
“Yes, the work of recovery is not yet complete, but we are on our way,” Biden said. “The journey of hope is not yet finished, but we are on our way. The cause of change is not fully accomplished, but we are on our way. So I say to you tonight, with absolute confidence, America’s best days are ahead, and, yes, we are on our way.”
Biden also spoke plainly about the respect he has developed for Obama during the past 3 1/2 years, particularly the president’s hands-on approach to foreign policy. The two sometimes have disagreed, but that has only increased Biden’s standing with Obama, who appreciates discussion over dictating decisions. On days they are both on White House grounds, they spend some four hours together in meetings; Biden often is the last person Obama consults on major decisions.
“I want to take you inside the White House to see the president, as I see him every day,” Biden said. “Because I don’t see him in sound bites. I walk down the hall, 30 steps to into the Oval Office, and I see him, I watch him in action.”
“He always has the courage to make the tough decisions,” Biden added.
Biden has been an occasional headache for Obama, though. On the day Obama signed the Democrats’ health care overhaul into law, Biden stole headlines by using an expletive in range of a live microphone. He forced Obama’s hand on gay rights during an interview that sped up the president’s endorsement of gay marriage. And more recently, to an African-American audience in Virginia, he said of Republicans, “They’re going to put y’all back in chains.”
Yet Biden has a knack for connecting with blue-collar workers that Obama simply does not. He can deliver scathing criticism through clenched grins in a way that Obama cannot. He can promote Obama’s accomplishments that would sound like bragging if the president talked in the same way.
“Day after day, night after night, I sat beside him as he made one gutsy decision after another,” he said.
Born in Scranton, Pa., and raised as a member of the working class, Biden speaks with credibility to voters’ frustrations with Washington, despite having first won election to the Senate in 1972. He can move an audience with stories about coping with the death of his first wife and daughter in a car accident or seeing his father forced to move to Delaware to find work.
“When I was a young kid in third grade, I remember my dad coming up the stairs in my grandpop’s house where we were living, sitting on the end of my bed, and saying, `Joey, I’m going to have to leave for a while. Go down to Wilmington, Del., with Uncle Frank. There are good jobs down there honey, and in a little while, I will be able to send for you and mom and Jimmy and Val, and everything is going to be fine,’” Biden said. “For the rest of our lives, my dad never failed to remind us that a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It is about your dignity. It’s about respect. It’s about your place in the community.”
Plus, Biden has demonstrated a certain glee in eviscerating his rivals’ proposals, especially their plans for seniors’ health care. He said Romney’s business experience helped his companies make “highest profits. But it’s not the way to lead our country from its highest office.” | <urn:uuid:80232cbe-1be4-4095-873c-932cdf5a5c22> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsone.com/2034512/vp-joe-biden-accepts-dnc-nomination/ | 2013-05-18T17:37:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972097 | 1,209 |
2009 OSCE MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE IN CAIRO IS A SUCCESS: HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF REVISITING ANNUAL CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION
By Alex Johnson, Policy Advisor and Marlene Kaufmann, General Counsel
In December 2009, Commission staff attended the 2009 OSCE Mediterranean Conference on “The Mediterranean Partners and the OSCE: Cooperation Toward Enhanced Security and Stability” in Cairo, Egypt. This conference brought together 33 of the 56 OSCE participating States, four of the Asian Partners for Cooperation (Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand), and representation from all of the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. The Palestinian National Authority attended at the invitation of the host government. The conference featured three sessions focusing on the politico-military aspects of security in the OSCE area, implications of the current financial crisis on migration, and prospects for OSCE Mediterranean Cooperation. These sessions featured presentations from Mediterranean Partner OSCE delegations, academics, international organizations, and relevant ministry representatives.
Participation in this conference was at a high level with the majority of the participating States and all of the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation represented by their Ambassadors to the OSCE. Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in attendance included a Vice-President and officers of two of the Assembly’s General Committees. Discussion in all of the sessions was lively with active participation by the Ambassadors, particularly those representing the Mediterranean Partners, as well as other public and private sector participants. A number of themes emerged across the sessions including agreement that the partnership between the OSCE participating States and their Mediterranean Partners has strengthened. The establishment of the Partnership Fund and the Athens’ Ministerial invitation to the Partners to contribute to the Corfu Process are largely attributed with bolstering the strength of the Partnership. Findings included a future activity emphasis on specific areas of cooperation by setting both short and long-term goals and providing a mechanism to assess effectiveness. In addition, the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership should undertake its work in coordination with other regional organizations and institutions, through which the possibility of expanding the Partnership could be considered.
Session 1: Politico-military aspects of security in the OSCE area and the Mediterranean
The session’s moderators were Ambassador Ian Cliff, Head of the delegation of the United Kingdom to the OSCE and Ambassador Taous Feroukhi, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the OSCE. Panelists included Mr. Pascal Heyman, Deputy Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center, Ambassador Gyorgy Molnar, Head of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Hungary to the OSCE, and Dr. Mostafa Elwy Saif, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science, Cairo University and Member of the Shura Council.
Ambassador Cliff opened the discussion by pointing out that the OSCE had developed expertise on crisis prevention and conflict resolution, particularly regarding protracted conflicts. He believes there has recently been some incremental progress.
Pascal Heyman emphasized that the OSCE has developed a unique conflict prevention and resolution expertise through constant political dialogue, dedicated crisis management mechanisms such as fact-finding missions, the Conflict Prevention Center, confidence and security building measures and the establishment of field operations. While these are effective tools, Heyman maintained that workable and lasting conflict resolution depends ultimately on the political will of the participating States and the parties in a conflict.
Ambassador Molnar spoke to the destabilizing consequences of transnational or multi-dimensional threats to security in the OSCE space. He noted that participating States are attempting to address these threats through the Maastricht Strategy and decisions adopted at both the Madrid and Athens Ministerials regarding transnational threats, combating terrorism, and promoting effective law enforcement and police training programs.
Dr. Saif presented a detailed review of Egypt’s political and military security concerns and concluded that the primary challenges to his country’s security stem from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran’s regional and nuclear ambitions, water shortages, the political situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
Ambassador Feroukhi said that the absence of a dedicated institutional forum in the Mediterranean region hampered the development of effective security mechanisms but felt that the development of confidence-building measures – particularly involving civil society and academic communities – should be encouraged as a first step. She also agreed that a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and better protection of the environment were vital for the stability and security of the Mediterranean region.
All delegations who participated in the discussion welcomed the Athens Ministerial decision to invite input from the Partners for Cooperation on furthering the Corfu Process. A number of delegations raised the possibility of enlarging the Mediterranean Partnership to include the Palestinian National Authority, while others pointed out the difficulties of doing so, due to the fact that the OSCE is a state-based organization. The Partnership Fund was hailed as an effective tool to enhance the Mediterranean Partnership and it should continue to be used to sustain a culture of cooperation, including the possible creation of a clearing house on water issues within the OSCE. It was also stressed that the OSCE should coordinate its activities with relevant international and regional organizations.
The moderators stated the following conclusions emanating from the discussion: The confidence and security building measures as well as early warning mechanisms developed in the framework of the OSCE could serve as a model and help to foster cooperation and confidence in the Mediterranean region; the participation of the Partners in the Corfu process should enhance the Mediterranean Partnership; and, the Partnership should move forward based on concrete, achievable objectives with possible long-term goals of establishing a Mediterranean conflict prevention center and developing regional codes of conduct to enhance dialogue and cooperation.
Session 2: Implications of the current economic and financial crisis on migration
The second session was moderated by Mr. Daman Bergant, Head of the OSCE Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, and panelists included Ambassador Omar Zniber, Head of the Delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to the OSCE, and Ms. Rebecca Bardach, Director of the Center for International Migration and Integration of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Mr. Bergant began the session by explaining that the global economic and financial crisis has an impact on migration and development. He outlined several topics to guide the discussion including the development of cooperative migration policies between the OSCE and the Mediterranean Partners; dialogue on how to prevent and combat illegal migration; international and regional cooperation on preventing trafficking in human beings, including trafficking for forced labor; protecting the human rights of migrants, including through combating hate crimes; and, the role of migrants in promoting tolerance and non-discrimination.
Ambassador Zniber spoke to the impact of the current economic crisis on both migrants and development. He pointed out that the impact of the crisis makes migrants even more vulnerable and they face increased discrimination and further marginalization in society. Decreasing remittances, said the Ambassador – 10 to 15% in 2009 according to the World Bank – are a destabilizing factor, impacting countries of origin like Morocco which are particularly dependent on revenues from abroad.
The Ambassador welcomed the Athens Ministerial Council Decision on migration management and urged that the OSCE continue its work in this area, in particular, by facilitating dialogue, exchanging best practices and fighting discrimination against migrants. Specifically, he recommended that the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners establish a working group on migration management and related security aspects; develop a multi-dimensional and long-term approach on migration management; promote regional cooperation and partnerships between all responsible parties including countries of origin, transit and destination, civil society and the private sector; create reintegration and training programs; and, protect the human rights of migrants and their families.
Ms. Bardach gave a comprehensive review of migration issues impacting Israel. She explained that only in the last two decades has Israel seen a significant increase in migration flows across its borders. This is presenting challenges to the government in managing migration and dealing with large numbers of refugees, asylum seekers, and labor migrants, in addition to human smuggling and trafficking. While Israeli efforts to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation have resulted in marked progress, she said, efforts to combat labor trafficking are still in their infancy. Based on this experience, Ms. Bardach suggested that the OSCE should develop policies to address irregular recruitment practices and raise awareness about such practices; develop cooperation on both the regional and bilateral level to increase information sharing, strengthen border controls and address the humanitarian needs of migrants; develop culturally sensitive tools for law enforcement officials; and, improve the reception and registration of refugees, including assisted voluntary return.
During the discussion following the panel presentations, a number of delegations echoed the view that the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners should serve as a broad regional platform for a coordinated dialogue on migration, and should develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent cross-border trafficking that includes the private sector.
The contributors in this session demonstrated the need for better data collection and sharing regarding migration in the Euro-Mediterranean context. This goal was identified as a potential priority for the Partnership Fund. Proposals distributed by the Moroccan and Egyptian delegations have both cited the importance of developing research institutions, which could serve to further the goal of better data collection and expertise sharing.
Session 3: Prospects for OSCE Mediterranean Cooperation
The third session Chaired by Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Head of the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, focused on a review of achievements to date in improving dialogue and cooperation between the participating States and the Mediterranean Partners, and developing effective follow-up on recommendations of previous seminars and ministerial declarations referencing the Partners. Featured speakers were Ambassador Makram Queisi, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the OSCE, and Mr. Agustin Nunez, Deputy Head of Mission of the Permanent Mission of Spain to the OSCE.
Ambassador Queisi presented four areas in which he felt cooperation could improve the relationship between the OSCE and the Mediterranean region – environmental aspects of security such as soil erosion, desertification and water management including the possible creation of an environmental data collection center in the region; enhanced border security to combat terrorism and trafficking including cooperation with the Regional Counter Terrorism Training Center in Jordan; combating discrimination against Muslims; and, developing nuclear non-proliferation strategies for the region. The Ambassador also stated his view that Partner status should be granted to the Palestinian National Authority as a confidence building measure.
Mr. Nunez reviewed the development of the participating State’s cooperation with their Mediterranean Partners including increased participation by Mediterranean Partners in OSCE activities and recent examples of concrete cooperation on issues such as countering terrorism, promoting tolerance and freedom of the media, and enhancing border management. He emphasized the importance of having a strategic vision for the Partnership and commended the proposal by the Kazakh Chair of the Mediterranean Contact Group that three priority areas should be identified for developing projects to be financed by the Partnership Fund. Mr. Nunez concurred with Ambassador Queisi’s view that the Partnership should be enlarged to include the Palestinian National Authority and noted that Spain had circulated two food-for-thought papers on this topic in 2008.
Following the presentations, active debate among the delegations ensued and focused primarily on the current status of the Partnership and its achievements to date, proposals for additional areas of cooperation, procedural improvements and the issue of possible enlargement of the Partnership.
Enhanced cooperation in the areas of promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, freedom of the media, gender, combating trafficking in human beings, energy security, security aspects of climate change, water management and fighting corruption, drug trafficking and terrorism was discussed. It was suggested that working groups should be established to examine these issues and make recommendations for action. Participants also called for the establishment of a system for effective follow-up on recommendations and agreed proposals, as well as enhanced coordination with other regional institutions and organizations.
The participants actively discussed the question of enlarging the Mediterranean Partnership with some participants supporting the granting of Partner status to the Palestinian National Authority as a confidence building measure conducive to dialogue and peace in the region. Debate over this particular consideration illuminated the need for an expeditious response to the request of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to become an OSCE Mediterranean Partner for Cooperation. It is apparent that a number of participating States and partners recognize the value of their participation in Mediterranean Dimension activities. Yet, disagreement arises when considering the implications of recognizing a territory as a full-fledged partner. Some participating States see the case of the PNA as unique in that there is already international agreement on the existence of a future Palestinian State. Other participating States believe that affording a territory official status sets a precedent for other territories seeking recognition in the OSCE region. A number of these leaders believe that a future Palestinian State should be granted partner status after formal international recognition. Thus, it will be unlikely that consensus on partnership with the PNA will be reached at this time and the OSCE Chair-in-Office should issue a formal response acknowledging this. The question of PNA participation will continue to mire productive dialogue on other opportunities for cooperation until a decisive response is issued by the OSCE Chair-in-Office. Alternatives for their participation should however be explored. Some possibilities include establishment of an alternative status of “observer” or other title within the framework of the Partners for Cooperation to allow for a transitional process of full recognition as a Partner. In addition, some sort of agreement should be established on recommended countries outside of the Mediterranean Partnership for invitations to OSCE Mediterranean Dimension activities.
Conclusion: Future Considerations for Annual Conference Administration
A tremendous success of the 2009 Mediterranean Conference was the engagement of the Ambassadors from the Mediterranean Partners in the agenda. Each panel featured a Mediterranean Partner Ambassador, which helped balance the contributions during the discussion. Previous conferences did not adequately balance the opportunities for contributions between the Mediterranean Partners and the OSCE participating States. In the most grievous of incidences, panelists and participating States at the 2008 Mediterranean Conference in Amman, Jordan took so much time during the discussion that contributions from representatives of the Partners were significantly curtailed. It only makes sense that the contributions of the Partners be prioritized when the purpose of the conference is enhancing cooperation with their respective countries. Meaningful participation by the Partners remains the only way to sustain the future of the OSCE Mediterranean Dimension.
A recurring challenge of the annual Mediterranean conference is a lack of willingness to host the event among the Mediterranean Partners. The venue question remains an issue that paralyzes cooperation among the Mediterranean Partners and has the potential to diminish the productivity of the conference each year. The venue question stems from a number of factors. Not only is the conference capital-intensive for the hosting State, political considerations regarding the participants in the OSCE Mediterranean Dimension keep Partners like Algeria and Tunisia from taking a leadership role in hosting the event. Thus, active Partners like Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Israel bear the burden of hosting the conference most frequently. Ownership of the OSCE Mediterranean Dimension through hosting the conference and originating initiatives remains an ideal that the partnership should aspire to. However, it is not unprecedented that participating States would host the conference. Previous Mediterranean seminars were hosted by Greece (2002), Croatia (2001), Slovenia (2000), and Malta (1998), prior to the elevation of the event to a “conference” by the Greek chairmanship of the OSCE in 2008. Participating States have offered to host the upcoming 2010 conference. Proceeding with an established venue earlier in the year may provide for more time for substantive topic development. Such a deviation from Mediterranean Partner ownership of the event should be seen as an exception until a more appropriate mechanism for rotating the responsibility of hosting the conference is devised.
The 2009 Mediterranean Conference was well executed by the Egyptian government, especially considering the short time between their final commitment to do so and the date of the event. However, NGO participation was notably missing. The 2008 OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Amman featured a session for NGOs from throughout the Mediterranean region on the day prior to the conference and subsequently included a robust NGO presence during the conference proceedings. OSCE Participating States led by the United States made extra-budgetary contributions to the OSCE Partnership Fund to help facilitate a robust NGO presence. International organization representatives that were invited to present on the session panels in the 2009 Cairo conference were among the few non-governmental participants present. It is true that participating States lack the wherewithal to contribute annually to facilitate an NGO presence especially given global fiscal challenges. However, exploring partnerships with appropriate foundations, endowments, and institutions involved in Euro-Mediterranean engagement may result in a consistent and strong NGO presence at events within the OSCE Mediterranean Dimension.
Republic of Korea
Confidence and Security Building Measures
Equality of Opportunity for Men and Women
Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
Military Aspects of Security
Rule of Law/Independence of Judiciary
Trafficking in Human Beings | <urn:uuid:855295f9-5353-4e82-a276-747fbb343e35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContentRecords.ViewDetail&ContentRecord_id=473&ContentType=G&ContentRecordType=G&UserGroup_id=150®ion_id=150&year=0&month=0&Subaction=ByDate&CFID=16248751&CFTOKEN=86665980 | 2013-05-18T17:50:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939827 | 3,456 |
Results 1 to 10 of 15
06-09-2012, 11:41 PM #1
HELP a guy named ski-ter is trying to scam us free flow and r&d pump seal kit fzr
well ,i have been taking to a guy on ebay with free flow riva and pump seal kit at first he had a stock photo so i requested a pic via text he sent them no problem,then the listing ended as he was using other accounts to bid his own listing up .today i saw the listing up for a cheaper price so i bid and won .now he'S trying to sell to others on the forum. also requesting me to send funds via gift on paypal i have no payed yet
just trying to help others on the forum
HERES A LINK TO THE LISTING
ebay account 1
ebay account 2
LETS SHUT HIM DOWN QUICK
THANKS TO ALL THAT HELP
LOOK AT HIS FEEDBACK ON EBAY THATS HIS OTHER ACCOUNT HE ALREADY SOLD THE FREE FLOW TO HIMSELF FROM BIDDING FROM OTHER ACCOUNTS
06-10-2012, 12:28 AM #2
- Join Date
- Jun 2012
lol your a joke buddy... i dont have time to waste on an internet ganster like your self..u havnt bought one thing on this forum im trying to to buy everything forsale on this forum my ski..also all this stuff this guy is say is opinion based...your opinion is like an a hole everyone's Got one buddy !
06-10-2012, 02:08 PM #3
Ebay user bayberry914 is alright; I've communicated with him before. I won a new PPK kit for 1 cent, (I usually bid on items to watch them) no one else bid and he neglected to put a reserve. He told he can't let it go for 1 penny and I replied I understand no big deal, 1 penny is a ridiculous price. He then offered it to me at a killer price and cheap shipping but I really don't need it. I told him try to advertise the items on these forums.
06-10-2012, 02:37 PM #4
Ski-ter I will say this much, looking at your ebay feedback, I would never buy a thing from you. 5 transactions and 2 negatives as a seller, where's the integrity here? Thats what I look for when I purchase from people.
And the one positive was highly questionable. Did you really call that that guy and ask to hang out????
06-10-2012, 02:39 PM #5
BTW this thread has been moved to the buyer/seller feedback section
06-11-2012, 10:16 PM #6
thanks bill i was just trying to get the word out
06-12-2012, 07:22 PM #7
- Join Date
- Jun 2012
what word out? i never committed to the sale..the sale was never finalized..secondly i never sent you an invoice and its obsurd that you would think that i would sell you 270.00 worth of parts for 170.00.also do u know what the definition of scam is..i didnt think so im going to show the definition on scam from the dictionary.."to swindle someone by tricker"..u never sent me any money you idiot..i couldnt have scammed you if i wanted to..ur are absolutely one of the worst people i have ever dealt with trying to sell something to..i run a large scale landscape company in southern westchester ny..i have over 100+ satisified customers and i have only been in business for 3 years..also and probably the best part is im 24 and i have accomplished more in 3 years than you could do in a lifetime..you're an uneducated person and have absoluetly no idea what your talking about..u make the title of this post sound like i took your money and ran..you're a small part of whats wrong with country ur just an uneducated paper pusher in this rat race called life and you get on a computer and throw words around that are not the slighest bit correct..i wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavor's..good luck my friend you need all the luck you can get because you are not the slighest bit cunning/intuitive..
06-12-2012, 07:39 PM #8
06-12-2012, 07:45 PM #9
- Join Date
- Jun 2012
i would have let them both go for 170.00 plus the 20.00 for shipping which is what it cost to ship it priority..but this guy was heckling me about the 20.00 shipping saying and i quote" the best i can do is 170.00 shipped" i said dude did u read the auction description it clearly states that the item is 170.00 and the shipping is 20.00..frankly i would have sold it to anyone else in the universe for 170.00 shipped but when i found out this guy one the same person who had been heckling my for 3 weeks about the parts i wanted to vomit..
06-13-2012, 08:41 PM #10
LMAO, this has to be the funniest feedback I have ever read:
"Good seller but weird guy kept calling my home asking to hang out late at night"
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests) | <urn:uuid:e81f230e-b2cc-497d-bda4-d9dd31cf2d55> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.greenhulk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=178160&mode=hybrid | 2013-05-18T17:37:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94312 | 1,162 |
The high profile cases Bilski v. Kappos and Association for Molecular Pathology v. United States Patent and Trademark Office have renewed public debate about the proper scope of patentable subject matter. The subject matter inquiry has traditionally been treated as a threshold inquiry in patent law, serving a gate-keeping function by defining the types of inventions that are eligible for patent protection. The Patent Office and courts have approached the subject matter inquiry both by determining whether an invention falls into a statutory category-processes, machines, manufactures, or compositions of matter-as well as by determining whether an invention falls into a category excluded from subject matter eligibility-often described in recent decades as laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas.
The exclusions from patentable subject matter developed in the courts and have never been codified in the Patent Act. Although some commentators have argued that the exclusions are Constitutionally mandated, the Supreme Court and lower courts have consistently regarded them as judicial interpretation of statutory subject matter requirements. Courts and commentators have rationalized the exclusions as protecting the "basic tools" of scientific and technological research necessary for innovation. Because of the role of the subject matter inquiry in conditioning patent eligibility-a role perceived as critical to encouraging innovation-landmark subject matter cases have often arisen during times of technological change and economic upheaval.
The patents at issue in Association for Molecular Pathology cover isolated and purified forms of the human BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes responsible for heightened risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as methods for determining whether the sequence is present in clinical samples submitted by patients for testing. Like many other important subject matter cases, Association for Molecular Pathology raises the policy question of whether the patents at issue and other similar patents "cause more harm than good to society and technological development." The plaintiffs prevailed in the district court. If the decision is affirmed by the Federal Circuit, although gene patents would not be broadly invalidated, a new avenue would be opened for challenging patent validity.
The litigation is noteworthy not only for the legal and policy questions it raises, but also because two public interest groups, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT), are serving as plaintiffs' counsel. Association for Molecular Pathology is a rare instance of impact litigation in patent law, which has remained relatively untouched by conventional cause lawyering until recent years. The public policies championed by ACLU and PUBPAT are undoubtedly compelling. They include the salutary goals of making genetic testing more widely and inexpensively available, and encouraging scientific research. We question, however, whether judicial interpretation alone of 35 U.S.C. § 101, the eligible subject matter provision of the Patent Act, can provide the legal framework necessary to properly effectuate these policies.
In this Essay, we suggest that by focusing solely on shaping judicial interpretation of the exclusions from patentable subject matter, proponents of an expanded public domain fail to consider the possibility that states will expand what we term "interstitial exclusivities"-state-based legal rules, such as trade secret law and unfair competition law, that grant certain market exclusivities in inventions and that are not subject to federal constitutional limits on their duration. We argue that the expansion of existing interstitial exclusivities and the creation of new ones would alter existing incentive structures of intellectual property law, potentially provoking serious negative unintended consequences such as increased uncertainty surrounding patent validity, increased business costs, and increased secrecy in scientific research. We suggest instead that the creation of a public domain envisioned by ACLU and PUBPAT may be best achieved through concurrent efforts to enact legislative change, which would explicitly dedicate such inventions to a public domain.
I. Interstitial Exclusivities
The problematic but incomplete overlap of federal and state intellectual property law has allowed for the creation of state-law exclusivities in inventions. We refer to these laws as "interstitial exclusivities" because they arise in the gaps where courts have concluded that federal patent law does not preempt state law.
The relationship between state and federal intellectual property protections-particularly with respect to the role of patent protection-is complicated. The federal and state regimes overlap and are similar in some respects, but differ significantly in others. Congress's patent and copyright authority derives from the Progress Clause of the Constitution, which enumerates the power to legislate along with a concurrent restriction requiring the exclusive rights to be granted by the federal government only for "limited times." However, trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret law are free from these durational limitations. Therefore, tensions have arisen where trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret protections partially overlap with patent or copyright rights, effectively extending elements of patent-like or copyright-like coverage for unlimited times.
Under existing application of preemption principles, states may craft intellectual property laws conveying exclusivities in inventions without running afoul of the Patent Act. When state-based intellectual property laws are challenged because of perceived conflict with the Patent Act, courts review these statutes using implied conflict preemption principles-the Patent Act contains no express preemption provisions, and courts have not applied field preemption principles to intellectual property law. Conflict preemption is a notoriously muddled area of law, and courts have struggled to apply these principles consistently to state intellectual property laws. Beginning in 1973, the Supreme Court affirmed states' rights to legislate in the intellectual property field absent direct conflict, despite dicta in earlier cases suggesting broad federal preemption of state intellectual property laws. Similarly, it is unlikely that courts will find that state intellectual property protections impermissibly burden interstate commerce in all but the most extreme circumstances. Accordingly, when a litigant raises a preemption argument, courts will generally engage in a very limited conflict analysis by looking to the stated purpose and legal elements of the state-based protection. State lawmakers are left with room to create exclusivities in inventions.
Naturally, business firms game the legal overlap and interplay to gain valuable market exclusivities in their products. The correspondence between state trade secret and unfair competition laws and federal patent law is not one-to-one, nor could it be under existing law. For example, the exclusivity conveyed by trade secret law does not generally protect against independent development or reverse engineering, and secrecy requirements in some jurisdictions can be relatively difficult and onerous to maintain. Likewise, unfair competition laws in some jurisdictions require elements such as proof of intent to establish violations. Neither trade secret nor unfair competition laws are perfect substitutes for patent protection, but they still convey valuable elements of market exclusivity, often through liability rather than property rules. Recognizing this, businesses have adopted sophisticated exclusivity strategies that consciously engage federal, state, and private law to maximize market exclusivity.
Against this backdrop, we suggest that ACLU, PUBPAT, and their supporters consider the possibility that state lawmakers could extend additional or strengthened state-law protections over inventions excluded from federal protection because of narrowed subject matter eligibility. States have continued to make and develop intellectual property law. For example, some jurisdictions have recently revived the once disfavored "inevitable disclosure" doctrine in trade secret law, a legal fiction that assumes an employee who has certain knowledge will disclose it to a new employer. Similarly, a recent Seventh Circuit case upheld an exclusive license of trade secrets between companies, explaining that trade secrets may be bought, sold, and licensed regardless of the fact that to do so requires their disclosure. And in an emerging area of intellectual property law, Utah recently passed the Utah Bioprospecting Act, which allows for regulation of bioprospecting activities, including the removal from state lands of naturally occurring microorganisms, plants, or fungi or information about the same for a commercial or research purpose. The legislation also mandates a royalty to the state resulting from commercialization of the results of bioprospecting and criminal penalties for noncompliance.
Although increased state activity in this area is not a certainty, it is a distinct possibility in light of the potential value of the inventions at issue. Simply put, there is nothing to stop state lawmakers from drawing even closer to patent law while still avoiding federal preemption, and very little reason to believe that state lawmakers would hesitate to do so.
II. The Law of Unintended Consequences
If the district court decision is upheld on appeal, it will be a Pyrrhic victory for proponents of an expanded public domain. Inventions that have already been disclosed to the public as part of the patent bargain-which requires disclosure in exchange for the strong exclusivity protections conferred by patent law-would begin to create an expanded public domain. For example, the inventions at issue in Association for Molecular Pathology would become a part of the public domain because they were disclosed in the patents. But inventors and their assignees could keep future inventions out of that public domain by strategically gaming the protections of federal, state, and private law. A judicial narrowing of patentable subject matter through a broadened interpretation of the exclusions would radically alter the incentives provided by the web of state and federal intellectual property protections. Businesses may increasingly opt for secrecy-based protections for certain gene and biotech inventions if patent protection, along with its strict disclosure requirements, is no longer available. This could have far-reaching unintended consequences on commercial and inventive activity, including increased secrecy, increased litigation, and increased uncertainty throughout the system, which is already complicated by non-uniformity of state trade secret and unfair competition laws.
Perhaps more importantly, narrowing the scope of patentable subject matter through interpretation of the exclusions could dramatically affect the way research and development are practiced. In addition to harming those who have developed and invested in gene patents in reliance on settled law, a narrowing of patentable subject matter may also chill the openness that patent protection fosters regardless of additional state action in the area if businesses tend toward secrecy-based intellectual property protections over the disclosure-based federal patent system. It could easily limit industry-university relations such as industry sponsored research, important biological material transfers between industry and universities, clinical trials, and other collaborations. Such collaborations are necessary for university researchers to have access to compounds, animals, and other research resources in cutting edge areas of science where industrial research and development is ongoing. Moreover, it may deter scientists from publishing and cause businesses to further limit publication by their scientists. It almost certainly would limit out-licensing opportunities for universities because of the strong culture of publication within universities. It would likely cause businesses to seek restrictive covenants with their employees more frequently, and to enforce such covenants more aggressively. Finally, it may greatly inhibit the movement of scientists and specialists between academia and industry and between competing companies.
As one of us has argued elsewhere, alteration of the patentable subject matter inquiry is best left to Congress because of the importance of subject matter eligibility to public policy goals, and because of Congress' institutional competency in addressing complex public policy concerns. With Association for Molecular Pathology, the process has already started in the courts, but it should not end there. Litigation alone has been widely recognized as, at best, an incomplete tool in achieving public policy goals. Impact litigation can be an effective means of placing pressure on the other branches of government and of publicizing policy issues, but courts are not as effective as the other branches of government at crafting and implementing long-term solutions that adequately account for costs and second order consequences. Those who seek to secure public rights in gene patents and other technologies should learn from past examples of litigation aimed at enacting social change, which benefited greatly from concurrent political efforts to enact legislative solutions.
Given the gaps that already exist in intellectual property law and the state-based exclusivities that can and do fill them, proponents of a narrow subject matter inquiry should concurrently seek legislative change. The legislative process is riddled with inefficiencies and interest group influence, but we think legislative reform is achievable. ACLU and PUBPAT have successfully leveraged impact litigation in the areas where it is most effective-bringing the debate to the public sphere and placing pressure on the other branches of government. Even a cursory review of the media coverage of the case demonstrates ACLU and PUBPAT's success at bringing the issues to the public's attention. Other related efforts are also receiving media attention, such as the recent empirical study by Duke University researchers suggesting that gene patents stifle innovation, as well as executive branch review of the issue. Additionally, the likely appeal of this case to the Federal Circuit may pressure the executive and legislative branches to act prior to a precedential appellate decision. ACLU and PUBPAT's challenge now is to channel the successes of impact litigation into effective legislative reform to lower costs and increase access to gene patents and other important technologies.
Unfortunately, the legislative solutions proposed thus far would not solve the problems created by existing and potentially expanded interstitial exclusivities. The NIH committee charged with evaluating gene patents recently proposed to create two exemptions from infringement liability-for gene patents used in patient care and for gene patents used in academic research. Even without the added complication of the pending litigation, the exemptions advocated by NIH would alter the incentive structure of intellectual property law, creating incentives for businesses to take advantage of existing interstitial exclusivities such as state trade secret law rather than seeking patent protection, and for states to expand or create new ones.
We believe the legislative solution that would come closest to creating the public domain ACLU and PUBPAT envision would preempt states from acting in these areas by including express language both defining the exclusions from patentable subject matter and committing them to the public domain. In order for a public domain to be created to cover the exclusions, it must keep them within the purview of the federal patent system while simultaneously shielding them from state-based exclusivities that lack durational limitations and allow or require the secrecy of inventions.
We recognize that such legislation would need to be carefully crafted. Notably, partial preemption of state-based intellectual property protections could cause jurisdictional uncertainty concerning whether and under what circumstances federal courts would have subject matter jurisdiction over state-based claims implicating the exclusions. However, Congress is the governmental body best suited to weigh options intended to reduce cost and improve access to technologies-whether it be through amendment of the Patent Act or through other legislative reforms such as the creation of health care subsidies.
Proponents of a narrowed patentable subject matter portray themselves as champions of a public domain. Yet the public domain they seek to create through impact litigation is at best elusive and at worst unreachable through litigation alone. The patentable subject matter inquiry is a complex issue requiring careful consideration by Congress to craft nuanced legal solutions that properly mind the gaps of federal intellectual property protection.
Mary Mitchell is a law clerk to the Hon. Anthony J. Scirica, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Dana A. Remus is a Professor of Law at the University of New Hampshire Law School.
Suggested citation: Mary Mitchell & Dana A. Remus, Commentary, Interstitial Exclusivities After Association for Molecular Pathology, 109 Mich. L. Rev. First Impressions 34 (2010), http://www.michiganlawreview.org/assets/fi/109/mitchellremus.pdf.
. See Bilski v. Kappos, 130 S. Ct. 3218 (2010).
. No. 09 Civ. 4515, 2010 WL 1233416 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2010).
. See Memorandum of Law in Further Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment at 3, Ass'n for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent & Trademark Off., No. 09 Civ. 4515, 2010 WL 1233416 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 20, 2010).
. U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 8.
. Federal trademark and unfair competition law is promulgated under the Commerce Clause. Trade secret law is state-based excepting two federal statutes, promulgated under the Commerce Clause-the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, which criminalizes trade secret misappropriation, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1831-1839, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1030, which criminalizes the misappropriation of certain information contained on computers. We leave aside debates over whether trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition law are properly considered under the rubric of intellectual property.
. IP overlap has been treated extensively in scholarly literature as well as case-law. See, e.g., Bonito Boats, Inc. v Thunder Craft Boats, Inc., 489 U.S. 141 (1989); Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Samara Bros., Inc., 529 U.S. 205 (2000); Dastar Corp. v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 539 U.S. 23 (2003); Viva R. Moffat, Mutant Copyrights and Backdoor Patents: The Problem of Overlapping Intellectual Property Protection, 19 Berkeley Tech. L.J. 1473 (2004). We leave for another day issues of problematic overlap among federal intellectual property rights.
. Compare Wyeth v. Levine, 129 S. Ct. 1187 (2009) with Geier v. American Honda Motor Co., 529 U.S. 861 (2000); see Wyeth, 129 S. Ct. at 1227 (Alito, J., dissenting) (explaining that the majority's conclusion "requires turning yesterday's dissent into today's majority opinion").
. See Arthur Miller, Common Law Protection for Products of the Mind: An "Idea" Whose Time Has Come, 119 Harv. L. Rev. 705, 745-46 (2006).
. Compare Goldstein v. California, 412 U.S. 470 (1973) (upholding a California criminal piracy law concerning sound recordings), and Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp., 416 U.S. 470 (1974) (upholding state-based trade secret laws), and Bonito Boats, 489 U.S. 165, with Sears Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Co., 376 U.S. 225 (1964) (invalidating a state unfair competition law that prohibited copying), and Compco Corp. v. Day Bright Lighting, Inc., 376 U.S. 234 (1964) (same).
. See Goldstein, 412 U.S. at 558-59; see also Miller, supra note 8, at 750.
. See, e.g., Bonito Boats, 489 U.S. at 165-67 (examining the intent behind and legal structure of state trade secret and trademark protections and explaining they do not conflict with federal intellectual property law); Kohler Co. v. Moen Inc., 12 F.3d 632, 642-43 (7th Cir. 1993) (using this analytical structure and declining to find conflict between federal trademark and design patent protection).
. Int'l Bus. Machines Corp. v. Papermaster, No. 08-CV-09078, 2008 WL 4974508 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 21, 2008).
. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Roth, 485 F.3d 930 (7th Cir. 2007).
. Utah Code Ann. § 2:65A-14-102.
. See Bonito Boats, 489 U.S. at 156-57. In Bonito Boats, as in Association for Molecular Pathology, the invention at issue had already been disclosed to the public. The Court explained:
A state law that substantially interferes with the enjoyment of an unpatented utilitarian or design conception which has been freely disclosed by its author to the public at large impermissibly contravenes the ultimate goal of public disclosure and use which is the centerpiece of federal patent policy.
. ACLU has actually stated that it seeks to encourage more litigation over patent validity. See Stephen Albaini-Jenei, Bulletproof: Interview with ACLU Attorney Chris Hansen Over Gene Patents, Patent Baristas Blog, Nov. 12, 2009, available at http://www.patentbaristas.com/archives/2009/11/12/.
. See David S. Almeling, Four Reasons to Enact a Federal Trade Secrets Act, 19 Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J. 769, 776-77, 781 (2009) (noting investigation and litigation costs associated with nonuniformity of state law and noting choice of law and jurisdictional complications). Although forty-six states adopted the Uniform Trade Secret Act, interpretation varies widely, and states have often amended its provisions.
. See Dana Remus Irwin, Paradise Lost in the Patent Law? Changing Visions of Technology in the Subject Matter Inquiry, 60 Fla. L. Rev. 775 (2008).
. See Donald L. Horowitz, The Courts and Social Policy 262 (1977).
. See Robert Cook-Deegan & Christopher Heaney, Patently Complicated: Case Studies on the Impact of Patenting and Licensing on Clinical Access to Genetic Testing in the United States, Genetics in Med., Apr. 2010 Supp. at 4.
. For example, the Office of Biotech Activities within the Office of Science Policy of the National Institutes of Health recently issued a white paper on gene patents advocating legislative reform. See Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society, Revised Draft Report on Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests, available at, http://oba.od.nih.gov/SACGHS/sacghs_documents.html#GHSDOC_011 [hereinafter SACGHS Whitepaper]. Similarly, the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council recently issued a call for information on how to improve university commercialization of technology. See Commercialization of University Research: Request for Information, 75 Fed. Reg. 57 (Mar. 25, 2010).
. See SACGHS Whitepaper, supra note 21, at 90-91.
. See Christianson v. Colt Indus., 486 U.S. 800 (1988) (holding that when patent law is not a required element of a properly pleaded complaint, federal subject matter jurisdiction is limited to cases where the relief sought requires adjudication of a patent issue); cf. Holmes Group, Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Sys., Inc., 535 U.S. 826 (2002) (holding Federal Circuit jurisdiction does not extend over cases where a patent-based cause of action is asserted in a counterclaim). | <urn:uuid:b1d8528b-c0de-4560-8d78-bd3796d218f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michiganlawreview.org/articles/insterstitial-exclusivities-after-em-association-for-molecular-pathology-em | 2013-05-18T17:48:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919635 | 4,667 |
If you just opened this like I told you to, tie yourself down to whatever chair you're sitting in, because this email is going to be a rough fucking ride.
For those of you that have your heads stuck under rocks, which apparently is the majority of this chapter, we have been FUCKING UP in terms of night time events and general social interactions with Sigma Nu. I've been getting texts on texts about people LITERALLY being so fucking AWKWARD and so fucking BORING. If you're reading this right now and saying to yourself "But oh em gee Julia, I've been having so much fun with my sisters this week!", then punch yourself in the face right now so that I don't have to fucking find you on campus to do it myself.
I do not give a flying fuck, and Sigma Nu does not give a flying fuck, about how much you fucking love to talk to your sisters. You have 361 days out of the fucking year to talk to sisters, and this week is NOT, I fucking repeat NOT ONE OF THEM. This week is about fostering relationships in the greek community, and that's not fucking possible if you're going to stand around and talk to each other and not our matchup. Newsflash you stupid cocks: FRATS DON'T LIKE BORING SORORITIES. Oh wait, DOUBLE FUCKING NEWSFLASH: SIGMA NU IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO HANG OUT WITH US IF WE FUCKING SUCK, which by the way in case you're an idiot and need it spelled out for you, WE FUCKING SUCK SO FAR. This also applies to you little shits that have talked openly about post gaming at a different frat IN FRONT OF SIGMA NU BROTHERS. Are you people fucking retarded? That's not a rhetorical question, I LITERALLY want you to email me back telling me if you're mentally slow so I can make sure you don't go to anymore night time events. If Sigma Nu openly said "Yeah we're gonna invite Zeta over", would you be happy? WOULD YOU? No you wouldn't, so WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO IT TO THEM?? IN FRONT OF THEM?!! First of all, you SHOULDN'T be post gaming at other frats, I don't give a FUCK if your boyfriend is in it, if your brother is in it, or if your entire family is in that frat. YOU DON'T GO. YOU. DON'T. GO. And you ESPECIALLY do fucking NOT convince other girls to leave with you.
"But Julia!", you say in a whiny little bitch voice to your computer screen as you read this email, "I've been cheering on our teams at all the sports, doesn't that count for something?" NO YOU STUPID FUCKING ASS HATS, IT FUCKING DOESN'T. DO YOU WANNA KNOW FUCKING WHY?!! IT DOESN'T COUNT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING UP AT SOBER FUCKING EVENTS TOO. I've not only gotten texts about people being fucking WEIRD at sports (for example, being stupid shits and saying stuff like "durr what's kickball?" is not fucking funny), but I've gotten texts about people actually cheering for the opposing team. The opposing. Fucking. Team. ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID?!! I don't give a SHIT about sportsmanship, YOU CHEER FOR OUR GODDAMN TEAM AND NOT THE OTHER ONE, HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN TO A SPORTS GAME? ARE YOU FUCKING BLIND? Or are you just so fucking dense about what it means to make people like you that you think being a good little supporter of the greek community is going to make our matchup happy? Well it's time someone told you, NO ONE FUCKING LIKES THAT, ESPECIALLY OUR FUCKING MATCHUP. I will fucking cunt punt the next person I hear about doing something like that, and I don't give a fuck if you SOR me, I WILL FUCKING ASSAULT YOU.
"Ohhh Julia, I'm now crying because your email has made me oh so so sad". Well good. If this email applies to you in any way, meaning if you are a little asswipe that stands in the corners at night or if you're a weird shit that does weird shit during the day, this following message is for you:
DO NOT GO TO TONIGHT'S EVENT.
I'm not fucking kidding. Don't go. Seriously, if you have done ANYTHING I've mentioned in this email and have some rare disease where you're unable to NOT do these things, then you are HORRIBLE, I repeat, HORRIBLE PR FOR THIS CHAPTER. I would rather have 40 girls that are fun, talk to boys, and not fucking awkward than 80 that are fucking faggots. If you are one of the people that have told me "Oh nooo boo hoo I can't talk to boys I'm too sober", then I pity you because I don't know how you got this far in life, and with that in mind don't fucking show up unless you're going to stop being a goddamn cock block for our chapter. Seriously. I swear to fucking God if I see anyone being a goddamn boner at tonight's event, I will tell you to leave even if you're sober. I'm not even kidding. Try me.
And for those of you who are offended at this email, I would apologize but I really don't give a fuck. Go fuck yourself. | <urn:uuid:ae398cbf-c0a8-419c-8dce-5b4c69297542> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rochesterbuzz.com/World-s-Smallest-Dog-Meets-World-s-Tallest-Dog/7742317 | 2013-05-18T17:57:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958862 | 1,173 |
Strong reaction to Steve Irwin report
16–17 September 2006
Dr Catchpoole’s article The stingray of death: The tragic end of the life of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin has been one of the most viewed articles on the new CMI site. One biologist from the UK commented:
I’ve just read David’s article and it’s excellent. Great teaching, very interesting (he’s even swum over stingrays himself!), very topical, very engaging.
A supporter in Brisbane said:
Well balanced, good science, very nice.
Daniel Parkes, FCET (Fellowship of Christian Engineers and Technologists www.fcet.org) wrote;
Great article on the ‘croc hunter’ (The Stingray of Death).
Keep up the good work!
There was also some negative feedback, which will be addressed below (response by Jonathan Sarfati and David Catchpoole), grouped by topic. We don’t claim infallibility to our articles (just to the Bible in its original autographs!), so the article was modified slightly in response to some feedback. ‘No, though a man be wise, ’tis no shame for him to learn many things, and to bend in season.’ (Sophocles, Antigone, 442 BC).
Just because he was an evolutionist, it doesn’t follow that he wasn’t a Christian
A number of correspondents pressed this point, e.g.:
It is obvious he believed the evolution he had been taught by others, and was not a creationist, however you do not need to be a creationist to be saved. I cannot believe that any human can cast aspersions on the faith of this man who did so much to save these creatures God created. Only God knows Steve’s heart condition. —KS, Australia
KS and other correspondents who wrote on this theme are quite right in saying that just because someone believes evolution doesn’t mean he/she is not a Christian, and we never claimed otherwise. Indeed, both of us have said just that in a recent article, ‘Schweitzer’s Dangerous Discovery’.
Note that we don’t claim that one can’t be a Christian and a long-ager. Many people are saved despite ‘blessed inconsistency’—there is no hint in the Bible that the ability to hold mutually contrary thoughts in the same skull is an unforgivable sin. See also:
- Is it possible to be a Christian and an evolutionist? A leading creationist answers an often-asked question
- The big picture: Being wrong about the six days of creation does not automatically mean someone is not a Christian. But if you think that makes it unimportant, stand back and look at the big picture … .
- Do I have to believe in a literal creation to be a Christian?
We also agree that, simply on the basis of what we’ve heard of him in his public life, we can’t know for sure where Steve Irwin is right now—hence we tried to take great care in wording the article to that effect.
I felt it contained judgemental implications. —KS, Australia
|if we are not supposed to judge, then how can we judge anything as ‘good’—including non-judgmentalism?|
With all due respect, we were trying to make teaching points rather than judging the man. But this is a good time to address a common misapprehension that non-judgmentalism is the highest goal for a Christian. Jesus condemned only hypocritical judgment, as is clear from Matthew 7:1–5:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Indeed, Jesus commanded judgment in John 7:24, a passage we hear much less about:
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Indeed, KS’s statement was in itself a judgment. And if we are not supposed to judge, then how can we judge anything as ‘good’—including non-judgmentalism? This is serious (quite apart from KS’s letter), because judgmental skeptics hypocritically misapply the ‘judge not’ passage to marginalize Christians, more often than any other Scripture. See also The tyranny of ‘tolerance’.
As for judging or ‘condemning’ people (not that this was the purpose of the article), unbelievers are already condemned according to Jesus Himself (John 3:18); we are merely passing on the message (that only believers can be saved), so don’t kill the messenger (cf. ‘no-one delights in the bearer of bad news,’ Sophocles, Antigone).
You shouldn’t have mentioned his wife. If Steve was not a believer, then, because you mentioned his wife, readers can see that Terri must have disobeyed the commandment to ‘be not unequally yoked with an unbeliever’. That comes across as being very judgmental.—EL, Australia.
The comments above about judging in general apply, but in this specific case, we fail to see the problem. We just presented the facts, which are not secret and not derogatory; what people do with the facts is their business. In any case, we didn’t say (nor do we know) anything about whether Mrs Irwin was a Christian before or after marriage; the command in 2 Corinthians 6:14 applies to Christians entering into marriage with an unbeliever. One Blood ch. 5 states:
[The] marriage that God says we should not enter into is when a child of the Last Adam (one who is a new creation in Christ—a Christian) marries one who is an unconverted child of the First Adam (one who is dead in trespasses and sin—a non-Christian).
But if a Christian is already married to an unbeliever (say if the conversion occurs after marriage, or if a Christian has disobeyed the above), then the believer should remain married as long as the unbeliever consents to live together (1 Corinthians 7:12–15).
Exploiting Steve’s death?
I am writing to express my discontent at your article titled “The stingray of death” attached to the Creation Ministries newsletter.
In my view, the article seeks to exploit a tragedy to advance the message of Creation Ministries. As well as the moral issues associated with such propaganda, the content of the article was clumsy, cold and inappropriate. Unworthy of a great cause such as yours.
I apologise if this email is abrupt. I have followed your cause for some time and have even created small networks for friends who are like minded. We were saddened at the news and felt that perhaps there was a missed opportunity while Mr Irwin was alive to have him listen to your material.
Just like Mr Irwin, your strength lies with the knowledge you can divulge about science and nature. I can understand that at times it may feel as if you have to shock in order to have people listen.
Evolution is indeed entrenched in the greater culture.
Don’t underestimate your own message and know that you have friends out there with you.
I trust you will accept this email with the good intentions in which it is intended.
For sure, we did, and were reminded of ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend’ (Proverbs 27:6). However, a tragedy occurred, many people wanted to know what we thought and expected a comment. By definition, any article about the tragedy could have been accused of ‘exploiting’ it. But we were also most aware that the country was in shock, and Steve had left behind a grieving father, wife and children. So we were appalled by the spitefulness of the rabid feminist Germaine Greer (see Ref. 5 in the ‘stingray of death’ article) and her ilk.
Incidentally, we are well aware of Bible-believing Christians who have mailed CMI materials to Steve Irwin in the past. Also, one of us [DC], immediately after presenting a creation seminar at a Sunshine Coast church in 2004, was personally approached afterwards by two employees of Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo (located nearby). So it seems that Steve Irwin had reasonable opportunity to ‘listen’ to our material and discuss the issues with creationists—it was just a matter of whether he wanted to (or in fact did) avail himself of that opportunity.
Comments: Hi there, am a huge fan of your ministry and a subscriber of Creation magazine. I just read the article on Steve Irwin with my wife, and we are a bit confused as to what you're trying to say there. It read to us as being quite callous to the death of Irwin, especially in the second half where it seemed to bash him as promoting wrong family values and not being Christian. I'm sure that cannot have been your intention, but it worries me to imagine how some other people who do not know of your good intentions might construe the article as an attack on the man.
Perhaps I am over-reacting, so take from my e-mail what you will. In any case, God bless your ministry. I shall continue to look forward to more articles and insight.
MW, New Zealand
Another case of ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend’. As you say, it was not our intention to ‘bash’ anyone. But we also wanted to avoid the opposite extreme of hagiography.
For the record, we think that Australia Zoo is very well organized and informative (apart from the annoying evolutionary falsehoods), and it was obvious that Steve really cared about animals. A correspondent from Australia wrote:
I never heard Steve speak out against the Christian teaching. I never heard him blaspheme or curse either. As much as Steve had a public profile, and yes, may have referred to evolutionary thought, he also referred to a creator in some of his footage, indeed often referring to ‘God’s creatures’.
We also appreciated the fact that a famous Aussie icon was a faithful husband and loving father, and not a womanizer, druggie or alcoholic like too many other celebrities that come to mind. But about the reference to God, this is not conclusive—compare Physicists’ God-talk.
Animals and creation
One correspondent objected:
I may be speaking in ignorance, having only skimmed your articles, but saying ‘Parents can correct this by pointing out that God breathed life into man and gave us dominion over the animal kingdom’ in response to ‘Steve continually points out that animals are really better than people’ seems a little brash and insensitive.
|The Dominion Mandate of Genesis 1:28 has not been revoked; Jesus for example affirmed that while God cares for sparrows, a human is far more valuable than many of them (Matthew 10:29–31).|
This was actually not written by us, but a quoted extract from the movie review by ChristianAnswers.Net, which they wrote back in 2002. Thus they are not DC’s words, although the review seems accurate. And if people are told that they are no better than animals, it should not be surprising that they kill or rape like animals; not that Steve would have thought things through to the same conclusion as many evolutionists have. See:
- Living like animals
- The Creation Basis For Morality
- How to build a bomb in the public school system
- Bomb-building vs. the biblical foundation
- Rape and evolution
- Morality and Ethics Q&A
Our correspondent then asked:
While Steve was alive, his fearless actions supported ‘dominion over the animal kingdom’ — Steve was evidence to prove this portion of scripture. But, with the way he died, how can we use such a statement as a parental correction?
The Dominion Mandate of Genesis 1:28 has not been revoked; Jesus for example affirmed that while God cares for sparrows, a human is far more valuable than many of them (Matthew 10:29–31). This entails that although Steve’s favourite (presumably somewhat tongue-in-cheek) slogan was ‘Crocs rule’, it is God who rules and has delegated authority to mankind over the rest of creation. See again Earth Day: Is Christianity to blame for environment problems?
However, as explained in the article, because of the Fall, this has been marred by the Curse on creation. In the events leading up to the Fall, the participants reversed the God-given hierarchy. That is, in the Bible, naming something is an exercise of authority. Thus God had authority over man, who had authority over the woman and animals that he named (Genesis 2:19–23; see also ‘Female inferiority’ raises questions for refutation of anti-woman claims). God had also explicitly given both man and woman authority over the rest of creation in Gen. 1:28.
In the Fall, this was reversed; the serpent (animal) instructed the woman, who instructed the man, who disobeyed God. God’s judgment reflected this: the serpent would be lower than the other animals, the woman would desire her husband in the same way sin desired Cain (in both cases the Hebrew word is teshûqah תשוקה), and the creation would rebel against Adam until his body returned to it (Genesis 3).
Finally, another comment from KS:
However I do believe people need to explain to their kids that it is Steve’s opinion that animals are more important, however if you can see that statement from his perspective; He was trying to stop people from thinking they were the most important thing in the world, and that animals do matter, and their habitats need to be protected. — KS
God declared the creation ‘good’ before He created man, so there is intrinsic goodness to the non-human part of creation. However, Jesus made it clear that humans are more important than animals, but evolutionary teaching has undermined that. One important way is the clear violation of God’s directive to Noah and thus all mankind (his descendants)—which has never been revoked—that any individual animal that kills a human is to be put to death (Genesis 9:5–6). But in a perversion of biblical morality, a shark or croc is often protected even if it is a proven mankiller (most people don’t mind killing mosquitoes or bacteria though, even though there are exceptions here as well). This is often accompanied by nonsensical statements that the deaths occurred in ‘the animal’s territory’ where ‘humans were the intruders’. No, God put the entire natural creation—including the marine creatures (Genesis 1:28)—under human dominion. Of course, this implies good stewardship, not a licence to ravage and exploit. During his life, Steve Irwin ‘put his money where his mouth is’ and bought large tracts of wilderness land to be able to help preserve the natural wonder and beauty of creation for others. | <urn:uuid:ba089c97-57df-4a7b-b078-ca24086bfa83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creation.com/strong-reaction-to-steve-irwin-report | 2013-05-21T17:24:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969609 | 3,330 |
By Sparky Clarkson on April 19, 2013 - 7:45pm.
HIGH The classic revisionism of the Hall of Heroes.
LOW The lazy, pointless, and offensive "equivalence" narrative that opens the second half of the game.
WTF I've been finding machine-gun rounds in pickle barrels the whole game, but there's no ammo in this armament crate?
By Kristin Renee Taylor on April 19, 2013 - 7:05pm.
Like a Tall Glass of Lukewarm Water
HIGH Expansive, detailed environments.
LOW Getting a fetch quest from magical, talking, invisible termites.
WTF How can zombies, ghosts, and ghouls exist in a world where death is explicitly stated to never occur?
By Christopher Floyd on April 19, 2013 - 6:24pm.
Chris McQuinn talks of his studio's latest game in simple terms. "At a high level, Guacamelee is a platform brawler that's in a Metroidvania world. Oh, and also, it's Mexican themed. It's based in an imaginary land within Mexico. We borrow a lot of style, culture, and folklore references that we've put into the game. Have you played before? There's co-op…"
By Richard Naik on April 18, 2013 - 8:26am.
Our first off-week adventure takes us into the land of Fallout. A lively debate on Fallout 3 versus Fallout: New Vegas gets top billing, and then we compare the Fallout of today to the Fallout of the past, and try to find out if the old spirit still lives, Featuring Richard Nak, Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Tim "The Gambler" Spaeth, and Darren Forman.
Download: Right click here and select "Save Target As..."
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | RSS
Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.
By Guest Critic on April 17, 2013 - 8:42pm.
Kalypso Media recently invited GameCritics to take a second look at the upcoming vampire-themed stealth game Dark, from Realmforge Studios. It was originally covered by Brandon Bales, but it's been a while and we were interested in seeing how it's progressed.
By Dale Weir on April 17, 2013 - 8:32pm.
Extra Credits talks about the "exposition dump." What is that, you ask? The "exposition dump" is one of the easiest ways with which a developer can tell a story, explain a game world or explain a game world's rules. Even lauded game designers like Hideo Kojima use this method to tell a story—and why not, if Metal Gear Solid's success is any indication, there are few repercussions for overusing it. Thankfully, there are examples of doing the opposite and being rewarded for it. The Half-Life series, Fallout 3 and Journey are examples of doing it right.
By Peter Skerritt on April 17, 2013 - 7:46pm.
Back in 2010, when Sony announced that it was moving its PlayStation Store updates to Tuesdays from Thursdays, it seemed like a good idea. While the company claimed that the move had nothing to do with getting ahead of the Wednesday updates that the Xbox Live Marketplace has, beating Microsoft to the punch wasn't a bad by-product. Getting releases before the Xbox 360 does can get impatient consumers to buy earlier on the PlayStation Store instead of waiting the 12-18 hours to get it on the 360.
By Brad Gallaway on April 9, 2013 - 6:56am.
HIGH Super-tight combat and platforming.
LOW Trying to correctly identify the chicken thief.
WTF Why isn't Tostada available at the beginning?
By Peter Skerritt on April 9, 2013 - 6:32am.
What a day Adam Orth had. What was thought to be a relatively benign conversation on Twitter has blown up to a worldwide fiasco leaving Orth's employer, Microsoft, with a damaged public image and leaving Orth under siege by press and message board posters. More than 50 websites have linked Orth's comments about "always being online" to the persistent rumor that Microsoft's next platform will indeed require a constant internet connection to work.
Code of Conduct
Comments are subject to approval/deletion based on the following criteria:
1) Treat all users with respect.
2) Post with an open-mind.
3) Do not insult and/or harass users.
4) Do not incite flame wars.
5) Do not troll and/or feed the trolls.
6) No excessive whining and/or complaining.
Please report any offensive posts | <urn:uuid:231712e7-797f-45bf-8239-f47d02b3da4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gamecritics.com/node/7209%2523comment-40886?page=3 | 2013-05-21T17:48:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922589 | 982 |
Information HarQen Collects:
User Provided Information: HarQen may collect and process information about you that you provide when engaging with a Site or using a product or service, such as registering with a Site or service, uploading audio files, posting comments, entering contests, subscribing to mailing lists, taking advantage of promotions, and responding to surveys. HarQen will only use your information for the specific purpose for which it was submitted, unless you consent otherwise or as permitted under law. In many cases, you choose the amount of information you supply (e.g., when sending us information through the Sites, you may choose to include only an e-mail address - not a telephone number or mailing address - for replies). There may be instances where some of the information that we ask you to provide is identified as mandatory and some as voluntary. In such cases, where providing the information is mandatory, if you do not provide the personal information you will not be able to engage in that activity.
Information provided in relation to Voice Advantage: Voice Advantage allows companies to use a phone and a simple web-based dashboard to create and distribute custom recorded phone interviews. This application may be used as a survey tool in several different contexts. One example of how Voice Advantage may be used is in the employment context. It permits job candidates to take interviews at their convenience, and enables recruiters to review candidates at any time and share the interviews with colleagues and hiring managers to expedite the hiring process. If you are a candidate, you will be asked to provide certain information including your name, contact details and responses in relation to questions that are designed to ascertain your suitability for a particular post. Your vocal and typed responses will be recorded. HarQen shall maintain, access and provide personal information that you submit to the party that has invited you to participate in the interview. You may later access your interview response, where permitted by applicable laws, but will be unable to amend or delete the contents of your interview responses. If you wish to supplement, amend or provide new responses to the interview questions, you must contact the requesting party.
Information provided in relation to Symposia: Symposia converts conversations — in all their various forms and languages — into searchable, referenceable and actionable insights, allowing users to dynamically transform any conversation into an interactive synopsis that lives long after a conference call, webinar or presentation has ended. With Symposia, users can capture and enrich conversations so greater insight can be retained and shared. Symposia allows conversations to be captured as they occur, both visually and aurally, and then enriched collaboratively with notes, tags or uploaded imagery via Smartphones, using classic social media conventions. With this approach, participants can organize the content around key ideas, themes or action items, so the key information is always accessible and sharable. As part of this process, in addition to recording the content of calls, Symposia collects certain information from users, including name and contact details such as email address and telephone number.
Cookies: When you visit the Sites, we ask your browser to store small text files containing a string of alphanumeric characters known as a cookie. HarQen uses both session cookies and persistent cookies. If you have chosen to identify yourself on a Site, we use session cookies containing encrypted information to identify you and facilitate your use of the site. Session cookies are required to access much of the content and services offered on the Sites. After you leave our Site and close your browser, a persistent cookie remains. Persistent cookies can be removed by following your help file directions in your web browser. If you refuse our cookies, some features of the Sites may not function properly.
Log Files: HarQen's servers automatically record certain information (e.g., web request, Internet Protocol ("IP") address, browser type, browser language, URLs, etc.) that your web browser sends whenever you visit our websites.
Web Beacons: We may employ clear GIFs or Web Beacons to track anonymously how users use the Sites. We may also use Web Beacons in our emails to track which emails are opened by recipients.
How HarQen Uses Information:
HarQen and our affiliates and agents use information obtained from users of the Sites, products and services for the purposes of providing certain services to users. For example, we use your personally identifiable information for purposes including but not limited to:
- operating certain functions of the Sites and functionality in relation to Voice Advantage, Comic Wonder, Symposia and other requested products and services;
- sending you notices and updates;
- providing access to your Account;
- confirming purchases;
- tracking customer service;
- resolving service problems;
- correcting errors in the service;
- providing requested information about promotions and sweepstakes;
- provide you with information, products or services that you request from us or which we feel may interest you, where you have consented to be contacted for such purposes;
- complying with legal obligations and protecting HarQen's legal rights and interests;
HarQen uses information collected from cookies, Web beacons, and log files to enhance our users' experience by providing custom, personalized content. We also use this information to monitor the overall effectiveness of our Sites and track metrics (e.g., total number of visitors, pages viewed, etc). HarQen does not disclose or sell personally identifiable information to unaffiliated third parties unless required by law or pursuant to the user's consent.
HarQen and our affiliates and agents collect and use aggregate voice data, to enhance, and improve the speech recognition and other voice analysis components used to provide the service. Voice data means the audio files, associated transcriptions and log files provided by users of the Sites or generated in connection with the utilization of the services offered through the Sites.
When HarQen Discloses Information:
We do not share your personally identifiable information (such as name or email address) with other, third-party companies for their commercial or marketing use without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature for which you will have the ability to opt-in or opt-out.
We may share non-personally-identifiable information (e.g., anonymous user usage data, platform types, number of clicks, etc) with third parties to determine usage patterns for certain services, advertisements, promotions, and/or functionality on the Sites.
We may release personally identifiable information and/or non-personally-identifiable information if required to do so by law, or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with applicable laws (e.g., U.S. copyright law) or respond to a court order, subpoena, or search warrant.
Where HarQen Stores your Personal Information:
The Sites and infrastructure for providing HarQen products and services are hosted in the United States. Data hosted in the United States may also be processed by staff operating in the United States or elsewhere who work for HarQen or for one of our suppliers. If you access a Site or use a product or service from outside the United States, please be advised that your activity on the Site and use of the product or service constitutes your consent to the transfer of your personal information to the United States and to other jurisdictions whose laws may provide less protection for personal data than the laws of the country where you reside. The protection and dissemination of your personal information will be subject to the laws of the United States.
Certified Compliant with EU Safe Harbor Principles:
HarQen participates in the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework, as administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information from European Union member countries. We have certified that we adhere to the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles of notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access, and enforcement. For further information on HarQen's compliance with EU Safe Harbor Principles please review our EU Safe Harbor Policy at http://www.harqen.com/policies/safeharbor. To learn more about the US-EU Safe Harbor Framework, please visit http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/.
Links and Content from Third Parties:
Advertisers and Links to Other Sites:
To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect. The measures include, but are not limited to, firewalls, server authentication, data encryption, user driven security settings, username and passwords. However, please be advised that we cannot guarantee and have no control over the public or third party network through which you send your personal information to our Sites or when using our products and services.
If HarQen learns of an information security breach, we may attempt to notify you via email so that you can take appropriate steps. In addition, HarQen may post a notice on any effected Site(s). Depending on where you live, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach in writing. To receive a free written notice of a security breach (or to withdraw your consent from receiving electronic notice) you should notify via email at [email protected].
The Sites and our products and services are intended for mature audiences. HarQen does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. Children under the age of 18 should not visit any of the Sites nor submit any personal information. Furthermore, HarQen does not knowingly use or distribute personal information regarding children under the age of 18. If HarQen obtains actual knowledge that it has collected personal information about a child under the age of 18, that information will be immediately deleted from our servers.
Please contact HarQen at: [email protected] with any questions or comments about this Privacy Statement or write to: HarQen Attn: Privacy Officer, 1830 N Hubbard St, Suite 700, Milwaukee, WI, 53212 USA. | <urn:uuid:294b604b-c580-4561-9b67-6648ce8d3195> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://harqen.com/policies/privacy/ | 2013-05-21T17:09:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.904436 | 2,069 |
|Written by Mordecai Specktor,
|Average user rating
|| (0 vote)
Poisoning the waters
The three-week Minnesota government shutdown ended with Gov. Mark Dayton signing a sheaf of spending bills, including the omnibus environment, energy and natural resources finance bill, which contained a provision weakening the water quality standard for wild rice waters.
I wrote about this proposal in my May and June columns, and noted that the legislative measure suspends the current 10 milligrams per liter standard for sulfates in waters containing natural wild rice beds. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) will conduct a study to determine a new water quality standard for the protection of wild rice. Also, the new law states that the PCA cannot require a company applying for a waste water discharge permit to install expensive equipment to treat sulfates emissions, while the situation is being studied.
This change in state environmental rules was sponsored by legislators seeking to ease the way for PolyMet and other copper-nickel mining firms that have projects under development in northeastern Minnesota.
The PCA study on the protection of wild rice waters will involve tribal governments, including the Fond du Lac, Bois Forte and Grand Portage Ojibwe bands. Some of the mining activity is slated to take place within the 1854 Treaty Ceded Territory, where the bands retain hunting, fishing and gathering rights.
In addition to the PolyMet copper-nickel mining project near Hoyt Lakes (which is going through a further environmental impact study), there are other "mining permits out for review that seem to escape a lot of public scrutiny," said Nancy Schuldt, the water projects coordinator for the Fond du Lac Band's environmental program. "I can assure you that the tribes are paying close attention and trying to make sure that the state regulatory agencies are doing a good job of protecting the state's resources."
Tribal diligence will be necessary, because there is a clamor for jobs in northern Minnesota; and politicians are not necessarily going to prioritize the protection of wild rice when a new industry - sulfide mining - comes to town. In this respect, Rep. Chip Cravaack, the Republican who won Minnesota's 8th congressional district seat in 2010, boasted in a recent e-mail that he is supporting something called the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (H.R. 2018), which "would restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's… ability to issue revised or new water quality standards for states." It appears that the legislation is intended to bolster state environmental control; but Cravaack writes: "Legislation like this will help reduce the influence of radical environmentalists' opposition to mining in northern Minnesota."
I would differ with Rep. Cravaack over his use of the term "radical environmentalists" to tar Minnesotans who are rightly fearful that our natural heritage will be irreparably damaged by poorly controlled sulfide mining schemes.
From generation to generation
I've been politically involved since my teenage years, maybe earlier. In the early '60s, I went door to door in a suburb of St. Paul selling brotherhood buttons for SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was campaigning for civil rights in the South. In 1964, I worked for the DFL Party in their downtown St. Paul headquarters - and received an engraved invitation to the Johnson-Humphrey inauguration. (I think it might be in a box somewhere in the basement.)
Skipping ahead, my interest in environmental and peace issues led me to work for the Black Hills Alliance, which held survival gatherings in 1979 and 1980, in order to rally popular opposition to destructive energy development projects in the southern Black Hills. During that time I began my career as a professional journalist, with a focus on issues in Indian Country. I've been writing for The Circle for more than 30 years.
Now my middle son, Max, is showing great interest in the planetary ecological crisis. Last month he attended the Earth First! Rendezvous in the Lolo National Forest, near Missoula in western Montana. The gathering took place after the ExxonMobil oil pipeline burst in the Yellowstone River, and sent a plume of black oil 25 miles downstream from Laurel, Mont.
You can find some amusing YouTube videos of the EarthFirsters confronting Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer at his Helena office. The environmentalists demanded that he rescind his support for the Keystone XL pipeline, which will have 10-times the capacity of the ExxonMobil pipeline that ruptured.
This large pipe will bring crude oil down from the Alberta tar sands to refineries in the Midwest and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, if Keystone XL pipeline blows, the resulting mess would dwarf the recent ExxonMobil oil spill in the Yellowstone. | <urn:uuid:d413e1b5-40eb-4b77-8849-a2ed7d0cf1a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thecirclenews.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=554&Itemid=39 | 2013-05-21T17:31:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947352 | 978 |
Maple slideshow builder 1.03
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 Ranking & Summary
RankingClick at the star to rank
User Review: 0 (0 times)
File size: 1.35 MB
Platform: Windows2000,WinXP,Windows2003,Windows Vista S
Date added: 2009-03-23
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 description
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 offers a freeware app for making music slideshow and karaoke. It can convert a set of pictures, MP3s, and text lyric files into: a slideshow applet, an executable slideshow file. Slideshow videos can be generated manually through external encoders such as mencoder. The executable sideshow file runs in any OS with J2SE6 support. Text captions can be added to each picture in Maple slideshow builder too.
- lrc (lyric file)
- Shadow text caption
- Artistic Image filters
- Animations: pan and zoom
- Two-line timed lyric display
- Slideshow applet
- Executable slideshow file
- Image sequence
- The Image sequence can be converted to avi/mpg/ogg/ flv/swf with mencoder or ffmpeg.
- To make a DVD-compatible mpeg2 video , the slideshow aspect should be 16:9
- Image enhancement for making low bitrate web videos (e.g. Youtube video)
- A built-in gadget for making synchronized song lyric file
- A built-in anti-flickering filter for Kenburns animation.
- Kenburns animation (panning and zooming)
- An optional mp3 player
- Two-line lyric display for karaoke
- Popular transition effects
- Image filters
Enhancements: major bugfixes and major feature enhancements
- J2SE 6 or higher is required.
- J2SE6 Update 10 or higher is strongly recommended.
Recommended hardware specs:
- Intel Pentium4 (1.7GHz) or higher
- 512M memory or higher
- Mouse wheel
- Multi-core or hyper-threading CPU is recommended as Maple slideshow builder can take advantage of multi-threading to process image/lyric/mp3.
- If your hardware is lower than the recommended specs, you should keep the size of slideshow bellow 480x360.
Free Hard Disk Space:
- 30MB for cache files
- 2GB for video creation (optional)
- Mp3 files larger than 10M bytes should be avoided.
- Due to the memory limitation, do not add extremely large photos (e.g. 4000x3000) into the slideshow. If you had to, you should use maple.jar and launch it with the following command: "java -Xmx512M -jar maple.jar"
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 Screenshot
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 Keywords
Bookmark Maple slideshow builder 1.03
Maple slideshow builder 1.03 Copyright
WareSeeker.com do not provide cracks, serial numbers etc for Maple slideshow builder 1.03. Any sharing links from rapidshare.com, yousendit.com or megaupload.com are also prohibited.
Want to place your software product here?
Please contact us for consideration.
An intuitive app for music slideshow and karaoke Free Download
This software offers you the possibility to create animated slideshows in an instant Free Download
Building video files, photo albums and screensavers with your pictures and music Free Download
Bring still photos to life with 2D/3D transition effects and animated pan, zoom and rotate effects. Perfect photo, trim video and edit music with the built-in editing tools. Choose from various DVD menu templates. Share your digital memories on TV, website and mobile devices with DVD Slideshow Builder easily. Free Download
Create flash slideshow,flash photogallery,flash multimedia,flash photo albums. Free Download
Jtvmaker is a free slideshow builder designed for photo sharing and karaoke making. It can convert a bunch of photo, MP3, and lyric files into: a slideshow applet, an executable slideshow file and a slideshow video. Free Download
Building Screensavers and Slideshow standalone files Free Download
With Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder, you can burn your home movie to high-quality DVD for playback on TV, publish all-round video on YouTube, or create photo movie for iPod, iPhone, Zune and more. Free Download
- Wondershare Movie Story (formerly DVD Slideshow Builder) 184.108.40.206
- Wondershare Flash Slideshow Builder 4.7.0
- AL Screensaver&Slideshow Builder 1.9
- Maple Reader 2.0
- Wondersharer Flash Slideshow Builder 4.3.0
- Amara Flash Slideshow Software 2.7
- Masterpieces in Glass Screensaver 1.03
- Amara Photo Slideshow Software 1.9 | <urn:uuid:82a1521d-53ca-48be-9ee8-de091e1dab32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wareseeker.com/Graphic-Apps/maple-slideshow-builder-1.03.zip/7c9eb1bab | 2013-05-21T17:16:50Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.752139 | 1,039 |
The timing is awful, hotels and tickets are overpriced and traffic could be a real bear.
But whatever other impressions come out of the first United States Grand Prix in five years, those left by Circuit of the Americas, itself, will be a heck of a positive step for Formula One.
"They've done an absolutely magnificent job," Speed TV commentator David Hobbs said Thursday.
"It is a very challenging track, designed by Hermann Tilke, who has designed some less than beautiful tracks. But this one has a really good mix of corners."
Hobbs, a retired driver and Milwaukee resident, was in Austin, Texas, from Tuesday to Thursday, watched finishing touches be applied to the facility, talked with participants and looked at the 20-turn, 3.427-mile circuit up close.
Turn 1 is a steep uphill left, and then the track drops off to a right-hand sweeper. A series of esses includes undulations as well as twists, and a hairpin and another sharp turn at the end of a long straight should present good opportunity for overtaking.
"I think it cost them more than they wanted it to, but I talked with three or four of the main investors, and Bobby Epstein, who put in most of the money, seems to be . . . really excited about the whole project," Hobbs said.
From that standpoint, grand prix racing is in the right place. But as always, that guarantees nothing for a popular international series trying to make inroads in the tough-to-crack U.S. market.
An eight-year run in Indianapolis moved the needle briefly, but tire trouble in 2005 all but wiped out that race and any good the previous ones had done. Scott Speed gave the series an American driver, but only briefly and mostly at the back of the field. A team headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., stalled out before launch in 2010.
But there is hope, and not just because of Austin.
A new television deal with NBC Sports could help next year, if the network is able to promote its F1 programming better than Speed. A planned race in New Jersey would provide a second U.S. Grand Prix adjacent to the country's media and business capital. And if any of the handful of promising young Americans in the pipeline could emerge as "meaningful," in Hobbs' words, they also could give the grand prix circuit a boost here.
"The big downside to this weekend's race is it's on the same day as the Homestead (Fla.) NASCAR final with championship up for grabs, which will attract a lot of news," Hobbs said. "But it will definitely spread the news about Formula One."
Meet the team
Leigh Diffey will play a huge role in NBC Sports' coverage of open-wheel racing next year as the play-by-play man for both Formula One and IndyCar. The veteran sports-car broadcaster will be joined on F1 broadcasts by Hobbs and Steve Matchett.
It's hard to find a driver in NASCAR mentally tougher than Sprint Cup point leader Brad Keselowski. Challenger Jimmie Johnson nonetheless seemed to be trying to plant a seed of doubt heading into Sunday's finale.
"This garage area is tough. The weight of this race, I don't care who you are, it'll show up at some point in time and thoughts will run through your head, and with all that being said, a 15th-place finish is not a layup for these guys," the five-time champion said Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"We'll see how they respond. Their trends this year have been strong, but this is a different race."
Keselowski leads by 20 points after Johnson crashed at Phoenix. (Read more about the NASCAR title race Sunday.)
What's in a name?
ARCA has become the sanctioning body for the regional late-model series formerly known as the ASA Midwest Tour.
The Lake Geneva-based organization should benefit from ARCA's marketing clout and could run a couple of companion races with CRA, now a sister series.
Two-time Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR team owner Michael Waltrip plans to compete in the ARCA Midwest Tour's event July 8-9 at the Milwaukee Mile, schedule permitting, he told the Journal Sentinel.
Muskego native Jimmy Fennig, who has won six Cup races the past two seasons as crew chief for Matt Kenseth, will move over to Carl Edwards' car next season, Roush Fenway Racing said. . . .
Graham Rahal will drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing next year, the team announced this week. . . .
NASCAR added the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course to the Nationwide Series schedule in 2013.
Send email to [email protected]. Follow @davekallmann on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:f83b6ed4-50cc-4a0d-9420-00e0f0bafdd2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jsonline.com/sports/autoracing/formula-one-returns-to-america-eh7lk7g-179614051.html | 2013-05-21T17:18:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963419 | 1,016 |
SEATTLE (AP) — It's been a rich year for students of D.B. Cooper, the mysterious skyjacker who vanished out the back of a Boeing 727 wearing a business suit, a parachute and a pack with $200,000 in ransom money 40 years ago Thursday.
An Oklahoma woman came forward to say Cooper may have been her uncle, now deceased. A new book publicized several theories, including one that Cooper was a transgendered mechanic and pilot from Washington state.
A team that includes a paleontologist from Seattle's Burke Museum released new findings this month that particles of pure titanium found in the hijacker's clip-on tie suggest he worked in the chemical industry or at a company that manufactured titanium — a discovery that could narrow the field of possible suspects from millions of people to just hundreds.
Nevertheless, no one's been able to solve the puzzle, or even determine whether Cooper survived his infamous jump.
"This case is a testament in a way to our enduring fascination with both a good mystery and a sense of wonderment — mystery because we still don't know who this guy was, and wonderment that a guy could do something this bold — or stupid," says Geoffrey Gray, whose book, "Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper," came out in August.
On Nov. 24, 1971, the night before Thanksgiving, a man described as being in his mid-40s with dark sunglasses and an olive complexion boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines flight from Portland to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He bought his $20 ticket under the name "Dan Cooper," but an early wire-service report misidentified him as "D.B. Cooper," and the name stuck.
He sat in the back of the plane and handed a note to a flight attendant. She was so busy she didn't read it until after takeoff: "Miss, I have a bomb and would like you to sit by me."
He opened his briefcase, displaying a couple of red cylinders, wires and a battery, and demanded $200,000 in cash plus four parachutes. His demands were granted at Sea-Tac, where he released the 36 passengers and two of the flight attendants.
The plane took off again at his direction, heading slowly to Reno, Nev., at the low height of 10,000 feet. Somewhere, apparently over southwestern Washington, Cooper lowered the aircraft's rear stairs and dove into a freezing rainstorm — a jump so daring that even some of the police who scoured the area reportedly said they hoped he got away.
No sign of Cooper has ever emerged, but a boy digging on a Columbia River beach in 1980 found three bundles of weathered $20 bills — Cooper's cash, according to the serial numbers.
A few events are planned for Saturday to mark the anniversary, including a Cooper symposium (http://huntfordbcooper.com/ ) at a Portland, Ore., hotel, where sleuths will present their latest findings and theories — and serve as jurists for a Cooper-themed poetry contest.
Carol Abraczinskas, a scientific illustrator at the University of Chicago, said she plans to present the results of her three-year study of the French comic "Dan Cooper," a series about a test pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force which may have been the source of the hijacker's pseudonym.
In one issue from 1963, she noted, the character boards an airliner wearing a dark suit and a mask over his eyes and sits in the back of the plane. He demands to be given a briefcase that's in the cockpit, and then, wearing a military parachute, he jumps out of the plane — over a wooded area, at night, in the rain.
"I'm looking at this as, are these comics a possible blueprint for the hijacker?" Abraczinskas says.
The cartoon was published in French Canada and in Europe and was never translated into English. That raises questions about whether the hijacker was a francophone, she said.
Also among those planning to attend is Marla Cooper of Oklahoma City, who disclosed this year that she had provided a tip to the FBI about her deceased uncle. Relying on childhood memories, she recalled that her uncle Lynn Doyle Cooper had arrived at a family home in Oregon with serious injuries and that she overheard him talking about the hijacking.
Cooper says she's optimistic the FBI will be able to match her uncle's fingerprints to those involved in the case. The agency has said DNA testing did not match samples on the hijacker's necktie, but that the finding did not necessarily rule out the lead.
"It looks rather promising that this case could very well be solved in the next few months," Marla Cooper said.
Other Cooper enthusiasts aren't so sure. Agents discovered numerous partial fingerprints on an in-flight magazine, but it's unknown if any of those was Cooper's. He appeared to be careful not to leave fingerprints and demanded the flight attendant return the bomb note he had given her.
Partial DNA samples were recovered from the plane, including on the clip-on tie that was left on the hijacker's seat, but no one knows if the samples came from Cooper. The items that might have provided a definite DNA profile — the eight filter-tipped cigarette butts he chain-smoked during the flight — apparently went missing while in FBI storage in Las Vegas.
Many people, including Ralph Himmelsbach, the FBI's lead agent on the case until his retirement in 1980, believed Cooper could not have survived.
The temperature at 10,000 feet was 7 below zero, not including the minus-70 wind chill, and even if he survived the jump, he probably landed in the Columbia River or in rugged, wooded mountains at the onset of winter with no outdoor gear.
Tom Kaye, a paleontologist at the University of Washington's Burke Museum, said his presentation at the symposium will suggest Cooper lived.
The three bundles of money that were found on the Columbia River beach at Tena Bar were about 20 miles east — that is, upstream — of what Kaye believes was the plane's flight path. If that's so, the bundles couldn't have gotten there "without mechanical or human intervention," he said.
That the bundles of money were found together suggests they didn't wash down to that spot from a tributary upstream, as others have suggested, he argues.
With the FBI's blessing, Kaye's team (http://www.citizensleuths.com ) tested the tie and discovered the microscopic slivers of pure titanium. At the time, he said, titanium was much rarer than it is today.
Titanium alloys were used in aircraft parts, but pure titanium was found only at companies that made pure titanium or at chemical companies which used it because of its corrosion resistance.
Of course, that doesn't mean the hijacker worked at one of those companies. He could have purchased the tie at a thrift shop just before the flight.
Following the symposium, some participants plan to head 39 miles north to a familiar stomping ground — the Ariel Store and Tavern in Ariel, Wash., in the heart of Cooper country.
The store, which has hosted an annual Cooper celebration for 22 years, has a replica of the chute Cooper used hanging from its ceiling. It also has the sign from the aft stairwell warning not to open it during flight; the sign ripped off when Cooper opened the door and was found by a hunter many years later.
Bryan Woodruff, the 52-year-old son of the owner, said that a week before the 20th anniversary, a man stopped in the store and looked around. He was a dead ringer for the FBI's composite sketch of the suspect.
"There were 7 or 8 of us sitting there, and this guy come in and got a pop and a candy bar," Woodruff recalled. "The guy said he was traveling from Portland to Seattle for business, but why would he come out 10 miles from the highway to get a pop and a candy bar? We just all sit here going, wow, was that him?"
The man hasn't been back since.
AP writer Mike Baker contributed from Olympia, Wash.
Johnson can be reached at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle | <urn:uuid:bceb2b96-389e-472f-b30f-219cb27820e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.katu.com/news/local/Northwest-legend-and-lore-The-DB-Cooper-story-turns-40-134411643.html?c=y&tab=video | 2013-05-21T17:27:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976736 | 1,723 |
(Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro)
Experience some of wildest parks in Africa on this adventurous private guided safari through Tanzania. Start with a scenic drive in your 4x4 Land Cruiser exploring Tarangire National Park, known for its large population of elephant, baobob trees and lovebirds. Travel to Lake Manyara, famous for its jungle-like scenery, blue monkeys and abundant birdlife. You may even catch a glimpse of the famous tree climbing lions! Finish up in the fabled Ngorongoro Crater - A UNESCO World Heritage Site. This legendary crater has been likened to "Noah's Ark" for its concentration of all different kinds of wildlife. Drive back to Arusha, stop for a refreshing lunch, and finish with some souvenir shopping before returning home from this unforgettable safari.
Kensington Tours has its own offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Arusha, Tanzania. Our prices include the support of our own dedicated team on the ground! Another reason we deliver unbeatable value.
Airport transfer between your Arusha hotel and Kilimanjaro International airport with private vehicle and english speaking driver.
In the unfortunate event of serious illness or injury, all travellers are covered by this “Flying Doctors” Insurance policy. This emergency evacuation insurance policy covers the cost of the evacuation flight back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance policy however DOES NOT cover the cost of any medical treatment received.
Mount Meru Hotel is situated at the foothills of Mount Meru in the city of Arusha, Tanzania. The Mount Meru Hotel lies on 9 acres of lush landscape, surrounded by some of Africa’s most breath-taking vistas, rich with a diverse array of wildlife, etched against the fertile slopes of this beautiful mountain. The Mount Meru Hotel, its management and staff members have made every endeavour to ensure that your stay is a rejuvenating and refreshing experience of African hospitality and look forward to meeting you in person.
From Arusha, your guide will drive you to the Tarangire National Park. This commute takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
On this game drive you might notice the swamps, tinged green year round, which are the focus for 550 bird varieties. This park boasts of having the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. On drier ground you find the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird; the stocking-thighed ostrich, the world's largest bird; and small parties of ground hornbills blustering like turkeys. More ardent bird-lovers might keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the dazzlingly colourful yellow-collared lovebird and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.
Kikoti Camp is situated above one of the most highly populated wildlife arenas in Africa, Tarangire National Park, where privacy is guaranteed and guests are privy to 35 000 acres of unrefined living species. The dramatic landscape surrounding the camp’s 10 permanent en-suite tents makes for a stunning African experience full of discoveries and sights like no other. Dishes prepared at the camp feature local cuisine of the most tasteful sort, filled with adventurous spices and succulent meats. Vegetables and fruits are gathered from nearby farms, and there are no formalities around meals as it is meant to be a fulfilling, wholesome endeavor. Activities range from bush trekking and bush dining to cultural talks to add to your knowledge on the area.
In the early morning hours, your skilled guide will pick you up and take you for a game viewing drive through Tarangire National Park. The main highlight here is elephant, which mass in enormous numbers during the dry season June to December. General game is also good, although predators tend to be quite difficult to find. From January to May the park is beautiful and offers a more private experience with very low visitor numbers. Year round this is a unique safari experience.
Time permitting, there are many optional activities. Depending on which lodge you're staying at, activities range from nature walks to cultural village visits. Some of these can be prebooked through your destination specialist while others can be booked directly with the lodge upon arrival.
From Tarangire National Park, your guide will drive you to the picturesque Lake Manyara. This drive will take approximately 3 hours.
Enjoy a box lunch while you travel (included in tour price).
On todays game drive you will have to keep your eyes peeled in order to spot some of this area's beautiful and elusive big cats. It will take a keen eye to take notice of the tree climbing lions, or the camouflaged spotted leopards. You should try to look around shaded area during the hotter hours of the day, as the wildlife will be looking for a cool area to relax.
A small and exclusive lodge facing the Oldeani Volcano, only 5 kms. from the Ngorongoro Lolduare gate was built, meant to offer our clients an original experience reminiscent of the atmosphere of the old days.
Descend into the Ngorongoro caldera to view the wildlife on the crater floor. The crater is roughly 20 km/12 mi wide and 600 m/2,000 ft deep, once you've reached the top of the caldera it takes about 45 minutes to descend to the crater floor. The floor is home to a rich and highly concentrated wildlife. Some 20,000 mammals live there, including about 20 black rhinoceros, making the crater the best place in Tanzania to see the rhino. The crater floor also has one of the highest carnivore densities in the world. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals are commonly seen, while leopards, servals and bat-eared foxes may be seen with some good luck. You'll spend most of the day in the crater.
Private transportation and guide in the Ngorongoro national park.
Enjoy a picnic lunch (included in tour price).
From Ngorongoro, your guide will drive you to Arusha. This drive will take approximately 2.5 hours.
Stop for lunch at the Arusha Hotel in this tourism capital of Tanzania. Shop the local souvenir market.
Includes opportunity to visit local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs.
Depart from Kilimanjaro international airport - end of itinerary.
VISA/PASSPORTPassport valid for at least six months, visa and evidence of yellow fever immunization are required for both US and Canadian citizens. Visa may be purchased on arrival at the airport. Single entry visa is $50 per person ($100pp for US citizens), payable in cash (no credit cards). Visas may also be obtained in advance through a visa service. Processing generally takes 5 working days and costs approximately $75.
Please note obtaining a visa is your responsibility. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the embassy of Tanzania for the most up to date visa information.
NOTE: Only newly printed USD currency and local currency will be accepted in East Africa, any USD currency printed without the new security measures will not be accepted. HEALTHHealth insurance is essential. Guests of Kensington Tours are covered by East African Flying Doctor Services included in the tour price. This coverage guarantees that any member injured or ill while on safari will be airlifted back to Nairobi to the international hospital.
We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tanzania.aspx
A yellow fever shot is NOT required for visitors from US/Canada/UK/EU direct, however if you are travelling through Kenya into Tanzania, you will need the vaccine.
COUNTRY INFOLanguage: Swahili and English are the official languages. Several indigenous languages are also spoken. Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Most tourism prices are in US Dollars.ATMs are available in major cities only. Major lodges, some hotels accept credit cards. Time: GMT +3. Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Rectangular or round three-pin plugs are used. Communications: The international country dialing code for Tanzania, as well as Zanzibar, is +255.
Stay in the know: Subscribe to our newsletter to have our hand-picked trips & specials delivered to you!
Please enter a destination | <urn:uuid:6a169e83-d6d2-4e5e-b577-3f3da6f4f9b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kensingtontours.com/tours/africa/tanzania/tanzania-discovery/travel-news/nice--france-s-coastal-paradise | 2013-05-21T17:24:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933741 | 1,831 |
|LoudspeakerBuilder.ca - (Loudspeaker Types)|
Types of Speaker Enclosures
Infinite Baffle - Is defined as an enclosure that contains a larger volume of air than the Vas of the driver. You don't need to build a enclosure for this type of loudspeaker. You simply mount them in the wall and use the wall cavity as the enclosure or if were talking about car speakers the trunk becomes the enclosure. In general these enclosures have the least amount of sound coloration and they are inefficient because the rear energy which was never intended to be heard by the listener is "wasted". The important thing to remember is to have the front and rear of the speaker isolated into different air spaces so the air from the front of the speaker can't interact with the air at the rear of the speaker to avoid phase cancellation.
Sealed Enclosures (acoustic suspension) - Just like the name implies this is a sealed box with a speaker mounted in it. This type is preferred due to the simplicity of it's design which promotes a smooth frequency response, excellent cone control which translates into accurate sound reproduction. The only downside to this design is that it does this all at the expense of low efficiency. The volume of air within a sealed enclosure is less than the Vas of the driver; the air trapped in the enclosure helps control the movement of the cone somewhat like a shock absorber controlling the springs on a car.
Vented Enclosures (ported, bass reflex, tuned, or tuned ported) - This is a much harder design to "get it right" with (unless you got some good loudspeaker software). In the first two designs the wave at the front of the speaker was used while the wave at the rear of the speaker was "thrown away". Vented designs use this "thrown away' energy to enhance the overall sound of a loudspeaker (if properly designed) with better efficiency and deeper bass extension from sound produce in the port. This is done by tuning the ports (length and diameter) so the rear wave pressure will produce a lower tuned frequency in the port. Put the port somewhere close around the woofer, preferably just below it (within one foot). The direction the ports face (rear or front) is a personal design choice, and if the need arises smaller multiple ports can be used in place of a larger single port. Variations of this design include the use of multiple rear chambers tuned to different frequencies and passive radiators.
Passive Radiator - This is essentially a unpowered driver which replaces the port on a ported loudspeaker. It has the advantage over the port of less distortion and it allows the loudspeaker to act with precision of a sealed enclosure without the loss of efficiency.
Isobaric - In this design the speakers face one another, one of them is in the enclosure. It's also wired out of phase; the speaker in the enclosure is wired normally and the other one's wires get flipped around. This will allow them to move together in the same direction at the same time. This design may be used when enclosure size must be small. This enclosure can be half the size of the regular enclosure.
Dipole - This is for a "effect" rear surround sound home theater type of loudspeaker which "hides" the source of the sound very well. In this design the drivers are fired out of phase with one another. As a result their is a "nil" or dead zone due to phase cancellation in the space between the loudspeakers which unfortunately also kills a lot of the loudspeakers bass. This type of loudspeaker will give the desired effect only within a defined space and need special considerations in their placement. Not intended to be used as a general loudspeaker.
Bipole-This type differs from dipolar in that both drivers fire in phase with one another "spraying" sound everywhere. Loudspeaker placement isn't as critical as with the dipole, with a much wider listening space area and no loudspeaker bass reduction due to phase cancellation.
Bandpass - A combination of a sealed and a ported enclosure. Combining the two together will result in louder bass output than what the sealed enclosure alone would put out. This type of enclosure is not used as true subwoofer because the frequencies that come out of the port are a limited to a very narrow bandwidth. This design is often used to enhance the lower frequencies of smaller bookshelf type of loudspeakers.
Selecting The Best Drivers For Your Enclosure
This is very important and its worth repeating (Qtc 0.707 stuff); you must match your drivers to the enclosure and I am not just talking about the size of circular hole in the front of the speaker enclosure. Most drivers are now designed to be used in a specific type of enclosure with a specific volume (size). So when deciding upon your drivers you have to take into consideration the type of enclosure (ported, sealed) and the enclosure size recommended by the manufacturer. If their recommendations are not available you will have to take the other information that is given such as Fs, SPL, Vas, Qms, Qts, etc and figure that out for yourself. You can do that by using various complex mathematical equations or by simply plugging in the information about the driver into any of the many loudspeaker building software programs that are available.
Okay, you now know to match up your speaker drivers to the enclosure size and type recommended; you have to do that with the midrange speaker also if it is not-rear sealed . The reason why you build an enclosure within an enclosure for a non-rear sealed speaker is that you'll want to isolate the air spaces behind the driver and midrange from each other to prevent them from "pushing" on each other. The volume of air displaced by a large woofer moving in and out can destroy the much smaller midrange driver and even if it doesn't, they will interfere with one another causing distortions which is not a good thing to have happen.
Don't forget to add the total volume of the midrange enclosure to the speakers enclosure's total volume. Don't worry about building a separate enclosure for the tweeter; every tweeter that I have ever seen is rear sealed so the driver's air pressure won't affect it.
Two or Three Way SpeakersHas to do with the numbers of ways the frequencies are divided (the crossover network); and generally to the amount of transducers (speakers) used;
A Two-Way loudspeaker uses a driver and a Tweeter. In the Two-way design the work of reproducing the total sound spectrum is divided between the two components. The driver may take the frequencies between 45Hz-2400Hz; the tweeter then must be able to handle the frequencies from 2.4Mhz and up. Often a subwoofer is needed to enhance to lower frequencies because of the design limitations of the driver. This is because most drivers can't do a lot of different frequencies all at once well. A driver that can get low as 20Hz usually won't sound good at 1,500Hz. And most tweeters that can reach 30,000Hz or above often won't operate below 2,000Hz.
So most two-way loudspeaker are a compromise between the low and high frequency. But due to new advances in speaker technology a new generation of mid/woofers and tweeters have come along that have much wider frequency ranges than ever dreamed of before. Because of this quality two-way loudspeakers can now begin to compete with three-way loudspeaker systems.
A Three-Way loudspeaker uses a woofer, midrange and a tweeter and is still considered superior over the Two-way design. The workload of reproducing the sound is divided among the Three components. The woofer may handle between 20Hz to 800 Hz, the midrange handles the frequencies between 800Hz to around 5000Hz. The tweeter then is left to deal with everything above 5000hz. This design has no compromises like that needed in the two-way system. Three-way or higher is the only way to go for a true full range loudspeaker. Some people have taken this to the extreme and added more than three speaker components making a four or five-way loudspeaker!
The big problem with the "more drivers are better" idea is in trying to design an acceptable crossover network. Two-way crossovers are easy, three-way are much more difficult. Four-way and above higher order crossovers are usually only attempted by the "Pros" or hard core loudspeaker builders due to the "huge pain in the ass to design successfully" factor involved. | <urn:uuid:2b20a16b-6bb8-451a-acda-50f48200e03a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.members.shaw.ca/loudspeakerbuilder.ca/types.html | 2013-05-21T17:43:49Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950555 | 1,770 |
DVD Release Date: May 6, 2008 (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Number of Discs: 4
Number of Episodes: 30
Running Time: approx. 760 minutes
Total Run Time of Special Features: N/A
Languages, Subtitles, Closed Captioning: English, Spanish, French and Portuguese languages; Spanish & Portuguese subtitles; Closed-Captioned.
Special Features: Sony TV DVD Previews; Minisodes
After a long 10-month wait, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings us another season of Bewitched on DVD, this time The Complete Sixth Season! Dick Sargent takes over the role of Darrin Stephens joining Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, Erin Murphy, and David White all return for more spellbinding and magic at Morning Glory Circle! Also joining the series in a recurring role is Alice Ghostley playing the shy Esmeralda. This is also the season where Samantha gives birth to her second child, Adam. Join the Stephens family as we see Tabitha running away to be in “Jack and the Beanstalk” because she is jealous of her baby brother, Darrin being frozen into a mirror when Sam’s dad Maurice finds out the baby isn’t named after him, Endora being upset at Samantha celebrating Halloween, so she turns Darrin into a warlock. Paul Lynde returns as Uncle Arthur botching his magic hat trick at Tabtha’s birthday party and a Playboy bunny comes out! So join Elizabeth Montgomery in ... Bewitched! (Now the theme music is stuck in your head, isn’t it?)
Memorable Episodes / Notable Guest Stars:
This season is the first season with Dick Sargent as Darrin, as we mentioned...and I think I liked Bewitched the best these last few seasons with Sargent as Darrin. As I mentioned before, Dick Sargent joins the cast in “Samantha and the Beanstalk,” in which Tabitha is jealous of the new baby and runs away to this classic...literally. In “Samantha’s Yoo-Hoo Maid,” Alice Ghostley joins the cast as Esmeralda the bumbling shy witch. Samantha gives birth to her second child and Maurice (Sam’s dad) makes sure that everyone who passes by falls in love with the baby in “...And Something Makes Four.” The very next episode has Maurice raging mad because the new baby is not named after him in “Naming Samantha’s New Baby.” Samantha is working on Halloween costumes for a UNICEF benefit and Endora is dismayed at Samantha for celebrating Halloween in “To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat.” In the two-part episode, “Daddy Comes For a Visit/Darrin the Warlock,” Maurice gives Darrin a magic watch, giving him magical powers, much to the dismay of Samantha. Esmerelda brings up the real Santa Claus and cannot get him back to the North Pole in “Santa Comes to Visit and Stays and Stays.” Phyllis (Darrin’s mom) catches Samantha using her magic powers and does not really know what to think...what will happen? Find out in “Samantha's Secret is Discovered.” Tabitha wants to go to the park, but Samantha tells her that she has many chores to do around the house...so Tabitha creates “another” Samantha in “Tabitha's Very Own Samantha.” In “Generation Zap,” with a touch of magic, Endora turns a client's sensible daughter Dusty Harrison into a raving sex machine with the hots for Darrin. Mr. Dinsdale, a handsome lady-killer client falls for Samantha because she looks like Serena in “Chance of Love.”
Some famous guests this season include Johnny Whitaker, Deacon Jones, Jack Cassidy, Bernie Kopell, Carol Wayne, John Fielder, Lloyd Bochner, Charles Lane, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Henry Gibson, and Danny Bonaduce. Recurring actors include Alice Ghostley, Bernard Fox, Paul Lynde, Sandra Gould, Robert F. Simon, Mabel Albertson, Kasey Rogers, Maurice Evans, and George Tobias.
Like the previous sets, we get nice slim cases! This set is a four-disc set, like the last few, so we have two slim cases, each holding two discs each. However, before we get to the full slim case details, let’s go back to the box. The cover of the box is a nice light purple color scheme. It has the attractive Bewitched logo (saying Elizabeth Montgomery in) in script with a photo of an animated Samantha on top of that. There is a nice photo of Samantha in the middle, with Tabitha & Darrin to the left and Endora to the right in a nice city type of background with a huge moon, reminiscent of the opening credits. The back of the box has synopsis of the show and the set, with three nice snapshots on the left side, and continuing the night city setting.
On the front of each slim case, there are pictures of various cast members. Case 1 has Samantha featured, with an image each of Darrin and Tabitha to the left. Case 2 has another shot of Samantha, with Serena and Endora on top. On the back of each case, there is a listing of all of the episodes on the discs contained inside as well as a brief description of those episodes. All of this is similar to previous sets, so no surprises.
The art contained on the discs is simple, purple in color with the city skyline in the background and pictures of different characters on each disc. Disc 1 has a picture of Samantha, Disc 2 has a picture of Darrin, Disc 3 has a picture of Endora, and Disc 4 has a picture of Tabitha. Disc 1 contain episodes 1-8, Disc 2 contains episodes 9-16, Disc 3 contains episodes 17-23, and Disc 4 contains episodes 24-30 (and the bonus previews crap and minisodes). When you take the discs out, you will see nice photos surrounding the slim case inside. Again, a Sony catalog comes with the packaging. It is not really up to date on some things...it says Married with Children Season 8 coming soon, but that was released already. It does have some actual correct coming soon wordings, such as I Dream of Jeannie S5 and Just Shot Me! S3.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The menus are simple like the previous sets. Each menu screen on each of the four discs is different. It starts with an animated showcase of Sam (each disc is different) twitching you to the menu screen. Disc one menu is pink, the disc two menu is green, disc three menu is purple, and disc four menu is blue...just as the previous set. They have one thing common; they have an animated Darrin (yes, Sargent version) & Sam. The theme song plays in the background (and it does loop if you stay awhile). The options are... Play All Episodes, Episode Selections, and Languages. The Episode Selections option clouds you to a simple menu where you can choose the episode you want to see (pictures from the episodes are shown in what appears to be picture frames on a wall). Languages allow you to select what Audio and Subtitles you want. Audio is English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. Subtitles are either Spanish or Portuguese. Minisodes and Bonus Previews options are on disc four. The menus are the same as the previous set...well except for the addition of the minisodes.
Video and Audio Quality:
Bewitched has been good in video for previous sets. Although the last set was not as good, though in terms of video quality...but this set is MUCH better! Sony says in the press release that this set is digitally mastered, but the packaging does not say that, but I think it is...because it looks GREAT! Samantha must have uses witchcraft at Sony to fix the problem from the last set! All episodes appear to be unedited with run times all over 25 minutes (mostly about 25:20). The audio track is good, in Dolby Digital mono. There are no major problems, and the volume is at a good level. Chapter stops are available at the right places and we have five chapter stops per episode. The new Sony Pictures logo is at the end of each episode running like 5 seconds. The FBI warning is available at the start of the first episode on each disc...but you can chapter skip it. In all, this set is much better in audio and video than the previous set!
The following are the runtimes for each episode:
1. Samantha and the Beanstalk 25:20
2. Samantha’s Yoo Hoo Maid 25:20
3. Samantha’s Caesar Salad 25:21
4. Samantha’s Curious Cravings 25:21
5. And Something Makes Four 25:21
6. Naming Samantha’s New Baby 25:21
7. To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat 25:19
8. A Bunny for Tabitha 25:20
9. Samantha’s Secret Spell 25:19
10. Daddy Comes to Visit 25:23
11. Darrin the Warlock 25:20
12. Samantha’s Double Mother Trouble 25:19
13. You’re So Agreeable 25:20
14. Santa Comes to Visit and Stays and Stays 25:19
15. Samantha’s Better Halves 25:20
16. Samantha’s Lost Weekend 25:22
17. The Phrase Is Familiar 25:20
18. Samantha’s Secret Is Discovered 25:22
19. Tabitha’s Very Own Samantha 25:21
20. Super Arthur 25:20
21. What Makes Darrin Run 25:19
22. Serena Stops the Show 25:21
23. Just a Kid Again 25:19
24. Generation Zap 25:21
25. Okay, Who’s the Wise Witch 25:20
26. A Chance on Love 25:23
27. If the Shoe Pinches 25:21
28. Mona Sammy 25:22
29. Turn on the Old Charm 25:21
30. Make Love, Not Hate 25:24
The first two seasons had great extras, but ever since we have not gotten anything at all, just the Sony Previews. Previews for this set are Blonde Ambition (movie), My Mom’s New Boyfriend (movie), Saawanya (movie), The Water Horse (movie), Ladies Night (TV), and ‘80s Hits (TV...but it actually movies, Sony can’t label it right). Just one TV trailer and it is so old. Again, it is not even funny anymore Sony!
We also have two Sony Minisodes from Sony’s Minisode Network. We get a Minisode of The Partridge Family, “Eleven Year Itch” that runs 5:35. Maybe we get this Minisode because Danny Bonaduce guest starred on Bewitched? We also have a minisode of I Dream of Jeannie, “Where’d You Go-Go?” that runs 5:02. I bet we have that because the series is somewhat similar to Bewitched. These are really to promote this online network.
Between seasons four and five, we had a 9-month wait, now between seasons five and six we get a 10-month wait. Therefore, I would guess we would get season 7 in another 9-10 months or so. I hope they go at a faster pace again so we get seasons 7 and 8 faster. There are eight seasons of this show, and we are 75% finished now...just two more sets! Come on Sony, let’s release them faster! As for this set, it is decent, video quality is much better than the previous set that it is so noticeable. Other than that, the set is on par with the last four sets, and of course down from the first two where we got great special features. Get on board Samantha’s witchcraft on season six of Bewitched where the word of the season is “change,” because there is a lot of it...and it is good to have change because it works here! Bewitched! | <urn:uuid:9583961b-6105-4cce-86ec-8dd40d8e45da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sitcomsonline.com/bewitchedseason6dvdreview.html | 2013-05-21T17:37:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911097 | 2,655 |
Final Days To Purchase SBA Tickets Yankees, Man City Partner On MLS Team NFL Set To Award Super Bowl Sites Classified Advertisements Executive Transactions WNBA Sky Ink Five-Year Local TV Deal Colangelo Staying With Raptors, Loses GM Title AAC Finalizes Plan For Exit Fee Distribution NFL Owners Approve Falcons' G-4 Funding NFL Draft Could Be Moved To May
SBD/January 6, 2012/Events and AttractionsPrint All
Several groups are "angling to seize control of Baltimore's Grand Prix as city officials seek a new management team in the wake of the financial collapse of the company that organized the inaugural race," according to Scharper & Broadwater of the Baltimore SUN. Sources said that "at least two teams -- each headed by a former organizer of IndyCar races elsewhere -- plan to submit proposals to take over the racing festival." Others, including the "head of an Owings Mills-based contracting company and a former racecar driver, have expressed interest." Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos said that she has "asked interested parties to submit a proposal by Saturday." The city "announced last week that it was severing its contract with Baltimore Racing Development." Sources said that Indianapolis-based Dillon Construction Group Owner Dale Dillon "has emerged as a front-runner to take over the racing contract." Dillon has "helped organize IndyCar races in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Toronto and is part of a team trying to bring a race to Fort Lauderdale, Fla." He "served as Baltimore Racing Development's general manager in the final weeks before the race, and many in city government saw him as the savior of the event." Sources said that Dillon is "in talks with Felix Dawson, a former Constellation Energy executive, who could help manage and fund the race." Meanwhile, North American Motorsport Events Inc. CEO Geoff Whaling said that he "plans to submit a proposal to manage the race in 2012 by Saturday's deadline." Whaling "partnered with actor Paul Newman to bring urban races to New York and Philadelphia." He "declined to reveal details of his proposal for the Baltimore event, but said he planned to run it as a nonprofit." Racing analysts say that the new group "must take over by March to prepare for an event in September" (Baltimore SUN, 1/6).
After Monday’s fifth installment of the Winter Classic, the NHL has clearly established a key event on the New Year calendar, but the question remains how to treat the spectacle going forward. Veteran hockey writers have their thoughts and spoke to THE DAILY about how they believe the event should grow. Since the inaugural game in '08 at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Philadelphia Daily News’ Frank Seravalli said the NHL “has made the Winter Classic a household name, even for non-hockey fans that might be living in Alabama or Mississippi." He said, "There are few sports fans that aren't familiar with the event and its outdoor heritage." The league gets credit for extending the footprint over the years, adding events like an alumni game and this year’s AHL contest. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun said, “It's not just about one NHL game anymore. It's a week-long event. ... The league has gone Super Bowl-like in terms of how it treats the event.” But despite the success, there are opportunities for growth. As the NHL goes forward planning future Winter Classic events, Seravalli said the league “needs to get more teams involved in the game." He pointed out the NHL has “acknowledged that COO John Collins has flirted with the idea of having four regional outdoor games played on one given day, which would be the best way to spice up rivalries and maximize revenue.” But LeBrun noted, “On the hockey operations side, there are the logistical concerns of doing this more than once a year. So somehow those two sides of the operation are going to have to find a compromise.”
CONCERNS ABOUT RATINGS: The TV rating on NBC for the Rangers-Flyers game likely did not hit the numbers the NHL was hoping for Monday. The game drew a 2.1 fast national rating, tying it with the ’10 edition as the lowest-rated Winter Classic contest in the event’s five-year history. The game still ranks as the fifth most-viewed regular-season game since '75, but Seravalli wonders if the event's appeal has begun to fade. “The NHL paired Philadelphia and New York, two out of the top four media markets and two of arguably the best sports towns in America, together and were expecting a ratings bonanza,” he said. “Instead, the NHL found that there is no longer a ton of mystique surrounding two teams playing outside. It has been done before. The outdoor 'spectacle' notion of this event is fleeting.”
DETROIT NEXT? Rumors have circulated that the Red Wings will be the next team to host the game. LeBrun said, “Detroit, an Original Six club with avid fan base, would be a great choice for next year.” He said he would also like to see games in Minnesota, Denver and Yankee Stadium, once the Pinstripe Bowl’s contract at the venue expires. LeBrun noted the Maple Leafs have their 100th anniversary celebration "coming up in four-five years (and) I think a game in Toronto would make sense.” When choosing venues, the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont said he would suggest the NHL “target any arena where a good amount … of the seats are at least 10 feet above ice level.” After attending the games held at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, he said the league should probably consider football stadiums more strongly than baseball venues because ballparks "are borderline horrid watching venues." He said, "So many of those seats are barely above ice level that the in-stadium, or in-ballpark, viewing, by my measure, is deplorable.” However, if the NHL does decide to use baseball stadiums, Dupont suggested it “would be better in these huge ballparks to build bleachers on one side of the rink, and maybe put 3,000 or 4,000 (spectators) in those bleachers.” | <urn:uuid:468af8fe-a450-4daf-ba9b-421043542e58> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/01/06/Events-and-Attractions.aspx | 2013-05-21T17:36:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960784 | 1,319 |
Tony Award-winner Jim Dale's one man show, "Just Jim Dale,"… (MARK MIRKO, [email protected] )
Jim Dale guides his guests into the study in his Park Avenue home, pointing out memorabilia filling the walls and shelves: album covers from when he was a British pop star in the late '50s; pictures of him from the "Carry On…" comedy films in the ''60s; posters when he starred in "Scapino" and "Barnum" on Broadway; Grammys for his "Harry Potter" audio books.
Tucked away on a top shelf is a small, well-worn book, "How to Be Funny," a childhood manual that helped shape his destiny.
"Ah, that's in the show," he says, not wanting to give away some of his best material from his still-in-development solo show which will play Long Wharf Theatre's Stage II starting Thursday, June 14 to June 24. "Just Jim Dale" is the modestly-titled, 90-minute show which spans an extraordinary varied 60-year-plus career.
On a recent afternoon in Manhattan with his black Doberman "Georgy Girl" stoically seated beside him (he wrote the lyrics to the the Oscar-nominated song), Dale, 76, told jokes and showed off his remarkable gift for vocal mimicry (Dame Edith Evans, Michael Caine). But mostly the Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor talked about his life-long love, dedication and curatorial passion for comedy.
"What was important to me was not to be well-known," he says of his life in film, theater and music, "but to learn more and more about laughter."
In developing the solo show, which received a workshop production at the Eugene O'NeillTheater Center in Waterford last summer, he was essentially defining who he was.
"That's what it's all about, Alfie," he says. "Who is Jim Dale? Am I still searching for him? I'm not quite sure."
What he is sure is that it all began with his love of the English music hall — and comedy.
Began at Age Nine
Dale, the son of an iron foundry worker father and a mother who worked in a shoe factory, grew up in Rothwell, England, a working class town Northamptonshire, in the dead center of the country.
"I went to night school to study shoe design waiting for my big opportunity to get into show business," he says.
He had been performing since he was 9 as an amateur singer in family-type regional social clubs which featured such social talent as a wavering soprano, a hometown ballerina and a man who played spoons.
When he was 17, he turned pro and became a comedian, touring in every major and minor city in England playing to all sorts of audiences. "I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to explore comedy."
But he was open to anything and when an opportunity to do something else that was interesting and challenging came his way, he seized on it.
When warming up a TV audience for pop star Tommy Steele, he grabbed a guitar and started singing. That led to him at the age of 22 being tapped to be a pop singer under the guidance of George Martin, who would later go on to fame as the recording manager for the Beatles. Over a two-year period Dale had a series of pop hits in theU.K., including "Be My Girl," "Crazy Dream" and "Sugartime."
"But because I had a background in comedy I said, 'Let's record comedy songs.' He [Martin] said, 'I don't think it's the time.' But I did. And they didn't work. So I thought, 'OK. I've done some pop singing so now let's move on — and I went back to comedy.' In his bookGeorge wrote, 'If Jim Dale stayed on as a pop singer, he could have become a big name.' Well, if I did I would still be stuck singing the same hits now. So I looked at [pop singing] as just another stepping stone to something else."
Throughout the '60s, while continuing as a song writer, Dale often played the romantic lead in the series of "Carry On…" British film comedies,
Dale's next turn in his career was being invited in 1966 by stage director Frank Dunlop to play the clown Autolycus in a production of "The Winter's Tale" at the Edinburgh Festival. When Dale hesitated about the task of tackling the Bard, Dunlop shot back, 'Who the [expletive] are you to say you can't play Shakespeare!"
That began a professional relationship with the director. In 1970, Laurence Olivier invited Dale to join the National Theatre he was forming and the young actor subsequently played manyat the Young Vic Theater Company in the early '70s.
During his time with the Vic, he performed many of Shakespeare's famous clowns, trading help in understanding Shakespeare's lines from veteran actors in the company for bits of business they wanted the young comic to teach them.
Dale's career took another turn when the Young Vic brought three shows over to play New York in 1973, including Dunlop's boisterously funny adaptation of Molière's "Scapin," renamed "Scapino." It was an acrobatic role that audience members remember vividly, especially the moment in the show where his character would flee a crazed pursuer and go into and over the audience, climbing over and straddling the arm-rests of theatergoers' seats. Dale received his first of five Tony nominations for the part. | <urn:uuid:11603726-f5bd-47f3-b71a-5da632ed160d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.courant.com/2012-06-10/entertainment/hc-jim-dale-long-wharf-0610-20120610_1_pop-show-comedy | 2013-05-24T01:53:49Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987887 | 1,204 |
[ A.K.A SEKMINËS – Seventh Sunday after Easter
In Lithuania and in neighboring countries, traditions of Pentecost are
related with the end of sowing and the start of summer labors. This is
a spring gathering and shepherds' holiday. The most distinctive feature
of Pentecost is nature worship. The power of nature was attributed to young,
green birch trees. It was believed that the birch tree can pass her vitality
to the soil, to animals, protect from illness and all evils. On the eve
of Pentecost, village girls dispersed in fields and woods in search of
flowers and greenery that were used to make wreaths. Young men picked branches
off birch trees, which they placed around doors, gates, inside porches
and in living rooms. Wreaths and bunches of flowers decorated the entire
house. Tables were covered with linen tablecloths, garden paths were sprinkled
with sand and greens. It was believed that the souls of the dead, while
visiting homes on Pentecost, rested on birch tree branches. Shepherds decorated
cows with birch wreaths, to keep them calm and together, be good milkers
and to please the mistress of the house so she would be kind and generous
throughout the year.
The writer, B.Buraèas described this tradition of decorating
the herds in his writings, saying that on the night before Pentecost, shepherds
returning home with the herd dressed the animals with birch and marsh marigold
wreaths. They even tied birch branches to cattle horns.
In some regions women placed a piece of bread in a white linen kerchief,
tied it with three double birch branches and tied this kerchief to their
apron sash believing this to be a protection from snake bites. Whipping
with bathing birch- rods in bathhouses was believed to chase all ailments
out of the body. On Pentecost morning, the master of the house whipped
his cows to make them more active while grazing in the fields.
When Christianity came to Lithuania, churches began blessing grasses.
Then on this holiday, churches were decorated with birch trees and other
greenery. People arrived in church carrying bunches of greenery , which
were blessed. These blessed greens were set on fire and their smoke was
used to incense dying persons, new buildings and storm clouds. It was believed
that smoke from Pentecost greens had the power to chase away evil spirits,
protect buildings and send storm clouds away. Wayside crosses and ritual
tables were also decorated with Pentecost greenery.
J.Balys wrote in " Lithuanian Calendar Holidays" how plants are used
in charmings. First of all, many wreaths were twined and each one was given
a man's name. The largest wreath was given the name of the girl who wanted
to know the name chosen name. The wreaths are thrown into the well or into
the pond in the evening, so as not to be seen by anyone. Early in the morning
the girl went to see if her wreath was beside the largest wreath. If it
was, she would marry him.
Before Pentecost one must twine a large wreath of cornflowers with
three branches of rue in it. Before evening this wreath is placed on the
girl's head and fastened to the hair so it would not fall off. He, who
in a dream removes this wreath, will be the one too take away her virginity.
N.Gimbutas in " Baltic Mythology" , wrote that there was tradition
to go to the woods on Pentecost. A birch tree was picked out, decorated
and taken into the village. About hundred years ago this was an important
ritual which involved the entire community.
On this holiday there are fire and water glorification rituals. The
church on Pentecost blessed fire and water. In many regions holy water
was sprinkled on grain seeds, so that they would sprout fast and that birds
would not peck at the grain. Sprinkling with holy water was meant to keep
insects away from the crops and keep ponds and rivers safe from drownings.
To keep horses well and give them shinny coats, their food was also sprinkled
with holy water.
After Pentecost, according to the folk calendar, it was safe to swim
in rivers and lakes, especially if these bodies of water were close to
churches, they were blessed by the priests to protect the swimmers from
drownings. Country folk poured holy water into their wells and ponds for
Pentecost is one bright day in the shepherds' year. This day was begun
by the blare of the herdsman's trumpet before sunrise, awakening the shepherds.
That day, every shepherd planned to take his herd out at the earliest and
play his small horn. Each shepherd made his own small horn for Pentecost
from osier or alder wood and added a hollow cow's horn to give it a better
As the animals were leaving the barn, they were incensed with burning,
dried herbs by the mistress of the house. The herd grazed until noon, then
the shepherds decorated the entire herd and themselves and returned to
the village singing and playing their horns. Then the feasting began, hosted
by the head herdsman.
Shepherds' outings were organized on Pentecost, called shepherds' omelet,
[ a.k.a. pautienë ]. In some regions shepherds stopped at homesteads
in the morning to pick up prepared foods, while in others they asked for
eggs, flour, butter, milk and salt so that they could bake their own omelet.
In Dzûkija the following greeting was voiced, " happy Pentecost,
spent happily and peacefully with horses neighing and cows mooing. I was
sent to you by the oxen for bread, for milk by the cows, by sheep for flour,
by hogs for bacon and fat, by the motley hens for eggs, by the rooster
for pancakes and by the shepherds for money". If some households gave nothing,
the returning herd was decorated with nettle wreaths and brooms tied to
the cows' horns, so that everyone would know about the stinginess of that
household.. However, most homeowners were generous because they knew that
by not giving the cows' milk would be decreased.
After collecting all he goodies, the shepherds went to feast, picnic
in the woods. After the omelet was baked, the shepherds went into the forest,
climbed a tree and called out to wolves and bears to come and have breakfast
with them, saying, " if you do not come out now, you will never come out
during the coming year". This is an ancient prayer, an incantation.
In some regions of the Highlands [ a.k.a. Aukðtaitija ], shepherds
were allowed to sleep in while the herding in the morning was carried out
by girls. They herded out very early, before the larks awakened. Hearing
the larks, village lads came out playing reed and pan pipes. They also
brought food, lit bonfires. The important ritual was made up of a game
called " Arrange a Wedding". The prettiest girl was chosen to play the
bride and a lad was chosen to play the groom, while other girls dressed
as bridesmaids. After the wedding rites, the newlyweds were taken to bed
in a granary, a tent made of tree branches. After that came their awakening
and the end of the wedding ritual games. People in ancient times believed
that peoples' sexual love and fertility stimulate earth's productivity.
On the second day of Pentecost, the hired hands together with the owner's
sons carried on in the same manner as the shepherds. They provided drinks
and music while maidens prepared the food. The maidens walked along fields
of grain, singing songs with magical meanings:
You osier, clover,
Green bush, clover,
How tall you grew, clover,
At the first gate, clover,
The sun rose, clover,
At the second gate, clover,
The moon trundled, clover,
At the third gate, clover,
The maiden walked, clover.
Entire families visited the rye fields. Checked both theirs' and neighbors'
fields and shared farming advice. In some regions, hired hands brewed beer
before Pentecost so that they could treat the owners after their walks
in the grain fields. Everyone gathers to eat and drink , while the young
people sing and dance.
Girls had separate amusements. They sat in a nice spot on a hill, twined
wreaths, cast lots, told tales, sang and walked around grain fields.
When Christianity spread throughout Lithuania, priests turned these
ancient walkings around grain fields into blessings of the grain fields.
People gathered in one farmstead upon the priests' arrival and went together
to bless the grain fields. Feasting took place after the blessing.
This tradition disappeared at the beginning of 20th
century, when villages broke up into individual farms. | <urn:uuid:3a16fd44-7721-48a6-a5a5-3373efd12ec3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/customs/pentecost.html | 2013-05-24T01:56:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969552 | 2,021 |
HOUSTON -- Armando Galarraga, the pitcher who was denied a perfect game two years ago when umpire Jim Joyce missed a call at first base that would have been the final out, has signed a Minor League contract with the Astros, general manager Jeff Luhnow said Monday.
Galarraga, 30, will help the Astros fill a rotation spot at Triple-A Oklahoma City, which has a need for a starter after Henry Sosa agreed to pitch in Korea. Galarraga has appeared in 95 career Major League games with the Rangers, Tigers and Diamondbacks, going 26-39 with a 4.69 ERA. He was released by the Orioles in April.
Luhnow said Galarraga will throw a couple of bullpen sessions in Kissimmee, Fla., before joining the RedHawks.
"We've got to watch him throw," Luhnow said. "I think [Tuesday] he's scheduled to throw for the first time, and if that goes well, he'll face some hitters and then go out and pitch."
On June 2, 2010, Galarraga pitched 8 2/3 perfect innings against the Indians and appeared to record the 27th consecutive out when Jason Donald hit a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who flipped the ball to Galarraga covering first. Joyce incorrectly called Donald safe, costing Galarraga a perfect game. He settled for a one-hitter.
Joyce later apologized to Galarraga for missing the call.
Galarraga went 4-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for the Tigers in 2010, winning only two starts following his near-perfect game. He was eventually traded to the D-backs and went 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA in eight starts.
Schafer ready to return to on-field action
HOUSTON -- The lower leg muscle strain that kept Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer out of Sunday's game against the Rangers had improved so much Monday he was available to play, but he wasn't in the starting lineup for the opener against the Cubs.
Schafer, who sustained the injury in the third inning of Saturday's game against the Rangers, said he sent a text to head athletic trainer Nate Lucero around noon Monday informing him he was ready to go. Alas, Brian Bogusevic started in center field.
"Everything was fine," Schafer said. "I can play tonight. I don't make up the lineup, but whatever [manager Brad Mills] wants to do. I can play tonight, though."
Mills said Schafer would be available to pinch-hit and pinch-run, unlike Sunday when he couldn't play. The Astros were short-handed on the bench Sunday and sent starting pitcher J.A. Happ to pinch-hit in the fifth inning of the loss to the Rangers.
"That's real good news and will help fill out our bench," Mills said. "[Sunday] we felt short-handed not having him."
Del Rosario brought up from Triple-A
HOUSTON -- The Astros recalled right-handed relief pitcher Enerio Del Rosario from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday to take the roster spot that opened up when right-handed starter Jordan Lyles was optioned back down after starting Sunday's game against the Rangers.
The Astros will carry eight relief pitchers for the next week and will go with a four-man rotation. They won't need a fifth starter until Monday's doubleheader in Colorado, at which time a new rule will permit them to expand their roster to 26 players for one day.
Houston manager Brad Mills said that roster spot will be occupied by another starter. That could be Lyles, who wouldn't have to stay in the Minors for the usually required 10 days under that scenario. Mills said the rotation at Oklahoma City could be tweaked so Lyles would be in line to start one of the games Monday.
"Monday won't be his regular day to start, so we could adjust some things at the Minor Leagues in Oklahoma City to make that available, and we'll proceed with that," Mills said. "For us, [the 26th player] is probably going to be the starter for that game."
Buck gets a shot to hit third in lineup
HOUSTON -- Outfielder Travis Buck became the fourth different player to occupy the No. 3 spot in Astros manager Brad Mills' lineup in the past four games, starting in right field Monday against the Cubs.
J.D. Martinez, who's hit third for much of the season but is mired in a slump, hit third on Friday, with Justin Maxwell batting third Saturday and Brian Bogusevic on Sunday. Mills perferred Buck on Monday because he had experience against Cubs starter Matt Garza.
"I want a guy that can put the bat on the ball and put it in play and maybe we can do some things," Mills said. "I'm not saying we can't do that with Bogie, because he brings speed and power to the table. Maybe just a different look is what we're looking for."
Buck, making his 15th start of the season, said hitting third doesn't come with a different approach.
"Hitting in front of Carlos [Lee], I'm going to see a lot more strikes, but I've always got to make sure they're pitches I can put in play and put some good swings on because I have a couple of guys ahead of me [Jose Altuve, Jed Lowrie] who are a little fast," Buck said. "I'll be able to live with the single, rather than somebody needing an extra-base hit to score. I'll be able to take advantage of hitting singles rather than looking for a pitch to drive in the gap." | <urn:uuid:04c68b97-f8a6-4c41-9cc0-03ac98f54a01> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120521&content_id=31886004¬ebook_id=31900488&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou | 2013-05-24T01:36:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977049 | 1,188 |
Meet the Crew
The 2012 Field Crew for the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison Archaeological Field School, Heidelberg University, Ohio
Hello, my name is Heidi Miller and I am 26 years old. I recently graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and plan to attend grad school to specialize in Osteology and Bioarchaeology. Johnson’s Island is my firsts field school and I know the experience gained will help me to achieve my goals within archaeology.
My name is David Gold. I am 23 years old and a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. I am an undergraduate of NC State with a BA in anthropology. At NC State I completed an independent study in the university’s archaeology lab. In 2011 I participated in a study abroad archaeological field school in Carriacou, in the Grenadines. My future goal is to be a historical detective, an archaeologist.
My name is Brandon Herrmann and I am going into my sophomore year of college at Heidelberg University. The major I am pursuing at this time is Anthropology and have been interested in it since as far back as I can remember. Upon completing college and getting my degree, I will be attending grad school and seeking a sub-field within anthropology. This sub-field will be within maritime archaeology. Overall, I have high expectations for a job somewhere in an underwater based field and am looking forward to what the future has to offer.
My name is Allison Hermance-Moore, and I went to Ohio State University my freshman year, and will be going into my junior year at the University of Kansas. My archaeological interests focus primarily on Celtic remains in England and Wales. I’m doing this excavation with Heidelberg because I find Civil War history fascinating.
My name is Amanda Holdeman. I’m from Dayton, Ohio and I go to Kent State University, where I will be a junior majoring in archaeology and minoring in geology. I’m excited to call Johnson’s Island my first field school, but I hope to end up working with excavations in Israel.
My name is Lyndsay Ballew. I am a Senior majoring in anthropology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I will serve as the UALR Anthropology Club president for the 2012-2013 school year. I plan on doing my graduate studies in archaeology. Although I am not yet sure what culture or part of the world I would most like to study, I am considering marine archaeology. If I could have one super power, it would be time travel…but until I find that genie in bottle, archaeology will certainly suffice!
My name is Amanda LeBoeuf. I am from Shrewsbury Massachusetts and go to school at Elmira College where I am an art major and an anthropology/sociology and history minor. At Elmira New York I am going into my senior year. This has been my second five-week field school. My first one was last summer in Mycenae Greece. After my senior year, I plan on going to graduate school for archaeology with a concentration in ceramics.
My name is Adrian Niemetz. I am originally from northern Alaska but lived mostly in Germany. I began my archaeological career in 2004 as a field tech for the City Heritage Department in Nurnberg. Since then I have been an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado and a Principal Investigator of the non-profit group Native American Research and Preservation. I have worked on sites ranging from the Bronze Age to World War II. I completed my Associates of Arts at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2011 and am currently a senior at Heidelberg University, but will be studying at the University of Heidelberg, Germany during my senior year. I plan to attend graduate school in Germany and complete a doctorate before returning to Nurnberg to work at my old job.
My name is Elizabeth Doragh. I am currently a Junior at Florida State University majoring in Classical Archaeology with a minor in Museum Studies. My interests lie in the art and architecture of Greece and Italy in antiquity, as well as in military history. I joined the field school at Johnston’s Island in order to gain more experience in the archaeological field, the uniqueness of the site, and my own personal love for Civil War History.
My name is Paul Talpos. I’m from Troy, Michigan, having graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011 with a degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Anthropological Archaeology. At Johnson’s Island I hope to gain archaeology experience to help me decide whether archaeology is a career path that I’d like to pursue in the future. In my free time I enjoy sports, adventures, and reenacting scenes from Jurassic Park.
My name is Donald (D.C.) Wheaton III. I am a junior at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and am pursuing a degree in History and Archaeology. My interests lie mostly in military and experimental archaeology, with a focus in Iron Age through Medieval cultures of the British Isles. I chose the field school at Johnson’s Island for its uniquely well-preserved nature and its military function, and its relative closeness to my home town of St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Besides fulfilling fieldwork requirements, I hope to use this excavation as both a way to improve my skill in the field and as a way to gain hands-on experience with military sites. | <urn:uuid:c7ab0090-d321-4789-8efb-960a738c748a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://interactive.archaeology.org/johnsonsisland/about/ | 2013-05-24T01:50:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948831 | 1,151 |
Will we finally get The Real Deal?
A couple of short stories about Asian pitchers and Irabu: I was announcing Yankee games in the mid-90s when I said over the air, “I wonder if we’ll ever see an Oriental position player in the Major Leagues?” Dion James was playing for the Yankees at the time, and told me about an exciting 19-year old named Ichiro Suzuki who had a chance to be the first. We all know that story. Big fan of Bernie Williams from watching Yankee games in Japan. Wears number 51 because of that.
So, I get a letter about a week later from an Asian baseball fan. Not a malicious letter but scolding me gently for referring to Asian players as “Oriental.” He said, “Noodles and rugs are Oriental, not people. We are Asians.” Fortunately for me, he put his phone number in the letter, so I called him.
We had a pleasant conversation and I told him I certainly didn’t intentionally say “Oriental’ as a slur or condescending remark. It was said innocently out of ignorance. He understood. I asked him if he would be watching the next game we televised. He said he would. He was a huge baseball fan and was complimentary of our telecasts on the MSG Network. I asked if he would please watch and listen in the top of the 4th inning. He said he would. I took the opportunity to clear up the Oriental/Asian situation.
So, on to Asian pitchers coming to America with the potential to dominate the Major Leagues. Hideo Nomo, Irabu, Dice-K, Hiroki Kuroda, and Kei Igawa, the biggest disappointment of all for over $40 million. Potentially the best one I saw up close was Chien-Ming Wang from Taiwan. A near Cy Young Award-winner before he injured his foot/ankle running the bases.
Can’t Major League teams take a little time to teach pitchers how to slide and make proper turns running the bases? I learned from the great George Case early in my career and was used as a pinch runner often. Even stole a base at age 41, the oldest to do it until Greg Maddux one-upped me by a month or two.
However, my most serious injuries during 25 Major League seasons were from sliding. Slid too hard into second to break up a double play and into third beating a throw from the outfield. Broken wrist on one and cracked kneecap on another. My technique was good. I just slid too hard. I figure it cost me about 25 to 30 wins. If I didn’t learn from George as a young player, they probably would never had used me to pinch run. Used to pinch run for my teammates Harmon Killebrew and Greg Luzinski.
Okay, enough about me and my ill-fated slides. Wang had a devastating hard sinker. You could count on him to get at least 75 percent of his outs on infield groundouts. Stress-free motion, no hard breaking ball to put stress on his elbow. I thought he was going to be “The One” until the foot/ankle injury.
This brings me to Irabu and how the hype from Japan can be deceiving. I was preparing to announce a Yankee game in Chicago when Jim Fregosi, former All-Star Shortstop with the Angels and longtime scout and manager in the Majors, began telling me about Irabu. He had been scouting him. The phrase that stood out was when he said, “He’s Clemens when Roger was in his prime.” That will get your attention. Hideki had a great splitter, but his fastball didn’t seem to be as fast as the advanced hype.
Now, here is one thing to look for from Darvish and I hope he can deal with it: The hitters here are bigger, stronger, and more intimidating than the hitters in the Asian leagues. I will never forget the defining moment for me when Hideki Irabu’s confidence in his fastball was shattered. He gave up a monstrous home run in Yankee Stadium to Matt Williams when Matt was playing for the Indians. It was off Irabu’s fastball. Our crack TV crew had a shot of Irabu from our center field camera as Hideki was facing center field. The expression on his face was priceless. Mouth open, eyes wide open like he had never experienced anything like that. And he probably hadn’t.
The challenge for all pitchers — and I experienced it myself when Mantle and Colavito and other power hitters turned my best fastball around — is to have the nerves to keep challenging hitters and throw it for strikes. We have seen time and time again that the pitchers who come over here from Asia don’t have the confidence to consistently challenge Major League hitters with their fastball.
All except Wang, and he is on the way back. I hope he makes it. Did you ever watch Dice-K pitch? Painful. He’d rather bite the head off a rattlesnake than throw his fastball for a strike. He was actually a long relief pitcher even when he was winning games, because with today’s pitch count limitations he was over his limit in the 5th inning most of the time.
So, I’lll be keeping a close eye on Yu Darvish and see if he is finally the one to be able to challenge and dominate our bigger, more powerful big league hitters. For his and the Rangers’ sake, I hope he does. It will be good for the game and the Rangers profit and loss statement! | <urn:uuid:308d50ac-77c3-4ec1-a1c2-27a56ef144f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jimkaat.mlblogs.com/2012/01/19/will-we-finally-get-the-real-deal/ | 2013-05-24T01:51:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984903 | 1,200 |
Privacy and Security
MDC Internet User Privacy and Security Policy
The Missouri Department of Conservation has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy.
Our policy is simple: we collect no personal information about you unless you choose to provide it. We do not gather personal information for the purpose of selling it to others. For details about how we safeguard personal information, please read below.
Browsing (visiting our Web site)
Our web servers record your visit to our web site with the standard web usage log (used by the vast majority of web servers). The web usage log records your IP address, time of visit, the page you visited and the page you came from.
No personal information is recorded in this log. If you, for example, visit our site from America Online, the usage log only shows that someone from America Online visited our web site -- not who visited our web site.
We use this information to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site as well as to generate statistics on the web site's usage.
To ensure that our system remains available to all visitors, our operating system tracks unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.
MDC also uses Google Analytics to get statistical information on who uses our site. Google Analytics puts a cookie on your browser to help us understand how the public uses our site. See below for more information on the cookie that Google Analytics uses.
While MDC will make every reasonable effort, as described herein, to protect the privacy of your personal information, MDC makes no warranty, express or implied, as to such information or your use of our web site and any consequential or incidental damages that may accrue therefrom.
"Cookies" are bits of code that are saved on your computer by your Web browser. They are set by web sites and can be used to personalize your visit to a Web site or track your navigation of a Web site.
MDC uses Google Analytics to provide additional information about how you use our site. Google will put persistent cookies on your browser to help us know how people use our site. These cookies collect anonymous traffic data; no personal information is kept via cookies. You can find out more about Google Analytics cookies from the Google Analytics Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/analytic
If you block cookies from Google, you can still view our content, but we will not be able to use information from your visit to improve our site.
When you fill out web forms to correspond with us, we may request personal information. We will indicate required information (such as your name or mailing address) and optional information on forms where this information is necessary. We record your IP address when you use our web forms to help us filter out spam and bots.
Comment and Question Page
The MDC comment and question page requires contact information like your name, e-mail and postal addresses and ZIP code. This information is used to respond to your question or comment.
Your ZIP code helps us get your comments and questions to the right MDC employee.
If you send us a question or comment is about the MDC Web site, we send information about the Web page you visited prior to the comments form as well as the your browse along with your comment or question. This helps troubleshoot any problems with the MDC Web site.
If you send us e-mail directly (and do not use our web comment forms), the message will usually contain your return e-mail address. If you include personal information in your e-mail, we may use that information in responding to your request. E-mail is not necessarily secure or confidential, so you should send only the information necessary to answer your question or process your request.
Links to Other Sites
Missouri Sunshine Law
As a state agency, MDC is subject to Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, commonly known as the Sunshine Law. If an appropriate request is made to this office for information that is subject to disclosure by the Sunshine Law, MDC may be required to disclose the information requested, even if it includes your personal information.
E-Commerce and Registrations
We take every effort to protect your privacy when you purchase products and/or services from MDC. Detailed information is provided below:
Your Conservation ID number
Although you should not share your Conservation ID number with others, we realize that this occurs when you register a party for waterfowl reservations or managed deer hunts. Because of this, MDC does not treat your Conservation ID number as private information.
When you register online for the waterfowl reservations and managed deer hunts, you identify yourself and members in your party by using your Conservation ID numbers. The Conservation ID number is the only identity number stored on the Web site. When results of waterfowl registration or managed deer hunt draws are made, you may enter your Conservation ID number and find the result of your registration. Again, only the drawing results and the Conservation ID number are stored on the Web site.
MDC uses your Conservation ID number to help us keep track of what Missourians are requesting particular services without exposing private information (such as name or home address) to the public.
We monitor this system to protect the system from unauthorized use and to ensure that the system is functioning properly. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals possible conduct of criminal activity, system personnel may provide evidence of such monitoring to law enforcement officers.
Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on this agency’s Websites are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and Title 18 U.S.C. Sec.1001 and 1030 (http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal
Agencies that conduct online transactions that require sensitive data such as social security number or credit card are required to encrypt the data transmission with current industry standard secure socket layer (SSL) technologies.
MDC uses SSL for our employment application and the Nature Shop.
For More Information
Web development team
Missouri Department of Conservation
2901 W. Truman Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-4115 x3244
Fax: (573) 751-2260 | <urn:uuid:221f2759-3fb2-4baf-bd98-a939259cb6db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.mdc.mo.gov/privacy-and-security | 2013-05-24T01:58:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.892641 | 1,304 |
Republican Senators need more proof that the increase in super tornadoes and Level 5 hurricanes is caused by global warming, which they view as a myth (although the New York Times recently had a front page story listing the proof, and also the theory that human activity affects the weather.) So here’s a mantra for them to repeat in the shower before going on Fox News: “UFOs cause monster tornadoes. After all, one theory is as good as another, right? A theory is a theory is a…” Wait a minute, isn’t gravity a theory? Since they’ll never actually read a science book in their lifetime, someone should point out to them that some “theories” are never anything more than a “theory.” Like the theory that pollution accumulates. Oh wait, that’s a LAW, isn’t it? (The law of conservation of mass and energy. Thermodynamics also has a role.) In any event, maybe Wal Mart should acquire Warehouse 13, and get some help in fighting this stuff (as shown in the video below.) Since many Wal Mart shoppers and Fox News watchers believe in UFOs and alien beings from dying planets, (but don’t believe our planet is affected by anything WE do) it’s a marriage made in a hotter place—the Earth of the future. With Warehouse 13 as just another big box store, maybe then all the conspiracy nuts will be happy that the government isn’t hiding everything from them, and the NRA can use a new slogan: “From my bold red hands!”
Terminator 5: Family Die will be perhaps the most unique and original of the series, although Arnold is absent from the script. Inspired by Family Guy, the plot begins with the singularity (that moment when computers become sentient, often suggested as being 2045.) Instead of SkyNet, the entity is one massive ego—Sky Guy—who offers humans (and this means you) one year to either commit suicide with a katana (a la Tarantino) or download your consciousness into a machine to become a robot (with quantum help from Sky Guy, who figured out how in under an hour.) Meaning no one ever needs to eat or pollute or sleep again. Would you do it? Could you give up Coke and Pepsi, after so many billions spent in commercial brainwashing? What about French fries? Your party’s political views? In the movie, the Way family (in Shanghai) is the First Family, the test case family everyone is tweeting about. Because you can’t kill them, no matter how much you might want to. They are bullet and bomb proof. So…what’s it gonna be? Wanna be like them? Time is running out to decide. Humm. Do we hold onto our vices and delusions or live forever with a sky high I.Q.? Now there’s a plot.
Matrix 4: Evolutions will also hit the big screen on the same day, April 1, 2014, with all your favorites reprising their roles. Unfortunately, it’ll be a spoof with cheaper special effects. The plot revolves around people giving up on looking for work or risking more babies, and taking the red pill (instead of the little blue one), then staying in their alien cubicles to watch reality TV, particularly Duck Dynasty and Mob Wives. J.J. Abrams will direct, since his command of science is on the level of Daffy Duck.
Max Payne INTERVIEWS Max Brooks
And now an interview with World War Z writer Max Brooks, interviewed by video game gunman Max Payne.
Max Payne) So, dude, I see you were on Sons of Guns and The History Channel, talking about weapons to buy to use against zombies. And you’re not even a cartoon character like me. What gives?
Max Brooks) I love guns. Sue me.
MP) Okay, I just did on behalf of Marvel Comics and Rockstar Games.
MB) That was quick.
MP) Not really. Any twelve year old can change the clip of a Bushmaster quicker. …So, the Discovery Channel and History Channel believe in zombies, do they?
MB) Actually, I was talking about hordes. You know, crowds of young men attacking castles and caves and places like that throughout history. Hordes.
MP) Oh, I see. You mean like at soccer matches or monster truck rallies. But why are the examples shown all dead men come back to life? Where exactly has that happened lately?
MB) Congress, returned from recess? Just kidding. Okay, well…how about right now? You, for instance.
MP) I was never alive, Max.
MB) What about the other guy, Mark Wahlberg?
MP) He’s not here right now. I am. And I’m not a horde, looking to eat only very rare and never ever medium or well done meat for some nutjob reason no one has ever explained. It’s just me, here, right now, Max…with your weapon of choice.
MB) Stop aiming that thing at me!
MP) Why not? I’m not real. I’m just a character in a violent video game played by kids whose dads ignore them. So this gun can’t be real either, right? Stop sweating! You’ll be fine. Here, let me show you…
MP) Oh, I know what you’re thinking… Did he fire thirty shots or only twenty-nine. Tell the truth, in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But bein’ this is the most popular assault rifle in the world…
That’s right, the moon is destined to become a giant billboard in the sky. So look elsewhere for inspiration or romance. Who is behind this? The exclusive and shocking details are revealed in the video below…
The body of union boss Jimmy Hoffa, missing since 1975, has been found after an exhaustive search by the FBI costing taxpayers $69 million dollars. Apparently Hoffa had taken a boat ride with three mafia enforcers, and as in the Sopranos scene when Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero got taken out by Tony, Pauli and Patsy, he was shot 18 times in the chest for whispering sweet nothings to the Feds (in this case, something about “the grassy knoll.”) The three hour boat tour then strayed out of Jersey into the Bermuda Triangle, and fate took it to Greenland from there. John Stossel is set to take up the case as soon as he finishes with the boondoggle known as the Mars Mission, first proposed by Bush, and set to cost taxpayers upwards of a Trillion dollars—and all to plant an American flag on the barren world (sponsored by Directv, ESPN, and Coca-Cola.) Stossel’s take on this? “Wow, there’s so much waste everywhere I can’t freaking cover it all! I’ll get to it, okay? Give me a break!” When we asked him about Mars, he said, “As Time magazine put it, going to Mars is ridiculous since money will have to be cut from other NASA projects to do it…stuff that’s actually producing real science, like probes and space telescopes, or working on better propulsion systems. Not to mention health research, education, and filling potholes in the economy the size of Rhode Island!” We at NEN agree, but for the record have found one reason in favor of the Kardashians going to Mars: to discover how the Martians managed to reverse their population boom, and what they did with all those plastic bottles.
Coke Formula Exposed!
The formula for Coke has been hacked by the Chinese, and they have sent the ingredients to WikiLeaks. Appears that there is no trace of cocaine in the formula anymore, presumably because cocaine is so expensive. The most astonishing fact about the formula is what it DOESN’T contain. Not only is there no sugar, (since that’s too expensive, and has been replaced by the addictive high fructose corn syrup, a cheaper manmade product that can lead to diabetes,) but there is no happiness either! That’s right: happiness is not part of this product, although it’s advertised as being the main product, with slogans like “Open Happiness.” For the full formula, go here.
In other news, celebrities gathered aboard the Celebrity Century to witness a rare South Pacific meteor shower consisting of debris from the Sandusky Comet. No one survived. The ship’s black box was recovered from 5400 feet by robot submersible. Luckily, the sports, music and film stars who perished were all C and D List. Celebrity Cruises reports that everyone who is anyone are still safe, and offers condolences to “those who is not.”
Two non-gay men in the suburbs of Boston didn’t watch the Superbowl. When reached via satellite phone by ESPN’s Rio office, Bob Stockwell said, “We went for a walk.” Authorities in America have been alerted, and the men will be rounded up for examination by psychiatrists. NEN has learned that ESPN found out about the men through its worldwide surveillance network, which monitors cable subscribers (wherever you see a little red light flicker, it has taken your x-ray.) The network has supercomputers in Rio, London, and 600 feet beneath Disneyland, funding provided by Coca-Cola and the fast food chains of PepsiCo (additional funding provided by Merck, Pfizer, and United Healthcare.) When asked if they didn’t realize that walking on deserted streets during the Superbowl was also a criminal act indicative of Anti-American sentiment, and punishable by waterboarding, Leonard Meade said, “No, are you thinking of deporting us? If so, we’ll be happy to show up at any of the top twenty airports, where we’ll sign anything you wish.” ESPN is considering asking for that, depending on what the strip-searches and other examinations turn up. Unknown to them, however, the men meant the top twenty airports in the world, not just in the U.S.. Of the World’s 20 Best Airports, not one is in the United States. Number one is South Korea, a country with a booming economy because the U.S. pays their defense bill. Number two is Shanghai, then Hong Kong, Amsterdam, and Beijing. Etc. Meanwhile, the U.S. needs to spend trillions to repair degrading infrastructure, but only seem to find money from taxpayers to build new stadiums. In related news, astronomer Frank Abagnale has released this statement, “Keep things in perspective, people. One mountain-sized rock among zillions casually straying into our path unnoticed, and it’s lights out for the human race. This puts the ‘glory’ of the greatest athlete or politician or movie star or prima donna on the same level as the lowest clerk sorting Washington’s swizzle sticks in China. And if your trust is in God, I hate to say it but He doesn’t watch Sports Central, either. You need to step back about 1500 light years to a star called Deneb, at the apex of Cygnus. Sports transmissions won’t start reaching it for another 1400 years, and yet it is within our own galaxy, which, by the way, is one of billions. Deneb doesn’t stand out too much because there are stars which look brighter only because they are closer. But the closer you got to Deneb the more impressed you would be. Come within a hundred million miles of Deneb and your spaceship would not survive, much less your ball team, even with the heaviest shielding NASA and Sports Illustrated could devise. How bright is it? Okay, sports fans. You love comparing things, and keeping scores about ‘star performers.’ Let’s give our Sun a score of 1 and Deneb a score of 200,000. That’s right. It is 200,000 times as bright as our Sun, a blue white supergiant that puts out 100,000 times the Sun’s energy. It has 20 times the mass, and 200 times the radius. And it is by no means the brightest star in the galaxy. If you want to stray to a nearby dwarf galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, you would find R136a1. The score? Against our Sun’s ’1′ R136a1 has clocked a score of…wait for it… ’8,700,000.’ And you were worried about some comment made about Beyonce’s lip-syncing?” | <urn:uuid:8486138d-9810-407f-b712-ab9366159d90> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://notentertainmentnews.wordpress.com/tag/science/ | 2013-05-24T01:44:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948663 | 2,707 |
Geotags, aerial synths, street synths… capturing events as they happen. If you can mark it on a map, then this is the place to talk about it.
There are some really cool places in the world that I'd love to see synths of, but for lack of time and money haven't been able to make it to (yet). Here's my list. What about other people, what would you like to see?
• Shiptons Arch, China
• Angel Falls, Venezuela
• Nazca lines, Peru
• Bungle Bungles, Australia
• some bones in dinosaur national monument, Colorado/Utah
• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
• K2/Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=35.759607~76.548615&style=h&lvl=11&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&cam=-54.055532~-37.330167&scene=-1&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1
• Deer Cave, Malaysia
The Ice Hotel!
[Insert large cavern system here] preferably shot both as a walk-through (and back!) but also as panoramics in areas of interest so we get lots of donuts.
Another one high on my list would be an aerial synth of the Grand Canyon, preferably done about 200' below the altitude of the rim so you're down in it the whole way. Ideally, photograph it using a hemispherical array of cameras all synchronized to a single shutter control so you get instant donuts every time an exposure is taken.
But you know what would be tops on my list? For the Mars rover teams to submit their pictures as massive synths. MWAHAHAHAHAHAA! I'd love to boldly go where no man has gone before. Ok, so little wheeled robots have, but...
I realize I'm posting things that aren't likely to be picked up by someone local to the place who says, "Sure! That's easy enough!" but these really are the places I'd love to see synthed.
How about New Zealand. Not exciting? I'm talking about someone Synth'ing their Bungie trip from the walk up, to the jump off, the way down, and the bounce back up.
That camera had better be strapped onto their helmet...
Fracture - this thread was meant to be list of all the places in the world we'd like to see a synth of where we currently don't have one. We actually have OK coverage of NZ, but havent seen any taken while bungie jumping. That would be fairly cool, skydiving as well.
Can you guys think of any more places/situtation we need synths of?
Son Doong Cave In Vietnam
While I was replying to a thread about collaborative synths, this came to mind:
I know Photosynth won't synth water, but a closer statement would be that it won't synth the water's surface. Underwater there are loads of fixed points to tie images together. Soooo...
I'd love to see a synth of a coral reef. That would be a BLAST.
Even better, I'd love to figure out a way to tie the below-water images to the above-water shots and have someone on the reef and someone else on shore doing a collaborative synth. You'd be able to "stand on the beach" at the beginning of the synth, and "dive underwater" to see the reef.
(Oh PLEEEEZE tell me someone is interested in doing this! I don't have an underwater housing on my camera!!)
I think Tom's onto something here. I think the transition from above water to below water would be the absolute hardest part, but I too would LOVE to see this.
A good polarizer and a really careful choice of angles might work. I've had underwater features show up in a couple of synths I've done this way. It might be enough to tie the two, though the other direction would be a LOT harder.
(Anyone on the Big Island with an underwater housing for their camera? I'll do the dry-land photography!)
Cave systems in halong bay/Cat Ba island Vietnam would fit your suggestion TBenedict, and I'd love to see them
http://images.google.com/images?q=halong bay cave system&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7HPEA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi
Also synths of reefs.. excellent idea. There are a huge team of underwater photographers in Egypt and some awesome dive sites I'm sure the Devs here could fire off some emails to camel divers & they could use it for promo work ;) ;) One possiblility would be the use of a glass bottom boat to ease the transition from land to water?
I'd particularly like to see some underwater wrecks, starting underwater at the boat near a shallow reef and descending down. Some well phrased emails would definately start off a few clusters of this type of synth!
Any series of photos from space... The saturn mission has some good stuff going around Titan - their pictures are already in the public domain as well, I reckon they might be up for some synthing..
I honestly think you're right, the above/below beach/reef synth should ideally be done by underwater photographers.
I REALLY like the idea of the glass bottomed boat for the transition. That or something similar on a smaller scale.
I'm still interested in doing this, but I hope an honest to goodness underwater photographer beats me to it. It will be far better done.
Your mention of space synths (of which I think NASA has done several) gave me an idea... I'll try to get this one done later in the week (time permitting.)
Okay, I'm now obsessed with large scale underwater reef synthing... Underwater photography is tough, normally holiday divers don't have the equipment to balance the red shift (deeper water has less blue light) it's a pain to have to add/remove coloured slides for every photo.. (sorry--going off topic there)
I emailed one dive centre in Sharm el Sheik but they haven't responded so I have sent emails out to dive centres I have worked at in the past suggesting they make a synth map a part of their dive master/master scuba diver course or make a synth to use for promos, there are centres where professionals dive the same reefs month in month out, 20 photos per dive, 70 dives per month... Anyways, I'll let you know if I get any success synth fishing :D
Also, to return to the thread topic - I'd love to see a synth from the front of a train, some rapid fire photos might do the trick from trains both ways?
*deeper water has less red light... doh!
Glad to see you taking point on this, Mister_Blondie! I don't even qualify as a holiday diver, and my equipment is nil. I really like the direction you're taking with that, especially the idea of using photos from centers where professionals are in there all the time. I'd really like to see how that turns out!
I don't know about the front of a train, but a while back Darius posted a link to a "drive through" synth where someone was taking pictures from inside a car, coming and going. The technique works quite well. At the speeds most trains go, though, you might need a pretty high frame rate to pull that off. Glad you thought of doing it both ways. For the viewer to be able to turn around and go back, that's essential.
No dice on the space synth I hoped to do this week. I'll have another chance next week, so I'll give it another go then.
A sculpture park. A whole big sculpture park...
Here's an fantastic attempt at a sculpture park: http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=97153326-97b4-4df7-ba8d-aaf9851fa34d
This is pushing the upper limit of the synther as it is, so a park larger than this would be very difficult. The overhead view in this one is great.
awesome, thanks :)
I'd like to see some Mt Everest base camp synths.
This takes a step out of the realm of the real world, but I'd absolutely love to see Michael Chesko's miniature model cities thoroughly synthed.
He's worked on models of New York City, but also has a fictional city of his own design, entitled 'Britannica'. I happened to bump into his work on Robyn Miller's blog some time ago and have been hooked on the idea of synthing his models ever since.
You can find one of Robyn's Britannica posts here: http://tinselman.typepad.com/tinselman/2008/08/stop-and-smell.html
Unfreakin'real. I second that, Nathanael. I'd be willing to be there are no small number of photographers who would be ready to jump at the chance. (I WOULD!)
I would love to synth Jack Lewis's house, "The Kilns".
Short of being able to tackle it myself, though, I'd truly enjoy someone else doing a good job of it. | <urn:uuid:aa71c29b-fc84-4974-ab2d-24a501adf539> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://photosynth.net/discussion.aspx?cat=a03647b9-821e-439b-8dbc-ae0239d6870d&dis=af7481c3-563f-44ee-8c43-034792821894 | 2013-05-24T01:37:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932575 | 2,037 |
From the UK’s best Catholic weekly, the Catholic Herald. My emphases.
Ordinariate comes to life in Holy Week
By Anna Arco & Simon Caldwell
The world’s first personal ordinariate has grown dramatically during Holy Week.
New members of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham celebrated their first Easter as Catholics after the new structure expanded from 20 to almost 1,000 members after receptions and confirmations during Holy Week.
Groups of former Anglicans were received and confirmed at celebrations across the country, which began on the Monday of Holy Week. Most groups entered into full communion with the Catholic Church on Holy Thursday before or during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper though a number of groups were also received at the Easter Vigil.
Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary, or head, of the ordinariate, said that it was only now that the ordinariate was coming to life, although the structure was officially established in January.
He said: “This is the start of it. The lay faithful moving into the Catholic Church is really the start of the ordinariate. Until now there have been only about a dozen members, but now it is growing to between 900 and 1,000.
“It is not an enormous number of people in Catholic terms, or even for the Church of England, but it is quite significant that such a number of people are making this step together.”
The Ordinary said that the first wave of groups coming into the Catholic Church only marked the beginning of the ordinariate and that many Anglicans were watching the process carefully.
Ordinariate groups exist across England, Wales and Scotland, including in Greater London, Coventry, Cornwall, and Birmingham. The south of England was the part of Britain most strongly represented in the first wave of groups joining the ordinariate.
Fr Edwin Barnes, one of the five former Anglican bishops who have become ordinariate priests, celebrated the Easter Vigil for a group from St Barnabas in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who had been received earlier that week. During his homily he told the group that joining the ordinariate was a kind of “resurrection moment”. The little beginnings of the different groups were “a new flowering of the Resurrection”.
“Easter is always the same, but always different,” he said. “For you the differences are very plain: no cavernous spaces of St Barnabas’s to help lift up your hearts. Until now you have been able to rely on the generosity and the prayers of those who preceded you in that place.”
The ordinariate group, Fr Barnes said, needed to “keep in touch with our former Anglican friends, to ensure by our kindness that we don’t put up barriers”. “We will be looked at by many to see just what sort of a go we can make of being ordinariate Catholics,” he said.
For James Bradley, the former curate of St John’s Sevenoaks, the Easter Triduum marked an important journey for his family. He was confirmed during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with his former vicar, Ivan Aquilina and the Sevenoaks ordinariate group, while his sister was confirmed the day before at the Oxford Oratory. His parents were confirmed during the Easter Vigil.
Mr Bradley, who is due to be ordained as one of the ordinariate’s two transitional deacons, said: “It was wonderful to see my sister and parents received this week. Whilst they have made their own very personal journey into the full communion of the Church, it’s obviously also been something very profound for us to share.”
Archbishop Bernard Longley received three groups on Holy Thursday at St Chad’s Cathedral in?Birmingham. Ian O’Hara, who belongs to the Coventry group, said: “Maundy Thursday was a profoundly moving yet joyful and inspiring day. This was the culmination of a journey which for many of us had lasted several years.”
Speaking about the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Mr O’Hara said: “This Mass was especially significant and poignant for us as it marked the end of our Eucharistic Fast which we had all begun on Ash Wednesday. To make our Communion for the first time as Catholics on the very day our Lord instituted the Eucharist will have a deep and lasting affect on us all.”
For Easter the group joined the parish of St Joseph the Worker in?Canley where they had received instruction.
Mr O’Hara said: “We were delighted to be able to take a full part in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night and the Mass of Easter Day where we celebrated our Lord’s Resurrection with even more joy and gusto this year.”
We would like to hear the stories of newly received members of the personal ordinariate. If you would like to share your story, please contact us at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:0f8916f8-486c-4741-a0b8-0700e108ac92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/04/the-fruits-of-anglicanorum-coetibus-new-catholics-join-the-anglican-ordinariate/ | 2013-05-24T01:46:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98437 | 1,100 |
This is what William Nichols said. "I was born in the State of North Carolina, Montgomery County. Have no record of my age but am sixty seven years of age. I entered the army of the revolution the 15 October, 1780 as a volunteer for two months under Captain Ebenezer Riggins in the State of North Carolina. Major James Crump commanded the Battalion. We were marched about through the country to guard against the british and Torries from Wilmington, had no battles, was discharged, but received no discharge. I next volunteered with about sixty others under Captain John Cox mounted infantry for sixty days and marched about securing the country in search of parties of Tories and for the purpose of keeping the Tories from rasing in bodied and doing mischef in the upper country, in this and the first campaign there was no army on our part except the company of ranger to which I was attached, and I needed no discharge. I next volunteered in the foot service to go against the British and Torries who had marched to Hillsborough and took the Governor and council prisoner and were taking them to Wilmington. We met with enemy at Lindleys Mill on Haw river North Carolina, commanded by Col. Hecyor McNeil a Tory and Major Fanning, a British officer.
We got in the bushes on the side of a long hill about fifty yards from the road, as they came along the road, we fired on them and completely routed and defeated and killed their Commander McNeil the Tory, took a good many prisoners and retook our Governor and Council. General Butler was commander in chief on our side and Col. Mayben the commander of the regiment. I was out about one month or six weeks, and as I joined the expedition without any officer I had no discharge, but went home immediately after the battle, though no discharge. This happened the fall of Seventeen Hundred Eighty one (1781]
The next I volunteered under Captain Joseph Parsons of Montgomery County in a troop of mounted rangers. joined no army but ranged in Montgomery County and Moore County against the Torries. We had a battle at Little River with the same major Fanning, British officer commanding Tories. We kept the ground rifles. Eight or ten of the enemy were killed and they killed three of ours and crippled several others. I was discharged by Capt. Parsons, from this service. I have here the discharge. We were out three months. Capt. Parsons then raised a company of volunteer Rangers during the war, mounted men. About July 1782 I joined them and we ranged about through Montgomery and Moore Counties to keep the Tories down, for about three months. We took several of the most notorious Tories and had them hung. I was discharged some time after peace was made and no discharges were given.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is
not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the year and day aforesaid.
He signed the application as, William Niccols
The said William Nichols further makes oaths that he lived in Montgomery county, North Carolina until he was forty years of age. Moved from North Carolina to Powels Valley, Virginia. Lived there three years, from there moved to Lincoln county, Tennessee. From there to Lawrence county, Alabama, where he now lives and has resided for about ten years. Reverend Eli Thompson, a clergyman and James Alexander, a citizen neighbor, is acquainted with my character and know that in my neighborhood I am respected and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution.
He signs his name, William Niccols
Eli Thompson, a clergyman, residing in the county of Lawrence and James Alexander residing in the same, are well acquainted with William Nichols and who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty seven years of age and that he is reputed and believed within the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after writing the interrogation furnished by the above deponents that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Eli Thompson and James Alexander who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the county of Lawrence and that James Alexander who has also signed the same is a resident of said county and is a creditable person and their certificate is entitled to credit.
John White, Judge of 4th Judicial
District of the State of Alabama
The aforesaid, James Alexander, further makes oath that he moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania shortly after the war of the Revolution and settled in the neighborhood where William Nichols, above named, lived. He knew Nichols then and from then until the present time. He was always called a soldier of the Revolution. And a good while he knows Captain Joseph Parsons and Major Crump referred to by Nichols in his declaration as serving in the Revolution and understood from Parsons that Nichols has been Out in service with him during the Revolution.
I, Eli Thompson, above named, certify that I have known William Nichols thirty five years and he was always said to be a soldier of the Revolution and I have often heard my father speak of him as having been a soldier of the Revolution.
I, John Galligar, clerk of the circuit court, Lawrence County, Alabama, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the application of William Nichols for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 28th day of September 1832.
John Gallagher, Clerk
Declaration of Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett, widow of Robert Barrett, deceased, formerly Elizabeth Nichols for Revolutionary pension under the act of February 3, 1853.
State of Alabama
County of Lawrence
On the thirteenth day of March 1858, personally appeared in open court before Christopher C. Gwens, Judge of the Probate Court of the County and State above named. Elizabeth Barrett, a resident of the County of Lawrence, in the State of Alabama, age seventy four years, who being first duly sworned according to the law doth in order to obtain the benefits of the pension under the act of Congress passed, granting pensions to widows of pensioners who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of William Nichols who was a private of dragoons of the North Carolina militia in the War of the Revolution and a pensioner of the United States by reason of his service on the Alabama roll at forty three dollars and thirty three cents per year under the Act of June 7th, 1832.
She further states that she was married to said William Nichols on the 4th day of October 1800 by one Thomas Butler, a justice of the Peace, that her name before her marriage to said William Nichols was Elizabeth Trent, and that her husband, the aforesaid William Nichols, died the sixteenth day of May 1836, and that she subsequently married one Robert Barrett who died on the twentyfourth day of December 1850 and she remained a widow since his death. She further states that she was married to said William Nichols in Montgomery County in the State of North Carolina about the fourth day of October 1800 and that she is informed and so believed there is no public or private family record of their said marriage and thereby cannot produce a copy of such. She knows that said, William Nichols, kept no private or family record of their marriage as he was unlearned and unable to do so and do not believe any public record exist of their said marriage.
Sworn to and Subscribed before me
in open court the day and date above written
C. G. Gwen, Justice of the Peace
Know all men by these present that I, Elizabeth Barrett, of the County of Lawrence, State of Alabama do hereby constitute and appoint Charles C. Tucker of Washington, D. C. my true and lawful agent and Attorney for me and in my name to prepare and prosecute my claim for Revolutionary Pension by reason of the services of my deceased husband and I hereby empower said attorney to examine all records and documents in reference to said claim on file in the Department at Washington and to do all lawful Acts and things whatsoever touching the claim with full powers of substitution hereby revoking and countermanding all former power of Attorney that have been given by me for the above specified purpose. Witness my hand and seal this thirteenth day of March 1858.
State of Alabama
County of Lawrence
On this fifteenth day of March 1858 personally appeared in open court before C. C Gwen, Judge of the Probate Court, Elizabeth Barrett and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be her act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned.
C.C. Gwen, P.J
William Alexander also appeared this day in open court and testified as follows in respect to William Nichols being a revolutionary pensioner and Elizabeth Barrett, formerly Nichols, being the wife of said William Nichols during his lifetime and his widow at his death. Witness states that he knew the said William Nichols and his said wife, Elizabeth Nichols, now Elizabeth Barrett, personally and intimately for twenty years previous to the death of said William Nichols and that they lived a near neighbor to him during his entire acquaintance where he saw said Nichols and his said wife, Elizabeth, frequently once a day and that same time before the death of said Nichols he knew that the said Nichols drew a pension of forty three dollars and thirty three cents per year from the fact that he saw his certificate frequently and that he frequently received a part of the money from said Nichols immediately after he drew the same for necessities to live on.
Witness states that the said Elizabeth Barrett, formerly Elizabeth Nichols, was the wife of the said William Nichols, deceased, who was a Revolutionary pensioner of Lawrence County, Alabama at the time of his death and that the said Elizabeth had raised a number of children reputed to be by the said William Nichols that they were reputed and lived as man and wife up to the death of said William Nichols and were very well respected as such man and wife.
Witness states that said William Nichols died about the sixteenth day of May 1838 and that he assisted in burying said Nichols. Witness further states that not many years thereafter the said Elizabeth Nichols married the one Robert Barrett and that they were treated and lived together as man and wife up to the death of the said Barrett which was on or about the twenty-fourth day of December 1850.
Witness knows that said Barrett died on or about said time set forth from the fact that he saw said Barrett just before he was taken sick and died and did not see him anymore afterwards, notwithstanding. he was a near neighbor of said Barrett and that persons that were present at the burying and saw said Barrett also frequently told him that said Barrett died on the twenty-fourth day of December 1850.
Witness states that the said Elizabeth is now a widow and has lived near him since the death of said Barrett and has never married since the death of said Barrett and is still his widow.
Sworn to and subscribed in open
court the day and date above written
C.C. Gwen, P. J.
Wiley Galloway, personally appeared this day in open court where upon the said Galloway testified as follows after being duly sworn according to law respecting his knowledge of Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett, formerly Elizabeth Nichols, being the identical person who lived with said Nichols during his lifetime as his wife and who was left his widow at the death of said William Nichols to wit: on or about the sixteenth day of May 1838 and who subsquently married one Robert Barrett and who died On or about the twenty fourth day of December 1850.
Said witness, Galloway, states that he has been a resident of said county of Lawrence for twenty years and that he was personally and intimately acquainted with the said William Nichols and his said wife, Elizabeth, during the lifetime of the said William Nichols and since the death of said William Nichols and since the death of said Robert Barrett said witness states that he was clerk of the county court for said county some eight or ten years. During his clerkship he wrote out and prepared a number of applications for said William Nichols annual pension of forty three dollars and thirty three cents per year under the act of June 7th, 1832 and that he had every opportunity to know the said William Nichols as a pensioner of Lawrence County, Alabama and his wife, Elizabeth, that the most intimate neighbors could save had.
Witness states that Elizabeth Barrett lived with said William Nichols as his wife during his whole acquaintance with the said William Nichols up to the time of his death on or about the sixteenth day of May 1838. Witness further states that the said Elizabeth had some eitht or ten children who were reputed to be by the said Nichols during his lifetime and she was always treated and reputed to be the said William Nichols wife by all the neighbors and citizens who knew them and were highly respected.
Witness states that the said William Nichols died on or about the sixteenth day of May 1838, which fact he knows by being a near neighbor and learning that said William died about that time from persons who saw him die and assisted in his burying and that he saw said Nichols just before he was reputed to have taken.sick and died and has never seen him since and that his estate was insolvent.
Said witness further states that the said Elizabeth Nichols, widow of said William, deceased, married one Robert Barrett on or about the twenty fourth day of June 1841 and said witness states that he knew the said Robert Barrett intimately and that he lived a near neighbor to him at the time of his death and that he knows said Robert Barrett died on or about the twenty fourth day of December 1850 from the fact it was reputed that he died at a certain time and that he saw him shortly before his death and has never seen him since and the highly creditable persons who saw said Barrett die and buried have frequently told him that he died on or about the twenty fourth day of December 1850 and that said Elizabeth is still his widow and has never married since the death of said Robert Barrett which fact he knows personally.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and date above written
C.C. Gwen, P. J. | <urn:uuid:dde0a968-3750-4b56-ade7-a69ea5126843> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.angelfire.com/ms/mollygal/nicpen.html | 2013-05-24T01:58:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989515 | 2,970 |
December 8, 2008
Rolling into Town
It's fair to say that the 2008 Winter Meetings have been anticipated for some time. After all, the family of baseball and the hordes that write and talk about the game have been traveling to Dallas, Orlando, Nashville, Anaheim, and other locales each December for years now, so four days in Las Vegas has its appeal. I would say that we've been joking about this year's meetings for years, and while the amusement beats the reality-I doubt there will be any stories that open with, "Well, I was down $220 at the craps table, but then Brian Sabean walked up, bought in for $15,000, and proceeded to roll for an hour!"-the fact is, this isn't a bad place to be, meetings-wise.
What makes it ironic is that in a year when the meetings are being held in a place where dead time can be more easily filled than in almost any other locale, we could very well have four days that leaves no one time to get their aces cracked. Yes, we say this every year, but weeks of stagnant player markets have caused pressure to build in the pipes. Free agents want to sign, owners want to make a big splash, and GMs want to get their 2009 plans put into place. Agents... well, Billy Ray Valentine probably had this one nailed.
It's not that everything is going to happen this week. After all, Derek Lowe is waiting for CC Sabathia, who is waiting for Mark Teixeira, who for all we know doesn't want to upstage Barack Obama's transition process and plans to make his decision after the inauguration. Even without those stars, there are plenty of free agents, especially relievers and bats who can't field, who need homes. There's the Rule 5 draft, which despite being gutted in the most recent CBA, keeps producing interesting players each year. (Remember the name Pedro Strop, an infielder-turned-reliever who bounced from the Rockies to the Rangers and was surprisingly left unprotected by the latter.) There's the trade market, which takes on importance not just for teams wary of signing free agents, but for those who have needs that simply won't be met by the pool. There are no championship-caliber catchers, third basemen, or center fielders available via free agency, and just a couple of marginal second basemen.
The meetings' first deal reflects that problem. The Tigers need a catcher and see nothing in the market they can invest in with confidence. The Rangers have a glut of them, thanks to some shrewd trades by Jon Daniels. Gerald Laird, pack your bags. Laird is a marginal starter himself, with so-so power, a poor contact rate, and a career K/BB over three to one. He has a good defensive reputation, and very good statistics, having thrown out 38 percent of the runners trying to steal on him in his career. Some of that may be in the pitchers he's worked with, such as Kenny Rogers and Vicente Padilla, who hold runners well, so take that figure with a grain of salt. Laird is a stopgap, and at 29, he's not going to change much. He's probably better used as part of a solution than as the whole one.
The Tigers didn't give up the store here. One of the prospects is a 25-year-old who has just 260 professional innings under his belt. Guillermo Moscoso was the Tigers' tenth-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, and while his performance begs attention-122 strikeouts in 86
For the Rangers, it looks more and more like Taylor Teagarden is going to emerge from their group and be their starter in the long term. Teagarden is by far the best defensive catcher they have, and will be one of the best in baseball once he takes over in Arlington. While the team could find room for Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez, both players-who are marginal catchers with very big bats-would have more value to an organization that will put them behind the plate and live with their defense. That puts Daniels on the spot; he has a team that is emerging as one of the best collections of talent for the 2010s. His job now is to turn that into a baseball team, which means signing the right free agents-next year, in all likelihood-sorting through the gluts at some positions, and bringing along studs Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland in a way that balances their development, their health, and the team's needs. While I'd rather have his job than, say, Neal Huntington's, Daniels faces significant challenges in progressing from a strong organization to a championship team. Trading Saltalamacchia and Ramirez will be a critical step in that process.
That's the kind of move I think we'll see this week, teams making mid-range deals, not really blockbusters, in order to fill needs and position themselves for either 2009 or the future beyond that. It is my hope that we see some creativity, because that makes the game more interesting. It is also my hope that we see activity beyond what you might call "the usual suspects." I think the Reds could be a strong sleeper in the NL, and whether they get Jermaine Dye or not, that's the kind of move I'd like to see them make, something that positions them for success. We've seen the White Sox and the Tigers, legacy franchises, restore their team's place in their cities with success; the Reds could be the next one in line for that.
Think about all the tweeners that are out there, like the Blue Jays, Indians, A's, Braves, Astros, maybe even the Giants. There are a lot of teams that are currently projected to win 78-85 games that could make one or two moves, especially if they're NL teams, and change the conversation about them. It's not clear whether they should-the Blue Jays, in particular, are in a tough spot-but baseball is healthiest when most teams feel like they can progress towards a championship. The AL, so long dominated by a few franchises, is really moving back to that model, with most of its teams either contending or thinking about it. In 2009, only the Orioles, Royals, and maybe the Rangers are rebuilding. That makes for a fun game.
Back with more as the day progresses, over in Unfiltered. | <urn:uuid:ac52f02e-d42d-4efa-9208-079c2f88a95b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?type=2&articleid=8350 | 2013-05-24T01:31:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978433 | 1,339 |
- 2Anvi Ultimate Defrag
- 3Amigabit Privacy Cleaner
- 4Skype Voice Changer
- 5Free Hide IP
- 6Photo EXIF Manager
- 7Advanced Time Reports Premier
- 8Personal Numerologist
- 10DP Animation Maker
- 1Trace a mobile number
- 2Photo Makeup Editor
- 3Memory Card Data Restore Software
- 4SpamWeed Anti-Spam Filter
- 5EA Internet Filter
- 6Kurupira Web Filter and Parental Control
- 7English To Hindi Dictionary
- 8SoftSkin Photo Makeup
- 9English to Gujarati Character Converter
- 10VPN Console
- 1Nintendo Xploder Download Free
- 2Flirt Flair Chat
- 3Beam Fiber Portal Login
- 4Modern Paintings Shop
- 5Free Funzstar Live Tv
- 6Blackberry Bold Tuner App
- 7Oneishy Free Personality Test
- 8Dav File Viewer
- 9Time Scheduling
- 10Movie Maker Em Wmv
Password Safe and Repository Personal Edition Free
Password Safe and Repository Personal Edition Free comprises of all basic functions for password management. The Personal Edition is only designed for private users
|Version:||5. 1. 2001||Date Added:||11 March, 2012 00:00|
|File Size:||15.6 MB||Downloads:||8|
|Systems:||Windows Vista, Windows Vista x64, Windows2003, WinXP|
Password Safe and Repository Personal Edition Free comprises of all basic functions for password management. The Personal Edition is only designed for private users. Reduce time with Password Safe! Thanks to both centralised password management, you can save a lot of time in your business and ultimately reduce costs. Users no longer need to waste time looking in Excel spreadsheets or piles of notes for passwords, but have their important information always to hand in Password Safe. It is not unusual for the loss of a password to mean that the current configuration of a system needs to be modified. In some systems this can be a very time-consuming process. In some cases it is even necessary to reinstall the system. Such tedious procedures are a thing of the past with Password Safe. What is Password Safe? Password Safe and Repository is the complete solution in password and identity management. Its user interface is both intuitive and up-to-date, its functionality is without equal; this combines to allow any new user to build up a protected password database immediately. Password Safe has won many awards in the technical press and has a good user base in the sector with well in excess of 300,000 installations. Password Safe is available in many editions for a wide variety of needs, from the home user to Enterprise level for corporate environments. More informations on www.passwordsafe.de
- ! - Webm8 4 Release
All in one - bookmark, password and form-filling program.
- PassMonster 2.25
Passwords storing & management suite with 256-bit encryption for extra security
- Visual Zip Password Recovery Processor 6.0
A professional tool: recover lost passwords from ZIP archives
- User Time Control 22.214.171.124
It lets you specify when exactly and how long the computer can be used
- Easy File Protector 5.131
Easy File Protector a password protected security utility to restrict access to files and folders by user-defined time schedule. Files and folders become undeletable, unrenamable, unreadable, unmodifiable, and unexecutable.
- Hide Files & Folders 3.594
Hide Files & Folders security utility you can use to protect certain files and folders, or to hide them from viewing and searching. The program asks password upon accessing any protected file and gives access right after entering a valid password
- 1 Click & Lock 3.495
1Click & Lock up is a system tray security utility you can use to secure your desktop when you step away from your PC. It's secure and very easy-to-use. Just define a password, and select Lock to hide and deny access to your desktop to anyone without
- Access Manager for Windows 9.91
Access Manager for Windows allows you to restrict access to to key features of Windows, such as Control Panels or Start menu, network, Taskbar, desktop, system tray, Network Access Control Page, Control Internet usage and more
- Easy File & Folder Protector 5.128
Protect files and folders situated on local media of Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP with Easy File & Folder Protector at Windows kernel level. Your can deny access to certain files and folders, or to hide them securely from viewing and searching.
- ActMon Password Recovery XP 4.33a
Display Passwords behind the asterisks on Web pages and on ALL Windows systems.
|Text link code :|
|Hyper link code:|
| Download Now |
File Size: 15.6 MB
- Freeware: Safe Pad šifruje textové soubory - PC World.cz
PC World.cz Freeware: Safe Pad šifruje textové soubory PC World.cz Nedáte dopustit na Poznámkový blok, ale...
- Use Windows 8 Picture Passwords to Learn Information - Lifehacker - Lifehacker
Use Windows 8 Picture Passwords to Learn Information - Lifehacker Lifehacker Windows: In the newest version of...
- Are college dorm windows safe? - WDTN.com - WDTN
Are college dorm windows safe? - WDTN.com WDTN DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - As investigators continue to look into what...
- Features with XMLFox freeware XML Editor - spyghana.com
spyghana.com Features with XMLFox freeware XML Editor spyghana.com This XML Editor freeware is ideal for beginners...
- Features with XMLFox freeware XML Editor - SpyGhana.com - spyghana.com
spyghana.com Features with XMLFox freeware XML Editor - SpyGhana.com spyghana.com This XML Editor freeware is ideal...
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Germany - BioTechniques.com
Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Germany BioTechniques.com ... fitting, or integration on...
- Best apps for Windows Phone, April 2013 - APC - Australian Personal Computer
Australian Personal Computer Best apps for Windows Phone, April 2013 - APC Australian Personal Computer CameraPro is...
- They're watching, and selling your data - The Star Online
They're watching, and selling your data The Star Online “As Web users provide personal information on...
- Get a free Windows 8 tips-and-tricks guide - PCWorld
Get a free Windows 8 tips-and-tricks guide PCWorld Sure, you can read all the great Windows 8-related tutorials and...
- Overlooked in the Online Sales Tax Bill: Free Tax Software - Businessweek
Overlooked in the Online Sales Tax Bill: Free Tax Software Businessweek Still, amid all the howling by forces on... | <urn:uuid:f3f30a85-6304-4b7a-9cc1-3b3aa7a5e98f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.daolnwod.com/password-safe-and-repository-personal-edition-free.html | 2013-05-24T01:37:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.771441 | 1,513 |
Looking Back: The Top 10 DVDs of 2005
Benjamin Willcock takes a look at his top-ten DVD picks for 2005 and beyond
10. 24: Season 4 (R2)
The first DVD on the list, and perhaps an obvious choice, is the awesome fourth season of 24. I don’t think there is a person alive who hasn’t heard of this show, and its fourth outing was brilliant from end to end. Suspense was as edgy as ever, and Jack Bauer’s character went though so much emotional turmoil that he’ll be lucky to make it though another one of these traumatic days. The DVD presentation was also truly spectacular. From its vast array of special features to fantastic video and audio qualities, this box set was an easy choice for the top-ten list and a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a fan.
9. Lost: The Complete First Season (R1)
Ah, Lost – possibly the greatest new television show on the air right now, and a show that has almost single-handedly revived the genre in which it is based. My confession is that I never actually saw this show when it first aired, but it was though this DVD that I have become a huge fan. Now in its second season, and enjoying the kind of ratings that most would kill for, Lost looks certain to dominate for at least the next couple of years – if its concept can hold up that is. The DVD also blew me away, with its crystal clear video and surprisingly robust audio and plentiful special features. The show is cinematic, so too is the DVD – what more could you ask for?
8. Batman Begins: Special Edition (R2)
Chris Nolan’s name was propelled into the short list of truly great directors this summer, when his re-invention of the infamous Batman franchise became not just the best Batman flick, but one of the definitive summer blockbusters of all time. Batman Begins was the film that pushed all the right buttons, turned in all the right directions and finally ridded the horrid stench a certain Joel Schumacher left after his heinous efforts. But what makes Batman Begins so great is its starting back at square one. It was made as if all other Batman films had never been made, and it is this fresh approach that really gives way for a torrent of possibilities for the film and its certain sequels. Gone are the overly gothic set pieces of Tim Burton’s Batman, gone is the soap-opera-like tedium and neon-lit Gotham of Schumacher’s take, and in their place rests an unexpected realism that becomes the backbone of Nolan’s Batman. But despite the intense grounding of his film, Nolan has ensured that none of the on-screen magic and elegance has been lost in the translation. In short, Batman Begins was an action film done right. The DVD wasn’t too shabby either.
7. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (R2)
Will this be the last ever Star Wars release? Absolutely not! In fact it wouldn’t at all surprise me if Lucas goes back to re-treat the prequel trilogy in the same manner as his original films. The good news this time is that he couldn’t exactly make these prequels any worse could he? Still, whatever your feelings towards Mr. Lucas’s constant modifying and adjustments, Revenge of the Sith was a more or less solid and entertaining flick that acts as a nice bridge between the prequels and the much older, much better originals. This DVD was also one of the highlights of the year in terms of audio and video quality. The image was almost flawless, and the sound – while sadly missing Ben Burtt’s awesome Seismic Charge sound effect from Episode II – was equally as stunning. In fact, of all the DVDs released in 2005, this is easily the best all-around demo disc. You’re going to want to show off you’re A/V system’s capabilities to your rather envious friends with this one, but just remember that sound-proofing does not come cheap.
6. King Kong: Collector’s Edition (1933) (R1)
With Peter Jackson’s epic masterpiece of the same name currently lording it over the box office, this magnificent original has been given the treatment it deserves for the digital platform. Though I prefer Jackson’s retelling of the story more than even this classic monochrome original, you still can’t beat the nostalgia and age-old charm this film has. Who can forget those brilliant special effects – still excellent for their age – and the haunting moment Kong snatches Ms. Darrow from her bindings. King Kong is a true American cinema classic and one of the greatest films of its kind ever. This DVD preserves the film in all its glory, offering an amazing transfer (complete with enough grain to last you a lifetime) and hours of extra features, including Peter Jackson’s recreation of the Spider Pit – a very cool homage indeed.
5. The Incredibles (R2)
Pixar are now six for six in their filmic undertakings. They have scored six major blockbusters, all of which have become equally critically acclaimed and successful. The Incredibles is their latest, and perhaps greatest – no easy feat, but it might just be true. Some have even said that this film could be the greatest animated film of all time, or at the very least, one of the top three. I find myself having to agree with this statement. For me, The Incredibles is a true masterpiece and cinematic classic. It has a great, well-told and thoroughly witty story; it has a superb cast of characters, and is fit for both adults and kids. Oh, and this was the biggest selling DVD of the year according to recent analyst reports. The disc was partly responsible for this popularity, offering fans numerous features and an ultra-wide anamorphic transfer that looks great on any setup. If you don’t own a copy of this film, what are you waiting for? This is one of the must own DVDs of all time, not just of this year.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete DVD Collection (R2)
Like it or loathe it, Buffy is one of those TV shows that will stick around for a long, long time. I became a fan only a few years ago (roughly around the fourth or fifth season), but since then I have lapped up just about everything Joss Whedon put into this phenomenally great show. It had it all; drama, comedy, horror, action – the works; and this seven season box set contains every episode ever aired in one very stylish collector’s set. Expensive, but worth every penny if you are even half the fan I am. You can buy each season individually, but having them all in one huge set just looks so much better.
3. Friends: The One with All 10 Seasons on DVD (R2)
The second greatest sitcom ever – after Frasier of course – Friends was one of the highlights of TV viewing in its day, and managed to capture the hearts of millions globally. It is quite fitting therefore to have every single episode ever produced in one complete box – something every fan ought to have. Just like the Buffy set above, this is an expensive buy, but once you see it amongst your DVD collection you won’t really care. It looks great as a box set, but it is naturally what is inside that makes it special. As DVDs they might not be brilliant, but the sheer quality of the episodic content will steal over you. I have based this top-ten list on quality of DVDs in their entirety, not just for A/V presentation. These DVDs are the weakest on the list for A/V, but possibly the best in terms of entertainment and quality of product. And one thing Friends can do in droves is entertain.
2. Frank Miller's Sin City: The Recut & Extended Edition (R1)
You knew it had to be on here somewhere, and I cannot express enough how close it came to filling the top spot, but one other release this year apparently ousted it – but only just. Sin City is one of my favourite films ever, and its first DVD release (which I reviewed a while back) was lacking only one thing to make it a truly perfect disc – extra features. And on this huge double disc release, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez have delivered all the goods and then some. Having a huge bundle of great features (including a recut and extended edition of the film on the second disc) was all we really wanted, but to come with the full graphic novel The Hard Goodbye was even better. Put it this way, the film is pure genius, and I am pleased to say that the DVD is equally as poignant. If you don’t own this disc, you really need to – DVDs just don’t come any better than this.
1. Titanic: Deluxe Collector’s Edition (R2)
And so, James Cameron must accept yet another accolade for his monstrously successful romantic drama about a famous ship that sinks somewhere in the freezing Atlantic Ocean. This four-disc collector’s edition sails away with a brilliant image transfer and an epic, sweeping audio soundtrack available in both Dolby Digital and DTS. On top of this, torrents of extra features over all four discs (including one of the greatest ever commentaries by James Cameron) cements that this is indeed the best DVD of 2005 – at least in the opinion of this critic.
Rounding out just ten DVDs for inclusion in the above list was not an easy task. I felt that there was a great many DVDs that almost made the final cut, but alas, they had to be dropped in favour of the above. So, let us now take a look at some other discs that are also worthy of your time and money.
Fans of Matt Lucas and David Walliams’ Little Britain got something of a treat this November when the series one and two box set was released. Containing all fourteen episodes from those series, as well as a nice helping of special features and a great Union Jack themed cover, this is not only a must own, but a truly monumental release from the BBC.
Another BBC release also worthy of your hard earned is Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s award winning new series, Extras. For me, this new show was even better (and funnier) than Little Britain, managing to capture in droves the painfully sardonic humour of Gervais’ other comedy behemoth, The Office. Buy it, watch it, and never look back. Oh, and it has some very funny extras (the DVD variety) too. And if the wait for the second series is too much to bear, Ricky and Stephen have a brilliant weekly Podcast available over on iTunes for you to feast on until then.
Brit horror The Descent also deserves a shout-out. The DVD was an all around great package, but the film is the true highlight here; scary as hell, dark (all too literally) and a refreshingly original tale that isn’t entirely dependant on glamorous young Hollywood actors and actresses and cheap thrills to get it to the end credits. The Descent can be found in stores and online for a reasonable price, so what are you waiting for?
Tim Burton scored another major blockbuster earlier on this summer with his remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is a film worth seeing, even if you are not a huge fan of the more musical 1971 version, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sweet, affectionate and made with love, Burton’s take on the Roald Dahl classic acts as a nice compliment to the 1971 version, and is also truer to the source material for those purists out there.
War of the Worlds, while boasting a rather hideous image transfer that, in my opinion, ruins the original theatrical presentation, still had plentiful special features and a great-sounding audio score. This is a film I really enjoyed watching at the cinema this summer, and not at all akin to the usual garbage that occupies the summer slot. It might not be Spielberg’s finest hour, but it is still highly enjoyable, well made and offers plenty of entertainment.
The best comedy of the year, The 40 Year Old Virgin, has a respectable DVD, and is a must for your collection. This film, unlike so many adult comedies out there, was not only believable, but was incredibly open and honest about its subject matter. It wasn’t pure gross-out sex jokes from end to end like the later American Pie flicks, but heartfelt and often quite delicate. On top of that, it also punched out some of the most memorable comic scenes I have seen in a film in quite some time. One thing is for sure: The 40 Year Old Virgin will be around for a long time, thanks to its many scenes being endlessly quoted and referenced.
If you are looking for more comedy, you might try some of the Frasier box sets that got released at various points around 2005. I love Frasier, I cannot explain to you how much, because I am not quite sure there is a word fitting enough to capture my feelings in this instance. Though the extra features are still not up to par on these Paramount releases, the episodic content is damn near flawless.
The Simpsons has had another great year on DVD too, with a few releases – most notably season six – taking the crowds by storm. Yimou Zhang’s colourful masterpiece House of Flying Daggers also gets a shout-out as one of the DVDs to own. So too does his other more popular flick, the Jet Li staring Hero. If you are into a bit of the old foreign cinema, these two films are not just brilliant examples of Eastern filmmaking, but two exceptionally breathtaking action films that demand to be seen. You owe it to yourselves to see these, and both can be bought for almost next to nothing at most stores.
Plenty of other discs also caught my eye this year, including a surprisingly good re-release of Toy Story to celebrate its tenth anniversary. So too did another classic, The Wizard of Oz. Both of these DVDs can be obtained from the USA and are worthy of your time and money – even if you bought earlier releases of them. Also of recommendation is the first season of Desperate Housewives, and the complete collection of Sex and the City, available in a modestly-sized box. I must also mention that the King Kong Production Diaries is a great buy, especially if you’ve already seen Peter Jackson’s amazing remake.
One DVD that you can not buy traditionally, but is still hands-down one of the best released in 2005, comes bundled as a mere extra with the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith soundtrack. I reviewed this disc a few months back, and noted then that this mere bonus disc was utterly mind-blowing. I am of course talking about the Star Wars: A Musical Journey DVD. Acting like an hour-long trailer to the entire Star Wars saga, this bonus DVD narrated by Ian McDiarmid manages to capture the spirit of the universe that George Lucas created, and shows it in a way that hasn’t been seen since Return of the Jedi. And, dare I say it, it even makes Episode I look good.
Another DVD I feel I must shed some light on, but not exclusively video-based, is the complete recordings of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring from composer Howard Shore. In this huge four-disc (three CDs, one DVD) package, you have the option of listening to the entire works for the first in the trilogy on either CD, or on the included DVD complete with a powerful Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack option. It is a must for fans, and yet another example of how the DVD platform can be used to further an already great product.
There are quite a few DVDs I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on in the new year. One in particular that I am itching to get hold of is the most recent Harry Potter flick, The Goblet of Fire. Here Mike Newell created a genuinely great Potter film for both fans and casual viewers alike, and a film that truly does stand head and shoulders above most other blockbusters. The DVD should be one of the biggest selling of 2006, but a director’s commentary is still doubtful.
Another fantasy film I must obtain is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Having never read the C.S. Lewis books (shame on me) I was pleasantly surprised to see that those great trailers did not disappoint. I found the film to be a great fantasy adventure, with plenty of heart and wonderful special effects to keep you watching until the very end. One of the top grossing films of 2005, Narnia should go on to sell millions of DVDs and will hopefully be one of the year’s highlights.
There are plenty of other films I want besides that of the bigger budgeted fantasies. I am specifically hoping to see more cinematic classics making their way to DVD during the course of the year, as well as some special edition re-releases of current barebones discs – Kill Bill anybody? I am also a recent convert to South Park, so I am eager to get my hands on all seasons of that, too. And as for the one DVD I am most anticipating in 2006? Let’s just say it is yet another Peter Jackson epic, this time starring a particularly hairy and oversized ape that goes by the name of Kong…
You’ll notice an abundance of TV shows on my top-ten list this year, and for a very good reason – this year I have seen more TV shows on DVD than ever before. What with Friends, Buffy, Lost and 24 making their timely appearance, it has been a very busy (and time-consuming) couple of months getting through them all. I think this is an increasing trend we are seeing just recently; TV shows are, in some cases, out-selling regular film releases, but when those shows are offering superior entertainment and even value for money (the 24 features in particular are brilliant) who can blame the consumer?
Pixar’s The Incredibles was an easy choice from the beginning; it was never a question of if it would make the top-ten, but in which position would it wind up. Also making the list is the original 1933 King Kong in what is easily one of the best special edition releases ever, and George Lucas’s final Star Wars episode fits comfortably into the fold. I don’t like the film quite as much as I did at the cinema, but the DVD is a nearly flawless example of digital perfection. You’ll also notice Chris Nolan’s triumphant Batman Begins up there, as well as Frank Miller’s out-and-out classic, Sin City.
But the top DVD for me this year is James Cameron’s blockbuster champion times one-hundred, Titanic. Call me sloppy, call me mushy, this DVD is worthy of the top spot, if not for the film then certainly for the audio/video presentation and extra features spread across all four discs. It might not be up to the same standards of Peter Jackson’s little-known fantasy extended editions of the last few years, but then again, which other DVDs ever will be?
Editorial by Benjamin Willcock
Follow our updates
OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Bruce Boxleitner Interview: Area 51 DVD | BD Pete O'Herne DVD Ricky Gervais Part One DVD Simon Heller DVD David Prior: Part Two DVD
Legend of Korra: Book One: Air US - DVD R1 | BD RA Disney June Animation 2-Packs US - BD RA Disney Animation Blu-rays US - DVD R1 | BD RA Prince of Darkness US - BD RA ABC TV US - DVD R1 | BD RA
SXSW Film 2013 - Part 1 US - DVD | HD | BD Will streaming kill physical media? DVD | HD | BD Gabe's 2012 Wrap-Up DVD | BD Netflix Reviewed UK - DVD | HD | BD Guest Column: Dark Shadows on DVD US - DVD R1
Most Talked About
More Scream Factory News US - BD RA Texas Chainsaw (2013, 2D) US - BD RA Spring Breakers US - DVD R1 | BD RA Prince of Darkness US - BD RA Host, The US - DVD R1 | BD RA | <urn:uuid:bd8737ab-3c14-4672-bf6b-203888e3afa1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/looking-back-the-top-10-dvds-of-2005.html?post_id=51126&action=quote | 2013-05-24T01:58:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958145 | 4,298 |
Creating Renewable Energy and Earning ROI
By Chris Gray and Bill Harris
Deployment of solar energy, and its accompanying return on investment (ROI), has increased rapidly in the last few years. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports that in 2009, the United States ranked fourth in the world for new solar electric installation, behind Germany, Italy and Japan. It further details that in terms of both new grid-tied installed capacity and cumulative capacity, only the state of California leads New Jersey, albeit by a large margin in both categories.
Attractive federal, state and local incentives, coupled with accessible technology, have decreased the time to achieve ROI. The parking industry, led by a number of early adopters, has adapted this technology, taking advantage of rooftops and surface parking to create clean, renewable energy.
Surface applications include carports that not only generate electricity but also provide shading for cars, and represent a visible commitment to renewables – a potential marketing advantage as well.
California State University, Fresno, for example, recently completed a 1 megawatt project with 10 PV-topped metal panel canopies covering more than 700 spaces, which saves the university upwards of $13 million in avoided costs over the 30 year life span. To top it off, these parking lots generate additional revenue by providing “premium” spaces.
Pairing solar installations with energy efficient lighting upgrades and electric vehicle charging stations creates further cost and energy saving synergies. This article will profile three notable installations to showcase the truly amazing potential of solar technology related to parking in the next decade, and the benefits to those owners willing to make the leap.
Hamilton Station (NJ) Park & Ride, NJ Transit Hamilton Train Station
Opened in the fall of 2006, this 2,023-vehicle, multiple-level facility provides parking for daily commuters traveling and working up and down the Northeast corridor.
To continue its ongoing commitment to energy reduction and renewable energy generation, Nexus Properties, through its energy services division Nexus Energy Solutions, began a series of projects to reduce utility consumption along with associated costs.
Beginning in 2009, a lighting retrofit project replaced existing metal halide and incandescent light fixtures with energy efficient florescent, LED and other lighting technologies. This phase alone resulted in more than a 50% reduction compared with previous annual consumption.
A 654-kilowatt solar array will generate 90% to 95% percent of today’s energy needs for the facility. A structural canopy will be permanently mounted to the roof level of the garage to house the arrays and provide shade for vehicles. Electric vehicles that opt to plug into “docking stations” will have the vehicles’ fuel source replenished while they utilize mass transit.
This second phase of the energy reduction project will generate approximately 784,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power almost 50 homes each year. Through federal incentives, solar renewable energy credit sales and energy production, this solar installation has achieved ROI in less than four and a half years on a pre-tax basis.
The initial lighting project paid for itself in less than one year. During the estimated 30-year useful life, the initiative is expected to produce a positive cash flow of more than $3 million.
Pocono (PA) International Raceway Inc.
Pocono Raceway in northeastern Pennsylvania is now reportedly the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility. It features a 3 megawatt solar farm of almost 40,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules on 25 acres – land that used to be parking area for spectators.
Driven by the impending deregulation in the electricity markets in Pennsylvania, which promised to raise rates considerably, the decision to go solar was both environmentally sustainable and financially sound. Additionally, all project materials were American-made, pleasing both the company and racing fans.
The array will supply power to cover all facility needs, including garages, concessions, suites and media spaces. During the winter months when the track is essentially closed, power will flow back to the grid.
Expected to have a six- to eight-year payback on the investment, the $16 million project is designed to eliminate the raceway’s $250,000 annual electricity bill – and to power 1,000 nearby homes. This utility-scale system, visible even from space, took empty parking spaces and turned them into a boon for the raceway, the community and the parking industry.
Denver International Airport (DIA)
Green Park DIA, jointly developed by Greenscape Capital Group and ProPark USA, seeks to earn acclaim as “the world’s greenest parking facility.” The $18.6 million project near Denver International Airport features sustainable buildings and more than 1.4 million square feet of parking, as well as alternative power sources including solar arrays.
Scheduled to be complete late this year, the project will utilize energy from a 16.9 kW ground-mount solar PV system, as well as from eight wind turbines. These strategies – combined with elements including significantly reduced lighting power densities in the parking areas and more energy efficient mechanical systems – are projected to result in a total annual cost savings of 70%.
The facility will also integrate solar charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as other sustainable strategies for stormwater infiltration, water efficient landscaping and energy-efficient LED lighting.
These three installations for both garage and surface applications demonstrate that PV energy, tied to parking resources, has tremendous potential to provide ROI. Private corporations as well as public institutions recognize the financial and environmental benefits, and have taken advantage of the confluence of technological innovation, tax incentives, and the movement toward greater sustainability.
The solar market will continue to evolve and develop rapidly. Reductions in the cost, and the potential integration of PV directly into building materials, will generate additional possibilities to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and their expense, and generate clean, renewable energy to power homes, buildings and parking facilities.
Chris Gray, P.E., a Project Engineer for Timothy Haahs & Associates, can be reached at [email protected].
Contact Bill Harris, President of Nexus Energy Solutions, at [email protected].
Article Abstract from August, 2011 | <urn:uuid:d08cdabe-4374-4048-993a-c2964fa57e88> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.parkingtoday.com/articledetails.php?id=961 | 2013-05-24T01:30:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934049 | 1,296 |
Don D. Lyon
ANDOVER — Don D. Lyon, 70, of Andover died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. He was born Nov. 30, 1939, in Parsons to Lloyd and Eloise (Woodruff) Lyon. He served in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Lyon retired after 35 years with Shelter Insurance. He married Ruby Cosby on Jan. 17, 1959, in Miami, Okla. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise. She survives. Mr. Lyon was a devoted husband and father. He was an avid sports fan, especia...
Roland W. Brown
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Roland W. Brown, 84, of Kansas City, Mo., died at St. Luke’s Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. He was born to Phillip T. and Lena (Bolter) Brown and raised in Brimfield, Mass. He graduated from Hitchcock Free Academy in 1944. A World War II veteran, he volunteered and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1950. He began his career at Charles D...
OSWEGO — Dorothy Garland, 80, of Oswego died at her home on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, after a long struggle with cancer. She was born June 30, 1930, in McCune to Everett and Bessie Nutt. She is survived by her husband, Larry Garland; six children, Jeri Sanders of Chetopa, Alan Atwood of Johnston, R.I., Robin Atwood and Rodney Atwood of Omaha, Neb., John Atwood and Lori Atwood of Oswego; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two ...
Arden Walker ‘Jim’ Day
AUSTIN, Texas — Arden Walker “Jim” Day, 93, a former Parsons resident, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, in Austin, Texas, where he had lived the past two years. He was born July 15, 1917, in Springfield, Mo., to William Walker and Gertrude Estella (Nash) Day. The family moved to Parsons in 1926, when he was 9 years old. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1935. He began his career with the Katy Railroad in Parsons in 1936, working in the...
Helen V. Mohney
Helen V. Mohney, 93, a resident of the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons, died there at 6:23 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010.
She was born Jan. 19, 1917, at Elizabeth, Pa., to Lawrence H. and Margaret (Daugherty) Sadler. She grew up in Parkersburg, W.Va., and graduated from high school there.
She continued living in Parkersburg until moving to Wichita in 1957, where she was employed by the Boeing Aircraft Co. In 1976 she moved to Parsons.
Steven Dale Fontes
CHERRYVALE — Steven Dale Fontes, 52, of Cherryvale died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita. He was born Dec. 25, 1957, in Providence, R.I., to Joseph A. and Anita M. (Doquette) Fontes. He attended schools in West Warwick, R.I. Mr. Fontes did landscape work. Survivors include five sisters, Doreen M. Hopkins of Cherryvale, Janet D. Benson of Independence, Jeanette G. Teauge of Chautauqua, Diane C. Barne...
Schuyler J. ‘Bud’ Blair
ERIE — Schuyler J. “Bud” Blair, 91, of rural Erie died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the home of his daughter, Marcia Schuette, in Jackson, S.C. He was born July 24, 1919, in rural St. Paul to Ed and Elsie Blair. He grew up and attended school in St. Paul and was a 1936 graduate of St. Paul High School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a farmer. He married Dorothy Jean Houghton on March 30, 1946, in Pittsburg. She pre...
Leonard I. Nunnink Sr.
ST. PAUL — Leonard I. Nunnink Sr., 89, of St. Paul died at 2 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was born Jan. 31, 1921, in St. Paul to Charles and Mary (Linden) Nunnink. He grew up in St. Paul and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a retired building contractor and a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Survivors include his wife, Lois Nunnink of the home in S...
Helen V. Mohney
Helen V. Mohney, 93, a resident of the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons, died there at 6:23 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. Her son, Robert Mohney of Parsons, survives.
The service will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Good Samaritan Society. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Complete obituary details will be provided later.
Margaret L. Forshey
Margaret L. Forshey, 59, of Parsons died at 12:25 a.m. Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at Labette Health. She had been in failing health. She was born on Dec. 17, 1950, at Lawrence to Howard and Juanita (Divine) Forshey. She grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools. She resided in several states until she moved back to Parsons in 1984. She worked as a convenience store clerk. She enjoyed playing bingo, fishing and visiting with family and fr...
Dorothy F. Scott Larez
CHANUTE — Dorothy F. Scott Larez, 87, former resident of Wichita, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at Heritage Health Care Center in Chanute.
She was born June 30, 1923, in Parsons the daughter of Samuel Jefferson Sr. and Mattie (Russell) Coots. She was the last survivor of seven children. She was raised in Southeast Kansas, but lived her adult life in Wichtia and San Jose, Calif.
She married Marvin Scott, who preceded her in death Aug. 18, 1995. ...
Schuyler J. ‘Bud’ Blair
ERIE — Schuyler J. “Bud” Blair, 91, of rural Erie died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, at the home of his daughter, Marcia Schuette, in Jackson, S.C. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jean (Houghton) Blair, on July 10, 1998.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Cemetery near Erie. The Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons is in charge of arrangements.
Complete obituary details will be announced.
Online condolences m...
Thelma Louise Marnell
WICHITA — Thelma Louise Marnell, 86, of Wichita died at 7:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Feb. 19, 1924, in Greenbush to John and Esther (Brophy) Marnell. She grew up and attended school in Greenbush and St. Paul and was a graduate of St. Paul High School. She was a sister at the Adorers of the Blood of Christ in Wichita. While in Parsons, she taught school at St. Patrick Catholic School. S...
Debbie L. Head
Debbie L. Head, 59, of Parsons died early Monday, Oct. 18, 2010, at her home. She had been in failing health several years. She was born Dec. 11, 1950, in Parsons to James B. and Mary Ann (Shores) Head. She lived in Erie and Wichita as a small child. In 1955 she moved to California. She graduated from high school in Oakland, Calif., and attended junior college at Stockton, Calif. She was employed in Stockton as a nurse assistant and in the...
Roger Dale O’Kane
Roger Dale O’Kane, 62, a former longtime Altamont resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, at his home. Obituary details and funeral arrangements are pending.
Opal F. Overman
OSWEGO — Opal F. Overman, 91, of Oswego died Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, at St John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin.
The service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, Oswego. Burial will follow in the Oswego Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left at www.murdockfuneralhomes.com.
Arthur Dale ‘Art’ Graves
BARTLETT — Arthur Dale “Art” Graves, 92, longtime Bartlett farmer and rancher, died at 2:11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, at Chetopa Manor.
He was born July 3, 1918, in Neosho, Mo., to Loa and Pearl (Bendure) Graves. As an infant, he moved with his family to Bartlett where he attended Lake Creek School.
He married Lois Neely on March 9, 1941, in Independence. Following marriage, they made their family home in rural Bartlett. During the 1950...
Arthur D. ‘Art’ Graves
BARTLETT — Arthur D. “Art” Graves, 92, a longtime Bartlett resident, died at 2:11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. He is survived by his wife, Lois Graves, of the home. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa will announce obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
Alex Fred Denton
OSWEGO — Alex Fred Denton, 91, of Oswego died on Oct. 13, 2010, following a short illness. Fred served five years in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946. He married Goldie L. Page on Aug. 4, 1948, in Independence. He bought and managed Denton Hardware in Oswego from 1962 to 1985. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a volunteer at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin. He enjoyed raising his cattle on the family farm. Fred was an avid support...
John R. Pranker
John R. Pranker, 54, of Parsons, died early Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, at his home. He was born Sept. 9, 1956, in Lake Charles, La., to Edward Jr. and Jessie Mary (Parmentier) Pranker. As a young boy, he grew up and attended school in Ash Grove, Mo. He worked as a mechanic. He married Patty Midgett on Jan. 6, 1979, in Steelville, Mo. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Michael Pranker of Joplin and William Pranker of Pittsburg; ... | <urn:uuid:53731f91-1561-4604-97f6-6f4d4bb41aac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.parsonssun.com/pages/obituaries/push?class=&x_page=47&per_page=20&rel=&k_group=1 | 2013-05-24T01:38:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974923 | 2,444 |
Southridge Minerals Hires New Legal Representation and Completes Dividend Payout
DALLAS, Nov. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southridge Enterprises Inc. (Pink Sheets: SRGE) ("Southridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce today that Southridge Minerals, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, has hired new legal representation to meet the Company's expanding legal needs going forward. The new firm is now transitioning to file all of the Company's future disclosures with the OTC Markets and will be the liaison for the Company while facilitating all corporate and legal matters.
Due to the change in legal representation, the Company will be filing its 2012 annual report in the coming week. Southridge will report its fourth quarter and annual results ending August 31, 2012, reflecting record mineral production, revenues and profits as per the Company's new release of September 04, 2012.
In other recent developments, the Company has now distributed funds and completed its dividend payout one day early on November 21, 2012, in lieu of the payout date falling on Thanksgiving Day, for shareholders of record on November 15, 2012. The Company expects to continue its dividend payouts on a quarterly basis.
Additionally, the Company will be releasing some positive news, developments and events concerning one of its mineral properties located in a world-class mining region of Mexico. Southridge anticipates releasing this news on or before November 27th, 2012.
Southridge Minerals currently holds a portfolio of mineral properties located in several world-class mining regions of Mexico. The properties include the past producing and flagship property Cinco Minas , along with the Gran Cabrera, Los Compadres, La Esperanza, La Canita and El Horconcito.
With metal prices forecasted to remain buoyant, properties that offer significant potential for Gold and Silver occurrence, a diverse management team, and a strong cash position, Southridge Minerals is well positioned to develop its opportunities and build shareholder value.
For further information on the Company's Gold and Silver projects, visit our website: http://www.southridgeminerals.com.
Southridge Investors can access the following Southridge Minerals social media channels:
About Southridge Minerals, Inc. (SRGE)
Southridge Minerals, Inc. is a U.S.-based mineral exploration company dedicated to acquiring and developing mineral resources in geologically permissible and politically stable areas of the world. The Company seeks out early stage opportunities with good mineralization indicators that exhibit significant blue-sky potential. Southridge pursues and advances these projects that are or will be of interest to mid-size and major producers. By forming alliances on individual projects, the Company expects to develop its interests in mines operated by its partners, allowing it to continue to build value through continued exploration. Southridge is currently focused on projects in Mexico.
What sets Southridge apart is its vast experience in Mexico and the knowledge of the geological conditions and formations pertaining to known large gold deposits that have received very little attention to date. This comparative advantage, combined with a specific geographical and mineral focus, will allow for more efficient asset and income growth in the future for the benefit of shareholders' investments.
Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statement of beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance those beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consider all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosed in the Company's published current and periodic reports.
SOURCE Southridge Enterprises Inc.
More by this Source
Southridge Announces a Joint Partnership with Kinross (NYSE: KGC), a Major NYSE Listing Mining Company for its Cinco Minas and Gran Cabrera Properties is Valued at $550 to $600 Million
Dec 26, 2012, 09:00 ET
Southridge Declares Fourth Quarter Cash Dividend
Dec 18, 2012, 09:00 ET
Southridge Minerals Reports Fourth Quarter Production Revenues and Profits
Dec 17, 2012, 11:40 ET
Browse our custom packages or build your own to meet your unique communications needs.
Learn about PR Newswire services
Request more information about PR Newswire products and services or call us at (888) 776-0942. | <urn:uuid:21a5925e-ed7e-4979-8809-00abb075824e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southridge-minerals-hires-new-legal-representation-and-completes-dividend-payout-180589621.html | 2013-05-24T01:31:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923293 | 898 |
HOULTON, Maine — A compliance check recently conducted in Aroostook County to ensure that businesses that sell alcohol are complying with Maine’s liquor laws produced disappointing news, as nearly half of the establishments targeted were cited by police.
Deputy Kris Malmbourg of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department said earlier this week that 33 establishments, including restaurants and stores, around The County were checked for liquor law compliance as part of the Underage Drinking, Adult Consequences campaign. Of those, 13 were summoned for violations.
Aroostook County was selected last month as one of only four sites in the nation to participate in the underage drinking project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Community Voices, a countywide organization that works to curb substance abuse among youths, was awarded a $325,000 grant, which it is using to work with 11 law enforcement groups on a pilot project to get alcohol out of the hands of minors.
Malmbourg said the most recent compliance checks were part of the initiative and are being conducted to reduce the number of underage drinkers and the number of underage drinking and driving fatalities in The County. They also are being conducted to deter those who provide alcohol to youths.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teens are at far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population, despite the fact that they are below the minimum drinking age in every state. Thirty one percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers who were killed in crashes nationally in 2006 had been drinking.
According to Maine’s office of substance abuse, a 2008 statewide survey reported that 48.8 percent of Maine students in grades seven through 12 had tried alcohol. Research also has shown that 40 percent of children who begin drinking before age 15 will develop alcohol abuse or dependence at some point in their lives.
Malmbourg pointed out that 142 people died in Maine from 2006 to 2010 as a result of a crash involving a 15- to 20-year-old driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or above. In 2010 alone, 22 percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers involved in traffic fatalities in Maine had a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or above.
“One careless decision by a young person can end and destroy lives,” Malmborg said. “We know we have more work to do, but if we got across to just one teen who might have otherwise chosen to drink and drive, we’ve accomplished something and hopefully changed lives. And if we’re able to reduce their access to alcohol, that’s tackling the first part of the problem.”
Along with the 13 establishments summoned for noncompliance, the additional road patrols in Aroostook resulted in youth transportation and possession of alcohol citations, as well as citations for adults furnishing a place for minors to consume and alcohol for minors to consume. Other violations not alcohol-related were dealt with as a result of the increased patrols, ranging from driving violations to drug violations, according to Malmbourg.
“Local enforcement officials and community partners came together for this campaign, and we believe it was a tremendous success,” he said. “Hopefully, the teens in our community now know we will not tolerate underage drinking, and just as importantly, the adults and organizations who provide the alcohol know they also face serious consequences.”
This is not the first time that compliance checks have revealed that not all County businesses are enforcing the state’s liquor laws. In March 2011, the Sheriff’s Department oversaw an operation that had minors attempt to buy alcohol at 43 businesses stretching from Macwahoc to Fort Kent.
Twenty-three of the establishments sold alcohol to the minors and were summoned for the violation, according to Sheriff Jim Madore.
During the summer of 2010 in Caribou, the Police Department selected 12 local businesses where alcohol is served.
Fifty percent of the businesses failed the test and sold the minor alcohol, according to Caribou Chief Mike Gahagan.
Gahagan said at the time that he was stunned by the results, especially since the department offers free responsible beverage training to businesses in the city.
Michelle Plourde Chasse, Community Voices project manager, said Friday afternoon that she also was disappointed with the results. She noted that compliance checks that were conducted in January revealed an almost 50 percent failure rate. That rate is slightly lower this time.
“I wish there was a magic button because I would push it,” she said. “We will continue to offer training twice a year to businesses in this area and we are going to continue with compliance checks.”
The project manager said she believes that it would be helpful to immediately list the names of businesses that were summoned in order to let parents and others know that they were cited. But the names have not been released in the past until the cases were settled in court, and Plourde Chasse did not have the list of businesses that were cited during this round of checks.
Penalties for the violations can result in a fine, license suspension or both. Fines for stores start at between $550 and $1,500 for a first violation, depending on the number of offenses.
The next wave of compliance checks will start this month and the enforcement campaign will continue throughout the year. | <urn:uuid:2d4fc080-d435-428d-ac54-a89ca1918f25> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/04/news/aroostook/13-businesses-in-aroostook-county-fail-liquor-compliance-checks/ | 2013-05-26T09:36:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979204 | 1,121 |
|See what's going on with flipcode!|
Radiosity In English - The Basics
by (20 May 1999)
|Return to The Archives|
I've found many people shy away from radiosity simply because of the mystique
surrounding it. I’ll admit that I was a bit intimidated by the topic when I
decided to tackle it. But the truth be known, it boils down to some pretty
simple techniques, most of which are very common. As a matter of fact, if
you’ve got access to a rendering architecture that supports z-buffering, you’ve
got 90% of a basic radiosity processor that can produce some excellent results.|
I understand that "Aggravated Nosebleed" (the source of this Q&A entry) has some basic knowledge of radiosity, but I’d like to take this opportunity to cover the basics from the very beginning. Hopefully he/she as well as some other readers will gain enough of a fundamental understanding to help ease the learning curve from some of the more notable references (which I will list later.)
In The Beginning
The introduction of Radiosity came in 1984 from Cornell University in a paper
titled "Modelling the Interaction of Light Between Diffuse Surfaces" written by
Goral, Torrance & Greenberg. The idea was to simulate energy (light)
transference from diffuse surfaces. Diffuse surfaces are surfaces that reflect
light equally in all directions - the opposite of a shiny surface.|
This result was considered "view independent." This simply meant that the illumination on a surface looked the same no matter what angle you were viewing it from. For the sake of clarity, an example of the opposite ("view dependent") would be a reflective surface. Reflective surfaces are view dependent because the specular highlights would appear at a different position on the surface based on the angle at which the surface was viewed.
This view independence was nice, especially considering the cost (in processor power & running time) of radiosity processing. The illumination could be calculated once and the scene could then be rendered very quickly from any angle. This translates directly into many of today’s modern "first-person shooter" games.
The First Approach
Consider a simple room with only four walls, a ceiling and a floor. Can you see
it in your mind’s eye? You better not be able to; I haven’t specified a light
source yet. :-) In radiosity, light sources aren’t your typical point or spot
light sources. In radiosity, light is emitted from surfaces. So, rather than
adding a surface for a light source, lets just make the entire ceiling an "area
light source." In the real world, this would translate to a cubic room where
the ceiling was a huge panel of fluorescent lights behind a huge diffuse
reflector (those smoked-glass looking things that spread light out.)|
This example is a simple one since every surface can see every other surface. In other words, there’s nothing to block the light from reaching any surface (i.e. no shadows.)
Each surface has two values associated with it. An amount of how brightly it is illuminated (its illumination) and how much of a surplus of energy it has (its radiative energy.) To start with, only the ceiling will have any radiative energy and all other surfaces will have no radiative energy or illumination.
What we need to do now is calculate the interaction of energy from every surface to every other surface. This is an n^2 problem since we need to calculate this interaction from each surface to every other surface in the scene. This can be calculated based on their geometrical relationships (distance between surfaces, relative orientation, relative area, etc.) The math that calculates this relationship results in a single value. This value is called a "form factor."
The attentive readers (the one’s that are still awake) might have already guessed that there are only (n^2)/2 individual form factors since the relationship between surfaces 5&6 is the same as the relationship between 6&5. However, this is not true since relative area is taken into consideration.
We can calculate all the form factors in a scene and store them in a grid that is n elements wide by n elements tall. This grid is referred to as the "radiosity matrix" and it works just like a 2-dimensional table. Each element in this matrix contains a form factor for the interaction from the surface indexed by the column and the surface indexed by the row.
Remember how I said that there are n^2 interactions and not (n^2)/2? This is because each form factor is like a diode in that it only handles energy going in one direction: from a "source surface" to a "destination surface." In this case, we’ll say that the source surfaces are index by columns and destination surfaces are indexed by rows. Source surfaces will emit their energy to the destination surfaces.
Now lets solve the matrix. To do this, we simply visit each column (source) in the matrix and emit energy to each row (destination) in that column. When we do this, we’ll be placing some of that radiated energy (from the source) in the illumination value for the destination. But these surfaces are reflectors, which means they’re going to reflect SOME energy back into the scene. Based on the surface’s reflectivity, we’ll add a little bit of energy to the destination’s radiative energy. This radiative energy will eventually make its way back into the scene (i.e. to the other surfaces) as we progress through the matrix.
If the destination is a perfect reflector (i.e. it reflects every single bit of energy it receives - a mirror) then there will be no energy stored in the destination’s illumination, it would all go to its radiative energy. The inverse is also true: a perfectly black surface might not reflect any energy back into the scene, absorbing it all, so every bit of energy it receives is stored in its illumination value. If you’re starting to think that we’re making a black surface white, we’re not. Remember, we’re dealing with light, so the color of a surface is ultimately multiplied by its illumination. In the case of the perfectly black surface, the surface remains visually black.
Once we’ve gone through the matrix once, we do it all over again. This is necessary because we we’re storing some energy as illumination, and some as radiative energy. Now it’s time to go through the matrix again and start distributing that reflected radiative energy.
We’ll go through this matrix over and over again until the total amount of radiative energy for all surfaces is relatively small.
The Next Step
If you made it this far without getting lost, you’re in the home stretch.
There’s still a lot we haven’t covered yet, so let’s move on. I’ll start with a
few shortcomings of the basic radiosity matrix as I’ve described it thus far and
common solutions to these issues.|
Our surfaces have only one illumination value for the entire surface, so there is no change in illumination across a single surface. To solve this problem, we can simply subdivide each surface into a series smaller polygons called "patches." If you do this, you simply treat each patch as its own surface as a replacement for the original surface. Your matrix will grow to the number of patches in the scene squared.
This brings us to our next issue: the matrix can be quite large (especially if you subdivide into a number of patches) If the scene is very simple (say, a meager 1,000 polygons) then our illustrious matrix will be pretty big (1,000,000 elements.) If you've subdivided each of those surfaces to a meager 8x8 grid of patches per surface, then we're talking about 4,096,000,000 total elements in our matrix (8*8 = 64 patches per surface, 64*1000 = 64000 patches per scene, 64000*64000 is = 4,096,000,000 total matrix elements.) This is pretty tough for any computer to swallow.
Before I discuss the solutions to this ever-increasing matrix, let’s talk about a related issue: a matrix of this magnitude would take a long time to solve. Especially considering the fact that we’ll have to solve it multiple times. If a mistake was made in the modeled scene, wouldn’t it be nice to know this sooner rather than later?
In 1988, Cohen, Chen, Wallace & Greenberg published a paper called "A
Progressive Refinement Approach to Fast Radiosity Image Generation." This paper
described a new way of solving radiosity. It was quite clever in that it
reordered the way things were done.|
In the matrix method, illumination was gathered by each destination element from its source element. Ironically, this is called "gathering." The progressive refinement approach reversed this and defined (the other incredibly ironic term) "shooting."
The basic idea behind progressive refinement starts by finding the surface with the most energy to contribute to the scene (i.e. has the highest amount of radiative energy.) This surface would then iterate through all other surfaces, distributing its energy along the way. After this process was completed, the image was then rendered for the user, and the process began again, finding the surface with the most energy to contribute to the scene. Each pass would cause another render of the scene, allowing the user to progressively evaluate the progress. If the progress showed a problem along the way (an illumination surface was in the wrong place or the wrong color) they could stop the process and make the needed adjustments.
During this process, the user would see a completely dark scene progress to a fully lit scene. To accommodate this sharp contrast in visual difference from beginning to end, the progressive refinement technique added something called the "ambient term".
Before I continue, I want to point something out that is pretty important in radiosity. There is no such thing as ambient light in real life. Ambient light is something that was invented to accommodate the need for what appears to be a "global light" in real life. But in reality, ambient light doesn’t exist. Rather, light is always being reflected from surface to surface, which is how it finds its way into all the nooks and crannies of real-world detail. Before the advent of radiosity, ambient light was the best thing available to the typical rendering architectures. It is safe to think of radiosity is a more accurate solution to ambient (global) light. This is why radiosity is considered a technique for "global illumination."
The ambient term starts off as a "differential area sum" of the radiative energy for the entire scene. What this means is that it’s a number that represents the average amount of light that each surface will receive throughout the processing of the entire radiosity solution. We can calculate that average without doing all the work simply because it’s an average amount of energy, not a specific amount of energy for a single surface.
As each progressive pass emits the radiative energy for a surface, the ambient term is slowly decreased. As the total radiative energy of the scene approaches zero, so does the ambient term (though, at different rates, of course.) A nice advantage here is that you can use the ambient term to figure out when you’ve distributed enough energy as to make only a negligible difference. At this point, you can stop processing.
So, the progressive approach has solved the massive memory requirements for the radiosity matrix by simply not storing it, and it partially solves the processing time issue by speeding things up, and further improving this by allowing users to preview their works in progress.
A Note on Patches
Before I continue, I want to cover the topic of patch subdivision just a little.
I only touched on it lightly so as not to confuse the reader. It’s time we dive
just a little bit deeper in to these ever useful things.|
First, let’s be perfectly clear on something. If you use subdivision in your radiosity code, then you will not be using "surfaces" since the patches are a higher resolution representation of the original surface geometry. It will be the patches that shoot and gather energy amongst themselves, not the surfaces. If you use patch subdivision, you can probably discard your original surfaces since they have been replaced by a higher resolution representation, their patches.
Patches are how we simulate area light sources. Rather than actually treating the surface like an area light source, we simply split it up into lots of smaller light sources across the entire area of the original surface. If the surface is subdivided enough, then the results can be quite pleasing.
Patch subdivision can be done blindly or intelligently. An example of blind subdivision might be to subdivide every surface into a set of patches that are one square foot each. This can be quite a waste, since we only really need the subdivision in high-contrast areas (i.e. an area of a surface that has a dramatic change in energy across a relatively small area - like a shadow boundary.)
There is a multitude of intelligent subdivision techniques. One of the most common is to subdivide progressively by adding another step to the process. Once a surface has fully emitted its energy, each patch in the existing data-set is visited and a decision is made if two adjoining patches have too much of a difference in their illumination values. If they do, there will be a sharp contrast between these two patches so you should subdivide each of them. You can pick any threshold you wish to contain your subdivisions to a minimum. You can also set a maximum subdivision level to prevent from subdividing too much.
Patches, however, are just the first step to subdivision. Patches themselves can be subdivided into "elements". The usefulness of elemental subdivision is for performance reasons as well as aesthetic reasons. Patch subdivision can be pre-set to a specific resolution. In this case, the entire scene is subdivided evenly into patches of a specific size. This sounds like a waste, but let’s not get hasty. The subdivision resolution can be quite low in this case. As the radiosity solution progresses, the patches are intelligently subdivided into elements based on high contrast areas (or whatever intelligent subdivision technique you decide to use.)
You can think of elements as a higher resolution representation of their "parent" patches. But unlike patch subdivision where the surfaces are discarded and replaced by patches, patch subdivision does not discard the patches. The advantage here, is that the patches are maintained for shooting, while the elements are used for gathering.
Let’s look at that a little more closely. A patch is subdivided into a grid of 8x8 elements. During the distribution process, the patch with the highest amount of radiative energy is chosen for energy distribution. Energy is distributed from that patch to all of the ELEMENTS in the scene. The elements retain their illumination value (for beauty’s sake) and the radiative energy that would be reflected from all the elements is then sent up to their parent patch. Later, the patch will do the shooting, rather than each individual element. This allows us to have a high resolution of surface geometry with a lower resolution distribution. This can save quite a lot of processing time, especially if the average patch is subdivided into 8x8 elements.
For the sake of this example, I’ll just assume we’re not at the elemental subdivision stage yet, and work from patches.
Did somebody say shadows? I didn’t. Not yet, at least. :-)|
To obtain shadows, we need to have some visibility information, so we’ll know how much of a patch is visible from another patch. One of the most common ways of doing this in today’s world is to use a z-buffer. And radiosity is no different. To do this, however, we’ll need a way to generate a z-buffer from a patch. This is where the hemicube comes in handy.
A hemicube is exactly what it sounds like. It’s exactly one half of a cube, split orthogonally along one axis. This gives us one whole face, and four half-faces.
What’s it for? Try to picture this: place a pin-hole camera at the base of the hemicube (i.e. the center of the cube prior to cutting it in half) and point the camera at the center of the top face. Now set your camera to a 90-degree frustum.
You can consider the top face of the hemicube now, to be the rendering surface of the camera. This surface has a pixel resolution (which I’ll discuss shortly.) If you render the scene from this perspective, you’ll "see" what the patch "sees".
Remember when I said that we need to take the relative distance and relative orientation of two patches into account to calculate their form factors? Well, in this case, we no longer need to do that. The hemicube takes care of that for us. As patches are rendered onto the surface of the hemicube, they’ll occupy "hemicube pixels". The farther away the surface is, the fewer pixels it will occupy. This is also true for patches at greater angles of relative orientation. The greater the angle, the fewer pixels it will occupy. Using a z-buffer we can let some patches partially (or fully) occlude other patches, causing them to occupy even fewer pixels (or none at all) which gives us shadows.
For this to work, we need to translate these renders into energy transmission. Let’s talk about that for a bit.
A standard z-buffer renderer will render color values to a frame buffer and store depth information into a z-buffer. A hemicube implementation is very similar. It keeps the z-buffer just like normal. But rather than storing color values into a frame buffer, it stores patch IDs into a frame buffer. When the render is complete, you have partial form factor information for how much energy gets transmitted from one patch to another. I say "partial form factor information" because we’re missing one piece.
This information is lacking some of the relative angle information between two patches. The relative angles are used to decrease the amount of energy shot from one patch to another. The greater the angle, the less energy is transmitted. Our hemicube gives us part of this information by only telling us (in an indirect way) how much of an angle the destination patch is relative to us. But we also need to take the shooter’s relative angle into account as well. It’s much like Lambert shading. As the surface turns away from the light, the surface receives less light. We’ve got this information (indirectly) in the hemicube frame buffer. But our light source is also an area, which means it can turn, too. So we’ll need to take its angle into consideration before we shoot any energy to anybody.
The hemicube has a wonderful mechanism for this. It’s called the "delta form factor." This is simply a table of values. It is the same resolution as the surface of the hemicube and it contains values that are used to scale the amount of energy that each hemicube pixel can transmit. The values in this table associated with the center pixels of the top face have the highest value, and the values fall off as they get near the edges of the hemicube face. The reason for this is simple. The values associated with the center of the hemicube face have the highest value since anything rendered to this area of the "screen" will be directly in front of the hemicube (i.e. the least incident angle.) The values in the table associated with the edges of the hemicube face are at a 45-degree angle, so they are considerably less than those found near the center.
There is a very specific calculation for the "delta form factor" table which can be found in most radiosity references.
To finish up our hemicube explanation, we need to pull it all together.
Rather than shooting light from the source patch to the destination patches, we do this through each pixel in the hemicube’s frame buffer (remember, we’ve stored patch IDs in there so we can reference them later, and THIS is later :-). Visiting each hemicube pixel, we simply scale the amount of the shooter’s total radiative energy by the delta form factor associated with that pixel. This means that each patch will receive a little bit of energy for each pixel it resides in, in the hemicube’s frame buffer. Each of these partial energy transmissions to an individual destination patch will all add up to the proper amount of total transmitted energy, just like magic.
How do we know that we’ve transmitted all the energy from the shooter? Well, if you add up all the delta form factors for the hemicube, you’ll find they add up to 1.0. This is a good test, by the way, to make sure your hemicube delta form factor table is correct. Remember to account for error, so the value might not equal exactly 1.0, rather something very close.
A typical hemicube resolution might be 128x128. However, you may decide to go with a higher resolution. Either way, remember this: each pixel in the hemicube’s delta form factor table contains a very small fractional value. You should consider using doubles to store these values as they can get VERY small.
To save confusion, I purposely neglected to mention a few things. Each hemicube has five sides. I only described the process for rendering the top face. The remaining half-faces also require rendering, but the process is identical to that of the top face. Don’t worry, your radiosity references will cover how to calculate the delta form factors for ALL faces of the hemicube. And don’t forget that when you run your little test that adds up all the delta form factors to a result of 1.0, you’ll need to include ALL of the delta form factors, not just those for the top face.
In closing, I should mention that there are issues with hemicubes (like aliasing artifacts under certain circumstances.) There are some solutions to these issues as well as totally different techniques. But hemicubes are a great place to start your radiosity adventures.
"Advanced Animation & Rendering Techniques" by Watt & Watt|
"Computer Graphics Principles & Practice" by Foley, vanDam, Feiner & Hughes
"Radiosity: A Programmer's Perspective" by Ashdown
"Radiosity and Realistic Image Synthesis" by Cohen & Wallace
"Radiosity and Global Illumination" by Sillion & Puech
Personally, I originally learned the concepts & fundamentals of radiosity from "Advanced Animation & Rendering Techniques." I learned enough to get my first radiosity processor up and running. Since this book has such a wealth of other information, I highly recommend it for first-timers on the subject. From there, you can graduate to any of the other references listed. If you make it to the more advanced stuff, you’re welcome to visit my site and grab some research papers on the subject.
- Paul Nettle | <urn:uuid:d804860f-0731-4f81-9028-027f53b66241> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://flipcode.com/archives/Radiosity_In_English-The_Basics.shtml | 2013-05-26T09:35:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935236 | 4,968 |
1. But again, we allege the same against those who do not recognise Paul as an apostle: that they should either reject the other words of the Gospel which we have come to know through Luke alone, and not make use of them; or else, if they do receive all these, they must necessarily admit also that testimony concerning Paul, when he (Luke) tells us that the Lord spoke at first to him from heaven: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? I am Jesus Christ, whom thou persecutest;” 3564 and then to Ananias, saying regarding him: “Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name among the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him, from this time, how great things he must suffer for My names sake.” 3565 Those, therefore, who do not accept of him [as a teacher], who was chosen by God for this purpose, that he might boldly bear His name, as being sent to the forementioned nations, do despise the election of God, and separate themselves from the company of the apostles. For neither can they contend that Paul was no apostle, when he was chosen for this purpose; nor can they prove Luke guilty of falsehood, when he proclaims the truth to us with all diligence. It may be, indeed, that it was with this view that God set forth very many Gospel truths, through Lukes instrumentality, which all should esteem it necessary to use, in order that all persons, following his subsequent testimony, which treats upon the acts and the doctrine of the apostles, and holding the unadulterated rule of truth, may be saved. His testimony, therefore, is true, and the doctrine of the apostles is open and stedfast, holding nothing in reserve; nor did they teach one set of doctrines in private, and another in public.
2. For this is the subterfuge of false persons, evil seducers, and hypocrites, as they act who are from Valentinus. These men discourse to the multitude about those who belong to the Church, whom they do themselves term “vulgar,” and “ecclesiastic.” 3566 By these words they entrap the more simple, and entice them, imitating our phraseology, that these [dupes] may listen to them the oftener; and then these are asked 3567 regarding us, how it is, that when they hold doctrines similar to ours, we, without cause, keep ourselves aloof from their company; and [how it is, that] when they say the same things, and hold the same doctrine, we call them heretics? When they have thus, by means of questions, overthrown the faith of any, and rendered them uncontradicting hearers of their own, they describe to them in private the unspeakable mystery of their Pleroma. But they are altogether deceived, who imagine that they may learn from the Scriptural texts adduced by heretics, that [doctrine] which their words plausibly teach. 3568 For error is plausible, and bears a resemblance p. 440 to the truth, but requires to be disguised; while truth is without disguise, and therefore has been entrusted to children. And if any one of their auditors do indeed demand explanations, or start objections to them, they affirm that he is one not capable of receiving the truth, and not having from above the seed [derived] from their Mother; and thus really give him no reply, but simply declare that he is of the intermediate regions, that is, belongs to animal natures. But if any one do yield himself up to them like a little sheep, and follows out their practice, and their “redemption,” such an one is puffed up to such an extent, that he thinks he is neither in heaven nor on earth, but that he has passed within the Pleroma; and having already embraced his angel, he walks with a strutting gait and a supercilious countenance, possessing all the pompous air of a cock. There are those among them who assert that that man who comes from above ought to follow a good course of conduct; wherefore they do also pretend a gravity [of demeanour] with a certain superciliousness. The majority, however, having become scoffers also, as if already perfect, and living without regard [to appearances], yea, in contempt [of that which is good], call themselves “the spiritual,” and allege that they have already become acquainted with that place of refreshing which is within their Pleroma.
3. But let us revert to the same line of argument [hitherto pursued]. For when it has been manifestly declared, that they who were the preachers of the truth and the apostles of liberty termed no one else God, or named him Lord, except the only true God the Father, and His Word, who has the pre-eminence in all things; it shall then be clearly proved, that they (the apostles) confessed as the Lord God Him who was the Creator of heaven and earth, who also spoke with Moses, gave to him the dispensation of the law, and who called the fathers; and that they knew no other. The opinion of the apostles, therefore, and of those (Mark and Luke) who learned from their words, concerning God, has been made manifest.
Acts xxii. 8, Acts xxvi. 15.439:3565
Acts 9:15, 16.439:3566
Latin, “communes et ecclesiasticos:” καθολικούς is translated here “communes,” as for some time after the word catholicus had not been added to the Latin language in its ecclesiastical sense. [The Roman Creed was remarkable for its omission of the word Catholic. See Bingham, Antiquities, book x. cap. iv. sect 11.]439:3567
We here follow the text of Harvey, who prints, without remark, quæruntur, instead of queruntur, as in Mignes edition.439:3568
Such is the sense educed by Harvey from the old Latin version, which thus runs: “Decipiuntur autem omnes, qui quod est in verbis verisimile, se putant posse discere a veritate.” For “omnes” he would read “omnino,” and he discards the emendation proposed by the former editors, viz., “discernere” for “discere.” | <urn:uuid:c2e142b2-65ba-4041-8402-0a3cef76a754> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/001/0010782.htm | 2013-05-26T09:36:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971246 | 1,407 |
Time to Save the Western Arctic Reserve of Alaska
Posted September 27, 2012 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
Last month, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Bureau of Land Management’s preferred alternative, the “B-2” alternative, for the first area-wide Integrated Activity Plan developed for Western Arctic Reserve, formally known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Reserve is the nation’s largest tract of public land—the size of Indiana—covering nearly 23 million acres of America’s most wild and remote region.
The B-2 alternative is a major step toward achieving long-sought, responsible management of the Reserve and is consistent with the federal land management mandate for the Reserve provided by the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act (NPRPA) of 1976. In NPRPA, Congress explicitly recognized that the Reserve contains subsistence, recreational, fish, wildlife, historical, and scenic values that should be protected and directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish “conditions, restrictions, and prohibitions” to protect significant surface resources of the Reserve (42 USC § 6506a). NPRPA expressly cites the Teshekpuk Lake and Utukok River as examples of areas warranting “maximum protection” under the law (42 USC § 6504). These provisions of NPRPA were included partly due to the work I did as a lobbyist. The B-2 alternative would protect approximately 11 million acres of the highest-value habitats found in America’s Arctic by recognizing these habitats as ‘Special Areas’. The NPRPA also closed the entire Western Arctic Reserve to hard rock mining claims, land selections by the State of Alaska and Native Corporations and oil and gas leasing—although it did allow oil and gas exploration. Only through a sneaky amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill in 1980 by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was the area opened to oil and gas leasing.
The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area is vital habitat for countless shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds, including the rare yellow-billed loon and the threatened spectacled eider. The lake is the centerpiece of the world's largest Arctic wetland and the heart of an international migration of waterfowl, important to subsistence users, birdwatchers, and waterfowl hunters alike. Many of these species migrate to places across the nation from coast to coast, and some travel much farther, to Central or South America, Asia, Africa, or even Antarctica.
The B-2 alternative would also protect the Utukok River Uplands Special Area, core caribou calving, insect-relief, and migration areas of the state’s largest caribou herd – the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, which provides a vital subsistence resource for more than 40 communities in northern and western Alaska. This area also provides vital habitat for various predators including grizzly bear, wolves and wolverine. The uplands serve as a wildlife highway – connecting interior Alaska to the Arctic Coastal Plain. Going back to the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service recommended that both the greater Teshekpuk Lake and Utukok areas be protected as national wildlife refuges. Rep. Dingell (D-MI) sponsored bills to so protect them. When the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA) passed the House of Representatives, it provided for the entirety of the Western Area Reserve to be a national wildlife refuge.
Coastal area protections, Kasegaluk Lagoon and Peard Bay Special Areas, would benefit polar bears, walrus, beluga whales, and other marine mammals.
Incorporating these protections for wildlife habitat into the Reserve’s preferred alternative has generated broad public support. At least 27 resolutions representing 90 villages have been adopted in the region, calling for protection of critical areas, wildlife, and the subsistence way of life in the Reserve. Approximately 400,000 public comments were submitted supporting strong conservation protections from several sportsmen and conservation organizations.
Despite the outpouring of public support for these conservation efforts, this plan does not include all the conservation lands it should. Unfortunately, concessions were made to oil and gas interests. Portions of the proposed Utukok River Uplands Special Area and Teshekpuk Lake Special Area were not included with full protection. Major portions of the Ikpikpuk River and Lower Utukok Rivers were not included in the Special Areas. Although the significant parts of Kasegaluk Lagoon, Peard Bay, and the majority of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Areas are unavailable to leasing, some of these areas are not unavailable to new non-subsistence infrastructure—this leaves the door open these areas to be carved up with roads and pipelines. Roads between individual oil fields should be absolutely prohibited. In the last year the USGS has done a new assessment of the oil potential of the Reserve finding it has less than one-tenth the potential of earlier assessments. Clearly, this should allow for conservation of these critical habitats and for wildlife and wilderness to be maximally protected.
It has been a very long battle to bring meaningful protection to the Western Arctic Reserve—over forty years. Despite its shortfalls, Secretary Salazar’s preferred alternative, “B-2”, is a serious plan that substantially advances wildlife and wilderness conservation. With Secretary Salazar’s plan, we move a step further to the ultimate goal: permanent protection for all the special areas of the Reserve. This will take enormous effort given the opposition of the oil industry, State of Alaska and others dependent on oil development.
Clint Kincaid aided Chuck Clusen with this post.
Comments are closed for this post. | <urn:uuid:15b0479e-a0bb-46b5-8726-1edcbc3d2782> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/cclusen/time_to_save_much_of_the_weste.html | 2013-05-27T02:54:55Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932666 | 1,196 |
|general shipping policy||shipping to a different address||international shipping||using the shopping cart||sales tax||payment options||secure ordering||order confirmations||required assembly upon arrival||returns policy||contact information||warranty|
We've made our shipping and handling prices and policy as fair as possible, so you benefit from our low prices plus the convenience of delivery to your door.
Shipping within the Continental United States
Within the continental USA, we ship our folding bikes by FedEx Ground service.
Citizen Bike shipping rates for
|Folding bikes||$29 / Tokyo, Miami, Gotham1/Gotham2|
$39 / Barcelona, Alhambra
|Accessories||Varies based on size and weight|
Depending on originating and desination locations, shipping will require between 2-8 days. If you ordered two or more items, you may receive them in multiple boxes on different days. We do not charge you extra shipping for split shipments.
Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii
We ship all items to all states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii require additional surcharges. Also, we ship our folding bikes and accessories by USPS Priority Mail service to Alaska and Hawaii. Please add items to the shopping cart to find out the most accurate shipping rates.
Shipping to Canada
We ship to Canada by FedEx International Economy service. Generally, this service takes between 5-8 days for delivery. The shipping fees do not include any duty, import tariff fees or sales taxes. These fees are the responsibility of the recipient and must be paid directly to the courier upon delivery.
During Checkout, you can specify a different shipping address than your billing address.
We ship within the United States and Canada. At this time, we do not ship to additional international destinations.
When you see an item you'd like to purchase, simply click Add to Cart next to the item. That puts the item in your shopping cart and takes you to the Shopping Cart page, where you'll be able to view the items you've added to your cart. You can also change the quantity of each item you've selected or remove items, if you want. From your cart, you can either check out or continue to shop. You can return to the shopping cart by any time by clicking Your Cart on the page header.
Sales tax is only applied only to orders that are shipped to the State of Florida. Florida state sales tax is 6% (plus additional county surcharges where applicable). Shipping and handling charges are taxable in the State of Florida.
Orders placed in Florida are not subject to sales tax if the order is shipped outside of Florida.
The sales tax rate is subject to change at any time.
We accept the following major credit cards issued by U.S. or Canadian banks: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
We're sorry, but at this time we do not accept cash, checks, money orders or credit cards issued by foreign (non-U.S. or Canadian) banks.
We use SSL to encrypt our web pages. SSL is the leading standard for encrypting and transmitting sensitive data over the web. When you see "https" rather than "http" in your browser's address window, you are exchanging encrypted data with our server. This will prevent outsiders from obtaining any credit card information or personal data as it is sent to our servers. This web site is secured using a GeoTrust Certificate.
Shortly after completion of placing your order, you will receive an email confirming that we have received your order. You will receive a second email when your order has shipped. Please save these email invoices for your records.
If you do not receive an email confirmation within 48hrs of placing your order, please contact us at [email protected].
Although packed for shipment, your Citizen Bike will arrive approximately 95% assembled. All you have to do is unpack, unfold, and if your model requires, attach your seat and pedals. Click here for more information.
Returns require a return authorization number for processing. A return authorization number can be obtained by emailing us at [email protected]. This return authorization number must be clearly marked on the outside of the package upon return. In order to offer our customers the lowest prices possible, we must have certain limits on our return policy in regards to shipping fees. Therefore, all shipping charges, outbound and return, are non-refundable. For items purchased with free-shipping, the current cost of shipping, of similar items without free-shipping, is non-refundable. Returns can only be accepted within 30 days from the purchase date. For backorder items, returns are accepted within 30 days from the shipped date. There are no restocking fees for returned items.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Citizen Bike warrants the frame and fork of each new Citizen Bike brand bicycle to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase for the original purchaser only. All other original components and all Citizen Bike brand repair parts, replacement parts and accessories are warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of sixty (60) days from the original date of purchase.
Unless otherwise provided, the sole remedy under the above warranty or any implied warranty is limited to the replacement of defective parts with those of equal or greater value at the sole discretion of Citizen Bike. You will be responsible for labor costs associated with warranty replacements. IN NO EVENT SHALL CITIZEN BIKE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, NEGLIGENCE, OR PRODUCT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR ECONOMIC LOSSES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
THE ABOVE WARRANTY, OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, DOES NOT COVER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, AND ALL WARRANTIES ARE VOID IF THE BICYCLE IS USED FOR OTHER THAN NORMAL ACTIVITIES. INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE OWNER’S MANUAL USING THE BICYCLE FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OR IN COMPETITIVE EVENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BICYCLE RACING, BICYCLE MOTORCROSS RACING, STUNT RIDING, RAMP JUMPING OR SIMILAR ACTIVITIES, AND TRAINING FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS. CITIZEN BIKE MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THAT OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES STATED ABOVE.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
|videos & gallery|
Citizen Bike Inc.
1190 Stirling Rd.
Dania Beach, FL 33004
"Giving gifts is a wonderful way to celebrate the abundance and joy of the holiday season. It's also a great way to support causes you care about and earth-friendly companies you respect. Here, a gift suggestion for outdoorsy personalities who like to pay it forward.
Biking is a fast, carbon-free way to run errands around town; it's also a terrific. The affordable and ultra-convenient Citizen Folding Bike ($254) makes the sport even easier: It folds down in seconds for storage." | <urn:uuid:bad42aa8-e5cc-4efe-8306-fa98f9a1c1dc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.citizenbike.com/faqs.asp | 2013-05-26T09:35:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.896557 | 1,676 |
Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 95
III PANEL DISCUSSION
OCR for page 96
OCR for page 97
PANEL DISCOSSION DR. WATERLOW: I would like to react to what Dr. Chafkin said about emergencies or disasters. I was not trying to say the obvious, that a strategy is needed for I had in mind the more serious disasters and famines. ~ cases throughout the world, the most seriously deprived families, which are at greatest risk of severe malnu- trition, the disaster families. The reasons for the problems of these families are different in different areas. In Jamaica, for example, it is usually some kind of family disruption, such as abandoned mothers. In one group I read about in Kenya, it was most often because the mother was unmarried--an unacceptable situation in Kenya, as opposed to the Caribbean. In Nepal, the key factor is lack of land. Although the conditions vary, everywhere one finds the 10% that are in a very bad state. That is what I was referring to in discussing an emergency strategy; I am not thinking simply of the famine situation in the Sahara. DR. MAHLER: People have been emphasizing the devel- opmental ideology--whether we are playing development by proxy or not. Most of us who came into development work some 35 years ago began as missionaries. The first director general of WHO told me in Delhi in 1951: "The trouble with you, Mahler, is that you have too much sympathy for those poor Indians. What you need to de- velop is empathy with their predicament. Then, perhaps, you can start seeing what kinds of problems they can tackle themselves." This is a very important thing in nutrition, too. I was nearly fired from WHO because in 1956 I said, "It is not a question of amino acids; it is a question of calories," and the nutrition adviser was not there. The emphasis should be on developing the capacities of nations to solve their own problems and on develop- ing the self-reliance to try to tackle these problems through research. There is a lot of impatience in the donor community. We provide countries in need with preconceived development packages neatly contained in envelopes--conventional envelopes. Development in my language means getting out of envelopes; that is the etymologic sense of the word "development." The devel- opment technocrats are anxious to provide new kinds of envelopes, so that they can bask in the sunshine. A 97
OCR for page 98
98 lot of our demoralization has been with those envelopes, and we will gradually have to give others the capacity, rather than looking for our own catharsis. If we let the nationals be themselves in dealing with their problems, we have every reason to believe that it can be done. I am grateful that somebody mentioned the Tropical- Disease Research Program, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programs, organizations that have shown that one does not have to play it by proxy, but that the first objective can be developing local capacities. The second objective is developing, as fast as possible, new solutions to old problems. difficult, but an absolute sine qua non in the global food and nutrition situation. There is no reason to become disillusioned, cynical, or skeptical. The rich man always has a tendency to say that the poor man should be very rational; however, coming from a poor family, I can say that it is difficult to be rational when you are poor; and this is true for a poor country, too. It is remarkably difficult to make rational decisions when you cannot afford to take any risks, because, lacking the money to learn through doing, you cannot learn. ~ DR. MELLOW I will go on directly from Dr. Mahler's point, with which I agree. are fighting against is an orthodox view generated in the developed countries that systematically plays down the human element. If one wants to raise money, it is not respectable to talk about supporting food subsidies. I am pleased to say that the World Bank has just released or is about to release a document that disproves that oversimplification. A country which is economically squeezed cannot afford just any food subsidy. But well- targeted food subsidies in the urban areas, as Dr. Lunven has been stressing, are an essential component of poli- cies that lead to high agricultural prices as a way of stimulating agricultural production in rural areas. It is a rational combination--one that was brought out earlier here. Virtually every industrial country prac- tices this policy in one way or another. At the moment. the dominant international economic orthodoxy still focuses on how to cope with debt, how to get a country back on the right track so that it can seek financial assistance. But the international good-financial- housekeeping seal of approval is obtained by abandoning In economic matters, what we
OCR for page 99
99 these things. The international community has an obligation to affirm that the human dimension is not just a byproduct of the economy. It is both an end and a means for reaching the very economic solutions that people want. It is a parallel action to offset the misleading view, particularly in the last 5 years, of what good economic policy is. Leaders understand in a very basic way that you cannot starve your people to pay your debts. DR. SAI: I would like to comment on the issue of training. A question was asked earlier about training, and I think the question was slightly off focus. It appeared that the questioner was trying to say that training could be done better in the more industrialized countries. There are technical advances for which the training needs to be done externally; however, linkages have to be made to ensure that training facilities in Africa have access to some of the technologies or the scientific expertise needed for more comprehensive training. With respect to training, the international community has refused to listen to us for about 10 years. We have been trying to make people recognize that the training issue is going to return to haunt us when money is available for doing something; and if we do not obtain funds rapidly, we are not likely to succeed, regardless of how much money we start pouring into the field. We are trying to develop African expertise in Africa for African work. I do not think getting a lot of international experts to concentrate on Africa will do the job. In fact, it often creates an unhealthy com- petition that leads to the demise of African programs. When we talk about training, the time is now. Richard Jolly has mentioned that in Ghana and elsewhere the core of trained nutritional scientists and others on which to build another training approach seems to be disappear- ing. If we do not move quickly, it will disappear. Re-establishing the situation could be difficult. Finally, let me plead that it is not necessary to say that people should train practically. Doctorates and master's degrees are needed. The idea that people have to train in the subject, but not necessarily have degrees, should be buried for a while. People should -
OCR for page 100
100 have degrees that are relevant in the specialties they are choosing. In addition to the facility that has been mentioned, we need to begin another facility immediately to start re-establishing what should be included in training for the food and nutrition problems of Africa. DR. MELLOR: We have a series of studies at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on the question of improvement over time, particularly in India. The extent of improvement is striking in the lowest-income people, and we can document i t Nazi ~, larly in agricultural production. a, rem It is important not to stop where Lincoln Chen did, saying that we can show that there are still some problems somewhere in India, and leave the impression that the green revolution has not been so great. One must spread it to other areas; I think that Dr. Chen would agree that there is a need to extend it to the marginal areas. As a matter of fact, much of Bihar and West Bengal do not have poor resources. They have rich resources, but are being held back by inappropriate agricultural policies. In the central plateau, where the resources are poor, yields per acre have grown considerably in 20 years. Incomes of the poorest people were lower than they were in Africa 15 years ago and have increased considerably. Although it has not done as well in these areas as in southern India, it has spread, and we need to extend it farther. DR. CHEN: If we had this meeting in India, I think there would be a very strong polarization within the Indian community. Although there has been progress, particularly in the green revolution in the Punjab and in southern India, there are deplorable areas in Bihar, in West Bengal, in Orissa, in Madhya Pradesh and in large cities. The particular question I was-addressing was whether agricultural modernization in itself leads to the reduction of poverty and improvement in nutrition. In other words, the technological transformation, as John Mellor himself has said, needs to be accompanied by employment, wages, and access to productive assets, rather than only by redistribution of programs. I believe our office supported some of the IFPRI studies in southern India. I agree with some of the findings that
OCR for page 101
101 you have reported from Tamil Nadu, but I was pointing out that the Indian policy-makers themselves would not agree that everything is all right and that food self-suffi- ciency has been achieved. On the contrary, there are very serious worries that 30 million tons of food are deteriorating in storage and that the income and consumption levels of 150-300 million people are below those required for adequate diets. We are talking about the question of balanced growth. DR. HORWITZ: Dr. Chen, will you elaborate on two of your proposals for action--the Nutrition Project Develop- ment Facility and activities to improve information dissemination and documentation? DR. CHEN: I was hoping that the members of the panel representing international agencies and people in the audience would carry these ideas further. I have not thought in detail about their implementation. I would note that you suggested the Nutrition Project Development Facility in an early paper. DR. HORWITZ: The Subcommittee on Nutrition is exploring this possibility now, and we will see what comes out of that; but I agree with you. My impression is that for governments, even those which Dr. Mahler wants to be free to be themselves, the moment eventually comes when they need to present their proposals for funding. Funds are not easy to find today in the international community. Some of us have felt that it would help just to invest available resources better at the national level, let alone to seek international assistance. . . ~.. ... .. . . ... DR. MAHLER: I want to make it clear that I did not say "g vex ~rnments"; I said "people," and there is a big difference. The United Nations system was set up for people, not for ephemeral governments. They are more or less representative of a lot of people, but it is important to remember that they were set up for the sake of people. Therefore, we have to manipulate the system whenever it is necessary, particularly if governments are not permitting us to get to where the action should be in mobilizing people themselves, in examining their needs. That is what I meant.
OCR for page 102
102 DR. GWATKIN: I was interested that the question of whether we are doing better or worse came only from the next-to-last commentator in our conversation. I thought that this would be fundamental in a discussion of nutri- tion issues for the rest of the 1980s and the l990s. This unresolved question of whether nutritional status is better or worse is a very persuasive argument in favor of the kind of documentation facility-Dr. Chen was suggesting, and I know that there have been conver- sations about this within the nutrition community as well. I second his suggestion that this be given serious consideration. The need for it is brought home by a striking example. A top-priority item should be simply tracking nutritional trends--what we are doing best, what we are doing worst, what we are improving in. This would be comparable with what has traditionally been done for birth rates and death rates. It is particularly important if there is some possibility, as you suggest, that the two might start moving in different directions. I have long assumed that the two would move in similar directions. ~rat -~ 2 ~' ''' N~ltr'tion is important In Keen morCallcy low. If death rates are falling, we need not be too concerned about independent nutritional measures, because we can assume that nutrition is improving. I am not prepared to abandon that assumption yet, but there is an argument that it is going the other way; that is an important reason to start collecting independent information. That is in part because of the mortality information; but, even more important, for the reason that Richard Jolly implied, this kind of information is needed if we are going to have economic progress with a human face. I would suggest that this is something that the Food and Nutrition Board might look into. DR. MERTZ: Some 10 or 20 years ago, birth control would have been a prominent topic in a conference like this. Although most speakers have mentioned birth control or child spacing here, it was only in passing. I wonder why that is so. Have we given up on the concept? DR. MAHLER: Dr. Mertz, I agree that perhaps it was pushed aside in the discussion, although I wanted to bring some emphasis when I spoke of maternal and child welfare, including family planning, because I speak from the health angle.
OCR for page 103
103 I believe that "God does not speak to an empty stomach," as Gandhi said. The food and nutrition issue ~ concerns of families, their home economics, future vision, and hopes. A broad- based food and nutrition program gives a much better opportunity to address family planning and make people feel the need for child spacing and education. Food and nutrition must be used as much as possible as one of the vital points of entry to reach families in need in addressing family planning. is a powerful instrument to address DR. CHEN: You are raising a very important point. In our push in health and nutrition technologies in some regions and societies, careful attention needs to be paid to the balance of technologies made available. The rapid population growth in Africa is a very serious concern. I also expressed concern about the introduction of single isolated health interventions and technologies without adequate attention to such problems as birth spacing. It is of deep concern, although in other countries it might not be as important. In some regions, I believe that it is incumbent on the scientific community to Generate the knowledge and the support for a balanced technological approach. DR. SAI: Unhappily, we are beginning to feel that the population issue is a nonissue, or at any rate an issue not subject to critical intervention in the same way as other issues. That might not be serving the cause of development. I agree with what Dr. Chen has just said, that any approach to the needs of people, especially women and children, should consider their roles in society, their educational and employment needs, and population planning. If we look at this question from the point of view of maternal and child health, anyone working in maternal and child health in Africa who omits family planning for child spacing is omitting one of the most powerful preventive medicine tools that is available today. DR. ROGERS: Dr. Galbraith has suggested that we were trying to impose characteristics of development that were perceived from the perspective of developed countries. If I recall correctly, in the days when the United States
OCR for page 104
104 was a developing country and had an agricultural base, large families' were very desirable. I expect, although I do not know it for a fact, that that was true in other agrarian societies as well.: If we go back to the comments made earlier about the development process, we should lookout it from the perspective of those countries end' acknowledge that it is only with the certainty of alternative employment, and with it the certainty of a full stomach and good health, that we can even start to talk about substantial changes in fertility. All of us are aware that rapid population growth underlies many of the problems we have been discussing here, but I viewed the absence of discussion about family planning as healthy. We want to address nutrition, maternal and child health care, and the role of women as the most basic issues. When we do that effectively, population control will come along quite well. DR. LUNVEN: Dr. Mertz is right in saying that there is a decline in emphasis on family planning, and there are various reasons. There are doubts about its efficiency, and some governments, such as in Mexico, have been considering that increased population is desirable. The goal that the Mexican government has set is for 100 million people by the year 2000. Conditions have changed in 10 years, and man-made and natural disasters have changed the picture. The view- points of governments have also changed. On the basis of the World Bank report, the African countries that met in the original conference last year produced the Harrari Declaration. In it, they agree with the World Bank's statement that, whatever~the amount of external assist- ance provided for agricultural development in Africa, the race for economic development cannot be won if the popu- lation problem is not taken care of. It was a voluntary declaration that they would adopt population policies to limit population growth. DR. JEFROM: I would like to address my question to either Dr. Mellor or Dr. Lunven; both spoke of urbani- zation or labor movement as affecting agricultural pro- duction. Having lived in both developing and developed countries, I assumed that the impact of urbanization was not as disastrous in developed countries as in developing
OCR for page 105
105 countries. Some planners have suggested that decen- tralization should be promoted in developing countri What are the tradeoffs? DR. MELLOR: I think the issue probably should be seen less as a matter of urban vs. rural than as a matter of the pattern of urbanization. What we have had is a megalopolis--one city that dominates the country and becomes extremely large. There has been a pattern of capital-intensive import displacement and export-led strategies of growth that has driven this pattern of urbanization. The alternative is a much more diffuse pattern of urbanization in which market towns are developed throughout the rural regions with different towns of different sizes. This took place in much of western Europe and North America during their growth from an original agrarian base. This pattern of urbanization produces more employment than the alternative pattern, which has lower per capita costs for central services in the urban area. I think no country would want to remain primarily rural, because that would mean that the production pattern and the consumption pattern are both mostly agricultural, and there is not much variety in that. There is almost no margin for error; if bad weather strikes, food consumption has to be cut. Presumably everyone wants to diversify consumption and production, and that calls for urbanization. However, there could be a much healthier pattern of urbanization. Investment patterns, rates of return of various programs, and so on would be different if the bulk of the urban population were in towns of 10,000 to 100,000, rather than cities of 10 million. When we start examining the mix between health and nutrition, we must think in terms of the nature of the development strategy and its effect on the pattern of urbanization. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: For about a decade, there has been a division between people whose objective is to reduce the misery of mankind and those who look for strategies for growth and simply have not produced any food or any employment. What was not achieved by the disaffection with the growth strategies of the 1950s and the early 1960s is a
OCR for page 106
106 reorientation of growth in a way that creates employment, values people's health, and leads to productive lives. I am not saying that the objective is necessarily growth per se. However, if a family cannot do anything to improve its economic well-being, improving its health and nutritional status will not solve its problems. It leads to continuous dependence on handouts from UNICEF or some other organization. We need to show humanitarian audi- ences that there is something more than improving the physical well-being of people. People need to have some other objective and some way in which they are integrated into the society and its larger economic activities. Even given the humanitarian concern, the choices in development should be considered, and choices should be made that are related not only to the objectives, but to the instruments used to move toward the objectives. DR. MAHLER: To prevent our darkness of today from becoming our doubt of tomorrow, we need to increase our information on food and nutrition. I claim a knowledge about some things in India, and I disagree violently with some of the statements that have been made about India. We recently returned after 25 years to 100 villages chosen at random in southern India, and there had been dramatic changes for the better. So, let us not just say blankly, "Well, nothing has been happening in India." Modernization can be shown in this random sample of 3 million in southern India. It is important to chal- lenge ourselves to look at our information base. We need better information so that we are able to say things with greater relevance.
Representative terms from entire chapter: | <urn:uuid:5cf2ad52-4b00-437f-86e2-62953b1571f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1016&page=95 | 2013-05-26T09:43:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973383 | 4,574 |
It’s been a five years since I last visited India, which was with my friend Chindi Varadarajulu, who used to own the wonderful Chutney Villa Restaurant on Broadway. It was there I first had my introduction to dosas, those delicate and large crisp crepes made of fermented rice and lentil batter.
Now it was the North to visit, set on the Golden Triangle of Rajasthan. A guest of Etihad Airways, I flew to Toronto with my partner and photographer Michel Chicoine on Saturday morning, early enough to have dinner with one of my dear Toronto culinary friends, Bonnie Stern. Arriving into a light snow fall, we headed to meet at the stunning new Shangri-la Hotel Toronto, the second property to be built in Canada for this renowned Hong-Kong based luxury hotel chain. Towering some 66 stories across from the Four Seasons Opera House, The new Shangri-la is somewhat similar to Vancouver’s property with its shimmering glass walls reflecting as a beacon in the centre of the metropolis.
Unfortunately we had such little time to spend at the hotel this trip, it was mainly to see their new executive chef, the talented Damon Campbell, who for some 5 years was the brilliant restaurant chef at Vancouver’s famed Diva at the Met. Since his much missed departure, I have kept track of his travels, from the Shangri-la Kuala Lumpur’s elegant Restaurant Lafite and most recently at the hotel chain’s property in Manila, Damon has returned to Canadian soil, opening Bosk, the hotel’s hip and stylish restaurant. Set apart from the spacious zen-like glass-walled lobby and lounge, Bosk is set in a quieter corner, separated from their glass baubled ceiling bar and warmed by the restaurant’s wood-relief showcase feature wall.
I wanted to see how Damon has developed on his culinary journey after being away from his homeland for the past few years. Once again he didn’t disappoint. Damon also pulled another Vancouver talent as part of his brigade, the also young and talented Jeff Kang, up until Valentine’s Day, the sous-chef from Chef Hamid Salimian’s incredible kitchen, also from Diva at The Met.
Although it was a quick pre-flight dinner, we didn’t feel rushed as we opened with a sublime Dungeness crab and citrus salad, so reminiscent of his West Coast days.
A brilliant and intense onion consommé is garnished with a light shaving of prosciutto and pickled shimeji mushrooms.
Luscious deep sea scallops, lightly seared, cut and plated like sails set on a river of sesame miso, contrasted with crispy puffed rice for texture.
A spectacular seared foie gras comes graced with a delicate crumble of coffee and chocolate, enhanced with a puree of roasted banana and a cube of pain doree.
A small tournedos of venison is set upon a rich reduction with brussels spout leaves and maitake mushrooms. And for a light finish, a comforting coconut tapioca pudding, glorified with passion fruit gelees and a sesame tuile. I hated to dine and dash but the falling snow started getting us nervous. But I know I’ll be back again to experience this new landmark hotel and to savour another one of Chef Damon and Chef Jeff’s talented menus. So proud to see a couple of passionate West Coasters breaking into the Toronto culinary scene.
Usually taking only 45 minutes or so to Pearson International, the downpour of snow made the trip an unbearable 1½ hours but we made it in time for check-in. One of my favourite planes to fly on, the Boeing 777, I was impressed to see how Etihad configured their Pearl Business Class. Unlike Cathay or Air Canada’s angled configuration, Etihad configures this section with private single pods for the typical traveling businessman, but they have more spacious side-by-side seating for couples.
It was my first experience on this Abu Dhabi based airline and loved the beautiful uniforms and traditional headwear the stunning staff wore. Comfortable and private, I enjoyed having the privacy of my cocoon-like pod.
Although we left on time, it took 4 long hours before we actually flew out of Pearson. Because of the snowstorm, the tractors that tried to pull us away from the bridge slipped and had to get reinforced with chains, plus the accumulated snow had to be plowed from under the massive wheels. This was a first for me to experience a snow trapped plane! But it was the staff that I was impressed with as they provided us their courteous charm and comfort during this stressful delay (stressful because we had a connecting flight, which we would later find we missed!). Finally in air, it was the inflight menu I was interested in and to see if Etihad lived to its quality as so many airlines try to promote.
Their menu was impressive showcasing worldly dishes alongside Middle Eastern selections from a la carte to an open menu for dining anytime during the 12 ½ hour flight. Starting with a mild flavoured leek soup, garnished with a dllop of sour cream and chives, I was impressed with the modest plate of Arabic mezzes of a domades, hummus, baba ganoush to a mildly cumin and cinnamon spiked kefka. Following their regional selections, I chose their Arabic-spiced lamb casserole with aromatic basmati rice and ratatouille (which was perfectly cooked which I wasn’t expecting…usually the overcooked mush). I ended with a wonderful warm apple and cinnamon rice pudding, perfectly cooked with short-grain rice, creamy and garnished with crisp apple chips. A couple of those blue pills, and it was a comfortable 8 hours of sleep, waking up to a fresh fruit smoothie and overlooking the ubiquitous farmhouse breakfast, to a traditional breakfast of Peas Rawa, the chana masala with pakora bread. Satisfying!
But knowing we would have missed our connecting flight and expecting a hectic transfer desk, I was impressed with how we were greeted upon arrival as they had signs up for all those passengers missing their connecting destinations. Our small group of 5 who were headed to Chennai, were taken directly to a separate line and dealt with individually. Unfortunately rather than waiting for the next flight to Chennai, which meant waiting at the airport for 22 hours, we opted for getting a flight to Muscat, Oman after a 4-hour wait then onto Chennai. | <urn:uuid:0568d618-ffe2-489d-9601-3586152be159> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/02/18/enroute-to-the-golden-triangle-rajasthan/ | 2013-05-19T02:01:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964151 | 1,377 |
For the first time in an entire year, the whole family packed up and headed off the ranch for three nights. We had to be in Amarillo by Friday morning. The kids were slated to perform at various schools and at the WRCA (Working Ranch Cowboy Association) WCRR (World Championship Ranch Rodeo) this weekend. My daughter has been performing her cowboy poetry and my son has just recently begun playing his guitar. We have some dear friends who included them in their performances. So this weekend we rode to Amarillo on the coattails of the kids. Hotel rooms and tickets for the Ranch Rodeo were paid for by the WRCA. This is one awesome organization! The people are just amazing and they promote and support the working ranch industry and cowboy lifestyle across the country. It's an organization that is filled with honest, hardworking people who love what they do and will give you the shirt off of their back in order to help you. Here's their cool link if you want to know more about them or read about our fun weekend:
Come to think of it, I lied. My DH did spend one other night away from the ranch this year. He and DS went to Kansas for a bull sale this spring. It was a fast-paced 1,000 mile trip. Up to Kansas one day, sale the next and back the same day. DS had just gotten his driver's license and when they returned,
I asked him: "So, did you drive any?"
His reply: "A little"
Me: How far did you drive?
DS: All the way from Kansas
Whoa! Guess he's getting experience. He drives most of the time now. I am getting spoiled and will have to renew my driving abilities before long. I have gotten spoiled having a personal chauffeur.
Oops, there I go, off on another tangent. I should warn you that I tend to do that quite often.
So we really enjoyed our time away. This weekend is something akin to a family reunion. Everyone in the ranching community attends and we get caught up on who moved where, ranches that changed hands, new additions to families, visit with old friends, make new friends, watch lots of cool horses in the ranch horse competition, cheer on friends, AND get all of our Christmas shopping done! This is the first time that we didn't have to make a fast and furious trip out of it. Now that we have help here on the ranch, we were able to enjoy out time away and not fret over things here at home although my handsome cowboy is always on the job. Even while we were there for fun, he never stops thinking about work. We spent a long time at the T&S Trip Hopper (they make range cattle feeders) booth making arrangements to order parts for one of our feeders, at the Peterson Waterer booth to inquire about their livestock waterers (we are looking to replace what we have in the pens, which we will be expanding), at the Hughs trailer booth to stay up to date on new improvements and changes in design and at the Texas Range Mineral booth for an entire course on bovine nutrition and a refresher course in Organic Chemistry. Whew! I learned a lot and surprisingly, with the exception of the the Organic Chemistry (it took me right back to that dreaded classroom at A&M. I shudder at the memories of that class), I enjoyed every minute.
And boy, did we splurge this weekend. No trip to town is complete without a trip to the bookstore. We found the nearest Barnes & Noble before supper when we drove into town. My family flocks to bookstores like ducks to water. A Bible for me (my only purchase this weekend), a Sherlock Holmes book for the kids, a Performance Horse magazine for DH and lots of perusing the aisles.
After watching the Ranch Horse Competion, DS and I pointed the truck to the big music store down the road. He would like to get a new guitar and he has been intense on researching the various brands. He spent 2 glorious hours in a room filled with guitars, but I think he came away more confused than when he went in, so the search continues.
My family was also close to running bare-naked and they were in desparate need of clothing so a run to the local western store was on the agenda. Apparently we are an odd shaped family. My DD is 14 and wears a 36" (soon to be 38") inseam and a 35" sleeve length. DS is 17 and wears a 38" (soon to be 40") inseam and a 37-38" sleeve length and likes button shirts. And DH cannot wear the S-M-L shirts that are readily available in today's stores. The sleeves aren't long enough so finding a 37" sleeve length, with snaps, in a shirt he likes, that is not a work shirt(His entire work wawrdrobe consists of light blue chambray for summer, heavier dark blue denim and tan for winter.), requires much hunting. Sigh! So off we go and once we enter the store, my family disappears in all different directions like a scattered herd of horses. One very smart, sweet young man takes us all under his wing and spends an hour tending to all of us. Every time I would lay something over my arm, he would appear and ask if I would like for him to take it to the front. He kept tabs on each of us, was very helpful and not pushy at all. I spent my time wandering from one family member to another, asking what they found or helping them make selections. I didn't need anything. I am not rough on my clothes and hopefully I am not still growing! Hard to find clothes that look good on fluffy moms! Thankfully, everyone found enough to keep them clothed for the next year or two. The girls at the counter were helpful as well. Wrangler was running a promotion where you received a $20.00 rebate for a $60.00 purchase. That, plus the sales, made me happy! The girls rang up our purchases separately so that we could send in for multiple rebates. That extra $80.00 will be most welcome!
When we pulled out on Sunday, the boys made plans to stop in at Gander Mountain ~ an easy place to part with your money! I think they are set for all hunting exploits for a good while! They too were running a deal on ammo and the man who checked us out gave us an even better one! 20% off the entire purchase, plus 50% off a bunch of our purchases. The boys left with big smiles.
We don't shop often. None of us enjoy it, but we did all of our shopping for the entire year in one weekend and that makes us happy! Now if I could only find a way to avoid that grocery store!
We really enjoyed the weekend, but we are glad to be home. Nothing like turning onto our dirt road and thanking the good Lord that we don't live in the city! | <urn:uuid:8d4398e3-da90-4aec-9fda-9c4e9206242f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dirtroadscrapper.blogspot.com/2007/11/amarillo-by-morning.html | 2013-05-19T02:01:20Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978759 | 1,464 |
You may have never realized how tough it is for an American liberal when the Olympics roll around. On the one hand, it’s an event that naturally lends itself to patriotism because the teams are broken down by nations. On the other hand, liberals don’t like America very much and the idea of publicly showing love for their country appalls them.
Here’s leftie David Sirota explaining it in a beyond-parody column called, “Don’t chant ‘U.S.A.!’ It’s liberal Americans’ Olympic dilemma: How do they root for their countrymen without being jingoistic?”
And yet, as I’ve grown older, I find my “U.S.A.!”-chanting reflex increasingly interrupted by pangs of discomfort, and not because I’m ashamed of our country or our Olympians, but because the relationship between American nationalism and the Olympics has been slowly infused with a different — and politicized — meaning. In short, chanting the initials of our nation seems less like it did in 1984 than it has since 1992.
…In this sense, the shrieks of “USA!” for our athletes take on a “doth protest too much” quality. Our shiny medallions and our patriotic braying reassure us that, despite our slipping world standing, we at least still kick international ass in the competition that gets the highest Nielsen ratings. Meanwhile, the downward standard of living trends persist at home and anti-Americanism festers abroad among a community of nations that often perceives us to be more trash-talking aggressor than humble friend. As if deliberately perpetuating the cycle, our Olympic victories — and celebrations of those wins — then (wrongly) convince us of our ongoing superiority, while robbing those weaker nations of any wins that might give them a fleeting feeling of self-empowerment or sovereignty against us. In other words, we are further distracted, and they further emasculated by us militarily, economically, geopolitically and, every four years, athletically. And so the cycle continues…
Noting all of this isn’t to pretend I’ll be rooting for some other nation. A boy can mature beyond his infantile displays of hyper-patriotism, but the sense of American solidarity will always remain. That means in every individual contest I watch, I’ll almost certainly be pulling for the red-white-and-blue (and probably with the occasional “USA!” outburst).
However, I’ve outgrown the lust for an overpowering victory that has us, medal-count-wise, leave everyone else in the dust. I’ve outgrown it because while I know our athletes deserve our support and respect, I also know that the same respect is due all the competitors from all the nations at the games — and respect is something wholly different from complete conquest.
It’s a truism we should remember when watching the Olympics — and when contemplating the larger world.
Why can’t liberals be honest instead of always doing this tap dance? They don’t want to wave the flag, they think it’s gauche to chant “USA, USA, USA,” they view themselves as citizens of the world, they minimalize all the good things about this country and all the great things we’ve done for the world, they have 34 complaints about America they want to let you know about — but they don’t want to admit they’re not patriotic.
Conservatives don’t have to publicly tell people they’re not “ashamed of our country” or say things things like, “I’ll almost certainly be pulling for the red-white-and-blue,” because it already shows in the way that they behave. In other words, no one would be wondering in the first place. Liberals like Dave Sirota are always the ones who have to make those sort of claims because if they didn’t say that, you’d easily reach the correct conclusion, which is that they’re unpatriotic and don’t love this country.
PS: I’m not saying that every liberal is unpatriotic and every conservative loves his country just as I wouldn’t say that every conservative wants to cut the size of government while every liberal wants to grow it. But, there’s a reason people associate small government and patriotism with conservatives while they associate big government and a lack of patriotism with liberals. It’s no coincidence that you regularly see articles like this from the left; it’s a reflection of the ideology that has enslaved them. | <urn:uuid:75f4de5d-8641-4c46-8ffb-7c3d74796996> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dustinstockton.com/2012/08/liberal-faces-horrible-dilemma-how-to-cheer-at-the-olympics-without-appearing-patriotic/ | 2013-05-19T02:17:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942197 | 998 |
Joint Press Availability With Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis
Secretary of State
Madam Secretary, I think that we have had very good talks, so we have touched upon many issues. Let me highlight the most important one. Greece and the U.S. are natural friends and allies, and I am not only talking about mutual economic interests, which are, of course, important, but I’m talking about our joint passion for freedom and liberty. And this is something which comes – overcomes national borders. Friends prove themselves in difficult times, and as we know, Greece is doing through difficult times right now. The United States (inaudible) firm and steadfast manner, in a decisive manner. We have – we believe that we shall come out of this difficulty victorious. Many on both sides of the Atlantic have bet on the collapse of Greece, and they have been proven wrong. We will continue to prove them wrong, and this – and to this, our collaboration will be very important.
We have also discussed the opportunities which appear in this country for investment, for tourism, which we expect and we hope will interest – is of interest to everybody in this hall. We have also discussed issues relating to our normal job, the foreign affairs issues. We have reviewed the discussions, political discussions and the Contact Group for Libya. We will be in touch and we will be in touch in September in our efforts to revise the peace process.
We have also talked about the Balkans, which is a top priority for Greece, but this is a vision which we share with the U.S.. We want peace, stability, and security in our region. We want to do away with the nationalist feelings of the past and for all the countries in the region to build a relationship of cooperation under our joint European home. I have told the Secretary of State that instead of trying to rewrite history, this is a good opportunity for us to write history, to make history, and this is something we should all try to achieve.
Also, we have the 2014 agenda which we have also discussed. I also had the opportunity of informing the Secretary about the negotiations on the Cyprus issue. I believe that it is possible to make progress, but this, of course, mainly requires political will on the – on behalf of Ankara. We have also discussed the efforts to normalize Greek-Turkish relations, the progress achieved, the remaining difficulties. And I am especially happy in conclusion, my dear Hillary – I’m especially happy to say that later on today we will be signing an MOU to do away with the smuggling of antiquities. And with this opportunity, we will have – we will visit the Acropolis museum together with my friend, minister of culture of Greece.
Ladies and gentlemen, here beside me stands a lady who is a friend of Greece, a friend of Hellenism, a person who has forged strong bonds of trust with the Greek-American community, which is a permanent bond linking Greece to the United States. Welcome to Greece, Madam Secretary.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Stavros, and it is a great pleasure for me to be here for this meeting, and I am greatly honored that I am your first foreign minister visitor. But you are becoming quickly a veteran in just one month in office. And I am also pleased to be here during these challenging times to demonstrate unequivocally the strong support that the United States has for Greece. We know that we are your friend and we are your ally and we are proud to be both. We stand by the people and Government of Greece as you put your country back on a path to economic stability and prosperity.
It is, for us, essential because we have a lot riding on our relationship together. As a NATO ally, we appreciate Greece’s partnership on a shared agenda that spans the globe. The foreign minister and I have just completed a very productive conversation, not just about Greece’s immediate challenges but about the full range of issues that form the core of our enduring alliance. We discussed our ongoing efforts in the NATO coalition operations to protect civilians and help the Libyan people claim a better future. Our diplomatic and military efforts are gaining momentum, and we are grateful for Greece’s engagement and support, especially your willingness to host coalition military assets at Souda Bay and other sites close to Libya.
We also are concerned about what’s going on in Syria, and we have condemned the violence. And I appreciate Greece’s support in speaking strongly against the attack on our Embassy and the French Embassy in Damascus. We will work together as part of the international community to support a vision for a Syria with representative government, respect for civil liberties, equal protection for all citizens under the law.
We will also continue to work with Greece to support democratic transitions across the Middle East and North Africa. We commend the Greek Government for seeking a constructive approach in consultation with the United Nations to addressing the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza and working to avoid the risks that come with attempts to sail directly to Gaza.
At a moment when domestic issues are rightly taking center stage here in Greece, we remain grateful for Greece’s continued engagement in meeting the shared challenges we confront. I appreciate the work that Prime Minister Papandreou and the government are doing to resolve many longstanding issues and integrate the Western Balkans into European and transatlantic institutions.
Now, of course, Greece and the United States are bound together by far more than our shared challenges. We are bound together by our shared values. In fact, we are grateful for Greece’s contribution to those values and their enduring legacy. Millions of Americans claim Greek ancestry, and last year President Obama was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Papandreou to the White House to celebrate Greece’s entry into our Visa Waiver Program. That makes it easier for Greeks to visit family and friends in the United States. And later today, as the minister said, we will be signing a cultural preservation agreement to make it more difficult for looters and smugglers to make that same trip carrying Greece’s historic treasures. That will protect tourism and ensure that the remarkable cultural heritage of this country remains in the hands of the Greek people.
And finally let me say just a few words about the economic situation in Greece. Americans know these are difficult days, and again, we stand with you as friends and allies. The United States strongly supports the Papandreou’s government’s determination to make the necessary reforms, to put Greece back on sound financial footing, and to make Greece more competitive economically. Committing to bring down the deficit and passing the medium-term fiscal strategy were vital first steps. We know these were not easy decisions. They were acts of leadership. And those acts of leadership will help to build a better economic future.
Now the challenge will be to keep moving forward with the same determination and commitment to make good on the fiscal targets and continue to deliver reform that drives future growth. Now, in many cases, these changes will require immediate and sustained implementation. And while the payoff for these sacrifices may not come quickly, it will come. We know that. We can look around the world and point to successful examples. And we also know that the price of inaction would have been far higher now and far into the future. The steps ahead will not, they cannot, be pain-free, but there is a path forward to resolve Greece’s economic stability and to restore Greece’s economic strength. I have faith in the resilience of the Greek people and I applaud the Greek Government on its willingness to take these difficult steps. Greece has inspired the world before, and I have every confidence that you are doing so again. And as you do what you must to bring your economy back to health, you will have the full support of the United States.
And so again, Minister, thank you for this opportunity to visit with you and thank you also for this chance to express from my heart our strong support for what Greece and particularly the Greek people are facing, but also to reiterate our confidence that this will be the path forward that will pay off, not only now but for generations to come.
QUESTION: Good morning, Madam Secretary. You have said that rising deficits are a national security issue for the United States, so it’s presumably also the case for Greece and parts of the EU. Are you concerned that the Europe crisis, the debt crisis, might undercut NATO’s ability to finance its missions? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Christophe, I am not. I think the NATO alliance is undergoing some very important analysis about how we will continue to be the strongest military and operational alliance in the history of the world. The NATO allies know how important this alliance is to our own security and to those problems that are over the horizon but which affect the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic community. So yes, will there be some changes that we will foresee in the future? Of course. What has made NATO such a strong, vibrant, enduring alliance is that we have had to evolve and reform our own internal processes from time to time. But the United States not only has great confidence in NATO, we are committed to the fulfillment of the strategic vision that was adopted unanimously at the Lisbon summit and which we think provides the foundation for what needs to be done in the future.
QUESTION: (Via interpreter) I have a question to both of you. You referred to the economic crisis. Both the U.S. and Europe are suffering because of an economic crisis. This – last year we were talking about Greek crisis. This year we’re talking about European crisis. You did mention some things, nevertheless society is feeling gloomy, and I would like to ask you politicians can you offer an optimistic message to society, tell people that what they are sacrificing will pay off?
FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBRINIDIS: (Via interpreter) There is no question that today’s Greece has nothing to do whatsoever with Greece of two years ago. There is no question that despite the doomsayers, we are proceeding and that we shall come out of this victorious. Of course, we have no magic solutions, but there is no question the sacrifices that the Greek people have made have not only done away with the very real past risk of default but will create a sound basis for recovery.
And of course, we need the Greek measures, but we also need European solidarity. The European solidarity, which we believe and hope will express itself in a key manner in the near future, is very important because in a united Europe, hope or the light at the end of the tunnel is not about each individual country, but it is about our immense economic power when we all stand together more than 500 million people in 27 countries. This message was a bit lost on – was almost lost in some member-states recently, but the fact that Greece has regained in credibility with the sacrifices and the important measures that we are taking has brought us back to the forefront of – to the center of discussion and has brought us, I believe, at the forefront of a Europe of growth which will offer jobs to our citizens, to their citizens.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, of course, I agree with what the minister said, and let me just put it into context from what we see looking from the United States toward Greece. We believe that the recent legislation that was passed will make Greece more competitive, will make Greece more business-friendly. We think that is essential for the kind of growth and recovery that is expected in the 21st century when businesses can go anywhere in the world and capital can follow. We think that will provide a firm financial footing on which Greece will be able increasingly to attract businesses and create the jobs that Stavros said are absolutely important for the Greek people. Because businesses seek consistent, predictable regulatory and taxation regimes. Investors seek a level playing field. They expect transparency, streamlined procedures, protection of commercial and intellectual property rights, effective contract enforcement, all of which was part of your reform package.
Therefore, I am not here to in any way downplay the immediate challenges, because they are real, but I am here to say that we believe strongly that this will give Greece a very strong economy going forward. There are lots of analogies – having to take the strong medicine that tastes terrible when it goes down and you wish you didn’t have to, or the chemotherapy to get rid of the cancer. There are all kinds of analogies. But the bottom line is this is the best approach and we strongly support it.
FOREIGN MINISTER LAMBRINIDIS: Thank you very much. Hillary, thank you so much. | <urn:uuid:880dd21f-cdd2-4bb0-802e-66a6aff84e4a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.state.gov/md168669.htm | 2013-05-19T02:07:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963944 | 2,611 |
Visible Minorities under the Canadian Employment Equity Act, 1987-1999
Harish C. Jain
MGD School of Business,
John J. Lawler
Institute of Labour and Industrial Relations,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
This study focuses on the effectiveness of the federal Employment Equity Act (EEA). We assess the EEA with regard to visible minority (VM) employees using quantitative data from employer reports published under the provisions of the EEA and the Canadian Census. Data in this study cover the period 1987 to 1999. We find that large companies, and larger employment groups within companies, have higher levels of employment equity attainment. There are also considerable variations in employment equity attainment across industrial sectors, across provinces and across occupations. Overall, there has been general improvement in employment equity (EE) attainment over time. However, visible minorities continue to be disadvantaged in management, sales and service and technical positions. Several policy implications are drawn from these findings.
Les minorités visibles sous la législation canadienne de l’équité en emploi, 1987-1999
Cette étude s’intéresse à l’efficacité de la législation sur l’équité en emploi. Nous évaluons cette loi visant les travailleurs de la minorité visible en faisant appel à des données quantitatives qu’on retrouve dans les rapports des employeurs publiés en application des dispositions de la législation et à celles tirées du recensement canadien. Ces données couvrent la période 1987-1999.
Notre étude porte sur la relation entre le degré d’atteinte de l’équité en emploi eu égard aux minorités visibles sous la législation et une gamme de facteurs contextuels. On y présente des conclusions importantes et nombreuses.
En premier lieu, tel que prévu, les plus grandes entreprises et les groupes occupationnels les plus importants présentent des niveaux plus élevés d’atteinte de l’équité en emploi. On peut attribuer ce fait à la taille en relation avec la visibilité des organisations et à la disponibilité de ressources plus abondantes pour rencontrer des objectifs d’équité.
En deuxième lieu, il y a beaucoup de variation entre les secteurs industriels en termes d’atteinte de l’équité; le secteur bancaire présentant des niveaux les plus élevés, ce que nous avions anticipé. Encore là, on peut attribuer cela à la visibilité des banques et au fait que le secteur bancaire ne présente pas les mêmes pressions concurrentielles qu’on observe dans les secteurs des communications et des transports. Alors les banques ont plutôt des ressources en surplus qu’elles peuvent allouer au support des efforts exigés par la loi et peut-être qu’elles sont, à cause de leur taille, plus sensibles à la surveillance des organismes de régulation.
En troisième lieu, on observe également une variation importante d’une province à une autre en termes de degré d’atteinte de l’équité, avec des niveaux, à notre grande surprise, remarquablement faibles dans les provinces où on retrouve les plus fortes concentrations de minorités visibles (par exemple, l’Ontario et la Colombie-Britannique). Il s’agit là d’un résultat que nous n’avions pas anticipé. Peut-être cela est-il dû au grand nombre d’immigrants résidant dans ces provinces au cours des dernières années, de sorte qu’on a pu constater la présence d’un nombre disproportionné de personnes ayant des aptitudes limitées au plan du langage et au plan de la création de liens avec la communauté plus large. Des groupes de minorités visibles dans les autres provinces ont pu s’intégrer à des communautés mieux établies et ainsi obtenir un accès plus grand aux entreprises en vertu d’une assimilation plus prononcée. De plus, le nombre de minorités visibles de ces provinces est tout à fait minime, de sorte que les entreprises n’ont eu qu’à faire des efforts limités pour atteindre des niveaux respectables d’équité.
En quatrième lieu, nos données indiquent une amélioration générale avec le temps au plan de l’atteinte des objectifs de la législation, qui serait concordante avec l’efficacité de cette même législation.
En cinquième lieu, il n’y a pas d’indication claire à l’effet que les minorités visibles sont surreprésentées dans le marché du travail secondaire. Enfin, nous avons constaté que le degré de réalisation des objectifs de la loi varie considérablement d’une occupation à une autre. Les minorités visibles sont particulièrement désavantagées dans les positions de gérance, de professionnels et de représentants commerciaux, tout comme dans les emplois manuels spécialisés.
Plusieurs implications tant d’ordre politique que pratique découlent de ces observations, ce qui inclut une intervention accrue de la part de la Commission canadienne des droits de la personne, une plus grande préoccupation à l’égard des iniquités occupationnelles et des disparités sectorielles, de la taille des entreprises et du groupe d’emploi :
Les employés appartenant à des minorités visibles dans les entreprises assujetties à la Loi sur l’équité en emploi sont toujours sous représentés de façon significative. Il existe un nombre relativement imposant de cas où la représentation des minorités visibles est extrêmement faible, voire même inexistante. C’est pourquoi il apparaît évident qu’une application intensifiée et sévère de la loi en faveur du groupe des minorités visibles est nécessaire de la part de la Commission canadienne des droits de la personne.
Il existe également des disparités flagrantes au plan des occasions d’emploi pour les employés appartenant à des minorités visibles au sein de nombreuses occupations. Plus précisément, il semble qu’une sorte de « plafond de verre » existe et se traduit pour les employés des minorités visibles en termes d’accès aux positions de gérance intermédiaire aussi bien qu’une sous représentation dans les occupations de service et de vente. Les emplois dans ces secteurs, particulièrement celui des services, sont en croissance et, par conséquent, ils deviennent importants pour le bien-être des minorités visibles (plus précisément, dans les occupations reliées à la vente et aux services).
Dans les secteurs des transports et des communications, les employés des minorités visibles demeurent remarquablement sous représentés. Il devient important pour les entreprises d’adopter des politiques proactives en matière de recrutement et de promotion, de fixer des objectifs significatifs et des agendas de réalisation en vue d’améliorer la représentation des minorités.
Les employés des minorités visibles apparaissent aussi sous représentés dans les plus petites entreprises. La Commission des droits de la personne doit accorder plus d’attention à la mise en oeuvre et au contrôle de l’équité en emploi dans ces entreprises. C’est d’autant plus critique lorsqu’on constate que ces petites et moyennes entreprises font appel à une proportion croissante et importante de la main-d’oeuvre.
Las minorías visibles conforme al Acta de equidad del empleo, 1987-1999
Este estudio se concentra sobre la eficacia del Acta de Equidad en el Empleo (AEE) de nivel federal. Nosotros evaluamos el AEE respecto a los empleados del grupo de minorías visibles (MV) utilizando los datos cuantitativos de los informes de empleados publicados según las disposiciones del AEE y el Censo Canadiense. Los datos de este estudio cubren el periodo 1987-1999. Nuestros resultados indican que las grandes compañías, y los grupos mas grandes de empleo al interior de las compañías, han alcanzado altos niveles de equidad. Hay también variaciones considerables en la realización de la equidad de empleo a través los sectores industriales, a través las provincias y a través las ocupaciones. En el conjunto, ha habido una mejora general en la realización de la equidad del empleo en este periodo. Sin embargo, las minorías visibles siguen siendo desfavorecidos en los puestos de gestion, de ventas y servicos y en las ocupaciones tecnicas. Varias implicaciones políticas son diseñadas a partir de estos resultados.
The Canadian federal Employment Equity Act (EEA), first passed in 1986 and then significantly amended in 1995, requires efforts by employers in covered sectors (i.e. communications, transportation, and banking) to reduce disparities in employment and workforce representation between designated groups (i.e., women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, and the disabled) and the general workforce, regardless of whether or not this is the consequence of deliberate discrimination. In this study, we focus on EEA effectiveness with regard to visible minority (VM) employees using quantitative data from employer reports published under the provisions of the EEA. Data in our study cover the period 1987 to 1999.
Visible minorities constitute a moving target in terms of representation. Unlike the disabled or aboriginal population, the VM population is growing and varies a great deal across provinces. Thus, matching a target now does not necessarily mean that the target will remain at the same level five years hence. Our work explores employment equity for VM employees over an extended period, to discern whether there is movement toward reasonable equity levels. This is the first study that examines the longitudinal effect (1987-1999) of the federal EE legislation on VMs. This is also the first time that VM data are being analyzed by each province and for detailed occupational categories.
There are a variety of reasons as to why attainment of employment equity may be elusive for visible minorities in Canada. VMs can encounter accreditation challenges that the other designated groups do not. Several studies (Cumming 1989; Jain 1982a, 1982b; Dodge 1972) indicate that overseas degrees are often not recognized by Canadian employers. Since most recent immigrants are VMs, they face a particular hardship in finding jobs consistent with their qualifications. This is because immigration is a federal responsibility and employment, education, and health come under provincial jurisdiction. Most professional organizations are licensed by provincial governments and are often alleged to keep recent immigrants, especially VMs, out of these professions. Some newspaper reports suggest that recent immigrants with doctorates and other professional degrees are often doing low-level jobs (Harding 2003; Jain 2003; Rajpal 2002).
Research by the Canadian Council on Social Development (2000) used both 1996 Census data and panel data on post-secondary graduates from the National Graduate Survey that studied the same individuals two and five years after graduation. Among its key findings:
VMs generally have higher education levels than non-VMs, yet VMs with university education are less likely to hold managerial/professional jobs than non-VMs with similar levels of education
Foreign-born VMs experience greater education-occupation discrepancies compared to other groups; less than half such individuals with a university education have high skill level jobs.
Most VMs with managerial jobs are self-employed.
Foreign-born VMs are over-represented in the lowest income quintile and under-represented in the highest income quintile.
Even Canadian-born VMs are still less likely than foreign-born and Canadian-born non-VMs to be in the top 20% of the income distribution (also see Zuriek (1983) on this point).
There is then a clear pattern of apparent disadvantage in the labour market for VM workers that is reflected both in patterns of employment and in earnings. These findings concern VMs generally, not just those covered under the EEA, so it offers little insight into the impact of the law specifically. However, it establishes that there are pervasive, continuing differences in employment conditions between VMs and non-VMs throughout the Canadian economy, and indicates a need to examine whether or not the EEA has had any impact within the sectors that it covers. One cannot conclude merely from such descriptive data that differences in labour market outcomes for VMs and non-VMs derive from racial discrimination by employers. There may be cultural and related social factors which cause VMs to pursue different career paths than non-VMs, thus resulting in the observed differences between the two groups. Other research, however, indicates that bias and discriminatory intent can be very much at work here.
An early study on the general topic of discrimination (Henry 1978) found that, in a sample of white individuals in Toronto, over 50% of those studied expressed attitudes that could be described to some degree as racist. The report of the Commission of Equality in Employment (Abella 1984) found that non-whites all across Canada complained of facing both overt and indirect discrimination. The report concluded that racial discrimination in employment is a real concern and strong legislative measures were necessary to reverse or inhibit the degree to which members of visible minority groups are unjustifiably excluded from the opportunity to compete as equals. Henry and Ginzberg (1985) used a sample of classified ads in the major newspapers in Toronto to assess employer responses to white versus VM applicants. The authors used direct in-person applications with matched pairs (based on similarity in work experience, skills, and physical characteristics) of black and white applicants. Offers to whites outweighed offers to blacks by a ratio of three to one. In another sample of jobs that were tested by phone inquiries, the percentages of times that white Canadian, white immigrant, West Indian black, and Indo-Pakistani callers were told jobs were open for them were, respectively, 85.2%, 65%, 51.9%, and 47.3%. Furthermore, when employers discriminated among callers by differentially screening them, white Canadians were never screened for their experience or qualifications, while applicants from the other three racial minority groups were frequently screened on these criteria (also see Holzer and Newmark 2000a, 2000b for audit studies; Heckman 1998).
More recent studies demonstrate continuing patterns of employment discrimination against racial minorities. Work on the status of racial minorities in the public services has shown a persistence of discriminatory practices against visible minorities (Samuel 1997; Perinbam 2000). Among other studies in the Canadian context that provide empirical evidence on the representation gap between whites and racial minorities, without directly relating this gap to racial discrimination, are Jain, Singh and Agcos (2000), and Ornstein (2000). Jain, Singh and Agcos (2000) found significant under-representation of racial minorities in selected police services across Canada and indicated that selection and promotion policies that disadvantage minorities may be responsible for this under-representation. Ornstein (2000) found a generally pervasive disparity between members of racial minorities and whites in the City of Toronto in pay, employment rates, and other socio-economic indicators. A longitudinal study by Jain and Al-Waqfi (2001) found widespread employment discrimination against VMs. Reitz and Verma (1999) found that VMs are also substantially underrepresented in unionized jobs. Other things equal, we might expect that jobs covered by collective bargaining agreements would provide generally better working conditions and wages than equivalent non-union jobs. That VMs have less opportunity to obtain these jobs suggests yet another reason as to why they are disadvantaged in the labour market.
In addition to research dealing with employment opportunities for VMs, there are also several studies that deal with earnings outcomes. In light of what is known about employment discrimination, it is not surprising that these studies generally show VM employees have lower wages and earnings than non-minorities, even after controlling the standard human capital variables (Howland and Sakellariou 1993; Baker and Benjamin 1997; Pendakur and Pendakur 1995; Gorrie 2002).
The overall evidence from previous studies thus indicates that racial discrimination is responsible for at least part of the disparity in achievements between various racial minorities and whites in the Canadian labour market. The more important and compelling issue now is not whether racial discrimination exists, but rather how can the situation be rectified. Employment equity laws and regulations, such as the EEA, are intended to provide an institutional tool to lessen the adverse impact of discrimination on designated groups. Given that the EEA has been on the books since 1986, sufficient data are now available to assess its effectiveness in enhancing employment opportunities for visible minorities.
Although provincial and some municipal governments have implemented employment equity programs (Antecol 1998), and at the federal level there is, in addition to the EEA, the federal Contract Compliance Program (Equity Program, July 15, 2001), the EEA is generally seen to be stronger and more comprehensive than these other government-mandated programs (Jain, Sloane and Horwitz 2003; Jain 2001, 1993; Gunderson, Hyatt and Slinn 2002; Taggar, Jain and Gunderson 1997). Gunderson, Meng and Smith (1996) found that the average wage premiums of designated group members was 7.2% higher in companies covered by the EEA relative to companies not covered by the EEA. Earlier studies indicated that women have been the main beneficiaries of the EEA (Blackley and Harvey 1988; Sloane and Jain 1990). Jain and Hacket (1992) also confirmed that the EEA has had a significant effect on increasing the representation of women in organizations covered by the EEA relative to organizations not covered by the law. Several studies have concluded that effects of the EEA differ for white women and women that are also visible minorities, aboriginals or have a disability (Leck and Saunders 1992) and that the wage gap had actually increased for the female members of these designated groups (Leck, Onge and Lalancette 1995).
Our objective is to assess the effectiveness of the EEA in improving quantitative measures of employment equity outcomes. To do this, we use data drawn from a sample of annual reports filed by companies covered under the EEA for the period 1987-1999. Our unit of analysis consists of provincial-wide occupational groups from each of these companies in each year for which data were reported. For example, one observation might consist of data on professionals employed by Air Canada in British Columbia in 1997, while another might be based on administrative and senior clerical personnel employed by the Royal Bank of Canada in Ontario in 1998 or skilled, sales and service personnel employed in Nova Scotia in 1999 by Bell Canada. For simplicity we will refer to a particular unit of observation as an employment group.
Our dependent variable represents the degree to which VM workers within a particular employment group have secured parity in relation to the relevant external labour market. Internal employment equity is defined as the ratio of VM employment in a given employment group to total employment within the same employment group. VM labour market representation is based on census data for the province and is defined as the ratio of VM employment in the corresponding occupational category and province relative to total employment for that occupational category and province. We had census data for two years (1991 and 1996). In order to establish the provincial measure of VM labour force representation for each occupational group in each of the years between 1987 and 1999, we utilized extrapolation and interpolation as described below.
The composite employment equity measure is defined as the difference of the internal equity measure and labour market representation; this is termed VM employment equity (Equation (1)). The value of this measure can be interpreted as the percentage adjustment that would have to be made in the employment group’s relative headcount in order to achieve equity in comparison to the relevant external labour market for the year in question. A value of zero indicates that the firm has achieved, at least in a technical sense, employment equity for VM employees for that particular group. Positive values indicate the firm exceeds objectives defined by the Census data for the employment group in question and negative values indicate VM employees are underrepresented in the firm for the occupation and province in question.
(1) VM_EEc,p,i,t = (VMc,p,i,t /Nc,i,p,t) – (VMc,p,t /Nc,p,t)
VM_EEc,p,i,t = measure of VM employment equity in occupational category c in province p for company i at time t;
VM = number of VM employees in category defined by subscripts;
N = number of all employees in category defined by subscripts.
As mentioned, values for VMc,p,t and Nc,p,t had to be estimated for census off-years. We used the following formula to interpolate values for the period 1991-1996 for year t (Nc,p,t is used in these equations, though the same procedures were used for VMc,p,t):
(2) Nc,p,t = Nc,p,91 + (t-1991) × (Nc,p,96 – Nc,p,91)/5
Nc,p,91 = 1991 Census report of employment occupational category c in province p;
Nc,p,96 = 1996 Census report of employment occupational category c in province p;
We extrapolated the employment values for 1997 to 1999 as:
(3) Nc,p,t = Nc,p,91 + (t – 1996) × (Nc,p,96 – Nc,p,91)/5
The values for the years prior to 1991 were likewise extrapolated:
(4) Nc,p,t = Nc,p,91 - (1991 - t) x (Nc,p,96 - Nc,p,91)/5
One major limitation in this work is that we only have data on organizations covered by the EEA and thus are required to have active employment equity programs in place. Similar research conducted in the U.S. on affirmative action (i.e., employment equity) programs (Leonard 1983, 1984; Holzer and Newmark 2000b) benefited from the fact that not all companies studied were required to have affirmative action (i.e., employment equity) programs in place, so it was possible to contrast companies with affirmative action programs to those without such programs within the same economic sectors. Therefore, in this study we are not able to observe directly the impact of the presence of a legally mandated program on the achievement of employment equity objectives. However, we can observe the impact of several context variables on employment equity outcomes to discern, within the set of covered firms, those conditions under which the EEA has been more versus less effective.
Our explanatory variables include time, occupational categories, geographical location (i.e., province), employment type (full-time, part-time, or temporary), organizational size, employment group size, and industrial sector. Time is measured by the difference of the year of the observation from the year of EEA implementation (1986). EEA reports are filed annually, so there are separate observations for a given employment group for each year in which the firm has had to provide data relevant to the group. The temporal measure is very important as it assesses changes in employment equity over time. An upward trend in employment equity suggests that the EEA may have the desired consequences. It certainly is a necessary condition to establish the effectiveness of the law, but since we are not able to make direct comparisons to similar companies without employment equity provisions, we cannot rule out such changes as to be rooted in broader social change in Canada. However, if the trend is negative, or only weakly positive, then we could conclude that the EEA is having no substantive effect on employment equity. In other words, progress over time with regard to employment equity is a necessary condition to establish EEA effectiveness, though is not sufficient alone to warrant such a conclusion.
The total size of the employer within Canada and the size of the employment group are also included in our analysis as explanatory variables. Prior research on the effectiveness of affirmative action in the U.S. (Leonard 1983, 1984) has shown associations between organizational size and various indicators of affirmative action effectiveness. Overall organizational size might be expected to impact employment equity in a couple of ways. Large companies are more visible to both the public and government regulators. Thus they may be inclined to pursue more aggressive employment equity efforts to avoid adverse publicity and excessive attention from the government. Also, larger organizations typically have more slack resources and thus may be better able to absorb the costs of making employment adjustments. We would anticipate that firm size is positively related to employment equity attainment. We also see the size of the employment group as highly relevant. Larger units will attract more attention and changes in larger units will also have a larger effect on overall firm employment equity. Larger units will normally have more turnover, allowing the firm to make employment adjustments more easily by responding to attrition. Finally, there may be social constraints imposed on change by close-knit groups in smaller units. We would anticipate that employment group size is positively related to employment equity attainment.
Available evidence, as discussed above, suggests something of a “glass ceiling” for VMs in certain occupations. In particular, VMs seem to have quite limited opportunities in managerial occupations. However, in contrast, relatively educated VMs do seem to have considerable access to professional positions. Thus, we would anticipate relatively low employment equity attainment for managerial occupations, but relatively high attainment in professional occupations (Perinbam 2000; National Capital Alliance 1997; Samuel 1997).
The EEA covers three industrial sectors: banking, transportation, and communications. We would anticipate substantial differences in EE attainment across these industries. Banks are generally highly visible organizations as there is a limited number nationally. Moreover, these organizations are typically quite profitable, so have the necessary resources to implement effective EE programs. In contrast, the transportation sector consists of generally less visible organizations and there are far larger numbers of companies in this sector. Thus, the chances of being a target for governmental action are more limited. This sector is also highly competitive and profit margins are more limited than in the banking sector. The same would apply in the case of the communications industry. Thus, we anticipate that banking will have higher levels of employment equity attainment than either communications or transportation. However, we have no strong prior expectations regarding differences between communications and transportation.
Although there would not seem to be previous research on this issue, we include measures of the type of employment, differentiating among full-time, part-time, and temporary employment. Part-time and temporary jobs are generally viewed as part of the secondary labour market (especially temporary jobs). Discrimination would be expected to shunt VM’s into secondary jobs. In addition, recent immigrants might have much greater luck with secondary labour market jobs. If so, we would expect to see higher levels of VMs, even significant over-representation of this group, inpart-time or temporary jobs.
A final variable in our analysis is the province in which the employment group is situated. There is reason to believe that the province will impact employment equity attainment based on the variations across provinces in terms of culture, social relationships, and concentrations of visible minorities. For example, both British Columbia and Ontario have relatively large VM populations and we might assume that translates into social pressure supportive of EE. Thus employment equity attainment might be expected to be relatively high in those provinces. Despite lower concentrations of VMs, Saskatchewan has a liberal political tradition that might be anticipated to promote higher employment equity attainment. In contrast, conservative provinces, such as Alberta, and those with quite low VM concentrations, such as Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, would be anticipated to have lower social pressure supporting equality, thus generating lower levels of employment equity attainment. But the converse could also hold. Provinces with very high VM concentrations (especially Ontario and British Columbia) might have much greater difficulty in employment equity attainment because of the size of the task and there might be more substantial resistance from non-VM employees to EE initiatives as these workers could feel more threatened.
Our sample consists of the 116 companies that filed EEA reports in each year from 1987 either through 1999, or the last year the company was an independent entity (for companies that went out of business, were acquired, or otherwise changed organizational identity). The unit of observation is the employment group (defined above), not the company as a whole. So, although there are 116 companies in this sample, each company consists of a large number of employment groups. Thus the actual sample size depends on the number of employment groups in each company and on the number of years the company is represented in the sample.
The dependent variable (VM employment equity) has been defined above. All of the predictor variables (also discussed above) were obtained from the HRDC database. The predictor variables include:
A set of dummy variables representing the major occupational categories contained in the dataset. As the occupational categories have changed somewhat over the period 1987-1999, we have had to reconcile these changes to assure comparability (see below).
A set of dummy variables representing all provinces. Only provincial data are analyzed here, as the number of cases and units sizes for territorial data are quite small.
A set of dummy variables used to indicate the year of the EEA report. This variable allows us to assess variations in VM employment equity.
Organizational size. This is measured both by the total size of the company’s Canadian operations and by the size of the specific employment group. As both measures have quite skewed distributions, we use the logarithm of the total number of Canadian employees in the company in the year of observation (overall company size) and the logarithm of the total number of employees in the employment group (e.g., sales workers in British Columbia) for the year in question (group size).
Dummy variables indicating industrial sector. The EEA applies to three industrial sectors: communications, banking, and transportation. Dummy variables are included to discern sectoral variations in EEA goal attainment.
Dummy variables indicating employment type. We also investigated differences between full-time employees and those who are either employed on a temporary or part-time basis. Dummy variables differentiate among these three categories of employment.
The regression analysis used sets of dummy variables to parameterize the categorical independent variables, including occupation, industrial sector, province, year of observation, and company. A deviational scoring method was used in all cases. As is normally the case with dummy variables in regression analysis, there is one less dummy variable than the number of categories for a given variable. As an example, in the case of provincial categories, there are nine dummy variables corresponding to the ten provinces. The tenth province (in this case Prince Edward Island) serves as a reference group. Prince Edward Island was chosen as it is small, thus allowing the deviations of the larger and more significant provinces to be discerned from the parameter estimates more readily, as explained below. The dummy variables are coded in the following manner. Each of the nine non-reference group provinces has a corresponding dummy variable. This is coded as a one if the observation occurred in that province and zero if it occurred in any of the other eight non-reference group provinces. If the observation occurred in the reference group province (i.e., Prince Edward Island), then all of the provincial dummy variables are coded as negative one. Deviational scoring with dummy variables is somewhat different from the standard approach, in which dummy variables represent the difference in a given category relative to a reference category (i.e., Ontario vs. Prince Edward Island). However, in this study, where there are multiple categories for most of the independent variables, the deviational approach greatly simplifies the presentation and interpretation of the results. If we had used standard dummy variable coding, then we would have needed to do multiple pairwise comparisons among the various provinces (or relevant categories for the other categorical independent variables), as the significance levels and differences for each category dummy would only be relative to the reference (omitted) category. In contrast, the deviational approach provides comparisons of the average value of the dependent variable within each province to the overall average of the dependent variable, holding constant the other independent variables. So the coefficient for the Ontario dummy variable represents the deviation of Ontario cases relative to the overall average after adjusting for occupation, industry, unit size, etc. The deviation from this average for Prince Edward Island, the reference group province, is equivalent to minus the sum of the coefficients for all of the other provincial dummy variables and can thus also be calculated. The same approach is used to code the other categorical variables. Reference groups for occupation, year, industrial sector and employment type are, respectively, semi-skilled manual workers 1987, transportation, and full-time employment.
For the period 1987 through 1996, employers were required to use the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system in reporting employment. This system was changed in 1997 to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. Unfortunately, the occupational categories are not the same in these two systems, although it is possible to compare the two systems and find occupational categories that are roughly equivalent. This is important, as otherwise we would not be able to examine employment equity outcomes across the entire time period for which data were available. We would have had the problem of comparing “apples and oranges” in considering the results for the earlier time period and the latter time period. However, occupational categories are very important in this study and cannot be ignored. So we had to develop an alternative set of occupational categories that would be roughly equivalent across the entire 1987-1999 time period.
Fortunately, supplementary information supplied by Canadian governmental agencies allowed us to develop a set of composite occupational categories that, while not completely eliminating the problem of inconsistency in occupational categories over time, did at least provide reasonably comparable categories for the 1987-99 period. There were some instances in which broad occupational titles were identical in the NOC and SOC systems. However, that did not always mean the classifications were identical, as there were situations in which there had to be some shifting of the components of these categories. For example, the “skilled crafts and trades workers” category has the same meaning in the NOC and SOC systems, so no adjustment was needed in this case. “Semi-skilled manual workers” was a category likewise common to the NOC and SOC systems and comparable in meaning in both cases. On the other hand, although the categories “professionals” and “semi-professionals and technicians” are both NOC and SOC categories, there are variations in meaning (e.g., some SOC “semi-professional” occupations were shifted to the “professional” category in the NOC). Thus, it is only possible to compare the sums of professional and semi-professional employment across the two systems. In yet other cases, titles and category meanings are quite dissimilar between the NOC and SOC (e.g., “clerical workers” vs. “clerical personnel” and “administrative and senior clerical personnel”).
To resolve this problem, we created composite occupational codes to cover the entire period of this study. For cases in which NOC and SOC categories were identical in meaning, we maintain those groupings. In other instances, it was necessary to combine certain SOC categories related NOC categories into a new, more general category which would be equivalent in sum across this period. Some categories lacked ready means of comparison, even in aggregate, between the NOC and SOC systems. Consequently, those categories had to be dropped completely from the analysis. Table 1 shows the relationship of the seven composite occupational categories we were able to generate by matching SOC and NOC categories. For example, we created a category of “supervisor” that, for the period in which NOC system was in effect (after 1996), is defined as the sum of the number of individuals in the NOC categories of “Supervisors: crafts and trades” and “Supervisors”. For the SOC period (1996 and earlier), it is set equivalent to the number of individuals in the single SOC category of “Foremen/women”). The other composite categories are similarly defined in Table 1. Finally, some categories could not be matched between the NOC and SOC systems and, as noted, are excluded from our analysis.
Before examining the results of regression analysis, it is useful to consider the overall VM employment equity measure for our sample. Table 2 reports the averages for VM employment equity for the 1987-1999 period, broken down by provincial and occupational categories. The first column under each occupation contains the internal equity measure (proportion of VMs in EEA covered employment groups (italicized)) and the second contains the VM employment equity measure that is used as the dependent variable in this study (difference between internal and external equity (underlined)). Group averages are also presented.
Relationship of Composite Occupational Categories Used in 1987-1999 Data Analysis to NOC and SOC Categories
When considered in total, average internal equity was 2.9 (lower right-hand corner of Table 2). However, over time, this has been substantially less than VM representation in the labour market, as the composite VM employment equity measure on average was –2.2%, indicating that relative VM employment within EEA-covered employment groups was more than two percentage points below VM representation in the broader labour market. Some provinces have relatively average internal equity levels, with Ontario and British Columbia far higher than any other province. Of course, this reflects the much larger VM concentrations in these provinces, fueled in particular by large numbers of Asian immigrants. However, in both instances, VM employment equity is strongly negative (–5.3% in British Columbia and –4.7% in Ontario), indicating that VMs are substantially underrepresented in EEA-covered companies in these provinces. Some other provinces had relatively high VM equity levels (e.g., New Brunswick, Newfoundland), yet have very small numbers of VM workers overall. So, ironically, provinces with the highest concentration of VM employees and the greatest also have had the greatest level of workplace inequity. These averages are , of course for the entire period of the study. In fact, if we only look at the most recent year in our sample (1999), VM equity has improved in both Ontario and British Columbia, but is still rather high (–4% in Ontario and -5.3% in British Columbia). Occupation data also suggest differences in employment equity across groups. Positions such as managers and professional and semiprofessionals, clearly highly desirable jobs, have relatively low employment equity levels, though the lowest average levels were for sales and service workers and also semi-skilled manual workers. VMs achieved highest levels of employment equity generally in first-line supervisory positions and clerical positions.
VM employment equity for the period 1987-1999 was regressed against (a) occupational categories, (b) year of observation, (c) province, (d) industrial sector, (e) employment type, (f) overall company size and (g) unit size. We did preliminary analysis to check outliers and found a small but meaningful number of cases several standard deviations above the mean. We restricted the sample to ±3 standard deviations of the mean (and found this substantially improved model fit). Given the positive values of the outliers, these would have been cases where VMs had done exceptionally well. However, their inclusion would have greatly distorted the results. Residual plots indicated normality. Finally, residual plots also suggested the possibility of heteroskedastic residuals. Assuming residual variance to be related to unit size, we considered different weighted least squares estimates based on unit size as the weighting factor. This analysis suggested weighting did not significantly improve fit, so here we report ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates.
All of the independent variables, except for company and unit sizes, were parameterized as sets of dummy variables using deviational coding (as described in above). Thus, we have a fixed effects model controlling for all of the dimensions across which the sample varies (i.e., time, location, company, and occupation). Descriptive statistics for the independent variables used in this analysis are presented in Table 3. The sample used here consisted of a total of 28571 observations. Overall, the model explains about 18% of the variance in VM employment equity (i.e., adjusted R2), with an F-ratio that is significant at the .001 level; regression results appear in Table 4.
Average Internal Equity and VM Employment Equity by Occupational Category and Province, 1987-1999 a (N = 28572)
a Values for internal employment equity are displayed in italics; values for VM employment equity are underlined.
Descriptive Statistics for Independent Variables Used in Regression Analysis of the VM Employment Equity Measure, 1987-1999
Results of Regression Analysis of the VM Employment Equity Measure, 1987-1999 (N = 28572)
Adjusted R-Square = .18 F33,28538 191.65 (p < .001)
(r) indicates reference group; the coefficient for this category has been imputed, as discussed in the text. In most instances, the standard error is not readily computable and is not reported.
The appropriate approach to assessing the impact of the different sets of categorical variables is a partial F-ratio. That is, we estimate a constrained model, where all of the parameters for a given set of categorical dummy variables are set to zero, while all other parameters are free to vary. We use the difference in R2 between the constrained and the full model (i.e., unconstrained model) to compute an F-ratio that can be used to test the significance of this set of variables.
There are statistically significant variations in VM employment equity across provinces (F9, 28538 = 139.34, p < .001). The parameters represent the average deviation in VM employment equity from the Canadian-wide average after controlling for all of the other explanatory variables. The most negative value is in the case of British Columbia. We could interpret this as indicating that, other things equal, the VM employment equity measure for British Columbia was nearly three percentage points lower than we would have expected it to be, given the other characteristics of these employment units. Another way of thinking about this is that covered employment units in British Columbia would have, on average, had to have made around a three percent adjustment in total employment in order to achieve employment equity equivalent to similar types of units in other parts of Canada. So it is the case here that the more negative this number, the more out of alignment a province is with the overall expected level of VM employment equity.
In terms of the statistically significant effects for individual provinces, employment units in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba, as well as British Columbia, had generally under-performed relative to expectation. In contrast, employment units in the Maritimes (especially Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick) did generally better than would be expected. We need to recall, however, that these numbers are all relative to local labour market standards. This does not mean that, for example, employment units in Ontario have lower levels of VM employment than units in Newfoundland; rather, they are lower relative to the local labour market standard than firms in Newfoundland. Some of these results are contrary to expectation; possible explanations are discussed below.
Since this analysis is for the 1987-1999 period in its entirety, we have had to use the more limited set of occupational categories described above that are a composite of NOC and SOC categories. These results suggest considerable variation across the composite occupational categories regarding then achievement of VM employment equity (F6, 28571 = 350.88, p < .001). VM employees did best in supervisor, clerical, and craft and trades positions, where VM employment equity exceeded its expected level after controlling for the other explanatory variables. However, these are generally lower wage positions compared to certain occupational categories where VM workers are substantially under represented (manual workers, sales workers, professionals, and managers).
The coefficient in the regression equation associated with overall company size (i.e., log of Canadian-wide employment) is positive and statistically significant at the .001 level. Thus, larger organizations do a better job of providing equity in employment for VMs than do smaller firms. Given the manner in which the size variable is measured, the statistical estimate indicates that a ten-fold increase in total employment in a firm resulted in roughly a 0.23 percent increase in the VM employment equity measure. Perhaps larger organizations have more in the way of spare resources to focus on achievement of employment equity or perhaps they are more visible than smaller firms, thus more sensitive to the need to comply to EEA requirements. The size of the employment unit had strong and positive impact (significant at .01 level). Where there are larger concentrations of employees of a particular occupational category, VM employment equity is higher. A ten-fold increase in unit size resulted in about a 1.6 percentage point shift in VM employment equity.
The EEA covers three industrial sectors: communications, transportation, and finance. Our analysis indicates a significant impact of industrial sector on VM employment equity levels (F2, 28571 = 185.02, p < .001), with equity levels much higher in the finance sector than either the communications or transportation sectors. In the finance sector, this measure is 1.6 percentage points above the average after controlling for the other explanatory variables. In contrast, the transportation and communications sectors are each below average, with transportation having by far the lowest VM employment equity level.
The overall effect of employment type was statistically significant (F2, 28571 = 5.9, p < .01). However, the VM equity measure was not significantly different from the mean in the case of temporary workers, though was significantly less for part-time employees. These findings suggest that it is not the case, as we speculated it could be, that VMs were over-represented in the secondary labour market (as would have been the case had the coefficients for temporary or part-time workers been strongly positive).
The time indicators (year of observation) had, in net, a statistically significant impact on VM employment equity after controlling for the other explanatory variables (F12, 28571 = 4.82, p < .001). There is a generally upward sloping relationship (i.e., the coefficients for the year dummy variables range form strongly negative in the 1980s and early 1990s, to strongly positive in the late 1990s), suggesting continual improvement in VM employment equity from the implementation of the EEA through 1999.
Our study analyzed the relationship between employment equity attainment for visible minorities under the provisions of the EEA and a variety of contextual factors. There are several major findings. First, as anticipated, larger companies, and also larger employment groups within companies, had higher levels of employment equity attainment. This could have resulted from size being related both to organizational visibility and the availability of greater resources to address EE objectives. Second, there was considerable variation across industrial sectors in terms of EE attainment, with the banking sector having the highest levels, which we also expected to be the case. This may be related to the visibility of banks and the fact the banking sector does not have the strong competitive pressures experienced in the communications and transportation sectors. Thus banks are more apt to have slack resources available to support EE efforts and perhaps are more sensitive, due to size, to the attention of regulators. Third, there was considerable variation across provinces in terms of EE attainment, with the levels of attainment surprisingly low in the two provinces with the highest concentrations of VMs (i.e., Ontario and British Columbia), a finding that was not expected. Perhaps this is because of large numbers of immigrants situating in these provinces in recent years, there may also be a disproportionate number of individuals whose foreign credentials and experience are not recognized by employers in Canada. These individuals may have limited language skills and connections to the broader community. VM groups in other provinces may have been part of better established communities and thus had greater entrée to companies by virtue of greater assimilation. Moreover, the numbers of VMs in some of these provinces was quite small, so companies perhaps needed to engage limited efforts to achieve reasonable EE levels. Fourth, our data indicated a general improvement in EE attainment over time, which would be consistent with EEA effectiveness. Fifth, there was no evidence to suggest that VMs were over-represented in secondary labour market settings. Finally, we observed that EE attainment varied substantially across occupations. VMs are particularly disadvantaged in management, professional, and sales positions, as well as skilled manual jobs.
Clearly this study looks at only selected issues by focusing on contextual data provided in the EEA annual reports. To be sure, these are important dimensions that are presumed to be related to an organization’s propensity to meet employment equity goals. However, future research might focus on more specific organizational characteristics, such as measures of organizational performance, the broader social context, and whether or not the firm is Canadian-owned or foreign. More detailed work of this sort will, however, likely come at the expense of such a large and varied a sample we had for this study.
We believe that these findings have important practical implications, especially with regard to EEA enforcement:
Increased Enforcement: It is clear from our analysis that VM employees in the companies covered by the EEA continue to be substantially under-represented. VM staffing levels as a proportion of total employment in the cases we studied are only about three-quarters of what would be necessary to achieve parity with VM representation in the Census. It is also true that there are a relatively large number of cases in which VM representation is extremely low or non-existent. It is therefore clear that increased and vigorous enforcement of the EEA for the VM group is necessary by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
More Focus on Occupational Inequities: There are significant disparities in employment opportunities for VM employees across several occupations. In particular, there seems to be a kind of “glass ceiling” operating for VM employees in terms of access to middle and senior management positions. Therefore, companies need to create a climate of acceptance and tolerance for VM employees at these levels by sensitizing top management to the need to eliminate these job barriers. This is also true for sales and service employees, where VM employees are also substantially under-represented. This is relevant as jobs in these occupations may be an important avenue for advancement to higher-level jobs. Economic transition means that jobs in these areas, particularly the service sector, are growing and thus important to the welfare of visible minorities.
More Focus on Sectoral Differences: In the communication and transportation sectors, VM employees remain substantially under-represented. It is important that organizations undertake pro-active recruitment and promotion policies and establish significant goals and timetables to improve VM representation.
More Focus on Company and Employment Group Size: VM employees tend to be under-represented in smaller firms. The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) needs to pay more attention to monitoring and enforcing employment equity in these types of firms. This is especially critical as smaller and medium enterprises employ a significant and growing proportion of the labour force. Regardless of firm size, visible minorities are even more significantly under-represented in smaller employment units (i.e., a given occupation for a particular company in a particular province). Thus the CHRC cannot afford to minimize monitoring and enforcement in the smaller and perhaps less divisible units of even larger companies. In aggregate, VM under-representation in these units has a substantial adverse impact on achievement of parity with VM representation in the Census.
This study was partially supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). We also wish to acknowledge the assistance of Heritage Canada and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
Abella, R. Silberman. 1984. Equality in Employment: The Report of the Commission on Equality in Employment. Ottawa: Supply and Services Canada.
Antecol, Heather. 1998. “Gender Differences in Labour Market Outcomes.” Ph. D. Thesis. Hamilton: McMaster University.
Baker, Michael and Dwayne Benjamin. 1997. “Ethnicity, Foreign Birth and Earnings: A Canada/U.S. Comparison.” Transition and Structural Change in the North American Labour Market. M. G. Abott, C. M. Beach and R. P. Chaykowski, eds. Kingston, Ont.: IRC Press, Queens University at Kingston.
Blakley, J. H. and E. B. Harvey. 1988. “Socio-economic Change and Lack of Change: Employment Equity Policies in the Canadian Context.” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 7, 133–150. DOI:10.1007/BF00381861
Canadian Council on Social Development. 2000. Unequal Access: A Canadian Profile of Racial Differences in Education, Employment and Income. Toronto: Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
Cumming, Peter A., Chair. 1989. Access! Task Force on Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario. Toronto: Ministry of Citizenship.
Dodge, D. A. 1972. “Occupational Wage Differentials, Occupational Licensing and Return to Investment in Education: An Exploratory Analysis.” Canadian Higher Education in the Seventies. S. Ostry, ed. Ottawa: Economic Council of Canada.
Gorrie, Peter 2002. “Discrimination Costly: Loss to Economy of Underpaying Estimated at $15 Billion a Year.” Toronto Star, March 20.
Gunderson, Morley, R. A. Meng and D. A. Smith. 1996. “The Impact of Employment Equity Programs on Wages.” Unpublished Paper.
Gunderson, Morley, Douglas Hyatt and Sara Slinn. 2002. “ Employment Equity in Canada and the United States.” Proceedings of the 54 th Annual Meeting of the Industrial Relations Research Association. Champaign, Ill.: IRRA, 146–153.
Harding, Katherine. 2003. “A Leap of Faith: Foreign-Trained Professionals, Desperately Needed in Canada, Expect to Land on Their Feet Here. Instead, They Face Miles of Red Tape.” Globe & Mail, January 8, C1, C6.
Heckman, James J. 1998. “Detecting Discrimination.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 12, No. 2, 101–116. DOI:10.1257/jep.12.2.101
Henry, Frances. 1978. The Dynamics of Racism in Toronto. Toronto: Department of Anthropology, York University.
Henry, Frances and Effie Ginsberg. 1985. Who Gets the Work? A Test of Racial Discrimination in Employment. Toronto: The Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto.
Henry, Frances, Carol Tator, Winston Mattis and Tim Rees. 1994. The Colour of Democracy: Racism in Canadian Society. Toronto: Harcourt Brace.
Holzer, Harry J. and David Neumark. 2000a. “What Does Affirmative Action Do?” Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 53, January, 240–271. DOI:10.2307/2696075
Holzer, Harry J. and David Neumark. 2000b. “Assessing Affirmative Action.” Journal of Economic Literature, Vol. 38, September, 483-568. DOI:10.1257/jel.38.3.483
Howland, Juliet and Christos Sakellariou. 1993. “Wage Discrimination, Occupational Segregation and Visible Minorities in Canada.” Applied Economics, Vol. 25, 1413–1422. DOI:10.1080/00036849300000146
Jain, Ajit. 2003. “‘So I am a Carpenter Now’: Qualified Immigrants Find the Canadian Job Market Disheartening.” India Abroad, January 3, 1–3.
Jain, Harish C. 1982a. “Employment and Pay Discrimination in Canada: Theories, Evidence and Policies.” Union-Management Relations in Canada. J. Anderson and M. Gunderson, eds. Don Mills, Ont.: Addison-Wesley.
Jain, Harish C. 1982b. “Race and Sex Discrimination in Employment in Canada: Theories, Evidence, and Policies.” Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, Vol. 37, No. 2, 342-366.
Jain, Harish C. 1993. “Employment Equity and Visible Minorities: Have the Federal Policies Worked?” Canadian Labor Law Journal, Vol. 1, 389–408.
Jain, Harish C. 2001. “Equality and Diversity in Employment in Canada.” Equality, Diversity and Disadvantage in Employment. M. Noon and E. Ogbonna, eds. London: Palgrave, 80–102.
Jain, Harish C. and Peter Sloane. 1981. Equal Employment Issues: Race and Sex Discrimination in the United States, Canada, and Britain. N.Y.: Praeger Publishers.
Jain, Harish C. and Rick Hackett. 1992. “A Comparison of Employment-Equity and Non-Employment Equity Organizations on Designated Group Representation and Views Towards Staffing.” Canadian Public Administration, Vol. 35, Spring, 103–108. DOI:10.1111/j.1754-7121.1992.tb00682.x
Jain, Harish C. and Mohammed Al-Waqfi. 2001. “Racial Discrimination in Employment in Canada.” Industrial Relations in a New Millenium. Selected papers from the XXXVIIth Annual CIRA Conference. Y. Reshef, C. Bernier, D. Harrisson and T. Wagar, eds. Quebec: CIRA, 47–63.
Jain, Harish C., Parbudyal Singh and Carol Agcos. 2000. “Recruitment, Selection and Promotion of Visible Minority and Aboriginal Police Officers in Selected Canadian Police Services.” Canadian Public Administration, Vol. 42, No. 3, 46–74. DOI:10.1111/j.1754-7121.2000.tb01560.x
Jain, Harish C., Peter J. Sloane and Frank Horwitz. 2003. Employment Equity and Affirmative Action: An International Comparison. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe.
Jones, Reginald. 1997. Task Force Report on “Best” Equal Employment Opportunity Polices, Programs and Practices in the Private Sector. Washington, D.C.: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Leck, J. D. and D. M. Saunders. 1992. “Canada’s EEA: Effects on Employee Selection.” Population Research and Policy Review, Vol. 11, 21–49. DOI:10.1007/BF00136393
Leck, J. D., S. Onge and I. Lalancette. 1995. “Wage Gap Changes amongst Organizations Subject to the Employment Equity Act.” Canadian Public Policy, Vol. 21, 387–400. DOI:10.2307/3551337
Leonard, J. S. 1984. “Employment and Occupational Advance under Affirmative Action.” The Review of Economic Statistics, Vol. 66, 377–385. DOI:10.2307/1924993
Meng, R. 1987. “The Earnings of Canadian Immigrant and Native Born Males.” Applied Economics, Vol. 19, 1107–1119. DOI:10.1080/00036848700000051
Muszynski, Leon and Jeffrey Reitz. 1982. Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in Employment. Toronto: Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto, Working Paper #5.
National Capital Alliance on Race Relations v. Health and Welfare Canada. 1997. Canadian Human Rights Reporter. 28. D/179.
Ornstein, Michael. 2000. Ethno-Racial Inequality in the City of Toronto: An Analysis of the 1996 Census. Toronto: Institute for Social Research, York University.
Pendakur, K. and R. Pendakur. 1995. Earnings Differentials among Ethnic Groups in Canada. Ottawa: Strategic Research and Analysis, Department of Canadian Heritage.
Perinbam, Lewis, Chair. 2000. Embracing Change in the Federal Public Service. A Report by the Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service. Ottawa: The Treasury Board of Canada.
Reitz, Jeffery G. and Anil Verma. 1999. Immigration, Ethnicity and Unionization: Recent Evidence from Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto.
Reitz, Jeffrey G., Liviana Calzavara and Donna Dasko. 1981. Ethnic Inequality and Segregation in Jobs. Toronto: Center for Urban and Community Studies, University of Toronto.
Samuel, John. 1997. Visible Minorities and the Public Service of Canada. A Report Submitted to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Ottawa.
Sloane, Peter, J. and Harish C. Jain. 1990. “Use of Equal Opportunities Legislation in Earnings Differentials.” Industrial Relations Journal, Vol. 21, 221–229.
Taggar, Simon, Harish C. Jain and Morley Gunderson. 1997. “The Status of Employment Equity Programs in Canada.” Proceedings of the 49th Annual Conference of the Industrial Relations Research Association. Madison, Wisc.: IRRA, 310–320.
|Auteurs :||Harish C. Jain et John J. Lawler|
|Titre :||Visible Minorities under the Canadian Employment Equity Act, 1987-1999|
|Revue :||, Volume 59, numéro 3, été 2004, p. 585-611|
Tous droits réservés © Département des relations industrielles de l'Université Laval, 2004 | <urn:uuid:0c0110e7-e91b-4dcb-a02e-dd0842b28e88> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.erudit.org/revue/RI/2004/v59/n3/010926ar.html | 2013-05-19T02:38:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.862525 | 13,615 |
Blackburn deservedly saw off Lancashire rivals Bolton 3-0 to claim a second successive home victory in the Barclays Premier League.
Nikola Kalinic gave Rovers the lead their first-half dominance merited three minutes before the interval.
And substitute Jason Roberts and defender Gael Givet struck in the second half to ensure Bolton, who threatened only sporadically, remain in the relegation zone - to the glee of a 23,888 crowd at Ewood Park.
Blackburn threatened early on through Morten Gamst Pedersen's long throws and, after two were repelled, a third sailed into the net untouched. Despite raucous cheers from the home faithful, play restarted with a goal kick and the score at 0-0.
Matt Taylor's threatening cross required a fine defensive header from Givet but Chung-Yong Lee's poor corner was headed away by the stooping first man, Andrews.
Taylor's foul on Michel Salgado saw play stopped before Johan Elmander netted - and Muamba then thwarted the best Rovers chance thus far.
Andrews met a dangerous corner and Muamba cleared his header off the line before also diverting Kalinic's overhead kick onto the post and away to safety.
Jaaskelainen had to be quickly out of his area to prevent Hoilett reaching Salgado's dangerous through-ball and he was soon off limits again, scrambling the ball back into his area and diving on it with Kalinic in hot pursuit.
Ricardo Gardner and Ryan Nelsen went off for treatment following a collision in which the home captain came off worst, and Rovers were then awarded a dangerous free-kick for full-back Paul Robinson's foul on Kalinic. Pedersen curled narrowly over.
Nelsen's injury got the better of him and he was replaced by Vince Grella, Andrews slotting in at centre-half.
Rovers keeper Paul Robinson made a good save to keep out Taylor's drive - and was rewarded as his side took a half-time lead.
Excellent work from Diouf kept a breakaway move going and Pedersen squared unselfishly for Kalinic to rifle home, Jaaskelainen unable to keep the ball out despite getting a touch on it.
The first half began in light snow - and without referee Chris Foy, who did not re-emerge due to an injury. Fourth official Lee Probert took his place.
Gloveman Robinson preserved his side's lead when he was quickly off his line to smother the ball as Gardner ran clear on goal.
And opposite number Jaaskelainen also had to be at his best to keep out Hoilett's point-blank diving header from Pedersen's cross.
Bolton were denied again when Lee's shot on the turn drew a fine diving save from Robinson.
Boss Owen Coyle stepped up his side's search for an equaliser by introducing Vladimir Weiss and Mark Davies for Taylor and Muamba, while Rovers withdrew the impressive Hoilett in favour of striker Roberts.
Kalinic got no support from Mr Probert when toppling over last defender Robinson, and on-loan Manchester City youngster Weiss made a vital interception when a Rovers break threatened to put Pedersen through on goal.
As the snow grew heavier, Ivan Klasnic was introduced for Elmander and immediately sent a tame free-kick into Robinson's grasp.
Steven Nzonzi's towering header from a Pedersen corner forced Jaaskelainen into a superb save but it was only a temporary reprieve for Bolton.
Pedersen's second flag-kick was not convincingly cleared and Givet hooked it back into the box for Roberts to finish tamely through the hands of the keeper.
Gretar Steinsson was booked for flattening Kalinic and Pedersen's fierce low free-kick somehow eluded both the Croatian and Diouf with only a touch needed.
But Rovers were able to add a third with six minutes remaining when Diouf's free-kick was headed in by Givet for the Frenchman's first goal at Ewood Park.
Dunn replaced the hard-working Kalinic two minutes later, with both men given standing ovations as the home faithful revelled in their march to victory.
Roberts squandered a good late chance and Rovers failed to make the most of Jaaskelainen's subsequent dreadful goal-kick, but it was of no consequence.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:56ff3cba-8b9a-4ab0-b33e-451f52aad518> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.givemefootball.com/119878-impressive-rovers-ease-to-victory-over-trotters-match-review | 2013-05-19T02:08:01Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96473 | 930 |
FEBRUARY 3, 2011
Creative Spark: The Life and Art of Tony Da
(Santa Fe, NM – February 3, 2011)—Creative Spark: The Life and Art of Tony Da is the artist’s first comprehensive museum retrospective. On view will be the largest group of Da’s paintings and pottery ever gathered in one place. Spanning the 1950s to the 1980s, the exhibit includes rarely seen paintings and pottery, from public and private collections, ranging from red, black and polychromatic jars and plates to bears and turtles. In his fifteen years as an artist, Tony Da (pronounced day) catapulted Pueblo pottery into the heights of contemporary art. Growing up with a celebrated father and grandparents – Popovi Da and Julian and Maria Martinez, one can see why. The exhibition reveals a seamless thread from grandparents to parent to son.
The exhibition opens at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture on February 13, 2011 running through December 31, 2011.
Museum Director Shelby Tisdale said; “We are honored to present this groundbreaking exhibition at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Tony Da's bold innovations have inspired so many young artists today. Tony took Native American art to new heights and his legacy lives on.”
The genetic thread began with Da’s grandparents on San Ildefonso Pueblo north of Santa Fe. Here, Edgar Lee Hewett, founding director of the Museum of New Mexico, and an archaeologist by training, asked potter Maria Martinez to use sherds he had excavated in 1909 as patterns for full-scale examples of polychrome pottery. In their experiments, Maria and her husband Julian almost by accident discovered a way to create a black-on-black matte finish. With Maria shaping the pieces and Julian painting them, Native American art took a direction leading it into the world of fine art.
In the 1940s and ‘50s, their son, Popovi Da innovated by adding bits of heishi and turquoise to the pots; perfecting a gunmetal finish; reviving polychrome pottery; and, scratching designs into the surface after firing – called sgraffito. He also built a shop on the Pueblo and displayed the family’s works not on Indian rugs as most traders did, but on glass shelves befitting their growing status as fine art.
Descended from such a creative lineage, Tony revealed his own artistic bent as a child – as a painter not a potter. At Santa Fe High School he was trained by Joseph Bakos, one of Los Cincos Pintores, the founders of the Santa Fe Art Colony. Later at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, ancient Mimbres designs caught his eye. At other times he explored the traditional, interspersing with the abstract, realistic and semi-realistic. It was during the six years that he lived with his grandmother, Maria, in the late 1960s, that he started making pottery.
His artistic skill in ceramics developed rapidly and in 1967, Tony began to work on his sculptures, creating an exciting new form of Pueblo ceramic art. These sculptures included turtles, owls, and bears. In 1968, his entries into the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial flew so far beyond the work of his contemporaries that the judges created special awards to honor them.
Da soon surpassed his father’s ground-breaking experiments in pottery. Where Popovi had added a gem to cover a flaw, Tony made them his intent, adding turquoise, mother-of-pearl, even silver. He brought his painter’s hand to the intricacy of sgraffito. He dabbled with the firing process, even introducing the blow torch as a potter’s tool.
“Everyone picked up on what he was doing,” said Richard Spivey, co-author with Charles King of a book being published in conjunction with the exhibition. “He was always doing something different. He was the first one to really break from tradition. It was a lot for people to accept at first, but very quickly it became sensational.”
Shelby Tisdale, the exhibition’s co-curator with Antonio Chavarria, said it’s especially significant to include Da’s paintings in the exhibition – an overlooked part of his artistic legacy.
“He’s in the cohort with Helen Hardin. He’s learning from T.C. Cannon and Fritz Scholder, and incorporating a lot of these different ideas,” Tisdale said. “In some, you can see where he’s really experimenting with the layers. It’s a technique that he and Helen started working with. You get a sense of that whole generation of Indian artists who took their work to new heights of innovation and appreciation in the world of fine art.”
A consummate perfectionist Da isolated himself in his studio for long periods of time and while the output may have been prodigious the amount of work he allowed out of the studio was scant. That the exhibition Creative Spark has managed to collect 22 paintings and 45 pots speaks to the limitations of perfection in a short career.
Da led a very modern life as he navigated between the two worlds of his Indian culture and the non-Indian world. In 1982, Tony sustained severe head injuries in a motorcycle accident. Although he was no longer able to make pottery, Da continued to paint while living in a care facility until his passing on February 12, 2008. Tony Da’s artistic legacy is not isolated in the past, but one which continues to inspire artists and challenge them to become transformational in their creative explorations.
The first book dedicated to Tony Da’s life and work, written by Charles King, owner of King Galleries in Scottsdale and Richard L. Spivey, author of The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez, will be available, in conjunction with the exhibition, in August 2011.
Shelby Tisdale, Director, MIAC
Steve Cantrell, PR Manager
505-310-3539 – cell | <urn:uuid:5c878509-e6d7-4b0b-b85b-7ef03689918e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indianartsandculture.org/whatsnew&releaseID=21&releaseID=197&releaseID=206&releaseID=123&releaseID=143&releaseID=123&releaseID=106&releaseID=192&releaseID=143 | 2013-05-19T02:37:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970933 | 1,292 |
I know this photo is not quote on quote “food porn” quality or pinterest worthy, but I guarantee it’s tastebud worthy. It’s so tastebud worthy that I was literally licking the bowl after this salad. I never thought I would be licking the bowl of a kale salad, but I was licking this one, seriously! Who am I these days? When did I start getting excited over kale of all things? You won’t even realize that you’re eating kale as the garlic and lemon take away the bitterness of the kale. You might surprise yourself and find that you just ate a whole head or two of kale with this salad. I have friends who have tried this salad and gone from kale haters to kale lovers. Seriously, it’s that good!
The Marin IJ recently interviewed me and the first question that the interviewer asked me was, “what’s your obsession with kale?” I laughed, (you know that kind of snicker laugh that John Travolta does in the movie Grease) because I honestly didn’t think I was obsessed with kale. I mean I have a few kale recipes posted, but nothing to over the top. Do six recipes equate a kale obsession? Maybe they do, but I don’t care. I would rather be obsessed with kale than obsessed with chocolate, (well, I am a bit obsessed with that as well, but that’s another post). So, I did the phone interview the other day, and today the photographer is coming over to take the pictures for the paper. He is going to photograph me while I make this salad and my sausage skillet pizza (see photo below). I’m a bit nervous about being photographed cooking as I am not a pretty gal when I am cooking. I get all flustered and crazy messy as I am constantly using my apron and clothes as a towel. This time I have to look pretty and relaxed while cooking. I’m not sure I can pull that off.
So let’s get back to this salad. I made this for lunch on Monday because I had too much birthday cake over the weekend as we celebrated Zoe turning 12. I wanted to do a mini Monday cleanse, so I made this salad for lunch and then paired it with some of my cauliflower soup for dinner. I couldn’t have been happier and my body was thanking me for this mini cleanse. This salad pairs with just about anything because the dressing is so simple. It’s also a great make-ahead salad. I often make it in the morning and then have some for lunch or dinner that night and the gobble the rest up the next day. It’s the perfect bring to work salad because it gets better as it sits. Do you hear this Yvonne? Here’s a salad you can bring to work!
Lacinato kale salad:
Serves 4-6 (or 1 to 2 in my case, as I have been known to eat a whole head of kale in one sitting due to this salad)
Printer friendly version
- 1 bunch (whole head) lacinato/dinosaur kale or curly kale or red kale, large stems removed, thinly sliced - I have actually mixed 1/2 lacinato kale with 1/2 curly kale and it’s a wonderful combination, but my everyday preference is the lacinato kale.
- juice of 1 lemon - use a hand juicer to get the most juice from your lemon . If your lemon seems extremely juicy, then I would just add 3 tablespoons. I have noticed that in the winter my lemons have been extra juicy and the dressing can be a bit tart, so I sometimes add 3 tablespoons and give it a taste and add more if needed.
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced – I always use 3 cloves
- pinch of salt & pepper, to taste
- pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste - If you don’t like things spicy you can omit the red pepper. I love it though and throw in a pretty hefty pinch.
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese - you can use more or less here or omit it all together, it’s up to you. I just throw in a handful and call it a day!
Now lets move onto the dressing.
Whisk together in a small bowl or glass measuring cup the following:
- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 cloves minced garlic
- pinch of salt
- pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- pinch (or more to taste) of red pepper flakes
Make sure to whisk the ingredients together well.
After your kale is well tossed, add 2/3 of the parmesan cheese and toss again.
Let kale rest for at least 5 minutes to an hour. This salad can be made hours ahead of time or even the day before.I think my body and taste buds are both thanking me today, as this salad is uber healthy and uber delish! This is such a simple salad but sometimes it’s the simplest things that turn out the best.
Have a blissful weekend and please include some kale in your plans. | <urn:uuid:7eea320a-813b-462a-aad6-f90f3ef16e42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marinmamacooks.com/2012/03/lacinato-kale-salad/ | 2013-05-19T02:16:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946956 | 1,105 |
The Netherlands, 1983
Posted on 30 October 2007
Source Media Home Entertainment VHS
Reviews Silent Witness
Reviews The Shaft
Categories 31 Days of Horror
To quote his boss, elevator repairman Felix Adelaar is “one of the best mechanics” around. And it’s a good thing too, because Felix has precious little else going for him. His kids are a pair of whiners, his wife lost that loving feeling long ago, and his friends are few and far between. It’s no surprise, then, that when a lift at the Icarus building starts acting up for no apparent reason, Felix dedicates every waking moment of his life to solving the mystery.
At first, the lift is merely a nuisance, refusing to stop at the correct floor, randomly shutting off its ventilation system, opening and closing its doors without provocation. But soon enough, it gets angry, and thirsty for blood. Assisted by an inquisitive reporter, Adelaar searches high and low for an explanation to this elevator evil, pouring over schematics and newspaper clippings, visiting asylums and university professors, and spending countless hours mired in the greasy inner workings of the murderous machine. Though his wife unfairly accuses him of adultery, and eventually absconds with his children, Felix is unfazed, redoubling his efforts to understand where this lift went wrong.
A fascinating moviemaking experiment, The Lift attempts what most horror filmmakers would likely deem impossible, or utterly pointless: an entire picture centered on an immobile source of terror and a disgruntled family man. At first glance, it seems as if director Dick Maas deliberately chose the most mundane subjects as a personal test, to see if he could create something narratively interesting out of basically nothing. For horror fans don’t care about an unhappy elevator repairman’s personal life, they want death, and how many ways can an elevator possibly kill people? (The answer is four).
But as we ponder Maas’ curious creation more intently, it becomes apparent that The Lift is much more than just a cinematic challenge—for amidst elevator-door decapitations and elevator-cable strangulations, Maas has a message, and determinedly uses The Lift as his medium. Consider the name of the troublesome building, for instance: Icarus—surely not a random choice, but a warning that the gods are easily provoked by audacity. And why, in the end, is the lift acting so strangely? A simple mechanical malfunction? No, the problem lies with a set of self-replicating bionic microchips—material evidence of the impudent, and unchecked, scientific ambitions of humankind.
Even the very concept of elevators, a testament both to man’s mechanical ambition and his laziness, is debased by Maas’ repeated characterization of elevator users as slothful idiots. Take the quartet of middle-aged imbibers that open the film. Far from appreciating the lift’s ability to offer them safe, expedited passage to the first floor, they curse when the doors don’t open quickly enough, and use the idle time during the ride to disgustingly fondle each other. The Icarus building manager is another example, a man who not only bellyaches over having to walk up and down stairs, but also can’t figure out how to use an elevator even when he is afforded the chance to be conveyed by one. “I must have pressed the wrong button,” he says at the start of one such ride. “That happens to me quite a bit.”
Thankfully, Maas has Felix to offset the mounting absurdity of his human characters. Despite his inability to hold his family together, Felix is a man of dedication, a man unafraid of work, and unwilling to allow the mystery of the lift to be solved by anyone but he. True, his non-existent personal life may play a part in motivating his investigations, but even when the reporter starts making eyes at him, Felix remains committed to his quest, particularly when he realizes that the evil lift at the Icarus may well be the tip of a malevolent-mechanism iceberg. In such a way, Felix (whose surname translates as eagle) endures as one of the great anti-heroes of horror, and serves as a symbol of hope for mankind.
Felix Adelaar is a normal guy, his affect as flat and grey as the Dutch landscape that surrounds him, his home life a bore, and his class middle. As an elevator repairman for Deta Liften, Adelaar seems to lead a rather repetitive existence, driving around in his van to tinker with lifts, an occupation that evidently requires him to move up and down without going anywhere. Elevators are one of the annoying mundanities of modern life. But fortunately for Adelaar, this is a horror movie, and therefore no aspect of modern life is without a potentiality for terror, no matter how mundane it seems.
Of course, elevators are not all that mundane to everyone. The notion of being trapped in a box and suspended by unseen mechanisms several stories above the ground is bound to inspire certain phobias. But the titular convenience of Dick Maas’ first feature film, The Lift, doesn’t just make people jittery, it goes after them. Indeed, apart from its first potential victims – two boorish, bourgeois couples who are nearly boiled and asphyxiated while playing grab-ass aboard the elevator – most of the killings have nothing to do with claustrophobia or acrophobia. Indeed, one of Maas’ principal gifts is his inventive sense of bad taste, and The Lift is primarily a showcase for all of the ways he can think to have an elevator kill someone. And if possible, quite gruesomely: decapitation, strangulation with cables, general battery, and of course the old empty shaft trick.
All of this comes at just the right time for Adelaar, whose bitchy wife, bratty kids, and dreary job have clearly left a void in his life to be filled by some much-needed intrigue. Soon, he is linked with a prototypically sassy girl-reporter who shares some strange conspiracy theories about modern elevator design that are sure to make Felix’s job more interesting. “Thank you, but I have enough problems of my own,” he tells the moxieful Mieke. “And one thing I don’t need on top of everything else is a fight with my boss just because some weird friend of yours makes up stories about computers that reproduce!” But as nightwatchmen, blind men, cleaners, and various others continue to drop like flies, Adelaar and Mieke make it their mission to track the cause of the dreaded elevator murders to their throbbing, gelatinous source.
Maas’ first feature cannot have been expensive to make, but it makes great use of minimal settings – specifically the always dimly lit, semi-brutalist interiors of a then-modern office building – to sustain an eerie mood that’s impervious to all the broad comedic acting throughout the film. Huube Stapel’s Adelaar serves to keep the film steadily watchable as well, always evincing a likeable world-weariness that very nearly suggests a fully written character. But one doesn’t watch The Lift for character development. This is a movie of cheap thrills, evenly deployed, and adequately realized. And even if this is not Maas’ most accomplished or thrilling film, it nonetheless paves the way for a good deal more blood-letting, explosions, and bad taste ahead.
The Elephant Man1980
My Bloody Valentine1981
Who Can Kill a Child?1976
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie1974
John Carpenter’s Vampires1998
A Warning to the Curious1972
The Nights of Terror1981
Death Becomes Her1992
Alice, Sweet Alice1976
Invocation of My Demon Brother1969
Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals1977
The Wicker Man1973
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires1974
Chew on This2005
Night of the Creeps1986
Night of the Lepus1972
Army of Darkness1992
12:05 am, 19 May 2013 @NotComing | <urn:uuid:ac6db428-fe7b-4853-871a-8aa943c8a774> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.notcoming.com/reviews/thelift | 2013-05-19T02:24:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942255 | 1,748 |
Renew Male Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the more frequently asked questions about Renew Male grouped by topic.
- Dosage and Cycling Renew Male
- Fosamax and Bone Density
- Anti-Depressants (Zoloft) and Statins (Crestor)
- Older Men and Erections
Question: Is this product contraindicated if psa showed slow growing radical cells in 2 out of 12 needle biopsies?
Answer: Research conducted on high doses of the components in Renew Male show no effects on AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein, α-fetoprotein, alpha-1-fetoprotein or alpha-fetoglobulin) or PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels in men. These subjects had no previous abnormalities in the PSA scores. Additional studies (see below) demonstrate that one of the herbs in Renew Male actually have cancer cell fighting properties. The decision to try any product after you have been diagnosed with a cancer is a complex one and there is not a simple answer. If you decide to try Renew Male, you should discuss with your physician ho to monitor your PSA and AFP levels to make sure they do not increase. If your PSA levels or AFP levels are high (or become high), stop taking Renew Male and focus your efforts on nutritional strategies to increase prostate health and after the prostate is healthy, try doing strategies to increase testosterone levels.
- Cytotoxic activity of quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia. Miyake K, Li F, Tezuka Y, Awale S, Kadota S. Nat Prod Commun. 2010 Jul;5(7):1009-12.
- Eurycomanone induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells via up-regulation of p53. Zakaria Y, Rahmat A, Pihie AH, Abdullah NR, Houghton PJ. Cancer Cell Int. 2009 Jun 10;9:16.
- F16, a fraction from Eurycoma longifolia jack extract, induces apoptosis via a caspase-9-independent manner in MCF-7 cells. Tee TT, Cheah YH, Hawariah LP. Anticancer Res. 2007 Sep-Oct;27(5A):3425-30.
- DH334, a beta-carboline anti-cancer drug, inhibits the CDK activity of budding yeast. Li Y, Liang F, Jiang W, Yu F, Cao R, Ma Q, Dai X, Jiang J, Wang Y, Si S. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 Aug;6(8):1193-9. Epub 2007 May 4.
- Induction of apoptosis by Eurycoma longifolia jack extracts. Tee TT, Azimahtol HL. Anticancer Res. 2005 May-Jun;25(3B):2205-13.
- Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia. Kuo PC, Damu AG, Lee KH, Wu TS. Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Feb 1;12(3):537-44.
- Cytotoxic and antimalarial beta-carboline alkaloids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia. Kuo PC, Shi LS, Damu AG, Su CR, Huang CH, Ke CH, Wu JB, Lin AJ, Bastow KF, Lee KH, Wu TS. J Nat Prod. 2003 Oct;66(10):1324-7.
- Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents of the roots of Eurycoma longifolia. Kardono LB, Angerhofer CK, Tsauri S, Padmawinata K, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD. J Nat Prod. 1991 Sep-Oct;54(5):1360-7.
Question: How many tablets and how much time before layoff should one take of Renew Male? I feel more positive, am sleeping better and am only on day 15!
Answer: Based on animal studies and some limited research on humans here is what you can expect:
- 1 capsule before working out is all you need to increase Testosterone levels
- 2 capsules before working out will increase Testosterone levels AND improve memory
- 4 capsules before working out will increase Testosterone levels AND improve memory AND increase muscle size
Results improve with long-term use
You do not need to cycle but you could follow 5 days on 2 days off for convenience.
Question: My husband has just been told that he needs to go on Fosamax for bone density. Is that condition related to low T? Would the Renew Male help his bones?
Answer: Yes, low testosterone is associated with lower bone density. Here are some links to studies that show this:
The high prevalence of low bone density in men aged 55 yr and over presenting with low trauma fractures to an accident and emergency department
Determinants of bone density in healthy older men with low testosterone levels.
In your husband’s case, he could try 2 capsules before lifting weights to increase his testosterone levels and to eventually increase his bone density. It takes time to increase bone density. Some studies say it can take 6 to 12 months before bone density increases.
Question: My husband is highly allergic to aspirin, cucumbers and wheat. He takes a Claritin-D every day for his allergies. Would it harm him to take Renew Male?
Answer: There is nothing in the Renew Male product that mimics aspirin, cucumbers and wheat. I reviewed the scientific literature and there are no reports of allergies to the key ingredients in Renew Male. However, that doesn’t mean your husband isn’t allergic to the product. You don’t say what your husband’s allergy symptoms are. You should consult with his physician if you are not sure. If they are life threatening, then do not try Renew Male. If they are not, then he can try the product to see if he is allergic to it. If he is allergic he can return it. So far no one has reported any allergies. Please keep us posted.
Question: Is Renew Male safe to take with anti-depressants (Zoloft) and Crestor (cholesterol-lowering medication)?
Answer: Please contact your physician to discuss this. We have not found any interactions in our patients taking antidepressants or statin drugs with Renew Male.
Question: I am wondering if this will work for an 81year old male. Need to get an Erection again. Possible? Will this do it?
Answer: If the reason for the erectile dysfunction is due to low testosterone levels, then Renew Male will help. If the reason is due to something else, then it may not. I would suggest that you try taking 4 capsules per day right before lifting weights. This will help set the stage to increase testosterone and blood flow to the testes. After a week you should see a difference. | <urn:uuid:8476cb3a-6418-4323-863f-f6477199df66> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.renewmale.com/renew-male-faqs/ | 2013-05-19T02:07:31Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.885925 | 1,464 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.