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Salvation Army Burglarized
KSAL StaffDecember 20, 2021
A Salina man has been arrested after breaking into the Salvation Army building on Friday.
Police Capt. Paul Forrester tells KSAL News that officers responded to the Salvation Army, located at 1137 N. Santa Fe, around 8:30 p.m. to reports of an ongoing burglary. They found the glass doors on the east side of the building were shattered.
Witnesses reported a man had broken the doors and entered the building. The man was next seen with a fire extinguisher in hand, which he used to allegedly further break the doors, and then he discharged the extinguisher inside the building.
The charity reported that the estimated damage to the doors is around $2,000.
Michael Fagan, 60, was arrested and is charged with one count of burglary and one count of felony damage to property.


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Lawmaker may revisit Christie whistleblower case
Nicholas Pugliese
State House Bureau, @nickpugz
The chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee said he is interested in launching an inquiry into years-old accusations that the Attorney General's Office improperly worked to block an indictment against political supporters of Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in Hunterdon County in 2010.
Following nearly an hour of testimony before the committee on Monday by a former Hunterdon County assistant prosecutor central to the case, Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex, said that he would "consult with leadership" as to how to proceed.
"It convinced me we should look further," he said of the testimony of Bennett Barlyn, the former prosecutor. McKeon said options included inviting other people involved in the case to testify before lawmakers, sending a letter to the Attorney General's Office asking it to share confidential documents related to the case, or seeking subpoena power for his committee through an Assembly resolution in order to compel testimony.
McKeon's statements come as Guadagno is vying to become the Republican nominee for governor and seven months after the state finalized a $1.5 million settlement of a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Barlyn in 2012. In his suit, Barlyn claimed he was fired for opposing the dismissal of official misconduct and falsification of documents charges against top officials in the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Department.
N.J. approves $86M tax break for powerful Democrat
Trump budget plan has major ramifications in N.J.
Kellyanne Conway alludes to even wider surveillance of Trump campaign
The Barlyn case was tied to a 43-count indictment brought by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office in 2010 after an investigation found that the sheriff at the time, Deborah Trout, a Republican with political ties to both Christie and Guadagno, made employees sign loyalty oaths and didn't conduct background checks of new hires. Another official was alleged to have made a fake police badge for a Christie campaign contributor.
Following the indictment, the state Attorney General's Office took over the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office and three months later dismissed the charges, citing "legal and factual deficiencies."
Barlyn claimed he was suspended and fired when he complained to a superior that he felt the case was dropped for political considerations.
The Christie administration has denied wrongdoing.
Also on Monday, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance a bill, sponsored by McKeon, that would make it illegal for future settlements of whistleblower lawsuits involving a public entity or public employee to require confidentiality or "to conceal information relating to any claim or action concerning the public interest."
The measure exempts settlements involving matters of national security.
McKeon said he introduced the bill out of frustration with the outcome of the Barlyn case, which cost taxpayers more than $3.8 million in legal fees alone in addition to the $1.5 million settlement.
That settlement ended a years-long court battle but did little to shed light on the validity of the original allegations. A condition of the settlement was that documents obtained by Barlyn and his attorneys through the discovery process were to remain confidential.
"It cost us $5 million plus another couple years of resources in the Attorney General's office, who handled it first, and material that goes to the heart of his allegation is being kept from the public?" McKeon said. "It really is offensive to my sense of fairness."
A companion bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate.
This article includes reporting by State House Reporter Bob Jordan of the Asbury Park Press.
Email: pugliese@northjersey.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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UKnowledge > University Press of Kentucky > Arts & Humanities > Appalachian Studies > 2
Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia
Helen M. Lewis
Monica Appleby
Monica Appleby and Helen Lewis reveal the largely untold story of women who stood up to the Church and joined Appalachians in their struggle for social justice. Their poignant story of how faith, compassion, and persistence overcame obstacles to progress in Appalachia is a fascinating example of how a collaborative and creative learning community fosters strong voices. Mountain Sisters is a prophetic first-person account of the history of American Catholicism, the war on poverty, and the influence of the turbulent 1960s on the cultural and religious communities of Appalachia.
Founded in 1941, The Glenmary Sisters embraced a calling to serve rural Appalachian communities where few Catholics resided. The sisters, many of them seeking alternatives to the choices available to most women during this time, zealously pursued their duties but soon became frustrated with the rules and restrictions of the Church. Outmoded doctrine—even styles of dress—made it difficult for them to interact with the very people they hoped to help. In 1967, after many unsuccessful attempts to persuade the Church to ease its requirements, some seventy Sisters left the security of convent life. Over forty of these women formed a secular service group, FOCIS (Federation of Communities in Service). Mountain Sisters is their story.
An inspirational work that is meaningful on a variety of levels, demonstrating an overwhelming commitment to social and economic justice as well as the empowerment of both women and the individuals they chose to serve. -- Appalachian Journal
An important examination of Appalachian advocates and an immensely enjoyable read as well. Mountain Sisters provides scholars with a treasure trove of firsthand information and the general public with yet another example of how individuals can make a difference in the world. -- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
A moving testimony to the determination of Catholic women to implement the reforms of Vatican II in a predominantly Protestant environment. . . . A must for students of twentieth-century American social history and historians of Appalachian religious life. -- Religious Studies Review
Any readers interested in the utopian visions and dystopian realities of communal life will appreciate this documented history of a group whose spiritually-motivated social work began with post-World War II and pre-Vatican II optimism. -- Utopian Studies
A dramatic and inspiritory story. -- Appalachian Heritage
An engaging internal story about a group's vision of ministry during a time when the paradigm of authority and obedience for both church and society was being transformed. -- Catholic Historical Reviewng
An American story of challenging authority, re-inventing community, and adapting and changing within the context of the times. Mountain Sisters conveys a story worth telling and reading, as it says much about the nexus between religion and gender in late-twentieth-century America. -- North Carolina Historical Review
A magnificent memoir. -- Journal of Appalachian Studies
Federation of Communities in Service, FOCIS, Glenmary Sisters, Appalachian Region
Foreword by Rosemary Radford Ruether.
Lewis, Helen M. and Appleby, Monica, "Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia" (2004). Appalachian Studies. 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_appalachian_studies/2


MedEx answers any queries you might have regarding Descovy purchase, shipping and payment terms.
Descovy is a prescription drug, which was approved by the FDA for the therapy of HIV infection in adult people and kids weighing more than 35 kg (about 80 lbs). However, it can be used by children weighing 25 kg or more in combination with specific HIV drugs. Descovy is usually taken together with other HIV drugs. Your doctor will prescribe you the other drugs for the treatment of HIV infection.
Who must take this drug?
Descovy was approved by FDA for the therapy of adults suffering from HIV infection.
Descovy shouldn't be used by the patient with severe renal dysfunction or those with HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.
While antiretroviral therapy is advised for all patients suffering from HIV, there are no strict rules about when to begin such treatment. You and your doctor must take into account your CD4 cell count, your viral load, any signs you notice, and your attitude towards the use of antiretroviral drugs.
If you combine Descovy with other antiretroviral medications, you may decrease your viral load to undetectable levels, and enhance your CD4 cell counts. This will allow you to stay healthy for a long time.
Descovy can't be used for the treatment of patients with hepatitis B infection (HBV). Some patients with HBV feel worse after ending the therapy with Descovy Get tested for HBV before beginning the treatment with Descovy.
Descovy shouldn't be used to prevent HIV infections in pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Descovy includes two medications in one pill. It's much better to use this drug than some other combinations of ARTs. This will help you avoid skipping the doses and control HIV infections.
At the beginning of treatment with ARTs, you may experience temporary adverse effects like head pain, hypertension, or a malaise. These adverse effects generally get better or go away with time.
TAF is a new version of an older medication known as tenofovir DF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). Despite the fact that TAF should finally replace tenofovir DF, the manufacturer isn't going to stop selling the drugs that contain tenofovir DF. Partially, TAF was manufactured as a safer version of tenofovir DF. The clinical researches of combination HIV treatment, TAF was found to be safe and usually well tolerated with fewer adverse effects than tenofovir DF.


PLDC - With the help of his club, Saipa, Mehdi Amirabadi a young and talented striker has left for Florence, Italy to participate in practices in hope of joining Fiorentina.
IRNA - Disabled soccer squad of Iran demolished the powerful Brazilian side Monday.
PFDC - Transfer news in the Saudi Arabian football scene. Ending the season empty-handed both on the local and continental scenes, Al-Ittihad of Jeddah are being reported on a spending-spree in transfer market, according to London-based daily Al-Hayat.
Tehran - Head of the national soccer team's committee said two foreign coaches will join the technical board of Iran's national football team.
PLDC - Ali Parvin, the Head Coach of Perspolis of Tehran considered the refereeing during the game in which his side faced Esteghlal of Tehran, excellent.
AFC - Iranian League giants Esteghlal and Pirouzi continued their goalscoring troubles on Thursday, cancelling each other in a scoreless draw in front of a crowd of 90,000 at the Azadi Stadium.
Al Ahli demolished Al Shabab 5-1 and pushed them further down deep in the relegation zone which will be the Shabab destiny if they failed to beat Sharjah next week.
Iranian and Al Ahli striker Ali Karimi claims to have received offers from European and Saudi Arabian clubs for the forthcoming season. "There are offers from European clubs, and from three Saudi clubs. But all these offers have come through my agent," endorsed Karimi.
PLDC- PersianLeague has done an exclusive interview with Sardar Ajorloo, the president for Pas club. He noted that his club has started Pas private club in Ekbatan, Tehran. Ajorlou also considers Khodadad Azizi to be a historical player for Iran.
PLDC - Esteghlal Tehran and Perspolis, the most popular teams of Iran played in front of a capacity 90,000 fans in Azadi on Thursday, who surely left the ground disappointed with the result and the performance of their beloved teams.
Tehran - Iran Pro League Organization announced Tuesday that the tickets of Esteqlal-Pirouzi match are sold as of 10 am on Thursday in the booths of Azadi Stadium.
PLDC - Parviz Mazloomi, coach of Esteghlal of Tehran has announced that Yadollah Akbari has received some injuries and the question over his presence in Thursday's match up against rivals Pirouzi will become apparent tomorrow.
AFC - Chinese players lead the pack in the list of nominations for the AFC Player of the Year Awards 2001. The awards ceremony will be held on May 17th 2002 in Shanghai in conjunction with the China Football Expo.


Don't confuse these liver herbs with the next recipe for the Liver cleanse (flush).
This recipe contains herbs traditionally used to help the liver function, while the Liver cleanse actually gets gallstones out.
Mix all the herbs. Add 1/2 cup of the mixture to 2 quarts (2 liters) of water. Bring to a boil.
Put lid on. Let sit for six hours.
Strain and drink 1 1/2 cups per day.
Put the strained herbs in the freezer and use them one more time.


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Ianisera trepidus is een pissebed uit de familie Janiridae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1976 door Kensley.

Janiridae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


All children will be motivated to read the walk-about story!
Excerpted from Wonderful Rooms Where Children Can Bloom!
Roll out a long sheet of paper.
Mark off 2′ sections on the paper.
Let each child draw his picture and write his name in one of the sections.
Let the children write and illustrate their own original stories using a similar format.
Have the children work together to write and illustrate a story. Hang the pages in the hallway. Tape a sheet of paper to the top of each page so other students walking down the hall will be curious and will want to lift the sheets and read the story.


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UKnowledge > College of Pharmacy > Pharmaceutical Sciences > Faculty Publications > 56
Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications
The Biological Speciation and Toxicokinetics of Aluminum
Emily DeVoto, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Robert A. Yokel, University of KentuckyFollow
This review discusses recent literature on the chemical and physiological factors that influence the absorption, distribution, and excretion of aluminum in mammals, with particular regard to gastrointestinal absorption and speciation in plasma. Humans encounter aluminum, a ubiquitous yet highly insoluble element in most forms, in foods, drinking water, and pharmaceuticals. Exposure also occurs by inhalation of dust and aerosols, particularly in occupational settings. Absorption from the gut depends largely on pH and the presence of complexing ligands, particularly carboxylic acids, with which the metal can form absorbable neutral aluminum species. Uremic animals and humans experience higher than normal body burdens of aluminum despite increased urinary clearance of the metal. In plasma, 80-90% of aluminum binds to transferrin, an iron-transport protein for which receptors exist in many tissue. The remaining fraction of plasma aluminum takes the form of small-molecule hydroxy species and small complexes with carboxylic acids, phosphate, and, to a much lesser degree, amino acids. Most of these species have not been observed in vivo but are predicted from equilibrium models derived from potentiometric methods and NMR investigations. These models predict that the major small-molecule aluminum species under plasma conditions are charged and hence unavailable for uptake into tissues.
Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 102, no. 11, p. 940-951.
EHP is a publication of the U.S. Federal Government, and its content lies in the public domain. No permission is required to reuse EHP content.
This article was reproduced from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1567445/
This work was made possible by EPA Cooperative Agreement 818558.
DeVoto, Emily and Yokel, Robert A., "The Biological Speciation and Toxicokinetics of Aluminum" (1994). Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications. 56.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ps_facpub/56
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons


text:
Cheng-hua: Year 5, Month 7, Day 29
The Chief Steward Chen Yi, who defended the pearl-beds in Guang-dong, memorialized: "In the fifth month of this year (Jun-Jul 1469), over 10 black ships ( ) sailed to the Qing-ying and Yang-mei beds and stole oyster-pearls. The language of those on the ships was heard and it is thus known that they were Jiao-zhi yi persons. It is requested that Imperial orders be sent to the king of the country of Annam requiring him to prohibit such activities and punish the offenders." The Ministry of Revenue deliberated and held: "It is not possible to send Imperial orders on the basis of the claim that yi words were heard during the theft. The relevant authorities should be ordered to enforce the prohibition." Subsequently, the grand coordinator and censor-in-chief also advised: "When Li Hao, the king of the country of Annam, sends an envoy to the Court to offer tribute, the envoy should be ordered to carry Imperial orders back to instruct the king."
Xian-zong: juan 69.7a
Geoff Wade, translator, Southeast Asia in the Ming Shi-lu: an open access resource, Singapore: Asia Research Institute and the Singapore E-Press, National University of Singapore, http://epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/reign/cheng-hua/year-5-month-7-day-29, accessed January 17, 2021


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After becoming a licensed baker for Mrs. Fields' packaged cookies, Interbake Foods was in need of a consumer-focused, digitally driven merchandising platform to reinvigorate the Mrs. Fields brand and drive grocery sales. First, our team established brand positioning to distinguish Mrs. Fields from other packaged cookie brands. Whereas other cookies had cornered the market on being "fun" or a "guilty pleasure," only Mrs. Fields' chewy, fresh taste was associated with what mom bakes at home. Invoking consumer associations of Mrs. Fields cookies with homemade treats, our story positioned the brand as a "box of love," which we supported with a "Mrs. Fields moments" campaign to support the roll-out of Nibblers, a brand-new product, along with a partnership with the USO to support the entire suite of packaged products.
To promote the debut of the Nibblers, we created a microsite introducing the Nibblers product along with a coupon and a product locator. We adopted the "box of love" brand positioning for Nibblers as "shareable moments," leveraging the cookie's small size as the perfect way to savor and share a moment. We launched a comprehensive blogger outreach program to support this, sending actual "boxes of love" containing everything you might need to create and share a cookie moment, including napkins, milk jugs and straws. In addition, our engagement involved a social/digital coupon gifting campaign to build buzz and encourage sampling, as well as a"Cookies for Keeps" social giveaway that allowed fans to enter to win one of 1,000 boxes of Nibblers by first "liking" the parent brand page and providing an email address to which we could send follow-up marketing messages.
To support sales of all of Mrs. Fields' packaged cookies, we established a year-long partnership with the USO, adapting the "box of love" positioning to be about "Making More Cookie Moments" — a perfect complement to the USO's ongoing efforts to help troops and their families make every moment count. In addition to a monetary donation to the USO, Mrs. Fields also donated its all-American cookies for use in care packages sent to deployed troops, allowing them to have their own cookie moments even while away. Here at home, we updated the product box design to include the USO logo and updated messaging ("When you buy a box, you're creating more cookie moments — for you and for them") and called on families everywhere to create more memorable moments each Sunday night. In addition to product information, our microsite included weekly family conversation starters and a collection of "Sunday Snacktivities" to help families create more cookie moments.
The Nibblers Cookies campaign launched in April of 2014 to great success. Our "box of love" blogger care packages were sent to more than 40 bloggers and resulted in over 150 articles and pieces of content seen by more than 2 million readers and 3 million Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram followers. Tweets and retweets on Twitter led to 592,102 impressions on that platform alone. On Facebook, our 1,000 boxes "Cookies for Keeps" giveaway is one for the record books: Mrs. Fields saw 119,400 entries in just two weeks, resulting in 45,000 new Facebook. Once users entered the contest, we pointed them to the Nibblers microsite, where they could download a coupon to drive in-store sales — resulting in a 3500% increase in coupon downloads during the giveaway.


It may turn out not to be my better Half, but it was certainly my first. 'Do something new every year' they said, 'stretch yourself, face your fears'. So i signed up for a half marathon – part of the Connemarathon series which includes a full and an ultra – another day perhaps. I had lived near Leenaun some thirty years earlier while mapping the rocks in that area as part of my Phd studies and was still half in love with the area and its barren beauty.
When i committed myself, a few months ago, i was sure would be doing a lot of training and i downloaded the free training programme. 'More honoured in the breach than in the observance', to quote the Bard and my favourite procrastinator, Hamlet and to sum up my training. Regular readers will know that i was sick a lot in the backend of the Irish winter and the pretence of a spring we endured. In recent weeks, i had started to run a bit, though hardly train. The weekend before i ran the Bray 10k and i felt so good running it that i decided to run the Half. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't", i felt that if i took it nice and easy i should be able to run the 13.1 miles.
I spent the week mainly resting with a few minor workouts and considerable meditation – i believed that running mindfully, paying attention to my body, should ensure that i did not injure myself. Travelling down to Galway the day before, i was both excited and nervous, anxious to get started and impatient that i had to wait until noon the next day. I stayed with a niece and her boyfriend in lovely Barna and awoke at 6.30 the next morning to a white Connemara – the night frost had spread a hoary blanket over the earth. Frosty mornings often mean sunny days so i welcomed the cold as i prepared my porridge for breakfast.
Peacockes Hotel at Maam Cross – the finishing point of all three races.
We all wondered what state we would be in the next time we saw that hostelry.
Eventually we disembarked in Leenaun, at the head of Killary Harbour which stretches roughly north-west for about 16km before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. On its northern side, in County May, is the formidable Mweelrea, Connaught's highest mountain. As we waited, freezing cold, until noon, when our race was scheduled to start, those of us who knew Leenaun were happy that at least it was dry; Leenaun being the wettest place in Ireland, an accolade not easily won. It was not to last though, on this occasion Mweelrea was not high enough and dark clouds, bearing rain, soon swept over it and down into Leenaun. The waiting runners scattered, seeking shelter wherever we could.
And so we started, wet and cold but glad to be off, there were more meteorological barriers to be faced. As we turned left at the village, we realised that a cold easterly gale would hinder us further as we faced into it for the long run east to Maam Cross. It was not long before the gale threw in a hailstone shower or three to test us further but by then there was no turning back, though at times i thought fondly of my car, many miles away in Oughterard.
Each mile was marked and the first one came up before i knew it. So i concentrated on getting to Mile 3, pretty much same as a 5k, bread and butter to me. Six miles was the next focus point – somewhat under 10k and a distance i knew i could conquer. Although the climb out Leenaun had been fairly steep, it soon turned to downhill and eventually the gradient settled down.
Knowing the road as well as i did, i was aware that there was much worse to come but, for now, i concentrated on each mile.
Six miles was passed, i was now entering unknown territory. I had never ran more than 10k in my life before but i knew that the halfway mark was close. I was running easily, emptying my mind for most of the distance, looking up and enjoying the scenery whenever the weather permitted, focusing on gently completing my first ever half marathon.
Every three miles there was a water station – i took a bottle and a few mouthfuls and felt refreshed.
We moved downhill into Maam Village and across the bridge over the Bealnabrack River. From here it was a long long climb before a final descent to the Finish. My head dropped and i concentrated on putting one foot in front of another – i thought that if i didn't look up at the hill in front of me then it was just the same as any other run, just place one foot in front of another and repeat.
I had a secret weapon, a packet of jelly babies in my pocket. I broke it open as i crossed the bridge and shared a few with some fellow runners. i hoped that the burst of sugar would propel me up the hill like some biofueled android.
And i nearly made it.
About 200m before the crest of the hill i ran out of steam, my biofuel depleted and my muscles fatigued and i dropped to a walk – my leg muscles almost instantly signalling their appreciation of the change. Once i reached the top i shuffled to a run – well half run perhaps appropriately – looking forward to coasting downhill to the Finish. My inconstant companion, the wind, had one more challenge for me. Downhill lead right into the teeth of the gale – i was more disappointed than anything to discover that today there was to be no pleasure in running downhill – if anything i got blown backwards a couple of times – those few steps which had to be repeated feeling like a marathon in themselves.
Soon i could hear the cheering and i stumbled across the finish line. 2 hours, 34 minutes and 25 seconds of, almost, continuous running. Food, drink, awesome tee, a medal and the collection of my spare clothes bag got me to shelter.
I changed out of my saturated running gear as quickly as possible in the runners madhouse that was Peacockes. Soup, bread and a cup of tea – my humanity and sanity trickled back and i enjoyed my achievement.
I had run a Half Marathon.
Three days later, i am still on a bit of a high, my muscles have nearly recovered. i do not seem to have done any damage to myself – save a sore right foot which i hope is only a sprain.
Would i do it again – of course – any course – but preferably not into a gale force wind.


Add leeks to the saute pan, and cook for 4-5 minutes stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low or medium low, add the sugar, and continue cooking, stirring the leeks every few minutes. Reduce the heat to low or medium low, add the sugar, and continue cooking, stirring the leeks every few minutes.... Add leeks to the saute pan, and cook for 4-5 minutes stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low or medium low, add the sugar, and continue cooking, stirring the leeks every few minutes. Reduce the heat to low or medium low, add the sugar, and continue cooking, stirring the leeks every few minutes.
Preparation. Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring often, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 5-8 minutes. how to eat miso soup with rice Add the cream or half and half, raise the heat to medium high and cook for 5 minutes or until the cream coats the back of a spoon and has slightly reduced. Stir in the last tablespoon of butter to add a bit of gloss and adjust the seasoning to taste.
This cabbage and leeks recipe is a tasty side dish to just about any meal, especially one with corned beef, pot roast, pork, or ham. The cabbage and leeks simmer until they are just tender.
31/08/2018 · There are basically two ways to clean leeks, the method you use depends upon how you are going to use the leeks in cooking. The easiest way is to prepare them chopped for use in soup . A little more challenging is preparing a leek for use in a recipe that requires whole leeks .
with the wonderful leek and goat cheese galette below because it was so fun to make (and so fun to eat, too!) Here are the leeks chopped up and ready to get sauteed.


SIBOS, Hong Kong - September 14, 2009: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: TCS.BO, NSE: TCS.NI), a leading IT services, consulting, business solutions and outsourcing firm, announced today that TCS BαNCS for Corporate Actions has been implemented at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. (USA).
Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. (USA) is part of the Mizuho Financial Group whose home office is located in Tokyo, Japan. The Mizuho Financial Group is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering a broad range of financial services including banking, securities, trust and asset management, credit card, private banking services, venture capital through its group companies.
TCS BaNCS Corporate Actions is an industry leading, SWIFT Ready Gold accredited solution that enables enterprise-wide corporate actions automation. The product supports event types and market practices for 40+ financial markets. By automating the complete lifecycle of corporate actions processing, it helps deliver accurate and timely data to all stakeholders. The functionality includes announcement capture, eligibility and entitlements management, notification and response management, payments and reconciliation, and tax and claims. The solution addresses the challenges faced by securities firms of all sizes and types—be it custodians, asset managers, broker-dealers or central securities depositories (CSDs). It also implements a common process framework supporting all types of events.


text:
For 5/21/10 editions
- Michael Toeset, 630-348-3356 (office), 630-835-8870 (mobile), mtoeset@corp.gatehousemedia.com
WAKE UP CALL! Did Census hiring affect unemployment?
HOME IMPROVEMENTS: Our summer guide has tips on stylish and energy-saving window treatments, costs involved in pool installation, ways to keep your garage clean and safe, and more.
JUNE RADARFROG COUPON PAGE: The most bang for your food buck
JUNE RADARFROG COUPON BOOK
WEEKLY NIE PAGE: Learn math with the Indy 500
MEMORIAL DAY PAGE: Tour the nation's war memorials
GRAD CONTENT
OIL SPILL CONTENT
MEMORIAL DAY: Check out our links package of Memorial Day content. If your newspaper has something to contribute, please let us know.
THIS WEEK IN WEIRD: Lots of people behaving badly in this week's roundup of weird news as reported by GateHouse newspapers.
LOOKING UP: The sun, our No. 1 star - What is your favorite star? Your answer had better be the sun! Weekly astronomy column by Peter Becker.
ALICIA GOSSMAN-STEEVES: What does creation have to do with politics? - A recent article I read on the CBS news website has my hackles up again about the separation of church and state. And, as I've said before, I will say again, religion and politics do not mix.
ELIZABETH DAVIES: 'Lost' offers lesson about good, bad - It's time for a confession: I've been having an affair with Jack. And Sawyer. And Ben. And Sayid. And Jin. And Desmond. And Jacob.
WOOD ON WORDS: Give yourself time to digest language - President Barack Obama says he doubts that Congress has the appetite to tackle immigration reform this year, even though a new law in Arizona has transformed it into a hot-button issue. By Barry Wood.
ASK DOG LADY: I feel guilty about leaving dog alone – Weekly canine Q&A with Monica Collins.
GEORGE LITTLE: Most of what we know about outdoors may be untrue - Most of us know less than we think we do. That's not always our fault. Some of what we believe to be fact has been passed down from our relatives and mentors. Many of those bits of wisdom the "old-timers" handed down were based on their own — sometimes incomplete — observations, or something an "older-timer" had told them.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS: Q&A with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants - In the 1980s and 1990s, Brooklyn-based They Might Be Giants – John Linnell and John Flansburgh – became defining figures in the indie rock movement. Now they're entertaining a whole new generation.
SLEIGH BELLS: Album review: Sleigh Bells' full-length debut 'Treats' demands to be played loudly - Depending on how highly you value fidelity, Sleigh Bells' full-length debut marks either the zenith or the nadir of the current low-production-values-as-art-itself wave. The purposefully ugly aesthetic is not manifest here as feedback and over-drive noise used to bury sunshine melodies (a la sh--gaze bands like Wavves), but instead as dance beats, electronic blips and screaming guitar pushed well into the red, digitally-clipped beyond recognition and thrown at the listener. By Ed McMenamin.
MOVIE PROJECTIONIST: Projectionist shows how things work in the reel world - Kerasotes Theatres doesn't have any employees classified exclusively as projectionists. But aside from the occasional weekend fill-in shift as a manager, that's about all Jonathan Leonard does for the company. By Brian Mackey.
MOVIE REVIEW: 'MacGruber' one of best 'SNL' movies ever - There's a question comedy lovers have been asking for decades: Will anyone ever make a good movie out of a "Saturday Night Live" sketch? So far, "The Blues Brothers" worked pretty well, but only "Wayne's World" was an actual hit.But make room for "MacGruber," the "SNL" spoof of the hit 1980s gadget-heavy action show, "MacGyver," which was a bit of a spoof itself. By Ed Symkus.
MOVIE REVIEW: Silly 'OSS 117: Lost in Rio' will make you smile - The French-language sequel to the 2006 French-language "OSS 177: Cairo, Nest of Spies," it's the continuing adventures of French superspy Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath or Agent 117 or, as one person calls him, Double-One Seven. By Ed Symkus.
MOVIE REVIEW: Tragic story of 'Princess Kaiulani' is a tragedy in moviemaking - In the story of Hawaiian Princess Kaiulani, there is no happily ever after. She died at age 23 from what is believed to be a broken heart caused by the loss of her man, mother and homeland. By Dana Barbuto.
MUSIC SCENE: Collective Soul back thanks to 'Twilight' - For the first time in years, Collective Soul is back in the pop mainstream – and it's all because of a little movie called "Twilight." - When compiling the soundtrack for the popular vampire flick, the producers decided to include "Tremble for My Beloved," a cut from the band's 1999 album, "Dosage." And the boys have been reaping the benefits ever since. By Jay N. Miller.
GRANLUND CARTOON: Grads following in footsteps of unemployed dads.
BILL MOYERS AND MICHAEL WINSHIP: Crude attempt to suppress free speech - Chevron, the third largest corporation in America, according to Forbes magazine, has hauled out its lawyers in a case that would undermine the right of journalists to protect the people by telling them the truth.
KENT BUSH: True libertarianism doesn't work here - Rand Paul's libertarian leanings helped him dispose of a Republican insider in Kentucky's GOP Senate primary Tuesday. But the sun hadn't even set on his huge win before the Republican showed that he might just be Libertarian to a fault.


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At the end of June 2017 the French cosmetics giant NARS Cosmetics announced that they would be giving up their title as a cruelty free brand in order to test on animals. Surely, in this day and age, cosmetic brands should be working in the opposite direction to this? Doesn't it make sense for cosmetic companies to invest in ways to ensure that their products are safe to use whilst simultaneously eliminating the need to punish animals to do so?
The reason for their venture into such an archaic practice, you ask? Why that's simple; money. In China it is a legal requirement that all cosmetics companies test their products on animals in order for them to be brought to market. Therefore, all of the American and European brands that are sold there, such as MAC Cosmetics, Benefit, and Estée Lauder, test their products on animals in order to sell their products. China will have appealed to NARS as it has a steadily growing cosmetic market. Between 2010 and 2015 sales of cosmetics grew from 88.9 billion RMB (£9.9 billion) to 204.9 billion RMB (£22.8 billion), practically guaranteeing a brand as well established as they are a profit from the get go.
In February of this year the American cosmetics company Stila withdrew from the Chinese market and regained their status as a cruelty free brand. They pulled their products from Sephora China and changed their website to state that they point blank do not test on animals. Stila never made a song and dance about why they left the Chinese beauty market, but it could be argued that the matter of ethics came into play. So, with the scientific advancements in toxicology testing that we have today, shouldn't more companies follow Stila in looking to go cruelty free? Or is the loss of the Chinese market too much to ask?
I went cruelty free around the beginning of 2013, I had been a vegetarian for years and never even thought about the animals that were suffering for my products as I was too busy worrying about the ones that were being used for food. Animals, primarily; rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and mice, are forced to eat or inhale substances everyday for 28-90 days to document the long term effects of products. They are then killed in order to see if any internal damage has been obtained. Despite that fact that I'm not a vegetarian anymore, when I do it meat I make sure it's well sourced, I still care a great deal for animals. I'm not going to guilt you with images of rabbits and mice that have been tortured in the name of beauty, I'm just going to leave my points here and let you consider your stance on animal testing.
However, I can safely say that I will be discarding each and every piece of NARS make up that I own. I am aware that my actions as an individual will have no impact on NARS Cosmetics and their ethics, or the fact that they will now profit on animal abuse. But, unlike NARS, I am willing to stand up for what is right.
Are you going to join the NARS boycott?


It's December! We're down to the last month of the year, and it's your best chance to head over to Kerala before we ring in the New Year. Kerala typically enjoys a warm, pleasant December with very little rainfall. The sun's soothing rays and the lower humidity make it perfect for a winter destinations in Kerala.
If you're currently in the grips of winter, take a break from the freezing temperatures and enjoy a relaxing vacation in God's own country this month. It'll be something to cherish for the rest of your life.
In this article we outline what the weather will be like in Kerala this December, what you need to be prepared for and the major events in the state that you can experience during your trip.
The temperature in Kerala will be more or less the same as November. This is the usual trend this time of year and there's not much variation in the temperatures towards the end of the year. The average temperature across the state is expected to be around 27 °C or 81 °F throughout the month.
The average temperatures are expected to mimic November to the exact degree. The only difference is that there will be a bit more sunshine and a lot less rain.
Here's some more information on the Kerala weather during December.
The monsoon has passed and the sun will be out most of the month. You'll notice there's an increase in the number of sunshine hours during the day, when compared to previous months.
The chances of rainfall too will drop from 20% at the beginning of the month to a mere 4% towards the end of the month. Overall, Kerala is likely to receive just 69mm of rain in December which will be spread across 4 days. It's most definitely not going rain during your vacation in Kerala. But if it does rain, it'll probably be just a drizzle or a brief thunderstorm.
As the possibility of rain decreases during the course of the month, so does the cloud cover. So, you can expect a lot of sunny days during your trip to Kerala this December.
Considering that it's going to be pleasantly warm and sunny, you need to pack clothes that are both light and airy. Do carry a hat to shield you from the sun, especially if you're going to be out during the day. The nights won't be too cold, so you don't have to carry woolen wear. Even if you're visiting the hill stations, a light cardigan will do as the cold will be bearable.
Here are some precautions you can take if you're travelling to Kerala this December.
If you're planning to be outdoors during the day, drink plenty of bottled water and fresh juices to keep yourself hydrated.
Use adequate sunscreen, stick to shady spots as much as possible and keep your head covered when you're out in the sun.
Slather yourself with mosquito repellent too, to keep vector diseases at bay.
If you're planning to tour remote locations, don't hesitate to get the help of an experienced local guide.
Keep you travel documents, gadgets and valuables secure so they don't get lost during your trip.
Considering the absence of rain this month, it's going to be easy to travel through Kerala. You can use autorickshaws or taxis for short distances. There are also adequate buses and trains covering all of Kerala, so travel will be quite convenient.
Christmas is not the only highlight in Kerala this month. There are many more cultural and religious festivities you can participate in during your trip. Here are some of them.
Celebrated at the Sri Muthappan Temple in Parassinikadavu, Kannur on 2nd December, the festivities at the temple include offerings of fish given to the deity and dogs being revered and served first.
This is an annual 10-day Theyyam festival which will be held between 7th and 16th December at Perumthitta in Kasaragod district. The festival features talented Theyyam performers who don the roles of ancestral spirits and heroes.
The worldwide celebration of Christmas on 25th December extends to Kerala as well. People of all faiths decorate their homes, participate in traditional feasts and share the joy of the season.
The Cochin Carnival is organized at Fort Kochi in Ernakulam during the last two weeks of the year. Spectacular events involving cultural shows, food fiestas, races, rallies, sports, art and games will be held between 25th December and 1st January this year.
This is another prominent Theyyam festival that will be held in the Kanathoor village in Kasaragod between December 28th and 1st January.
The Sivagiri Theerthadanam is a religious pilgrimage undertaken by devotees of Sree Narayana Guru to his tomb in Sivagiri, Varkala between 30th December and 1st January.
Squeeze in one last vacation to Kerala before the year is over. You can join in the Christmas celebrations in Kerala, relax by the beach, hike up a nature trail and ring in the New Year with joy. Don't miss all the beauty that Kerala has to offer!


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Law in Action | Emory University School of Law
SOUTHCOM Commander Kelly: Leveraging U.S. strengths to promote the rule of law
Emory University School of Law | March 9, 2015
Gen. Kelly and Professor Laurie Blank talk with Ryan Light 15L, a student and active-duty U.S. Marine slated to become a Marine Judge Advocate upon graduation. (Photo credit: Bryan Meltz
General John F. Kelly is not a lawyer, but he "does law." That is how he began to explain his position as Commander of the U.S. Southern Command. As one of five four-star generals charged by the president to lead the Department of Defense security cooperation in designated segments of the world, Kelly oversees Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions) — some 16 million square miles.
On March 4, 2015, Kelly visited the school as a guest of Emory Law's International Humanitarian Law Clinic and at the request of his good friends John M. Dowd 65L and Carole L. Dowd 65L. The International Humanitarian Law Clinic works directly with international tribunals, militaries, non-government organizations, and other entities to enhance legal protections during wartime and ensure accountability for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. In particular, under Professor Laurie Blank's leadership and building on Kelly's prior visit to Emory in 2009, the IHL Clinic has forged a unique relationship with the United States Marine Corps, providing assistance in incorporating law of armed conflict and rule of law components into training and education curricula and programs.
During his visit at the law school, Kelly offered insight on the role of law in military and security operations, telling students and other attendees that virtually everything he does in his position has legal implications — which is why, as he quipped, "he keeps a lawyer in his back pocket." The law, and an unwavering belief in fundamental tenets of right and wrong, serves as an essential guide as he deals with the challenges of border security, public health, the Guantanamo detention facility, and drug cartels that commit horrendous human rights violations within the region under his command.
Dr. Aneesh Mehta explains to Gen. Kelly the Emory Hospital special isolation unit's methods for disposing of contaminated materials. (Photo credit: Jack Kearse)
Kelly also toured the Emory Hospital Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, meeting with the doctors who run the facility and treated the Ebola patients last summer to learn about best practices for preparedness, including in the expeditionary context of U.S. military assistance. In a visit to the Emory University School of Medicine's Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, Kelly saw up close the cutting edge work being done to treat military veterans and others battling post-traumatic stress disorder.
In his public address at the law school, and during a talk in Professor Laurie Blank's National Security Law class, Kelly highlighted the dangers posed by the drug cartels, including links to international terror. Beyond security concerns, America has a moral responsibility to help, Kelly opined, suggesting that the next time drug users hear about the violent acts committed by cartels (not unlike the violence perpetrated by ISIS, he said), they should look in a mirror and assess their own fault. "America is a society of wonderful, caring people. We give to charity. We are there when a crisis occurs. America rocks, in my opinion; but the people who decide to use cocaine likely don't understand what that drug use affects in Honduras, for instance. They don't see themselves as contributing to this breakdown in society. I believe that if they truly understood, there would be less using."
Dr. Maryrose Gerardi leads Marine Col. Mark R. Hollahan in a demonstration of a virtual reality therapy employed by Emory University School of Medicine's Trauma & Anxiety Recovery Program. (Photo credit: Ann Borden)
Kelly enthusiastically took a range of questions during both events at the law school, complimenting students on their insightful questions. During the Q&A, he tackled negative perceptions of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and complex issues regarding immigration, trade with Cuba and the potential effects of sequestration on national security. He also challenged students to make a personal decision to choose right over wrong.
The U.S. is, in Kelly's estimation, the "biggest proponent and practitioner of human rights" in the world; but individuals must contribute for this to remain so. "My pitch is not to join the military. My pitch is to serve your country in some way. Be part of this great nation. Welcome immigrants. Don't whine when you get called to jury duty. Pay your taxes. There is a lot of work to be done out of uniform."
Regarding Kelly's visit to the law school, Robert Schapiro, dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, said, "Emory's work on international law and armed conflict through the IHL Clinic offers unique opportunities for engagement with the U.S. military on rule of law issues. Kelly's visit highlights this cutting-edge example of Emory's mission to promote the rule of law at home and abroad."
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[Shefa] Jerusalem Report: "Ethiopian Dreams, Israeli Realities"
Jerusalem Report:
Ethiopian Dreams, Israeli Realities
07/31/2011 10:13 By KAMOUN BEN SHIMON
http://www.jpost.com/JerusalemReport/JewishWorld/Article.aspx?id=231614
An Ethiopian who became a Conservative rabbi struggles to make a difference in a community harmed by the flawed reception offered by Israeli authorities.
Photo by: SARAH LEVIN
RABBI YEFET ALAMO SAYS that he is, and always has been, a dreamer.
He had to be a dreamer, he smiles, to survive. Almo, 52, emigrated from Ethiopia, an agrarian society, to Israel, a post-industrial society, at the age of 22. His dreams, he says, helped him face anti-Semitism in Ethiopia. They guided him as he made the terrible journey from Gondar through the Sudan, suffering thirst, hunger and fear, walking for weeks, escaping the threats to his family's life and his own. They aided him when he arrived in the Jewish homeland, only to find that Israel rejected his Judaism. And those same dreams for a better society have given him comfort as he continues to struggle religiously, serving as Israeli's only Ethiopian Conservative rabbi.
He speaks like a man who believes in his dreams, his tone upbeat even when talking about the difficulties. Today he lives in the settlement of Adam in the West Bank, just north of Jerusalem. The two daughters who were born in Ethiopia are married – to Israeli Ashkenazim, he emphasizes, and his son, born in Israel, is about to finish his military service. He has one Sabra (Israeli-born) grandchild and another on the way. Finding that he was unable to make a living as a rabbi, he works as a practical nurse in Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem; his wife is also a nurse at another Jerusalem hospital. "I refuse to depend on anyone or any project for my living," he says passionately, but adds that he insists on "working for the community, for acceptance of our ancient traditions and for the respect that our people deserve."
Alamo recalls the many challenges he faced growing up in Ethiopia. "As a young boy, I suffered a lot from the non-Jewish Ethiopians – they cursed me, they bothered me," he says. In Ethiopia, his religiously observant parents destined him to be a kes, a revered community spiritual leader. From his early teens, he lived in a village near his home with a group of kessim, who taught him Jewish ritual and observance.
But even in Ethiopia, he says with a broad smile, "adolescent troubles can mess up even the best plans." He married at the age of 17, which was young for Ethiopian men; five years later, with two daughters, he decided to come and live in Israel, despite the dangerous journey.
When he arrived in Israel in 1981, he says, "I quickly realized that my suffering was not over. It hurt me to see the situation that my fellow Ethiopians were living in.
Those were the years when the government didn't want to bring the rest of the tribe here – we were disconnected, separated. I joined the few who were protesting, trying to catch the government's attention.
"What hurt us so terribly was to find out that the state was demanding that we Ethiopians, who had kept the most ancient traditions of the Jewish people, abandon those traditions, just as we were fulfilling our most cherished and ancient dream – to come to Jerusalem, to the Holy Land."
Naively, he says, he had thought that the Israeli religious establishment would welcome them because they were the only ones left who still performed ancient Biblical customs.
"But on the contrary," he says, "we were despised, rejected. We were told to renounce our practices, the rituals for which we had endangered our lives. Here, they were considered worthless. This was a terrible blow for the whole Ethiopian community."
They were expected, he says, to renounce their most precious practices in favor of the halakha, which is the compendium of Jewish law and includes Biblical, Talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions.
It is observed, in largely identical form, in both the Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions.
But the Ethiopians, living isolated from the rest of the Jewish world for centuries, had developed their own laws and rituals, based on their interpretations solely of the Bible.
He cites examples. "In Ethiopia, issues of purity were essential. We used 'purifying waters,' as a regular part of our lives – for women after giving birth, after menstruation, for mourners, for anyone suspected of having been in contact with something impure.
A man who went to another city for a length of time would also have to be purified by a kes upon return to his village, in case he had become impure in the city."
Although the State of Israel brought the Ethiopian Jews out, the Israeli rabbinic authorities refused to fully recognize their Judaism. Their kessim were not recognized as rabbis or religious leaders, so they were not permitted to perform marriages or to rule on public religious issues. Furthermore, in order to affirm their Judaism, for purposes of marriage, for instance, the Jews of Ethiopian origin had to undergo a modified conversion procedure, which included symbolic letting of blood (in lieu of circumcision) and immersion in a mikve (ritual bath).
"We had dreamed for generations about the moment that we would arrive here. And after the terrible hazards of the journey, when we finally arrived, we were told that we were not Jewish enough.
"And it was difficult for the kessim, especially the oldest among them, to admit that Jewish life had progressed across the centuries and that the halakha developed in the Jewish world, outside of our lives and traditions," he continues. "In the eyes of the kessim, accepting halakha is a demand that they abandon the rules of the Torah. I believe that, with a little good will, it would have been possible to include the ancient Biblical traditions and values that we had kept for centuries in current reality. What harm would that have done? But the rabbinate had no compassion, no mercy. They acted maliciously.
They needed to have total control over the practice of Judaism, leaving no place for us and our customs."
And almost all children were sent to religious boarding schools, the message being that "at least the second generation would be normatively Jewish."
The Ethiopians have come to recognize, he says, that the Jewish world has progressed beyond the Biblical interpretations of Jewish law and now accept the notion of halakha. "I think that all in all, we were rational, we were those who acted with responsibility – we have accepted the changes. We just didn't want to be considered with such contempt.
We didn't want to stop respecting our spiritual leaders, our kessim, our values."
IT WAS THIS CONTEMPTUOUS attitude that pushed Alamo into the arms of the Conservative movement.
Accepting that in order to be a religious leader he would have to study to become a rabbi, he applied and was accepted to a prestigious Orthodox yeshiva. "The head rabbi told me that he was happy to see me among his students, and then he added, 'You'll see, we'll make good Jews out of you.' As if my fellow Ethiopians and I were not good Jews.
I felt I had always been a good Jew, and the rabbi's comments were crude and rude. And oh, how that hurt me."
He left the yeshiva. "I was willing to accept that I had to fill in the gap between my traditions and developments over the centuries. But I wasn't willing to accept their malicious arrogance."
He studied practical nursing in order to make a living and was active in Ethiopian causes. By chance, he met a group of Conservative rabbis at a demonstration for Ethiopians' rights. "I had no idea that such a movement existed. These people said they were observant, religious Jews, but they didn't look like any of the religious Jews I had met. I discovered another type of Israeli Jew and I felt an irresistible attraction to who they are and what they offer."
What he found irresistible, he explains, was the inclusiveness of the Conservative movement. He understood that the Conservative movement would also demand that he observe halakha and that, as a rabbi, he would have to base his religious decisions on its premises, but "they were not coercive and they accept different people."
The Schechter Institute in Jerusalem accepted him to their rabbinical studies program, even though he had no academic degree. "I had no money, either. But they were outstanding – they decided to give me a chance. They were sincerely interested. I loved studying. I had a tutor who translated into Amharic for me. Those were the best days of my life in Israel."
He seems to have come to a religious balance.
He now views the kessim as part of Jewish spiritual life, but accepts the halakha as that which guides religious life. For this reason, he says, he has had no difficulty in accepting the Conservative movement's interpretations of halakha that include, for example, a large measure of gender equality, which was completely unheard of in Ethiopia.
After his ordination, Alamo attempted to establish a community. "I didn't want to establish a Conservative Ethiopian community.
I wanted to create a Conservative community in which Ethiopian and non- Ethiopian Jews would pray and live together, side by side. Remember, I told you I'm a dreamer. I wanted to create a place with one Torah, one people. But I was alone with my dream. I appealed to many organizations, to the Ministry of Education, but it didn't work.
I guess my dream was too big."
He says that he failed because he was unable to raise the funds to establish the community, although it is clear that Conservative Judaism, with its modern Western roots, may have been far too much of a stretch for the observant Jews of Ethiopian origin to accept. Alamo emphasizes that despite his innovations, he felt that he was well accepted by both his fellow Ethiopians and the kessim, because, he says, "they trust me and know that what I want to do is in the interests of the community. They know I have no intention to pull them apart.
"I was desperate, depressed," he recalls.
And then, again, he found hope when he was accepted to the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, a Jerusalem-based, multi-year program. "Once again, it was a great period," he recalls.
Having given up the idea of serving as a community rabbi, Alamo continued his practical nursing to earn a living and is active as aJewish educator. He has a regular television program on the Amharic cable channel, where he discuss the weekly portions and uses these homilies to emphasize the importance of education for the Ethiopian community. He relates that he receives hundreds of letters from viewers, many asking for his advice. In addition, he serves on the board of the Ethiopian National Project, a multi-year program intended to implement broad-based policies for the betterment of the Ethiopian Jews.
THE LOSS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS life and the sending of their children to religious boarding schools, combined with the social welfare authorities'misguided approaches, have left the Ethiopian community in a precarious position, Alamo says. "Our spiritual leadership was broken; parents lost their authority over their children.
And the result has been that we have about 5,000 delinquent youth. Social workers, psychologists, people like that who graduated from Western academic schools imposed their Western notions and concepts on us and looked down at us. They didn't understand us – they had no idea about our customs or our ways, and they imposed themselves on us. They destroyed our community, and now the community is closed within itself, living in poor, underprivileged neighborhoods. Our youth are lost – today they are delinquents, tomorrow they will be criminals."
These are, he acknowledges, the same mistakes that were made in the attempts to absorb the immigrants from other non- Western countries. He smiles sadly. "So why did they make the same mistakes all over again? We were so few – there were barely 80,000 of us – why did the authorities try to break our leadership?" Today, Ethiopians are still subjected to different religious requirements than other Jews, which indicate that their Jewishness is still essentially in doubt in the Jewish state.
All Israeli Jews must be married through the rabbinate, since Israel does not recognize civil marriage, but Ethiopians must register with Rabbi Yossef Hadana in Tel Aviv, who has been appointed by the Chief Rabbinate to assess if they are, indeed, Jewish. Alamo says that that Hadana is "strict but fair." But if Hadana does not recognize the applicant's Jewishness, they must be go through a complete conversion procedure.
Only after they have obtained a document attesting to their Jewishness, are they able to marry any other Jew. Most choose a Sephardi rabbi to perform their wedding ceremonies, because, Alamo says, they are more comfortable with the Sephardim, who traditionally are more liberal and tolerant in their interpretations and observances. "There is a whole new generation that has religiously found its place in Israeli society. I have even seen Ethiopians among the Breslover Hasidic groups, singing and dancing in the streets."
But he still recognizes the severe problems the community faces and places his hope in the Ethiopian National Project. "It is the only project that was conceived, programmed and implemented by Ethiopians for Ethiopians, with all the sensitivity and understanding that we need. I believe that only when Ethiopians will take care of themselves and their problems will things really improve."
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[Shefa] RHR-NA: Is Your Rabbi a Human Rights Hero?
RHR-NA: Is Your Rabbi a Human Rights Hero?
Rabbis for Human Rights-North America is searching for rabbis who are human rights heroes. Is your rabbi the one? If so, nominate your rabbi as a human rights hero! Active community members from all over North America are invited to nominate their rabbi as a human rights hero. Two rabbis will be selected to be honored in person at the RHR-NA celebration on December 8, 2011 in New York City, as a guest of RHR-NA. Click here for more information and nomination forms.
What does it mean to be a Human Rights Hero?
Nominated rabbis will be leaders in promoting human rights within their communities in North America and/or Israel and the Palestinian territories. They are strongly committed to working towards the dignity and worth of every single person in society, consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Jewish belief that every person is a creation in the divine image.
Who is eligible to be nominated as a Human Rights Hero?
To be eligible, rabbis should work within a Jewish community setting, such as in a synagogue, school, camp, JCC or other related organization. Rabbis must live and work in North America. Rabbis who work full-time for social justice or human rights organizations are not eligible. Rabbis for Human Rights-North America board members and staff members are not eligible. The two winners must be available to attend the celebration in New York City on December 8, 2011, as a guest of RHR-NA.
Who is eligible to nominate a rabbi?
Nominators must consider themselves members of the nominated rabbi's community. A nominator may be a synagogue member, a student, a parent of a student or camper, a JCC member, or someone who participates regularly in activities organized by the rabbi's community. Nominators may not be staff members of the rabbi's community. Self-nominations will not be considered.
How do I nominate my rabbi?
To nominate your rabbi, please fill out the following form and write a brief statement (250-300 words) about why your rabbi is a human rights hero. Please include the names and e-mail addresses for two additional members of your rabbi's community who would be willing to submit supporting recommendation letters. Those individuals will receive an e-mail from RHR-NA inviting them complete an online recommendation form.
Once your nomination has been processed, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.
How will rabbis be selected?
A selection committee has been formed to review all nominations and pick our two winning rabbis. Five distinguished rabbis make up the selection committee: Rabbi Peter Rubinstein in New York, NY; Rabbi Amy Eilberg in Mendota Heights, Minnesota; Rabbi Will Berkovitz in Seattle, Washington; Rabbi Aaron Levy in Toronto, Canada; and Rabbi Andrea London in Chicago, Illinois. Please do not contact selection committee members regarding this program. We choose to disclose this information so that the selection process is clear; any emails sent to the selection committee members will be deleted without review. Thank you for respecting this request.
All applications, complete with supporting letters, must be received by Wednesday, August 24, 2011, by 7:00pm EST.
[Shefa] Measuring Success: "How Do You Create a Data Driven Culture? Step 1: Framing the Issue"
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How Do You Create a Data Driven Culture? Step 1: Framing the Issue
Recognizing the value of data is an important first step, but how can nonprofits move beyond this to teach employees at all levels of their organizations to make data-driven decisions, not anecdotal, emotional or knee jerk decisions?
Last month we introduced you to the 7 Steps to Data Driven Decision Making. Here, we will share detailed insight into the critical first step, Framing the Issue, using examples from our clients' experiences with the process.
Framing the Issue
Nonprofit employees do not need to be statisticians to effectively analyze data and make data-driven decisions. In fact, most of the organizations we work with find the actual analysis of the data to be the most straightforward part of the process. The biggest challenge organizations face is really taking enough time to clearly identify the issues they are trying to understand.
When organizations do not adequately frame the problem, they usually collect the wrong data or incomplete sets of data. This leaves them confused as they try to make sense of their analysis and draw conclusions to enable decision making.
Many concerns pass by the desks of nonprofit professionals each week and there are many potential projects and analyses that they can choose to undertake. When a concern arises, how do leaders know which ones need to be studied and which to devote their limited resources toward understanding better?
We suggest leaders ask the following questions to assign a priority to the issues and to understand what work will be involved in exploring them further:
• How did this issue come to my attention?
• How many people does it impact?
• What proof do I have that this problem exists?
• What else do I need to know in order to evaluate this issue?
Case Study 1: Foundation
Sarah works as a Program Manager for a capacity-building foundation that gives grants to nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits that receive the grants create volunteer engagement in community service projects. Her foundation's mission is to increase the number of volunteers engaged in community service and maximize the percentage of volunteers retained from one year to the next.
How did this issue come to Sarah's attention?
Based on conversations with grantees and anecdotal evidence gathered while visiting offices, Sarah's team felt that its grants were effectively increasing the number of people engaged in service across the state. The team knew that some of the nonprofits that received grants were more successful with volunteer engagement than others. They used volunteer retention to evaluate the effectiveness of their grants. However, Sarah did not understand what factors drove increases or decreases in retention.
The foundation had been collecting a wide range of data related to its grants, but had never analyzed it to understand trends and relationships between the metrics. As the foundation experienced external pressure to report its impact more quantitatively, Sarah was asked to evaluate the portfolio of grants so that the foundation could measure its long-term impact.
How many people are impacted?
If the foundation disbursed funds to the most effective nonprofits, the number of volunteers serving in the state would increase. The foundation indirectly served over 30,000 clients through its grants at the time and hoped to increase this number. In addition to clients served, hundreds of volunteers worked in the grantee organizations across the state.
What proof is there that this issue exists?
Sarah's data showed that some organizations had low volunteer retention rates. Several of these organizations had been receiving funds from the foundation for years and continued to have low retention rates.
What else does Sarah need to evaluate this issue?
Sarah collected information contained in the annual grant reports that would help her see which metrics contributed to low retention rates. She hoped that this would help her understand why some grants performed better than others.
Case Study 2: Private school
John is the principal of an independent school that teaches students from kindergarten through 8th grade. His school seeks to equip its students intellectually and socially for success in high school and beyond.
How did this issue come to John's attention?
John heard a few complaints from parents that the math program in his school was weak and did not equip the students with the knowledge they needed to be top performers in high school. He did not know if this was just the perception of a few parents or a bigger issue that needed to be addressed.
The complaints came from parents whose children were students in the middle school, grades 5 through 8. Parents of elementary school students had not complained.
In addition to parent comments, middle school standardized test scores were lower than the average compared to other independent schools.
What else does John need to evaluate this issue?
John needed to collect information from all the parents in his middle school to understand the perceptions of more than just those who complained.
Why Frame the Issue?
By asking these questions, nonprofit leaders can effectively prioritize the many issues they could potentially explore. This pattern of inquiry also clarifies the nature of each issue and the data that will be required to fully understand them. Framing the Issue sets the foundation for the remainder of the 7 Steps: Hypothesis Development, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Interpretation, Decision-Making and Communication.
Be sure to check out our newsletter next month, when we will delve into Step 2: Hypothesis Development.
If you have further questions about this approach or are interested in the Building Data Competency program for your organization, email info@measuring-success.com.
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Data in the News
"I honestly wasn't sure at first why we were asked to spend 6 hours reviewing the results of our survey. But now I understand it was worth every minute. You've saved us a year of strategic planning. I am very busy in my work, so as the board chair, this allows me to use my time so much better because I am basing decisions in data instead of sorting out a lot of processes and non-representative opinions or emotions when parents complain to me."
From a Board President
How Do You Create a Data-Driven Culture at Your Organization?
Our client wanted to instill a data-driven culture in his company. He knew that if his organization began to think in a data-driven way, he could improve its outcomes and effectiveness. To get started, he needed a go-to guide that would get his staff on board.
We gave him a quick, easy-to-digest version of our 7 Steps to Data-Driven Decision Making. Now, we want to share this information with you.
July 6-7: Wilmington, DE – Predictive Analytics
July 11: Boston, MA – Perceived Quality and Value of Independent Schools
July 12: Boston, MA – Data driven decision making for Development Professionals
July 13-15: San Francisco, CA – Perceived Quality and Value of Independent Schools
July 14: Chicago, IL – Perceived Quality and Value of Independent Schools
August 22-24: Washington, DC - Predictive Analytics
Contact us at 202.684.7024 orinfo@measuring-success.com.
[Shefa] Marketing Consevative Judaism
Chevre,
I saw this from my local paper's small business email and thought it also had a lot to say relevant to marketing CJ today. One thing that struck me as relevant is that they didn't have to change the core message, but rather the perceptions and accessibility, to draw in new supporters.
Why marketing a famous master is like building your customer base
July 27, 2011 • Jacob Geiger
For Bob Tarren, marketing Pablo Picasso meant big money and big pressure.
Tarren, marketing director at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, was charged with creating a $750,000 campaign that would draw a national audience while maximizing local attendance.
Your business may never launch a campaign as big as the VMFA's, but there are plenty of lessons to learn from the museum's campaign, lessons Tarren shared in a July 26 breakfast meeting at the Creative Change Center.
"The evangelists were already on board," Tarren said about the museum's members and longtime supporters. So he focused his efforts on a "younger, tech-savvy crowd" that maybe hadn't ever given the museum a detailed look. He called this crowd the "persuadables."
Because the VFMA carried a slightly stuffy reputation, Tarren said there was a special emphasis on making the exhibit open and friendly. Guards took a more relaxed approach, letting people get as close as they wanted to the art (but not letting them touch it, obviously). The vibe he wanted, Tarren said, was one where people felt comfortable "coming and hanging out. You can't do that when things are really formal."
But the marketing strategy also had to avoid alienating the VMFA "family" of longtime supporters. So Tarren started with traditional ad components, like billboards, street-light hangers and posters.
Then he got creative, striking a partnership with Starbucks that led to posters on the door of each of the coffee giant's stores in Richmond and Williamsburg. These weren't ordinary posters, though. The image of Picasso's face was made entirely of QR codes.
These codes can be scanned by smart phones and send the user to a website – in this case the VMFA's Facebook page about the exhibit. Building an image entirely from QR codes sent a subtle message to "people in the know," Tarren said, primarily the young, tech-savvy "persuadables" he wanted to reach.
Tarren's campaign led to more than 1.2 billion impressions (yes, that's billion with a "b"). And though plenty came through traditional avenues, he said more than 675 million were driven by activity on Facebook and Twitter. The VMFA seeded the social media landscape, then let social networks help carry the torch.
So what's the takeaway for a small business looking to spend $7,500, rather than $750,000? Make sure you keep your loyal evangelists happy, but focus your marketing on those "persuadables," the folks who aren't visiting you now but are open to the right pitch. Find out as much as you can about that group and tailor your advertising to whichever medium they use most. Remember that social media, used correctly, can deliver huge buzz at a low cost.
And if you can display a few pieces by one of the world's most famous artists, that probably wouldn't hurt.
www.workitrichmond.com/2011/07/marketing-picasso-learn-vmfas-lessons/
Posted by Rabbi Menachem Creditor at 7:54 AM
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Tonsillitis is an infection and swelling of the tonsils, which are oval-shaped masses of lymph gland tissue located on both sides of the back of the throat.
– Fieberhafte Angina tonsillaris (gerötete, vergrößerte Tonsillen mit weiß-gräulichen Belägen) oder Pharyngitis – Generalisierte Lymphknotenschwellungen Evtl.
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, typically of rapid onset. It is a type of pharyngitis. Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and large lymph nodes around the neck. Complications include peritonsillar abscess.
-Trotz fehlender Evidenz wird in vielen Fällen weiterhin eine sofortige antibiotische Therapie eingeleitet. -Eine (AOM) ist der dritthäufigster Grund für Antibiotikaverordnungen in dieser Altersgruppe. Klinik und Diagnose lediglich 10 % aller Kinder mit einem Greifzwang Microbiologie Angina Tonsillaris Therapie Angina tonsillaris u.
Synonyms for Angina tonsillaris in Free Thesaurus. Antonyms for Angina tonsillaris. 3 words related to tonsillitis: inflammation, redness, rubor. What are synonyms for Angina tonsillaris?


The construction industry has witnessed unprecedented levels of technological change over the last 10 years in particular, the corollary of which has required key decision makers to fundamentally re-think the way they: (a) have undertaken business in the past; (b) are currently doing business at the moment; and, (c) will need to change their business practices in order to compete in the future. This research attempts to understand this trichotomy, with a specific emphasis on understanding key decision makers' perception of e-readiness within the context of the construction industry. Research findings highlighted the importance of People, Process and Technology, along with five core enablers that are deemed priority areas for operationalisation. The rubrics for managing these dependences are also discussed in the context of future leveraging opportunities. This research reports the significant importance of ICT to capture, store and reuse knowledge in the organisational and demonstrates the need for the organisation to be e-ready.


After reading an interesting tutorial by Chris Stones on Artificial Intelligence, I decided to follow this up with a different problem-solving technique, known as the Genetic Algorithm. Genetic Algorithms, or GAs, have been around since the 1970's, and provide a method of solving vast problems quickly.
Although this may work when trying to discover a two digit combination, if this is increased to a forty digit combination the time needed to discover the combination is greatly increased. Genetic Algorithms are just one of a number of tools which aim to discover answers to problems in a much quicker time.
This is what is called a problem space, i.e. the solution to the combination problem lies somewhere in this grid. In order to find the solution we potentially have to look at every position in this grid. Simply put - Genetic Algorithms just "bounce around" until they find the answer.
Pando Networks offers employees a generous benefits package which includes health and dental care, short and long term disability, life insurance and retirement plans. The compensation offered for the position will commensurate with experience.


Yesterday I paddled solo in Chicago. Although the near-shore forecast said only 1-3 ft waves, I knew the sustained east winds would not disappoint. Sure enough, down by Oak Street, where the sea-wall gives way to open beach, I found some interesting choppy, clapotty stuff to play in, where reflected waves run sideways into the break.
I hadn't outfitted for surfing -- no helmet, and my only hydration, a bottle of Gatorade, under a bungie on deck. After wrestling the waves for a while, I got seriously thirsty.
Out beyond the break, I grabbed the bottle with one hand and was just about to open it when I felt the whole hull drop by six inches. I knew what was next, and 2/10 of a second later an up-gusher launched me three feet in the air. Reflexively, I grabbed my Greenland paddle with both hands, and managed to low brace, not even getting my face wet -- which was good, since my nose clip was on my pinky so I could gulp. But, the Gatorade was gone and not to be found.
My state of dehydration forced me to land, abandon my kayak on a crowded beach, and search for a drinking fountain. I chugged about a liter, I'd guess.
In retrospect, I have a few one-handed rolls, any of which would have allowed me to capsize and roll up with my bottle still in hand. I've managed to do this when holding my camera, after floating into a big break while looking at the viewfinder.
Sometimes it may be better to think for two seconds underwater than to react in 0.2 seconds in the air.
But to do so requires planning -- what you will do in a pinch. Or even earlier, like packing spare hydration below deck. Live and learn, that's me, never.


"This volume is the only large set of tables ever to be produced by the original Scheutz difference engines. Babbage's difference engine was never completed, and the original Scheutz machine went to the observatory at Albany, New York, where it was little used. This, the second commercial version of the Scheutz machine, was put to work calculating tables for use in the developing life insurance industry... It is almost certain that Babbage would have been an advisor, if only unofficially, in the production of these tables" (Tomash & Williams).


We have located a matching Plumber that services Northport Maine!!
Before choosing pavement for your new driveway, cobblestone for your new walkway, or wood for your new patio, why not check out what current concrete pavers in your area have available? Concrete has made great strides in recent times. Concrete stamping, precast interlocking pavers, and various new coatings have given concrete paving not only better integrity, but also more visually appealing finishes and attractive prices. You can get mortarless interlocking pavers in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. These machine made units are quite sturdy and work quite well for patios, walkways, and even driveways. They are simply installed in a shallow bed of sand which is also vibrated between the paving joints to form a seal.


Your guide will wait for you below the Triumphal Arch (Arc de Triomf) 5 minutes before the activity starts.
Will I be able to ride an electric bike without difficulty?
You will see that simple handling is one of the main advantages of your electric bike. Making you feel comfortable and safe is our priority.
Should I wear a helmet to ride?
It is recommendable but not mandatory. We look for the safest itinerary while riding but we still share the route with other vehicles.
Can I get to higher situated areas without effort?
The pedal assist system will make it very easy to get anywhere your guide leads you. The minimum effort it may be worth it.
Can I take my bag and other belongings on the ride?
Yes, your electric bike will dispose of saddlebags. You can take along what you need and leave the rest of your belongings at our headquarters.
How many participants will be joining the group?
As our tours are all about personal and authentic experiences, normally groups consist of only 2 to 6 participants per guide. You can also reserve a private tour.
You may, but you don't need to. We accept all common online payment methods but you can also pay after finishing your e-bike tour with us.
Can I repeat with you doing another tour?
We will be very glad to show you more places of Barcelona. You will enjoy several advantages, and we are not talking solely about discounts.


I've had to spend most of the last week and a half in downtown Los Angeles, hanging around the Central Library. When I was young this would have been a terribly boring location—not the Library itself, as I've always been a bookworm, but the neighborhood. Now, though, I could hardly wait for breaks so I could get outside and explore Flower Street, Seventh Street, the Maguire Gardens at the west end of the library (once a parking lot!), the Bunker Hill Steps, and, well, just about everything.
I even walked one of the old pedways, elevated sidewalks that were supposed to channel pedestrians about and keep the streets safe for cars. That hasn't happened, of course; fortunately, much of the area has been re-redesigned with street life in mind, and walkers abound everywhere. Homeless folk mingle peacefully with office drones, pompous managers, school tours, tradespeople, and no small number of tourists. There are many times more people in the crosswalks than on the bridges.
The Pershing Square subway stop, of course, brings hordes of human beings who then get about on their own two feet; and around the corner on Seventh is another stop where the Red and Purple subway lines join with the Blue and Expo line light rail routes. This means generally happy swarms of people walking…and bicycling.
In fact, bicycles are prominent, rolling the lanes or locked to the numerous bike racsk—which are not quite numerous enough, as two-wheelers are also locked to just about anything else that a U-lock or chain can embrace. Though you don't see much of that in the break-time aerial heading the column, when you're at ground level you see bikes, bikes, bikes.
Old rusty cruisers, '70s bikeboom relics, shiny Linus commute bikes, carbon playracers, mountain bikes burdened with milk crates for and aft, armies of fixies everywhere, and even the occasional cargo bike. Just yesterday I saw what looked like a homemade flatbed bakfiets being pedaled serenely up Fifth Street in company of a fixie, both their riders sporting the messenger look and most likely, in that district ringed with law offices, actually at work.
Fountains, sculptures, bikes, and happy smiling faces all around, and the air clean after a rain. Not your daddy's old Downtown LA, these days. Sometimes things do get better.


I named this bangle Shutters because it reminds me of window blinds. This bangle features the Russian Spiral technique with the use of bugle beads. I have labeled this tutorial easy because while a beginner is certain to be able to complete, there are beading techniques that are used (ex: half hitch knot, threading a needle) that are not demonstrated, so a beader will have to have knowledge of these skills prior to attempting this tutorial. There are 2 designs featured within this one tutorial, one is the basic bugle bangle and the second is the embellished bugle bangle. As noted within the tutorial, please read all the directions first prior to beginning, since the embellishments are optional. This is a fun bracelet and it lends itself to plenty of variations; it is also a light weight bangle that will make a great gift or accessory to your favorite outfit.


Fungible is one of those words that sounds like it should be onomatopeiac but isn't. It does, though, represent a crucial element of what makes something a commodity: fungible means that you can swap in and out without concern.
For example, I can buy Tate and Lyle white sugar or Silver Spoon white sugar, put them in the sugar bowl and no-one will be able to tell the difference. I can even mix them up. They are fungible commodities. (I also don't take sugar, but that's another story).
There are plenty of fungible commodities and many more that are turned into branded products to try to make them less functional through (predominantly) emotional connection. That's what the big Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies are all about.
When, however, we look at the world of technology, things are less fungible despite the hype.
At the top of the stack, big software like ERP or CRM is notoriously difficult to swap in or out. These are things that you either never touch or maybe at most review every seven or ten years. And then hold your head in your hands at the complexity of it all.
But even when you get further down the stack, the reality is that very few things are truly fungible, either because of how organisations use the technology, or how it is interconnected with other stuff.
I speak from bitter experience having spent a fair bit of the last few years trying to look at how government organisations in the UK might use more IT in common with one another. My conclusion is that despite logically seeing commodity elements in the sorts of information technology consumed by organisations, they're just not fungible (or at least they're not without reverse engineering a bunch of technical legacy and debt).
For example, take the PC. A Windows 10 PC is pretty much like any other Windows 10 PC in consumer land. You might want to spend disproportionately more on higher powered processors or graphics chips or solid-state disk drives. But a cheap Lenovo will be pretty much the same as an expensive Dell – you'll take it out of the box, connect it to your wifi, and use it for whatever you use it for.
Does that same portability exist in the business world? No chance.
There will be builds or configurations, trust relationships and all manner of other stuff in the name of security or manageability that ensure that you can't just pluck any PC off the shelf of any shop and connected to the corporate domain. And the complexity of that configuration will be directly proportional to the risk aversion of the organisation. Greater still in those organisations that are more heavily regulated. The nature of how PCs are built and deployed in organisations is a direct consequence of the underlying cultural values of that organisation.
Ditto networks. Ditto collaboration software. Ditto just about every single piece of information technology in every bureaucratic organisation of any size. Sure there are elements of technology that can be increasingly scaled as services on demand, but that's not the same as an actual, fungible commodity.
We take commodities and make them our own as part of the fabric of the institution. This is why that time I spent working in government organisations trying to define "common" IT drew a blank. It doesn't really exist.
And this is why analysis of technology in isolation of the broader socio-technical structures in which that technology exists and is used is a very dangerous game. It gives you mechanical solutions, but ignores the broad social and cultural needs. Organisations are the sum of that.
X: Is this why you think value chain mapping might have some serious gaps?
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