I've been doing these "Look Back" posts since back in 2010. I started off the year strong with 22 posts between January and February! I slowed down quite a bit but ended the year with a respectable 79 posts for the year, down just one from last year's output of 80 posts. I still plan on knocking out three more which will be dated in 2016 (three WWE PPV recaps). I'm sort of an analytics geek so I really look forward to writing these recap posts. It's always interesting (to me at least) to see what posts make the list and to see if there are posts that prevail through the years.
A post that details just what it sounds like. Let me tell you… there's nothing scarier than sitting in traffic and looking down to realize you're on empty.
For years now I've been on a personal crusade to make sure a certain snow plow scammer is put on blast. This is the 2010 version of the story and it won't be the last time you see it on this list.
Back in 2013, professional wrestling company TNA had a year long angle that dealt with a gang who referred to themselves as Aces & Eights. It was awful.
This year's version of the snow plow scam. Dude is clearly still in business and spending money on his marketing.
Do you have an Elf on the Shelf that comes to visit your kids around the holidays? We do. This entry, up from #7 last year is what happened when we lost him.
Holding strong at #5 for the second year in a row. I love grilling. Here's the story of a grill that had seen its better days.
Dropping one spot from #3 last year. I've never seen The Newsroom on HBO, but this speech from the show's first episode is absolutely epic.
If you're a WWE fan you'll know the name Dolph Ziggler. What you may not know is that guy (real name Nic Nemeth) went to my wife's alma mater Kent State University. This is up from #8 last year.
Pip and I get together every year to watch WrestleMania and resurrect our battle with the fearsome Beeramid. Every year we create a drinking game to accompany that evening's festivities.
It was #2 last year and this year it jumped to the head of the pack far and away the top post of the year. Ever wonder the nutritional value of McDonald's Family Meal? I did the research… get ready to be appalled.
As always, I've got lots to say and a lot on my mind so I'm really looking forward to a busy 2017 here on the blog. Happy New Year!
Tagged Char Broil, Dolph Ziggler, drinking game, Elf On The Shelf, Got Snow Services, McDonald's Dinner Box, The Newsroom, TNA, traffic jam, WrestleMania 32.


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Tag Archives: overcrowding
We'd like to welcome everyone back to a new school year, and extend a special welcome to our new superintendent, Dr. Jason Glass.
It's been a while since we've updated (summer was busy), but here's a quick summary of some of the Jeffco Schools news:
Dr. Jason Glass
Jason Glass was approved as Jeffco's new superintendent by a unanimous vote of the five school board members. Since he started on July 1, he's been communicating through his Advance Jeffco blog, meeting with the community, and taking time to listen and learn about the many diverse neighborhoods, schools, families, and issues that comprise Jeffco.
We're very excited to see him so active in the community, and appreciate that he's taking the time to talk to a diverse assortment of families, students, community groups, and more to get an overall picture of what makes us Jeffco. Please take the time to read his blog and participate in the conversation.
Jeffco School Board Election
Ron Mitchell, Brad Rupert, and Susan Harmon kicked off their respective school board campaigns last week and are currently collecting signatures for the petition to place them on the November ballot. Today is the last day to sign – you have several options for locations and times.
For more information about any of the three, to help with their campaigns, or if you'd like to donate to their campaigns, follow this link: http://keepjeffcomovingforward.com/.
Watch for more posts in the coming weeks about how you can help with their campaigns. We'll also post a brief summary of what the board members have accomplished since the November 2015 election.
Three Creeks opens, renovations on Rose Stein and Sierra Elementary wrap up
Three Creeks K-8 opened to students for the first time, relieving some of the overcrowding in the northwest Arvada area. The school is currently open to K-6 students and will expand to 7th and 8th graders during the next two years.
In addition, the second phase of renovations for Sierra Elementary, also located in Arvada, and renovations on Rose Stein Elementary in Lakewood also wrapped up. Stein had been closed during renovations and now reopened to PK-6 students, and Sierra Elementary's renovations added seats for the still-growing Arvada community.
We all have an exciting school year ahead, and will continue to update you in the weeks and months ahead. As always, we are
Posted in elections, JeffCo Public Schools, Public Education, superintendent	| Tagged JeffCo Public Schools, JeffCo School Board, Jeffco School Board election, JeffCo Schools, Jefferson county public schools, jefferson county school board, new school construction, new schools, NW Arvada, overcrowding, recall, Rose Stein Elementary, school board election, school construction, Sierra Elementary, superintendent, Superintendent Jason Glass, superintendent search, Three Creeks	| 1 Comment |
What you need to know for the 6.16.16 BOE meeting
The Jeffco School Board met on Tuesday to talk about feedback regarding the proposed facilities master plan and give direction to the staff. It was a 7-hour meeting and nearly impossible to briefly summarize, but we'll do our best.
Why do you need the summary? Because they're going to vote on these items tonight at 5:30 pm. You can sign up for public comment, and we encourage you to do so if you have strong feelings about any of these items.
Tuesday's meeting started with a review of TABOR, led by a representative from the Colorado State University Colorado Futures Center. You can look at the presentation here, but the long and short of it is that TABOR has negatively impacted school funding and in districts like Jeffco, taxpayers are now paying more taxes to fund schools than they would have if TABOR hadn't been enacted. In addition, our schools are being funded at lower levels than they would have otherwise.
Then board members dived into the meat of the discussion: directions for staff regarding the proposed Facilities Master Plan. Two main points stand out:
There is support for moving to a K-5, 6-8 model, but only if it's done across the district at the same time. Feedback indicated that the community was open to a district-wide change, and board members largely indicated they would support it as well. Staff adjusted the plan accordingly, and with the exception of Jefferson and Alameda, the new plan reflects a K-5, 6-8 configuration, with additions or new buildings planning for that configuration as well.
Board members are very reluctant to close any schools yet, though they are also concerned about balancing budget concerns with the budget challenges posed by smaller schools in aging buildings. Most wanted to see the district work with the school, perhaps to offer programming that might draw kids from the neighborhood back, or to do other work to otherwise give them a chance to grow again.
Budget projects for the future are concerning and funding cuts may be on the way. Jeffco's lobbyist told the board earlier that he thought funding that reflected inflation + enrollment would be an "optimistic" projection. As a result, the desire to be proactive and financially efficient while also meeting the needs of learning communities is a central point of this conversation.
A few other notes: according to Jeffco's Communications Director, Diana Wilson, about 800 people participated in the 12 community forums and about 1,100 participated in the telephone town halls. She also pointed out the questionnaire was only to solicit input. (Also note that her department was posting all of the feedback they received, usually shortly after receiving it, and those should all be available for the public to review on the Jeffco Schools facilities master plan page.)
Now, the play-by-play, in an abbreviated fashion.
The board first talked about the proposed K-5, 6-8 configuration. Opportunities include the opportunity for sixth graders to have more access to clubs, electives, advanced math, access to teachers with degrees in math for struggling students, science classrooms, more art, music, theater, and more opportunities that better reflect the "whole child" concept in the Jeffco 20/20 plan.
Concerns include budgets and social readiness, among others. However, staff is recommending a two-year transition plan that would start with a school's 4th grade students and families. That would allow families time to think about choice enrollment and also allow schools time to plan for what their budget will look like as a K-5 school.
Specific dates for grade reconfiguration weren't mentioned, though the two-year transition plan suggests that the earliest date for reconfiguration would be 2018-19. If the reconfiguration is to roll out district-wide, that could be even later, since some of the middle schools would require an addition in order to fully accommodate the 6th graders. Terry Elliot mentioned a "rolling implementation," though board members said they didn't want to see "piecemeal" reconfigurations.
Student-based budgeting concerns were also addressed. The short version is that SBB models would continue to be flexible. The current model works best with schools of about 500 students and is problematic with elementary schools under 300 students; however, both Superintendent McMinimee and board members made it clear that they didn't want to see schools negatively impacted. McMinimee said those numbers might change, and that the district might nee to find additional money in other places, perhaps from efficiencies in the district level or a mill levy override, to put additional dollars into SBB.
Board members were especially interested in hearing about how details like art, music, and PE teachers would be accommodated if schools lost a grade, and making sure that elementary schools don't take a hit with the new reconfiguration. Ron Mitchell accurately noted that the devil is in the details, and that a lot of work will need to be done to make sure we're not leaving 6th graders in limbo.
Amanda Stevens also asked how this change would affect schools in the Jefferson and Alameda areas that adopted a K-6, 7-12 model last year. The short answer is that those schools would maintain that configuration. There are no plans to move 6th graders to the 7-12 schools.
Here's the area-by-area breakdown of BOE recommendations. We're only noting the areas where board members disagreed with current staff recommendations or areas where the staff specifically asked for directions from the board.
The board wants to keep both Patterson and Kendrick Lakes open, and recommended deferred maintenance for Patterson and a new 576 seat K-5 school for Kendrick Lakes.
The board agreed with the staff's new proposal to add six classrooms to Arvada K-8 so that all schools in the area could reconfigure to K-5, 6-8. Brad Rupert also said that Foster had specifically requested the opportunity to stay a K-6 school because of their dual-language program, and the board appeared open to that recommendation as well.
Arvada West
The board recommended keeping both Allendale and Campbell open, though this also presents challenges due to space limitations at one site and low enrollment at the other. Allendale's capacity is 275, and Campbell's is 365.
Amanda Stevens wanted to hear more about pathways to keeping the small schools sustainable. Ali Lasell wanted to make sure that closures are a last resort, done only after we've exhausted all other options. Brad Rupert also expressed concerns that those areas could start growing again as new families move into the area.
Deferred maintenance or a major renovation (though not addition) are possibilities for Campbell. Deferred maintenance, a new school, a major renovation or even an addition could be possibilities at Allendale. The board needed to know more numbers, but was pretty clear that they're not ready to close schools yet.
The board was comfortable with cabinet recommendations, though they suggested a new Green Gables School might be a better option than a renovation.
OK with cabinet recommendations.
The board wanted to see more deferred maintenance done on Dutch Creek to make the school more competitive with its neighbors.
OK with cabinet recommendations, though noted that Conifer HS is the only high school without an auditorium and that the addition of one is an equity item.
Dakota Ridge
Not willing to close Pleasant View yet. "Closing a school to me is a last resort, and it is a last resort after we have exhausted all efforts," Lasell said.
Of note: a phased rebuild is proposed for Jefferson High School. Other suggestions included something like Warren Tech "East" offerings in the area for students.
The board recommends keeping Glennon Heights open and considering a boundary change from a nearby school that's currently over capacity.
The Little/Parr consolidation also met with a fair amount of discussion. Board members aren't willing to close either school yet, in part because this is another area that might see growth in the next few years.
Parr attracts a number of students who live just across the street from the Jeffco boundary (in Westminster 50), for whom Parr is a much closer school. Parr also has approximately 100 preschool students. Little has more students and a vocal community that wants to keep that site open as well.
The board's preference seems to be to keep both school open and build a new 576-seat school at the Parr site, which is a larger site that allows the district to build while keeping students in the current school during construction.
There was a question about whether an additional high school is needed, but the answer is no, not until there were enough new feeder schools to fill it. They also recommend keeping the proposed Leyden Rock school a priority for phase I.
Standley Lake
Here again, the board was reluctant to close any schools yet. Current recommendations are that Kullerstrand stays open and Prospect Valley gets a new school. The board was also in favor of keeping Vivian and Stober open, though those sites present some challenges. Among them: Stober students may need to go offsite for a year in order to renovate or build a new building.
Options Schools
Long View will have deferred maintenance for now, and they'll begin longer discussions about that site in the fall.
The last discussion was about a potential mill levy override. Staff presented a list of funding priorities. The first was a potential backfill if the state does in fact cut funding in the next year or two. However, several possibilities were also listed for what the new funding could bring (assuming state funding remains stable):
mental health support for schools
security and emergency management
student-based budget (suggested at $200/student/year)
charter school needs (note: charters will get full share of the mill levy override automatically; this would be an additional amount above that specifically dedicated to charter school needs)
activities and athletics
fees (athletics, Outdoor Lab, transportation)
full day kindergarten
Tonight's meeting starts at 5:30 pm in the Board Room. If you can't be there, you can stream the meeting. We know these are big decisions, so we hope to see a lot of you there and voicing your opinion. If you think Jeffco should go ahead with a mill levy override on the ballot, board members need to know that. They also need to know what you would support (or wouldn't support) as funding priorities.
If you think they need to stick to just asking for a bond to support construction, tell them. If you are concerned about one of the schools that was suggested for closure, be sure to tell them. There are big decisions and challenges ahead, and board members need to hear your voices to know how best to move forward.
Posted in Charter School, Government Transparency, JeffCo Public Schools, Public Education, School Finances	| Tagged bond, deferred maintenance, election, facilities master plan, FMP, Jeffco BOE, JeffCo Public Schools, JeffCo School Board, JeffCo Schools, Jefferson county public schools, mill levy, overcrowding, school construction	| 2 Comments |
by JeffcoOpportunity
Preview of School Board Meeting Preview for January 14, 2016
The Board holds a study session at the Ed Center this Thursday, January 14th, beginning at 5:30 pm. If you can't attend, please watch via live stream. Prior to the 5 pm meeting, students from Arvada High School's orchestra kick off the evening with a 5 pm performance.
During the first hour of the meeting, the board will hear from the district Human Resources leadership team on employee compensation strategies, workforce issues and recent decisions. In looking at the team's presentation, we are struck by the "We Are Jeffco" slide (slide 4) where it specifically calls attention to Jeffco's 5,690 "effective educators." We're wondering why it isn't just labeled "educators" or broken down into highly effective, partially effective, effective, etc.
Also, it's interesting to see that total salary and benefits for Jeffco staff lags inflation by 7%! Slide 14 of the presentation is just heartbreaking — where classroom teacher turnover dropped in Boulder, Cherry Creek, DougCo and Littleton, there was a frightening spike in turnover in Jeffco. We've got to turn that trend around! District leadership asks a great question: "are we able to attract and retain quality staff?" Jeffco uses EPI (Educators Professional Inventory) for all licensed classroom positions. This teacher selection tool predicts an applicant's potential impact on student achievement.
In addition, there's a presentation about Jeffco's Strategic Compensation pilot, but too little time for a full discussion. The pilot looked at whether additional compensation for educators makes a difference in student achievement and evaluated which supports for teachers and principals have the greatest impact on student achievement. The findings show students do better when they have better (higher rated) teachers.
Things that affect teacher quality include strong leaders/shared leadership, collaboration, professional learning communities, and rigorous evaluations with growth-focused feedback and associated professional development. The presentation doesn't address the role of compensation.
We hope the board asks for more information about this piece. We think the key is offering a competitive wage and an innovative, collaborative, supportive work environment. The strategic compensation pilot has been extended for a year with six elementary schools and two middle schools serving as learning model schools.
Next up: honors and recognitions. Kudos to students from D'Evelyn, West Jeff Middle, Arvada West High, and staff from Jeffco's North Area Athletic Complex.
We're also thrilled a former practice has been reinstated: board members sharing information on board work and/or activities they participated in since the prior regular board meeting. We know the new board members have been very active since taking office and look forward to hearing their updates. (One caveat: please stick to the summary versions if the meeting has a long agenda.)
Correspondence since the last meeting includes many letters regarding Bradford Elementary's change from K-6 to K-8. In addition, the Capital Asset Advisory Committee urges the board to address growth (Phase II of Sierra Elementary, K-8 at 58th Avenue and Hwy 93), plus overcrowding and aging facilities across the district.
To address the board about an agenda item, sign up here. One highlight on the consent agenda: Jeffco only lost one more teacher compared to resignations for the same period last year. We hope the tides are turning. Also, we appear to have a new Chief Communications Officer – Diana Wilson – officially starting Jan. 19. She holds an MBA from CU Denver and has worked for the past two years for the Westminster Fire Department. We very much look forward to seeing Jeffco Schools move forward with a fully-functioning communications department again.
The board will also discuss the process to complete Superintendent McMinimee's summative evaluation for the 2014/2015 school year and goals for this school year (15/16), which will be based on the district goals (ends) set by the board. The board has discussed revisions to district goals, but have not arrived at a revised set of goals. When will this occur?
The first item in the discussion agenda is a resolution pertaining to the $15M underspend (largely from unfilled positions) that was going to be used by the prior board to fund the construction of the new school at Candelas. This resolution would authorize the return of that $15M from the Capital Reserve Fund to the General Fund, and this resolution acknowledges that the transfer will not result in an on-going deficit. But there doesn't seem to be any further discussion or vote regarding what will be done with the $15M. Will it be allocated as recommended by staff, with $5M as a one-time compensation to staff and the remaining $10M to be held in reserves to offset any potential state reductions for 2016/17? Or are there other budget issues that weren't addressed, including the request from Jeffco's security department last fall, that might also benefit from these funds?
Next, there's recommendation to construct a K-8 school instead of a K-6 school at the Candelas site. This was previously part of the discussion, but WNW chose to ignore it and approve only a K-6 for reasons we never fully understood. We're happy to see a return to the district's recommendation for a K-8 structure that will better address projected enrollment and make the most of Jeffco's construction dollars on this project.
There's also a recommendation to use of Certificates of Participation (COPs), or other means of financing, in order to move forward with the much-needed construction of Phase II of Sierra Elementary School, which will provide seating capacity for an additional 250 students.
Finally, the Board will discuss rejoining the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB). Mr. McMinimee has previously recommended this action and we expect a vote to rejoin.
The final major agenda items are review of policies pertaining to asset protection (EL-7); the school calendar (EL-14); and governance process, ends, executive limitations, and board/staff linkage. Only two minutes are allotted for this last item so we don't expect to hear the board discuss revisions to Ends (district goals), but we do expect to hear more about Ends in the near future.
Posted in elections, Government Transparency, Jeffco Exodus, JeffCo Public Schools, Public Education, School Finances, school reform, teacher compensation	| Tagged board of education, COPs, Jeffco BOE, JeffCo Public Schools, JeffCo School Board, JeffCo Schools, Jefferson county public schools, McMinimee, NW Arvada, overcrowding, school budget, school overcrowding, teacher compensation	| 1 Comment |

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


All this background information leads us to a blog atdiscovermagazine.com: Earth-is-a-1-in-700 quintillion kind of place. (700 quintillion is 7 followed by 20 zeros!) The blog references a study by Astrophysicist Erik Zackrisson from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Neither should we too quickly assume that Earth is not a rare jewel. Statistically, it would seem that we and Earthare rare jewels. Humble amazement at all that it takes to sustain life on our planet is a proper stance at this stage of the evidence. The more we learn, the more it seems that the convergence of all the factors we enjoy on Earth is rare rather than commonplace. Consider well all that God and nature—sustained by God—have done so that you and I can exist. Be amazed; be very amazed!


This unique event will focus on the jewellery in the collection, presenting brand new research from our curatorial team. Sophia is an expert in antique jewellery, and Library Secretary for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmith's.
Tickets £20/£17.50 concessions and Brontë Society members – includes a glass of wine. Places are limited, so early booking is advised. Please book in advance at www.bronte.org.uk/whats-on or by calling 01535 642323.
Why not make a day of it? Combine a Parsonage Unwrapped event with a Brontë Treasures session for £100 per person. Please call 01535 642323 for more information.


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Benjamin Lewis Jones (born 11 April 1931) is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. A dual-code rugby international he won nine caps for Wales at full-back, centre, wing, before turning professional and playing rugby league for Leeds (Heritage No. 896), Great Britain, Other Nationalities and Wales. Rugby league historian Robert Gate has described Lewis Jones as "arguably the most devastating attacking back Wales has ever produced." His acceleration over the first few yards allowed him to penetrate almost any defence in the mid-1950s.

Background
Born Saturday, 11 April 1931, in Gorseinon, Swansea, Lewis Jones was educated at Gowerton Grammar School, and played club rugby for Neath before undertaking his national service in the Navy. After leaving the Navy he joined Llanelli. He won his first cap for Wales against England in 1950. This was a match Jones might easily have missed, as he had been about to depart for Hong Kong on board an aircraft carrier until the orders were countermanded on discovering that he was a rugby player. The same year he played for the British Lions, being flown out as a replacement for an injured player on the tour to New Zealand and Australia, and playing in three test matches. He scored 63 points in seven games in New Zealand and 16 points against Australia in Brisbane.

Professional playing career
In November 1952 Jones signed for Leeds rugby league club for a record £6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £419,300 in 2016). A broken arm prevented him having much impact in his first season but in the 1953–54 season he scored 302 points and he first represented Wales in 1953 against France. Jones toured Australasia in 1954. In 1956–57 he scored a record 496 points. He also set the record for most points in a test series in 1956–57. He played in the 1957 World Cup.

In the 1960–61 season he played a great part in Leeds' first Championship.

Lewis Jones played , was the captain, and scored a try, and 5 conversions in Leeds' 25–10 victory over Warrington in the Championship Final during the 1960–61 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 20 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 52,177.

Lewis Jones played , and scored 3-conversions in Leeds' 9–19 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1961 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 11 November 1961.

After the 1953 game against France, Wales did not play another officially recognised international match until 1968; but during this period a representative Wales team played in two games against France. The second of these games saw Jones given the captaincy, leading the Wales team out at Toulouse on 17 February 1963. Despite playing twice for Wales, he was only capped for the first match.

Lewis also represented Great Britain while at Leeds between 1952 and 1956 against France (2 non-Test matches). Lewis Jones represented the Rest of the World in the 11–20 defeat by Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 June 1957.

Jones' Testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1963. He was the first Leeds player to score over 1,000 goals for the club, a feat not matched until 2009 Kevin Sinfield. Jones became one of fewer than ten Welshmen to have scored more than 2,000 points in their rugby league career.

Jones won 15 caps for Great Britain at rugby league, scoring in every game he played. He spent six years as a player-coach and a further two years as coach of the Wentworthville Magpies in Australia. During his eight-year tenure Wentworthville won seven Second Division premierships. A schoolteacher by profession, he later taught mathematics in Leeds.

As of 2015, he is 9th in British rugby league's "most points in a career" record list behind; Neil Fox, Jim Sullivan, Kevin Sinfield, Gus Risman, John Woods, Mick Nanyn, Cyril Kellett and Kel Coslett.

Post playing
Arriva Yorkshire honoured thirteen rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at Wheldon Road, the home of Castleford. A fleet of new buses were named after the 'Arriva Yorkshire Rugby League Dream Team', which included Jones. Members of the public nominated the best ever rugby league footballers to have played in West Yorkshire, supported by local rugby league journalists; James Deighton from BBC Leeds, and Tim Butcher, editor of Rugby League World.

In 2013 Jones, along with three other former players, was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.

References

Further reading

External links
!Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (statistics currently missing due to not having appeared for both Great Britain, and England)
(archived by web.archive.org) Lewis Jones at wales.rleague.com
(archived by web.archive.org) Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk
U.K. League Hooker in Doubt
Welsh convert XIII

1931 births
Living people
British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales
Dewsbury Rams coaches
Dual-code rugby internationals
Great Britain national rugby league team players
Leeds Rhinos captains
Leeds Rhinos players
Llanelli RFC players
Neath RFC players
People educated at Gowerton Grammar School
Other Nationalities rugby league team players
Rugby league centres
Rugby league five-eighths
Rugby league fullbacks
Rugby league halfbacks
Rugby league players from Swansea
Rugby league wingers
Rugby union fullbacks
Rugby union players from Gorseinon
Wales international rugby union players
Wales national rugby league team players
Welsh rugby league coaches
Welsh rugby league players
Welsh rugby union players
Wentworthville Magpies players

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Although there is much focus on the fact that Rashida Tlaib is Muslim, and is touted as the "first Muslim woman" to be elected to Congress this November, her Arab heritage is of much more significance. As a Palestinian Arab, Tlaib could find herself in an unusual caucus consisting of three Palestinian members of Congress that, if played right, would give the Palestinian cause a unique boost in American politics.
American elections don't always bring good news to Arab Americans but Tuesday's election in Michigan is an exception, especially for Palestinian Americans.
Former Michigan legislator Rashida Tlaib won Michigan's Democratic primary election on Tuesday August 7, 2018 as her party's nominee to succeed retired Congressman John Conyers. Because the 13th Congressional district is overwhelming Democratic, Tlaib is certain to win the November 6, 2018 General election and take her seat in Congress as the first Palestinian American woman.
Tlaib joins fellow Michigander Justin Amash, a Republican who is expected to win re-election in November and who is of Palestinian and Syrian descent.
Tlaib and Amash could be joined by another Palestinian-Mexican American, Ammar Camp-Najjar, who won a run-off spot in California's 50th District contest on June 5, 2018.
Tlaib, who retired after 12 years the Michigan legislature because of term limits, was one of 10 candidates vying to succeed Conyers, the "Dean" of the U.S. House. African American, Conyers served in his seat 52 years beginning in 1965 but was forced to step down last year in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
Tlaib overcame a tough field of challengers that included Conyers' son John Conyers III, who later was thrown off the ballot, and Conyers' nephew, State Senator Ian Conyers. The district is 56.3 percent Black. Also running was another African American with an iconic name, Coleman Young II whose father was the former Detroit mayor. Conyers III has said he will run as an independent in November.
While Tlaib is a liberal celebrated by the left, Amash is a conservative who supported Ron Paul and John McCain. He has held office representing Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2011. Amash is Chairman of the House Liberty Caucus and is "associated" with the Tea Party movement. The district is heavily Republican and he is also expected to easily win on Nov. 6.
Campa-Najjar has a tougher challenge, though he received the endorsement of the Democratic party leadership in his district. He is the grandson of Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar (aka Abu Yusuf) who as a senior member of Black September directed the 1972 Munich Olympic assault which took the lives of 11 Israeli athletes. Although there never was a trial, Israel's Mossad murdered Yusuf al-Najjar and his wife during a terrorist assault in Beirut. Campa-Najjar's father, Yasser Najjar, was orphaned and eventually fled to the United States where Ammar Campa-Najjar was raised.
The district is heavily Hispanic and much of Campa-Najjar's support has come from the strong Hispanic base there, overcoming challenges from a former Navy Seal, in the heavily Republican District that has been represented for many years by Republican incumbent Congressman Duncan D. Hunter. Hunter, the son of the former congressman representing the district, is vulnerable, though. He has been accused of campaign fund irregularities.
In his bio, Campa-Najjar showcases the role of his Mexican-American mother in raising him, and his background as a Labor Department official with the administration of President Barack Obama, playing down his "Middle Eastern" father.
In the June 5 election, Hunter won 48.5 percent of votes in the open primary while Campa-Najjar placed second with only 16.5 percent. An "open primary" means Democrats and Republicans, and other established party candidates, run together in one election requiring a run-off if no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
Just over 100 Arab Americans currently hold elected office in 43 States. But as Arab Americans grow in population, and as more register to vote, that can increase.
Congress is one of the most important elective offices. Of the 435 members of the current Congress, 30 are Jewish and only four are Arab, not including three Arab Americans who retired this past year.
But, with the certain wins of Tlaib and Amash, and the long-shot challenge of Campa-Najjar, that could change as three more Arab Americans are running for Congress this year. If successful, they can double Arab representation and strengthen our voice.
In addition to the 3rd and 13th Congressional DIstrict races of Amash and Tlaib, two Arab Americans also ran in the 11th District.
West of Detroit in the heavily Republican 11th Congressional, incumbent Republican Congressman Dave Trott announced he will not seek re-election creating a vacancy. Two Arab Americans, one Republican and one Democrat, entered the race but failed to win seats in the November 6 contests.
Elected in 2013, Republican Klint Kesto is the first Christian Chaldean with Assyrian roots to serve in Michigan's state legislature. He faced five other challengers and lost to Republican Lena Epstein.
Lebanese American Fayrouz Saad also ran in the 11th District Democratic Primary facing four other challengers, losing to Democrat Haley Stevens.
Stevens and Epstein were both running in their first campaigns.
Two Arab Americans also ran in California's June 5 elecions seeking congressional seats in California, in the 39th and 50th Districts. Congressman Darrell Issa, whose father is Maronite Lebanese, announced he will retire after representing the 49th district since winning in November 2002.
Sam Jammal, a longtime Democrat lost a tough contest in the predominantly Republican 39th District just southeast of Los Angeles, despite his close ties to President Obama. Jammal worked on Obama's campaign and served as a Legislative Counsel in the U.S. Senate where he focused on civil rights, labor and national security issues. Jammal was later appointed by Obama to serve at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Republican incumbent, Ed Royce, who represented the 39th district since 1993, is retiring. Two candidates beat Jammal in the open primary election, Republican Young Kim and Democrat Gil Cisneros, and will face-off in the November 6, 2018 General Election.
In Florida's 27th Congressional District which includes Miami, Lebanese American Donna Shalala is running in a crowded field in the August 28th Democratic primary election, seeking to succeed Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), 65, the first Cuban American elected to Congress who is retiring after 28 years in Congress. Ros-Lehtinen has been a champion of anti-Palestinian legislation. But the district is predominantly Republican despite Shalala's sterling government service credentials.
Shalala must overcome challenges from six other candidates including a former judge, two Miami commissioners, two Florida legislators, a Miami Herald newspaper reporter. Two Republicans are also running. He primary election is August 28.
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Fmr. Irish President Mary Robinson Heads Panel Faulting "War on Terror" for Eroding Human Rights
StoryFebruary 25, 2009
world-renowned human rights lawyer and advocate. She is the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the former president of Ireland, the first woman to hold the office. She is currently the president of the International Commission of Jurists and the president of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative.
We speak to former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Robinson is president of the International Commission of Jurists, which has released a report that finds the so-called war on terror has eroded human rights worldwide. Robinson also addresses the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza and takeover of the West Bank, the need for an independent investigation of Bush administration crimes, the global economic meltdown, and the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [includes rush transcript]
StoryMar 09, 2009Fmr. Irish President Mary Robinson Joins Women Leaders at International Women's Conference in Liberia
AMY GOODMAN: A panel of experts set up by the International Commission of Jurists has concluded that counterterrorism measures adopted after 9/11 "threaten the very core of the international human rights framework." The panel's report, called "Assessing Damage, Urging Action," was released last week following a three-year study of how tactics used in the so-called "war on terror" have eroded rights and liberties the world over and created a climate of "lingering cynicism."
The panel includes sixty senior jurists from around the world. The report studies counterterrorism practices in forty countries but concentrates on the United States, asking President Obama to "immediately and publicly renounce" the characterization of counterterrorism as a war and to investigate human rights abuses against terrorism suspects.
The report was headed up by Mary Robinson, the president of the International Commission of Jurists. She's joining us now in our firehouse studio. She was president of Ireland between 1990 and '97, then was appointed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a post she held 'til 2002. Previously, she was a senator in Ireland for twenty years. She has been the honorary president of Oxfam International since 2002 and founded an NGO called Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. In 2004, she received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award, and in 2005 was awarded the first Outspoken Award from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for her role in helping to decriminalize homosexuality in Ireland.
We welcome you to Democracy Now!
It's great to have you with us.
MARY ROBINSON: Thank you.
AMY GOODMAN: Talk about this report you've just released and specifically what you're saying to the United States and President Obama.
MARY ROBINSON: There's been a lot written on the war on terror and counterterrorism, but this was the first time that there were hearings in sixteen countries that involved more than forty, because some of them were regional hearings.
And yes, we did look very closely both at the United States and United Kingdom law. We had hearings in both London and Belfast, because we found that in countries that didn't have good protections, they felt the laws had changed, so they expanded their bad laws and clamped down on freedom of the press, on political activism. And when we challenged that, they would say, "Oh, but look at the United States. They no longer say no torture. Look at what they're doing with Guantanamo. Look at Abu Ghraib, etc." So we had to hold those who, you know, speak about democracy and freedom to the standard that they need to be held to. And we were shocked at how the standards had dipped. And, of course, it wasn't making us more secure.
AMY GOODMAN: President Obama hasn't said this very much, but he did say he wants to stop using those words, "war on terror." Have you spoken to him?
MARY ROBINSON: We haven't spoken to him. In fact, I go today to Washington, and we will be meeting with some officials we've been meeting. There's an event tomorrow with the Brookings Institution in Washington. I hope we will have an opportunity, and I hope, in particular, that he and members of his administration read our report.
It's not — it's a report that's intended to be helpful and constructive, but we really do want to bring home the damage that has been done, some of it through a great expansion of intelligence gathering in secret with no accountability and no oversight, and some of that intelligence has been obtained by torture. I was very pleased last night in his speech that President Obama was so unequivocal, as he has been from the beginning, about no torture and got a standing ovation. That's a step in the right direction.
AMY GOODMAN: Extraordinary rendition, however, the kidnapping of people in one country, sending them to another or right here in the United States, like Maher Arar, the Canadian citizen who was taken from JFK and sent off to Syria —-
MARY ROBINSON: And we wouldn't have known about that case properly if it hadn't been for an independent inquiry in Canada. They admitted they got tainted, false information. They have apologized, and they've compensated. The United States still has not apologized and has not admitted wrong in that regard.
When we were in London launching the report, the newspapers were full of this case of the Ethiopian British resident who has just been returned from Guantanamo. He claims to have been tortured in Morocco with UK intelligence officers handing in the questions to him. We don't know, because we haven't had an inquiry yet, how much validity, but the United States will not hand over intelligence that was gathered from him. And that is a matter that has been before the British courts. So we have this secret world of unaccountability, and we say this is one of the problems when you talk about a war and you use that paradigm and when you don't uphold the standards of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
When I served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, you know, the United States, at the beginning, in particular, was a strong ally of these standards. During the last year, which was the year after 9/11, I found that I had to critique the United States, because it was not upholding those standards and how damaging that has been. We know it's part of the damage to the reputation of the United States.
AMY GOODMAN: You were forced out as chair of the Human Rights Commission in 2002.
MARY ROBINSON: Well, I had gone for an extra year after my first term of four years, and I did indicate that I'd be prepared to serve for the further three years, the full four-year second term. And it was clear that the United States did not want me to, because I was an open critic.
But it's important that this is, you know, seen more as "where do we go from here?" The United States has an administration now which has recognized the damage. And I think we should be looking forward and saying there are steps that need to be taken, and we need to understand that acts of terrorism are very serious criminal acts. And in our report, we repeat frequently that we know that these are real threats, and governments have a duty to protect, as the first responsibility of government. And we're not soft at all on terrorism. We want more effective measures to bring terrorists to justice and put them away for a long time. But if you bend the rules, other countries will not respect you, and they will bend them further.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask you about the crisis in the Middle East, about Israel and Palestine. Let me start by asking you about George Mitchell, who's the envoy, special envoy for Northern Ireland under the Clinton administration, now named the special envoy for the Middle East, currently second trip to the region. The former Maine senator addressed reporters last month during his first trip to the Middle East.
GEORGE MITCHELL: The United States is committed to vigorously pursuing a lasting peace and stability in the region. The decision by President Obama to dispatch me to come to this region, less than one week after his inauguration, is a clear and tangible evidence of this commitment.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to ask you about the Middle East envoy George Mitchell. You were the president of Ireland. Your thoughts on him as Middle East envoy?
MARY ROBINSON: I was very pleased at the appointment. I think there's nobody who will bring more wisdom and understanding and a capacity to listen, which is really very important. When he was making progress in Northern Ireland, I asked a former loyalist Protestant paramilitary, who had become a community leader and was helping with reconciliation, I said, "How do you -— to what do you attribute his success in Northern Ireland?" And he used a phrase that I then honored George with later. He said, "He listened us out." In other words, he was so patient in listening to the different sides that they ran out of complaints. And then he said, "Well, now, where do we go from here?"
And there is a need, in the context of the Middle East, to have an understanding of the narrative, which is completely different on both sides. On the Palestinian side, they are the victims, etc. On the Israeli side, they feel they are the victims, in some measure. And there needs to be an ability to transcend that and set the course for addressing the deep issues that divide.
I was in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in early November, just before Gaza was completely closed off. We were looking at the role of women and strengthening their ability to be part of the voice. And I met some extraordinary Palestinian and Israeli women, and I hope that they will be able to link with George Mitchell in what he's doing.
AMY GOODMAN: You were quoted by the BBC last year, saying, talking about Gaza, "Their whole civilization has been destroyed, I'm not exaggerating. It's almost unbelievable that the world doesn't care while this is happening."
MARY ROBINSON: I really believe that. I was in Gaza as High Commissioner for Human Rights eight years before. Going back — first of all, the way in which the West Bank itself has been divided up, by the new settlements, which are, you know, very provocative and in many cases illegal; by roads that Palestinians can't go on, but they have to find ways around; and by the wall — but when I went to Gaza, to be with people who were under siege for eighteen months, where there was a truce, which at that stage was due for possible renewal, but there had been no dividend. When we were in Northern Ireland and the IRA started to come into some kind of process, we encouraged them by having some kind of a dividend, some kind of a change in circumstances. There was none in Gaza.
I met poor farming women whose land had been bulldozed so they couldn't farm. And they said, "We learned embroidery, but we've no thread. We learned to make candles, but we've no wax." There was no activity. There was not enough food for families, not enough healthcare. We heard terrible stories about pregnant women dying at the border. And I saw — because I spent two hours going in and going out, I saw very sick people being treated like dirt. You know, you don't treat people like that. It's very dehumanizing. These young conscripts on the Israeli side do not treat the people going in and out as human beings. They treat them as potential terrible terrorists. And that's the image. So we need to break all of that. And I think George Mitchell has the capacity to reach beyond and to start to make us aware that this is a human situation that has to be addressed.
AMY GOODMAN: And to the US saying they will not talk to Hamas, Israel saying they will not talk to Hamas?
MARY ROBINSON: Well, I was recently designated, to my astonishment, one of the Elders of Mandela's Elders. I had to recognize I'm now officially an Elder. And the Elders decided that if we went there, we would meet with Hamas. And Archbishop Tutu has done it. Jimmy Carter was there, another Elder. And so, when I was there, I did meet with the prime minister, in the context of Gaza, and two other officials.
I was very critical of the situation under Hamas rule, because they had eroded many human rights, and I brought that up. Freedom of speech, freedom of movement. Women were being pulled back from playing a full role. They were being replaced by male teachers in some circumstances. But I felt that it was important to engage, because they have a responsibility. And I do believe that, you know, there cannot be a sustainable solution. But the main thing at the moment is to try to bring about unity in the Palestinians, between the Hamas and Fatah and others. And at the moment, that divide is damaging the prospects for all of the Palestinian people.
AMY GOODMAN: A Netanyahu government in Israel?
MARY ROBINSON: Well, the choice of government is a matter for Israel. Sometimes it's people who come from a right position who can,, you know, have the ultimate possibility of taking brave steps. I'm sure that George Mitchell —-
AMY GOODMAN: When you say a "right position," you mean a right-wing position?
MARY ROBINSON: Right-wing position, yes.
AMY GOODMAN: The Bush administration, President Bush himself, do you think he should be tried for war crimes?
MARY ROBINSON: I'm not going to make that kind of allegation, because it's completely premature to speak about who might be held accountable until there's a process of holding to account. I was very pleased that Senator Patrick Leahy has talked about the need for an independent inquiry. And he's right. You cannot just brush this aside because there's an economic crisis. There is a need for a people to say, "How did we get it so wrong? What were the ways in which we lost our way with our values?" And then the decision can be taken as to whether anybody will be held accountable.
AMY GOODMAN: What about President Obama saying we have to look forward?
MARY ROBINSON: I believe that one of the ways of looking forward is to have the courage to say we must inquire, because we know the damage that was done. The world, I think, is waiting for the Obama administration, when it has all its people in place, to take the necessary steps. It's not just words. Steps have to be taken to ensure that this does not happen again and that there is some accountability.
AMY GOODMAN: And what do you think most needs to be investigated?
MARY ROBINSON: I believe that it's important to look at how damaging the war paradigm was, what former Vice President Cheney called the "new normal." I was shocked by that, because I could see that that was so damaging.
Acts of terrorism are crimes against humanity. They are terrible crimes, and we need to reinforce the criminal justice system, work with countries that have weak systems to strengthen their systems, and make sure that there is sharing of intelligence, but that there isn't a secret world of no accountability for passing across intelligence that's obtained through torture, while nodding and winking, "Oh, we don't torture, but we will use intelligence obtained under torture." These are the things that have to be addressed.
AMY GOODMAN: President Robinson, the economic crisis, how it's hit the world, your own country, Ireland -—
MARY ROBINSON: Yes, it did.
AMY GOODMAN: — where you were former president. Last weekend, mass protest in Dublin, unions organized. Over 120,000 people came out.
MARY ROBINSON: Yes. It's a very, very serious situation, and it's a challenge that every country has to face, but also it's a global issue. No country is able to evade it. There was a time when the emerging economies, like China and India, thought that they would be immune. But now we need better international understanding, from my perspective, because in fact a lot of my focus at the moment is in African countries. And I'm going there tomorrow night to South Africa. I'll be in Liberia at a women's conference on International Women's Day. I'll be in the DRC looking at the situation of women who have been raped and girls who have had their vagina destroyed, who for the rest of their lives will suffer terribly. The world doesn't care enough already about these issues. In a time of great economic and financial crisis, these poorest countries will be hit worst.
AMY GOODMAN: We only have fifteen seconds, but on the DRC, what has to happen now?
MARY ROBINSON: There has to be more valuing of the lives of women and girls and more accountability for the terrible brutality that has been going on for years. It's a war that has taken a huge toll. We need to pay attention to it, and I hope to help to draw that attention.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to thank you very much for being with us, Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, former chair of the UN High Commission on Human Rights. This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. Now she is head of the International Commission of Jurists.
Fmr. Irish President Mary Robinson Joins Women Leaders at International Women's Conference in Liberia
StoryMar 09, 2009


Home to the world's largest propane storage facility, Texas continues to be among the global leaders in using propane autogas to power fleet vehicles and mowers. Propane autogas, the world's top alternative fuel, is one of most widely used global fuel sources, ranking third only to gasoline and diesel. Cost-effective and clean-burning, autogas is used to power more than 21 million vehicles worldwide. Because of its economic and practical uses, the number of fleet operators converting to propane autogas both in Texas and around the globe continues to grow.
Along with Texas, fleets in UK, Hong Kong, India, and Australia are switching to propane autogas. For instance, Hong Kong is making strides transitioning to alternative fuel. The Hong Kong version of Ford Motor Co.'s Transit Connect Taxi, which will run on a liquefied petroleum gas fuel system, made its debut in the Chinese city late last month.
In Texas, there are more than 2,000 school buses powered by propane. State agencies like the Texas Department of Transportation have more than 900 propane vehicles in their fleets, and local governments like municipalities and counties are also making the switch to propane. Public entities are not the only ones switching to the popular alternative fuel; businesses like Frito Lay, Dish Network and DHL are also going green with propane.
As the global trend of switching to autogas grows, Texas is recognized as a worldwide leader in alternative fuel. With more than 700 autogas refueling stations located across the state, the use of environmentally-friendly propane autogas is becoming more both more widespread and convenient.


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Truck Accidents Attorney in Los Angeles, California
$13.4 Million Trucking Accident Case: Accidents don't "just happen"
Los Angeles, CA personal injury attorney Thomas Johnston talks about a case he worked on involving a tragic accident where an 18 wheeler rear-ended a car.
One of the more tragic case that we've handled was for the Gomez family and this family was a young man, his finance, and his mother were driving down the road and they were rear ended by an 18-wheeler. The mother was killed and the young woman lost her arm in the rollover that happened. One of the excuses I think the defense was trying to say is that you know, sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, accidents just happen. We reject that completely. I don't think accidents just happen. I think they're the result of choices or people who refuse to make choices.
And what we were able to show was that truck driver refused to make the safe choice of watching the road and seeing what's there to be seen. Instead, I think he was lured into being a passive participant in the driving exercise. He's just along for the ride instead of staying so vigilant on what's ahead of him. And what was ahead of him was a beautiful family. And when he made the choice to not be an active participant that's what he caused and that verdict reflected how I felt about it. That it wasn't just wow, this is a tragic event or accident. Because although it was tragic indeed, it should never have happened. And I think that we were successful in showing that in court.
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Thomas also has a loyal following as a stand-up comedian and has earned a reputation for wowing crowds. For three years, he served as the exclusive opening act on the Luther Vandross tour. Served as the exclusive Mainstage host for the Essence Festival in New Orleans for 7 years 2009 – 2016, which draws over 250,000 fans and features acts such as Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Usher, and Kanye West. In 2017 Thomas hosted the Time To Laugh event at Bishop T.D. Jakes Megafest. In October 2010, Thomas recorded his one hour special at the famed Motor City Casino in Detroit. He continues to keep the crowds laughing as he tours nationally to sold out crowds across the country.
He's a talented thespian who studied theatre at Texas A&M University, has worked in over a dozen stage plays and, studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London. A number of films are on his resume, including 2011's "N-Secure" and "The Heart Specialist" with Zoe Saldana; David Talbert's "Baggage Claim;" "Think Like A Man" in 2012, in October of 2016 he makes a cameo appearance in Tyler Perry's "Madea's Halloween." In 2018 Thomas served as the host for the Oprah Winfrey Network's hit dating show "Ready to Love," produced by one of Hollywood's blockbuster hit makers, Will Packer.
In 2011 and 2013 Thomas traveled to over a dozen military bases in the Middle East with the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff USO Holiday Tour, where he shared his humor, insight and wisdom to thousands of military men and women. This interaction with soldiers, both stateside and around the world, inspired Thomas to establish "Miles of Giving" a non-profit foundation created for the purpose of assisting wounded veterans.


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ACS may miss its goal of decreasing ca incidence by 25%
Oncology NEWS International, Oncology NEWS International Vol 16 No 12, Volume 16, Issue 12
In 1998, the American Cancer Society (ACS) set a challenge goal for the United States to lower cancer incidence by 25% between 1992 and 2015. At about the midpoint (2004), overall cancer incidence rates had declined at a rate of about 0.6% per year, about half the pace needed to achieve the 25% goal by 2015
In 1998, the American Cancer Society (ACS) set a challenge goal for the United States to lower cancer incidence by 25% between 1992 and 2015. At about the midpoint (2004), overall cancer incidence rates had declined at a rate of about 0.6% per year, about half the pace needed to achieve the 25% goal by 2015. Similarly, ACS estimates that it goal of reducing cancer mortality by 50% from 1990 to 2015 may also be only half met.
"New understandings of preventable factors are needed, and new efforts are also needed to better act on our current knowledge about how we can prevent cancer, especially by continuing to reduce tobacco use and beginning to reverse the epidemic of obesity," the investigators wrote (Sedjo RL et al: CA Cancer J Clin 57:326-340, 2007).
The researchers calculated cancer incidence trends using SEER data, and presented data on delay-adjusted incidence trends for all cancer sites; all cancer sites without prostate cancer included; all cancer sites stratified by sex, age, and race; and 20 selected cancer sites.
Since cancers may be reported to registries years after the initial diagnosis, delay-adjusted rates were estimated to account for such delays in reporting. Rates for all cancers were calculated without prostate cancer to avoid the effects of PSA screening. All rates were age adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.
From 1992 to 2004, cancer incidence rates fell by about 8% (0.6% per year). Incidence increased in the early 1990s apparently due to a rise in prostate cancer incidence associated with increasing use of PSA screening.
"The declines in cancer incidence were most apparent among men and among those aged 65 years and older," the authors said. Declines among men are related primarily to declines in lung and prostate cancer. The reason for the declines in older people is unclear, but may be related to the fact that long-term benefits of smoking cessation are more apparent with advancing age and to the wide access to clinical preventive services in the Medicare system, including colorectal and cervical screenings.
Although decreasing trends were similar in all races, African Americans continued to have a higher cancer incidence than whites.
Trending down in incidence were cancers of the prostate, lung (men only), colorectum, ovary, oral cavity, stomach, and cervix uteri. Invasive breast cancer began to trend downward after 1999, and lung cancer incidence in women has been stable in recent years.
No downturn was seen in multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, or in cancers of the corpus uteri, bladder, pancreas, or brain, and rates actually increased for melanoma and cancers of the kidney, liver, thyroid, and esophagus.
The investigators said there has been "mixed success" in reducing the prevalence of major cancer risk factors. Although historical declines in tobacco use and use of HRT in women have contributed to declines in the incidence of some cancer sites, "these favorable changes are somewhat offset by the increasing prevalence of obesity, which contributes to higher risk for many types of cancers," the investigators said.
The researchers also noted that mammography rates have declined somewhat in recent years. On a more optimistic note, screening for colorectal cancer has been rising, and colorectal cancer is "on target" to meet the 2015 goal.


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Tsunami Solomon Islands, 2013
Earthquake and Tsunami, Solomon Islands, 06 February 2013
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck northeast of Australia on 6 February 2013. It has hit near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, causing a tsunami that killed at least thriteen people and may have destroyed a number of villages, causing local evacuations. Tsunami warnings were issued as far afield as Australia, but were soon cancelled.
Video: CNN - Massive 8.0 Earth quake strikes South pacific and triggers tsunami warnings
Image: 2013 - Houses are damaged in the area of Lata - Temotu province - Solomon Islands
Richard Arculus of the Australian National University in Canberra, who visited the area recently, say it is seismically "particularly active, but you don't hear much about it because it is relatively sparsely populated". There have been dozens of quakes there in the last month, with over 40 greater than magnitude 4.5 in the preceding seven days.
Video: Video of the tsunami waves in Solomon Islands 2013
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the Solomon Islands, Fiji , Papua New Guinea, and several other islands in the region. The agency also issued a tsunami watch for New Zealand , Australia and eastern Indonesia. The earthquake produced a tsunami measuring 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) at Lata, Solomon Islands. Thetsunami reached about 500 m (1,600 ft) inland. Smaller tsunamis of 50 cm (20 in) and 11 cm (4.3 in) were reported in New Caledonia and Vanuatu .
Image: 2013 - Following a Tsunami at Lata - Temotu province - Solomon Islands
The USGS originally reported that the quake was about 5.8 kilometers deep, says James Goff of the University of New South Wales in Sydney. "That made me think 'oh no, here we go again, this will be a bad one'." Earthquakes as shallow as that can transmit more energy to the surface, producing more intense shaking and larger tsunamis. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii then said the quake was 33 km deep, so the tsunami was weaker than first thought. The USGS now gives the depth as 28.7 km.
Video: First images of the tsunami in Solomon Islands 2013
In the capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, residents evacuated to higher ground, causing traffic jams. Local news agencies reported that four villages were destroyed in this area. Houses were flooded in eastern Temotu Province. On Santa Cruz Island, 1.5 m (4.9 ft) waves damaged 50 buildings. In Lata, the tsunami damaged the airport and flooded low-lying areas killing nine people, five of them elderly and one a child. More than 100 houses on the island were damaged, and the water and electricity services were interrupted. It was reported that almost all houses in Nela village were washed away, and some homes in Venga village were shifted by water. Officials in Noumea ordered residents to evacuate along the eastern coast of New Caledonia and nearby Loyalty Islands. Residents also evacuated to higher ground in Suva, the capital of Fiji. The earthquake killed 13 people, and 5 people remain listed as missing.
Image: 2013's After Tsunami - Solomon Islands


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Fancy a ride on the love train? Here's a book for this Holidays Season! 'Loving an Alien' is a riveting collection of intimate interviews with brave women who crossed the cultural divide and loved to tell the tale. Vive la diversité!
Loving an Alien: How does it feel to fall for a "foreigner"?
Fancy a ride on the love train? Here's a book for your trip! 'Loving an Alien' is a riveting collection of intimate interviews with brave women who crossed the cultural divide and loved to tell the tale. Vive la diversité!


Medical Jane is a resourceful site that seeks to bring together cultivators, processors, researchers and users of cannabis.
It has played a major role in disseminating information that counters propaganda and deliberate moves to stigmatize and downplay the medicinal benefits of the plant.
In their passionate endeavor, Medical Jane hardly fails to publicize, through their blog posts, any new research reports on cannabis and its rich benefits.
One such post, written by the site's editor Drake Dorm and published on March 8, 2014, highlighted a research report conducted by an Australian research team led by Dr. Tim Karl and published in the March 2014 edition of Psychopharmacology. While this study did not uncover much new data, its results emboldened many in their belief that more consideration should be given to cannabinoids as the potential ultimate cure for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other conditions that cause loss of cognitive ability.
More research need to be done to tell us the actual cause of degradation of the brain's ability to process and retain memory. Previous studies have indicated that accumulated iron in the brain is the probable culprit. According to these studies, iron tampers with the generation of neurons.
Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, helps in neurogenesis, which is the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus area of the brain – this is the part where memory is formed, organized, and stored. Neurons play a central role in the transmission of messages not only within the brain but also throughout the nervous system.
According to the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, a community of neuro-professionals and students from Harvard Medical School, there are currently 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease, 1 million suffering from Parkinson's, and another 500,000 patients with other forms of neurodegenerative diseases. The center projects that, in the next 15 years, 1 in every 5 Americans will be over the age of 65. Given that neurodegenerative diseases strike the older members of society, this level of growth will result in approximately 30 million patients by 2030.
The efforts of Medical Jane and others will compel society not only to rethink its position on cannabis but also to find a cure for neurodegenerative diseases and alleviate the pain of many around the world.
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Larks in the Park, indeed. We enjoyed an intermittently sunny Sunday afternoon lazing on the grass by the river, listening to live music and eating ice-cream. I reckon it doesn't get a lot better than that.
The band weren't bad, either - an Irish folk combo who played a Bluegrass set as a duo in the middle. To be honest they were lacking a certain something - but they did 'fess up to being one band member down. For my money, even with the missing bass section, they were a little incoherent which made their performance slightly disappointing. Having said that, they were fine to listen to and on the whole it made for a really pleasant afternoon.
My critical assessment makes me realise that a) I'm still an incurable muso, and b) I really ought to find some musical outlet now that we're settled again. I'm now being encouraged to get involved with the local folk scene. I'd like to find some contemporary folk: more like the "Fisherman's Blues" than "She walked through the Fair", if you know what I mean. I'll keep you posted.
On a slightly different note [ahem], I applaud today's announcement from the government's "The Science Select Committee": that drug classifications should be rethought. I reckon this is long overdue - and I'm pleased to see a more objective approach. I'm also interested to see that this would rate the likes of Ecstasy and LSD (currently Class A) way down the list, lower than tobacco (about the middle of the harm rating) and alcohol (which looks like it'd a class A by this assessment).
I can't decide whether I must've done something right somewhere along the line, or whether my dear daughter is using some kind of dastardly double-retro reverse psychology on me.
I'll explain: last night, my wife wanted to get "Proud" by Heather Small (ex M People). We decided the easiest way of doing this was to use our eldest daugter's iTunes account. This is, of course, licensed for the laptop which seems to have a permanent residence in her bedroom. [NB: there are a number of tagential threads here .. including, but not limited to the evils that are DRM and the irritating irony of a laptop which never get moved - but I'll leave those for another time.] Having found, listened to and bought the track we browsed through the collection already downloaded. Hang on .. what's this? A mistake, surely? Lynyrd Skynyrd, as clear as day: "Sweet Home Alabama".
But .. but .. that's our music! Teenagers are supposed to rebel against their parents and reject everything from their era. It's not fair!
Actually, I'm kinda impressed that my dear girl has some taste. Music is one of the few areas where we share common ground, and I get a small iota of respect (having played in a band 'n all). I'm planning on making up a CD from her collection - entitled "US College Rock" or somesuch. I've already earmarked Fountains of Wayne ("Stacey's Mom"), Wheatus ("Teenage Dirtbag") and OPM ("Heaven is a Halfpipe").
.. or should I say, glad I'm not in the city.
Ah, blessed rain! The ride to work this morning was GREAT.
I have no particular topic in mind at present - so this will be a kind of stream-of-consciousness posting.
I once heard that the Irish writing style is no successful and so distinctive because of the tradition of rambling, stream-of-consciousness conversations which typically happen between Irish people. Often in the pub.
There's a great (apocryphal?) tale about Brendan Behan, who was employed by Guinness to devise an advertising slogan for them. He was given some crates of the stuff in part payment. After some weeks they checked up on him for any progress. He'd drunk the beer and come up with "Guinness: it makes you drunk" or somesuch. I say apocryphal because I suspect there may be much embellishment to this story - though it's reported in his Wikiedia page.
On the subject of the Wikipedia, I learn from the page on "apocrypha" that many religions have texts whic are considered apocyrphal. I also remember from a colleague at work some years ago that the Qur'an / Koran shares much of its text with the Bible - particularly the Old Testament. Funny how two religions based on the same text can have so much fear and loathing between them.
I'm now waiting for Yusuf Islam's new CD to be released. He must have an amazing insight to the differences between Chrisitanity and Islam. I hope it's worth listening to, as I'm going to want to buy it.
At school, when I was 10 or so we used to sing "Morning has Broken" in assembly. Funny how these little things, which seem totally insignificant at first, knit together in the end to make something meaningful.
We're back in good ol' Blighty. Not that France is a bad place. In fact, as the years go by I've appreciated their more laid-back approach to life increasingly. T'was hot, though - but I gather it was hot back home, too.


text:
A rare glimpse inside Australia's oldest synagogue
Posted on November 16, 2015 November 16, 2015 by Andrew Ross - novisiblemeans	Posted in Art and Culture, local knowledge, Photography, TasmaniaTagged architecture, Colonial, colony, convict, Egyptian Revival, history, Hobart, Open Day, service, Synagogue, Worship
Open House Hobart offered a rare opportunity to visit Hobart's only synagogue, which also has the honour of being Australia's oldest.
The entrance portico of Hobart's synagogue
I'd seen inside once before, many years ago, when it played host to a contemporary music festival concert by pianist Ian Munro. It was a virtuosic performance, but notably short on tunes that one could hum, and all I recalled of the interior was the very hard, high-backed bench seats.
The mezzanine level at the Hobart synagogue may have accommodated convicts
On this visit, I noted that the seats were rather better padded than I recalled; the gilt and red velvet opulence apparent last weekend had not lasted in my memory.
The trapezoid shape of the windows is characteristic of the Egyptian Revival style
The synagogue was consecrated in the winter of 1846. Apparently the governor of the day, Sir John Franklin, had declined a request to provide land within the colony to establish a synagogue (granting land for construction of churches being commonplace). A successful Jewish merchant and former convict by the name of Judah Solomon surrendered his garden for the purpose. Prior to this time, services were held in Solomon's mansion, the adjacent Temple House.
Tony, a member of the small congregation, offered a brief history and introduction to the synagogue at the Open Hobart open day
The synagogue was designed and built in a style known as Egyptian Revival, popular in the mid nineteeth century, and is one of several buildings of that era in the style around Hobart. Inside a mezannine level may have provided seating for convicts, who as at other places of worship, needed to be kept separate from the free citizens. We were also told that, in the past, women were kept separate from males in more orthodox services, although more progressive times and dwindling numbers have relaxed this rule. It's demise was apparently hastened at some point in the synagogue's history when a fiesty visiting Jewess simply refused to be sent upstairs.
Inside Australia's oldest synagogue
Once inside the small synagogue, visitors were welcomed by Tony, a member of the congregation, who spent most of the day offering groups a potted history of the synagogue and introduction to Tasmania's small congregation, which he inferred does not require a lot of fingers and toes to tally up.
The menorah at the Hobart Synagogue
Services are held for both progressive and orthodox communities, with a rabbi travelling from Australia's second oldest synagogue in Launceston for 'high and holy days', and local community members officiating at other times.
A torah is displayed under glass
I'm not sure how regularly the synagoge is open to visitors, other than at such open days and for special events, but it is certainly worth seeking out an opportunity to take a peek inside such an historic and jewel-box like building.
Hobart Synagogue Website
A history of the synagogue – Tasmanian Geographic
The convict synagogue at the end of the world – The Tablet
Lotus detail on a pillar at the Hobart synagogue, an example of neo-classical Egyptian revival architectural style.
Hobart TAS, Australia
Adaptive re-use of Holy Trinity Church, North Hobart
Walking the Arm End circuit


I MADE THESE DRAWINGS FOR YOU. That's how I feel about what I do, so I thought it would be an honest and appropriate title for the book.
102 pages. Full colour. Soft cover. 7.44 x 9.69 inches (18.9 x 24.6 cm).
Over 110 drawings. Most of them are reproduced at actual size. Drawings look better on paper than on a screen.


No scientist worth his research grant really wants to conceal his discoveries from the world at large. Many non-scientists are curious to know something of the latest scientific discoveries. There would seem to be quite enough moral earnestness and prospects of profit to get this gap bridged. Alas, the chasm is wide and deep, especially where it guards the mysterious heights of modern physics. As some recent television programmes have demonstrated, even a skilful web of visual aids and journalistic conceits may not succeed in establishing a connection between specialist and general knowledge of atoms, particles, forces and fields.
Some masters of high science have become sceptical of any possibility of popularising their subject without making a mere caricature of what they know and love. But it is more in keeping with scholarly universalism to welcome every effort of this kind with positive good will. Let us applaud the courage of Mr Zukav, who came to the edge of the chasm with no previous education in physics, and who has tried to build a bridge across it from the lay person's side.
We are thus faced with two distinct questions: has Mr Zukav given a satisfactory exposition of the new physics, and is his interpretation convincing. These questions demand fair and measured answers. For all our sympathy with the objectives of this work, we must not neglect our duty to indicate to the uninformed reader how far this sophisticated subject has been correctly represented.
Does Mr Zukav succeed in explaining the essence of the new physics to somebody as ignorant as he was when he began? Not being in that situation myself, I cannot judge whether what he says about various aspects of quantum theory, relativity and particle physics conveys an intelligible picture. The book could scarcely have had such a wide appeal if it did not make satisfactory contact with the minds of its ordinary readers. His bridge is constructed with simple words, short sentences, homely images and trite sentiments, but I have no idea whether it will bear any traffic. Many of his paragraphs state basic facts and concepts in a more or less coherent logical order, but there may be vital disjunctions in such a skeletal account of this highly articulated subject.
The real difficulty with physics, of course, is that it is inextricably bound up with mathematics. Mr Zukav is probably right in excluding all mathematical formulae and equations: most people are confused and frightened, rather than instructed and delighted, by symbolic representations of simple arguments. But there comes a point where an argument may be so complicated that it is actually easier to learn it as a mathematical formula than to express it in ordinary words. It is all very well to regard mathematics as the tool of physics, and to suggest that 'stripped of mathematics, physics becomes pure enchantment.' But this neglects the fact that the relationships implied in the fundamental laws of physics cannot be represented at all concisely of precisely in everyday language, and have been discovered and analysed primarily in terms of special mathematical dialects that have had to be invented for just this purpose. This is the opinion of most theoretical physicists, based upon the sobering experience of trying to understand the subject for themselves and to teach it to others. Indeed, I would go further, to argue that physics can best be defined as the science that strives to represent the natural world in mathematical form: the enchanting phenomena that, have been discovered by research in physics have unconsciously been selected or contrived to demonstrate this sharp and scintillating aspect of the totality of things. In other words, mathematics is as much of the essence of modern physics as the skeleton is of the human body: take it away, and the whole organism rapidly disintegrates into a shapeless bag of flesh.
Just occasionally, a true master of the subject has contrived to convey its inner meaning without recourse to formal mathematics. But this, alas, is not one of those rare works of genius. Lacking a precise grasp of the subject, Mr Zukav has to keep covering up his ignorance with sloppy generalisations that are often grotesquely distorted. The most disturbing aspect of his book is that he expresses his indebtedness to a number of professional physicists who read the entire manuscript on his behalf. He has been ill-served. On almost every page there are errors that would be apparent to a first-year undergraduate – errors of fact, errors of interpretation, and even errors of history. Minor errors, of course, make a tasty hors d'ocuvres for the pedantic reviewer, before he gets down to the meat of his condemnation of ill-conceived scholarship. In this case, however, the mistakes are so grievous for example, almost every diagram is wrongly drawn that it is all too clear that the author has not really understood the elements of what he is talking about; those scientists who are said to have advised him should be quite ashamed to show how little trouble they have really taken to help a sincere seeker after truth.
For all its earnestness, and for all the labour that has been put into it and, indeed, for all the reputation that it seems to have acquired this book is quite unreliable as an exposition of the new physics. In content, in manner and in spirit, it goes entirely against the grain of a science that is characterised by precision, logical necessity, depth and originality of thought.
This is a pity, because there is something to be said for Mr Zukav's argument that the fundamentals of physics have shifted decisively away from the mechanistic objectivity of point particles moving through classical space and time under the influence of continuous fields of force. For example, recent formal developments ('Bell's Theorem') and experimental tests have reaffirmed the paradoxical implications of quantum physics: there are certain observable phenomena that simply cannot be interpreted in the everyday language and logic of localisation and causality. Under some circumstances, it seems as if the result of a physical measurement at point A (e.g. the direction of polarisation of a 'photon' of light) can affect the result of making a similar measurement on another photon at another point B at almost the same instant, just as if the two particles maintained some information link along which messages could travel much faster than light itself, even when the particles are far apart. This paradox was first pointed out some fifty years ago, and yet it still stands out, like a sore thumb, as an insult to our feeling for physical reality. In the limits of the very large and the very small, in cosmology, and in the physics of elementary particles, there are many other counterintuitive concepts-the warped space-time geometry of general relativity, the relativistic transformation of motion into mass, the duality of wave and particle descriptions, the vacuum as a seething ocean of invisible excitations, forces as the manifestation of the exchange of virtual particles – whose theoretical and experimental validity is now accepted with almost the same confidence among physicists as Newton's Laws of motion and Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism amongst mechanical and electrical engineers.
It must be emphasised that this apparent movement of physics from hard-nosed realism to a much more open and imaginative stance has occurred in pursuit of its traditional goals of precision, logical consistency, empirical accuracy etc. The new physics seems more subtle and complex, more paradoxical and counter-intuitive than ever before – and yet it is more unified and covers a wider range of observable phenomena. It would be quite wrong to suggest, for example, that because we are hard put to it to give a mechanistic description of the two-photon correlation phenomenon we are somehow all at sea in the world of sub-atomic particles: on the contrary, theoretical physics grows continually more powerful as a means of patterning and predicting the flow of events as experienced and measured by physical scientists and their instruments. Although we would mostly repudiate the theological slogan credo quia absurda, there is a tremendous fascination in putting an apparent absurdity into the logico-empirical machinery of an advanced science and refashioning it into a well-founded belief. Theoretical physicists are delighted, rather than worried, by ideas that challenge their abilities to understand, to reduce to order, to simplify, or to generalise, and don't care much what the philosophers may say about their ultimate significance or overall consistency.
Nor do they care all that much what philosophers and others think about the nature of physics itself, and its possible meaning for non-physicists. There are many popularisations of modern physics, written from inside the subject, that take current scientific paradigms as unexceptionable, or make rather vague connections with traditional philosophical concerns: there are very few works that deal seriously, in full scientific depth, with the profound epistemological and ontological implications of modern quantum theory for various conventional metaphysical systems such as materialism, realism, positivism or idealism. I do not, myself, believe that theoretical physics is somehow so privileged, among all branches of organised knowledge, that it should be regarded as the only rational foundation for a 'world view';, there is much more to life and reality than can be reduced to elementary particles and analysed in terms of S-matrices and Feynman diagrams. Nevertheless, the way in which modern physics can, so to speak, conjure with paradoxes and 'absurdities' without factual contradiction should be a warning to all philosophical system-builders of the fallibility of their logical instincts and verbal intuitions. As usual, Nature is much cleverer than we are, and continually discontinue the most cherished products of our individual tiny minds.
The Dancing Wu Li Masters belongs, in fact, to a much more familiar literary genre: works that seek, from the science of their day, support for preconceived philosophical, religious or political views that range far beyond science itself. Did not Plato draw from the static perfections of geometry to justify the archaic authoritarianism of his Republic? Eighteenth-century divines claimed Newton as their ally for one scheme of Providence or another. Darwin's theory of biological evolution was enlisted on behalf of several different social ideologies. The supposed connection between the relativity physics of Einstein and artistic movements such as Cubism used to be a staple of trendy aesthetic circles.
It is quite obvious that Mr Zukav came to physics with some strong views of his own about the nature of things. Instead of trying to grasp what physicists themselves have to say about their subject, and learning to see the physical world through their eyes, he cannot resist the temptation to reinterpret everything he is told in favour of his own preconceived notions. His book is not, as he claims, 'an overview of the new physics' but a very naive attempt to show that even physics, the most fundamental and esoteric of the natural sciences, positively supports a particular line of religio-philosophical thought whose actual roots lie fat away from modern science. This line of thought, by its very own terms, must never be defined: but the title of the book, and the extracts I have quoted, are sufficiently indicative of its affinities and characteristics. Zen Buddism, that profoundly sensitive but rarefied spiritual movement, lends it some poetic grace: otherwise, it is a vague conglomeration of mystical pantheism and intellectual anarchy where 'consciousness' rules (OK?) and where, in principle, 'anything goes.' I suspect that even an expert on cults of this kind would be hard put to it to identify it in greater detail.
In some ways, of course, this permissive world view is a salutary corrective to the scientism and positivism of the traditional philosophy of science. There is much that might be learnt from it, not only for its ethical quietism and spiritual solace, but also as a source of possible new themes for science itself. Several excellent books – for example, Fritjof Capra's The Tao of Physics and Douglas Hofstadter's Gödel, Escher, Bach – have explored these themes in some depth. But Mr Zukav thinks and writes too wildly and irresponsibly to establish these connections. His apologia for the cult of pure subjectivity carries no conviction. He simply has not understood the true enchantment of physics, which is its power to construct a taut framework out of concepts and phenomena that are both fantastic and realistic, precisely designed and yet wonderfully imagined, well-founded in fact, yet soaring into delicate pinnacles of ambivalence and paradox. There it stands, on the other side of the gulf of comprehension which he has clearly recognised but has signally failed to bridge.


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