text:
Contact: Rose Marie Goupil
ISM, ROB Media Relations
800/888-6276, Ext. 3015
E-mail: rgoupil@ism.ws
March 2011 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ®
PMI at 61.2%
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's information reflects the entire United States, while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of March 2011.
New Orders, Production and Employment Growing
Supplier Deliveries Slower
Inventories Contracting
(Tempe, Arizona) — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the 20th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 22nd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ®.
The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The recent trend of rapid growth in the manufacturing sector continued in March, as the PMI registered above 60 percent for the third consecutive month. The component indexes of the PMI remain at very positive levels and signal strong sector performance in the first quarter. While manufacturers are benefiting from strength in new orders and production, there is significant concern with regard to commodity prices. Many manufacturers indicate the prices they have to pay for inputs are rising, and there is concern about the impact of higher prices on their margins."
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 15 are reporting growth in March, in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Textile Mills; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Paper Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Printing & Related Support Activities. The two industries reporting contraction in March are: Wood Products and Primary Metals.
WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING ...
"Customer orders have picked up nicely. [This is] likely in anticipation of increasing prices due to commodity costs that will likely happen over next month." (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)
"New orders continue at a robust pace this month." (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)
"What will be the impact to the U.S. supply chain after the devastation caused by the Japan earthquake?" (Chemical Products)
"The building side of our business is mired with little hope of a rebound anytime soon." (Fabricated Metal Products)
"Steel and certain steel products causing concern over price increases and availability." (Machinery)
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE
Trend*
PMI 61.2 61.4 -0.2 Growing Slower 20
New Orders 63.3 68.0 -4.7 Growing Slower 21
Production 69.0 66.3 +2.7 Growing Faster 22
Employment 63.0 64.5 -1.5 Growing Slower 18
Supplier Deliveries 63.1 59.4 +3.7 Slowing Faster 22
Inventories 47.4 48.8 -1.4 Contracting Faster 2
Customers' Inventories 39.5 40.0 -0.5 Too Low Faster 24
Prices 85.0 82.0 +3.0 Increasing Faster 21
Backlog of Orders 52.5 59.0 -6.5 Growing Slower 3
Exports 56.0 62.5 -6.5 Growing Slower 21
Imports 56.5 55.0 +1.5 Growing Faster 19
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Slower 22
Manufacturing Sector Growing Slower 20
*Number of months moving in current direction.
COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE and IN SHORT SUPPLY
Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum (7); Aluminum Products (3); Brass (4); Caustic Soda; Chemicals; Cocoa/Cocoa Powder (2); Copper (8); Copper Based Products (5); Corn (7); Corn Syrup; Diesel (4); Electronic Components; Fuel Oils (3); Fuel Surcharges; High Density Polyethylene; Nickel (2); PET; Plastics (3); Plastic Products (3); Plastic Resins (5); Polyethylene (2); Polyethylene Resin (3); Polypropylene (3); Resins; Resin Based Products; Rubber; Rubber Products (2); Silver; Stainless Steel (5); Steel (7); Steel — Hot Rolled (2); Steel Products (4); Steel Surcharges (3); Sugar (3); and Transportation Rates.
Commodities Down in Price
Natural Gas is the only commodity reported down in price.
Commodities in Short Supply
Cocoa Powder (2); Electric Components (3); and Titanium Dioxide.
Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
MARCH 2011 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES
Manufacturing continued its rapid growth in March as the PMI registered 61.2 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point when compared to February's reading of 61.4 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
A PMI in excess of 42.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the PMI indicates growth for the 22nd consecutive month in the overall economy, as well as expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 20th consecutive month. Ore stated, "The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through March (61.1 percent) corresponds to a 6.5 percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, if the PMI for March (61.2 percent) is annualized, it corresponds to a 6.5 percent increase in real GDP annually."
THE LAST 12 MONTHS
Mar 2011 61.2 Sep 2010 55.3
Feb 2011 61.4 Aug 2010 55.2
Jan 2011 60.8 Jul 2010 55.1
Dec 2010 58.5 Jun 2010 55.3
Nov 2010 58.2 May 2010 57.8
Oct 2010 56.9 Apr 2010 59.6
Average for 12 months – 57.9
High – 61.4
ISM's New Orders Index registered 63.3 percent in March, which is a decrease of 4.7 percentage points when compared to the 68 percent reported in February. This is the 21st consecutive month of growth in the New Orders Index. A New Orders Index above 52.1 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).
The 14 industries reporting growth in new orders in March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The two industries reporting decreases in new orders in March are: Wood Products and Primary Metals.
Mar 2011 43 47 10 +33 63.3
Feb 2011 43 46 11 +32 68.0
Jan 2011 46 36 18 +28 67.8
Dec 2010 31 47 22 +9 62.0
ISM's Production Index registered 69 percent in March, which is an increase of 2.7 percentage points from the February reading of 66.3 percent. An index above 51 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production figures. This is the 22nd consecutive month the Production Index has registered above 50 percent.
The 14 industries reporting growth in production during the month of March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Chemical Products. The two industries reporting a decrease in production in March are: Printing & Related Support Activities; and Primary Metals.
Mar 2011 41 52 7 +34 69.0
Dec 2010 30 52 18 +12 63.0
ISM's Employment Index registered 63 percent in March, which is 1.5 percentage points lower than the 64.5 percent reported in February. This is the 18th consecutive month of growth in manufacturing employment. An Employment Index above 50.1 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 12 reported growth in employment in March in the following order: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Textile Mills; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; and Fabricated Metal Products. The two industries reporting a decrease in employment during March are: Wood Products; and Petroleum & Coal Products.
Feb 2011 35 56 9 +26 64.5
Jan 2011 24 69 7 +17 61.7
Supplier Deliveries
The delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in March as the Supplier Deliveries Index registered 63.1 percent, which is 3.7 percentage points higher than the 59.4 percent registered in February. This is the 22nd consecutive month the Supplier Deliveries Index has been above 50 percent. A reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.
The 11 industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in March — listed in order — are: Machinery; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components. None of the manufacturing industries reported faster deliveries in March.
Dec 2010 15 78 7 +8 56.7
Manufacturers' inventories declined in March for the second consecutive month. The Inventories Index registered 47.4 percent, 1.4 percentage points less than the 48.8 percent recorded for February. An Inventories Index greater than 42.7 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).
The seven industries reporting higher inventories in March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; and Machinery. The eight industries reporting decreases in inventories in March — listed in order — are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Petroleum & Coal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Printing & Related Support Activities; Paper Products; and Transportation Equipment.
Mar 2011 19 60 21 -2 47.4
Feb 2011 19 63 18 +1 48.8
Jan 2011 25 54 21 +4 52.4
Dec 2010 24 52 24 0 51.8
Customers' Inventories*
The ISM Customers' Inventories Index registered 39.5 percent in March, 0.5 percentage point lower than in February when the index registered 40 percent. This is the 24th consecutive month the Customers' Inventories Index has been below 50 percent, indicating that respondents believe their customers' inventories are too low at this time.
The only manufacturing industry reporting customers' inventories as being too high during March is Primary Metals. The 11 industries reporting customers' inventories as too low during March — listed in order — are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Fabricated Metal Products.
Customers'
%Too
%About
Mar 2011 62 11 57 32 -21 39.5
Feb 2011 66 7 66 27 -20 40.0
Jan 2011 63 11 69 20 -9 45.5
Dec 2010 67 8 64 28 -20 40.0
Prices*
The ISM Prices Index registered 85 percent in March, 3 percentage points higher than the 82 percent reported in February and the highest reading since July 2008 when the index registered 88.5 percent. This is the 21st consecutive month the Prices Index has registered above 50 percent. While 72 percent of respondents reported paying higher prices and 2 percent reported paying lower prices, 26 percent of supply executives reported paying the same prices as in February. A Prices Index above 49.4 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Index of Manufacturers Prices.
All 18 manufacturing industries report paying increased prices during the month of March in the following order: Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Computer & Electronic Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products.
Dec 2010 48 49 3 +45 72.5
Backlog of Orders*
ISM's Backlog of Orders Index registered 52.5 percent in March, which is 6.5 percentage points lower than the 59 percent reported in February. Of the 85 percent of respondents who reported their backlog of orders, 26 percent reported greater backlogs, 21 percent reported smaller backlogs, and 53 percent reported no change from February.
The eight industries reporting increased order backlogs in March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Primary Metals; Petroleum & Coal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Fabricated Metal Products. The five industries reporting decreases in order backlogs during March are: Wood Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components.
Backlog of
Mar 2011 85 26 53 21 +5 52.5
Feb 2011 82 31 56 13 +18 59.0
Jan 2011 83 34 48 18 +16 58.0
Dec 2010 84 21 52 27 -6 47.0
New Export Orders*
ISM's New Export Orders Index registered 56 percent in March, which is 6.5 percentage points lower than the 62.5 percent reported in February. This is the 21st consecutive month of growth in the New Export Orders Index.
The eight industries reporting growth in new export orders in March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Chemical Products. The three manufacturing industries reporting a decrease in export orders during March are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery.
New Export
Mar 2011 80 23 66 11 +12 56.0
Feb 2011 81 31 63 6 +25 62.5
Jan 2011 81 30 64 6 +24 62.0
Dec 2010 81 21 67 12 +9 54.5
Imports*
Imports of materials by manufacturers continued to expand in March as the Imports Index registered 56.5 percent, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 55 percentage points reported in February. This is the 19th consecutive month of growth in imports.
The eight industries reporting growth in imports during the month of March — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The four industries reporting a decrease in imports during March are: Paper Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Computer & Electronic Products.
Mar 2011 78 18 77 5 +13 56.5
* The Backlog of Orders, Prices, Customers' Inventories, Imports and New Export Orders Indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.
Buying Policy
Average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures decreased 1 day to 107 days. Average lead time for Production Materials decreased 3 days to 53 days. Average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies is unchanged at 23 days.
Percent Reporting
Year+
Mar 2011 27 12 11 16 23 11 107
Feb 2011 32 7 8 18 24 11 108
Jan 2011 28 9 14 13 27 9 105
Dec 2010 28 9 15 14 24 10 105
Mar 2011 17 38 27 13 3 2 53
Feb 2011 15 38 26 13 7 1 56
Jan 2011 13 38 30 14 2 3 57
Dec 2010 16 39 26 13 5 1 52
Mar 2011 48 39 11 2 0 0 23
Feb 2011 51 36 10 2 1 0 23
Jan 2011 50 36 9 3 1 1 27
Dec 2010 44 41 9 5 0 1 28
The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of manufacturing supply managers based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. Use of the data is in the public domain and should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.
Data and Method of Presentation
The Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ® is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. Membership of the Manufacturing Business Survey Committee is diversified by NAICS, based on each industry's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). Manufacturing Business Survey Committee responses are divided into the following NAICS code categories: Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing (products such as medical equipment and supplies, jewelry, sporting goods, toys and office supplies).
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Imports, Production, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories, Customers' Inventories, Employment and Prices), this report shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of responses in the positive economic direction (higher, better and slower for Supplier Deliveries) and the negative economic direction (lower, worse and faster for Supplier Deliveries), and the diffusion index. Responses are raw data and are never changed. The diffusion index includes the percent of positive responses plus one-half of those responding the same (considered positive).
The resulting single index number for those meeting the criteria for seasonal adjustments (PMI, New Orders, Production, Employment, Supplier Deliveries and Inventories) is then seasonally adjusted to allow for the effects of repetitive intra-year variations resulting primarily from normal differences in weather conditions, various institutional arrangements, and differences attributable to non-moveable holidays. All seasonal adjustment factors are supplied by the U.S. Department of Commerce and are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The PMI is a composite index based on the seasonally adjusted diffusion indexes for five of the indicators with equal weights: New Orders, Production, Employment, Supplier Deliveries and Inventories.
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. A PMI in excess of 42.5 percent, over a period of time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 42.5 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 42.5 percent is indicative of the strength of the expansion or decline. With some of the indicators within this report, ISM has indicated the departure point between expansion and decline of comparable government series, as determined by regression analysis.
Responses to Buying Policy reflect the percent reporting the current month's lead time, the approximate weighted number of days ahead for which commitments are made for Production Materials; Capital Expenditures; and Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies, expressed as hand-to-mouth (five days), 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months (180 days), a year or more (360 days), and the weighted average number of days. These responses are raw data, never revised, and not seasonally adjusted since there is no significant seasonal pattern.
The Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ® is published monthly by the Institute for Supply Management™. The Institute for Supply Management™, established in 1915, is the largest supply management organization in the world as well as one of the most respected. ISM's mission is to lead the supply management profession through its standards of excellence, research, promotional activities and education. This report has been issued by the association since 1931, except for a four-year interruption during World War II.
The full text version of the Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ® is posted on ISM's Web site at www.ism.ws on the first business day of every month after 10:10 a.m. (ET).
The next Manufacturing ISM Report On Business ® featuring the April 2011 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Monday, May 2, 2011.
ISM - P.O.Box 22160 Tempe, AZ 85285-2160 480-752-6276 / 800-888-6276 - Fax: 480-752-7890 Comments/Questions?
© Copyright 2011. Institute for Supply Management™; All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement.


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Press Release : 23 October 2017
International conference addresses challenges of asset recovery
ICC-CPI-20171023-PR1339
Conference participants on 20 October 2017 in Paris ©Ambassade de France aux Pays-Bas
On 20 October 2017, a plenary conference entitled 'The International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Cooperation: The Challenges of Asset Recovery' was held in Paris, France, sponsored by the Ambassadors of France and Senegal to The Netherlands, facilitators of the Working Group on Cooperation of States Parties to the Rome Statute, and thanks to the generous financial support of the European Commission, the International Organization of La Francophonie, the French National School for the Judiciary, and the French Republic.
The conference gathered senior state officials, officials of the International Criminal Court, national and international experts in financial investigations and asset recovery, representatives of regional and international organisations, as well as members of civil society. The event provided a unique opportunity for participants to share their experience and best practices on this crucial issue, and discuss concrete ways to strengthen cooperation between the Court and various actors in this matter.
Indeed, the effectiveness of the Court's financial investigations is essential to the success of several matters, including to implement the Office of the Prosecutor's fundamental investigative role and the strategy adopted by the Office to diversify its sources of evidence; to identify assets for the purpose of granting reparations to victims; and to prevent the misuse of legal aid.
"Cooperation is fundamental at the investigation stage to enable the collection of evidence that will be needed throughout the process", said French Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet.
"Cooperation between Senegal and the ICC takes into account the location, seizure and freezing of criminal assets", said Senegalese Minister of Justice Ismaïla Madior Fall.
"France is committed to the fight against impunity. It is a constant of our foreign policy", declared the French Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.
"Strengthening financial investigations through increased and more effective cooperation is critically important in the fight against impunity and building a culture of accountability", said ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. "In today's inter-connected and borderless world, money moves as fast as ever. As a result, we are committed to a coordinated strategy whereby expertise and information is shared, within the relevant legal frameworks and as appropriate", she added.
State cooperation is mandatory in the area of asset recovery, as the Court has no police force or territory to consult cadastres or bank registers. What is at stake in this matter is the possible payment of reparations to the victims and the determination of the indigence of the suspects, said ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel at the Conference. "The seizure of criminal assets is also a key deterrent, in order to ensure that crime does not pay […] Reinforcing the resources available to the Court is needed to achieve tangible results in this area", he added.
At the end of the conference, participants discussed the draft Paris Declaration on Co-operation in Asset Recovery, which text has been agreed in principles and outlines and will be proposed for adoption by the co-facilitators at the next Assembly of States Parties in New York. The Paris Declaration reaffirms the commitment of States Parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate with the Court in the area of asset recovery and underlines different types of action to be taken to strengthen such cooperation.
Report on cooperation challenges faced by the Court with respect to financial investigations, 27 October 2015
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson/Head, Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or 31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]
You can also follow the Court's activities on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube and Flickr

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Photo: Naia
Naia booth at Premiere Vision
Discover Naia, Eastman's new eco-conscious cellulosic yarn
Eastman, a global producer of advanced materials and specialty additives, has developed a new eco-friendly cellulosic fiber and launched it during the September 2018 edition of Première Vision.
The new cellulosic filament yarn can transform into luxurious, soft, and easy-to-care-for fabrics, mostly aimed at the womenswear market. Garments made from Naia can be laundered at home, have excellent wrinkle recovery and pilling resistance, all without compromising its luster and silky hand.
It is obtained from renewable pine and eucalyptus wood, sourced exclusively from sustainably managed and FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certified plantations in North America, Western Europe and Brazil.
It is produced in a safe, closed-loop process where non-hazardous chemical solvents are recycled back into the system for reuse. This optimized, low-impact manufacturing process has a third party verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) certification. Naia is also listed on the HIGG Materials Sustainability Index and has lower impact than other fibers such as generic modal, viscose and triacetate.
This yarn is Oeko-Tex 100 Product Class certified and is made with no hazardous solvents listed on the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and impact on the ecosystem Naia has significantly lower environmental impact compared to natural fibers such as cotton and silk.
"At Eastman, we are committed to improving sustainability in the textiles industry and providing choices to designers seeking out sustainable yarns," commented Ruth Farrell, Eastman global marketing director of textiles. "With Naia, sustainability does not mean compromising on design."
With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. As a globally diverse company, it serves customers in more than 100 countries and had 2017 revenues of approximately US$9.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world.
Invista bets on specialty fibers and increases productive capacity
New fiber
Tencel launches eco fiber enabling new business model
Amsilk CEO Jens Klein about the latest fiber innovation used by Adidas
Artistic Fabric & Garment Industries is making regenerated fibers from old jeans
Première Vision
Ruth Farrell


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Yolanda Mott
Tolkien Project
The Waking Dream Project
I have enjoyed the beauty of Tolkien's writing and poetry since childhood. One day, while reading through the poem The Horse and the Rider I took my guitar and wrote a simple melody to fit the words. Since then I have written many other songs to Tolkien's poetry that I'd love to share.
About six years ago I shared a few of my songs on YouTube, including one of my most loved songs "Legolas's Song of the Sea". I have received so many encouraging comments and over 114,000 views!
I feel like it is the right time for me to begin focusing on writing and recording my music again. Even though I still only have a very small recording system, (one microphone!) I hope to produce the best quality recordings that I can, and continue developing my skills, while maintaining the emotion and passion of each song.
Feel free to view my videos below. Frodo's Lament for Gandalf, Sam's Song in the Orc-tower and Song of Nimrodel are my most recent published pieces, and the others were recorded a number of years ago.
Please leave me a comment on YouTube. I love hearing from you!
Frodo's Lament for Gandalf
Rights to the poetry belong to the Tolkien Estate
Rights to the music belong to Yolanda Mott
Sam's Song in the Orc-tower
Song of Nimrodel
Legolas's Song of the Sea
I love this poem by Tolkien because it so beautifully expresses a heart that yearns for the ocean. I wanted to write a melody that supported the emotions and the joys of someone who has tasted the salt sea air, and heard the wailing of the gulls.
Rights to the poetry belongs to the Tolkien Estate
Rights to the music belongs to Yolanda Mott
(I do not own the the photographs used in this video (except the photo of myself at the end). They are borrowed from a photo sharing site.)
Rights to the music and the photography belong to Yolanda Mott
All photographs are owned by Yolanda Mott
Where now the Horse and the Rider
Rights to the poetry belongs to the Tolkien Estate
Galadriel's Message to Aragorn
NOTE: When I first recorded this song years ago I mispronounced the word "Dúnedain". I was finally able to correct the pronunciation, and would love to share it with everyone!
To hear the updated song visit: https://soundcloud.com/yolanda-mott-179796693/message-to-aragorn


A standard middle class home in some San Francisco neighborhoods can cost upwards of $1.8M.
Sam Dogen spent 13 years working in finance on Wall Street before negotiating his layoff (and a severance package) in 2012 at age 34.
He lives in San Francisco with his wife and baby and runs the blog Financial Samurai.
He says that in order to comfortably raise a family in an expensive coastal city like San Francisco or New York, a household must earn at least $300,000 a year.
Real estate, childcare expenses, food, entertainment, car payments, and student loans can add up quickly.
Let me tell you a sad story. In order to comfortably raise a family in an expensive coastal city like San Francisco or New York, you've got to make at least $300,000 a year. You can certainly raise a family earning less, as many do, but it won't be easy if your goal is to save for retirement, save for your child's education, own your own home instead of rent, and actually retire by a reasonable age.
Although $300,000 is a lot compared to the median household income in the United States of ~$62,000, it's not an outrageous sum of money once you look at the realistic income statement I've put together for this article. All expenses in my example use current prices. I've also cross-checked the expenses with my family's monthly expenses now that we have a son to make sure they are within reason.
At $300,000, you aren't paying an egregious amount in taxes, and you probably aren't killing yourself at work if both parents are working, but you're still earning enough to live a comfortable lifestyle anywhere in the world.
Half the US population lives on the coasts; therefore, this post is directly targeted at folks who need to live on the coasts because of their jobs, schools, or families.
Finally, this post should also provide insights to non-coastal city residents on how good you've got it if you enjoy living where you are. For you, $100,000 - $150,000 is a rough non-coastal city household income equivalent.
Before we look at the income statement, I'd like to go through a list of various workers who will eventually make ~$300,000 on their own or in household income if they find someone who also works.
Starting salaries for 22-year-old employees at Facebook, Google, and Apple range from ($80,000 - $120,000) + ($10,000 - $50,000) in annual equity grants.
The permutations of people making $300,000 goes on and on. For many professionals, if they aren't there now, they will get to such a level of income eventually if they team up.
This dual income household puts away $18,500 a year each in their respective 401(k)s. For 2019, the 401(k) maximum is now $19,000 and will likely go up about $500 every couple years or so to keep up with inflation.
With the passage of the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act, they've lost their ability to deduct more than $10,000 worth of state income, sales, and property taxes. As a result, I've used the new $24,000 standard deduction for married couples to keep things simple.
They have a marginal federal income tax rate of 24%, a marginal California income tax rate of 9%, and most of their income facing a 7.65% FICA tax since both work. Their combined effective tax rate is roughly 32%, for a tax bill of ~$76,480. Yes, their total tax bill is ~$15,000 more a year than today's median household income, so hopefully folks who earn less can give them some slack.
What's nice about 2019 and beyond is that this family now gets a $2,000 child tax credit.
The bottom line: Their $300,000 gross income gets reduced by roughly 38% after taxes and retirement contributions.
Childcare ($24,000): There's no getting around this expense if both parents are working. Babysitting and childcare for $20/hour is the standard rate I've found in San Francisco. I know some families who only pay $10/hour because they are co-sharing the sitter with another family. Either way, childcare for a baby/toddler before they attend first grade costs between $17 - $40/hour in a big city.
If the parents decide to send their child to private school, this $24,000 annual expense will continue. It's a shame that so many expensive coastal cities have troubled public school systems.
In San Francisco, there's a lottery system for the sake of social engineering. In other words, even if you buy a $1.5M median home and pay $20,000 a year in property tax, you are not guaranteed to have your kid get into the public school down the street.
Food ($25,200): When you are a dual job household with a baby, there's little time to cook. Further, given the family is living in a city like New York or San Francisco, food is world class, and on-demand food delivery is ubiquitous. It makes little sense to spend hours cooking when you're already tired and want to reserve your remaining energy for taking care of your baby. However, food is where this family can cut expenses if they start feeling a little tight.
Their $1.5M assessed house is a standard 1,750 sqft, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a 2,500 sqft lot. For new homebuyers, only interest on up to a $750,000 is taxable.
Here's an example of a typical $1.88M home in Golden Gate Heights, one of San Francisco's best-kept secret neighborhoods. As you can see from the picture, it's a standard middle class house, just with panoramic ocean views. For $1.88M, this buyer needs to spend another $200,000 remodeling the house because everything is old.
A standard middle class home costs $1.88M in Golden Gate Heights, one of San Francisco's best-kept secret neighborhoods.
Further, this couple is lucky because they bought their home several years ago for $1.2M. Now imagine renting a house for $6,000 a month and trying to save up $300,000 for a down payment on a median priced home. Difficult to do with less than a $300,000 household income. Probably impossible without living in a one bedroom for "only" $3,200 a month or getting help from their parents.
Car Payment ($7,400):When you have a baby, all you want to do is protect him or her from harm. Even if you are the best driver in the world, one reckless drunk driver might t-bone you one evening.
What's missing? To make matters worse, readers have pointed out there are missing expense line items, such as student loans, gifts, mobile phone usage, and personal care. There's a good chance that if you're making six figures a year, you went to college and graduated with debt.
I went to business school part-time and borrowed $40,000 that cost between $500 - $700 a month to service for 10 years, depending on the interest rate. In fact, the average amount of debt for graduate students is $57,600, according to the the Federal Education Budget Project at New America.
The end result is annual cash flow of only ~$5,000, which could get spent in a hurry, as things always pop up. But overall, this middle class family is building roughly $53,000 in net worth each year through principal pay down and 401(k) savings, plus any appreciation in their investments and primary residence.
Based on my experience, happiness did not increase for me when I began making over $200,000 as an individual. Happiness did not increase for us when we began making over $300,000, either. Therefore, due to the increase taxes and increase stress, it seems pointless to put yourself through the ringer simply to try and make more from a day job.
However, if this couple were to earn $376,000 and then take the $24,000 standard deduction and contribute $37,000 in their respective 401(k)s to bring taxable income down to $315,000, they would have an additional ~$43,000 in cash flow each year. For financial security and retiring earlier, that's a nice extra buffer.
In order for this household to achieve financial independence, they've got to either up their 17% gross savings rate, figure out a way to reduce expenses, or boost income.
There's a moving truck shortage in places like San Francisco because so many people are moving out of this expensive city and other expensive coastal cities. The trend is towards relocating to the heartland, where valuations are cheaper and net rental yields are much higher.
If you live in an expensive metropolitan area, consider relocating to lower your cost of living or at least try and take advantage of the valuation differential by investing in Middle America. Thanks to technology, there's no need to grind so hard in cities where the median home price is over $1M.
Life is so much easier when housing is affordable. The country is large. Go explore it.


Congratulations to Hodges Sandringham on successfully welcoming Kylie Charlton; the newest Director to the Hodges team.
Kylie brings with her an abundance of Real Estate knowledge, record breaking sale prices and a raft of testimonials under her belt. Having run her own local agency for many years she is ecstatic to be able to take her passion for Real Estate to the next level by joining the already impressive Hodges Sandringham team.
A Sandringham local herself, Kylie and her family enjoy keeping fit and healthy, spending time at the beach in Summer and at the snow in Winter.
Hodges Sandringham have watched Kylie grow and flourish within the Sandringham community over the years and are delighted to see two talented businesses merge. She has been a worthy competitor to Hodges and they are thrilled to join alliances and grow their market share together.
Their integrity, transparent manner, and open communication align closely together, making the merge a natural fit. We have no doubt she'll be a fantastic addition to the Hodges Sandringham team and we anticipate some phenomenal and ground-breaking results.


While LCD remains ahead, a number of factors such as smaller pixel pitches and build flexibility are helping the rise of LED technology, writes columnist Rob Lane.
Anybody who took the time to stroll around ISE last month (particularly Halls 11, 8 and 6) could not have failed to take note of the myriad LED displays in evidence – and not just as a preferred residential display tool. LED has historically been mainly confined to those halls whose focus was live events and rental, a niche, eye-candy display option. This year it was in evidence across almost all of the halls, offered for serious consideration in a multitude of corporate and retail environments.
Most notably, a huge 9.5m x 5m 8K LED videowall featuring on the Lang stand was built using 64 Leyard TW Series LED cabinets and featured a 54in diagonal and a 1.2mm pixel pitch with a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels. Also of interest was SiliconCore's 0.95mm pixel pitch prototype with a 165in diagonal and AOTO's 0.75mm M Series – and there were many other examples.
So no surprise then that while LCD continues to be the go-to choice for much of pro AV, LED is the rising star. Once the preserve of advertising, broadcast and stadium installations, it is increasingly being seen replacing projectors in auditoriums, and usurping LCD in retail environments and – more surprisingly, and perhaps less widespread – corporate reception areas and meeting rooms.
Reduced costs and shrinking pixel pitches (as low as 1.1mm – the same as plasma TVs when they first came to market in the late 1990s) for shorter viewing distances are helping the rise of LED. As these ultra-small pixel pitches become more affordable pro AV uses are broadening.
High brightness also has a big part to play, allowing LED to function well, both indoor and outdoor. Add to this the superior image conformity, vibrant colours, true black tones and long life spans, and it's easy to see why integrators are keen to use LED over LCD for certain builds – despite the still higher prices.
The other major factor informing LED's rise is its suitability for building videowalls. A lack of discernable bezels, build flexibility – LED walls can be built to virtually any size and aspect ratio – the relatively reduced weight and low power consumption all contribute to LED's videowall desirability. And with the latest displays also curving and transparent it's easy to see why videowalls will be increasingly LED-based going forward and why LED is the emerging technology of choice for building large, bespoke digital canvasses.
However, as attractive a prospect as LED is, costs need to come down considerably before the technology completely usurps its more affordable and popular LCD cousin. Indeed, further reduction in pixel pitches would also be desirable and help to increase market share. For now – despite the upsurge in popularity for LED, particularly for videowalls – LCD remains the default single display of choice.
One of the reasons for this is the trend towards integrated large-format displays – still the preserve of LCD. For those demanding a large, single screen for a boardroom or meeting space there's currently no LED product available that's in the same price bracket, and it's quicker and easier to buy and install an LCD.
In addition, the major professional LCD display manufacturers now all offer products with built-in computer functionality (System on Chip or SoC), with many offering it as standard – for a keener price, of course, than the equivalent LED/SoC offerings. There are obvious cost savings to not having to marry displays to discrete media players, and there are functional benefits too.
However, although LCD remains, for the time being, the one-stop, SoC-integrated option for integrators, most wouldn't yet consider SoC solutions for driving 4K videowalls or LED canvasses. This is because the processing power of SoC isn't always powerful enough to provide the 'intelligence' required to run larger display groupings, meaning that – for LED at least –media players still have a role to play.
This further explains why larger, cheaper SoC-integrated LCD displays are preferred for one-off big screen solutions, while LED is the growing standard for walls. But with SoC LEDs growing in availability, and costs set to come down – particularly over the next 18 months or so – LED will surely begin to replace LCD for one-screen solutions also.
The arrival of Samsung's 1.5mm pixel pitch SMART LED range, featuring a variation on SoC, could possibly be a game-changer. Announced at last year's InfoComm and set to make its UK debut as a demo unit in UK distributor PSCo's reading showroom, the range is exciting integrators with its embedded S-Box (Signal Box) housing the display's 'MagicInfo' CMS and media player.
A lot of things still have to fall into place to enable LED to completely replace LCD across the various pro-AV sectors. Cost, lead times, familiarity with the tech, like-for-like replacements with embedded media players, perceived reliability – these factors all have a part to play. But as one industry professional said to me, LED also needs to be demystified in the minds of end users and, to a lesser extent, integrators, before it can truly become the number one display choice.


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Best for Project
Newmarket Train Station
Client: Auckland Transport
Project value: NZ$70 million
The Newmarket railway station serves the Southern, Onehunga and Western lines of the Auckland railway network. It is the second-busiest station in the network. The station was rebuilt as part of KiwiRail's Developing Auckland's Rail Transport (DART) program to accommodate the current and projected commuter traffic and electrification proposals. KiwiRail are owners of the railway line, with Auckland Transport responsible for the design, build, operation and maintenance of Auckland's railway network facilities.
The Newmarket redevelopment was considered one of the most challenging in the whole upgrade of Auckland's railway network. During the complete rebuilt of the station, the challenges included the interface with the construction of an adjacent carpark, apartments and Broadway retail square. It was also necessary to close the station for the rebuild. During this time two temporary stations were built to ensure the train service was uninterrupted with construction happening over a live rail corridor.
This landmark railway station positively integrates with the local environment while accommodating future operational requirements and long-term passenger growth. The cost effective, low maintenance, sustainable and highly durable building provides a spacious, secure, sheltered and comfortable environment for commuters.
TSA provided stakeholder liaison, consent management, value management, design management, procurement (management of contract tender, evaluation, negotiations and award process), contract administration, 3rd party commercial management, risk management, cost control, safety overview and inspections.
The station and its architects, Opus and Herriot + Melhuish Architects, won best building award in the "Urban Design" category in 2011, awarded by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
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Sauté Onion adding one Table-spoon oil in a pan, add garlic, ginger, green chilli and curry leaves and stir for 2 minutes.
Add rest of the masala and sauté till oil shows up and the ingredients stop sticking to the pan. Add chicken and salt stir for 5 to 10 minutes in slow fire and off the stove. Keep for cooling. Once cooled add potato and mix well then make balls and form desired shape. Roll in bread crumbs and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan and place the cutlets and fry, when one side is golden brown turn the other side and fry till golden brown, remove and place them in a plate. Serve with some sauce or salad. I don't like to use sauce so enjoyed it with some freshly cut tomatoes after sprinkling some salt and pepper.
By the way I used multi grain bread crumbs and not usual Maida (all-purpose flour) bread crumbs. The ingredients quantity is for 2 people. You can increase the quantity according to the number of people.
You get a super tasty and healthy cutlet. Those who are allergic to egg also can have fun eating these delicious cutlets. So try to celebrate with family and friends.


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Le Grumman XSBF, également désigné  au sein de la compagnie, était un  biplan américain, développé par la Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation pour lUS Navy pendant les années 1930.

Dérivé du chasseur réussi Grumman FF (surnommé « Fifi »), l'avion fut développé à une période où le biplan commençait à céder sa place au monoplan. Pendant les essais menés à l'occasion d'une compétition avec d'autres avions, il se montra inférieur en performances dans son rôle prévu, et n'entra finalement pas en production. Le seul prototype fut relégué à un rôle d'avion de liaison, ainsi que d'expérimentations par le NACA, avant d'être complètement détruit dans un accident en 1939.

Conception et développement
À la fin de l'année 1934, le Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) de lUS Navy publia une spécification pour la conception de nouveaux « scout bombers » (SB, pour « bombardier-éclaireur » en français) et bombardiers-torpilleurs. Huit compagnies proposèrent un total de dix projets en réponse à ces besoins, répartis équitablement entre des monoplans et des biplans. Grumman, qui avait fourni avec succès les chasseurs FF et F2F à la Navy, ainsi que l'avion éclaireur SF, proposa un développement avancé du  en réponse à la demande pour un avion de  capable d'emporter une bombe de . Recevant le numéro de modèle  par Grumman, l'avion reçut la désignation officielle de  par la marine américain et un contrat pour la fabrication d'un prototype fut publié en .

Le  était un biplan biplace doté d'un cockpit fermé, d'un fuselage de construction entièrement métallique, et d'ailes largement recouvertes de tissu. La puissance était fournie par un moteur en étoile refroidi par air Pratt & Whitney  Twin Wasp Junior de  () entraînant une Hélice Hamilton Standard à bipale à pas variable. L'armement prévu devait consister en deux mitrailleuses fixes Browning M1919 de  (calibre .30) tirant vers l'avant installées dans le nez de l'avion, dont une pouvait être remplacée par une Browning M2 de  (calibre .50). Toutefois, le prototype n'emporta qu'une seule calibre .30. Une autre mitrailleuse Browning M1919 de  était installée à l'arrière du cockpit en position mobile défensive. L'appareil pouvait également emporter une bombe de  (), accrochée à un pylône sous le fuselage. La crosse d'appontage était contenue dans un logement entièrement fermé, tandis que des sacs de flottaison étaient installés dans les ailes, au cas où l'avion aurait été forcé à amerrir. Le train d'atterrissage du  était similaire à celui du chasseur F3F.

Histoire opérationnelle
Le  (9996), emmené par le pilote d'essai Bud Gilles, prit l'air pour la première fois le . Après une série de tests initiaux, qui démontrèrent un avion raisonnablement correct, le  fut livré à lUS Navy pour évaluation, en compétition avec deux autres biplans issus de la spécification de 1934, le Great Lakes XB2G et le Curtiss . Fait inhabituel pour des biplans, les trois appareils proposés possédaient un train d'atterrissage rétractable. L'évaluation montra que le concept de Curtiss-Wright était supérieur à ceux de Grumman et de la , et une commande fut passée pour l'avion Curtiss, désigné  Helldiver en service, en .

La compétition étant perdue, le développement du  prit fin. L'unique prototype construit fut assigné à la base aéronavale Anacostia (NAS Anacostia), où il fut testé pour être utilisé comme avion de liaison et développement. Le XSBF fut aussi utilisé par le centre de recherche Langley du NACA (l'ancêtre de la NASA) pour participer aux recherches aéronautiques de l'agence. Pendant son séjour à Anacostia, l'avion fut impliqué dans trois accidents : un en 1937, un en 1938, puis un en 1939. Il fut réparé après les deux premiers, mais le troisième coûta la vie à son pilote et l'avion fut considéré comme trop touché pour retourner à son état de vol. L'avion fut alors officiellement retiré de l'inventaire de la Navy en .

Étonnamment, la désignation  fut réutilisée juste après par la Navy au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, assigné aux SB2C Helldivers produits sous licence par Fairchild Aircraft.

Notes et références

Notes

Références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Vought XF3U
 Vought SBU Corsair
 Vought XSB3U
 Curtiss SBC Helldiver
 Great Lakes BG
 Bombardier (avion)

Bibliographie

Liens externes
  List of Design Numbers

Avion à hélices
Avion biplan
Bombardier de l'US Navy
Avion embarqué
Avion militaire construit aux États-Unis
Avion monomoteur
Avion des années 1930
Avion militaire de l'entre-deux-guerres
Premier vol en 1936

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Call 24 Hours: 1.888.222.5847
7 Surprising Sculpture Facts
The famous Michelangelo statue of David is actually cross-eyed. This statue is one of the most recognizable in the world but is far from perfect. Michelangelo carved it from a spoilt piece of marble and it has been discovered in modern times that the statue is cross-eyed, an intentional tactic by the sculptor so that no matter where a viewer stands, the profile of David would be perfect.
There are several statues that are made into fountains to look like the statue is urinating. The most famous is probably Belgium's famous Manneken Pis which depicts a naked boy. He was joined by a squatting girl in the name of gender equality in the 1980s, called Jeanneke-Pis. Other statues on this theme include Nation for Itself Forever and the simply named Peeing Guys, both by D. Cerny in the Czech Republic.
An artist once accepted a cash award for Worst Sculpture to avoid the money being burned. The K Foundation gave this prize in 1994 to Rachel Whiteread for her sculpture titled "Horse". She stated that she would give the prize money to artists in need. Despite this insult by the K Foundation, Whiteread won the Turner prize the same year for her work.
One type of sculpture has been made since ancient times, proving that the human psyche is connected. The oldest depiction, even as far back as ancient Egypt, shows Lady Justice and the scales of justice. In Egypt, she was called the goddess Maat and she is shown weighing human souls who are going to the afterlife. The motif continues until this day, in the most popular form as justice blindfolded and with scales in her hands. The blindfold represents impartiality. The scales, though, are the most enduring motif in the depictions of justice.
There's a festival in Valencia in Spain where sculptures are made and then actually burned. The Las Fallas de Valencia festival is a week-long festival where sculptures are shown and paraded through the town before they are burned on the festival's last day, called "La Crema" or "The Burning". This is supposed to signal the arrival of spring. It was originally started when artisans burned their candles after they no longer needed them as the days grew brighter.
The tallest statue in the world is 600 feet tall. It's an Indian statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a local hero. Before it was completed, China's Spring Temple Buddha was the tallest statue in the world at about the height of a 30-story building. It's 420 feet high on a 66-foot pedestal, making it 502 feet in total.
There's a statue in Australia that's upside down. It's the Charles La Trobe statue in Melbourne. A passerby would probably have to look twice at this famous statue, meant to honor the state of Victoria's first lieutenant governor. The striking landmark was made by local sculptor Charles Robb. In his view, it embodies the notion that universities should turn ideas on their heads.
All our stories:
Fountain with Wrong Water Direction
Cubic Houses
The Worst Statues Ever Made Part 3
The Tallest Statues in the World
The Most Outrageous Fountains in the World
The Top World Heritage Sites
Drinking Fountains from the Victorian Era
The Most Impressive Casino Buildings in the World
The Most Inspiring Fountains Worldwide
Fountains Throughout the Ages – Part 2
How to Create a Water Feature for Your Garden
Interesting Fountains of Great Britain
War Monuments of Great Britain
The History of Sculpture Worldwide
Fountains of Great Britain (1)
Inspiring Fountains (1)
Tallest Statues (1)
War Monuments (1)


It almost comes as a surprise each year when the hellebores raise their hopeful heads in deep winter or early spring. Their evergreen, toothed, leathery leaves stay green most of the year then may be cut off just before the next bloom time – for some varieties that's as early as November.
The long-blooming hellebore is among the most fashionable and collectible perennials for partially shaded areas and one of our specialties. We stock a wide variety of these woodland beauties, which also happen to be deer resistant!
The most commonly grown hellebores in our region include the Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose and Stinking Hellebore.
Helleborus orientalis or Lenten Rose is a clump-forming evergreen that grows to about 24 inches tall and wide. Its nodding, saucer-shaped flowers can be seen in white, green, pink, rose to purple to almost black, sometimes speckled or showing up with single, double or triple flowers.
The hellebore provides contrast in almost any companion planting. After ushering in the blooms of daffodils and tulips, hellebore's sturdy foliage remains to camouflage the dying foliage of the bulbs.
The Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, has been a cottage garden favorite for centuries. White bowl-shaped flowers, usually with green eyes, appear midwinter, often right from the snow. The Christmas rose grows about a foot tall and wide.
Despite its name, stinking hellebore (H. foetidus) doesn't stink unless you crush its leaves. However, as this plant has been used medicinally down through the years, one can see how the name might have come up. Several varieties actually have fragrant blooms.
The pendent flowers of H. foetidus belong in a class all their own; they almost don't look like flowers. The muted yellow-green blooms may have purple margins, with leafy, pale green bracts emerging where the flower stalks branch. It can get 1-3 feet tall and as wide over time.


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We celebrate our American Independence Day, our birth as a nation, on the Fourth of July every year. That was the day when our representatives approved a relatively small document which told the world the reasons why we were declaring our Independence from our mother country. It put our claim of suffering tyranny under the British crown in writing for all to see. It was the first time that had ever taken place. No other colony, or set of colonies, had ever issues a proclamation to legitimize it's claims of suffering oppression by a dictatorship or monarchy.
We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence - they did that on July 2, 1776.
It wasn't the day we started the American Revolution either as that had happened back in April 1775. And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, that was in June 1776. The day is was signed was August 2, 1776. The date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain didn't happen until November 1776.
So what did happen on July 4, 1776?
The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.
Drafting the Declaration of Independence was not an easy job. Delegates from each of the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 to decide the case for liberty. The goal was to convince the States that the time had come for the United Colonies to declare their independence from Mother England.
It was an incredibly difficult time for the young United States. For more than a year, Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies had been at war over the issue of "taxation without representation." The Colonies believed that their rights were being impeded by the British, who were levying taxes upon them without their consent.
The conflict had quickly escalated into more of an issue than just taxation, however, and many of the Colonies had started to think that they were capable of governing themselves. They were persuaded that Parliament wasn't looking out for their interests, proven by the fact that despite their population the Colonies had not been allowed represent themselves in the British Legislature.
As a result, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in June of 1776. Slightly more than a month later, the Declaration of Independence was proposed to the Colonies. John Hancock, the first signatory, was the only person to sign on July 4.
Many of the other delegates would place their names on the completed Document on August 2 of that same year. The last person to sign, the New Hampshire delegate Matthew Thornton, endorsed the document on November 4, 1776.
The Lee Resolution
The Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution of independence, was an act of the Second Continental Congress declaring the Thirteen Colonies to be independent of the British Empire. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia first proposed it on June 7, 1776. It is the earliest form and draft of the Declaration of Independence.
The text of the Resolution stated:
"Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."
The Committee of Five
Early in the development, many delegates weren't yet allowed to vote for independence as the states had not yet authorized them to do so. In the meantime, a group of men were appointed to draft an official declaration, with hopes that the states would soon be willing to back the document when it was sent to the crown in England.
On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed a "Committee of Five", consisting of John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut, to draft a declaration.
This Declaration committee operated from June 11,1776 until July 5, 1776, the day on which the Declaration was published. The Committee of Five first presented the document to Congress on June 28, 1776.
Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence
Originally, the delegates pushed for Richard Henry Lee, author of the Lee Resolution, to write the Declaration of Independence, not Jefferson. But, circumstances changed the course of history.
First, Lee was appointed to the Committee of Confederation for the writing of the Articles of Confederation, and thought that being part of both committees would be too great an effort. Second, his wife became gravely ill during the Philadelphia convention, forcing him to return home prematurely. So a young delegate from Virginia who had shown great promise was selected to take Lee's place. His name was Thomas Jefferson, and he would quickly become one of the most important individuals in the history of the United States.
What most people don't know is that, at first, Jefferson had no interest in penning the Declaration. He wanted John Adams to do it instead.
Adams writes in his account of the episode in a letter to Timothy Pickering, a politician from Massachusetts and a good friend of Adams:
"Jefferson proposed to me to make the draft. I said, 'I will not,' 'You should do it.' 'Oh! no.' 'Why will you not? You ought to do it.' 'I will not.' 'Why?' 'Reasons enough.' 'What can be your reasons?' 'Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can.' 'Well,' said Jefferson, 'if you are decided, I will do as well as I can.' 'Very well. When you have drawn it up, we will have a meeting.'"
And so, it was settled. Over the course of seventeen days, in between meetings and other governmental affairs, Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence under the advisement of the Committee. It was an act that secured Jefferson's name in history forever.
July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August, the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C..
It's also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. That the reason why when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.
In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we'd followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we'd being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!
How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?
For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn't celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation.
By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies.
John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. But that would soon change. After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top.
The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4th as an important date to be celebrated.
Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas.Further legislation about national holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941.
Fascinating Facts about the Declaration of Independence
There is something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence, but it isn't a secret map or code. Instead, there are a few handwritten words that say, "Original Declaration of Independence/ dated 4th July 1776". No one knows who wrote this, but it was probably added as a label when the document was rolled up for storage many years ago.
Once the Declaration of Independence had been written and signed, printer John Dunlap was asked to make about 200 copies to be distributed throughout the colonies. Today, the "Dunlap Broadsides" are extremely rare and valuable.
In 1989, someone discovered a previously unknown Dunlap Broadside. It was sold for over $8 million in 2000. There are only 26 known surviving Dunlap Broadsides today.
Although Thomas Jefferson is often called the "author" of the Declaration of Independence, he wasn't the only person who contributed important ideas. Fact is, as stated previously, Jefferson was a member of a five-person committee appointed by the Continental Congress to write the Declaration. The committee included Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
Robert Livingston, one of the members of the committee who wrote the Declaration of Independence, never signed it. He believed that it was too soon to declare independence and therefore refused to sign.
One of the most widely held misconceptions about the Declaration of Independence is that it was signed on July 4, 1776. In fact, independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776, a date that John Adams believed would be "the most memorable epocha in the history of America."
After Jefferson wrote his first draft of the Declaration, the other members of the Declaration committee and the Continental Congress made 86 changes to Jefferson's draft, including shortening the overall length by more than a fourth.
When writing the first draft of the Declaration, Jefferson primarily drew upon two sources: his own draft of a preamble to the Virginia Constitution and George Mason's draft of Virginia's Declaration of Rights. Jefferson was unhappy about some of the edits made to his original draft of the Declaration of Independence.
He had originally included language condemning the British promotion of the slave trade - even though Jefferson himself was a slave owner. This criticism of the slave trade was removed in spite of Jefferson's objections.
On December 13, 1952, the Declaration of Independence - along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights - was formally delivered to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where it has remained since then.
The two youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence were both from South Carolina. Thomas Lynch, Jr. and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina were both born in 1749 and were only 26 when they signed the Declaration. Most of the other signers were in their 40s and 50s. Not exactly what anyone can really call "old white men."
Philosopher John Locke's ideas were an important influence on the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson restated Locke's contract theory of government when he wrote in the Declaration that governments derived "their just Powers from the consent of the people."
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the vote to approve the Declaration of Independence.
Some of the most famous lines in the Declaration of Independence were inspired by Virginia's Declaration of Rights by George Mason. Mason said: "all men are born equally free and independent."
Jefferson's Declaration of Independence said: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Mason listed man's "natural Rights" as "Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety." Jefferson listed man's "inalienable rights" as "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Nine of the signers of the Declaration died before the American Revolution ended in 1783.
In the summer of 1776, when the Declaration was signed, the population of the nation is estimated to have been about 2.5 million. Today the population of the U.S. is more than 300 million.
The oldest signer of the Declaration was Benjamin Franklin, who was born in 1706 and was therefore already 70 at the time of the Declaration. Franklin went on to help negotiate the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778 and the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War in 1783.
The only signer of the Declaration of Independence to survive beyond the 50th anniversary of the signing was Charles Carroll of Maryland. Carroll died in 1832 when he was 95 years old.
The copy of the Declaration of Independence that is housed at the National Archives is not the draft that was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Instead it is a formal copy that the Continental Congress hired someone to make for them after the text was approved on July 4th.
This formal copy was probably made by Timothy Matlack, an assistant to the Secretary of Congress. This copy was signed on August 2, 1776. The first public reading of the Declaration took place on July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia.
A fictional story written in the 1840s suggested that the bell now known as the Liberty Bell was rung that day to bring the people together. However, historians now doubt that this happened. The steeple that housed the bell was in very bad condition at the time and the bell was probably unusable.
Although August 2, 1776, was the date of the official signing ceremony, there were several people who signed on later dates. Some of these late signers included Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean and Matthew Thornton. No one who signed the Declaration of Independence was born in the United States of America. The reason? The United States didn't exist until after the Declaration was signed! And though that's the case, all but eight of the signers were born in colonies that would become the United States of America.
History has had a lot to do with the sanctity of July 4. It was on that day that the news of the Louisiana Purchase arrived in Washington, Henry David Thoreau arrived at Walden Pond and President Abraham Lincoln learned of the Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
However, the one incredible event that happened to ordain July 4 as something significant were the deaths of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826 only hours apart from each other.
From April 19, 1775 until July 2, 1776, the war was being fought so the colonists could regain their rights as Englishmen that had been taken away by the British from 1763-1775. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the resolution by Richard Henry Lee from Virginia that
"these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ......."
July 4 is the day that has been chosen as our "independence" day. So remember, it wasn't the day that it was signed by all. Instead, that was the day that the Second Continental Congress approved The Declaration of Independence.
The significant aspect of the Declaration of Independence is that it changed the American "rebellion" against Great Britain into a "revolution" for freedom and liberty!
My favorite quote from the Declaration of Independence:
"In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People."
The same rule applies today:
The person, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
we sometimes forget how bitterly our freedom was fought for. Reang of the Declaration of Independence often should be a personal aim


43 per cent of Nigeria's adult population desire to migrate abroad according to the latest Gallup Poll based on a rolling average of interviews between 2013 and 2016. This was a slight increase from the 41 per cent who said they desired to move abroad the last time the poll was done between 2010 and 2012.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage of those who desired to migrate was 31 per cent, meaning that the Nigerian figure was 12 per cent above the African average. In the world, Gallup found 14% of adults (nearly 710 million people) who say they would like to move to another country if they had the opportunity.
The desire of Nigerians to migrate abroad is an ongoing national crisis. Last year, 26 Nigerian girls who were seeking to move to Europe drowned in the Mediterranean Sea and were buried by Italian authorities. And in the past two months, the federal government has repatriated hundreds of stranded Nigerians from Libya.
Nigeria is however not the country whose citizens desire the most to leave. It is number 12. Another African country, Sierra Leone, topped the chart according to the Gallup poll, with 62 per cent desiring to emigrate, up from 51 per cent the last time the poll was conducted.
The other countries in the top 15 include: Haiti (56 per cent), Albania (56 per cent), Liberia (54 per cent), Congo Kinshasha (50 per cent), Dominican Republic (50 per cent), Honduras (48 per cent), Armenia (47 per cent), Syria (46 per cent), El Salvador (46 per cent), Ghana (45 per cent), Nigeria (43 per cent), Jamaica (40 per cent), Congo Brazzaville (39 per cent) and Togo (39 per cent).
The U.S. is the most desired destination country for potential migrants as it has always been since Gallup began tracking these patterns. 21 per cent of potential migrants name the U.S. as their desired future residence. Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, are the other countries that make up the top 5 preferred destination countries.


The Cubs officially called up Anthony Rizzo, the team announced, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that they now view Bryan LaHair as an outfielder. The Cubs, however, would be willing to move LaHair for "the right offer," according to Morosi (Twitter link).
The Brewers may be one good week away from contention, but the club could always be one bad week away from selling, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Zack Greinke, Francisco Rodriguez, Shaun Marcum, and George Kottaras would all appeal to other clubs, to varying degrees. Milwaukee's farm system has been depleted by trades for Greinke, Marcum, and C.C. Sabathia and could stand to be replenished, opines Rosenthal. He's careful to note that this could be a dicey PR move, as Milwaukee could surpass 3MM fans on the season and selling would send a bad message.
Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle details the Astros' draft strategy and how it led to the signing of Rio Ruiz for a bonus that was leaps and bounds above slot ($1.85MM). General manager Jeff Luhnow tells Levine that he considers Ruiz, Carlos Correa (No. 1 overall) and Lance McCullers Jr. (No. 41 overall) all to be first round talents.
I think Brewers fans are smart enough to realize that if they sell, they are doing so in the best long-term interest of the club. Also, how long does it take to "replenish the farm" in the eyes of the media? Brantley, Laporta, Bryson, Cain, Jeffress – those are all household names now, obviously. Odorizzi… Lawrie, and Escobar, who wasn't really part of the farm anymore anyway, do not a farm system make.
I guess I'm just too naive to understand the common practice of shipping away your good players when things start getting tough. I understand it in some cases, especially when things have bottomed out, but if you depleted your prospects for guys that aren't producing a 'winning' team, what makes you think going through that whole retooling process all over again will result in anything better?
I see the Durham Bulls play every year, and it's awesome to watch because the Rays' AAA team is loaded. Why don't teams try to emulate that more? Patience is a virtue, and scouting and development isn't a terrible thing. You can trade and swindle your way to land some great players, but it takes more than a handful of guys to win a title.
But then again, this is mlbTR after all..
When you're a small-market club, chances are you don't have the money to keep your "good" players. In most cases they're in free agent years, so if you're not winning this year, and you won't be able to re-sign them, trading them is the only recourse. I think the chances of Longoria staying in Tampa Bay beyond his current deal are virtually nil. Ditto Price. The trick is to keep turning out MLB players from your farm system to step in… obviously easier said than done.
The Rays know they have no chance of keeping Longoria at the end of his current deal, but that doesn't matter because of the long-term deal he signed early. The Rays have club options (which they'll exercise) for his 2015 and 2016 seasons. He'll turn 31 at the end of the 2016 season, which means that the Rays got all of his best production at a cost of around $44M paid out over nine seasons. He's already been worth more than that to them in his first 4.5 seasons, so any production they get from him in the next 4.5 is gravy.
I hope the "right offer" for LaHair doesn't mean they are hoping for anything extraordinary.
After hitting .390/.471/.780/1.251 in April he's posted lines of .253/.343/.448/.792 [May] and .226/.281/.434/.715 [June]. He doesn't play against lefties on account of his .404 OPS against them.
Obviously he's a platoon guy and he wasn't going to hit .390 all year, but he's in the middle of his correction right now and I'm not really convinced that his current .286 average is where it's going to stop.
I think LaHair's value is likely at its peak. Considering what we know about the Cubs long-term model, they are probably looking to get a B type prospect for him because of his age he doesn't fit within the plan in the next 3-5 years. My opinion is they have a glut of OF and would probably sell him off for a 3B/P prospect. They are in major sell mode and I like their strategy in stockpiling their farm system and shedding payroll. If they don't trade LaHair, I think it is only a short-term compromise because he does hit for power, will protect other hitters in the lineup, and his salary is minimal (which is why I think other teams would be attracted, as well). He's a low risk player for both the Cubs and a potential buyer but I bet the Cubs would sell if they got what they wanted.


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Tech & Electronics
The Urbanist
Get Into Hot Water in Cabarete
By Sarah Gold
Natura Cabañas Photo: Peter Crass
1. Where to Stay
Central Cabarete is flush with reasonably priced hotels — most under $150 a night, even during holiday season. Boisterous crowds cram the beach bars lining the central part of the bay, so move to the edges if you want some relaxation. Several hundred yards west of the bars, there's beachfront suites with fully equipped kitchens at Palm Beach Condos (from $140) on a quiet section of the shoreline.
West of town at Natura Cabañas (from $60), there's a cluster of eleven fan-cooled, palm-leaf-roofed huts on a stretch of usually deserted beach. Unplug (no TVs or phones) with spare bamboo-and-rattan furniture, a kitchenette, and a stone veranda with swinging hamacas.
Ditch the X Games scene altogether at Casa Colonial (from $350) a half-hour from Cabarete in Puerto Plata. The swankiest property on D.R.'s north coast (at least until Boykin Curry's private resort, Playa Grande, opens a few miles away in 2008), the 50-suite hotel is filled with Donatella Versace types splashing around the rooftop infinity pool and dining at the high-demand restaurant, Lucia.
The Great Room at the Castle Club Photo: Norbert Strozda
2. Where to Eat
Tie on a napkin and wrestle with a giant skillet of anise-infused, shell-on prawns at the waterfront Casita de Don Alfredo (Playa Cabarete; 809-986-3750). Show up just after 5 p.m. to score one of the tables on the outdoor porch—reservations aren't accepted.
Hydrate with kite-boarders at the around-the-clock hangout, Eze Bar & Restaurant (Playa Cabarete; 809-880-8779). A friendly, sun-bleached staff keeps blenders whirling all day, making banana smoothies for breakfast, carrot and wheatgrass juices at lunch, and frozen cocktails at night.
Drive twenty minutes inland (south) to the town of Jamao del Norte, where the mountaintop Castle Club offers a rarity in these parts: breathtaking views and tablecloth dining. Ingredients from the property's sweeping gardens and orchards find their way into hearty yet elegant dishes like ginger-carrot soup and chunky crab cakes with a pepper rémoulade. Book at least a week ahead and dress up a little; pack a sundress or linen suit just for this.
Kite-boarding Photo: Courtesy Laurel Eastman
3. What to DoThe western part of Cabarete Bay, from Bozo to Kite Beach, is kite-surfing territory. Since this side of the bay is largely outside the "wind shadow" of the village, it gets big gusts, strong enough to send even novice boarders flying out of the shallows. Among the many kite-boarding schools along this stretch, Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding gets consistent raves from return visitors. While Eastman — a women's kite-boarding champion in 2002 — teaches advanced classes in jumps, board rotations, and aerial spins, her instructors also teach four-day beginner clinics (starting at $410) and two-hour crash courses ($110, $130 for a private lesson).
The offshore reef and Trade Winds along the eastern sweep of the bay make for choppy surf — great for windsurfing, especially after midday (mornings are calmer and better for beginners and kids). Carib Wind is the most respected windsurfing center here, offering all-inclusive, multiday instructional packages (starting at $60 per day, including equipment) and top-of-the line rental boards. (You can even hire out Bic Formula Racing rigs, provided you know how to handle them.)
Just north of Cabarete is Sosua Bay, a spectacular diving and snorkeling site where octopuses, lion fish, and even whale sharks are often seen. Advanced divers shouldn't miss the Airport Wall — an underwater cliff pocked with explorable tunnels. Northern Coast Aqua Sports runs daily trips to the wall from their dive center in Sosua Village ($40 gets you a 45-minute dive, plus all equipment). Beginner dives on shallower reefs are also available.
One of the local watering holes lining la playa in Cabarete. Photo: Jeff Swick
4. Insider's Tip
A string of lively, lantern-lit beach bars lines Playa Cabarete — and all of them serve variations on the locally brewed liquor called Mama Juana (a dark, heady concoction made from dark rum, red wine, honey, herbs, and tree bark). Bartender Rade Baunovic, who pours the stuff at the always-packed Bambu Bar (809-982-4549), says most tourists prefer their Mama Juana cut with something sweet, like Coke, 7-Up, grenadine, or even milk. Go ahead and ask for a shot. Just be prepared to sleep in the next morning.
To taste the Mama Juana of a real master brewer, look for Pedro Alcantara (grizzled, mid-40s, always wearing a white Panama hat), who sells his bottles on the beach. Pedro hand-gathers more than sixteen different herbs and roots for his Mama Juana, including one locally considered to be a potent aphrodisiac: paraquevito.
Cascading in the Cordillera Septentrional mountain range. Photo: Courtesy of Iguana Mama
5. Oddball Day
If you want to a break from the sea, try canyoneering in the Cordillera Septentrional mountain range, about an hour inland from Cabarete. Iguana Mama runs trips from Cabarete (they'll pick you up at your hotel at 8 a.m.) for tours with names like "the Magic Mushroom" and "the Big Bastard" ($79 half-day; $89–$109 full-day). Some require minimal climbing and offer lots of deep pools to swim in; others are utterly exhilarating, with scrambles up craggy cliffs and sudden, 60-foot plunges. Trips include transport to and from your hotel, all equipment, lunch, snacks, and drinks.
Dominican nightlife is high intensity, and you can sample it at La Barrica (Avenida Manolo Tavares Justo 106; no phone), just south of Puerto Plata town. A 35-minute taxi ride from Cabarete will run you between $25 and $40. Juicy dancing and aggressive flirting accompanies the raucous salsa and meringue music (sometimes spun, sometimes live). The club doesn't bump till after 10 p.m., so there's plenty of time for a pre-game nap.
6. Related Links
Debbie's Dominican Travel is the most comprehensive D.R. site online, with hundreds of user-submitted hotel and restaurant reviews and forums where travelers can post questions.
Go Dominican Republic, the site run by the island's tourism board, has an interactive map and good basic information about north-coast beaches, activities, and tour operators.
Cabarete Kiteboarding and Cabarete Windsurfing are the online headquarters for these water-sports communities; they have maps of the bay's best boarding spots, frequently updated wind and weather reports, and wave-jumping video galleries.
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A paradigm shift in Malaysian politics?
Posted by Dennis Ignatius in Democracy, Malaysia
BERSIH, civil society, Islam, Malay, Malaysia Day, Najib Tun Razak, racism, Rafidah Aziz, Red Shirts, UMNO
In response to the massive BERSIH rally last month, UMNO – let's stop pretending that they are not behind it – is planning a counter-demonstration of its own on September 16th, Malaysia Day.
Many people have expressed concern that the so-called "Red Shirt" demonstration might provoke racial violence, especially given the incendiary remarks of some of its leaders, the inflammatory posters that have appeared across town and the provocative choice of venue (in the heart of what's left of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown).
Understandably, there have been calls to ban the Red Shirt rally.
While the Red Shirts have, of course, the same rights as BERSIH supporters to demonstrate, they do not have licence to threaten others. They can rally to support a morally bankrupt regime if they want but they are not free to launch a campaign of racial intimidation.
Oddly, while the Minister of Federal Territories and the police were insisting that the Red Shirts will not be permitted to assemble as planned, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister (who is also Minister of Home Affairs), and the UMNO Youth chief all endorsed the September 16th demonstration. No surprise, therefore, that the police have now relented.
A turning point?
The whole disgraceful Red Shirt affair has, however, highlighted another far more encouraging dynamic that might well mark a significant turning point in Malaysia's evolution as a nation state.
I am referring, of course, to the chorus of criticism against the Red Shirts coming especially from within the Malay community.
In just the last few days, many Malay/Muslim-led civil society groups have spoken out forcefully and decisively against the Red Shirts, disassociating themselves from their racist agenda and challenging the assertion that the Red Shirts speak for all Malays.
A coalition of 20 NGOs including ProRakyat, Otai Reformasi 1998, National Interlok Action Team (Niat), Jingga13 have petitioned His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to intervene to stop the September 16th rally.
ProRakyat's president, Khairul Anuar Othman, has even vowed that should the rally take place, his members will turn out in force to protect their fellow citizens of ethnic Chinese descent from Red Shirt intimidation.
Another group of prominent Malay NGO's, including G25, have issued a statement denouncing the Red Shirt rally. Referring to Red Shirt propaganda about redeeming Malay honour, the group pointedly remarked that honour and dignity are not redeemed by blaming others but by upholding the principles of truth and justice, holding accountable those who have been entrusted to govern, remaining true to the moral teachings of Islam and exposing the hypocrisy of those who use religion to cling to power.
Influential opinion-makers like Marina Mahathir, former minister Zaid Ibrahim, Saifuddin Abdullah, Professor Mohamad Tajuddin Rasdi, and Nazir Razak (the Prime Minister's brother) have also weighed in against the Red Shirts. Nazir declared that he won't be wearing red on 16th September; instead he will be celebrating the racial, religious and cultural diversity that defines Malaysia.
Former UMNO leaders like Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and Rafidah Aziz have panned the September 16th rally as well.
Rafidah, to her credit, went further, positing the view – radical by Malaysian standards – that we should all identify ourselves as Malaysian first rather than by our individual ethnicity. She went on to deliver a passionate plea for an end to the Malay first mentality, a stinging rebuke to the leaders of her own party who have thrived by exploiting racial issues.
Even the royals have stepped in, with one ruler reiterating that there is no room for racism in his state.
The Penang mufti, meanwhile, has reiterated that bigotry and fanaticism towards a particular ethnic group has no place in Islam.
Clearly, such an unprecedented and unambiguous rejection of the politics of division sends a strong signal to UMNO that it can no longer avoid its responsibility for good and clean government by hiding behind race and religion.
A crude attempt to divert attention
All the Red Shirts have done, therefore, is reinforce the image of UMNO as nothing but a morally bankrupt and racist party with no greater purpose than to stay in power at all cost. It has no principles, no virtue, no noble cause. Its leaders may talk about championing Malay interests or defending Islam but it's all a sham; and they know it.
After all, what is the September 16th rally all about? What do the Red Shirts stand for?
Are they fighting for justice? Are they taking a stand against corruption? Are they pressing for fiscal accountability? Are they demanding good governance? Are they calling for respect for our constitution and for the democratic rights of all Malaysians? Are they pleading for national unity and tolerance?
From what we know, the answer to all of the above is a resounding no. The rally is simply a crude attempt to divert attention from a beleaguered and unpopular leader by stoking racial and religious tension.
UMNO is mired in the mother of all scandals and it blames the Chinese. UMNO has lost the respect of an overwhelming majority of Malaysians and it blames the DAP. UMNO has brought disgrace to the nation and it blames the Jews and Christians.
Red is now the colour of a morally bankrupt regime, of shame, racism, intolerance and all that is wrong with Malaysia, and right-thinking Malaysians, irrespective of their ethnicity, want nothing to do with it.
A more hopeful political paradigm
Hopefully, the clear rejection of racial and religious politics presages a shift to a new political paradigm where political parties are judged solely by their performance rather than by racial or religious considerations.
In many ways, this shift to a new values-based political system is already well underway.
Just look at the ongoing metamorphosis in the Islamic-oriented PAS which has now belatedly come out against the Red Shirts as well. PAS leader Hadi Awang's ill-advised drive to force hudud upon the nation not only splintered his party but triggered an outcry that galvanized moderate Muslims like G25 into action.
The PAS breakaway faction, Amanah Rakyat, is currently redefining itself in terms of a broader national agenda that speaks to all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion.
Consider as well the evolution of parties like the DAP and PKR which are already far more inclusive, far more multiracial than BN. Upcoming politicians like Nurul Izzah, Zaril Khir Johari and Hannah Yeoh appeal to a wider cross-section of Malaysians than most race-based BN politicians.
With a political platform espousing good governance, fiscal responsibility, racial and religious tolerance and democratic reform, they are rapidly earning the trust and support of Malaysians irrespective of their race or religion.
Clearly, something unique and exciting is taking place in Malaysia. After years of institutionalized racism centered on the BN formula, racial and religious politics is being upended. Racism and intolerance in whatever form might at last be losing the aura of respectability and acceptability that was given it. We are not there yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
That would be something worth celebrating this Malaysia Day.