text:
UCSF Health
About PRHE
Environmental Health Initiative
Our Leadership & Partners
Chemical Policy
Reach the Decision Makers
Professional Statements
Past Policy
Toxic Matters
Work Matters
Pesticides Matter
FIGO Opinion & Summit
ACOG & ASRM Opinion
Shaping Our Legacy
Home > Toxic Matters: Resources
Information to help your family reduce their environmental exposures
Toxic Matters: Resources
This resource page follows the layout of our brochure. View online or download a printable copy of the Toxic Matters brochure.
1. Prevent Exposure at Home
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Booklet Help for Smokers and Other Tobacco Users provides advic e on quitting smoking and other tobacco products.
American Lung Association's "Stop Smoking" links to smoking cessation programs for adults and teens, as well as tip for parents on talking to your kids about not smoking.
The National Cancer Institute's "Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting" is a detailed fact sheet (in English and Spanish) with scientific evidence on the health effects of smoking.
The National Institutes of Health Smoke Free Women covers smoking-related topics that are often important to women, such as weight management and stress, and tells how to contact experts and find other resources.
12 Steps to Quit Smoking: This program focuses on 12 steps to help quit smoking, developed by Smokers Anonymous. Learn about the signs of nicotine addiction and the corresponding health effects.
Use Non-Toxic Personal Care Products
The California Safe Cosmetics Act requires companies that manufacture cosmetics to report any cosmetics products that contain ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. The California Safe Cosmetics Program collects this data and makes it available to the public through its website.
Environment California is a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization that offers a variety of reports on environmental health topics, including: Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start; The Right Start: The Need to Eliminate Toxic Chemicals from Baby Products; and Toxic Toys.
The California Department of Public Health's Safe Cosmetics Program collects information from manufacturers on ingredients in products sold in California that cause cancer or reproductive harm such as birth defects. This site has information on emerging issues related to cosmetic toxicity and a list of chemicals for which the state requires notification of use from manufacturers. You can also see what potentially harmful ingedients that makers of retail cosmetics sold in California have disclosed in the latest report titled Cosmetics Containing Ingredients Linked to Cancer or Reproductive Harm: Data Reported to the California Safe Cosmetics Program 2009-2015.
Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database displays online safety profiles for cosmetics and personal care products; it allows you to search products and rank them according to their health hazard.
What You Can Do: This creative toolkit was put together by The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) to better inform the public on risks of everyday actions. Learn about recommended foods, plastic products, cosmetics, cleaners and many others.
Made Safe, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the only nontoxic certification for products across store aisles, from baby to personal care to household and beyond. The MADE SAFE (Made With Safe Ingredients™) seal literally means that a product is made with safe ingredients, without toxic chemicals known to harm our health. Learn more.
Don't Spray Bugs - Avoid Pesticides!
Check out the PestiBytes podcast series developed by the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University in collaboration with the National Pesticide Information Center. Each episode provides short, informative, pesticide-related information based on questions that come from the public.
U.S. EPA's Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety highlights important non-chemical pest control methods and tips on using pesticides safely.
Natural Resources Defense Council's How to Control Fleas Without Chemicals site provides practical advice to pet owners on non-toxic ways to control fleas.
The U.S. EPA provides information on controlling head lice in schools through their Integrated Pest Management Program for schools (see Chapter 11 of the guide).
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides is a group dedicated to reducing the use of pesticides by promoting alternatives for urban and rural communities. They have compiled factsheets on a number of pesticides with information about their health effects.
Environmental Working Group's Shoppers Guide to Pesticides gives recommendations on which foods to buy organic.
Columbia's Center for Children's Environmental Health provides a brochure on how integrated pest management in the home can reduce your family's exposure to pesticides. The brochure is available in English and Spanish.
The California Department of Public Health's Occupational Pesticide Illness Prevention Program (OPIPP) has published a new pesticide hazard alert about getting rid of bed bugs safely after reports of illnesses among works who applied pesticides to treat bed bugs and among hotel and maintenance workers who entered rooms after they were treated.
Find out more about pesticide use on our Pesticides Matter page.
Clean With Non-Toxic Products and Get Out Your Mop
The California Department of Public Health's Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program has produced a series of brochures on how toxic cleaning products can cause or trigger asthma.
Two organizations, EcoLogo, a program under UL, and Green Seal, an independent organization, publish certification standards that define which attributes a safer cleaning product must have to receive their third-party approval. The California Department of Public Health Occupational Health Branch participated in the development of cleaning product standards. In addition, these EcoLogo and Green Seal criteria cover other health-based attributes, such as toxicity and corrosivity limits and the prohibition of carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, and some endocrine disruptors.
Pick Your Plastics Carefully
Women's Health and the Environment's Plastic Products page discusses how you can avoid toxic plastic products in food packaging and other sources.
The Environmental Working Group has a page of information on how to Pick Plastics Carefully and chose safer alternatives.
This creative infographic and article from Care2 can help you identify which plastics are the best and worst in your home.
Choose Safe Home Improvement Materials
Healthy Building Network is an organization committed to transforming the market for building materials to make them healthy and more environmentally-friendly. On their website, you can find information about common toxins found in building materials, and how you can select better alternatives.
U.S. EPA's Renovate Right brochure contains important information on how to prevent the spread of lead during a home, school, or child care facility renovation.
Keep Mercury Out
• Advice About Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know. The EPA and FDA provide advice for women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children to make informed choices when it comes to eating fish and shelfish that are healthy and safe to eat as it pertains to methylmercury.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch has pocket guides and smartphone apps that allow you to make more informed choices about the types of fish you consume.
• The 2016 Natural Resources Defense Council's Mercury Contamination in Fish. A Guide to Staying Healthy and Fighting Back provides advice on how to reduce your consumption of mercury in fish. It also has a tool that allows you to calculate your mercury intake.
U.S. EPA Fish Advisories list pollutants and chemical contaminants in fish. You can look up information based on where you live to tell you if any advisories exist for your area.
Avoid Pesticides in Food and Water
United States Department of Agriculture's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a model of food distribution where community members pledge support to a farming organization, and share in the risks and benefits of the harvest. CSAs are local and often use organic methods to produce crops. The USDA site links to publications about CSA and lists locations of CSA farms by state, city, or zip code.
Local Harvest includes a description of how CSAs work and a map of where you can find a CSA farm near you.
A non-profit organization of urban planners and public health professionals called the Public Health Law and Policy created the How to Make Healthy Changes in your Neighborhood brochure to help communities work with their planning departments to bring changes in local fruit and vegetable supply.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) oversees implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is the national law safeguarding tap water in America. This site gives information regarding the regulations of chemicals in drinking water.
Pesticide Action Network's What's on My Food? is a smartphone app and database to inform consumers about how much pesticide residue is on their food.
Check out our Food Matters page and Pesticides Matter page for more information.
Avoid Lead Exposure
Visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on how to prevent lead exposure, including an educational coloring storybook for children.
Select Flame Retardant-Free Foam Products
This fact sheet prodcued by the EPA, has recommendations on how to reduce your child's exposure to flame retardants.
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently published an article on how to buy a safer sofa free of harmful flame retardants.
This article from Huffington Post examines the dangers of flame-retardant baby products and their widespread use.
Flame retardant chemicals, their major uses, and the reasons their properties of concern are explained on the Green Science Policy Institute website.
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) flame retardant campaign page provides information regarding which products may include flame retardant chemicals, how flame retardant chemicals became so widespread, and the adverse outcomes associated with exposure to flame retardant chemicals. The CEH also developed a useful Flame Retardant Tip Sheet with helpful tips on how to reduce you and your family's exposure to flame retardant chemicals. The Parent and Family Guide to Flame-Retardants in Baby Products from the Center for Environmental Health provides tips on how to avoid flame retardant materials that can harm a child's developing brain.
Reduce Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation
The Baby Safe Project was developed by Grassroots Environmental Education, in collaboration with other public health groups and medical experts around the world, to inform pregnant women about the potential risks of exposure to wireless radiation.
2. Prevent Exposure at Work
For information on protection in the workplace, visit our Work Matters page and Know Your Rights page.
3. Prevent Exposure in Your Community
Clean Up the Air
AIRNow's Local Air Quality Conditions and Forecasts site has a national map of the air quality forecast, with real-time air quality information for over 300 cities. Poor air quality may be hazardous for the elderly or people with asthma; in addition, the air quality forecast can tell you on which days you should avoid prolonged exercise outside.
CDC's National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) has launched a new and improved Info by Location tool. This infographic-style tool allows you to enter your zip code or county name and view environmental health data and information specific to your county, such as data on demographics, asthma, air quality, smoking, and health insurance coverage. The tool also provides state and national statistics, so you can see how your county measures up in these public and environmental health categories. Visit the Tracking Network to explore the new tool.
The California Air Resources Board provides tips on how you can help clean up the air.
Learn about the Clean Air Act and stay up to date on air pollution at the EPA's Overview of the Clean Air Act and Air Pollution
Never burn trash, especially furniture, tires, and plastics
The National Fire Protection Association has numerous community toolkits and teaching programs on what not to burn.
Use organic or integrated pest management techniques in lawns and gardens
Here are some tips from Beyond Pesticides on how to grow healthy lawns and gardens without the use of pesticides.
To learn more about pesticides use, visit our Pesticides Matter page.
Never throw toxic substances down drains, toilets, or in the garbage. This includes car oil, gasoline, pesticides, paints, solvents, and medicines.
Check out this page by Care2 for tips on what not to put down your drain.
Greenhome provides a list of the 4 things you should never put down your drain.
4. Become A Smart Consumer
Use Non-Toxic Products
Healthy Stuff.org is a project of the Ecology Center (a Michigan-based nonprofit), and has basic information and rankings on a range of consumer products based on research conducted by environmental health organizations and other researchers around the country.
United States Department of Health and Human Services' Household Products Database is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine. It contains searchable information on household products, manufacturers, ingredients and health effects for everyday items.
Good Guide provides searchable rankings for companies and products. Products are ranked according to health hazard, environment and social responsibility. Good guide also offers a mobile app.
The National Geographic Green Guide website includes buying guides and information on sustainable choices for food, travel, home and garden. The Green Guide publishes a monthly magazine, weekly newsletter, product reports and reviews focused on practical everyday, environmentally responsible and health-minded product choices and actions.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) publishes a variety of reports and policy papers on environmental health topics such as: children's health; health threats and effects; farming and pesticides; chemicals at home, school and work; and science and public policy. They also produce Smart Shopper's Guides and NRDC's Smarter Living site has factsheets and how to s for chemical safety and sustainability in your home, school or workplace. The site also has convenient shopping guides that you can download and bring to the store to help you make more informed choices.
The California Department of Public Health's Safe Cosmetics Program collects information from manufacturers on ingredients in products sold in California that cause cancer or reproductive harm such as birth defects. The website has information on emerging issues related to cosmetic toxicity and a list of chemicals for which the state requires notification of use from manufacturers. This information is accessible via a public searchable database that allows people to find out if personal care products they use contain harmful chemicals.
Magee-Women's Hospital at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center video series called "An Introduction to Green Parenting" is available on YouTube:
Healthy Child, Healthy World has an online resource called Easy Steps to Healthy Home Improvement with tips on reducing exposures to children within the home. Other resources at the Healthy Child, Healthy World site include a Virtual House, which shows where dangerous everyday household products can be found and eliminated, a Resource Room with how-to s, articles and a chemical encyclopedia that provides information on health effects, uses, how we are exposed, statistics and alternatives for a large number of chemicals in commerce.
5. Make the Government Work for You
You Can Influence Public Policy!
USA.gov's Contact Elected Officials database provides contact information for U.S. Senators and Representatives, state government officials, and executive branch agencies.
WELL Network is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization of women who are business leaders, professionals, philanthropists, and decision makers within their communities. Through symposia, workshops, and publications, the WELL Network educates and mobilizes their friends, associates, and political leaders about solutions to serious health and environmental problems. These include the presence of dangerous chemicals in our bodies from everyday products, the impacts of air pollution on our families' health, and the immense challenges of climate change to our children and grandchildren.
There are also several patient advocacy organizations that advocate for prevention, treatments, and resources for reproductive health and fertility. These include: American Fertility Association, Endometriosis Association, International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination and Resolve: The National Infertility Association.
The Environmental Health Legislation Database is provided by the National Council for State Legislatures, and tracks state legislation addressing environmental factors that may adversely impact human health or the ecological balances essential to long-term human health and environmental quality, whether in the natural or man-made environment.
For more information on your rights, check out our Know Your Rights page for California workers.
Recent Articles and Videos
Formaldehyde Rules Clear E.P.A. After 5-Year Fight: Learn about the new law from the Environmental Protection Agency to limit formaldehyde exposure. This has been an increasing issue as formaldehyde is commonly used as a glue in products like flooring and furniture. July 27, 2016.
Air Pollution and Health Impacts: This creative infographic and article from The Guardian reveals that air pollution from traffic and industry causes premature death of more than three million people a year, more than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. July 5, 2016.
California's BPA Issue: You may know that BPA is dangerous, but do you know where it is? Most baby products must be BPA-free in California but BPA still exists in many products available to children and adults. July 2, 2016.
TENDR Statement: This article from the New York Times dicusses the new TENDR (Targeting Environmental NeuroDevelopmental Risks) and the growing body of research that suggests many chemicals — which are used to make plastic more flexible, fruits and vegetables more abundant and upholstery less flammable — may also pose a threat to the developing brain. July 1, 2016.
Low Wages Pose Health Risk: Learn how low wages are an occupational health hazard in an article from Science Blogs Pump Handle. Wages are closely related to lifestyle and working conditions, two of the most important considerations for your health and your families health. June 30, 2016.
Classroom Cleaning: This toolkit on early care and education provides guidelines on how to adopt policies in your program that will help you to put into practice effective cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting. This includes tools, products and procedures to protect young children and staff from infectious diseases and allergens. March 25, 2016.
"Safer Choice" and "Safer Choice Fragrance Free" Labels: Women's Voices for the Earth discuss the new "Safer Choice" and "Safer Choice Fragrance Free" labels by the EPA, developed to help the public select safer cleaning products. They are critical of the "Safer Choice" products, which may still contain chemicals that pose a health risk, but are fully in favor of the "Safer Choice Fragrance Free" products, which are verified to not contain any fragrance chemicals. April 4, 2016.
Asthma and Disinfectants: An article by Occupational Health Watch discusses disinfectant overuse in classrooms and urges teachers to clean with a chemical-free microfiber cloth. The California Department of Public Health identified over 250 cases of work-related asthma and now requires any school staff member who uses disinfectants to take a Department of Pesticide Regulation-Approved Training, beginning July 2016. May 2016.
Should You Pass on Plastic? An article by SELF examining chemicals in plastic water bottles. Learn to look beyond the BPA-free label for chemicals such as BPS and BPF, which can also act as endocrine disruptors. June 4, 2015.
Airborne Pollutants and Pregnancy: An article by MD News on harmful airborne toxins and their potential health effects. This exposure can have a variety of adverse effects on infants and children, including miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, cognitive impairment and pediatric cancers. April 23, 2015.
The Dangers of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Do you know the dangers of hormonally active products? Women in Europe for a Common Future present an article and video on how to protect children from endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This video has tips on how to avoid everyday products containing pollutants that can be harmful to you and your baby. May 15, 2015.
Endocrine Society Statement on EDCs: This Scientific Statement by the Endocrine Society aims to educate scientists and clinicians on environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and how they affect health and disease. This thorough 150-page statement examines the most recent literature on EDCs, focusing on effects during development. 2015.
Everyday Products Effect on Health: The American Medical Women's Association calls attention to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in everyday products. They urge health professionals to educate the public on how these chemicals can affect the body's development, growth and hormone balance by mimicking, blocking or disrupting the body's natural hormones. February 3, 2015.
For more recent videos and audio clips, check out our Video/Audio Resources page.
General Resources and Databases
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health – The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health is a professional organization of pediatricians who address issues of environmental health and toxic exposure. This site contains policy statements in support of initiatives to protect children of all ages from environmental hazards, as well as newsletters and articles on recent topics in children's environmental health.
California Department of Public Health Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service (HESIS) - HESIS uses scientific, medical, and public health expertise to help prevent workplace illness and disease. They evaluate new chemical hazards for the state of California and explain how they apply to workers and employers. This site contains projects and activities relevant to workplace hazards in California.
Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) is an international partnership committed to strengthening the scientific and public dialogue on environmental factors linked to chronic disease and disability. CHE's web site includes: A searchable database that summarizes the links between chemical exposures and approximately 180 human diseases or conditions, and scientist-reviewed papers on the links between chemical exposures and numerous reproductive health diseases and disorders.
Physicians for Social Responsibility's Environmental Health Institute has curated a large collection of useful tools and resources for people interested in learning more about the health effects of industiral chemicals. This toolkit is a resource for health care providers with reference guides and health education materials for families on preventing exposures to toxic chemicals and other substances that affect infant and child health. Check out their Toxic Tools Database for more resources, including advocacy and clinical tools.
Tips for Obstetricians - This website from the Washington State Department of Health contains tips for obstetricians to better inform their patients on prenatal care and the dangers of environmental chemicals. This includes information from evidence-based research on BPA and phthalates, lead, mercury and pesticides and links to numerous other resources.
UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science and the Collaborative on Health and the Environment produced a report entitled, "Shaping Our Legacy". This report provides a nontechnical summary of the latest science on how exposure to chemicals may impair our reproductive health. It also outlines what we can do to create environments that are healthier for fertility and reproduction. Download a PDF version of Shaping our Legacy here. Shaping Our Legacy is also availalbe in Spanish, entitled "Forjando Nuestro Legado: La salud reproductiva y el medio ambiente. Go here to learn more and download a PDF copy of Forjando Nuestro Legado. Downlaod a PDF version of Forjando Nuestro Legado here.
United States Environmental Protection Agency – The U.S. EPA is the federal agency charged with protecting public health and the environment. This site provides a resource on standards and regulations set by the federal government for contaminants in air, water, and land. It also houses information for the public on the impacts of various pollutants on human health and the environment. Find out what environmental hazards and conditions exist in your neighborhood at the EPA's interactive My Environment web-based tool, or check out their Concerned Citizens Resources.
Toxic Matters Brochure
Learn more about Toxic Matters and download a printable version here.
Learn more about the Shaping Our Legacy report and download a copy in English or Spanish ("Forjando Nuestro Legado").
Work Matters Resources
Pesticides Matter Resources
Food Matters Resources
Resources for Clinicians
UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Mailstop 0132
550 16th Street, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143 (94158-2519 for UPS or FedEx)
email: prhe@obgyn.ucsf.edu


The constant evolution of the online and technological environments creates countless opportunities for brands—from new online marketplaces to expanded customer bases. At the same time, counterfeiters and infringers are quick to capitalise on the same openings. Therefore, brand protection strategies cannot afford to stand still.
With access to established and new marketplaces, the Internet is a proven ferocious playing ground for counterfeiters and infringers. Brands need to prioritise, determine where to focus efforts, and understand the enforcement options available.
While social media is an integral part of business strategy and enables organisations to maximize revenue from online channels, it also presents new threats and risks—all within the gaze of the consumer.
As the domain name environment continues to expand, rights protection mechanisms (RPMs) are under scrutiny and new risks are emerging. Brand owners need to be prepared and ready to deal with the implications.
Recent changes to data privacy laws, including the recently enforced GDPR, raise potential impacts for rights holders'. While the GDPR sets out to do many good things, its potential impact on WHOIS is currently under the microscope.
•	The future of WHOIS access: what happens next?


" Out of all the other masks and headgear I've used I like this type the best. "
" I like this mask, better than any of the GEL masks, this mask last twice as long. I also like that the you can remove the forehead gel pad if you want. "
The ComfortClassic Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear is the classic Respironics Contour mask upgraded to be more comfortable for more people.
Gel Spacers. No more foam spacers to split and break. The ComfortClassic has a new gel "two-in-one" forehead spacer.
Quiet Air Vent. The exhalation vent on the ComfortClassic flows downward over the hose connection so your partner doesn't get blasted with air.
Easy Sizing. The ComfortClassic Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear is available in two sizes: Small and Medium. A sizing guide is available of this page to assist in sizing selection. Click the Sizing Guide on the top of this page on the right to view and print the guide.
New Cushion Design. The cushion of the ComfortClassic is also upgraded to fit better and leak less.
Mask Port Cap. The ComfortClassic has an oxygen port for those needing to bleed in supplemental oxygen. If that is not needed, the port cap should remain on.
For help with fitting directions, please review: ComfortClassic User Instructions.
For help with cleaning, please review: ComfortClassic Cleaning Guide.
For help with deciding your size, download and print and cutout the: ComfortClassic Sizing Guage.
The ComfortClassic frame is labeled with a letter and part number, designating the size. When examining the front of the mask, the letter size is located on the base of the mask, just below the elbow. The ComfortClassic cushion is not replaceable, but a letter designating the size is located on the base of the cushion, below the elbow.
Are the Comfort Classic nasal cushion sizes interchangeable on the mask frame?
Yes. All Comfort Classic nasal cushions and mask frames are interchangeable.


For many of us, the New Year is the time of looking at our lives, reflecting on the changes that we want to make, and making resolutions.
Some of the most popular resolutions include weight loss (just look at the number of Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig ads that are running), exercising more and spending more time with family and friends (so important in this overly connected society).
And then, there's the very unselfish and altruistic resolution of wanting to Give Back more. As my children get older, this resolution is one that is becoming much more important to me, and one that I want to instill in them.
In the past, I've relied on their school's community service efforts to instill this ethic in my kids. But recently, I've begun to think that that is not enough. I want my children to see that their dad and I deeply care and make a commitment to give back to our community. But just like with everything else, the best of intentions can sometimes get pushed aside in the hecticness of everyday life. Sometimes, we end up just writing a check. My kids don't see that, and while the money might be useful, the "teachable" moment is lost. That's why I was so curious when a good friend introduced me to the Honeycomb Project.
The Honeycomb Project is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that creates and manages hands-on volunteer projects for families. It was started by two local Chicago women, Kristina Lowenstein and Catherine Tannen, who were looking for ways to participate in community service projects with their kids. Not finding the meaningful experiences they were looking for, they started The Honeycomb project as a labor of love. Each month, they put together a number of fun, organized and educational projects to help people of all ages get out of the house and into the community.
As soon as I heard about the organization, I contacted Catherine. We had an instant connection (of course the fact that we're both born and bred NYC girls didn't hurt). I loved what she was doing and immediately signed up for one of their December projects with Middle.
On December 19th, Middle and I participated in their Holiday Toy Drive event for the families served by Greenhouse shelter, a domestic abuse shelter for women and children in Chicago. Each participating family was asked to bring 1-2 toys for donation. This provided an opportunity for me to bring Middle to Target. The drive there provided me with the chance to explain to him that not all children had loving families and warm homes. Our trip inside Target allowed us to discuss what item might be most appropriate for each of the two children we were buying gifts for (they provided us with the gender and age). I have to say that he put more thought into what he wanted to donate then he ever has when we're looking for a sibling gift or friend's birthday gift.
When we arrived at the Toy drive, it was buzzing with activity and tons of volunteer families. We were immediately shown to the gift wrapping table where he was able to pick out the precise wrapping that he wanted for each of his donations. It was amazing to see the care he took in helping me wrap the gifts and picking out the ribbons.
After wrapping duties were over, the kids were able to circulate through a number of activity stations where they worked together to make cute gingerbread men and mittens from recycled paper grocery bags and construction paper chains that were to be used as decorations for the shelter's holiday party. There was a ton of laughter and fun going on.
Midway through the evening, Kristina and Catherine, along with Dr Sonia Oyola, who works with Greenhouse, addressed the volunteer group. In a thoughtful and age appropriate way they thanked us all for coming to volunteer and giving back to those whose holidays looked bleaker than ours. Sonia went on to explain that there are approximately 15,000 homeless children in Chicago many due to domestic violence. Our kids were all told how much their participation was valued and what a difference their help would make in the spirit of the Greenhouse kids.
Afterwards we all resumed our work on the decorations and the kids were invited to decorate the holiday tree. Light sandwiches and snacks were served. It was a truly festive evening where everyone mingled, enjoyed each other's company and worked together to create a Christmas miracle. Looking back on the holiday season this was definitely a special moment in time that I was able to share with Middle.
I encourage you to check out their upcoming calendar and volunteer your family for one of their incredible projects. In the next couple of months you can help foster dogs, prepare a breakfast at a shelter or help make blankets for the homeless. I promise it will be time well spent, and a ton of fun.


text:
Robbins Library Digital Projects > TEAMS Middle English Texts > The Complete Harley 2253 Manuscript, Volume 2 > Art. 36, A wayle whyt ase whalles bon: Introduction
Art. 36, A wayle whyt ase whalles bon: Introduction
by: Susanna Greer Fein (Editor)
from: The Complete Harley 2253 Manuscript, Volume 2 2014
ABBREVIATIONS: AND: Anglo-Norman Dictionary; ANL: Anglo-Norman Literature: A Guide to Texts and Manuscripts (R. Dean and Boulton); BL: British Library (London); Bodl.: Bodleian Library (Oxford); CCC: Corpus Christi College (Cambridge); CUL: Cambridge University Library (Cambridge); IMEV: The Index of Middle English Verse (Brown and Robbins); IMEV Suppl.: Supplement to the Index of Middle English Verse (Robbins and Cutler); MED: Middle English Dictionary; MWME: A Manual of the Writings in Middle English, 1050–1500 (Severs et al.); NIMEV: A New Index of Middle English Verse (Boffey and Edwards); NLS: National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh).
A Beauty White as Whale's Bone is a boisterous love song in carol form, goliardic in spirit. Recapturing its original structure requires a reordering of the stanzas as they are found in MS Harley 2253. Written at the end of the poem are its incipit, first two stanzas, and lively refrain (lines 1–22). The error was apparently caused by the scribe copying a double-sided song sheet in reverse order (Degginger, pp. 84–90; Duncan, pp. 4–6). Here, the text has been reconstructed. For the actual manuscript arrangement, see textual notes.
The male speaker declares in the refrain that he wishes he were a bird hidden between the lady's kirtle and smock, with a erotic pun playing on the rhymewords threstelcok and lavercok. His desire becomes funnier by rollicking repetition. The poem is a parody of derne love set in a bourgeois world: the lady is a woman of the town, and she is apparently married; the lover faces her hostility and also her husband's. Undaunted, however, he declares himself wounded by her eyes, feels himself dying before his time, and dreams of how kissing her would be murthe. In the final stanza, the hyperbole of love verse turns absurdly mercantile: to have his lady, the lover swears he would trade, without haggling, three ladies for one, for there is, from heaven to hell, from sun to sea, none so prudent as himself.
For commentary on A Beauty White as Whale's Bone, see the bibliography in MWME 11:4330–31; and also Ransom, pp. 69–70; D'Arcy, p. 318; and Scattergood 2005, pp. 58–59.
[Fol. 67r. IMEV, NIMEV 105. MWME 11:4181[9]. Scribe: B (Ludlow scribe). Quire: 7. Meter: In reconstructed form, there are eight 6-line stanzas, a2–4aa4b2a4b2, with a 5-line burden, CC4D2C4D2. The last stanza has an added seventh line, aaa4b2a4ba2. Layout: No columns; written as prose with line breaks marked. (The order of stanzas has been altered according to the reconstruction proposed by Degginger, pp. 88–90.) Editions: Wright 1842, pp. 38–40 (no. 11); Böddeker, pp. 161–63; Brook, pp. 40–41 (no. 9); Bennett and Smithers, pp. 117–19; Stemmler 1970, pp. 18–20; Millett, online edition. Other MSS: None.]
Go To Art. 36, A wayle whyt ase whalles bon
d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/fein-harley2253-volume-2-article-36-introduction

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the state of Ohio, you can simply schedule an appointment with the therapist of your choice, and in most instances your insurance benefits are the same with or without a referral.
Early Access to Care: At Rehab Professionals of Cleveland, we know you want pain relief and restoration of function immediate. Our goal is to see you within 24 hours so you can perform your daily activities, get a good night's sleep, or get back to work. Even if you do end up requiring medical care, our physical therapist can usually help reduce your pain and begin your healing process at your first visit.


text:
The MaiENZ industry portal and its websites are owned and maintained by Education New Zealand (ENZ), a Crown Entity funded by the New Zealand Government.
The following terms and conditions of use of MaiENZ and its websites form a contract between you and ENZ for your use of its websites and associated material, Assets and content (Terms).
ENZ may revise these Terms by giving you notice. ENZ will notify you of any changes by displaying the changes on its websites, and by continuing to use this portal and ENZ's websites after such notification, you will be deemed to have accepted the changes.
Where a logon is obtained by an individual for use only by that individual, in these Terms, the words 'you', 'your' and 'user' refer to that individual.
An 'Asset' describes any item listed in the Brand Lab i.e. image, logo, photograph, video, PowerPoint template or campaign creative.
'Usage Rules' refer to the specific terms that accompany and apply to the use of each individual Asset or category of information, and may include usage instructions, requirements, limitations, or descriptions.
Copyright and permission to reproduce
Unless otherwise indicated, copyright in all material available on any of Education New Zealand sites is owned by Education New Zealand. You can reproduce this material free of charge without further permission, as long as you:
Reproduce the material accurately;
Do not use the material in a derogatory manner or a misleading context; and
Acknowledge the source and copyright status of the material.
Comply with all applicable laws (including the Privacy Act 1993) and its respective publicly available privacy policies (as may be amended from time to time) in relation to access to, possession, use and disclosure of data available on our websites
Third party materials
Some information on ENZ's websites is the intellectual property of third parties.
ENZ has obtained a licence or consent from these third parties for the use of that material on its websites and by registered users. Your rights as a registered user in relation to ENZ-provided information are defined by, and limited to, these Terms.
You warrant that you shall not at any time take any step or make any omission that brings the reputation or good standing of the author of the information, ENZ or New Zealand into disrepute. In addition, you must acknowledge the author of the information in any use of that information.
You will defend and indemnify ENZ against all costs, expenses and damages incurred in connection with any claim against ENZ arising out of or related to: (a) a breach by you of these Terms; (b) the use of the information either alone or in combination with any other material; or (c) any claim by a third party related to the use of the information either alone or in combination with any other material.
If ENZ becomes liable to you for any form of loss or damage, ENZ's liability to you arising out of all claims for loss or damage under these Terms will not exceed in aggregate $1.00.
The information is provided to you on an 'as is' basis. ENZ does not give any warranty or other assurance as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of the information appearing in its websites. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ENZ disclaims all responsibility for any damages or losses (including, without limitation, financial loss, damages or loss of business, loss of profits or savings, direct and indirect or consequential damages or losses) arising in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise from the use of, or inability to use the information or from any action or decision taken as a result of using the information.
If, for any reason whatsoever and at its sole discretion, ENZ wishes to or is required to terminate this licence, it may do so immediately by giving written notice to you. On receipt of this notice you must, as directed by ENZ, return all copies of downloaded information to ENZ or destroy all copies of that downloaded information that is in your possession. You must also provide a written undertaking that no further copies of the information are or will be used or retained by you for any reason.
These websites may contain links to third-party websites that are not under the control of ENZ. ENZ does not endorse and is not responsible in any way for any information, content or material that is available on such third-party websites.
The name, logo and tagline THINK NEW and EDUCATION NEW ZEALAND are trademarks of ENZ. You are not permitted to use or reproduce, or allow anyone to use or reproduce, these trademarks for any reason without ENZ's express written consent.
The trademarks appearing on ENZ's websites belong to us, our suppliers or our licensors. You must not use or reproduce or allow anyone to use or reproduce those trademarks for any reason without, in the case of our trademarks, our prior written permission or, in the case of third-party trademarks, the written permission of the owner of the relevant trademark.
All information provided, or made available, as part of ENZ's websites is the confidential information of ENZ. You must hold and maintain all confidential information in strict confidence, except where disclosure is permitted under the terms of a licence.
Availability of websites
You agree that ENZ's websites:
May not operate on a continuous basis, and may be unavailable from time to time (including for maintenance purposes); and
ENZ may, at any time and for any reason, make its websites, or any part of its websites unavailable to you.
ENZ may update or change any information on its websites, at any time, without notice (but will give you notice when there is a change to the Terms). In the unlikely event that an unauthorised person makes changes to these websites, ENZ does not accept responsibility for those changes. Errors are subject to correction.
These Terms will be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of New Zealand.
You will be permitted access to resources as long as you have validated your email address for your MaiENZ account and then according to the criteria for the following labs or services.
You are a New Zealand education provider, ENZRA agent or government worker.
Your email address is part of a domain belonging to an ENZ-trusted organisation.
You are a New Zealand education provider.
My ENZ Marketing Insights
You have a search listing on the Study In New Zealand website.
Enrolment Opportunities
You are a nominated individual (usually from the admissions team) from a New Zealand education provider.
Account revocation
Your account will be revoked for:
Misuse of data, and/or
Not adhering to these terms and conditions.
Suspension for services
Your access to some services may be suspended for:
Misuse of data for that service, and/or
Not adhering to the terms and conditions of that service.
Or, in accordance with ENZ's rights to amend, suspend or terminate access to services for New Zealand international education providers, your access may be suspended if you do not meet the following conditions:
Signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016;
Registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority with a Ministry of Education identification number; and
For all non-university Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs), the maintenance of a Category 1 or Category 2 status under External Evaluation and Review (EER).
Compliance with Law: Each party shall comply with all applicable Laws (including the Privacy Act 1993) and its respective publicly available privacy policies (as may be amended from time to time) in relation to its access to, possession, use and disclosure of the Data.
Necessary consents: Each party warrants that it has all necessary authorisations and consents required to disclose Data to the other party for the Purpose.
Revocation of consent: To the extent any Prospective Student notifies a party that they wish to revoke their consent to the sharing of Data between the parties for the Purpose, the notified party shall promptly inform the other party of such revocation of consent and both parties shall as soon as practicable cease accessing, using, sharing, transferring or otherwise disclosing any of the Data that relates to the relevant Prospective Student.
Permitted uses of Data: Subject to compliance with the terms of this agreement, either party may copy, modify or create derivative works from any Data, in order to receive the benefits of this agreement and achieve the Purpose. For clarity, any such derivative works and the use of any data comprised in such works, shall also be subject to the terms of this agreement.
User responsibility
If you create an account on the MaiENZ, you are responsible for maintaining the security of your account.
You are responsible for taking reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of your username and password. You must immediately notify ENZ of any unauthorised uses of your information, your account or any other security breaches.
Terms of use overview
All assets are free to use as long as the full terms of use, licence rules and usage instructions are followed.
Use of assets must inure to the benefit of Education New Zealand in some way.
All assets must not be used past the Expiry date of Licence of the particular asset.
All use of assets must comply with the Brand Guidelines and any Usage Rules both of which form part of these Terms.
ENZ is willing to license the use of The Brand Lab's Assets to you only if you accept all of the following Terms.
Please read these Terms carefully because downloading and/or using the Brand Lab's Assets will be deemed to be your acceptance that you are using The Brand Lab's Assets on the following terms.
The Assets and all of the content on the Brand Lab website is protected, including, without limitation, by copyright and other laws of New Zealand, international conventions and similar laws abroad. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Assets, is owned or controlled by ENZ or its licensors.
ENZ grants, and you accept, a licence to use the Assets on a royalty free, non-exclusive and non-transferable basis subject to the following conditions:
You comply with ENZ's Brand Guidelines, the Usage Rules and these Terms, including without limitation the permitted use requirements set out below.
You may only use the Assets for the purpose of promoting New Zealand as an education destination.
Material produced by, or on behalf of, you, which features any of the Assets, must be predominantly distributed outside New Zealand.
The Assets must not be used for paid advertising.
You agree and acknowledge that:
You neither have nor will obtain any right, title or interest in or to the Assets, except to the extent any rights to use the Assets are specifically granted or confirmed to you under these Terms; and
You will only use the Assets in a commercially responsible manner and style that will protect and enhance the prestige, image, reputation and goodwill of the Assets and ENZ.
Permitted use
The rights granted to you by ENZ vary according to the category of the Asset. In addition to the Usage Rules accompanying each Asset, ENZ requires you to comply with the following use requirements for each of the listed Asset categories:
ASSET CATEGORY PERMITTED USE USE THAT IS NOT PERMITTED
Library images All use by ENZ, ENZ's partner government agencies and educational institutions worldwide is permitted.
Hero images All use by ENZ, ENZ's partner government agencies and educational institutions worldwide is permitted other than use for television. These Terms do not grant you any rights to use the 'hero images' Assets in any television broadcast.
Non-broadcast and promotional use is permitted including use on a website which is 'click to view', YouTube channel, DVD screening to internal audiences, public relations and editorial use.
Audio and visual edits and caption change-outs are permitted, provided that they do not affect the original performance.
These Terms do not grant you any rights to use 'brand video' Assets in any television broadcast.
All other Assets (not specifically allocated to any of the categories listed above)
All use by ENZ, ENZ's partner government agencies and educational institutions worldwide is permitted.
If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and the Usage Rules accompanying each Asset, the specific Usage Rules accompanying each Asset will prevail.
NOTE: If you use any content from this website, we reserve the right to share your published content with our industry partners and stakeholders. These would be relevant parties and not for commercial use.
Embedded content (including embedded images and embedded video content) on this website are embedded from a third party-hosted site. Embedded content is subject to the licence terms of the location at which such content is hosted or the licence terms imposed by the owner of such content. Embedded content may be used or linked to only in accordance with the terms of the relevant licence. You are liable for any consequences of failure to comply with those licence terms.
Copyright clearance and permission to use
Images on this website that are made available for download must not be used in paid marketing or advertising and some images are only available for editorial use outside New Zealand. An image should feature the credit as shown and where practical. If an image is not downloadable, you may request our consent to use certain material.
NOTE: Editorial content may be used verbatim or edited by international media to tell a New Zealand education story. While we do not demand a credit for written content, a link to studyinnewzealand.govt.nz is encouraged.
The materials displayed on this website are protected by copyright and other laws of New Zealand and under similar laws and international conventions abroad. You acknowledge and agree that all copyright and other property rights that may exist on this website including text, illustrations, infographics, photographs, video, music, sounds, layout, designs and source code belong to us or to our licensors (together, 'our intellectual property').
Except as permitted in the 'embedded content' or 'copyright clearance and permission to use' sections, or with our prior written permission in other cases, you may not in any form or by any means: use, copy, modify, adapt, reproduce, store, distribute, print, display, perform, publish, communicate or otherwise deal in any way with our intellectual property; or commercialise any information, products or services obtained from any part of this website.
a) ENZ has developed an application programme interface that securely stores and shares information regarding Prospective Students and their Enrolment Opportunities at NZ education institutions, where the Prospective Student has expressly consented to ENZ sharing that information with the relevant education institution.
b) The application programme interface also enables education institutions to securely send information back to ENZ about the status and progress of each Enrolment Opportunity shared by ENZ. The institution agrees to provide this information as a condition of using this service.
c) ENZ has agreed to provide the institutions with access to the application programme interface to enable the institutions to access and use the ENZ Data for the Purpose and in accordance with the terms of this agreement. The institutions are required to share institution data with ENZ through the application programme interface for the Purpose and in accordance with the terms of this agreement.
The Information includes personal information as defined in the Privacy Act 1993 and is provided to your affiliated institution for the limited purpose of allowing you to contact the Student in relation to their shortlisted study option, or any other course you offer; and
assess the Student's potential value to you/your affiliated institution as a student if they were to enrol, to inform the level of contact you/your affiliated institution make with the Student or Enquirer.
understand and asses any research or statistical analysis reports commissioned by ENZ in relation to student applications or enquiries.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Information must not be used for the purposes of assessing Students' applications for admission to their shortlisted study option, or any other course you offer.
In receiving the Information, you agree to:
use the Information only for the purposes authorised above;
take all appropriate technical and organisational measures to prevent against the loss, unauthorised or unlawful processing, access, or use of Information;
hold, store and secure the Information in accordance with your own privacy policy;
immediately notify us of any updates to your email address;
immediately notify us if you become aware of a privacy breach;
immediately return, destroy, or otherwise deal with the Information in accordance with ENZ's instructions in the event that ENZ suspends transferring you Information, and provide evidence to ENZ to demonstrate that you have done so; and
otherwise deal with the Information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993 and the information privacy principles contained within it, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (to the extent applicable).
ENZ requires you to ensure all staff, subcontractors and agents who deal with Information are made aware of and comply with these obligations.
If access to a report is granted and the receiver is not its intended audience, this report should not be shared and ENZ should be alerted as soon as possible.
If either party becomes aware of any loss, unauthorised or accidental access to, use, alteration, destruction or disclosure of the Data, or any action that prevents a party from accessing the information on either a temporary or permanent basis (Data Breach), that party shall as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the Data Breach, report the Data Breach to the other party.
Cooperation and Mitigation
The parties shall in good faith cooperate with each other in relation to the response to and remediation of any Data Breach, and agree to use reasonable steps to:
address any applicable reporting requirements relating to the Data Breach; and
mitigate any effects of such Data Breach.


text:
package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.hbql.statement;

import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.hbql.client.ExecutionResults;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.hbql.client.HBqlException;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.hbql.impl.HConnectionImpl;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.hbql.mapping.TableMapping;

public class DropIndexForMappingStatement extends StatementWithMapping implements ConnectionStatement {

    private final String indexName;

    public DropIndexForMappingStatement(final StatementPredicate predicate,
                                        final String indexName,
                                        final String mappingName) {
        super(predicate, mappingName);
        this.indexName = indexName;
    }

    private String getIndexName() {
        return this.indexName;
    }

    protected ExecutionResults execute(final HConnectionImpl conn) throws HBqlException {
        conn.dropIndexForMapping(this.getIndexName(), this.getMappingContext().getMappingName());
        final TableMapping mapping = conn.getMapping(this.getMappingContext().getMappingName());
        return new ExecutionResults("Index " + this.getIndexName() + " dropped for table " + mapping.getTableName());
    }

    public static String usage() {
        return "DROP INDEX index_name ON [MAPPING] mapping_name [IF bool_expr]";
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Maihana Soumakyou: Uniting Barrage Action (舞華蒼魔鏡 Uniting Barrage Action, lit. "Flower Dance of Magic Blue Mirror") is a Horizontal Danmaku Shooting Game, developed and published by souvenir circ. Originally released for PC on August 11, 2012, at Comiket 82. An enhanced version was released for PlayStation 4, as part of Play, Doujin!, on January 25, 2018 in Japan published by Unties.
The PlayStation 4 version was later localized under the title of Touhou Azure Reflections and was released on May 15, 2018 for both North America and Europe, with a 30% discount on the first two weeks after the game's launch. The Nintendo Switch version was later announced with a worldwide release date of August 30, 2018.
As the Scarlet Mist incident mysteriously returned, Reimu and Marisa went on their own ways to try and resolve the incident.
Similar to various fangames, all of the characters are voiced with official seiyuus, with others reprising their previous voice roles, like Rina Sato, who voiced Reimu in fangames like Koumajou Densetsu II: Stranger's Requiem.
This page was last edited on 8 October 2018, at 08:46.


The Bodycraft SPT-V2BPR Commercial Spin Cycle is unsurpassed in quality and durability. Perfectly suited to a group class or the home enthusiast, this spin cycle will please anyone!
The ultra heavy steel frame is painted in matt black with a multi-phase process to prevent rust. The 21kg flywheel runs SKF precision bearings driven by a maintenance free Hutchinson Kevlar drive belt. The brake pad resistance is controlled through the micro-adjust knob and changes instantly to the increase and decrease of your workout demands!
Wireless computer with Heart Rate strap and Dual sided SPD pedals are available as an option to complete your ultimate spin bike!
Fore & aft as well as height adjustment using micro adjust for the perfect fit.
Hardened Aluminum Alloy with Anodized Finish.
Fully Adjustable High Performance Racing Saddle.
Multi-Grip: Aero, Cross, Bull-Horn and Racing Ergo Drop Loop grip positions.Precision SKF Sealed Bearings and Case Hardened Shaft.Three piece cold-forged steel, 175mm Crank Arms, Narrow 175mm Q-factor.
Precision SKF Sealed Bearings and Case Hardened Shaft.Three piece cold-forged steel, 175mm Crank Arms, Narrow 175mm Q-factor.
Direct Drive maintenance-free Hutchinson Automotive grade Kevlar reinforced Drive Belt.
9/16 Aluminum Alloy dual sided Pedals with Toe Cage. Optional Dual sided SPD Pedals available.


text:
Tag Archives: Donald J. Trump
Iraqi Parliament Votes to Remove US Troops From Iraq, Trump Threatens With "Very Big Sanctions"
January 6, 2020 By domani spero in Chaos, Defense Department, Foreign Policy, Huh? News, Iran, Iraq, Trends, Trump, U.S. Missions, US Embassy Baghdad Tags: Donald J. Trump, Iraq, Iraqi Parliament, sanctions, Threats
"Legally, the ministerial council for national security can take the decision which they find on the benefits of Iraq without the approval of the parliament, we agreed in the national security meeting that the benefits of Iraq is the end of forces existence in Iraq" said PM
— Mustafa Salim (@Mustafa_salimb) January 5, 2020
• The Iraqi parliament voted to oust the thousands of U.S. service members stationed in Iraq
• The U.S. military says it will halt its fight against ISIS in Iraq
• Iran state TV reports Iran will no longer abide by the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal https://t.co/2YIPsx9CdJ
Iraqi lawmakers chanted "death to America" in the parliamentary chambers before voting to expel U.S. troops from the country in a special parliamentary session on Sunday. https://t.co/brE3xR3LV7
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 5, 2020
Scoop: Trump officials tried to stop Iraqi expulsion vote https://t.co/GXaWxUdKFd
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) January 5, 2020
Trump threatens Iraq with harshest sanctions. This debacle is just snowballing.
First we invade you, then we break you & then sanction you. #Iraq #SoleimaniAssassination https://t.co/cgudcqtXjU
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 6, 2020
Trump also tells pool he will slap Iraq with "very big sanctions" if they force US troops to leave. "We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 6, 2020
Cartoonists Sketch a World on the Brink #minatory2020
January 6, 2020 By domani spero in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Hotspots, Trends, Trump Tags: cartoons, Donald J. Trump, Iran
Martyn Turner: It didn't take long for them to take the Happy out of Happy New Year #Trump #WorldWarThree #TrumpsWar #WWIII – political cartoon gallery in London https://t.co/dePcTdnXF6 pic.twitter.com/yLCWUg5gq4
— Political Cartoon (@Cartoon4sale) January 4, 2020
https://t.co/dVoM9aLh0b pic.twitter.com/Vy6hOqMjqG
— Matt Davies (@MatttDavies) January 3, 2020
My cartoon Saturday @TheTimes. Going up (in smoke)….#WorldWarThree #MiddleEast #Suleimani #Trump pic.twitter.com/AfvTqaD5Kr
— Peter Brookes (@BrookesTimes) January 4, 2020
Trump in the Middle East. Today's cartoon by Naji Benaji: https://t.co/nqZLabKVcu pic.twitter.com/SVjgIUZn0J
— The Cartoon Movement (@cartoonmovement) January 6, 2020
#trump #BagdadAirport #Soleimani #Solemani #IranUsa #IranWar4trump2020 pic.twitter.com/RE1ReUc9SO
— luc descheemaeker (@osekoer) January 5, 2020
Brian Adcock on #IranWar #Rouhani #DonaldTrump #BorisJohnson #Trump #WorldWarThree #TrumpsWar #WWIII – political cartoon gallery in London https://t.co/dePcTdnXF6 pic.twitter.com/O8pbW1EJr7
My cartoon in this week's @thesundaytimes https://t.co/OFIKr6eCjM pic.twitter.com/i2RytK2fnF
— Morten Morland (@mortenmorland) January 5, 2020
December 18, 2019: House Impeaches President Donald J. Trump #3rdinUShistory
December 18, 2019 By domani spero in Congress, Politics, Trump, US Presidents Tags: Abuse of Power, Donald J. Trump, Impeachment, Obstruction of Congress
#BREAKING The House approves Article II – Obstruction of Congress 229-198
Watch the full video: https://t.co/Y5lCHABbWG pic.twitter.com/RQEJXwb6Mx
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 19, 2019
#BREAKING: The House passes Article I – Abuse of Power 230-197
Watch now: https://t.co/Y5lCHABbWG pic.twitter.com/ehKatjUj7n
#UPDATE A majority of the US House of Representatives have voted to impeach President Donald Trump.
Before Trump, only two other US presidents have been impeached – Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton pic.twitter.com/uXEYDf7BtG
— AFP news agency (@AFP) December 19, 2019
Here is a 658 report put out this week by House Judiciary. See link for full document. https://t.co/9XwXnzgI0c pic.twitter.com/2r9rMIyjTx
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) December 18, 2019
Kennedy Center Honoree Linda Ronstadt Knows When Mike Pompeo Will be Loved
December 9, 2019 By domani spero in Awards, Celebrity, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Secretary of State, Spectacular, State Department, Trends, Video of the Week Tags: Donald J. Trump, Kennedy Center, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Pompeo
On December 8, Secretary Pompeo hosted the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner at the State Department. Excerpt from his remarks:
It doesn't matter which political party we're from. Art belongs to no party, no class, no gender, no age. It belongs to each and every one of us. This event's really important. I regret that I couldn't make it last year. I was worried in Morocco on Thursday I might not make it this year too. (Laughter.) Actually, I got a note from a couple who says, "You need to get on the plane now." (Laughter.) It's important because it celebrates something that we've all fought so hard for here in America, our prized value to express our views, our beliefs, our freedoms, our ideas. (Also see Think Tank Cancels NATO Conference After U.S. Ambassador Objects to Keynote Speaker's Participation).
It won't surprise you with my time in Kansas that I'm a big fan of Linda Ronstadt as well, an icon of folk and country music. Thirty albums, ten Grammys, a bestselling memoir.
And as a nod to her own ancestry, Ms. Ronstadt released a collection of traditional Mexican songs, which became the best-selling non-English-language album in all of American history.
She's shared her musical gifts in uniquely impactful ways, including teaching music and dance to the children in Mexico.
Ms. Ronstadt, thank you and congratulations. (Applause.) And I will say my job, as I travel the world – I just want to know when I will be loved. (Laughter.) I just read them. (Laughter.)
Via Variety:
Early in the evening Pompeo, who played host, referred to the lyrics of "When I Be Loved," one of Ronstadt's hit songs, saying to the 200 guests gathered, "As I travel the world, I wonder when will I be loved."
Via CNN:
Later, when Ronstadt had the opportunity to take the microphone, she delivered her response. In front of more than 200 guests, Ronstadt, who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, stood up and looked straight at Pompeo's table and said, "I'd like to say to Mr. Pompeo, who wonders when he'll be loved, it's when he stops enabling Donald Trump."
Besides "I wonder when will I be loved," Ms. Ronstadt's numerous hits also include "You're No Good."
You're welcome to sing along to either song. It's still a free country; ask BNET to play it for the holidays.
Linda Ronstadt: "I'd like to say to Mr. Pompeo, who wonders when he'll be loved, it's when he stops enabling Donald Trump." https://t.co/96NiL7pCFF
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 8, 2019
Congratulations to the recipients of 2019 Kennedy Center Honors. Pleased to host this year's honorees at @StateDept and thank them for their contributions to society. They have enriched American cultural life and made the world better through the arts. #KCHonors pic.twitter.com/v7Xx9pk5Ur
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 8, 2019
Impeachment Inquiry: Public Document Clearing House (Via JustSecurity)
November 25, 2019 By domani spero in Foreign Affairs, Govt Documents, Impeachment Inquiry, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Secretary of State, State Department, Trump, Ukraine Tags: Donald J. Trump, impeachment documents, Michael Richard Pompeo, public documents, Ukraine
Added to "FOIA Section" of our Public Documents Clearinghouse:
FOIA Release: State Dept Records of Giuliani and Ukraine-Related Communications with Dept Officials, including Secretary Pompeo (released Nov. 22, 2019)
Thanks to the work of @weareoversighthttps://t.co/YQNLKUGyXZ
— Just Security (@just_security) November 23, 2019
USEU Sondland Turns Over WhatsApp Messages and Other Docs to @StateDept
October 9, 2019 By domani spero in Ambassadors, Congress, Govt Documents, Huh? News, Impeachment Inquiry, Mike Pompeo, Political Appointees, Pompeo, Realities of the FS, Secretary of State, State Department, Technology and Work, Trends, Trump, U.S. Missions, Ukraine Tags: Donald J. Trump, Gordon Sondland, Mike Pompeo, political ambassador, Text Messages, Ukraine, USEU
Via Yahoo News:
The State Department waited until 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday to tell U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland not to show up for his scheduled deposition with three House committees later that morning, the ambassador's lawyer told Yahoo News. Robert Luskin, Sondland's attorney, said he got the extraordinary middle-of-the-night directive in a phone call from a State Department official he declined to identify. The official offered no explanation of the grounds on which the State Department was blocking Sondland's appearance at the last minute.
Michael Isikoff reported that Luskin confirmed that Sondland has already turned over to the State Department WhatsApp messages, text messages and other documents in his possession relevant to the House investigation.
Also, which State Department official made the call to Sondland at 12:30 a.m.? Curious people wants to know.
Middle of the night call to Sondland's lawyer blocking his testimony came after the U.S. ambassador turned over WhatsAP messages and other Ukraine-related docs to State Department. https://t.co/fsTL3sWOTQ
— Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff) October 8, 2019
NEW: Early this morning, Trump admin advised Gordon Sondland, top diplomat enmeshed in Ukraine scandal, NOT to testify at his scheduled House deposition today. Move will likely fuel Dems calls to also impeach on obstruction. w/@npfandos https://t.co/KuMn6EQYKN
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) October 8, 2019
Lawyer for Gordon Sondland, EU ambassador involved in Ukraine affair, says he was blocked from testifying early this morning by the State Department. He is "profoundly disappointed" after traveling from Brussels, lawyer says, and still wants to testify. pic.twitter.com/LOaOlwm7Jb
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) October 8, 2019
Here's What Could Happen Next After White House Blocked Ambassador Sondland's Testimony on Trump-Ukraine Matter https://t.co/QT7PmzYjsI
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) October 8, 2019
WSJ: Amb. Yovanovitch's Removal, a Priority For Trump; Pompeo Supported the Move #championofdiplomacy
October 4, 2019 By domani spero in Ambassadors, Diplomatic Life, EUR|Europe, Foreign Service, FSOs, Hall of Shame, Huh? News, Impeachment Inquiry, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Public Service, Realities of the FS, Secretary of State, Spectacular, Staffing the FS, State Department, Trends, Trump, U.S. Missions, Ukraine Tags: Donald J. Trump, Marie L. Yovanovitch, Mike Pompeo, Ukraine, US Embassy Kyiv, WSJ
What do you get after 33 years of dedicated service to your country?
Via state.gov:
Marie L. Yovanovitch, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Dean of the School of Language Studies at the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute, a position she has held since 2014. Ms. Yovanovitch has extensive leadership and management experience, having previously served twice as an ambassador. She also has broad and deep expertise, gained from numerous assignments working on the region, including as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) and Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), and as DCM in Ukraine. This range of experience makes her well qualified to return to Embassy Kyiv as Ambassador.
Previously, Ms. Yovanovitch was Deputy Commandant at the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. (2013-2014), and served as EUR PDAS and DAS (2011-2013). Prior to that, she served as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia (2008-2011) and U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2005-2008). She also served as Senior Advisor and Executive Assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (2004-2005), and Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Kyiv (2001-2004). Ms. Yovanovitch also served as Deputy Director of EUR's Russia Desk (1998-2000), Political-Military Officer at U.S. Embassy Ottawa, Canada (1996-1998), and Political Officer at U.S. Embassy Moscow, Russia (1993-1996). After joining the Foreign Service in 1986, Ms. Yovanovitch also served in Somalia, the United Kingdom, the Department's Operations Center, and in EUR's Regional Political Military Office.
Ms. Yovanovitch earned a B.A. from Princeton University and a M.S. in Strategic Studies from the National War College. She has won numerous Department of State performance awards. Her languages are Russian and some French.
State Department officials were told this spring that Marie Yovanovitch's removal was a priority for Trump. Pompeo supported the move. Yovanovitch was told by State Dept officials that they couldn't shield her from attacks by Trump and his allies.https://t.co/2yoTb1G7Ow
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) October 3, 2019
It's not just that she's been removed from office, even now they continue to trash her publicly. The thing is she cannot defend herself. She cannot speak without clearance from @StateDept. And neither @SecPompeo nor @StateDept even make an effort to defend her. https://t.co/m1ZmtEj3e0
— Diplopundit (@Diplopundit) October 3, 2019
Earlier today
REPORTER: Why did you recall the US amb. to Ukraine?
TRUMP: I heard very bad things about her. And I don't know if I recalled her or somebody recalled her, but I heard very, very bad things about it for a long period of time, not good.pic.twitter.com/iG2weEwmZs
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) October 3, 2019
Rudy Giuliani told the WSJ he considered former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch an obstacle to his efforts to push Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, and that he informed Trump of his concerns shortly before she was abruptly recalled in May 2019https://t.co/WseFyUY3Jk
— Axios (@axios) October 3, 2019
Trump's comments about Marie Yovanovitch — a member of his own country's diplomatic corps — are a stunning breach of norms, former officials say, and lend credence to the claim that her early departure from the post was politically motivated https://t.co/InNmnmfBC6
— CNN (@CNN) September 25, 2019
FSO Chuck Park: I can no longer justify being a part of Trump's 'Complacent State.' #Resignation
August 9, 2019 By domani spero in Dissent, Foreign Policy, Foreign Service, FSOs, Org Culture, Org Life, Public Service, Realities of the FS, Resignations, State Department, Trends, Trump Tags: 157th Class, Complacent State, Donald J. Trump, FSOs, Resignations
I was 26, newly married and more than a little idealistic when I set off for my first diplomatic assignment almost a decade ago as a member of the 157th class of commissioned U.S. Foreign Service officers.
According to a certain type of right-leaning conspiracy theorist, that would make me part of "The Deep State" — a shadowy government within the government that puts its own interests above the expressed wishes of the electorate. Adherents to this theory believe that thousands of federal workers like me are plotting furiously to subvert the Trump administration at every turn. Many on the left, too, hope that such a resistance is secretly working to save the nation from the worst impulses of President Trump.
They have it all wrong. Your federal bureaucracy under this president? Call it "The Complacent State" instead.
Like many in my cohort, I came into the government inspired by a president who convinced me there was still some truth to the gospel of American exceptionalism. A child of immigrants from South Korea, I also felt a duty to the society that welcomed my parents and allowed me and my siblings to thrive.
Over three tours abroad, I worked to spread what I believed were American values: freedom, fairness and tolerance. But more and more I found myself in a defensive stance, struggling to explain to foreign peoples the blatant contradictions at home.
In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, I spoke of American openness and friendship at consulate events as my country carried out mass deportations and failed thousands of "dreamers." I attended celebrations of Black History Month at our embassy in Lisbon as black communities in the United States demanded justice for Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and the victims of the mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. And in Vancouver, I touted the strength of the United States' democracy at the consulate's 2016 election-night party as a man who campaigned on racism, misogyny and wild conspiracy theories became president-elect.
Since then, I have seen Trump assert the moral equivalence of violent white nationalists and those who oppose them, denigrate immigrants from "s******e countries" and separate children from their parents at the border, only to place them in squalid detention centers.
But almost three years since his election, what I have not seen is organized resistance from within. To the contrary, two senior Foreign Service officers admonished me for risking my career when I signed an internal dissent cable against the ban on travelers from several majority-Muslim countries in January 2017. Among my colleagues at the State Department, I have met neither the unsung hero nor the cunning villain of Deep State lore. If the resistance does exist, it should be clear by this point that it has failed.
Instead, I am part of the Complacent State.
The Complacent State sighs when the president blocks travel by Muslim immigrants; shakes its head when he defends Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; averts its gaze from images of children in detention camps. Then it complies with orders.
Every day, we refuse visas based on administration priorities. We recite administration talking points on border security, immigration and trade. We plan travel itineraries, book meetings and literally hold doors open for the appointees who push Trump's toxic agenda around the world.
So when I read a recent New York Times op-ed calling for the public shaming of the "midlevel functionaries who make the system run," I squirmed in my seat. We rank-and-file, like the Justice Department lawyer who recently endured public scrutiny for defending the administration's terrible treatment of detained children, don't like to be called out. And when we are, we shrink behind a standard argument — that we are career officials serving nonpartisan institutions.
We should be named and shamed. But how should we respond? One thing I agree with the conspiracy theorists about: The Deep State, if it did exist, would be wrong. Ask to read the commission of any Foreign Service officer, and you'll see that we are hired to serve "during the pleasure of the President of the United States." That means we must serve this very partisan president.
Or else we should quit.
I'm ashamed of how long it took me to make this decision. My excuse might be disappointing, if familiar to many of my colleagues: I let career perks silence my conscience. I let free housing, the countdown to a pension and the prestige of representing a powerful nation overseas distract me from ideals that once seemed so clear to me. I can't do that anymore.
My son, born in El Paso on the American side of that same Rio Grande where the bodies of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter were discovered, in the same city where 22 people were just killed by a gunman whose purported "manifesto" echoed the inflammatory language of our president, turned 7 this month. I can no longer justify to him, or to myself, my complicity in the actions of this administration. That's why I choose to resign.
(Note: This piece originally appeared on WaPo and was cross-posted on MSN in full here. Chuck Park's resignation from the Foreign Service is reportedly effective Thursday. A Charles Park of DC was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote as a "Member of the Foreign Service to be Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America" on March 2, 2011, during the 112th Congress. During the 114th Congress, a Charles Park of New York was confirmed by voice vote "For appointment as Foreign Service Officer of Class Four, Consular Officer and Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America" on May 23, 2015).
Dec 2018: Jim Mattis Quits in Protest Over Trump's Chaos Strategery
Oct 2018: Ex-Amb. to Estonia James D. Melville Writes Why He Quit
Feb 2018: Sam Bee's Rescue Farm for Government Workers With Ex-FSO Elizabeth Shackelford
Jan 2018: U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley Resigns From the Foreign Service Over Trump Policies
Dec 2017: A Foreign Service Officer's Parting Shot Gets Media Attention
June 2017: Top U.S. Diplomat in China David Rank Resigns Over #ParisAgreement Withdrawal
Mar 2017: Diplomatic Security Agent With 17-Year Service Resigns Over Trump
Nov 2016:Inauguration Day Countdown: Is the prospect of mass resignations a real thing?
Nov 2016: On the Prospect of Mass Resignations: A Veteran FSO Cautions Against Rash Decisions
Mar 2013:Ten Years Ago Today: FSO John Brown Quit the Foreign Service Over Iraq
Jan 2012: An FSO's 'Valedictory Dispatch' — Realities of the Foreign Service
Apr 2009: Insider Quote: Why Didn't You Quit?
Trump Announces Sanctions Against Ayatollah Khomeini, One Very Dead Man From Long, Long Ago
June 26, 2019 By domani spero in Chaos, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Hotspots, Huh? News, Iran, Media, Realities of the FS, Trends, Trump, US Presidents Tags: Ayatollah Khomeini, Donald J. Trump, Iran, sanctions
Help Fund the Blog | Diplopundit 2019 — 60-Day Campaign from June 5, 2019 – August 5, 2019
On June 24, the White House announced the Executive Order on Imposing Sanctions with Respect to Iran. Here is POTUS making the official announcement.
Trump said he's placing new sanctions on Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini — he died in 1989 pic.twitter.com/eyvenzcuNs
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 24, 2019
This is extraordinarily inept on the part of the White House. President Trump announces sanctions against Iran's supreme leader, whom he names as Ayatollah Khomeini. But Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989. (Trump means Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). https://t.co/NPZMclFk7W
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) June 25, 2019
#UPDATE Iran says new US sanctions against its leaders mark the end of diplomacy with Washington, after President Donald Trump threatens the country with "obliteration" https://t.co/9Bb0MI5V9r pic.twitter.com/WeCU9WMJOT
— AFP news agency (@AFP) June 25, 2019
Pakistan PM Khan Issues Angry Response After Trump's Swipe Over OBL, Aid, WoT
November 20, 2018 By domani spero in Af/Pak, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Assistance, Huh? News, Realities of the FS, Trends, Trump, US Presidents Tags: Donald J. Trump, Imran Khan, Pakistan
Trump on Pakistan (full transcript of interview here). Bull. China Shop. Every Damn Place and Time.
WALLACE: Bill McRaven, Retired Admiral, Navy Seal, 37 years, former head of U.S. Special Operations —
TRUMP: Hillary Clinton fan.
WALLACE: Special Operations —
TRUMP: Excuse me, Hillary Clinton fan.
WALLACE: Who led the operations, commanded the operations that took down Saddam Hussein and that killed Osama bin Laden says that your sentiment is the greatest threat to democracy in his lifetime.
TRUMP: OK, he's a Hilary Clinton, uh, backer and an Obama-backer and frankly —
WALLACE: He was a Navy Seal 37 years —
TRUMP: Wouldn't it have been nice if we got Osama Bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldn't it have been nice? You know, living – think of this – living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer. But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there. And we give Pakistan $1.3 billion a year and they don't tell him, they don't tell him —
WALLACE: You're not even going to give them credit —
TRUMP: For years —
WALLACE: for taking down Bin Laden?
TRUMP: They took him down but – look, look, there's news right there, he lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them $1.3 billion a year, which we don't give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us.
Pakistan doesn't do "a damn thing" for US: Donald Trump. Referring to Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Trump said ".. living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there.." pic.twitter.com/HqPROhlmMR
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) November 18, 2018
Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!..
….We no longer pay Pakistan the $Billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in return. That's ENDING!
Trump's false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost & destabilised & economic costs. He needs to be informed abt historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US's war. Now we will do what is best for our people & our interests
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018
Record needs to be put straight on Mr Trump's tirade against Pakistan: 1. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pak decided to participate in US War on Terror. 2. Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US "aid" was a miniscule $20 bn.
Instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures, the US should do a serious assessment of why, despite 140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops & reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are stronger than before.
The illegal killings by drone attacks; the list is endless but once again history shows appeasement does not work. Also, whether China or Iran, US policies of containment & isolation do not coincide with Pak strategic interests. https://t.co/tFBe9BentG
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 19, 2018
Except letting the US use supply lines critical for waging and supporting the war in #Afghanistan. No minor matter! https://t.co/1Fi6q7Mlwa
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) November 18, 2018
#GME | Pakistani PM Imran Khan hits back on Twitter against US President Donald Trump following his remarks that Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing" for the United States. For more on Trump's 'tirade' we speak with NBC's @WajSKhan in Islamabad.https://t.co/Rve1LorsqB pic.twitter.com/RgwMSSEl8w
— euronews (@euronews) November 20, 2018
Pakistan Angered by Trump's Claim That It Does 'Nothing' for U.S. https://t.co/wflm7kehIw
— Diplopundit (@Diplopundit) November 20, 2018